Random Acts of Kindess

Random Acts of Kindess (Full Version)

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AthenaSurrenders -> Random Acts of Kindess (1/6/2013 1:17:32 PM)
One of my goals this year is to carry out at least one act of kindness every week. I'd like to hear some ideas for some inexpensive things that would make you smile. Some of the ideas on my list so far: -Tape a little bag of change to a vending machine or parking meter for the next person -Donate old blankets to the dog shelter -Give out trolley tokens whenever I see someone struggling to find coins at the supermarket -knit a few preemie sized hats/cardigans/blankets for the maternity ward -knit some quick scarves and give them out to Big Issue sellers (I've been given three huge bags of unwanted yarn to use up) -buy some umbrellas from the pound shop and keep one in my bag to give away in rainstorms -collect the free coffee/sandwich loyalty stamps and give them away to a homeless person -take a couple of bunches of daffodils to the retirement home and ask the staff to give them to whoever needs a lift (possibly including pictures my toddler has made, although she won't understand the game for a while yet) -leave books I've finished in coffee shops and bus shelters -leave nice notes inside library books -leave small packets of baby wipes/nappy sacks at public baby change stations (lord knows I could have done with that a few times) Any ideas please?

Toysinbabeland -> RE: Random Acts of Kindess (1/6/2013 1:21:21 PM)
Write a letter of encouragement anonymously to someone struggling.

LaTigresse -> RE: Random Acts of Kindess (1/6/2013 1:25:48 PM)
Sometimes the most appreciated doesn't cost anything. Holding a door for someone. Taking a grocery cart into the store to use that a shopper left outside, rather than getting one inside and letting them pile up on the cart corral outside. Maybe even take a few to leave inside. Thanking people, and actually meaning it. Standing up for a customer service person when another customer is being rude. Listening to people instead of talking. Offering a service you would normally charge for, to someone for free. Forgiveness. Even when it's somewhat unwarranted. Time. Giving people your time is sometimes everything.

ChatteParfaitt -> RE: Random Acts of Kindess (1/6/2013 1:36:44 PM)
Not surprising, I like this list. As some of you may know, I am 'into' Eastern philosophy which is, to a great extent, about how to change the expression of negative emotion to the expression of positive emotion. (Yes, it takes much inner though to get there.) Whenever I have contact with another human being, I actively think about how I can be a positive force, as opposed to a negative one. We all have a choice. The question is, what do you do with yours? TY Athena, most excellent thread !!

dcnovice -> RE: Random Acts of Kindess (1/6/2013 2:01:27 PM)
FR Great thread, Athena! One quick idea that comes to mind is to be mindful of folks (store clerks, grocery cashiers, etc.) who provide good service and call or email their employer with a commendation.

kiwisub12 -> RE: Random Acts of Kindess (1/6/2013 2:08:25 PM)
I did one today - got home, a dog was on the front porch, and was very happy to see us. I called the owner and put the dog in the back yard. Damn, i'm nice. But it is so easy just to ignore animals on the street. So that is my random acto of kindness today. [:D]

captive4ever -> RE: Random Acts of Kindess (1/6/2013 2:11:07 PM)
Surely if you have a list it is not a random act, kind or otherwise.... just saying... Happy New Year quote: ORIGINAL: AthenaSurrenders One of my goals this year is to carry out at least one act of kindness every week. I'd like to hear some ideas for some inexpensive things that would make you smile. Some of the ideas on my list so far: -Tape a little bag of change to a vending machine or parking meter for the next person -Donate old blankets to the dog shelter -Give out trolley tokens whenever I see someone struggling to find coins at the supermarket -knit a few preemie sized hats/cardigans/blankets for the maternity ward -knit some quick scarves and give them out to Big Issue sellers (I've been given three huge bags of unwanted yarn to use up) -buy some umbrellas from the pound shop and keep one in my bag to give away in rainstorms -collect the free coffee/sandwich loyalty stamps and give them away to a homeless person -take a couple of bunches of daffodils to the retirement home and ask the staff to give them to whoever needs a lift (possibly including pictures my toddler has made, although she won't understand the game for a while yet) -leave books I've finished in coffee shops and bus shelters -leave nice notes inside library books -leave small packets of baby wipes/nappy sacks at public baby change stations (lord knows I could have done with that a few times) Any ideas please?

ChatteParfaitt -> RE: Random Acts of Kindess (1/6/2013 2:14:37 PM)
I think those were examples. In any case, this is a hugely positive thread, and you stuck you negative oar in why exactly? Just to show that you're a douchecanoe? Or you had some other reason?

LaTigresse -> RE: Random Acts of Kindess (1/6/2013 2:21:01 PM)
Some people simply cannot help themselves. It must suck to be them.

AthenaSurrenders -> RE: Random Acts of Kindess (1/6/2013 2:24:43 PM)
They are random in that the kindness will (for the most part) go to a random person. And true, some won't be random at all. This week I'm going to bake my famous chocolate brownies for the staff at the baby clinic, who helped us out so much earlier this year and probably don't get thanked much since their clientèle are busy and sleep-deprived. Still, I'm sure you get the point. Thank you for the ideas so far. I do try in general to be pro-social (opening doors, being friendly to servers, letting people into queues) but it's still good to hear those kind of suggestions. Thanks for the reminder about giving positive feedback to managers, I have done that once or twice but probably not as often as it has been warranted.

EsotericLady -> RE: Random Acts of Kindess (1/6/2013 2:35:09 PM)
What a marvelous subject to add to the boards, Athena! :) And thanks to Chatte Parfaitt I have learned a new form of canoe today! LOL Might I add: thanking the grocery person who sacks your groceries offering to help a bewildered person find something in a store...be it a grocery item or a certain department sending a letter to a business naming someone who gave you exceptional customer service taking a meal to a shut-in or homebound person sending a "thinking of you note" to someone who has lost a loved one....a month or so after the fact leaving a bouquet of flowers at the gravesite of someone you don't know relieving a mother of her children for an afternoon reading a story to a bed-ridden person etc., etc. The possibilities and people are endless. So pass it on! :) Thanks!

needlesandpins -> RE: Random Acts of Kindess (1/6/2013 2:38:09 PM)
the 'thank you' thing goes along way with me. it may only be a small thing, but i hate it when you've gone out of your way to move over, hold back, wait for someone else to make things easier for them, and they can't even say thank you. the last time i was at my Dr's there was a lady on crutches moving very slowly. we have push buttons to open doors, but they were closing before she got to them. so i opened them for her...twice. i then followed her down a corridor, but she wasn't aware that i was behind her. i just waited patiently unlike the guy that clearly saw her, but barged past. she appeared to be in some discomfort with whatever caused her to need the crutches, and was sniffing heavily. we were approaching the same doors again and she seemed to be in a dilema as to what to do. she needed a tissue, but also needed to get through the doors. not wanting to make her feel uncomfortable i took a tissue out of my bag saying 'sorry, but i noticed you seem like you could do with a tissue. if you like i'll wait while you use it and then make sure the doors stay open for you'. i stayed with her and got the rest of the doors for her as we went out of the building. i noticed that there wasn't anyone in any of the cars in the carpark and asked if she was ok getting home. she almost cried saying that once in her car she was ok, it was just the walking that was the problem. she had thanked me the whole time from the first time i had opened the door for her, and explained that she was very greatful because she had had a really tough day and no-one else had offered her any help at all. it had made her day for someone to actually notice her. i was just glad to help, but it made me angry that this lady had struggled, and that it was very easy to see how badly she was struggling, yet no-one had offered her help at all. i'm well known for my large shoulder bag amongst my friends, family, and co workers. it's very heavy because it has everything but the kitchen sink in it. i'm the go to person for alot of stuff. the reason i do it is because i've been in situations before where i needed a tissue suddenly, a plaster etc but haven't had them. i also carry sugarfree sweets because there is nothing worse than getting a cough in a public place such as a bus and you have nothing to help stop it. so i offer what i have to others in the hope that if i were the one in need someone may be able to help me too. needles

jlf1961 -> RE: Random Acts of Kindess (1/6/2013 2:39:37 PM)
Well, I dont know if it is a random act of kindness, but recently at the plasma center where I donate, a client complained about one of the techs telling him not to lean forward to look at the readout since he could cause the needle to infiltrate. He also criticized every other tech in the section. I made a point to tell the manager that the tech in question did nothing wrong and was more polite than I would have been given his attitude. She still got in trouble for trying to keep him from doing something that is not supposed to be done, but my speaking up did keep her from getting fired. Other than that, I buy my nephew special treats when I grocery shop. Healthy treats. He is only 11 months old.

SylvereApLeanan -> RE: Random Acts of Kindess (1/6/2013 2:42:31 PM)
Help sweep or shovel the walk for an elderly person. Scrape the frost/ice/snow off your neighbor's car before you leave for work in the morning. Offer hot/cold drinks to outdoor workers - landscapers, doormen, postal carriers, etc. Cook and deliver a meal to an elderly person, someone who has been ill, or someone who recently had a baby. (If you do this one, be careful to avoid common allergy foods like peanuts and beware of other dietary restrictions like sugar for diabetics.) Animal shelters also need old towels and newspapers or you can donate bags of food, cat litter, chew toys, and other items.

doctorgrey -> RE: Random Acts of Kindess (1/6/2013 2:48:44 PM)
The majoprity of people on the planet will most probably remain blissfully unaware of the favour I do them simply by trying to steer well clear of them. You're welcome DrG

kalikshama -> RE: Random Acts of Kindess (1/6/2013 2:53:31 PM)
quote: One quick idea that comes to mind is to be mindful of folks (store clerks, grocery cashiers, etc.) who provide good service and call or email their employer with a commendation. Yes people are often quick to criticize but slow to compliment. When I get good customer service online I tell them. After I read magazines I bring them to the VA hospital. I bring my empty egg cartoons, jars, and shopping bags to the farm stand. (Yes, this is more Recycling 2.0 than kindness, but I thought I'd throw it in there.) Sometimes I pay for the person behind me at the toll booth.

kiwisub12 -> RE: Random Acts of Kindess (1/6/2013 3:20:45 PM)
When my Sir was ill and in the hospital, i left after his emergency surgery - and realised that i had locked my keys in the car. It was 1130pm, i was tired and upset and it was the last straw. A security guard who was off the clock found me and opened my car for me, after about half an hour of trying. It was so sweet and unexpected, and was the only nice thing that had happened that day. He didn't have to do that - he was off the clock - but he took pity on me and did more good than he knew. A true act of random kindness.

ChatteParfaitt -> RE: Random Acts of Kindess (1/6/2013 4:54:17 PM)
TY kiwi, that man might not have had any idea of what his simple act of kindness meant to you. Sometimes, it really, really does mean a lot to the person.

ChatteParfaitt -> RE: Random Acts of Kindess (1/6/2013 4:56:23 PM)
TY so very much. I liked the metaphor of 'sticking your oar in' and 'douchecanoe,' but then I am special that way.

slaveluci -> RE: Random Acts of Kindess (1/6/2013 5:26:49 PM)
All very nice ideas, Athena. Something that means a lot to me when people do it is politeness in traffic. Slowing down, letting someone in front of you, not tailgating, etc. Bad driving on others' part really can ruin my day and I love it when others are polite about driving. I try to return the favor........luci

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