RE: Random Acts of Kindness

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LinnaeaBorealis -> RE: Random Acts of Kindness (7/4/2011 10:13:09 AM)
I'm going to tell one about me doing something good for someone else. When I worked at King County Detox, there was an older man there who had one leg, the other having been amputated due to diabetes. He would come into Detox a raging drunken lunatic. But he liked me. I think because when he'd sobered up, I used to talk to him a lot. He was a very interesting person. He had a PhD & had been a teacher before he'd lost everything & hit the streets, getting raging drunk daily. One day I came to work & found out that Walter was in the hospital, having his one foot amputated. I worked in that hospital on the weekends. I lived in a rented house with 14 rose bushes & they were all in full bloom. So I cut a bouquet & found an old vase & took them to the hospital that Sat am before work. Now mind you, I was very very poor at this time. So I walk into his room & put the roses on his table & talk with him for a few minutes & leave. Every time he came to detox after that, he would be raging insanely drunk & in restraints, but as soon as he saw me he'd stop raging & look at me with wonder & tell the nurses, "That's the lady who brought me roses." And they'd be able to complete the admission process with a very docile Walter. The effect that bouquet of roses had on another human being has stayed with me for decades. I am still amazed at how such a little thing can have such a profound effect on someone's life.

LaTigresse -> RE: Random Acts of Kindness (7/4/2011 11:37:55 AM)
I am very fortunate to live in an area where acts of kindness are the norm. Even people I dislike for various reasons, I acknowledge are, at heart, good people through their actions for others. My sister in law, who wishes me dead and is in many ways, a very not nice person, has provided horse crazy kids whos parents cannot afford to own a horse, a horse for 4-H and transportation to and from the meetings for both child and horses. An older couple nearby, she a snoopy busy body and he a nasty racist bastard.....have fed and clothed, watched out for, local kids who's parents are struggling in one way or another. Even though they have almost nothing of value themselves. And I will never forget an older woman from the church I grew up in. I was recently single with two young children trying to survive without going on welfare. She came to the house I was living in, took me to the grocery store and bought me a bunch of groceries. I didn't want her to do it, but no was not an option with her. So I did the next best thing and make certain I chose wisely. I feel I get so caught up in my own life, I don't do enough for others.

foxling -> RE: Random Acts of Kindness (7/4/2011 11:43:43 AM)
I can only think of the one thing at the moment. A few years ago I was leaving the doctor's surgery and was in a clearly distraught state, sobbing and panicking. I turned the corner and leant against a lamp post out of people's way/view and a car pulled out of the car park and stopped next to me. A woman spent ten minutes there talking to me, making sure I was okay, and even though I didn't really want to talk about it I was really touched that someone had bothered to try and help me.

popeye1250 -> RE: Random Acts of Kindness (7/4/2011 12:23:21 PM)
Whenever there's someone behind me in the checkout line and they only have one or a few items I always let them go ahead of me. And I've made up the last few dollars needed to pay for a person's food order and many occaisions. They always ask for my adress or phone number but I just tell them don't worry about it. And I've rescued a number of people broken down on the side of the road. They're always glad to have the help.

sunshinemiss -> RE: Random Acts of Kindness (7/4/2011 4:09:17 PM)
... and Popeye - when have you RECEIVED the kindness... rather the point of the thread was not to toot our own horns but to show an attitude of gratitude.

pahunkboy -> RE: Random Acts of Kindness (7/4/2011 4:11:40 PM)
I was a guy helped at the side of the road- more then once.

sunshinemiss -> RE: Random Acts of Kindness (7/5/2011 8:12:41 AM)
I was on the phone with the bus info people tonight (gotta call a special number for English!) and the questions I asked were not being answered. So this lovely Korean couple - both of whom spoke fluent English - helped me find where I needed to catch the bus. YAY!

GreedyTop -> RE: Random Acts of Kindness (7/5/2011 8:30:45 AM)
YAY THEM!!

hlen5 -> RE: Random Acts of Kindness (7/5/2011 9:08:46 AM)
I'm currently building a doghouse. One can get two cuts free on wood (so you can get it into your car). the nice man helping me made the additional two cuts that I needed for all the pieces to be cut ( a one plywood sheet dog house, 12 pound Min-pin!). He didn't charge me for it when he rang my order up. Now I just have to assemble the plywood and 2 x2s (that I cut myself) for it. It's not donating blood on my behalf, but I appreciated it very much (especially since my blade on the circular saw is v e r y dull!!).

popeye1250 -> RE: Random Acts of Kindness (7/5/2011 9:35:36 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: sunshinemiss ... and Popeye - when have you RECEIVED the kindness... rather the point of the thread was not to toot our own horns but to show an attitude of gratitude. Oh sorry, not many lately. A few years ago I went to the druggist in the supermarket with an empty pill bottle from the V.A. and asked if he had any generic otc pills like that as my order from the V.A. wouldn't be in for 3-4 days. He gave me a handful of pills and said not to worry about it as they were cheap. When I was in the Navy if we were hitch-hiking in uniform people would always pick you up and give you rides and invite you to dinner and to stay at their houses for the night if you were on a long trip. That was always nice! You wouldn't be there for 5-10 minutes before someone stopped to give you a ride.

WinsomeDefiance -> RE: Random Acts of Kindness (7/5/2011 9:51:53 AM)
An online only friend of mine that was a member of my collaborative writing forum, heard from another online friend and member that I was ill & in and out of the hospital - the business I worked for went out of business and I'd lost my job. He asked if he could send me a card and flowers to cheer me up; but instead sent me a check for $5,000.00. When I moved to the house I live now, several guys in the neighborhood came down to help my sons unload the truck, without having to be asked. I'm fortunate to have had many random acts of kindness shown to me. I do believe in paying those kindnesses forward, and feel appreciative for any opportunity to do so.

LinnaeaBorealis -> RE: Random Acts of Kindness (7/5/2011 11:12:31 AM)
In February 2009, I was at the end of my rope. I'd been working at a job that I loved but had a perfectly awful soul-sucking boss & I didn't make enough money to cover my expenses. I had been unable to find another truck driving job & I'd cashed in my IRA's to survive. Out of the blue, my former lover called me & we talked & I ended up telling her about my problem & she had been very sympathetic. We ended the call & I went about my business & then the phone rang again. It was her & she told me that she'd just received a settlement & she wanted to help me out. She sent me $2000 which got me through until I did get a driving job. She could ill-afford that money & right now I know that she could use it herself due to her inability to work ever again.

MrHCurious -> RE: Random Acts of Kindness (7/5/2011 1:34:18 PM)
I've had friends do things for that are above and beyond what I'd ever have expected (and which I've tried to reciprocate. How well I've done is up for debate), but you said 'random acts' so maybe that's not quite applicable. I'm having trouble thinking of any, to be honest - I had one guy who was nice enough to point out I'd dropped my Oyster card getting on the bus, that's about it. By and large, I tend to do the random acts, which probably sounds hugely arrogant but I figure it's a couple of minutes or twenty pence out of my life that I can afford to lose and that'll make somebody else's day a bit brighter. No big loss.

LadyConstanze -> RE: Random Acts of Kindness (7/5/2011 1:43:11 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: WinsomeDefiance I'm fortunate to have had many random acts of kindness shown to me. I do believe in paying those kindnesses forward, and feel appreciative for any opportunity to do so. I like to call it "Repaying the universe"

GreedyTop -> RE: Random Acts of Kindness (7/5/2011 1:53:34 PM)
personally, I dont think I will live long enough the "pay forward' the random acts that I have been blessed with (not only the ones I posted before, but many that I probably wasnt aware of at the time). Oh! Another I just thought of... mid 80s, Los Angeles/Hollywood. Hangin out at the Rainbow. A few too many Long Island Iced Teas (back then, 3 could easily be too many, the way they made them...LOL). I had driven in, but was CERTAINLY in no shape to drive home. a random guy saw me stagger to the car.. stopped me, and asked me if I was ok. I dont recall what my response was, but it was enough that he took my keys, walked me to the passenger side, put me in the car, and drove me home.. well, home, after god knows how many wrong turns.. when he got me home, he got me into the house (QUIETLY!! since I was living w/ Mom and Stepdad, this was a HUGE plus), onto the sofa, took off my jacket and shoes, put a blanket over me... and left. To this day, I have NO idea what his name was (although I am sure I asked and was told.. probably several times), nor do I know how he got to wherever he was going (home, another club, whatever). I do know that given my state, there would have been countless chances for him to do all KINDS of ugly things (rape/theft/etc)... but he took me home, made sure I was safe, and left. I am mostly convinced that he was one of the battalion of guardian angels assigned to me.

sunshinemiss -> RE: Random Acts of Kindness (7/5/2011 3:51:14 PM)
I imagine, GT, that any guardian angels assigned to you are pretty banged up from what you put them through. :) I love that every day there are little acts of random kindness if we look for them - someone holding the door, lending a couple bucks, sharing their lunch, etc. It's amazing how it makes a difference in one's life. One of my students came to class without having had breakfast or lunch, and I gave him the apple that I'd brought for my snack. For the writing assignment (which was supposed to be about the reading we'd done), he instead wrote about the apple. He said, "I know I"m supposed to write about the poem/story/book/article, X. I don't want to. I look at the apple I'm eating. The teacher gave me an apple. Teachers don't do that. Is sunshine different or are all foreign teachers like that?" I mention it because it made such an impact on him. I can't help but wonder - is it his age (early 20s) and he doesn't realize or what they expect of foreigners? teachers? I figure with all the people that help me (and there is at least one every day), an apple is the least I can do. As Curiosity said: quote: I figure it's a couple of minutes or twenty pence out of my life that I can afford to lose and that'll make somebody else's day a bit brighter. No big loss. In fact, it's a huge gain. Perhaps kindness is selfishness...(I can live with that if it is).

LinnaeaBorealis -> RE: Random Acts of Kindness (7/5/2011 4:00:19 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: sunshinemiss quote: I figure it's a couple of minutes or twenty pence out of my life that I can afford to lose and that'll make somebody else's day a bit brighter. No big loss. In fact, it's a huge gain. Perhaps kindness is selfishness...(I can live with that if it is). This is why I posted about the roses & Walter. I sometimes think I get more out of being kind to others than they get from the kindness. And I think it helps to be reminded of what an impact a small act on our part can have on someone else. Yesterday I was accused by one person of being kind & by another person of being good. I want these rumors stopped, dammitallanyway!!!

Icarys -> RE: Random Acts of Kindness (7/5/2011 4:13:44 PM)
Does a random blowjob at a party count? I just wanna know so if I ever get one I'll have a story to tell when this type of thread pops up again.

sunshinemiss -> RE: Random Acts of Kindness (7/5/2011 4:16:06 PM)
Sunny Quote of the Day goes to Linnea for I was accused by one person of being kind & by another person of being good. I want these rumors stopped, dammitall anyway!!!

Icarys -> RE: Random Acts of Kindness (7/5/2011 4:22:43 PM)
Icarys Self-Quote of the Day goes to Icarys for Does a random blowjob at a party count? I just wanna know so if I ever get one I'll have a story to tell when this type of thread pops up again.

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