Random Act of Kindness

[SailorGregS]

In our community we have a great gesture we do for others, and it's referred to as a "Random Act of Kindness". Not only does it make you feel good, it does good for others. If you want it's something you may way to start in your community. It's a real "feel good" thing to do.

For example; The other night we were in the grocery line waiting for our food to get passed through. The family in front of us rang up a bill of $241.89 for the groceries, they were on social assistance. The problem is that when the father put his card through it was declined. The Social Assistance money wasn't deposited in time for the transaction. The family of 5 was embarrassed, and perplexed, the father was feeling terrible. Having to stand there unable to pay for his family's groceries while a gaggle of people observed. His kids were aged between 2 and 6, and were watching this unfold. A parent shouldn't have to be put through this.

Without batting an eye I whispered to the cashier to add his grocery bill to our total. Nobody heard it, neither did the father, but he realized what happened and was extremely grateful, wanting to pay us back once he had the funds. Not a chance would we accept it, so he wasn't given any of our contact information.

He and his family will probably pass on the gesture and help someone else out.

[imagine2frolic]

I ocassionally do this in my business. There have been times where it is obvious people are struggling, but the work is needed.

Once in Ca. a lady came in for an exhaust leak. She needed a muffler, and tail pipe. As I drove the car on the rack her brakes were obviously failing. I told her how much the exhaust would be, but warned her to go get her brakes fixed first.

She was totally distraught, because in Calif you need to pass a smog test before you can register your vehichle. She explained she had to do the muffler first, because she couldn't afford both, and needed her car to get to work.

She asked me to please fix her exhaust. I did this, but handed her her keys with no charge when I was finished. I made her promise me to go to the brake shop immediatly, and ease my mind. She gave me a huge hug, and started crying.

I have always done this when I run across a situation like this. I figure if a community can support my business. Then now, and then I need to give something back. I have always believed what goes around mostly comes around, and I have lived a pretty charmed life........i2f

[SailorGregS]

You're a good man, great story!

[Boasun]

What goes around, comes around... as the saying goes.

So by doing many acts of kindness, the day you need help, the chances of you receiving that help are so much greater.

[sailingdog]

This past fall, one of my best friends called me up. The mother of his son from about 20 years ago was having some serious problems with her other son's health. Her husband had just been laid off, and she needed a laptop computer to be able to work from the hospital where her son was being treated, so as not to lose her job. I refurbished an older laptop I had and put a new WiFi card, harddrive and battery in it. I configured it and installed the various software packages she'd need, like OpenOffice, etc., and shipped it off to her.

[quidam1947]

Feng Shui Principle - Live generously. Money is a form of energy, and it needs to flow through your life, not just into it. Hoarding and scrimping work against more coming in. While giving generously within your means makes space for even greater abundance. If you don't yet have ample money to share, give as generously as you can of your time, energy, compassion, and appreciation.

**********************

After I voluntarily terminated from my job as a scientist at P&G I started a part-time interior decorating business (in addition to working with Bruce on his beverage catering business). I apply this and many of the Feng Shui principles in my life and work and love giving my clients more than what they paid for.

BTW... My buisness is geared towards the average income client.

At times, I save them money by not charging for part of my work or provide paint/materials leftover from old jobs, facilitate simple repairs if needed, recyle when I can, and have even accepted payment installments if I felt it would help their situation. I always leave a bouquet of flowers or a plant as my gift to the space, too.

I'll stop and pickup discarded furniture, etc. (Yep. I'm a Dumpster-Diver and proud of it) and take the time clean/paint/refinish (if neeed) and drop it off at our local Free Store or have a charity come pick it up so someone who needs it can have it. (I hate seeing stuff tossed out that's still functional)

I'll buy a meal for a homeless person but I don't give them cash. I tip generously for all service providers. I've paid for other people's purchases when they're short on funds, and randomly paid for a small item or two for the person behind me 'just because' too. I help my single parent neighbor mow her grass when its obvious she's had a rough week and shovel snow for the elderly couple on the other side of me.

Easy things to do. Makes me feel better/more human when I do. Glad to see others' examples here as well. Pay it forward.

Michele

P.S. Bruce is equally giving in his own way.

He's always willing help a fellow boater out; finds what they're looking for in his travels and will p/u & deliver (we went about 70 miles out of our way to p/u a vintage stove in MD for a friend and brought it all the way back to OH). He'll give away vintage boatparts/hardware if he has it and they need it or just as gifts. Or help them on their projects (laboror).

Its amazing to see Bruce's rapport with the elderly. One of his "old" buddies, Bob Kattine (80) had surgury that didn't go well and he was stuck at home recouperating. Bruce drove the 1.5 hrs OW to visit him numerous times over the last few months to play his guitar and sang old songs for him and brought him books and just talk. Last month he brought another friend of ours, Dave Wright who's an ROV operator for Capt. Bob Ballard and was on duty for exploring the Titantic, to tell his story and share his photos (not seen by the public) with Bob K. all because Bruce knew how much his old firend would enjoy this (Bob K. was enamored with Titantic's story and personally built several models of her and had a library full of books on her).

Bob K. passed away last week.

[Capnblu]

Greg, your story of kindness and compassion, is quite a contrast to your drunken freedom fighter/lover you have portrayed yourself as in some of the other threads you posted. But I guess the sea has enough salt for us all to take with your stories.

[quidam1947]

Originally Posted by Capnblu

Greg, your story of kindness and compassion, is quite a contrast to your drunken freedom fighter/lover you have portrayed yourself as in some of the other threads you posted. But I guess the sea has enough salt for us all to take with your stories.

We ALL have a little a--hole in us.

[imagine2frolic]

Originally Posted by quidam1947

We ALL have a little a--hole in us.

It's a good thing I wasn't drinking anything....if you know what I mean ......i2f

[SailorGregS]

Originally Posted by Capnblu

Greg, your story of kindness and compassion, is quite a contrast to your drunken freedom fighter/lover you have portrayed yourself as in some of the other threads you posted. But I guess the sea has enough salt for us all to take with your stories.

Ahh, I was waiting for this one, knew it was coming. But, everything I've said is true, from the crappy wild stuff to the heartfelt do-gooder.

That is one example of many, we try to live our lives well and help all who we can. In the grocery store I just put myself in his shoes, thinking of how I would feel having my wife, and child looking at me, thinking how terrible I would feel. Not being able to pay for the food our family would need.

Many people ask me what I think about huge lotteries, and the amount of winnings. I love it, and think the more the better because I could give more of it away to more people.