Random acts of Kindness

[somethingcleverer]

Have you done them before? What did you do?

Have you been on the receiving end of an act of kindness?

Today is the one year anniversary of Emily Beazley's death (a young girl who died of cancer in my neighborhood but gained national news attention when Taylor Swift called her) and her family asked that people do a random act of kindness to honor her memory. I would like to do something small but I'm just trying to think of what to do. I may not be getting out to buy coffee for the car behind me so I'm curious what others have done.

[origamimommy]

We did this is another group I'm a part of when my friend lost her husband in the San Bernardino shooting.

People mailed diapers anonymously to others, Amazon pantry boxes to food banks, bought coffee, bought lower end gift cards and left them around the store with a note, brought formula to homeless shelters, flowers to different people / churches / mosques.

There were also lots of acts of service--mowing lawns, painting fences, that kind of thing.

[xanthepants]

I've mowed lawns, shoveled snow for neighbors I guess out of the blue. We buy small grocery gift cards for the neighbors once in a while who are hard up. I've bought drinks for random little old ladies at the bar on their birthdays. Or paid the bill for lunch or breakfast for a mom with her kid at Ihop as I'm leaving and they struggling thru the morning. I try to complement other Moms on well behaved kids when I see them and tell them what a great job they are doing.

[origamimommy]

xanthepants, you reminded me! One thing that always is received well is if I see a mom struggling with her kid, holding a boundary that the kid is pissed about and throwing a tantrum, I always give a smile or even say something like, "I have so been there! You are doing a great job." Those moments are so hard and it's nice to hear that the kid is an asshole, yes, but it doesn't mean the mom is a bad mom or anything. It just means kids need help with their emotions. Just a random, easy thing to make someone's day a little better.

[trixi282]

So I can't remember if I shared this when it happened.... but back a few weeks ago when I had the really ridiculous few days leading up to traveling to Toronto for work I did a random act of kindness, which was also in memory of the little girl I know through another mommy group who died of brain cancer.... 


Anyway, in the midst of the madness I was at the passport office expediting a new passport, I paid for 2 hrs of Street parking, not knowing how long I might have to wait to drop off/process my forms, even though I had an appointment.

It was the automated paper ticket that you put in the window type.... So as I'm leaving the spot in front of me was empty, and a truck starts to pull into the spot. I literally had been there 20 minutes, total. So I wait for him to get partially into the spot and I walk up along side him. He rolls his window down and I say "I'm parked right behind you, and I payed for 2 hours of parking, and only used 20 minutes. You can have this ticket and when I pull out you can back into my spot!" With a nice big grin on my face.

The guy was shocked and just said "Really? Wow, thanks!". He looked at the ticket as I ran back to my car. I pulled out and as I did so he waved and gave me a thumbs up with a huge smile on his face.

Not only did it help him a but, but honestly it helped lift my spirit too, and I needed that. It was only $2, but sometimes little things are worth much more than the monetary amount.

[jennmm]

I worked in a pharmacy during high school and college. We had a lot of elderly customers. I tied a woman's shoes for her once because she was older and not in good physical condition at all. She was very grateful and it did make me feel good. I don't think I've actually told anyone this story before.

[sarasansh]

We try to give a server at a restaurant a 100% tip once a year. I have so many friends that have worked as waiters and they have to deal with so many jerks, I try to make up for one jerk they've served.

[sarahandeddie]

I didn't really consider this a random act of kindness but the women on the receiving end did. I was walking through the grocery store and I saw an elderly lady drop a coupon. I was a ways away but noticed she was struggling to pick it up and watched several people walk past her. I went over and picked it up for her and she was very greatfull. As she walked away I noticed she could barely walk and I was glad to have helped, although helping the elderly should be an automatic in my book.

The other day I was at the grocery store and the ladies in front of me had forgotten their fuel perks card. They asked for mine and ran mine through with their purchases. I ended up with 40cents/gallon off from them!

[summergirl1211]

I'm glad you posted this because it made me think I need to do these things more often! Last week I went to the little snack store at work for some junk food and brought back a bag of candy for a girl who sits by me. She just moved from Oklahoma and she told me she liked them, so I put them on her desk with a note. It totally made her day!

[MissMusic]

Sorry, late to the game.

I have paid for the coffee of the person behind me in line, shoveled snow for elderly neighbors, popped in on friend to help with the kids when I know they are struggling, and I've left $5 in places (like a library book) with a note like, "Hey, you are pretty great and I wanted you to know it! Take yourself out for ice cream!"

People have done the same for me--I found $5 in the $1 section at Target with a note that said "In memory of ___ who did this kind of thing all the time. Find something you like, buy it, and remember him!" Something like that. It gave me the idea.