Random Act of Kindness

[Mr. MacDougall]

I try to be kinder than necessary to everyone I meet. Everyone, every man, woman, and child on this planet, is fighting some battle, and could use a spot of kindness in their day.

[James MacMillan]

I try to be kinder than necessary to everyone I meet. Everyone, every man, woman, and child on this planet, is fighting some battle, and could use a spot of kindness in their day.

- - -

[JamieKerr]

I try to be kinder than necessary to everyone I meet. Everyone, every man, woman, and child on this planet, is fighting some battle, and could use a spot of kindness in their day.

Today my grad classes were rather somber. One of my professors announced that a classmate of ours had passed away last night due to liver failure. She was 23 years old. This young lady had been ill for quite some time, but never told anyone of the suffering she was going through. People who'd worked with her in group projects had held negative opinions of her, because she often would not show up for group meetings...and did not call to let her group mates know she wasn't coming. But no one ever recalls seeing her without a smile on her face, and hearing something wonderful come out of her mouth. You just never know the suffering people are enduring, and just how big of an impact the smallest words of kindness or scorn can have.

[Erisianmonkey]

Yeah, I like my random acts of kindness to be anonymous whenever possible. I see those charity appeals with the little paper things that a store glues up all over the place so people can show everyone that they gave. I won't say that I have bought one, and I won't say that I haven't. I'll just say that if you ever see one with my name on it, you can be sure that it wasn't me who donated. If I ever do something like that it will have a fictitious name on it. When I do give, it isn't for a tax break, or to gain face in someone's eyes, it is for my own happiness and peace of mind.

EDIT TO ADD:

Wow, Jamie. That's one of the kind of things that just blows you away.

[TheSp8]

Last year someone paid for my lunch. What makes it beyond belief for me is that there were about 10 of us eating and the guy paid for all of us. There was a Colonel, 4 Lt Colonels, a CW4, and 3 other SFCs. I had the least time in service at 17 years so by no means were we hurting. We were in uniform as we were at a training seminar. We had ordered and the waiter came and said the bill had been taken care of by someone in the restaurant who wished to remain anonymous. We asked the waiter to convey our thanks and the COL asked him to pass along a Commanders Coin as a token of thanks.

I've not done anything quite that involved but do try to help when and as opportunity presents. I do think it best when done without the recipients knowledge.

YMOS,
Tony

[Standard]

I try to do some RAK everychance I get, even if it is as simple as holding the door and saying hello to a stranger. I truely believe that you get back what you give, and have been helped out in times of need myself and feel obligated to do my part to help others. These things, as many of you have said, are done without thought of thanks, or repayment, and are best enjoyed anonymously.

One small thing that my wife and I and now also our daughter do is to donate blood at the local blood center each time they call to set up an appointment. I know it's not much, but I also know that it can helpout someone in need.

[SteveB]

I frequent a local pub. The staff know my habits well and pretty much serve my needs without a lot of discussion. I had made an unusual late evening visit after a long day at work. As I was waiting for my meal I saw a young man with his date carefully counting his funds. So for a little fun, when the waiter came around, I signaled him over. I handed him forty dollars and told him to tell the young man the meal had been paid for. The cost for the two would be about thirty dollars of the main menu. He asked what I wanted him to do with the change. I said that is your payment not to reveal from where it came. i noticed him looking glum as I had heard his date order one of the pricier choices ($ 12). The waiter then whispered to him that that his meal was already paid for, and to select whatever he wanted. He then ordered something around eight dollars. As I was enjoying my pint after the meal. The young man had signaled for the tab, when the waiter brought over the desert menu, and said to him that the deserts were on the house. They ordered, and as the waiter came by the table, I tried to slip him some more money, but he said no, it was worth it just to see the young ones happy.
Sometimes the seed just gets planted. And grows.

[Standard]

Steve's story reminds me of the country song where the guy stops to change the lady's tire and won't take any payment but askes the lady to pass on the good turn, the lady then goes to a diner and sees a young pregnant waitress and leaves her a big tip, the waitress goes home to her husband that evening who was the one who changed the tire in the beginning of the song.

[SteveB]

The waiter is not my spouse though....

[Clockwork John]

My wife works for a certain major national coffee company... She regularly buys or gives food and drinks to the homeless people that frequent her store. Occasionally, when they mark out/throw away "expired" food (still perfectly edible) we'll snag it and give it to those whom it will do the most good...

But shhhh... it's technically stealing to take unsold food... even if it's destined for the landfill.

I try to do little things here and there... buy a meal or a drink, help a stranded motorist, etc, but feeding the hungry is by far my most frequent RAK.