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Random act of kindness - get involved
Posted by thefloatingfrog • 2/26/09 • Subscribe to this Discussion [RSS] • Report This Topic
Topics: random act of kindness
Wikipedia description: A random act of kindness is a selfless act performed by a person or persons wishing to either assist or cheer up an individual or in some cases even an animal. There will generally be no reason other than to make people smile, or be happier. Either spontaneous or planned in advance, random acts of kindness are encouraged by various communities. An oft-cited example of a random act of kindness is, when paying the toll at a toll booth on a highway, to pay the toll for the vehicle behind you as well.
I’m challenging myself to do an act of kindness everyday throughout the month of March. The purpose is to distract myself from my 27th Birthday (4th March) and bring some joy into other people lives.
The last few months have been hard, I’ve had money issues, I’ve had a few scares with my living situation and I’ve been overly stressed/underly appreciated at work. So instead of falling down into a web of depression and grouchiness I thought I’d set myself this mini-challenge and do some good.
To start a discussion have you...
1) Any ideas of what I can do?
2) Have you any stories yourself of acts you have done?
User Comments
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Why don't you volunteer at a charity shop or an old people's home? That way you can really do some good. -
a movie, evan almighty, use the term of "ARK @ act of random kindness" -
I work full time in the week and see my daughter on a weekend so my time is short. I'd rather do a few smaller acts in between the times I have free, or will I'm doing something.
Like holding the elevator doors open for a while until an old lady gets there.
Something small but memorable, that way more people could pass on the good karma-
Don't you do that kind of thing anyway? I thought everyone did things like that..it's not so much an act of kindness as being considerate!
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Today (just now-about 4 hours ago), I smiled towards an old lady- the janitor at the airport, she smiled back at me. I think that act is one of my ARK.
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Smiling at an old lady is not good enough. Buy her a sandwich or something. But then the problem is that she'll expect a sandwich every time she sees you. It's all good for Karma, but that could be a lot of sandwiches.
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Buy sandwiches for the homeless when you leave the office to get your own lunch. When I had a job, I used to do that once a week.
Also, I used to give to canned food drives, volunteer at an animal shelter, and pick up litter when you see it.
I was hoping to build up some good karma, but alas, I lost my job about a month ago.-
I know a lot of homeless people, and they prefer crack or booze.
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Clearly you don't hang out in Chicago's loop at lunchtime. They may prefer crack or booze, but they never say no to a sandwich.
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I think it is a great idea for helping you to refocus away from your own circumstances that might be depressing or hard and appreciate some of the kind things you may do already, and adding others. Beyond the basic kindnesses one should already be doing (holding doors open, polite thank you's, giving up your seat on a bus/train etc)how about donating a small but needed item to a homeless shelter (call and find out, they usually need toiletries for example) or a can of food to a food shelter.
Here a couple of links:
www.actsofkindness.org/about/
www.4000saturdays.com/rak/ -
Politeness and ARK are to me the same thing. However I struggle to hold back anger when I repeatedly give and never receive. People now a days are way too busy, stressed and in a rush to be polite 100% of the time. I am collating all the good things I do for people in March so I can look back at it and see if I should be doing more. I'm not out to win prizes, but having something good to look forward to, a purpose, a positive direction for my energy every day is what appeals to me. So next time I pass someone struggling with their bags, or an old lady struggling to reach a can off the top shelf I stop... I oblige... and I feel great. In my eyes an ARK is for my own benefit, to improve myself and to make others feel good.
Maybe I'll start a 5-a-day, not fruit and veg, but ARK.
"5 ARKs a day to a better me!"
So in summary, whether it be politeness or an actual ARK it's a positive and your doing good. So keep it up because at the end of the day the real winner is you! -
A man stepped aside in the supermarket aisle to allow me to go ahead of him, as my purchase was very small...even smaller than his. As I was putting my change away, I realized that his loaf of cheap bread and packet of soup bones was probably his dinner, and he was counting out small change to pay the bill, which was only about R8.
I finished putting my change a way, took an R10 note (about $1 USD) and laid it on top of his little pile of change. Without waiting for any kind of response, I picked up my purchase and left.
I have done this several times. R10 is so little to me, and so much to them. -
By definition.. the deeds have to be selfless..
but your five a day self indulgence program is exactly that.. Selfish for your own good..
And what about April? back to grumpy, meany persona?
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