Written in memory of my dad, passed 6 years today and who always taught to do an act of kindness each day. I love you, Dad. Thanks for all of your help with my work. I love you! Nadinexxxxx

This week, I am going to run my first lemonade stand. Yes, I have reached this age (well past 30, I admit it!) without having known the joy of broiling in 90 degrees heat on the side of the road, like a sausage on the grill, while waving hopefully at passing cars who might be enticed to try some of my brilliant red and yellow (and and may I add lemon free) lemonade.

Lemonade stands are quintessentially American. It’s new to me. But as I mentally list up the activities I have to do to make this stand happen – buy lemonade, cups, ice, make the signs, find requisite containers, chairs, tables, lug everything north of my home to begin my service – I can’t help but feel that at least I’m doing this for a good cause. - it’s all going to the wildlife center that has cared for the chickadee we discovered bloodied and lost, unable to fly or feed itself, sitting on our lawn and which is now fully recovered and is sitting comfortably in an avian nursery until its release back into the wild.

Charity really does begin at home. It begins with the conception of an idea and then the willingness to carry that idea out. I have myself been a recipient of many charitable actions by friends and family – the acquaintance who drove out to our house in the middle of the night to look after my children, after I woke up at 2 in the morning with imminent birthing signs; the neighbor who came in and babysat as I was rushed to emergency with terrible toothache; the friend who looked after our dog while we went away. To all these people, I hope I thanked you enough, because the kindness of your actions saved my day!

My mum is one of life’s charitable people. Aside from the fact that she makes regular donations to different charities, she makes a big effort with her friends and family to bring a little light, and often a lot of light, into their lives. She gives her massages, her reflexology, her reiki weekly to one friend or another in need. She volunteers each week at the hospice. She sits in prayer each day for those around her. Her life is dedicated to reaching out to others, and in reaching out she is necessarily reaching upwards to God.

Clearly, charitable acts come in many shapes and sizes, but whatever the shape and size – every single action counts. It is said that love makes the world go round, well charity is a part of that love. Charity is love turned into deeds – deeds that are transformative for others, deeds that are transformative for self. For at the end of the day, I’m sure that everyone will agree when I say that when we do a good deed, when we look outside of ourselves, when we try to make a difference in another person’s life, we create light. We lighten the load for another and we lighten up ourselves.

The fact is, that today we live in a materialistic world, where what we eat, what we drink, what we wear, what we look like, is often given more credence through a money hungry media, than what is truly important in life, which is about how we live it and the legacy that we leave to the community around us. Legacies are not measured in the size of house we have, or the number of letters that follow our name. A true legacy is about love, it’s about giving, it’s about charity.

For me, life is about learning to hold the light as we navigate its winding road. Our experience on earth, brings joy, brings pain. However, as long as we reach out and do good in the world through good times and through bad, irrespective of what is going on around us, as long as we can keep our charity clutched to our hearts, allowing it to expand and to grow, then we will find that the light within us will brighten our path, help us see what is authentic and meaningful and ensure that our way –whatever our circumstances - is always clear.

And so this week, if you happen to take a drive and see a lady with her three kids standing by the side of the road, waving their lemonade sign at you, with sweat rolling down their cheeks and cheeks fired to scarlet, roll down your car window, smile and buy yourself a cool drink. Not only can I promise you that your money will go to a good cause, but I can also promise you a skip in your walk and a warm glow in your heart, and that at 25 cents – is absolutely priceless!

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