Kind Acts, just do it!

Subject: RE: Kind Acts, just do it!
From: Mbo
Date: 01 Jun 00 - 06:14 PM

Yep, I've talked to more adults in my time that folks my own age. They never understand what I'm talking about! Thank God for grownups! And I hope I'll be able to talk to the other kids when we are all older, maybe we'll understand each other better.

--Mbo

Subject: RE: Kind Acts, just do it!
From: Kim C
Date: 01 Jun 00 - 06:00 PM

I like Art's idea with the Groucho glasses. I have some I bought last Halloween! Of course we get a lot of strange looks driving down the road anyway because 1)we have two large dogs in the back and/or 2) we are dressed in Civil War gear.

It's fun to just do things for people. It can be very joyous for the giver as well as the givee.

Subject: RE: Kind Acts, just do it!
From: GUEST,Mrr
Date: 01 Jun 00 - 11:47 AM

And when other people let you merge, don't forget the Thank You wave...
Also, offer to carry things for old people even if it slows your pace. Hold doors for people with packages rather than rushing through them. Wait a bit in the parking lot to walk in with a colleague who just pulled in.
Interesting how a lot of these "random acts of kindness" can boil down to "wait a couple of extra seconds so you can..." - people who are in a hurry tend to forget that time isn't money, it's time, and time spent on increasing the ambient niceness isn't wasted or even spent, it's banked! What goes around DOES come around!

Aside: The main reason I moved South from the New England area can be summarized in one exchange I had with a friend:
Me: Hi, Matt, how are you? Matt (not slowing): I can't answer, I have to go to the library. I remember being amazed that someone could be too busy to return a greeting (Fine! would have taken less time) but not too busy to complain about how busy he was. And what was worse - I didn't even react at the time, it seemed OK to me! It was only when thinking about it later that I realized that although I'd lived there nearly 6 years now, this was NOT my tribe.

Subject: RE: Kind Acts, just do it!
From: Mooh
Date: 01 Jun 00 - 09:19 AM

Keli,

I liked your remark about conversation with young people! When I was a teenager, I loved it when adults would treat me as an adult, and talk frankly about anything. I now have some teenage guitar students who sometimes seem surprised when I ask them for their own opinions, perceptions, and feelings about (primarily) music. It's not too hard to pick out the ones who aren't accustomed to speaking with adults. Anyway, the biggest investment in youth can be honest attention to their intersts, but it is also easy for adults to forget that and start behaving like little dictators. Thanks for the reminder!

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: Kind Acts, just do it!
From: mactheturk
Date: 01 Jun 00 - 08:46 AM

*Let an older person, behind you in line at the grocery store, go in ahead of you...

*Order a mail-order gift, anonymously, for a friend or someone at work who needs to be cheered up...

*Go to an AIDS hospice or hospital ward and see what you can do for one person...

*If your the boss, bring your secretary a cup of coffee in the morning...

*Buy a giant box of candy at the theatre, take one and then pass the box down the row to share..

Subject: RE: Kind Acts, just do it!
From: Eluned
Date: 01 Jun 00 - 12:10 AM

I like this thread!!
The Australian toll-paying is really neat!

When visiting yard sales in the summer, pick up good scarves and mittens, even wool blankets if you can, and in the winter when it's cold keep them on hand or in your car to give them to poorly dressed people or ones you know to be street people. It'll warm both you and the recipient.

Subject: RE: Kind Acts, just do it!
From: DonMeixner
Date: 01 Jun 00 - 12:00 AM

When my son was in the hospital and we were on the edge financially, someone left us a $100.00 in a get well card. We said "We would repay it when we could." But these people said it wasn't from them but from the people who gave them the $100.00 when rheir house burned. We passed it on to another friend whose husband was in for heart surgery and they were in tough straights. I never thot of that money as ours, just a float to pass on down stream to a friend.

Don

Subject: RE: Kind Acts, just do it!
From: Crowhugger
Date: 31 May 00 - 11:50 PM

I like popping a little spare change into expired parking meters.

CH

Subject: RE: Kind Acts, just do it!
From: Kelida
Date: 31 May 00 - 11:31 PM

For everyone who has children--read them a bedtime story or sing them a song.

Don't get pissed at the guy who just cut you off on the highway, just think--maybe his day has been as stressful as yours.

Tip the waitress a little extra--it's a tough job, and maybe you'll make up for some of the cheapos who don't tip at all. Also, tip the street musicians--they deserve it.

Strike up a friendly conversation with a teenager or any young person--we like that, you know. Share your wisdom with the younger generation--too few of us have the connection we need with our elders. Even if it's that kid all in black with pink hair, they'll probably be grateful.

Hug a tree--literally. It sounds silly, but do it--you might feel a little more in touch with nature. Show the earth you love her.

Peace--Keli

Subject: RE: Kind Acts, just do it!
From: Gypsy
Date: 31 May 00 - 11:22 PM

Let pedestrians cross the street, let the other guy at a four way stop have the right of way. thank you and I love you are two of the most popular phrases that I know of. When you have a new musician at a jam, make certain that they have at least as many opportunities to play as anyone else. And never pass a hungry person (with the will work for food sign) without getting them something to eat.

Subject: RE: Kind Acts, just do it!
From: Art Thieme
Date: 30 May 00 - 11:43 PM

When in a traffic jam anywhere, open your glove compartment and withdraw a pair of glasses---the ones with a large Groucho Marx nose and moustache attached. Nobody will EVER get mad at you while you're wearing those. And you can't be mad at anyone else either.

Art Thieme

Subject: RE: Kind Acts, just do it!
From: Mooh
Date: 30 May 00 - 08:06 AM

Much of this seems for fall into that catagory of "Do onto others as you would have them do onto you". This isn't only a Christian ethic, but one which works universally, which is arguably why it's such a good Christian ethic.

Peace. Mooh.

Subject: RE: Kind Acts, just do it!
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 29 May 00 - 05:42 PM

Let's get it right this time: Stick the hungersite in your email signature (and visit it every day yourself).

Subject: RE: Kind Acts, just do it!
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 29 May 00 - 05:40 PM

Stick the hungersite in your email signature (and visit it every day yourself).

Subject: RE: Kind Acts, just do it!
From: mactheturk
Date: 29 May 00 - 01:10 PM

"If there is any kindness I can show, or any good thing I can to any fellow being, let me do it now, and not deter or neglect it, as I shall not pass this way again."

William Penn..

KGH... your right..we don't have to look any farther than our own neighborhood.

Mac

Subject: RE: Kind Acts, just do it!
From: keltcgrasshoppper
Date: 29 May 00 - 10:45 AM

And kindness works every time...There are so many people right in our own neighborhoods that would love a visit, a sincere Hello.. a smile.. a can I help...We are all so wrapped up in our own crazy busy world that we forget sometimes how good we feel when someone is kind.. Pass it on folks.. KGH

Subject: RE: Kind Acts, just do it!
From: mactheturk
Date: 29 May 00 - 10:20 AM

* When someone is trying to merge into your traffic lane, let them in... and why not smile and wave while doing it!

"There is no need for temples; no need for complicated philosophies. Our own brain, our own heart is our temple; my philosophy is kindness."

The Dalai Lama

Subject: RE: Kind Acts, just do it!
From: Callie
Date: 29 May 00 - 09:12 AM

There's a tradition of pracitising "random of acts of kindness" in Australia, most often when passing through a toll - you pay for yourslef AND the car behind you.

Subject: Kind Acts, just do it!
From: mactheturk
Date: 29 May 00 - 09:09 AM

A recent thread,"just do it, established a consensus regarding the importance of our "actions". Most people seem to agree that it's not so much our thoughts, words, intentions or even our feelings that really count but rather our deeds that make all the difference.

With that in mind, it might be fun to consider some small, specific acts that we all could do in order to make a difference.

For example;

*Ask an old person to tell you about his or her youth along with their favorite song.

*Send a letter to a teacher you once had letting her know about the difference she made in your life.

*Anonymously, slip a $20 bill into the pocketbook of a needy friend(or stranger)

*Next time you go to the ice-cream parlor, pay for a few free cones to be given to the next kids(or older folks) that come in.

These thoughts, of course, are not original and much has been written on this topic, just a follow up on a good thread...."Just Do It".

Mac