My goal with Letters From A Canadian is to cheer us all on, keep us hopeful, spread kindness, and do whatever I can to keep despair at bay so we can fight the rising tide of fascism.

Dear friends,

As the world is hurtling towards the brink, driven by psychopaths in their big honkin’ ‘late-stage capitalism’ mobile, I can’t help but feel that, for those of us who care so deeply, our most valuable currency these days is kindness. I truly believe that kindness is what’s going to carry us through these difficult times. Kindness is a currency that works best when it is in constant flow. Kindness cannot be hoarded, and it makes us richer the more we dole it out. Kindness is what trumps Trump.

A tiny act of kindness exchanged between strangers.

 I was in my local grocery store the other day looking for arborio rice. OF COURSE it was on the top shelf. And, of course, the first few packs had already been nabbed, so I could just barely see the pack I wanted sitting towards the back of the top shelf. Being short all my life, and even shorter now with so many years of gravity doing its thing, I’m not shy about asking taller strangers (basically everyone) to reach this or that for me. As I looked up and down the aisle, I could see only one other shopper – a fellow who would not be considered tall among his peers, but was definitely taller than I am. The look on his face when I asked him if he could reach the rice for me! He kinda puffed up, pleased as punch, and confessed that no one ever asks him to reach things in the supermarket, then proceeded to stretch high enough to grab my desired pack of arborio rice. My hero! I assured him that he’s a veritable giant in my estimation. Then we went about our days, smiling to ourselves about our adorable little friendly interaction.

Better than crypto

As the world burns, and the oligarchs are having a field day spreading terror like farmers spreading manure, I keep hearing anecdotes like this one – moments of unexpected joy shared between strangers. One would think that maybe - contrary to the main messaging being shoved down our throats - just maybe most humans are actually quite pleasant, and ready to share moments of joy and kindness with friends and strangers alike.

Kindness looks like so many different things, showing up in so many different ways. Kindness is friendly banter with a stranger in the supermarket.

Kindness is thousands of Americans risking their own safety to protect complete strangers from the gestapo.

Kindness is all of us who are witnessing our trans community under attack and making sure our trans community understand that we love and value them and will fight for their rights and safety.

Kindness is celebrating Pride.

Kindness is Canadians taking various actions for our American neighbours who are under assault (including writing to senators).

Kindness is Canadians taking various actions to stand up for our own communities all across this massive county.

Kindness is millions of people all across the globe demanding an end to Israel’s barbaric assault on the people of Palestine (most of whom have had nothing to do with Hamas or the horrific October 7^th attacks).  

Kindness is saying “Hello” to the unhoused person we walk past.

Kindness is getting vaccinated.

Kindness is planting a garden for passersby to enjoy.

Kindness is stepping outside our comfort zone because we care.

We care for our families. We care for our neighbours. We care for our communities, our planet, and other living beings. We care for future generations.

A Different Kind of Power

I recently picked up a copy of Jacinda Ardern’s (former Prime Minister of New Zealand) memoir from my local library (public libraries are perhaps one of the greatest examples of socialism sneaking its way into our brutally capitalistic society). I’m delighted to report that this political memoir - A Different Kind of Power - is an absolute page turner. I find myself energized to see how leadership CAN look when in the right hands. It’s on page 201 when she writes about talking to a journalist whilst en route to her swearing in as Prime Minister. In response to the journalist’s question, “What is it you want to do?” Ms. Ardern replies with, “I want this government to feel different. I want people to feel that it’s open, that it’s listening, and that it’s going to bring kindness back.” And that’s exactly how Ms. Ardern ran her government - with kindness. Imagine that!

Prime Minister Ardern led New Zealand through some of the hardest times with care and compassion. We all remember that horrific March 15^th in 2019 when a xenophobic maniac opened fire on several mosques in Christchurch, killing 51 praying people, and injuring so many more. Rather than just posting thoughts and prayers on social media, the prime minister flew to Christchurch to hug and support survivors, and first responders, and so many members of the community who were utterly traumatized by the event. To share their grief. And she promised policy change. Seventeen days after that horrific mass shooting, Prime Minister Ardern’s government put their new strict gun laws before Parliament. Ten days after that a ban on military-style semi-automatic weapons was passed and they set up a buy-back amnesty program to make sure none of these newly outlawed weapons remained in the community. She promised gun reform and she gave it, because she cared so deeply. Imagine that!

Despite having evidence that we can have compassionate leadership, more and more humans everywhere have been led to believe that we need mean leaders. I keep seeing the statement, “Cruelty is the point” in reference to pretty much all of Trump’s policies and attacks, and it’s not wrong. The current US regime is rooted in cruelty and lies. Why on earth do so many people keep choosing cruelty over kindness? Jacinda Ardern showed the world that, even within the same old-same old colonial systems, we can have governmental heads who value decency and humanity, with kindness being the compass by which they lead. How do we get more of this?

Cruelty may be the point for them, yet kindness still permeates our daily lives.

So much of the news is about war and bombs and military might and billions of dollars spent to prepare nations to destroy each other, and nations actually destroying each other in real time, and cruelty on steroids, and it just feels completely fucking insane and heartbreaking, despite every effort to normalize it. And then you need something from the back of the top shelf at the supermarket and you end up making some short-ish (it’s all relative) dude’s day when you ask him to reach that high item, and you share a joke and a bit of banter, and the world suddenly feels manageable and kind again. Our days are filled with small acts of kindness that can fortify us and bring us joy when we pay attention. And we know that kindness is contagious and spreads and multiplies like lush forest moss. It's our job just now to double down on spreading kindness all over the place.

The Kindness of Neighbours.

  This local boulevard garden brings joy to our community all year round.

For years I’ve been walking past this corner garden that, no matter what time of year, it is always utterly gorgeous and makes me smile. This week I finally met the kind gentleman who has put so much effort into bringing joy to his community through flowers. When I thanked him for his kindness his response was that he plants the garden with love. Can you see the smiley face this side of the fire hydrant? This is what kindness looks like in my neighbourhood.

Absurd Times Call for Absurd Amounts of Love

Friends, we are living through some heartbreakingly challenging times, but I’m here to remind you that kindness wins over cruelty. Kindness is the antidote to the government sanctioned shittiness. Kindness will always win in the end. So, as a powerful act of resistance to a hateful regime, let’s find kindness in our daily lives. Let’s show ourselves and each other kindness. Let’s grow kindness until it smothers the cruelty they so desperately want us to accept.

With love and kindness,

Jessica