Chivalry Restored: The Good Deed

Something you do, for nothing in return!

Good evening! I hope that everyone has had a wonderful week and that there is fun in store for the weekend. When I think about the weekend I think about dinners out, cocktails with friends and loved ones and just having an all around swell time. I’m fairly certain there are many of you out there that share my sentiments regarding this matter, after all wasn’t there a song about “everybody’s working for the weekend”? If there’s a song about it, it must be true.

Today’s post was actually inspired by a conversation about this blog. A good friend of mine was mentioning that she thought the posts were fun and the mission was a great idea. At some point in the conversation she asked if I remembered the film Pay it Forward and also that the blog seemed to sing a similar tune. Of course I did, it had the “I see dead people kid, Twister Helen Hunt, Mr. Spacey and sure, I can see how the concept of Pay it Forward and this blog are related.

Pay it Forward. It took me back to a certain sunny July day in Montreal, 2004: my first year studying Political Science at Concordia University. I was on the expansive patio at Sir Winston Churchill’s (Winnie’s) spending my student loan responsibly on burgers and endless pints of beer with a close girlfriend Shirin. We spent the entire afternoon chatting about our respective pasts, the present and our dreams for the future. We talked about boys, school, music, and laughed until it hurt to do so. I imagine that we probably racked up a tab around the $100-$150 mark that day, but I never actually found out.

Once we checked our wallets, we decided that we had probably done enough damage for one day and asked for the bill. Our server smiled to us and said “The gentleman sitting next to you said it was such a pleasure to see two people so full of life, hope and laughter and that he wanted to pay your bill”. We were floored. Awestruck. Beyond touched. Eight years later, that gesture still warms my heart.

Now I’ve had my fair share of drinks sent my way (with motives of course) but this was a genuine, and truly selfless act of good nature towards a stranger. Did he stay around to receive the profuse thank you’s on behalf of the poor students? No. His kindness was just that: Kindness. A good deed with no intention other than to make us feel good. Isn’t that a truly remarkable thing?

This example is obviously a very extreme case of The Good Deed, and I don’t think we should all go around picking up $150 tabs (unless you’re ultra wealthy) but what about a coffee for a co-worker or that homeless person on the corner? Go on and grab the bill for the few beers you had with that friend of yours at the local pub. Perhaps send a drink to that person sitting alone at the bar, even. The choice is yours, but why not just do a little good deed for someone. Whether big or small, its the thought that counts, and you have all weekend!

Until Next Time! * Tips hat * Good Day All!

- Matt Stokes

Chivalry Restored: Say Hi!

Well hi there Mrs.Rutherford!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hello, good morning, hi, good afternoon, hey, good evening! These are but a few of the salutations that we use on a daily basis ( I hope ) to acknowledge the presence of another human being. Simple enough, right? Not really. Let me tell you a story *cue flashback sequence music*.

I grew up in the west end of Toronto, and I mean Toronto not the GTA. A born and raised 416er in the High Park area. As a child, walking down the street and saying “Hello!” to someone in passing was habit, not an effort. When I too, was greeted by a stranger or a neighbour it put a smile on my face. It’s a common courtesy I suppose, but sadly it isn’t so common. When I moved into the heart of the concrete jungle, my sidewalk salutations were often met with suspicious glances: as if I was saying “Good afternoon” because I wanted to steal their first born or rob them blind. It was rather uncomfortable reaction that silenced my greetings… for a time.

It wasn’t until I was strolling to Starbucks en route to work when an elderly woman smiled at me and said “Good morning, beautiful day isn’t it?”. Faith in chivalry restored! It instantly brought a smile to my face and I said something to the effect of  ”Absolutely stunning, have a nice day!” and proceeded on my way with a bit more pep in my step. I greeted four people on my way to work that day, and put four smiles on four faces. I wonder if they were as inspired by me as I was by that elderly woman. Perhaps they, in turn greeted four people and those four people greeted four people, and… you get it.

My point here is this: is it that hard to acknowledge someone we don’t know, or perhaps to greet someone that isn’t doing anything for us? Well that’s a bold, but very true statement now isn’t it. After all I’m sure (I hope!) you say hello to your barista at Starbucks, ask how your bartender is doing at your local pub, or look your server in the eye and say “Good evening” at dinner. These people are giving you a service, of course you would act in such a manner.

Now I would very much like to repeat something that’s bolded a few lines up: “Someone that isn’t doing anything for us” . Say it out loud if you have to. The barista brings you your latte (Material Good), the bartender serves you your pint of beer (material deliciousness) and your server brings you your chicago rare porterhouse and caters to you all evening (win win). While these are all great things, they carry a dollar value. What about that smile on your face? The one summoned by the complete stranger that said  ”Good evening!” as you walked home last night?  What is that worth to you? Think about that.

I’m not saying go crazy and say hello to everyone you encounter. You don’t have to say anything at all. A simple smile and nod would suffice if you’re a bit too shy to dive in and talk about the weather in passing. Just give it a shot, we are all human and thrive on human interaction. I think you’ll be surprised at how it might make you (and them) feel.

Until next time! *Tips hat*  Good Day All!

- Matt Stokes

Chivalry Restored: The Mission

Chivalry Restored: The Mission.

Chivalry Restored: The Mission

Have you ever heard the phrase “chivalry is dead” slip from someones lips? Of course you have… Do you ever watch films of the golden era or perhaps love to escape in the world of I Love Lucy or the wholesome Cleaver family? Strangers nodded to each other in passing, they helped one another, held doors open, tipped their hats… you get the point.

Let’s not forget this era of heightened moral code and social etiquette was a world just out of two world wars and a great depression. Now lets talk about the present day. In North America and Europe we are pretty much war free, and while the economy is in the dumps, it’s no where near as bad as it was back then. So if we’re doing better on the whole, why have we abandoned our social etiquette? Now before I ruffle some feathers, I will certainly admit ( cross my heart) that chivalry isn’t dead perse, but rather in a coma with brief moments of life before falling into a deep slumber yet again. I for one, believe I possess a great sense of chivalry as does my better half, that is after all why we are writing this blog.

Have you ever been on the receiving end of that nod from a stranger? A seat offered to you on the subway? Or what about that door at the mall that was held open for you? Now if you’re human I’m fairly sure it made you feel pretty special. That’s what we’re talking about here: making the world feel happier one gesture at a time.

Follow us, and maybe you’ll learn a thing or two. Perhaps it might reignite the dormant master of chivalry that lies within you. It lies within us all. Help us make the world that little bit more friendly.

Until next time *Tips hat* Good day all!

- Matt Stokes

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