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Post by murdock on Feb 7, 2008 15:57:43 GMT -5
I recently came out of an extremely difficult time in my life. I made it out and I am thankful. I realize that when I am selfless and kind, my blessings and happiness increase.
I would like everyone to share a story of something selfless they have done for someone recently. If you have nothing to share, I will challenge you to do something for someone and expect nothing in return. I hope we can all share our stories about our random acts of kindness here.
Here is my random act of kindness....
I have a friend that is an artist. The artist has a child. The child has no mother. The artist has been working long hours so that they can get an apartment. They are living in a tiny loft. I am lucky enough to be able to pick my kids up from school every day. The child goes to the same school as my kids. I offered to give the child a ride home from school everyday and assured the artist that it was NO PROBLEM and that I was more than happy to do it. Yesterday, I took the child home after school. Today, I am taking the child with us on a family outing after school.
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Post by Saucy on Feb 7, 2008 16:11:46 GMT -5
right on babe! my friend's dad was dying from a brain aneurism. he pulled through, but with little success...she's also going through baby daddy drama, like crazy drama. she has no car and pretty much has a job where she could pick up little shifts here and there to make some cash...she's also 6 months pregnant...she had called me to watch her son while she worked...i said yes, and i also offered to drive her to work, since she was borrowing her sister's car, and her sister was going to be stuck at the hospital. I know she truly appreciated that. Even though it was all i had to offer in her type of situation, it felt good that i could be of help in some way... we guam people have to stick together...we're all we've got out here....
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Post by murdock on Feb 7, 2008 16:14:27 GMT -5
Saucy, that made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. So, when can I bring MY kids over???
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Post by Saucy on Feb 7, 2008 16:19:21 GMT -5
your kids are trained, they could actually help ME out...
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Post by Dave on Feb 8, 2008 11:37:38 GMT -5
next week is random acts of kindness week.
my act of kindness has been to bring one of my student to school every day because her family cannot afford to drive her in with the gas prices the way they are.
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Post by jules on Feb 8, 2008 12:05:08 GMT -5
Um, I guess letting my friend store his '77 corvette in my garage since he lost his storage. But it's not a big deal. I have the room. But he's grateful. I guess renting a garage would be expensive.
Moreover it's just smiling at random people and being pleasant to strangers on a daily basis. I guess it doesn't sound like a lot, but it's sort of unusual in NYC. People are pleasantly surprised and react favorably. It's sort of a nice thing to see.
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Post by sheyd on Feb 8, 2008 12:34:38 GMT -5
Can people also explain random acts of kindness others have done for us that were especially meaningful? I am not terrifically comfy telling about things I have done, but what others have done for me mean a lot...
Shey
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Post by jules on Feb 8, 2008 12:44:58 GMT -5
I'd prefer that. Have lots of examples.
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Post by hoodieprincess on Feb 8, 2008 13:30:42 GMT -5
I was at the store the other day and there was a girl in line behind me. She looked VERY young and was toting along a girl about 5 and a new baby. She had just a couple things in her cart all baby related. Her daughter kept begging for a candy as she kept looking at the candies my children had. I noticed that her eyes got kind of teary and she just said, "Baby, Mommy can't afford a candy right now. This is for the baby and it's all I can afford." I quietly asked her if it would be okay if I paid for a candy bar for her daughter. She got a big grin on her face and said that would be one of the nicest things anyone has done for her in a long time. So, I let her pick whatever candy she wanted and she picked one. I paid for it. It wasn't much but the look on that girl's face made me feel warm inside. -------------------------------------------------------- Christmas was a big deal...There are people here who offered to help me through this last Christmas as it was my biggest holiday struggle thus far. Though I didn't accept the offers, the fact that they stood and were genuine and sincere meant a HUGE deal to me. I mean, afterall, none of you actually even know me or my children.
Also, this Christmas, some co-workers of mine went out and bought Christmas presents for my kiddos just because they knew I was having a hard time. They were awsome and I love them for that.
My phone recently broke and I couldn't afford another. Heck, I am still working on getting the money to actually replace it. My ex (whome I am very good friends with as we only broke up because he moved away), sent me $100 to get me started. He knew I wouldn't want it and that I wouldn't give him my address to send the money so he just sent it Western Union so it was done and there wasn't much I could say.
At the airport coming home from Atlanta, T was getting antsy about being hungry. By the time we got to the restaurant he wanted to eat and we got his food, I realized my wallet was on the bottom of my bag somehow under all the stuff because T had been rummaging through the bag for toys and snacks earlier. As I sat it down to try and dig everything out I was clearly frazzled, the woman who had been getting condiments and such who had been just in front of us paid for his meal. When I'd stood up, the woman at the counter told me it was paid for and who had done it. When I turned to thank her, she'd already left. I couldn't stop smiling at what a nice thing that was.
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Post by jules on Feb 8, 2008 13:42:05 GMT -5
Random acts can be big or small. This was a very big one for me:
In September when I was pumping gas, my car engine caught on fire (long story -- essentially when I'd had it repaired the garage used a faulty piece and didn't think the fact that my engine had been smoking for a week was a problem.) Ran into the gas station to get a fire extinguisher. It didn't work. Fire dept. was called. Lady at the gas station is yelling at me to move my burning car away from the pump. I'm like "You want me to get into my burning car?" She basically indicates that yes she does and makes a snotty comment. So I actually do it, and turn the key to try to shift into neutral. Flames shoot up. I freak and get the hell out of the car. All of a sudden some guy is there, getting into my car. He shifts it into neutral, gets out, and pushes it way away from the pumps. I go over to thank him and there is a small explosion so we're both running away from the car. Next thing I know he's gone. And I never got his name or had the opportunity to thank him.
I think that goes beyond kindness into hero territory.
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Post by Saucy on Feb 8, 2008 13:50:57 GMT -5
yikes! he was your angel.
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Post by hoodieprincess on Feb 8, 2008 14:11:45 GMT -5
Oh my goodness...Hero territory indeed...Or, yes, angel territory even!!
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Post by sheyd on Feb 8, 2008 14:28:22 GMT -5
Last semester I got very sick the last day of class, and had to miss it. I didn't get a chance to do my presentation. I was so overwhelmed with everything that I never even sent my bibliography to the teacher, or contacted her to get it in. She finally called me at work, and instead of just informing me I have the lower grade, or anything - she just said she was worried about me, and didn't want to give me a C when my work didn't indicate that level. It came on a day when I was so overwhelmed I couldn't function, and she was so kind. She told me to not worry about it, and gave me until the start of this semester. I missed that deadline too, but she still hasn't changed it to the C - she gave me more time. I am so close to dropping out, but her kindness has kept me plugging along. I talk to her on Monday about whether or not I should drop.
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Post by freckles on Feb 8, 2008 14:41:28 GMT -5
Send that to the Teacher Now
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Post by sheyd on Feb 8, 2008 14:54:53 GMT -5
I told her at the time, and will tell her again on Monday. I just have to confess to her that I can't finish the project. I can't face the topic right now.
Shey
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