[Below is an excerpt from an article about our local event in NY.]

The paradox of selflessness never ceases to amaze me, yet somehow I continually forget that the receiving is in the giving. I was reminded yet again on Memorial Day when I joined Random Acts of Kindness (RAK) as they kicked-off their third year of anonymous, kind-hearted shenanigans.

The über-grassroots crew set up their barebones operation in Central Park’s Strawberry Fields: a folding table, lots of free cookies and a flimsy board smattered with Post-it notes. The stickies hold creative suggestions and inspirational quotes for passersby to take. Some favorites:

1. Blessed are those that can give without remembering and receive without forgetting.

2. Give away something important to you. Right now.

3. Tell a public service employee how valuable they are.

4. Pay for the person behind you in line.

5. Do what you can with what you've got wherever you are.

The loosely organized group of do-gooders meets sporadically and informally to spread the joy of giving, a gift not always readily received. Sadly, the offer of a free cookie from a smiling stranger practically bewilders the average New Yorker. I get it. There was a time when I too would have met a random act of generosity with similar confusion, skepticism and -- though I hate to admit it -- aloofness. Somehow, being nice doesn't always add up to being cool. But mindsets are shifting. Maybe nice is actually cool, or maybe cool doesn't even exist… or maybe being cool doesn't matter. What resonates these days, however, is being nice.

Read more in the full article on Tonic >>

Posted by Birju Pandya | comments (0) | permalink | more 'Local Events' |