HelpOthers.org: Anonymous Acts of Kindness

Showing Kindness to Even the Smallest Beings

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 11:28:36 -0800

I have found that the way I treat insects acts as a reflection of my approach to kindness. Like most kids, I suppose, I mistreated bugs terribly. But many adults continue the rampage against insects, and I have often found that they do this mindlessly, killing them for no reason.

With the weather getting warmer, more bugs are getting into our houses. We also spend more time in "their house," as we enjoy the great outdoors. We find ourselves reaching for the fly swatter and insecticides to get rid of them. But why do we do this? Most insects pose no threat to us, but we kill them anyway.

As a young adult, I found myself questioning my treatment of bugs. It became a moral issue. I remember reading a Native American story about a mother who saw her daughter stomp on a spider. The mom simply asks the child: "Now who'll take care of that spider's children? Who would take care of you if someone killed me?" It became a powerful lesson to the child.

All creatures have a purpose, and our world would be terribly out of balance without insects. If we can treat them with kindness and respect, we can treat any creature that way. The more I learned about the unique behaviors and purposes of insects, the more I appreciated their place in the world. I have literally become someone who "wouldn't hurt a fly."

The more I have practiced, the better I've become at catching flies with my hand and escorting them back outside. I use a small glass with a thin piece of cardboard to catch spiders, ants, and bees, and release them where they'll be happier--outdoors. Sure it takes more work than just squishing them, but I feel more in harmony with nature by being kind to bugs.

Many of my friends and family think I'm pretty weird as a result. I'm okay with that because I think it's pretty weird for people to mistreat other creatures. If we could model that for our kids, perhaps they'd grow up to be kinder adults and help make this a kinder world to live in.

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Graciously Receiving a Good Deed

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 02:53:29 -0800

Sometimes when I’m grocery shopping, I let people go ahead of me in the line, if they look like they are in a particular rush or if they have screaming children or something like that.

Today while I was grocery shopping I was given the opportunity to be a gracious receiver. I got in line to check out, I only had a few items. The lady in front of me only had a few items also. She looked at me and said "why don't you go ahead of me, I have to pay with a cheque." I was going to say "No, that's ok...you only have a few items" but I could tell she really wanted to make a difference, so I said "Are you sure?" She said "Absolutely, please go ahead of me."

So I went ahead of her and she was smiling and feeling good and I felt nice to be the recipient of this small gesture. As I left I thanked her for being so thoughtful!

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An Opportunity to Pay-it-Forward

Sun, 07 Feb 2010 02:46:58 -0800

Yesterday, I popped out of the office to go to Starbucks. I offered to bring back everyone’s coffee. One of my co-workers was very sweet and said they would pay for my coffee. So I thought – what a GREAT opportunity to "pay -it-forward"!

I went through the drive-thru and placed our order. When I reached the window to pay, I told the young lady I needed her help with something aside from our order.

I gave her $4.00 and a Smile card. I told her I wanted to anonymously buy someone's coffee today. I asked her to chose whomever she wanted to be the recipient of the free coffee, pass them the card and explain that they have just experienced a random act of kindness and all that I ask is that they ‘pay- it-forward’ by doing something kind for someone else. She thought it was very sweet and agreed to help me with my kindness mission.

I was smiling all the way back to work just knowing I made someone's day with a free treat!

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Smile, It Can't Be That Bad

Sat, 06 Feb 2010 15:10:28 -0800

Six Words That Changed a Life Six words - "Smile...it can't be that bad." - changed Judy's life. Judy is a young woman I worked with some years ago. She was in her late twenties, maybe early thirties, more than a little overweight, and not the most stylish dresser. What was most striking about her appearance was her smile; it was always there. Anyone passing Judy in the hallway was greeted with that smile and a soft, "Hello," or, "Good Morning," in her gentle, Minnesota accent.

I happened to be with Judy one day when she had her driver's license out of her purse. The photograph on her license showed a face that looked like it had never smiled! The corners of her mouth were turned down, her face looked slack, and the eyes were dark and troubled. The overall impression was anger and deep grief. "Whoa! Judy...is that really you? What in the world was going on? You look like you're mad at the world!" Judy giggled. "Yes, it's me. I used to look like that all the time."

She then shared with me her story and the six words that changed her life. Judy had moved to Tennessee to care for an invalid uncle. Her life revolved around caring for this much older and very ill man who, though grateful, offered little in the way of good company for a shy young woman.

When he died, Judy realized for the first time that she had nothing - no job skills no education, no experience with which to support herself, and no friends. Lonely, grieving, and terrified, she took a big step and enrolled in a community college CAD/CAM program. The Judy that walked the halls between classes was the Judy captured in her driver's license photo. She didn't talk, didn't smile, didn't make eye contact.

One day, however, she met an instructor in the hallway who, in passing, said, "Smile...it can't be that bad." As Judy told me the story, she giggled again. "I was so embarrassed! And I didn't say anything at all. I couldn't. But I started thinking...maybe he was right." Nothing in Judy's life had changed, but she made a decision to smile anyway, to put a smile on her face without waiting for it to spontaneously show up. And so she did.

She would arrive at school and, very self-consciously at first, put a smile on her face as she walked across the parking lot. She forced herself to look up at the people she met, even if only for an instant. Over and over she repeated to herself the six words that started her down the path: "Smile...it can't be that bad." Without realizing it, she said, she had begun to practice "fake it 'till you make it," acting happy even when she wasn't. "And when I did," she said, "things changed.

People stopped avoiding me. Before, people sometimes crossed the halls to walk on the other side, and if they didn't, I did. When I started smiling, even though I didn't really feel it, people reacted differently. It took a little while, but one morning, someone actually said hello to me. And I smiled for real!"

Judy later went to the instructor who had made the comment and thanked him. As you might expect, he was surprised that his almost throwaway comment had that kind of impact. Judy met his family, visited his church, and slowly developed a social network. After living in Tennessee for more than ten years, she made her first friends.

When she told me the story, she finished with, "See? You never know how you might influence someone with what you say. Those six words changed my life. When I started acting happy, I became happy. I didn't even know it was happening, but it was, and I'm so glad he told me to, 'Smile...it can't be that bad.' He was right...it wasn't that bad...and it won't ever be that bad again."

Today's Joy Juice by Judy - happiness is a choice; fake it 'till you make it if you have to; and pay attention to the words you say...you may change someone's life.

JOY JUICE

by Linda Davenport

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Care and Compassion from my Co-Workers

Sat, 06 Feb 2010 02:36:53 -0800

I came across this website a few years ago when I was I was browsing the web looking for ways to thank the office staff I work with for the very warm welcome they gave me when I joined.

One of the things we have sometimes at work are called ‘morale days’. We bring in things and ideas to make the workplace more fun. I was looking for something fun and different and that’s how I discovered the” Smile’’ cards you offer. I ordered some and used them to do some of the kindness ideas which I had read about and turned it into a Thanksgiving theme. I wanted to give thanks to my co-workers for all the help and support they have given me since I started working there.

Since I began my employment, I have had a series of events that have dramatically changed my life, including the loss of one of my daughters last year and most recently the loss of my brother. Through these tragedies, my co-workers have continued to show me an enormous amount of care and understanding. Often, during these times of need they have filled in for me when I was not able to come to work, or have offered generous gifts when I was in financial straits, and have showed a deep and loving understanding when I was feeling very low and discouraged.

They have truly been my main strength in being able to overcome some very serious obstacles I have faced during the last couple of years. Most employers or co-workers might have turned the other cheek and chose not to be involved or have looked down on me in judgment during these times, however, not once have they given up on me even when I wasn’t so sure of my own abilities to overcome.

This group of people are truly part of an unique and rare breed that still strives to instil values such as respect, honor, spirit, and integrity not only into the workplace, but also within each other. I have worked in several different types of establishments and never met a more dedicated and loving set of people to work with. I just wanted to share this story to offer my gratitude for such acts of kindness and recognize this group of people for all their hard work and understanding.

In this day and age, it is so nice to know that such values are still at work. It is much too easy for most people to be absorbed by their own difficulties to be able to truly make such a powerful impact on other individual’s life.

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Help Others to Dress for Success

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 15:18:32 -0800

I heard a woman saying she wished her husband could find a job. She felt he wasn't considered because his clothing was old and stained. He had been unemployed for a while and money was tight. He was a large man, size 3XL. This made it hard to find clothing at the thrift shops.

My husband used to be that size and I went into his closet and found a nice shirt and gave it to the wife. She was very thankful. Her husband looked neat and tidy for the interview and got the job.

Easy to do...Clean out your closets! Donate to Good Will or a thrift shop. Times are harder than ever and more and more people are turning to these shops for much needed suits and clothing for their interviews.

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A Dose Of Christmas Joy For Patients

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 14:22:07 -0800

Below is a story about my 2008 Christmas in Tauranga, New Zealand in a local Newspaper (The Bay of Plenty Times) which I would like to share with you all. It was the most amazing experience ever!! I loved seeing the smiles on peoples faces and bringing a little happiness to those in sadness, giving 60 smile cards out as I went. I learnt that it doesn't matter your age or size but you CAN make a difference :)

Still today I love going around and helping others and giving smile cards out! It's so much fun seeing other peoples happiness :)

PICTURE: JIMMY JOE: Jacinda Short, 18, with sisters Louisa 14, Rebecca 20, and parents Tim and Debbie.

Jacinda's dose of joy for patients

24.12.2008

by Carly Udy

If Jacinda Short could make somebody's Christmas it would be with a sweet smelling posy and a smile.

The 18-year-old plans to deliver more than 60 of both to patients at Tauranga Hospital tomorrow , after winning an international competition through the organisation HelpOthers.org.

The online site asked for ideas on how you should help others with US$100 ($181).

"My wish was to give out small posy bunches to patients in hospital on Christmas Day," she said.

"I was in no way expecting to win. There was a huge long list on the website of everyone else's ideas .

.. and I thought 'what's something different, or something nice?"

Jacinda's idea won, and she received a good deal from Grey Street Flower Company, who she will collect over 60 posy bowls from today.

"I'd love to do this to help others. My mum was diagnosed with breast cancer a few years back - with eight tumours when I was 11 - and that was around Christmas time," she said.

Together with her mum Debbie, dad Tim and sisters Rebecca, 20, and Louisa, 14, Jacinda will deliver the posy bunches in between performances at the Tauranga Sebel Trinity Wharf Hotel, where she and her sisters,'The Short Sistars' (see www.mount-tutu.co.nz) will sing Christmas carols at lunchtime and dinner time tomorrow.

Jacinda said the best part about her good deed at the hospital will be "seeing the smile and happiness on people's faces".

She plans to deliver the flowers to those who are terminally ill, those who look lonely or sad, and to children.

While the flowers will no doubt impress the patients, Jacinda, who was in Year 13 at Tauranga Girls' College this year, said there was a simpler goal to what she hoped to achieve:

"Money doesn't always have to be the thing which is the answer to kindness. It comes from the heart."

P.S - Thankyou so much to this organisation in the part of making this story possible! I am so thankful :)

Jacinda Short

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