topic Re: Random Acts of Kindness in Community Chat

Random Acts of Kindness

BigOrangeKitty — Tue, 22 Jul 2014 15:26:43 GMT

Today I was in a store at the register, half way thru my transaction, when the phone rang, the salesperson answered it, immediately asked the caller to wait, put them on hold and continued waiting on me. I was amazed. I never see that. Of course it's the right thing to do, but I never see it. Usually the salesperson answers the phone and carries on a long conversation answering all the caller's questions, etc. while I wait... and wait... and wait. So I had to compliment her. She fully agreed with me saying if I take the time to come into her store, she will wait on me before someone who just makes a phone call. It wasn't a biggie, but she appreciated the compliment. Which got me thinking .... are there any random acts of kindness you've done lately?

Re: Random Acts of Kindness

BigOrangeKitty — Tue, 22 Jul 2014 21:27:50 GMT

C'mon ...... this isn't looking good!!!

Re: Random Acts of Kindness

mewsmomtoo — Wed, 23 Jul 2014 02:04:29 GMT

I bought 16 cases of bottled water for the stall cleaner at the barn where we board our horse, does that count? There is a small 'fridge so she can put in about 20 bottles and always have cold water. (We live in the desert, don't ask me why...). I also gave her a western saddle I no longer use that she can use on a horse she is working with.

Several of us also clean our horse's stall when we are there so she has less to do and my horse has a water barrel in addition to his auto-waterer and I clean that out once a week .

Now that I think about, we are a small barn, 18 horses, 7 of which belong to the owner, and we all know each other and do little things for each other all the time, like one lady there knows I am never at the barn on Sundays and she puts my horse in the pasture so that he gets out of his stall every day. I fly spray her horse and my horse's neighbor when I can see they need it. And everyone keeps an eye on each other's horses in general. It's the reason I stay at this barn even though I could pay less elsewhere. I am totally comfortable with the care he receives from not only the owner and stablehand, but from the other boarders at the barn. I am very lucky.

Re: Random Acts of Kindness

nagrom — Wed, 23 Jul 2014 02:15:31 GMT

I pulled up to a red stop and go light. Nearby I saw a young lady very clean cut with a remarkably groomed Pomeranian. She had a sign saying stranded and hungry. I opened up my wallet and gave her all the money I had and wished her well

I thought the person she had been traveling with dumped her and she needed a way back home. It was a very hot day and I felt she needed a chance to find her way home. I don't know if police nowadays help stranded people but it was the least I could do. Normally don't do this type of thing but both the lady and dog were clean and not street person.

Re: Random Acts of Kindness

BigOrangeKitty — Wed, 23 Jul 2014 04:16:45 GMT

That was so generous of you, Nagrom. I hope she and the dog will be ok. Your heart was in the right place.

Mews, sounds like you have a perfect place there for your horse - it's the kindness all of you have toward each other that makes it that way. Of course the bottled water counts! That was so nice of you, I'm sure she appreciates it very much. She was probably surprised someone thought of her.

Re: Random Acts of Kindness

hckynut — Wed, 23 Jul 2014 05:12:02 GMT

On 7/22/2014 BigOrangeKitty said:
Today I was in a store at the register, half way thru my transaction, when the phone rang, the salesperson answered it, immediately asked the caller to wait, put them on hold and continued waiting on me. I was amazed. I never see that. Of course it's the right thing to do, but I never see it. Usually the salesperson answers the phone and carries on a long conversation answering all the caller's questions, etc. while I wait... and wait... and wait. So I had to compliment her. She fully agreed with me saying if I take the time to come into her store, she will wait on me before someone who just makes a phone call. It wasn't a biggie, but she appreciated the compliment. Which got me thinking .... are there any random acts of kindness you've done lately?

Guess I don't see this as a "random act of kindness" and I see it more as this person doing their job. I am a pretty patient person but when a salesperson or clerk is, what I consider being rude to me? And that includes talking on a phone, I speak up and say if you want to talk on the phone get someone else to help me.

I like random acts of kindness like paying it forward for drinks or some food and things of that nature. But someone doing their job? Not high on my list of "random acts".

Re: Random Acts of Kindness

JeanLouiseFinch — Wed, 23 Jul 2014 15:10:13 GMT

On 7/22/2014 hckynut said:
On 7/22/2014 BigOrangeKitty said:
Today I was in a store at the register, half way thru my transaction, when the phone rang, the salesperson answered it, immediately asked the caller to wait, put them on hold and continued waiting on me. I was amazed. I never see that. Of course it's the right thing to do, but I never see it. Usually the salesperson answers the phone and carries on a long conversation answering all the caller's questions, etc. while I wait... and wait... and wait. So I had to compliment her. She fully agreed with me saying if I take the time to come into her store, she will wait on me before someone who just makes a phone call. It wasn't a biggie, but she appreciated the compliment. Which got me thinking .... are there any random acts of kindness you've done lately?

Guess I don't see this as a "random act of kindness" and I see it more as this person doing their job. I am a pretty patient person but when a salesperson or clerk is, what I consider being rude to me? And that includes talking on a phone, I speak up and say if you want to talk on the phone get someone else to help me.

I like random acts of kindness like paying it forward for drinks or some food and things of that nature. But someone doing their job? Not high on my list of "random acts".

Thank you hckynut. I had the same impression when I first read this thread yesterday and thought I'd get flamed if I posted that I didn't really see BigOrangeKitty's experience of the clerk putting the person on hold or BOK's subsequent compliment as qualifying as an RAOK.

I know some people that choose a certain day during the month as a goal to do an RAOK. If it helps them, fine, but for me, I just try to be observant and do something when I get an opportunity. It doesn't always have to cost my financially, it could be something as simple as letting someone go ahead of me in line, stopping to help someone load their groceries in their car, having a kind word for a stranger. Lately, one of my favorite ROAK's to do is when I observe a serviceman (currently enlisted or veteran) at a restaurant and I can privately pick up their dinner tab. I also overtip at restaurants when get the feeling our waitress could really use it. I can't do either of those as often as I might like, but do it when I can.

Re: Random Acts of Kindness

BigOrangeKitty — Wed, 23 Jul 2014 22:24:23 GMT

Where I come from, giving someone a compliment IS a random act of kindness. But, there are highly intelligent people on this board who know far more than I do, so just to be sure I checked it out. THERE IT IS ..... Idea #185 on the randomactsofkindness.org website .....BE GENEROUS WITH COMPLIMENTS. A compliment is a compliment, for whatever reason.

Re: Random Acts of Kindness

JeanLouiseFinch — Thu, 24 Jul 2014 00:30:13 GMT

On 7/23/2014 BigOrangeKitty said:
Where I come from, giving someone a compliment IS a random act of kindness. But, there are highly intelligent people on this board who know far more than I do, so just to be sure I checked it out. THERE IT IS ..... Idea #185 on the randomactsofkindness.org website .....BE GENEROUS WITH COMPLIMENTS. A compliment is a compliment, for whatever reason.

That's really unfortunate. I would never have thought that people would need to be told to do something so simple. And FYI, I'm not trying to insinuate that I know more than you, it's just good raising and common sense that people should treat each other with kindness and respect without being told to. It doesn't require anyone going out of their way, as they might with some other random act that requires spending money or giving up your right to something so someone else could benefit from it (place in line, parking spot, etc.)

Re: Random Acts of Kindness

TX-starlight — Thu, 24 Jul 2014 02:44:00 GMT

On 7/23/2014 BigOrangeKitty said:
Where I come from, giving someone a compliment IS a random act of kindness. But, there are highly intelligent people on this board who know far more than I do, so just to be sure I checked it out. THERE IT IS ..... Idea #185 on the randomactsofkindness.org website .....BE GENEROUS WITH COMPLIMENTS. A compliment is a compliment, for whatever reason.

BigOrangeKitty:I agree, If someone does something that deserves a compliment... I think they should appreciate the compliment just the same as any "act of kindness".

I have done a few things lately, but the 1 that I will always remember.....several yrs ago, I was Christmas shopping (cold). When I got to my car there was a couple standing next to my car, they had locked their keys in their car. she was about 7-8 mo. pregnant, wearing a sleeveless shirt, he was wearing a tank shirt. I loaded my items in my car & had a sweater in the back seat. I gave it to her to wear while they waited on someone to come get them. Neither of them ever said a word to me, not even Tks.

Re: Random Acts of Kindness

BigOrangeKitty — Thu, 24 Jul 2014 03:41:34 GMT

Thanks for the reply, TX. What you did was most kind. I'm sorry you were not even thanked for it. Sometimes I just don't understand people. We must live in a different world.

Re: Random Acts of Kindness

homedecor1 — Thu, 24 Jul 2014 04:01:14 GMT

Today I did a few acts of kindness by giving away earned FREE merchandise certificates and promo coupons.

I went to Lane Bryant today and of course, not reading the fine print I thought my coupons were $15.00 FREE since I had taken advantage of the recent intimates sale. DUH, it was $15 off every $30 spent - I had 3 of them totally $45 off my order. I looked and looked didn't need a thing. A young girl was behind me at the register with spanx (not cheap in there) and a few other things, I handed her the coupons .... she was so thankful. As I was leaving the store I realized I had another 30% total order and went back and gave to her.

She met me in another store to tell me she was so thrilled to save almost $60! YEA!!! Better than going in the garbage.

Next, Kohl's sent me and hubby $10 free PROMO dollars on $10 purchase, $10 off $30 and another $10.00 Kohl's cash, $10 off $50 apparel & 25% coupon. As always walked that store for over an hour .... couldn't find a thing I really needed .... I scanned the checkout line and saw a mother and a few little ones with a cart full - gave them to her!

Glad to give them away so someone else could use them!

Re: Random Acts of Kindness

mewsmomtoo — Thu, 24 Jul 2014 06:57:16 GMT

When my mom and I used to shop at Costco, we would receive those coupon books. Sometimes we would bring a coupon and realize we didn't really want the product so we would leave the coupon on top of its product for someone else to use. Hopefully someone was able to use it, at least sometimes.

Also, I collect the aluminum cans from my brother-in-law and nephews and put them in a bag in the back of my car. When I see someone looking through the garbage for aluminum cans, I give them the cans from my trunk. In the summertime, I also give them cold water - too often they have nothing with them and it is dangerous to get so dehydrated.

I guess those kinds of things could count for "random acts of kindness"

Re: Random Acts of Kindness

AnikaBrodie — Thu, 24 Jul 2014 17:48:35 GMT

DH recently moved a ladies car to a different parking space from a very tight space where she had parked someone in. DH knows this lady through her daughter and she trusted him to move the car, a Lincoln town car. No problem.

Re: Random Acts of Kindness

BigOrangeKitty — Thu, 24 Jul 2014 17:53:04 GMT

Those are all wonderful things to do, I'm sure you felt just as thrilled doing them as the recipients. It's always a good feeling when you know it's appreciated, too. I often do the coupon thing, I would have many for free items at the grocery store, like dog food, things I just couldn't use, so I give them away.

Re: Random Acts of Kindness

NYC Susan — Wed, 30 Jul 2014 00:36:17 GMT

On 7/22/2014 hckynut said:
On 7/22/2014 BigOrangeKitty said:
Today I was in a store at the register, half way thru my transaction, when the phone rang, the salesperson answered it, immediately asked the caller to wait, put them on hold and continued waiting on me. I was amazed. I never see that. Of course it's the right thing to do, but I never see it. Usually the salesperson answers the phone and carries on a long conversation answering all the caller's questions, etc. while I wait... and wait... and wait. So I had to compliment her. She fully agreed with me saying if I take the time to come into her store, she will wait on me before someone who just makes a phone call. It wasn't a biggie, but she appreciated the compliment. Which got me thinking .... are there any random acts of kindness you've done lately?

Guess I don't see this as a "random act of kindness" and I see it more as this person doing their job. I am a pretty patient person but when a salesperson or clerk is, what I consider being rude to me? And that includes talking on a phone, I speak up and say if you want to talk on the phone get someone else to help me.

I like random acts of kindness like paying it forward for drinks or some food and things of that nature. But someone doing their job? Not high on my list of "random acts".

That's how I feel too. Yes, it was certainly nice, but a random act of kindness to me is something that's unexpected, something that someone didn't have to do, but - for whatever reason - chose to do. Something small that brightens someone else's day because there was really no reason for it to happen other than one human being wanting to reach out to another.

Like paying the toll for the car behind you (as we discussed in another thread not long ago). Or picking up someone's check in a restaurant because they're in the military or because their kids are super well-behaved. (That has happened to me twice!) When my son was having serious surgery years ago, I was in the waiting room with other families for a long time and got to know them. I was very nervous & upset, and a man gave me a coin that he had told me earlier had brought his family luck for generations. He had been holding it tightly in his hands as he waited for his father's surgery to be over, but before that happened, he gave it to me and told me to give it to my son after he recovered. It moved me to tears.

This salesperson should be commended because she did the right thing. When I worked in retail, that's how we were trained. So props to her for being considerate of the customer standing in front of her. But that's her job - That's what she's supposed to do. For me, it's a whole other category.

Re: Random Acts of Kindness

NYC Susan — Wed, 30 Jul 2014 00:39:40 GMT

On 7/23/2014 BigOrangeKitty said:
Where I come from, giving someone a compliment IS a random act of kindness. But, there are highly intelligent people on this board who know far more than I do, so just to be sure I checked it out. THERE IT IS ..... Idea #185 on the randomactsofkindness.org website .....BE GENEROUS WITH COMPLIMENTS. A compliment is a compliment, for whatever reason.

Sorry, I misunderstood. I thought you were saying that what the saleswoman did was a random act of kindness. But I guess you're saying that you complimenting her was the random act. I didn't quite get that when I read what you wrote the first time.

I give people compliments all the time, and I never thought of them as random acts of kindness. But it's certainly a nice thing to do no matter what label we put on it!

Re: Random Acts of Kindness

NYC Susan — Wed, 30 Jul 2014 00:47:03 GMT

On 7/23/2014 mewsmomtoo said:
When my mom and I used to shop at Costco, we would receive those coupon books. Sometimes we would bring a coupon and realize we didn't really want the product so we would leave the coupon on top of its product for someone else to use.

I do that all the time when I'm shopping for groceries. I've been doing it for years. It's such a habit that I barely think about it. I've never known anyone else who did that, so I'm glad to meet you! :-)

I am often near a McDonald's that's next to a bus stop, and I leave coupons for McDonald's coffee & breakfast items there since it's a busy stop for people heading off to work in the morning.

I don't know if any of these are ever used, and of course no one ever thanks me. But I don't care. IMO that's part of the whole "random acts of kindness" concept - someone doing something just because they want to, with no rhyme or reason or expectations of gratitude.