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Friday, January 31, 2014

The Random Acts Of Kindness Adventure

We've all heard about people doing Random Acts of Kindness
and Paying it Forward, such as paying for the coffee order for
the customer in line behind you. I love this stuff and I do
random acts occasionally, but I thought it would be fun
to do it in an official way, documenting the acts and 
encouraging my blog friends to join in the fun!

I thought the month of February would be the perfect time
to do this.  For one, it's the month of love, right?  And for another,
most people are getting a little sick of winter, they may be a little
down after the holidays, their new year's resolutions are petered
out and they just have the blues.  Everyone could use a little 
sunshine right about now, don't you think?

Random Acts of Kindness can be as simple as leaving a
quarter in a gum ball machine....
or leaving a tip the same size as your dinner.


...As little as a handful of Hershey Kisses in a bag for a teacher,
to new boots for the custodian, who was wearing shoes
held together with duct tape.


How about a little package of M&M's with a note left on someone's
windshield?  Or visiting Santa, not to ask for things, but to give him
a Starbucks gift card!


I loved this note left for a tenant and their laundry...
and the post-it note just to tell someone that
they matter and somebody noticed!

You could take cupcakes to The Wounded Warriors
or cookies to your local fire station!

How about leaving change on a vending machine inside a hospital?
Or just saving someone the hassle of a car theft.

The best part of this adventure is that you can do as many
or as few as you like.  You can spend no money at all or as much
as you want!  And just like karma, or reaping what you sow,
I think the kindness will be returned and the blessing will be ours.

If you need a few more ideas, here's a few ~

  1. If you reach a stop sign at the same time as another driver, let them go first.
  2. Thinking of getting a new pet?  Rescue one on death row at 'The Pound'.
  3. Leave a note and little treat in your mail box for the mail carrier.
  4. Shovel your neighbor's driveway, rake their leaves, cut their grass...especially if they are elderly or sick.
  5. Forgive someone who wronged you in the past.  Go out of your way to do them a favor.
  6. Leave a coupon taped to the appropriate item in the grocery store.
  7. Put an umbrella in your car (buy one or an extra one that you have) to give to someone next time it rains.
  8. Take your old magazines to a doctor's waiting room.  Be sure to black out your address.
  9. Hold the door or elevator open for someone coming along behind you.
  10. Give blood.
  11. Bite your tongue next time you feel the urge to give a piece of your mind.
  12. Tell a cashier-in-training that they are doing a great job.
  13. Fill a Zip Lock bag with travel sized toiletries, candy bar, Hot Hands and a bottle of water.  Put it in your car to give to the next homeless person that approaches your car for a handout.
  14. Let someone in a check out line go before you.
  15. Have friends with kids?  Offer to babysit so they can go out to dinner.
  16. Be a courteous driver and let someone merge in front of you.
  17. Compliment someone who deserves it.
  18. Smile and say hello to a stranger.
  19. When walking into the grocery, help someone elderly put their bags into their car.  Take the cart for them.
  20. Empty your closet of unused items and take them to the thrift store.
  21. Send an email or message to someone saying you're thinking of and praying for them.
  22. Offer to walk someone's dog when it's cold or rainy outside...especially the elderly or the sick.
  23. Bake a treat and take it to work to share with your coworkers.
  24. If you receive good service somewhere, call the manager and tell them so!
  25. Offer to buy a homeless person a meal.  Post your story on facebook and encourage others to pass it on.  
  26. Organize a drive to collect blankets and other items for the homeless in your area.  Deliver them to their gathering spots.
Are you as inspired as I am? :)
I will post my randoms acts of kindness for the week on each Friday in
February.  

.
And I'll put Mr. Linky up so if you want to join in on
Fridays you can do that and we can all share and be inspired by
each other.  It doesn't matter how many you do.
You can do one a week or as many as you wish!

.
Some acts take a little prep, so I'd encourage you to
decide the act, write the note and take your camera with you.
Posts are always more interesting if they have a photo, don't you think?
Also, don't forget the Scotch tape, if you are sticking something 
on a vending machine or windshield.

.
And one more thing, if you have other ideas let me know and I'll add them
 here.  That way we can refer to an idea list here throughout the month.
OK...hope to see you back here on Friday, Feb 7th!
.
******
.
All photos here were taken from randomacts.com and
26randomacts.com.  Many of the ideas were my own...some
taken from these sites as well.
.
I also want to thank many of you who visited and donated
to little Tavin's cause that I posted about earlier this week.
Talk about random acts of kindness! Wow.
They are almost to their goal, too!
 

61 comments:

  1. This sounds just like something you would do! And yes, I am inspired! It reminds me of the quote by Mother Teresa, "If you can't feed 100 people, then just feed one." Very nice.

    I may join in myself, even without a blog!

    Hope you're feeling better, too, milady!
    Cheers!
    Vincent x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well here I am, first again. (smiling)

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    2. If you joined in I think that would be great! You can just tell us what you did on Fridays here in the comment section! Yay!

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    3. LOVE that quote, by the way. Perfect.

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  2. I love your idea! Some of those things I do anyway, kind of without thinking, but not always intentionally. (If that makes sense.)
    I'm in, especially if I ever get out. :0)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yay! Yeah...I thought of the getting out part. I only get out once a week. It will just take a bit of planning, I think. Fun!
      I think we who have manners..haha...do some of these things without thinking. And that's good! Those will be the easy ones to document!

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  3. What a wonderful and inspiring idea Betsy!! It is always much more fun to give than to receive I think! Thank you for such a wonderful suggestion. xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, I think so, too! We can feel like little elves, spreading cheer! ha. I hope you join in!

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  4. You know I love this, and it so goes with my motto for this year of having a heart of giving. I've already done quite a few, but will join your group to share with a picture some of them on your Friday Blog.
    BTW ~ your advice for fb worked. Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know you do these things, and I thought of that as I wrote this post. Things for strangers at the grocery, Elizabeth, teens at the bus stop....I remember! Wonderfully inspiring!

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  5. I do these things in our small town. And, I can tell you, that as a teacher I have several students/parents who bring me a small treat every now and again. It really is the small things that can make your day.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I hope you'll document your sweet little deeds and join in!

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  6. its cool....i hung out with steve last night and he was overwhelmed by the support from people he did not even know...it was very cool....smiles.....

    and i am all for those random acts...some pretty cool creative ones as well....

    ReplyDelete
  7. Inspiring post!
    Really needed to read this today :) Thanks Betsy!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well, great! I hope you'll join in! It will be a lot of fun!

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  8. I don't have a blog - as you know - but I will post what I've done. Like others have mentioned, I do a lot of these things already just in the course of day-to-day living.

    But lately I have been making more of a conscious effort. I don't get out too much these days, but when I do I try to help out. My next one is this: I frequently take cabs and often there is someone hailing my cab and getting in as I am getting out. I am going to ask where they are going, make a quick calculation in my head, and give them the cab fare to their destination.

    I've often dropped an extra token into the slot for the person behind me on the streetcar or subway. Little things all add up. And it's highly likely when you do that for someone... they pass it along to someone else. It's a lovely chain!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Wow, what a lot of suggestions! It'll be interesting to see what kind of response you get every Friday.

    ReplyDelete
  10. How inspiring. It is so true how one small act can change a persons day.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Just mouthy in two posts so close
    Here at your house
    Trying to catch up to the cat?
    How about that
    Manual labor, haha no way
    With my body at my bay
    But I have done a few here and there
    The stop sign one and such at my lair
    Helped out one the other day
    Who was a few dollars short at the grocery bay
    Deciding what to put back
    I just gave the few dollars to avoid that flack
    Plus got the line moving too
    Win win at my zoo lol

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. just blabbing along
      singing a very long song
      Tomorrow I should do a wordless one
      so the week can even out as it begun.
      ha.
      And look at you,
      being kind at your zoo.
      Mouthy you are
      but kind by far.
      lol....

      Delete
  12. After the week I just put in.....I feel like I have already started.
    Great idea, Betsy....best of luck...will certainly enjoy reading all about it on Fridays♥️
    Big storm coming thru again....starting Friday night....looks like Florida will have to wait a few days. :o(
    Cheers!
    Linda :o)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You'll have lots of strangers around you to do random kind acts upon while in Florida, too! ha.

      Another storm? I hadn't heard about this one! Oh no!

      Delete
  13. I LOVE this! I'm going to have to think about what I can do and join in.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh yay...I hope you will! I think it will be a ton of fun!

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  14. Replies
    1. I hope you join in, Kathy..it will be fun and you're so creative!

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  15. This is really amazing and your list si good.
    And is fun.
    But Im soooo timid to share the things I make.:(

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aw...I hope you'll join in! You can bake and give to people...so easy! And if it's food, you can still put it on your blog!

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  16. I'm in! Great ideas! Today I had an MRI. The tech wrote a sweet personal note to me on my discharge papers...made my day!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wasn't that sweet...something they didn't have to do, only took a minute...and meant so much! I'm so glad you're joining in! I'm really looking forward to this!

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  17. Love the idea. Will try to think of some really random & different things to do. :)
    We have snow....lots of it!
    what fun it would be to build with the snow, maybe outside an elderly persons home.

    ReplyDelete
  18. My heart just grew a little bigger for you!
    I'm in!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yippee! I knew you'd join in! It's going to be so much fun...can't wait. :)

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  19. Loving this post! Thanks so much for the inspiration!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well, thanks for stopping by..and please feel free to join in!

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  20. What an inspired post, Betsy - too late to comment last night. I've been thinking about it all day as I drove the minibus. I do a day's voluntary work on Fridays. Love it.
    I shall be constantly thinking of ways I can brighten up people's days. Of course I have been known to stop ladies and compliment them LOL. Does that count LOL. The charm you see!!
    I am going to read your list again.
    I notice "Give Blood" - well I am pleased to say I've just clocked up 100 pints - phew! Need a transfusion now I think.
    Thanks for the idea and ideas.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Charming the ladies? Well, sure it counts! haha. Oh yeah...you have the 'giving blood' part down pat! :) I have no doubt you will come up with a few fun ways to spread some kindness! :)

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    2. Just asked Santa a few questions we are all dying to have answers for (gosh that's bad English isn't it?)
      So, yes I am sure I will come up with some fun kindness spreading ways.

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  21. ho ho ho that is the christmas spirit ho ho ho

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Questions to Santa if I may.
      What do you do between Christmases? Make toys perhaps?
      Do you wear your Santa outfit or is it at the dry cleaners?
      Do you get your beard and whiskers trimmed?
      Just wondered! lol

      Delete
  22. LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE this!!! I love all the wonderful ideas too!

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  23. How wonderful! My nephew just "happened" to jump on this last month by asking a homeless guy at McDonalds if he could buy his lunch for him. That turned into a whole "movement" on Facebook in our area by him gathering donations of food, clothes, blankets, etc. and delivering them to people living under some bridges in our area. The outpouring from strangers to help was overwhelming. And it still continues today! So your "little" things here can snowball into very large things for those receiving them. Love it!! You've inspired me once again.

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    Replies
    1. Wow..thanks for sharing this! Isn't it amazing what one small act can do! I love how it snowballed and grew and turned into a movement. I'm going to add this to the idea list! Thanks, Don!

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  24. "Send an email or message to someone saying you're thinking of and praying for them".

    My out of state daughter, her husband and two children do this for me daily and what a blessing it is
    to me.

    ReplyDelete
  25. I once had someone pay for my gas! Normally I pay at the pump, but I'd planned to pay inside that day because I wanted some cash back and didn't have time to stop at the ATM. Went inside to pay, and the cashier kept saying it had already been paid for. I asked who paid, but he didn't seem to know. I then asked him if I left, if he was going to call the cops because I didn't pay. He insisted I didn't owe anything, so off I went.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wow, Sprinkles! That's so exciting! How wonderful! I bet it made your day!

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  26. Hi Betsy .. if there's a fairy in line in front of me .. I'd love a dust and hoover PIF! However .. yes I buy for the food bank from a local shop rather than the supermarket ... he gives me a discount .. we all benefit - mostly I hope the foodbank ... I'm pretty good about helping others .. but most definitely could do more.

    A heart warming post idea for February ... cheers Hilary

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  27. I know that all of the Starbucks shoppers and other random acts of kindness have made a difference to me. The other day I was in the grocery store and an elderly woman in front of me was $4 short on her grocery order. She was trying to figure out what to put back and the clerk was trying to get a manager to void the order and I expected it was going to snow later when she'd need to come back and get what she missed, so I just paid it. I wouldn't even have thought of that before all the publicity, so keep it up everyone!

    ReplyDelete

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