By Emily Stonehouse
The other day, I inched my way towards a line of red brake lights around the high school.
I wasn’t sure why we had stopped, and my initial response was irritation. Summer congestion on our roads plays a part in heightening frustrations.
But then I saw our reason for stopping: a lineup of geese, gradually, one by one, crossing the road.
And everyone stopped.
Now I think it’s a fairly common consensus that geese are not the cuddliest of Canadian critters. I myself have been chased by a goose on more than one occasion. It’s a rite of passage for any great Canadian.
But still, we stopped. All of us. We took time from our day, and let these creatures cross the road.
Why? Because it was the right thing to do.
We have choices, in this life. It’s one of the most beautifully complicated parts of being human.
Every day, we choose how we operate in the hustle and bustle of the world. We choose how to react, how to listen, how to learn, how to behave. And while sometimes it feels like exterior forces are pushing and pulling at our willpower, at the end of the day, it’s just us.
As our county fire ban continues, we make choices for the greater good. A bonfire with a night amongst friends may not seem like a risk, but for others, it could be deadly. A cigarette butt thrown into the bush could be an innocent flick of the wrist, but still, we make a choice, thinking about the consequences of our actions.
Not because we are directly impacted, but because it’s the right thing to do.
As our local Pride week kicks off, we are reminded of our need for this week of inclusion, of care, of compassion.
And while the temperatures have changed around warming to Pride, we still have people glancing over their shoulders; a move perfected and practiced from years of feeling like prey in a carnivorous climate.
As we watch the rainbow flags adorn our communities, I myself will be there with bells on.
But others may not. And while I encourage people to think outside the black and white boxes of love, at the very least, I implore everyone to quite simply care. You don’t need to fly the flags or sing the songs, but we can be welcoming, be kind, be inclusive.
Because that’s what benefits the greater good.
In a world where we are faced with choices, every single day, it’s up to us to turn our heads towards the light, and leave the shadows of the past in our wake. There are choices we make that have the power to play a part in someone’s life, whether that be around fire safety, community inclusion, or yes, even geese.
And it’s up to us to put others first, to think about the greater good, and to exude care and consideration in the process.
Not because these choices necessarily directly impact us.
But because it’s the right thing to do.
