List...Random Acts of Kindness -- JFF

I CAN activate the filter between my brain and mouth on occasion. I usually choose not to. So I comment on the world around me all the time.

Anything beautiful: voices to clothes... I tell people

I have this odd Nikon shaped appendage. I take photos of people, really gorgeous candid ones (I'm NOT a photographer, I just like shooting)... Edit them, and give them away. We're talking most strangers. When I happen to catch a great shot, I just ask them for their email and show them. I'm still irked that the little girl at the beach seemed to be there with no adults at ALL. It's one of my altimeter favorites... And I can't get it to where it needs to go.

When someone is buying $2 worth of gas, I used to always give them a $5 (money's too tight right now, but I did it again last week... It's just reeeeally rare). Regardless of their appearance. Wealthy people do boneheaded things, too! (like forget their wallet at home).

I thank EVERYONE with whom I interact with & try to get to know all the regular guest stars in my life (my mail carrier and all 7 employees at the gas station, and about half of the grocery store are actual friends, now... Like home numbers. And I know my garbage & recycling workers names & general info, etc.). Very few people LIKE feeling invisible. Most people have something special or interesting about them.

I nod to people walking by me / make eye contact.

I introduce people I think might like each other or be useful towards one another.

I ask old men for directions rather than look at a map (old men are the BEST source of local info, btw, and they're totally marginalized! Old men are terrible flirts, and in general very much wanting in being needed. These men fought our wars, built out cities, raised our parents... And they're just left to rot, more often than not. It's amazing how different my life has been for the conversations on the side of roads, cafes, etc.. 'Excuse me, sir?' is better than google.

I dunno. Just sorts normal, everyday, being nice... Right?

When I was in line at Starbucks last December, the car in front of me in line paid for my coffee. It was so sweet! I returned the favor by giving the cashier the whole $10 bill I had taken out of my wallet to pay.

I have been in and around the flower business my whole life, and I love randomly giving my neighbors flowers. I gave some to an older gentlemen who was walking his dog outside my house once, for his wife who I had seen walking with him. He was so excited and said his wife would be thrilled! My husband called me weird for that one...lol...

I enjoy overtipping when I can. The day of my father's funeral we went to dinner at a restaurant where we used to eat quite often. I tipped our waitress an extra $40 with a note about how much I used to enjoy eating there with my dad. It made me feel a bit better on a really awful day.

Once in awhile we see very poor folks going through the recycle bins to get cans and bottles. These are farm workers with kids. We started separating the cans and bottles to make it easier for them. Several times, especially when we see that they have families, we will gather a bag of food and give them cash.

I also make an effort to really see clerks and other service workers and to speak with kindness. I worked customer service in retail for years and I know how important that simple gesture can be.

Shovel our neighbors sidewalk when it snows.

Last week we had a terrible hail storm which left a huge mess from the pine trees on our driveways, so I asked my kids to clean up the neighbors drive way as they are elderly and were both at work.

Offer help to older people when you see them abou to lift heavy items in their car, or help them pump gas ect. Anything you would want someone to do for your grandparent.

My children and I have also purchased food for people asking for money, example, there was a teenage girl who looked like she was homeless in front of Subway,she was asking for money, so we asked her if she was hungry, took her into the Subway and purchased her a meal.

I've always tried to instill this thot into my kids brains. They're great kids - especially my son. He'll help anyone with just about anything and NEVER expects anything in return. My daughter loves helping out at the food pantry every Saturday morning; funny how it started out as a requirement to get a couple hours of community service for a school project; that was several years ago!! I guess it's because they've always seen me and my husband helping people. Whether it be just opening a door for someone, a smile to help make someone happy or stopping along the road to help with a broken down car or flat tire.

Teenagers usually get a bad rap about being selfish, etc. I'm proud to say my kids aren't your typical teens!! They really care about other people.

To add to your list - helping older people. I love when my kids will see a much older person at the grocery store struggling to put their groceries in their car; they'll run over and help them and even return the basket for them.

Good question!!

My favorite thing to do is to buy someone's order in the drive thru- Starbucks, In 'N Out, etc. I LOVE the feeling of knowing how pleasantly shocked the person will be when they find out their order is paid for. Once, I paid for the food for a big burly man- he looked so intimidating UNTIL he heard the news and gave me the biggest grin and wave I have ever received in my life. It was awesome and I must say, I got a little lump in my throat.

I'm anxious to see what others have done.

Just smiling and looking to another person, in now days, is a very nice gesture to anyone..I walk on the street, I go to to the store, I go everywhere and most people look just sad, or focused on their cell, or just upset.
Kindness IS power and especially power to feel ourselves great and make other feels happier!

We've been known to roll our neighbor's empty trash cans back to their houses from the street - particularly if it's windy or raining. We have a standing policy with our neighbors, that we can use each other's trash cans, too - if mine is only half full, but you are having a party, why should I make you leave your bag in the street, for the strays and raccoons?

We were able to move into our new construction house several weeks before our neighbor was, who we hadn't met yet. In the dead of summer. We watered his lawn. He repaid us, several years later, by mowing our lawn several times when our first child was born, so it would be one less thing for us to do.

My husband finds out what his dad's work schedule is, and when he has to work on Saturdays, DH sneaks over and mows his parents' lawn when they're not home.

We wait, always, for people to get OFF the elevator, before we even stand in front of the doors. Which is sad, that this has become an act of kindness - I would have thought it was common courtesy, if not common sense. Someone once actually PUSHED PAST US to get on, as we were getting off, and then had to wait for us to get off, anyway.

(I saw a fun idea that I want to try with my kids: the lady took her kids to a hospital, with tape and a roll of quarters, and taped change to all the vending machines in the various hospital waiting areas. Everyone waiting for a loved one got a snack or soda, that day.)

And, as SassieSarkie pointed out - I've heard before, you should treat everyone the way you would want them to treat your grandmother. So, I try. That means speaking respectfully, giving common courtesy (like you mentioned - holding doors and making eye contact), and trying to be patient with, everyone. We're not perfect (we all have cranky days, right?), but we try.