This blog is is attempt to fulfill a promise made to a stranger 25 years ago. Spotting a broken down car on the side of rural highway in Upstate New York, a man who could have very easily kept on driving stopped to help me. After an entire afternoon of getting me on my way he accepted only a thank you and a promise that I would help someone else along the way. It is time I fulfilled that promise. I am making a commitment to be kind to a stranger at least once a day for a year.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Flowers for a Stranger.
I bought some flowers this morning, not sure to whom I was going to give them. The cashier commented about how pretty they were. And I said "Do you really think so?" And she said "yes" so sincerely, that I said "Oh, well then they are for you."
Went with my daughter to the grocery store and found a happy bunch of flowers. Similarly to today's post, the cashier commented on how nice they looked. So I asked if she would do us a favor and give them to the next customer coming thru her line who looked like they might need a pick me up. She (the cashier) was more than willing to help and commented that there had been a lot of folks coming in who were facing hard times these days. After, my daughter and I imagined aloud who might have ended up receiving them. The not-knowing was the best part.
I went with my two sons to a grocery store to get a few things for dinner. We picked up some flowers and then waited outside the store. We had some discussion about who to give them through but then they agreed that a woman coming out was a good fit. She looked like she had been working the whole day at a retail store and still had her name tag on. When I gave it to her, she looked surprised but then gave a really warm smile and said thanks.
I was really nervous to do this task, but I decided to walk right up to the next person I saw and give them flowers. There was a man doing yard work on his lawn and he was alone and look tired. I stood there for a second and handed him the flowers. He must have thought it was a mistake at first, but gave me a warm smile that made everything worth the effort.
Bought flowers at Trader Joe's tonight and scanned the parking lot to see who we should give to. Debated whether we should give them away 1 by 1 (my daughter's idea) or the whole bunch to one person. We chose the latter, and then selected a woman with a cute dog sitting in her car waiting for someone in the store. She was surprised and happy-- it was very sweet!
Gave a small bouquet of Cala Lilies to a stranger at Petco. She was talking on her cell and mouthed a very grateful thank you to me. I ran to my car; smiling all the way back to the office.
I had to do this on Wednesday, instead, and ended up bringing flowers in from my garden for various people at work. Not strangers and didn't buy them (but lots of time and energy in gardening). I hope this counts?! I will do better next month!
Flowers for a stranger is just something I made up, being kind is what counts of course. And I was inspired by you and brought flowers from my yard to my co-workers today. And let me tell you, it was MUCH more work than buying flowers for someone I didn't know!
Went with my daughter to the grocery store and found a happy bunch of flowers. Similarly to today's post, the cashier commented on how nice they looked. So I asked if she would do us a favor and give them to the next customer coming thru her line who looked like they might need a pick me up. She (the cashier) was more than willing to help and commented that there had been a lot of folks coming in who were facing hard times these days. After, my daughter and I imagined aloud who might have ended up receiving them. The not-knowing was the best part.
ReplyDeleteI went with my two sons to a grocery store to get a few things for dinner. We picked up some flowers and then waited outside the store. We had some discussion about who to give them through but then they agreed that a woman coming out was a good fit. She looked like she had been working the whole day at a retail store and still had her name tag on. When I gave it to her, she looked surprised but then gave a really warm smile and said thanks.
ReplyDeletethis kindness thing can be addictive
I gave flowers from my yard to my neighbor. Does that count?
ReplyDeleteI was really nervous to do this task, but I decided to walk right up to the next person I saw and give them flowers. There was a man doing yard work on his lawn and he was alone and look tired. I stood there for a second and handed him the flowers. He must have thought it was a mistake at first, but gave me a warm smile that made everything worth the effort.
ReplyDeleteBought flowers at Trader Joe's tonight and scanned the parking lot to see who we should give to. Debated whether we should give them away 1 by 1 (my daughter's idea) or the whole bunch to one person. We chose the latter, and then selected a woman with a cute dog sitting in her car waiting for someone in the store. She was surprised and happy-- it was very sweet!
ReplyDeleteFlowers to a neighbor absolutely counts!
ReplyDeleteGave a small bouquet of Cala Lilies to a stranger at Petco. She was talking on her cell and mouthed a very grateful thank you to me. I ran to my car; smiling all the way back to the office.
ReplyDeleteI had to do this on Wednesday, instead, and ended up bringing flowers in from my garden for various people at work. Not strangers and didn't buy them (but lots of time and energy in gardening). I hope this counts?! I will do better next month!
ReplyDeleteFlowers for a stranger is just something I made up, being kind is what counts of course. And I was inspired by you and brought flowers from my yard to my co-workers today. And let me tell you, it was MUCH more work than buying flowers for someone I didn't know!
ReplyDelete