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Random Acts of Kindness

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I posted in another thread how a few days ago, a lady let me go in front of her in the supermarket queue and then straight after a man let me go on the bus before him even though he was there before me, and it put me in a good mood all day. Since then I've been thinking about how something semingly so small could make such a big difference to someone's mood, and have vowed to do at least one kind thing every day to a complete stranger. Of course, anyone who's read Danny Wallace's books will be familiar with this concept ;) but sometimes it's easy to forget to be nice to those around us, and even the tiniest little thing could put a smile on someone else's face.

Here is mine for today: at work I offered to go and get a basket for an old lady who was struggling to carry lots of shopping in her arms. She was really grateful :)

Anyone with me? :p
D'you know, in 900 years of space and time, I've never met anyone who wasn't important
The Doctor
Taste The Rainbow :heartsmil
«1345678

Comments

  • tru
    tru Posts: 9,138 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic
    Yep :D

    Our local church does this, cept they called it Acts of Random Kindness. They leave a little card to tell the person they've been ARKed :rotfl: http://www.arked.co.uk/ Some good stories on there.
    Bulletproof
  • meritaten
    meritaten Posts: 24,158 Forumite
    Claire Bear - Its accepted practice at my local Aldi that those with full trolleys allow those behind them in the queue with a few items to go in front of them! even when there are two or more! the checkouts are so fast that no-one minds anyway!
    I do agree with you though - and i do try to be courteous and help others where possible - even if its only holding a baby while mum struggles onto or off a bus with buggy and shopping. I even grit my teeth and smile when some OAP elbows her way past me convinced if she isnt next on the bus she is missing out!
    hey, today I even gave a total stranger a couple of my ciggys when he said he would swap his lighter for ONE cigarette! gave him a couple and refused the lighter. was that kind or was I helping him towards his demise? depends on whether you are nicotine addicted! lol.
  • Frugalista
    Frugalista Posts: 1,747 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    I have also heard of the books ;) and also think of the film "Pay it Forwards".

    When I had to attend the hospital I used to pass on my parking ticket if it still had any time left on it (to be honest, I do that in most car parks) as they charge so much for so little time. People are usually really stunned that a stranger would do that for them :( - but it makes me feel good too.

    At the supermarket a lady took a pack of meat off the shelf and all the others slid onto the floor! I went to help her pick them up and she said "But you don't have to do that" - she seemed surprised that I would actually want to help! She smiled at me every time I saw her afterwards :o.

    It's a sad world when we have all become so insular and detatched from other people :(.
    "Men are generally more careful of the breed(ing) of their horses and dogs than of their children" - William Penn 1644-1718

    We live in a time where intelligent people are being silenced so that stupid people won't be offended.
  • OrkneyStar
    OrkneyStar Posts: 7,025 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    I love the idea of paying it forward.....doing something nice for someone whenever someone else does something nice for you :).
    Ermutigung wirkt immer besser als Verurteilung.
    Encouragement always works better than judgement.

  • Claire_Bear
    Claire_Bear Posts: 1,372 Forumite
    edited 20 July 2010 at 9:30PM
    Frugalista, I had a similar experience the other week, I'd bought a day tripper for the bus so I could get to work and back and had finished using it at about 1 in the afternoon. When I got home I went to the bus stop over the street and offered it to a lady who was stood there with her child and was rummaging around in her purse for change. The look of shock and disbelief on her face when I gave her the bus ticket was quite comical but I also felt sad that someone was clearly so suprised that someone else did something nice for them.

    I also like to think that good deeds will be paid forward, it's kind of nice to imagine a wave of kindness sweeping through the town as people are inspired to do nice things for other people :D

    ETA: That ARKed site is brill, some really good stories (and ideas which I might pinch) on there
    D'you know, in 900 years of space and time, I've never met anyone who wasn't important
    The Doctor
    Taste The Rainbow :heartsmil
  • ginnyknit
    ginnyknit Posts: 3,718 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    My friend and I Mary took the idea of random acts of kindness a few years ago and have practiced it ever since. Mary is a very devout lady and a blessing to many people with the help she gives them. I love this and have encouraged my kids to do it too as it is very rewarding to see peoples faces when a hand appears when they need it.
    Clearing the junk to travel light
    Saving every single penny.
    I will get my caravan
  • lauren_1
    lauren_1 Posts: 2,067 Forumite
    I've been Money Tipped!
    i like reading the 'givesmehope' or GMH site, always a tearjerker and has some very touching random acts of kindness
  • pammyj74
    pammyj74 Posts: 3,290 Forumite
    It is such a good feeling on both sides when you help someone and when someone helps you. Someone helped me and my kids when we were struggling to carry some compost to the car. Also one day I was carrying a few awkward bags and a man offered to help me. There are those people out there lol

    I always let people out when in the car, (although doesnt always happen for me!) and let people cross the road when they are waiting. And let people go in front of me if they only have a few things. Its all those little things that you might not think make a difference to someone.
    MPs left feb '08 276- Dec 13 36 :T MB Jan 10 ~ £82,377 Dec 13 ~ £29987
    EMFD was Feb 32 :eek: NOW Dec 2013 its Dec 2016
    MF new target Dec 16 REACHED!! :j
  • brighthair
    brighthair Posts: 646 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    I paid for an eldery ladies shopping in Booths. She couldn't remember her PIN and was getting a bit upset, so I paid for it for her
  • meritaten
    meritaten Posts: 24,158 Forumite
    actually - I do it because it helps to build my GOOD karma and negates the BAD things I have done in this life. I hope I live a long time as I have a lot of Bad karma to make up for!
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