HelpOthers.org: Anonymous Acts of Kindness

An Extra Special Restaurant Surprise

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 22:43:25 -0700

I recently had the chance to have a meal with some close friends who don't live in my city. The choice of restaurant was a pretty fancy one known for triple digit bills. We had a wonderful time together at the restaurant and approaching the end of the meal, I excused myself. I silently headed towards the waiter and asked him to charge the meal to my credit card, but to also not tell anyone that I did it. I signed for the meal and and quickly went back to my seat, no one the wiser for my trip.

When it came time for the check, the waiter came by and told me and my fellow diners that the meal had already been paid for by an unknown person! They couldn't believe it and demanded to know who did it, but the waiter assured them he didn't know :) The response on the face of my friends was amazing. To be gifted something completely without any way or saying thanks or even knowing where it came from.

The rest of the evening was an absolute joy, everyone was so happy! I don't even think it was because of the money aspect, but more because it feels strangely warm inside to know that people care for each other :) We all kept saying how we'd pay it forward so our smiles could be experienced by others. It's a good life!

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Three Carts in Three Minutes

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0700

One way I try to make kindness part of my regular practice is when grocery shopping. I make a point to return the shopping carts left in the parking lot. Yesterday while at a Trader Joe's store in the Bay Area (I'm on vacation from Seattle this week), I returned three such carts.

This particular store had both street parking and a parking lot, and the street parking was quite a distance from the cart return. Carts had been left on the sidewalk, partially blocking the path for walkers and at risk for rolling into the street. Very quickly, I returned them to the cart return by the front door of the store. It took all of about three minutes.

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Gratitude For Finding A Recipient of Our Intended Act of Kindness

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 09:51:08 -0700

My wife and I took an unscripted vacation to Carmel. On the way, we stopped at a Chinese restaurant for dinner. The food was great, but there was too much of it. We decided to get it packed and find a homeless person to give it to.

After dinner, my wife went into World Market which was in the same mall, while I walked around scouting for homeless people. Walking up and down, I couldn't spot a single homeless person. Then, I prayed that a hungry person may receive the food in my hand.

As my mind calmed down, it occurred to me that the folks at the check-out counter might appreciate a dinner. I went in and asked my wife to check if the person at the counter was hungry. Then, I walked away. I saw her talking but not asking me to come over to give the food. So I went again to check, and found she had been too embarassed to ask - so she was taking directions to the homeless shelter.

I looked at the clerk's eyes, too embarassed myself to ask if she would take the dinner. She looked at me and said, "Yes, the shelter is nearby." And then, taking her eyes slightly away, she said, "Or, if you like, you can leave the dinner for our staff."

With an action that came close to jumping on the counter, I placed the food in front of her with a big grin and said, "It is yours!" And my wife, with a huge grin, explained what was in it. We both thanked her profusely for accepting the food.

As I turned for one more look, I saw a smile of gratitude. My wife and I reflected on what had happened, and we both were aware of a huge gratitude - the universe had blessed our act of kindness by giving us a recipient.

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Creating Ripples with My College Housemates

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 23:03:49 -0700

An impromptu reunion with seven of my college housemates arose, and I wanted to connect with them on a deeper level beyond conversation and smiles.

I thought, "What could I give to them?", racked my brain, but could not come up with anything. Then I read monkeyinpajama's "Moving Creates An Opportunity To Start Giving" entry and thought to give away possessions of mine that I acquired over the course of my life.

I ended up giving each of my friends a smile card and a unique item, which brightened the atmosphere and brought an extra level of happiness and excitement to our dinner table. The items I gave them included 20-year-old football playing cards, a transformer toy, a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle figurine of Donatello, a pocket tape reel of jokes, a magic trick, a muscular action hero, and a Samuel Adams top hat.

I think that this was a nice way to begin new chains of kindness ripples in a short period of time.

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My Experiment with Free Hug Friday

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 08:02:21 -0700

My scheduled day of kindness this week is tomorrow (yes, I’m still doing it each week, just haven’t written about them all!) but I was not sure what I would do. While catching up on some of the stories here today, I decided I will make it Free Hug Friday! My catch phrase tomorrow any time I see someone a little down or frustrated is to say to them “Looks like someone could use a hug!” and then let them have it!

I’ll certainly have to be a little careful so I don’t scare some of the people inmy office. Most of them think I am a little off anyway, so they will just add this to the list of strange things they’ve seen me do. I have noticed how much a touch or hug can mean to people, even if they don’t realize it at the time so I’m going to do my part to help! I love the many FREE HUGS videos I have watched too so I might as well join in for a moment!

I’ll start off with a great big HUG to all of my special HelpOthers friends! :) I’ll come back and let you know how it goes!

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UPDATED!

Well, Free Hug Friday was certainly interesting! I sent off some cyber hugs first to start things off. I always love doing that to those close to me. Then it was off to deliver the in-person hugs!

The first went to one of my daughter's friends who stayed the day with her.She laughed and smiled. The second was at work. The woman smiled and called me “one of a kind.” The third person literally ran from me. I laughed as they scampered off, shaking their head as they went. Number four wasn't real comfortable, so I just gave her a half side hug. She smiled but I could tell felt strange. Number five was an older gentleman, who smiled and thought I was crazy. The sixth person was a neighbor, who was over and had dinner with us. I gave her a big hug for helping clean up. She smiled and said it was no big deal. Mrs. MSS and the little MSS’s got theirs too, but they always do and all love them so!

It was fun. Even if everyone had rejected my hugs, it was still great seeing their reactions. I know every one of the hugs made someone’s day just a little brighter. The thought was what mattered. It made me smile too and I’m sure I’ll try it again some time!

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An Anonymous Lunch Gift to Show Appreciation

Mon, 30 Aug 2010 23:05:35 -0700

We go to eat at a buffet a couple times a month. Buffets (at least the ones we go to) are usually fairly inexpensive so the bill is always easy on the wallet. Whenever I go to a certain buffet, there are always soldiers from the Army base in our town.

I will search for a table of two or three, and let the cashier know I will be paying for the soldiers meal as well. But I always insist that the soldiers not know who paid for their bill.

It is an honor to buy these soldiers lunch, it is the least I can do for all they do for their country. And seeing the smiles it brings, letting them know they are apreciated, makes it more than worth the cost of thier meal...

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A Real Act of Kindness from a Teenager

Sun, 29 Aug 2010 21:41:02 -0700

The majority teenagers spend their spring break hanging out by the beach, sleeping in, watching television, or just relaxing at home.

I am 16 years old and I am a juniour in high school. I spent my spring break in Acuña, Mexico, heling a family. I went with to Acuña with 7 other teenagers for 6 days to make a difference in someone else's life.

In America, in many ways we are so much luckier than the people of Mexico. When I was down there, I helped build a house for a family. The family that we were building the house for were just a little older than us. The husband was 20 years old, the wife was 19, and their daughter was 3 years old.

Getting to provide this family, who had been living in their car and moving from one house to another, paying rent, a house, was life changing. At the end of the week, we had the privilege dedicating the house that we built to the family. Hearing their story, of how they had been praying for just a safe room for them to stay in each night, proves to me and to everyone that God hears and answers prayers, because He blessed them with a house.

When we were in Mexico, we had the opportunity to visit someone’s house, and there house was considered “nice and middle-class”, but it wasn’t that nice. Their house was made of pallets, cardboard, trash bags, and tarps. After seeing what a family lived in, everyday, made me feel truly blessed to be able to provide a family with an actual house.

Having the opportunity to build a house for a family, was a life-changing event. It was an act of kindness. No one made me, or forced me to give up my spring break to go build a house, but I did, and I am glad I did. Because I took a stand and gave up a week of my life, I was able to provide a family a place to live for the rest of their life.

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