Day 338
As the end of the day neared, there was no glaring, blogworthy or even slightly interesting act of kindness to report. I went to my go to act in the clutch, a jar of peanut butter in the donation bin at the local grocery store. Given that it was the ONLY item in the bin, it appears that it wouldn't hurt to make this a more regular act in the repertoire.
Monday, March 7, 2011
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Spring Temperatures Bring Hope And Trash
Day 337
As the snow melts, many things are revealed in my yard. That lost sled. The snow shovel that went missing. My black gloves that my son swears he didn't wear. And sadly in my neighborhood the melting snow uncovers trash, and lots of it.
When I went out for a run to enjoy the spring like temperatures, I picked up a few pieces along the way. A little more melting and I sense a Saturday family project in the making...
As the snow melts, many things are revealed in my yard. That lost sled. The snow shovel that went missing. My black gloves that my son swears he didn't wear. And sadly in my neighborhood the melting snow uncovers trash, and lots of it.
When I went out for a run to enjoy the spring like temperatures, I picked up a few pieces along the way. A little more melting and I sense a Saturday family project in the making...
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Kind of Scammed
Day 336
My family went to an event in the city today, and when we were parking the car a man walking by told us that we were in a no parking zone, and that there were some open spaces a block over. We thanked him and as we were getting back in the car, he said that he needed to take a bus home, and was just 85 cents short for the ticket. What seemed like a kind act quickly appeared instead to be a bit of a scam. My husband and I looked at each other and realized we had no choice but to give him a dollar.
We didn't feel like we had a choice because we were with our boys, who were already impressed that this man had been so helpful to us. To have to explain to them why we wouldn't be kind to him, and that perhaps he wasn't a nice as he seemed was more than we wanted to take on in that particular moment.
Besides, there is a chance that it was true, that he was a nice guy who was a dollar short for the bus. But if that's truly the case, I think I will look into that swamp land in Florida that seemed like such a good deal....
My family went to an event in the city today, and when we were parking the car a man walking by told us that we were in a no parking zone, and that there were some open spaces a block over. We thanked him and as we were getting back in the car, he said that he needed to take a bus home, and was just 85 cents short for the ticket. What seemed like a kind act quickly appeared instead to be a bit of a scam. My husband and I looked at each other and realized we had no choice but to give him a dollar.
We didn't feel like we had a choice because we were with our boys, who were already impressed that this man had been so helpful to us. To have to explain to them why we wouldn't be kind to him, and that perhaps he wasn't a nice as he seemed was more than we wanted to take on in that particular moment.
Besides, there is a chance that it was true, that he was a nice guy who was a dollar short for the bus. But if that's truly the case, I think I will look into that swamp land in Florida that seemed like such a good deal....
Friday, March 4, 2011
Take This Coffee. Please.
Day 335
Most of the time I try to commit my acts of kindness quietly without drawing too much attention to myself or the act. But today I needed to name it for what it was.
There was a conference at work and I was sitting at the registration table with a colleague. I had brought her a cup of coffee but she had already gotten one for herself, so there sat the extra large cup of dark roast looking for a home. A woman came to the table to register and asked if there was coffee available. I offered her the homeless cup and explained that it was an extra. “Oh no” she said, “I couldn't do that.” “Really” I replied, “please take it.” She looked a little flustered and offered to pay me for it. I said no, she insisted, and quite frankly I was starting to worry that we were going to have a knock down drag out fight about this. Until I said the magic words.
“Just consider it an act of kindness.”
Her face brightened and said thank you and accepted it with as much enthusiasm as if she had won the grand prize in a lottery. She thanked me at least three more times throughout the day.
I'm not sure why it was difficult for her to receive the coffee as an act of kindness until it was expressly named as such. But I was happy rational heads prevailed, it didn't come to blows and she enjoyed the coffee and the kindness.
Most of the time I try to commit my acts of kindness quietly without drawing too much attention to myself or the act. But today I needed to name it for what it was.
There was a conference at work and I was sitting at the registration table with a colleague. I had brought her a cup of coffee but she had already gotten one for herself, so there sat the extra large cup of dark roast looking for a home. A woman came to the table to register and asked if there was coffee available. I offered her the homeless cup and explained that it was an extra. “Oh no” she said, “I couldn't do that.” “Really” I replied, “please take it.” She looked a little flustered and offered to pay me for it. I said no, she insisted, and quite frankly I was starting to worry that we were going to have a knock down drag out fight about this. Until I said the magic words.
“Just consider it an act of kindness.”
Her face brightened and said thank you and accepted it with as much enthusiasm as if she had won the grand prize in a lottery. She thanked me at least three more times throughout the day.
I'm not sure why it was difficult for her to receive the coffee as an act of kindness until it was expressly named as such. But I was happy rational heads prevailed, it didn't come to blows and she enjoyed the coffee and the kindness.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Following Commands
Day 334
"Do a kind deed!"
That was the title of an email I received today. It was from the parent of one of my son's friends who is doing raising money by doing a walk for breast cancer research. And since, at that point in the day no blogworthy kind deed had surfaced, I took as one of those "meant to be" things and pressed the donate button straight away.
I am wondering what will happen when my year commitment to this blog is complete. Will I continue to view requests for kind deeds as a commands? Will I fall off the pace without my self imposed blogging requirement? My plan is to continue living kindly of course. But there is something about a public commitment that keeps one honest.
Time will tell, I suppose...
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Think Spring
Day 333
I know it was Give Flowers to a Stranger Day just a few days ago, but I celebrated again today. Recently the small grocery store near my house opened a florist section. And often I can find flowers there for a dollar a stem. Perfect for those days when I'm short on kindness for a stranger ideas.
Today there were beautiful irises. I bought three and went into parking lot with the wind blowing and the temperature dropping, and left them on car in the parking lot with a note “Think spring!”
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Welcome Back
Day 332
Last October I wrote about a local fish market where there had been a fire. It is a business run by two brothers that has been in the community for over 30 years. These are truly two of the nicest guys you will ever meet.
Today, the store reopened for business. I stopped on my way home from work and encountered two of the happiest fish mongers you have ever seen. It was almost a festive atmosphere as customers trickled in and the story of the last five months was repeated, filled with details of construction, permits, inspections, waiting, more waiting and then the final triumph of receiving the occupancy permit.
The owners were clearly grateful for the customer support and I was grateful to be able to offer it to such a fabulous locally owned family business.
Last October I wrote about a local fish market where there had been a fire. It is a business run by two brothers that has been in the community for over 30 years. These are truly two of the nicest guys you will ever meet.
Today, the store reopened for business. I stopped on my way home from work and encountered two of the happiest fish mongers you have ever seen. It was almost a festive atmosphere as customers trickled in and the story of the last five months was repeated, filled with details of construction, permits, inspections, waiting, more waiting and then the final triumph of receiving the occupancy permit.
The owners were clearly grateful for the customer support and I was grateful to be able to offer it to such a fabulous locally owned family business.
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