BS: Random Acts of Kindness

Subject: BS: Random Acts of Kindness
From: Don Firth
Date: 11 Jul 06 - 04:34 PM

Wow! A short time ago I ran across the thread about the Terrorist Bombing in India. Fortunately, awhile later I ran across another story that improved my mood quite a bit.

The general principle that most news outlets seem to use (and some have explicitly said so), is "If it bleeds, it leads!"

Well, fine and dandy. But it seems to me that it might be a major step toward a better world if, along with all the blood and gore, the news media did a few more features like the following news item I ran across a few minutes ago.

HERE,

Anybody have any experiences similar to these?

Don Firth

Subject: RE: BS: Random Acts of Kindness
From: Leadfingers
Date: 11 Jul 06 - 05:28 PM

Don - it would indeed be an improvement in life generally if Good News
sold as many copies of a newspaper as Bad News !

Subject: RE: BS: Random Acts of Kindness
From: Peace
Date: 11 Jul 06 - 05:32 PM

WONDERFUL WORLD

Don't know much about history
Don't know much biology
Don't know much about a science book
Don't know much about the French I took

But I do know that I love you
And I know that if you love me too
What a wonderful world this would be

Don't know much about geography
Don't know much trigonomitry
Don't know much about algebra
Don't know what a slide rule is for

But I do know one and one is two
And if this one could be with you
What a wonderful world this would be

Now I don't claim, to be an A-student
But I'm trying to be
For maybe by being an A-student, baby
I could win your love for me

{repeat first two blocks)

Subject: RE: BS: Random Acts of Kindness
From: Sorcha
Date: 11 Jul 06 - 05:43 PM

Well, we have a 'develop. disabled' older woman who comes in often....and always asks for strawberry pie. I led boss over to her and said, this is who you need to ask.

Later tonight, I'm making her a strawberry pie and delivering it to her tomorrow. Does that count?

Subject: RE: BS: Random Acts of Kindness
From: Wesley S
Date: 11 Jul 06 - 05:53 PM

I had a good friend who would spot two groups of singles in a bar. Then she would send a waitress over with a round of drinks for both groups and have the waitress say that the other group sent the drinks.

Subject: RE: BS: Random Acts of Kindness
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 11 Jul 06 - 09:42 PM

Talk about miniscule (and ancient) randmo acts of kindness.. when I was a teenager, if my friends noticed a car parked where the time on the parking meter had expired, we'd put a few pennies in. We're talking a LONNNNNNNG time ago, when a penny would buy you 6 minutes of time on a meter. It wasn't much of an act of kindness, but we were at least well intentioned.

Jerry

Subject: RE: BS: Random Acts of Kindness
From: Amos
Date: 11 Jul 06 - 11:52 PM

More good news can be found at The Good News Network -- a different sort of news organization.


A

Subject: RE: BS: Random Acts of Kindness
From: gnu
Date: 12 Jul 06 - 02:07 PM

A few days ago, as I was driving along in my pickup, I saved the lives of three skinheads. I was approaching an intersection and they were on the sidewalk, giving the finger and yelling at a car that had just left the intersection when the light turned green. I don't know what all that was about. All I know is that they were quite involved with their vitriol and were completely unaware of the approaching danger. I don't know what made me act so quickly and so instinctively. At the very last instant, I decided not to run them over.

Subject: RE: BS: Random Acts of Kindness
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Jul 06 - 03:19 PM

There was a special edition of Nightline that ran a year or two before Fred Rogers died, and they replayed it after his death. When he was a child out walking with his father, his dad would take a few pennies and place them on posts or windowsills along the city street. When asked about it, his father responded that the children who found the pennies would be very happy about it.

So many of those stories in the Times tend to revolve around food--something this culture has far too much of and some complicated baggage about. (The true beneficiary of those acts of kindness were Starbucks and other eateries, weren't they?) It is nice to make someone's day, especially the families with small children in modest establishments (been there, done that!) but I prefer it to be in the services rendered area, like picking up litter, carrying a bag, opening a door, or doing a favor. Anonymous or not.

My hairdresser has had health problems for several years. He had a hip replacement surgery last year after agonizing months of waiting because he has no insurance and it was at the county hospital. It seemed like the hip was giving him problems a few months later but turned out it was a neck/spine thing that was radiating pain down his leg. More surgery finally, after another long wait. I tried to call him Monday to see when he thinks he'll be going back to work, but his phone was disconnected. An act of kindness was to get cash for the cost of my highlights and haircut and tip and go by his house yesterday to see how he's doing. He's looking and feeling much better and is looking much more fit. The house is in foreclosure, so they're going to have to scramble to get things back in order once he does get back to work so my offering was small, but I gave him the cash, telling him I wanted to prepay my next haircut so maybe he can get his phone hooked up again. With his health, he needs a phone in the house.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Random Acts of Kindness
From: Don Firth
Date: 12 Jul 06 - 03:50 PM

One thing I like to do just for the novelty of the thing is when I'm driving, be nice to other drivers. Backing off and letting someone make a lane change, stopping when a pedestrian is looking for an opportunity to cross a street, that sort of thing. I don't know if it's really a kind thing to do, because it sometimes confuses the hell out of them. But I work on the idea that if I do it, they'll maybe pass it on to someone else and it'll develop into a chain reaction (my momma always told me I should be a good example).

I am almost always the recipient of random acts of kindness when I'm out roaming around in my wheelchair. A lot of stores and shops don't have automatic doors. Trying to maneuver a wheelchair while struggling to open a heavy door is very tricky, and almost always, someone steps up and opens the door for me. And in grocery stores and such, when something is on a shelf too high for me to reach, friendly folks are always willing to reach it for me. Much appreciated!

Don Firth

Subject: RE: BS: Random Acts of Kindness
From: number 6
Date: 12 Jul 06 - 04:36 PM

Very good of you gnu ... saving your truck from getting damaged.

What's with those Moncton skinheads anyway ... a while back one stepped out in front of me while driving along Mountan road ... hit the breaks hard, to save the car ... only this guys slams his fist down on the hood (bonnet) of my car and abruptly, and loudly tells me to f*%k off! Scarred the bejeezuz out of my wife.

sIx

Subject: RE: BS: Random Acts of Kindness
From: Sorcha
Date: 12 Jul 06 - 05:15 PM

Yes, always Pay It Forward. The pie was a HUGE hit!
Once, years ago a new neighbor, well actually WE were the new neighbors, gave us $100 to buy food. We were walking the highway looking for cans to sell for food.....months later we tried to pay it back. They said, no, pay it forward, and we still do.

Subject: RE: BS: Random Acts of Kindness
From: rock chick
Date: 12 Jul 06 - 05:22 PM

Some year ago I lost my purse, all my cards in it, together with quite a bit of money, I think it fell out of my car when I got in, anyway I stopped all the cards and thought that was the end of it, then in the post it arrived all intact including the money, there was no note so I was unable to thank the person. I put a small advertisement in the local paper hoping the person may see it, just my way of saying thank you. It gives you back the faith in human nature when there are so many awful things happening in our world.

rc

Subject: RE: BS: Random Acts of Kindness
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Jul 06 - 05:59 PM

I found what looked like a small pocketbook in the street in New York City many years ago--it was obviously a well-used calendar, with lots of business cards tucked in everywhere. I figured out who the owner was and put it in the mail to her, and called a few days later to be sure it arrived. I called because I was really curious about how it got to where I found it.

Turns out her purse, on the floor by her feet, had been "bumped" in a restaurant by a passerby. The waiter saw it and stopped the woman who did it. The owner of the purse took a cursory glance and saw that her wallet was in place so didn't press any charges, but later realized that it was her personal organizer that had gone missing. I cringe at trying to reproduce all of that information should it disappear.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Random Acts of Kindness
From: Kaleea
Date: 12 Jul 06 - 07:21 PM

Yes, Don, isn't it interesting to see the look of shock & awe on the faces of those confused people when you are polite & kind to them in heavy traffic?
My Mother always taught my brothers & I to show respect toward all others, so though I certainly am imperfect, I have tried to remember to smile & speak kindly to people. Usually, we hope they pass it on & never see the results. Once, while I lived in Phoenix, I stopped after work one Friday night, at dusk, at a carwash. As I was standing at the change machine, I heard footsteps running toward my back-no small feat in Phoenix evening traffic. As I turned, I saw two rough looking young men right behind me. I smiled warmly at them & said, "Good evening, gentlemen, how are you doing? " (or such as that) The looked sort of surprised, said "How'ya doin?" I said I guess that two big, handome gentlemen like yourselves have a couple of beautiful ladies waiting for you this evening, huh?" "Then they sort of stammerd & then asked if I knew what hours the attendant was there. I told them I was very sorry, but I just stopped there sometimes after work & didn't know their hours. They said, "OK, thanks" & turned to leave. Then I said, "You gentlemen have a nice evening." One turned to me & said, "OK, thanks, maam, you too." Just after they walked away, a lady came out of the dark office & asked me if I knew the men, which I said I did not. She then told me that they were two of the worst gang members in that part of town, & I must have a hundred guardian angels looking after me.

Subject: RE: BS: Random Acts of Kindness
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 Jul 06 - 12:54 AM

Today at the farmer's market a young woman bartered with the produce guy to let her have four peaches for $2 instead of the whole basket for $5. She initially asked how many peaches for $2 and he told her 2 or 3. It was clear she had need of four peaches, and he capitulated. She finished her careful shopping, examining all of the WIC foods. I checked out before she finished and I paid for the peaches (dessert tonight for the kids?) and told the clerk not to say who paid for them, just that they were paid for. She can use that $2 for some milk, perhaps, later on.

SRS (who was running on fumes herself until today when the child support check cleared. . .)

Subject: RE: BS: Random Acts of Kindness
From: Ella who is Sooze
Date: 26 Jul 06 - 04:06 AM

I had a kind act given to me this week, I was in our house and waiting to take delivery of some large (huge) plaster board sheets for our lounge. The delivery truck drew up to the house, and it was only the driver there to take off the boards. So, I said it looked like I'd have to help him lugg off the boards from the truck one by one with him. Just as I'd done the first heavy board with him and taken it in to the house, a new neighbour who we have not met yet came over to see if he could help.

When I asked him if he was sure, they were heavy and there were a lot of them, he said no problem, and took over my spot helping the truck driver.

I was really really grateful for his help, as I had a bad back and the heat was in to the high 30's. What a lovely neighbour, I was so pleased to have the help.

EWIS

Subject: RE: BS: Random Acts of Kindness
From: GUEST,Brian
Date: 26 Jul 06 - 02:32 PM

Subject: RE: BS: Random Acts of Kindness
From: Sorcha
Date: 26 Jul 06 - 04:17 PM

Brian...so, does the blank post mean No Comment? :)

Subject: RE: BS: Random Acts of Kindness
From: GUEST
Date: 26 Jul 06 - 06:03 PM

On holiday in Canada I bent the door of a hire car by reversing into a post with the door open( don't ask!)It was a small town.
Distraught, I asked at a garage who could help. They pointed me towards the only bodyshop, maybe closed. I drove to it holding the door shut.The shop was open. We had not found a hotel and it was near 5p.m. I thought it would take days to get a door replacement and our holiday was ruined. Boss was in his office, feet up on the deSk when a red faced anguished Englishman burst in. He calmed me down, came out, looked at the car, called one of his mechanics to take it into the workshop and then sat my wife and i down to have some coffee and a chat. Half an hour later the car was delivered with a perfectly closing door and no sign of an accident. I couldn't believe it! Taking out my wallet I asked how much.
"Oh no sir, you're on holiday here. You get off and find yourself somewhere to stay the night. No charge"
Despite my protestations he wouldn't accept one dollar.
ONLY IN CANADA FOLKS.