Illustration: Leunig.The following are some suggestions worth considering:
Make a difference
- Smile when you make eye contact with a stranger.
- Mow your neighbour's nature strip.
- Introduce yourself to a new neighbour.
- Donate blood.
- Tell someone you love them.
- Give old clothes and toys to charities.
- Send a card to a friend or relative you haven't seen recently.
- Go to the assistance of anyone who appears to be in trouble. The person who needs a coin for the parking meter; someone who looks lost; someone who is carrying a heavy parcel and so on.
- If you know someone who is having a hard time fi nancially, put $20 in an envelope, disguise your writing, and post it to them.
- If the person behind you in the shopping queue only has a few items, ask them if they want to go ahead.
- Take flowers to a hospital ward and give them to someone who hasn't had any visitors.
- If you see someone with a pram about to ascend or descend stairs, offer to help carry the pram.
- Visit an aged care home and become a voluntary companion for a lonely patient.
- Offer to babysit for someone.
- Stop to take a lost animal to an animal shelter.
Source: Australian Kindness Movement
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ohhhhhhhh does this count...
ReplyDeleteI was at Universal Studios Theme Park last night with my clan (4 kids including a friend 13, 12, 11 &11 plus my spouse) It was a Mardi Gras theme AND Huey Lewis and the News was having a free concert (and you get what you pay for in his free concert I might add)...
We saw the Mardi Gras Parade and collected about 20 beaded necklaces each (in Univ. Studios you dont need to expose your boobs to get the beads like you do in New Orleans! lmao... just in case your mind was going there! *wink)
So on the way out a couple stopped us and asked where we got all the beads... we told them and started walking away... I ran back and stopped them so I could give them my beads. They were so excited and appreciative!
Does that count? OK well it was random at least! lol Ok and it was better than just making eye contact with a stranger! I do that all the time!
Happy Chinese New Year!
Kate, that's a nice thing to do. I have to admit I don't do much for others..but few times I've met different guys by the roadside looking troubled..one said he had finished all his money, need some cash to buy petrol for his bike. I reluctantly gave MYR5 coz I don't trust him..and then speed my way to leave him. Second time an old man half crying said his wife is in hopsital, his car need petrol, he left his wallet home and need money to call his son..I don't trust him either but I gave MYR10. I prayed that they're telling the truth but here a lot of scam cases had happened.
ReplyDeleteI think I'm a kind person. I've never gone out of my way to be unkind to anyone. I do let people go ahead of me at the check-out etc., or even on the roads...let someone in when you know they could sit there forever before getting access. A couple of minutes extra mean little to me...I'm usually early for anything, anyway being a pretty punctual person.
ReplyDeleteI don't have money to spare for others but that doesn't mean I'm mean with what I have.
I can get angry or frustrated over the actions or words of some but usually, I don't retaliate other than mumble a few choice words to myself! Unless of course something is directly directed at me and deserve a retort or reply!
The art of giving or being kind is much more pleasant to the giver, I believe.
I must admit, the *high* i get by doing a few of those listed, is brilliant....and seeing the joy on the faces is priceless :)
ReplyDeleteMight I add send a card or thank you note to one of those friends or relatives you see so often that you begin to take them for granted? Sometimes it is easier to remember to be kind to strangers; we assume those who are kind to us already know that we are grateful.
ReplyDeleteI tried to go donating blood the other day because our radio stations keep telling us they are crying out for blood and what do I find, a closed door, they only open at 12 noon, well duh?? Half a pint lost!
ReplyDeleteI always donate and will call this time and book an appointment.
What a lovely list, I must admit I am also quite willing to let other cars in when I see they wait for ever to enter a road, I also point helping older people carry things out to my kids.
Do it, don't talk about it, stick it in your journal. Smile.
ReplyDeleteGreat post L.
"In the end, only kindness matters..."
ReplyDeletejewel's line, my philosophy!
"The little unremembered acts of kindness and love are the best parts of a person's life."
ReplyDeleteWilliam Wordsworth.
I think people helping other people is contagious. We should all try to catch it. :)
ReplyDeleteI love the image you chose to accompany the text. I had the experience the other day of a random act of kindness done for me in the way of giving me access to some wonderful essays and the giver is not known to me ... and I found I wanted to say thank you to the most generous person and I cannot ... and so what is in my heart is wanting to go out to someone. Experiencing acts of kindness and goodwill done anonymously took me to another whole dimension. Lovely writing as ususal, Lee.
ReplyDeletethank you lee, this post greatly elevated my spirits. it's nice to see awareness of how the ripple effect can have huge impacts as it travels outward and increases in magnitude. my favorite bumper sticker reads "i have found no greater wisdom than kindness"
ReplyDeleteI think I need to send a card to my Uncle, he hasn't been well and hasn't heard from me in a long time...thanks for the reminder!
ReplyDeleteI thought the list was wonderful, even as the fact that it was necessary at all struck me as awfully sad. Isn't this the stuff we were taught to do when we were growing up? When did we stop teaching children to be kind, when did they have to start reacquiring the habit later in life, encouraged by movements for kindness. I don't know, maybe I'm just too disagreeable today to see this as something uplifting, the mood will pass, I'm sure. The picture made me smile, though.
ReplyDeleteImagining what people would say about you at your funeral is quite an interesting exercise.
ReplyDeleteRE people talking about you at your funeral. Can I direct you to:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.thedashmovie.com/
(view it with your sound on)