A moment of leadership and kindness

This past weekend, my 13-year-old daughter reminded me of the power of empathy and kindness in the most unexpected place – outside a Dollarama.

As my daughter and her friend were leaving the store, arms full of chips and a drink, a man – seemingly homeless and holding a sign asking for help – held the door open for them with his shaking hands. Instead of walking past, my daughter asked if there was anything she could get him from the store. The man, with gratitude, asked for a drink and a snack.

Without hesitation, my daughter went back inside, grabbed the items, and approached the cashier. The cashier, noticing my daughter had already paid for her items earlier, asked, "Weren’t you just in here? Did you forget something?" My kiddo’s response? "No, we’re getting this for the man outside."

When the total came to $12.05 and my daughter only had a $10 bill, the cashier smiled and said, “I’ll cover the rest. Have a great day!”

My daughter handed the snacks to the man, who was deeply thankful for the generosity shown by this young soul.

This simple but powerful interaction taught me so much. First, that leadership doesn’t always come from titles or grand gestures – sometimes it comes from small acts of kindness. Second, it reminded me that we can all contribute in ways big and small, as demonstrated by the cashier’s thoughtful contribution.

As leaders, it's not just about making decisions or guiding teams – it's also about leading with empathy, treating others with dignity, and offering kindness when it’s least expected.

I couldn’t be prouder of my daughter for her thoughtfulness, and equally, I’m grateful for the kindness shown by the cashier. We can all learn from this small interaction: kindness can ripple through our communities, often in the simplest of ways.