random acts of kindness

[evedawn]

(Again another post has made me think of this....)

have you had the priviledge of being at the receiving end of random acts of kindness recently?

Have you gone out of your way to be kind to someone else?

Whether giving or receiving kindness can put such a happy glow in a persons sould I wonder why we don't practice this more often?

[sandyg2244]

It's not much but although I'm always short of cash, I once got some money in my account I wasnt expecting.I saw a homeless girl with a dog and put a fiver in the jar she was holding.I have never seen so much gratitude, but at the same time as I handed over the money I could see this girl looked as though she was heavy drug user.I felt bad for a while, but at the same time, I couldnt know for sure and i'm not here to judge.I just felt like giving something back when I had an unexpected windfall.did it a few weeks ago with a big issue seller and gave him a fiver when I got money I wasn;t expecting.maybe becuase I know what its like to be skint.a nice feeling though, and yes maybe more people should do it.doesnt have to involve money, just giving in some way to someone in need for the heck of it.

[Quoi]

Yep evedawn - - I was held up in the queue at a petrol station because a young ladies credit card had been refused & the cashier seemed to want to broadcast her embarrassment. So I paid it for her just to spite the cashier really.

[beanebabe]

I ran after a lady today who had dropped her glove. She thanked me profusely and said I would get lucky today! My son bit through his tongue at school and I had to leave work early! I guess that was it!

[wiggal]

I was once at a train station and an old lady came up to me and asked if I had a drink as her husband really needed to take some tablets, I didnt have a drink on me, so went to the other side of the station and got one from a drinks machine for them. When I got back and gave it to them she was insistant on giving me all the change in her pocket (around �10 worth) but I obviously refused it.

Felt really nice, especially to see how gratefull her & her husband were!

[Panic Button]

I got a mini statement from the hole in the wall the other day.

I then requested �40, and read the mini statement in a daze wondering where all my dough had gone (as usual)

As I walked away with my card and mini statement the next lady in the queue kindly called me back to take out my �40 cash from the slot.

[leelapops]

Hello evedawn, I am always nice to people, regardless of who they are-opening doors, helping with bags etc. I see it as regular, but sometimes it's disheartening to see that not many other people around me make the same efforts.

I agree, I am so touched when someone offers me a gesture of kindness, whatever it is, and I know others feel the same on the receiving end.

x

[andy-hughes]

I dropped my daughter off at a friend's house, and pulled into the bus layby so she could get out. Although I was careful to pull right to the front, so a bus could get in and out easily, the bus came along and sailed past a little old lady who was standing shivering at the bus stop. I couldn't leave here there and drive off, so i offered her a lift into town which she gratefully accepted. All the way there she kept thanking me, and saying how most people would not have bothered to do that. Sadly, I had to agree, but I was glad I was not 'most people' that day.

[Bohne]

I absolutely love those type of posts, even though they make re realize how little I usually do, even though lots of little things can make such a difference.

I went round a friend's house, yesterday who is sick and just split up with her boyfriend, and brought her some cake and chocolate.
Hope that lifted her spirits a little.

Other than that, I am so absorbed with my own stress at the moment, that I only see things when they jump out right in front of me!

:o(

[homerbart]

I am like leelapops - I am kind too but sometimes it is disheartening not to get it back but this time I did.

One day I was queuing in a small Abbey National bank in my local area. A man was standing behind me and I knew he was in agony with pain and could not stand long. I walked up to the top of the queue and asked the first person would they let the man in question go in front of him to which he/she said yes. I told the man to go ahead which he did. After my turn was over some time later I went outside to find the man thanked me and bought me a box of roses for doing what I did. I could not believe it. Nice story huh!!!!

[aka pixi]

I do all the usual little things , holding doors open, giving my seat up on buses to anyone who needs it more than me, offering a helping hand if someone is struggling, helping out if someone is ill etc

I have been on the receiving end lots of times. I have a muscle condition and when it flares up I find normal everyday tasks really hard. I am amazed at the amount of strangers who have offered me a helping hand over the years.

I got burgled last year and I was totally devastated by it. A work mate turned up a couple of days later with a 'hope you are feeling better soon' card and some chocolate for me. I was so touched I just burst into tears. As long as I live I will never forget that.

[MiniN]

i try to be helpful to people all the time. I'm always picking up toys etc thrown from buggys etc or picking up stuff people drop for them.

I will stop and hold doors open for delivery people (e.g a couples of weeks ago i passed a cafe nero where a delivery man was struggling to hold the glass doors open and push his trolley through).

I always want to help people out and I am sincerely touched when someone helps me out.

when i see people stranded I really want to offer people lifts but i'm too afraid to, being a petite young woman, you never know who you might be picking up. its a shame really.

[mrs_overall]

I once got off a train and as I was getting into my car in the car park I was surrounded by 4 hulking great skinheads. They had their shirts off, were clutching cans of Special Brew and were covered in tattooes and piercings. They'd been on the same train as me (it's a local service) but they'd got off a stop too soon. They asked me for a lift to the next station, about 3 miles away. I was alone with no one in sight and I was terrified. They piled into the car and off we went. When we arrived at the next station they jumped out of the car and the biggest one said
"Right lads, empty your pockets for the lady."
They started to pile their loose change on the front passenger seat - about �25 in total. I protested I didn't want it but they insisted.

It reminded me never to judge a book by its cover.

[aka pixi]

thats a great story mrs overall and I wish more people wouldn't judge a book by its cover.

I remember years ago when I was a punk, I stood with my back to a supermarket door to hold it open for an elderly lady who was behind me, I couldnt hold it with my hands as I had loads of bags of shopping. I stood waiting for her to pass me and she was just staring at me. So I said 'go on love, after you' and she looked at me with complete horror on her face. I'm sure she thought I was gonna mug her as she passed me. Okay so I had a mohican, tattoos, piercing and massive boots on but that didnt make me a bad person. It was obvious she wasnt going to pass me so I just went out and let the door shut behind me and left her standing there. Sounds bad but what else could I do?

[MiniN]

tomorrow, why don't we all go out of our way to be kind to a stranger? no matter how big or small the act is. then come back on AB and let us know what you did

[stonemonkey]

This was nothing to me, but it made an elderly woman burst into tears. I was getting Sunday papers early one weekend. I was starting to get grouchy because there was a queue. An elderly woman was taking her time to pay. I didn't realise that the young boy behind the counter was hassling her over paying with loose change. He couldn't be bothered (they were his words to me) to count her change, and wanted a �5 note instead. She looked distressed, so I counted the money and it was 5p short. She hadn't any more money so he was shouting at her and ordering her to walk home and come back with the 5p. I gave it to her and put the items in her bag. She walked out with her head down, shuffling her feet and looking a sorry state. I paid for my papers, and caught up with her. She was sobbing, and calling me an angel. It was 5p, and that boy was treating her like scum!

[mrs_overall]

What a good idea MiniN.

Stonemonkey, what a horrible shop assistant. Did anyone point out the error of HIS ways?

[Ice.Maiden]

I always try to help people who're genuinely in need, because there but for the grace, etc.

[leelapops]

Aww, I am a little weepy at this thread! So nice to see some lovely people exist. stone, I hope you went back and suggested to the shop assistant that it might have just been him in the wrong! He sounds so petty, and she sounded so lovely!

mrs O, so true. We are sometimes quick to judge, and slow to back down on our "first impressions"! aka, more fool her, you know what a good heart you have :) homerbart, a lovely story indeed :) What a nice man, and what a nice gesture from you.

I agree with MiniN. Lots of random acts of kindness next time we are out :) x

[andy-hughes]

Some fascinating stories here - what a great uplifting thread this is!

mrs_overall's story reminds me -

We returned home from a holiday in Europe pretty sure that my wife was pregnant, so we rushed off to town to get a test done. The car battery was flat, and stalled on the middle of a busy duel carriageway. A car pulled up and four hulking great brutes you;d cross the road to avoid came ambling over. They were all wonderfully polite students who gave us a push-start and wished us well with our potential new arrival.

As has been said - never judge by appearences.

[Bohne]

I think I am going to cry after reading all this!

Life could be so wonderful, if everybody slowed down just a little and took the time to look around!