Well .. now that the official most depressing day of the year (Jan 24th) has come and gone .. time to turn our minds and hearts to more cheerey things ....

When was the last random act of kindness you did for someone (maybe a stranger) that you didn't have to do ... but you did anyway !?

(not sure how many replies this will get ... i recon people just don't wanna damage their street cred by fessing up on how lovely and kind hearted the are).

Depends on how you mean, do you mean little things like just opening a door? Or big thngs?

I like to think i do lots of kind things for people, even if its simple stuff like letting them on the escalator first or taking a few seconds more to hold the door open for a mother with a pram.

Last summer I was in Cornwall

Me and some friends went to a fish and chip shop and were waiting in a queue. It was a busy time and we were waiting a long time,

A old woman was infront of us who required a walking stick and seemed to have trouble standing up for this amount of time.

The people who were working there said they'd go get her a chair but after a while it was clear that they had forgotten about her.

So I walked into the actual seating area and fetched a chair for her.

That's the last thing I can remember.....

I like to think that I behave as my mother taught me and that to think of acts of kindness as anything other than a normal way to act is wrong.

Originally posted by nslack
Depends on how you mean, do you mean little things like just opening a door? Or big thngs?

I like to think i do lots of kind things for people, even if its simple stuff like letting them on the escalator first or taking a few seconds more to hold the door open for a mother with a pram.

Hey nslak,

Anything that sticks out in your mind. Maybe where you've put yourself out a little, just to help another person, and got a little glow of warmth in your heart ...

Does that make sense?

not sure how many replies this will get ... i recon people just don't wanna damage their street cred by fessing up on how lovely and kind hearted the are).

Not sure it's about street cred so much as making it public sort of detracts from the act. That's how I feel anyway but it doesn't mean I don't appreciate other people's acts of kindness towards others :)

Originally posted by Siân
Not sure it's about street cred so much as making it public sort of detracts from the act. That's how I feel anyway but it doesn't mean I don't appreciate other people's acts of kindness towards others :)

I see what you mean Sian.

I guess it detracts from the act if you've only done it so that you can make it public and get a good image etc (which would be just selfishness really).

I don't see the harm in sharing stories after the (f)act though ... or am I missing something?

Originally posted by Jamie
I don't see the harm in sharing stories after the (f)act though ... or am I missing something?

Have you got any stories of your kindness Jamie?

In that case, Jamie, I have no idea, i feel good about it whenever I help someone, I'm sure I must have done something beg I just can't remember :(

Originally posted by IanMitchell
Have you got any stories of your kindness Jamie?

Hmmm ... I really must learn to think before posting !!

I guess it detracts from the act if you've only done it so that you can make it public and get a good image etc (which would be just selfishness really).

I think even if you didn't do it with that in mind but then have to point out how 'good' you were afterwards (& we all feel compelled to do that) it detracts.

I like hearing stories about acts of kindness though - maybe it works better when we're relating acts of kindess we've had done to us or seen others do

Ok ... bit naive of me perhaps ... just thought it would be nice to share some kindness and light for a change ... so sod you all ... I shall keep my kindness and light to myself in future :P

Mods feel free to close this down.

Awwww.....

It would be a shame to close this down - I like the idea of committing a random act of kindness. And anonymity can make it really good!

I think we should be pleased to be able to do something good for our fellow citizens - I genuinely feel it's good for the soul. If you help out someone you don't really know in some way, with no expectation or reward or return, that's a truly great gesture.

To paraphrase Jebediah Springfield - 'it embiggens the soul'!!

Joe

No I agree with your Jamie.

It is of course a good thing to do "acts of kindness", but I don't think sharing them with the forum detracts anything from them - it certainly doesn't detract any meaning from it for the person you were kind to, does it.

And who knows, maybe people reading this thread will be inspired to commit acts of kindness themselves :thumbsup:

Originally posted by JoePritchard
If you help out someone you don't really know in some way, with no expectation or reward or return, that's a truly great gesture.

Well yeah, I agree with you Joe, and with all the bitter and angry - hate threads around I thought it would be great to share and look at some of the ways people express their love and kindness to one another.

I have to admit I do feel a bit foolish for even trying.

No, I think it was good idea Jamie. I like doing things for other people - I often make cakes and biscuits for the people at work and I'll go out of my way to help someone who contacts me via the research group for help with microscope stuff. I paid the extra for a stranger who didnt have enough money for their ticket on the train the other day (I'm 100% sure it was a genuine mistake rather than this particular individual trying to pull a fast one) and I always make sure birthdays at work are remembered and a card / cake is organised. Hmmmm general cake theme here. Say it with cake! :P

it with cake :hihi:

Sorry, poor joke... I'll go sit in the corner :help:

Ok ... bit naive of me perhaps ... just thought it would be nice to share some kindness and light for a change ... so sod you all ... I shall keep my kindness and light to myself in future daft nugget - I meant it's easier to to talk about other people's acts of kindness

& just to demonstrate :

Have you got any stories of your kindness Jamie?

I'm sure plenty of people who know Jamie can think of examples but he was very helpful when I called him in a panic over my PC back in the summer. He very kindly sorted it out for me & he didn't once comment on my ineptitude with computers :)

Originally posted by Siân
I'm sure plenty of people who know Jamie can think of examples but he was very helpful when I called him in a panic over my PC back in the summer. He very kindly sorted it out for me & he didn't once comment on my ineptitude with computers :)

That can't be classed as an act of kindness !! ... it was PC technical services in exchange for food (still waiting) !!

:P

It can!!

As for the Chinese I'll PM you but I thought you (& that fin of yours :P) were way too busy at salsa ;)

Ahhhhh ... shark-fin soup gets soooooo tiresome after time ... lookin forward to ya PM sian.

I got really into random acts of kindness a few months ago, and got quite hooked on the buzz you can get.

I'm not going to bang on about all the nice things I have done, but just to say that one of my favourite ones is to throw all my change into the playground of my local park (if there's nobody about at the time!) I just like to think the kids will be greatful, and it costs me a couple of quid..money well spent! :clap:

This (http://www.helpothers.org) website can provide lots of info and ideas.

K x

. . . and other random acts of kindness!! While we're on the altruistic line of fourm members giving blood, what about other little gestures that make the world seem a better place?!

Did anyone else catch this idea recently on the Jo Wylie show? She got listeners to ring in with an "I've Never..." challenge, as in "I've never given a flower to a stranger", and then people committed to doing it, and rang in with reports of what it was like. People were saying how liberating it was, and that it gave them a high for the rest of the day, and that they made sad people happy, and everything!!!!!

So I thought, let's do a Forum equivalent. Who's up for it? What shall we do? Have you ever given a flower to a stranger? What was it like?

Happy Saturday

JfG xxx

Mod: Threads merged

Thank you Mr Moderator!!

Did a search but under giving flowers to a stranger . . . maybe a little specific . . . . you think?!?!

Like the website you posted - loads of good ideas, yay! Don't you think there's something we could do actually on the Forum though? Virtual Random Kindness?! Buying moderators a virtual coffee?!?!

The Karma Army site has lots of info on RAOKs [random acts of kindness]

http://www.karmaarmy.co.uk/index.php

with loads of examples here :

http://www.karmaarmy.co.uk/raok.php

Cant say I'd ever give an MP a tube of smarties though !

I think this is a lovely thread - it's good to hear about the nice things in the world for a change.

To be on the receiving end of a RAK can be really take you by surprise, and be a happy memory for years. A couple of years ago now I was making my way to the bus-stop for a lunchtime appointment in town. I was running a bit late so was feeling a bit stressed. I had to wait for a while at the traffic lights on the way, and while standing there, noticed an elderlyish lady waiting at the lights on the other side, sort of looking at me.

I crossed over, and was a bit surprised when this lady just stayed where she was. I reached the pavement, then she said, 'excuse me, but are you catching the bus?'. I'm edging away slowly when she explained that she'd bought a day-saver ticket for the earlier that morning, but she'd now finished her travelling for the day, and thought it would be nice if someone else could make use of the ticket, as it was only lunch-time!

So she offered me the ticket! Never seen her before or since! I thought it was a really sweet gesture, and it really made my day. Seems like it was just a spontaneous, kind thought on her part - that's what makes the world go round!

StarSparkle :)

PS I didn't actually use her ticket - I'm such a model citizen! - it was just the kind thought that counted :D

hubby does this in car parks, if we still have lots of time left on our ticket he will pass it to the next person coming in :D
we have also had it done to us too :thumbsup:

I do that - pass ticket on.

Last year when I was visiting my Dad every day at the hospital -twice a day it cost me a fortune and sometimes it was just a case of 5mins to pick my mum up! So I often had plenty of time left on tickets so gave it to someone else.

Unfortunately some meters you now have to put your reg number in so it stops you doing that.

Originally posted by JoePritchard
To paraphrase Jebediah Springfield - 'it embiggens the soul'!!

Joe

Joe, I always love your Simpsons references! Jebediah is right, of course. It doth 'embiggen' the soul. I think it's a wonderful thing to do small favors for strangers. Like dropping a rock in a pool of water, it just might put someone else in a good mood, who puts someone else in a good mood...and goodness knows where it's likely to end!

Sounds much like the plot of 'Pay it Forward'. Not a bad movie.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0223897/plotsummary

:) Sierra

Originally posted by dawny1


Unfortunately some meters you now have to put your reg number in so it stops you doing that.

I do this whenever possible. As far as I'm concerned I've paid for X amount of time, and if not me, then someone's going to get the money's worth.

Should be easier to demonstrate this method of kindness now. Where the car number goes you just put 0001, 0051, 0002, 0052 etc (if registered this millenium) so chances are there'll be another car of same reg on it's way in.

I really do try to be kind in my everyday life------but one thing still bothers me.
Deep down you know that , generally , if you are kind , then people are usually kind in return.
Now , the thought occurs to me , am I being kind for its own sake , or am I really being kind because I know I'll get some return ?
Very complicated ! Anyway , whatever ; it's still a more pleasant world when people are kind to each other than doing each other down ------whatever the philosophical position is !!

Originally posted by Fareast
I really do try to be kind in my everyday life------but one thing still bothers me.
Deep down you know that , generally , if you are kind , then people are usually kind in return.
Now , the thought occurs to me , am I being kind for its own sake , or am I really being kind because I know I'll get some return ?
Very complicated ! Anyway , whatever ; it's still a more pleasant world when people are kind to each other than doing each other down ------whatever the philosophical position is !!

This was a idea being explored on another thread recently.

Personally I think you do gain, from selfless behaviour, so is it selfish or selfless?

Who can say?

The thing is, it's ok, because it's a win win situation, and all the best situations are. You're kind to someone, they feel good, you feel good. Great!

I mean, you wouldn't wanna feel good all on your lonesome would you?

Mmmm, last random act of kindness? I got stopped on Shoreham Street last Friday by a van driver and his mate from Huddersfield. They were strangers to Sheffield, and hopelessly lost trying to navigate unfamiliar one-way systems. We were near the Post Office, and they wanted to get to Matlida Street. I began giving directions, and realised how complicated it all sounded. So, in the end, I jumped into the cab, and off we all went. Much easier.

Can I take this opportunity to publicly thank the forum member, who, although a complete stranger, posted me a packet of cigars (first class post!) when I was recently housebound and couldn't get out to the shops. What a random act of kindness that was! Thank you, kind sir. (NB So, when he posted earlier on this thread that he throws loose change into a kid's playground - you can indeed believe his random acts of kindness!).

Originally posted by redrobbo
So, in the end, I jumped into the cab, and off we all went. Much easier.

Here's my random act of kindness for today : don't try this at home. Getting in vehicles with strangers is NOT a good idea :o

Here is a good link for you all

http://www.join-me.co.uk/index.html

This morning at 06:40 ALL the traffic lights were out on the Parkway roundabout.

As we were going round & heading for our motorway entry there was a steady stream of traffic coming off the motorway, from Sheffield.

Allthough we had right-of-way, the missus (driving) slowed to allow the last straggler car off the slip road & onto the roundabout.

Ahhhh, a tiny random act of polite kindness that cost less than 2 seconds.

It was the 2-hat in the car behind us peeping his hooter that nearly received a random act of violence from yours truly.

To Richard Head & family in posh white car; message: **** * ***** * *** *** * *** ***** * and die. :rant: :o :D

Originally posted by StarSparkle
I think this is a lovely thread - it's good to hear about the nice things in the world for a change.


Thanks Starsparkle! Really liked your story about the bus ticket too, bless the nice old lady!! I do think it's so important, not only to do good things for people, but also to hear about the beautiful things that happen- it helps to counterbalance the prevelant view of the world as basically a hostile place, which we'd be forgiven for thinking from watching the news and fear-stirring programmes, oh and driving in traffic every day, Don ;)

I still want to try out giving a flower to a stranger. I'll keep you posted!!

JfG xx

Not quite a RAK, but yesterday morning I popped out to pick the newspapers up from South Road in Walkley.

The place was full of street cleaning fellows, picking up the detritus of Saturday night.

I decided to thank the closest one as I passed - it was well worth the effort. We had a few minutes chat and he was clearly delighted that their efforts were acknowledged.

I think I'll make that a regular thing n future - thanking folks for a job well done.

Joe

Originally posted by JoyfulGrrl
I still want to try out giving a flower to a stranger. I'll keep you posted!!

Giving flowers to strangers eh?

Sounds like a lovely idea, I'd love to do that too.

Originally posted by JoePritchard
Not quite a RAK, but yesterday morning I popped out to pick the newspapers up from South Road in Walkley.

The place was full of street cleaning fellows, picking up the detritus of Saturday night.

I decided to thank the closest one as I passed - it was well worth the effort. We had a few minutes chat and he was clearly delighted that their efforts were acknowledged.

I think I'll make that a regular thing n future - thanking folks for a job well done.

Joe

I think what you did is definately a RAK! IMO it's all about who the person on the receiving end of the act feels about it. I'm sure his job is normally quite a thankless task, I bet you made his day!

I think this is a great idea.... If memory serves me right Dave Gorman suggested something llike this as a joke in one of his books. and next thing he knew there were websites, membership groups etc springing up all over the world.....

Anyway...I don;t think I have the confidence to flowers or something similar out to strangers but.... I always offer my unused car parking tickets if I can.

Recently I was on the receiving end of a R.A.K. on virgin trains.

I had no money on me and the cashpoint machines at sheffield station were out of order so I couldn;t get a drink....

On the train I asked the buffet car person if I could pay by switch, but their machine had gone down also. Nevermind I said, I'll wait until I get to Leeds. About 5 mins later he arrived at my seat with a free cup of tea!!!!

Excellent customer service! and a lovely R.A.K

There was a meet of the sheffield karma army in the frog and parrott aaaaages ago.

Anyway, be sure there are many people in Sheffield, and each and every Friday they all carry out a random act of kindness :)

Danny is our Leader.

Hurray for a free cup of tea!

And Joe, I think that was a lovely thing to do.

Jamie - are you up for doing the flower to stranger thing? We could set a deadline and then share the story!!! OK, I'm in town next Saturday - will do it then and let you know . . .

Thud! <sound of gauntlet being thrown down>

JfG x

Originally posted by JoyfulGrrl
Hurray for a free cup of tea!

And Joe, I think that was a lovely thing to do.

Jamie - are you up for doing the flower to stranger thing? We could set a deadline and then share the story!!! OK, I'm in town next Saturday - will do it then and let you know . . .

Thud! <sound of gauntlet being thrown down>

JfG x

You're on!!!

FREE FLOWERS FOR ALL!!!

I'll do mind on Saturday too. I'll be in town (although I may be cunningly disguised as a rabbit) giving out free flowers to one and all.

I wonder if any legal boffins know if there is a law against being kind or randomly bestowing gifts upon strangers!?

Also, where's a good place to hire fancy dress!?

Originally posted by Jamie
You're on!!!

FREE FLOWERS FOR ALL!!!

I'll do mind on Saturday too. I'll be in town (although I may be cunningly disguised as a rabbit) giving out free flowers to one and all.


Fantastic! But, erm - a rabbit?!?!?!

I'll look out for you . . .!!!

JfG

Originally posted by JoyfulGrrl
- a rabbit?!?!?!

Yeah ... I was thinking of giving out chocolate eggs too ...

Don't remember reading an update on this.



How did you get on!!!!!!!!!!!

My regular random act of kindness is... if I get off the tram with a dayrider in my hand and I have finished tramming for the day. I always give it to someone waiting to get on who doesnt have a ticket. Saves them a couple of quid!

Would be nice if someone did it for me one day :rolleyes:

I always open doors for people and let them go before me.
I try not to let females see me lose my temper.
I pick my nan up for Sunday dinner.
I fix all my mates' PC's for free.

And then some.. Not really random, but kind in my books :)

Random one:

Down town the other week, a homeless guy wanted a cig (it DOES keep the hunger at bay...) and I asked about 10 people for one for him. Tight ar$ed students all said no..

I always buy a big issue.. but never take the mag... then they can sell it to someone else.

As someone previously mentioned, it sounds like the film Pay It Forward where a boy does a social project and decides to do something for the benefit of 3 people but they have to do something for 3 other people, now totalling 9, then they each do their bit now totalling 27 etc etc
I always wondered why this never got going. I think its great. Letting someone through in traffic can really make a difference, your parking ticket, tram ticket, picking up and returning the money someone never knew they dropped, giving someone something they need without repayment.
I challenge forummers to do something for 3 people and tell them to pay it forward.
Let me know how you get on. :)

RAK ~ AKA ~ IMO = Just being nice and friendly with a twist of generosity ;)

I just heard on the TV that it's National Kindness Week, and thought it might be appropriate to give this thread a bump.

Come on folks, spread a little happiness! :)

Awww what a lovely thought!

A daily dose of kindness make the world a happier place.

So how's the dashing young Kristian today then? And the rest of my lovely forum family?

Originally posted by Hels
Awww what a lovely thought!

A daily dose of kindness make the world a happier place.

So how's the dashing young Kristian today then? And the rest of my lovely forum family?

It is a really nice thought isn't it?

I have some little cards that you can leave for people letting them know that they have been the victim of a RAK and it tells them to pass it on anonymously when they did something nice.

A few weeks ago at work, my friend was feeling a little low so I bought him a bun he likes from the canteen and left it on his desk with a card. He questioned all of us about it and of course I swore black was white I knew nothing of it.

A couple of hours later I was at his desk and noticed he hadn't eaten the bun. When I asked why he said he thought it might be poisoned. Bloody cheek! :hihi: :hihi:

Off to go and do something nice....

K x

PS - The Dashing Young Kristian is very tired after too much birthday partying! ;)

Heres a RAK

Kristian you are looking lovelier than ever today, was it your 21st birthday ;)

Originally posted by fox20thc
Heres a RAK

Kristian you are looking lovelier than ever today, was it your 21st birthday ;)

:suspect: You sure that wasn't a Random Act of Sarcasm'... ;)

I think doing random acts of kindness is a lovely way of cheering people.

I was in a florist in Crookes the other day buying a thank you present for my hubby ( a very manly looking teddybear) and it just so happened that the Russ representative was at the shop and he gave me a beautiful fluffy keyring as a thank you for buying Russ products.

I know that now I will feel very inclined towards Russ goods and some might say that it was not a selfless act, but all I know is that it made me feel really happy.

On Halloween me and my loveliest friend Lee made toffee apples for my neighbour.

I had that happen to me in Lush. Was in buying a mothers day gift for my mum and had a broken arm in plaster at the time. The staff were lovely to me and after they bagged up my purchase they gave me a bag of free stuff as a get well soon pressie. It made my day :D

Hmmm *leaves to hang around in lush looking injured* :D

I can think of two things that I've done recently.

The first happened when I was on my way to Sunderland to see a football match. I arrived at Sheffield station with about 15-20 minutes to spare before my train left, and I joined the queue for the automated ticket machines. The queue seemed shorter than that for the ticket windows, so that's why I chose it.

When I was second in the queue, the couple using the machine made a gesture of frustration and walked away from it. I tried it anyway and found that it had frozen up. I then joined the queue for the kiosks, but I'd now wasted 10 minutes queuing for the machine and was cutting it fine. I got talking to a woman behind me in the queue. Her train was three minutes before mine, so she was really cutting it fine. When I reached the front of the queue I had 4 or 5 minutes before my train left, so I let this woman go in front of me so that she wouldn't miss her train.

The second thing happened when I was on a train to Liverpool on Saturday morning. The train was rammed, so lots of people were standing in the aisle of the carriage. I managed to get a seat, but as lots more people got on, I noticed that a man standing right next to my seat had crutches. I tapped him on the shoulder and asked him if he'd like my seat. He said no though, which took the shine of it a little bit. :(

He said no though, which took the shine of it a little bit. :(

Some people will always just be a bit ungrateful! :)

In Morrisons yesterday afternoon they'd got minimum staff on tills and there were queues at each one. An elderly lady behond me was muttering about her bus etc. She'd got very little in her trolly and so I let her go in front of me. I love the notion af random acts of kindness and 'pay it forward'. I try to let at least three people out in front of me during a car journey - I don't always get a cheary wave, but when I do it makes my day.

Today I was at the shops in Crookes and I saw a chinese man looking very lost with a map... I asked him which road he was trying to find and by coincidence it was my road! It took us about 5 minutes to get there and he was a lovely man, hes moving to England (and Sheffield) with his family, he was asking about the school (lydgate primary), the area in general, buses etc. and I was happy to tell him that he was moving to a lovely place! :D

I left him to find the right house number on his own (didnt want to be patronizing!), although then he stood outside it looking confused so I pointed out that he had to go round the back, it confused me enough for ages too!!

And I feel happy for helping someone :D , I just hope next time I'm looking lost with a map in my hand someone will help me!

I promise to do 3 RAK today :D

And smile at everyone I see

The last little act of kindness was seen by my dog!!!Finlay.
my cat, Betty was dying at home ( she was 17), my welsh terrier who had terriorised her for years, came up to her as she lay on the bed, and curled his way around her. He sat with her until she died.

A random act of findness today ..

I just phoned to pay my M.O.T and the lady who runs the office and I were passing the time of day whilst waiting for my money to go through and I jokingly said I had had tomato soup for breakfast as I can't get out at the mo due to my back and Mike, my OH, was at work till 10.30 last night so not able to bring bread.

About ten minutes ago I went to answer a knock at the door .. and there she was, bread, milk and biscuits in hand.

I'm still tearful .. and smiley ..