Random Acts of Kindness
Ever considered making “R.A.O.K” a habitual practice? Like brushing your teeth and putting on clean pantaloons. . . (hopefully)? There is a whole plethora of little itty bitty ways you can incorporate an act of random kindness each and every day of your living existence. Now tell me—wouldn’t it be a marvelous world if we all employed such repetitious practice?!
The other day Michelle updated all of us on a little R.A.O.K action that occurred while she has been travelling about; I thought it would be nice to share with you:
So as it were, our darling little damsel was skipping about the streets of N.Y.’s beautiful Big Apple during her layover to India, when she paused to marvel at some knickknacks and paddywacks. Being the congenial lassie that she is—she orchestrated some kindred-convo with the kind gent who was monitoring the stand.
One thing led to the next—and somehow she managed to fandangle a whole bag of freebies for the kiddies in India. Jackpot: Thanks man! Talk about true social activism and person-to-person giving.
So in summary, we can make an example of this benevolent merchant whose little R.A.O.K has out-stretched all the way across the world.
Tags: random acts of kindness
20. December 2008 at 2:42 am :
R.A.O.K. is free and everyone can do it! It just makes the world a much nicer place.
13. January 2009 at 11:38 pm :
One of my favorite RAOK is to recognize the very irritable cashier or waitperson who seems as ready to plant a bomb in your shopping bag, and just note that they have a really difficult job and that I hope their shift is ending soon. Many of course will say no..they just go on, but what I notice is they pause when ringing up my goods…that little pause tells me they heard me, and are thankful that someone noticed them and respected the job they do.
27. February 2009 at 11:30 am :
Random Acts of Kindness…I live by that.
I am the type of person, that if I have twenty dollars to my name, but a roof over my head…I will give that to someone I percieve to be in worse shape than myself..
I know that there are people out there who are struggling…I remember one man I used to see everyday that no one would talk to..
I walked by one day and took him a sandwich and a little radio with some extra batteries in it..
He thought that was so sweet..
he started crying, because he figured no one cared
Those kinds of reactions, are what touch me the most,.because it humanizes people
I saw him again the next week, and there he was. with his little radio…he told me it was an outside connection to the world again…and he had so much fun listening to the oldies station…he was a deshevled looking bum…but after talking to him for a bit longer, I found out that he was once an electrician for the Navy..
He’d lost a wife, and began drinking and never did get over it..
People are human,..and just something that shows that you care…means more to them than anything some times..
All I know, is that no matter how down you get…try to remember that there is always hope, and there is always someone worse off than you and try to do something kind for someone everyday,..no matter how small the deed…
3. March 2009 at 12:47 am :
When ever possible I do as much RAOK as I can. It may just be a canned good to the food pantry, or shoveling side walks, but my kids believe in it too.
I am a person who believes that all your do in good, will come back to you ten fold.
And when you do a RAOK, you know your doing good and helping others.
3. March 2009 at 6:47 am :
If I see someone has a few items I let them cut in front of me at the register. It feels good when I help people. I might not have a lot of money but I donate a dollar here and there for various charities like march of dimes and such. I think its better than wasting it on a lottery ticket.
8. March 2009 at 2:28 am :
One time, and I love this one..
I am not sure if this would come under a Random Act of Kindness…but I was walking home when I noticed a small girl, …bending into a car window…talking to a man..
I imediately, stopped and asked her who that man was…
He looked at me with a smile, and she said, “That’s my daddy’..
I apologized to him,..
He told me, “I want to thank you for that…because if I HAD”nt been her father…you just might have saved my daughters life from a stranger…”
To me, that act of concern sometimes means a lot to others..
Caring enough to stop someone from hurting themselves, or being hurt..
that is a kindness and a givng that you can’t put a price on..
9. March 2009 at 4:40 pm :
That is a strong story Joanna. Such a small thing to do which most would be blinded seeing only the intrusiveness as offensive~
10. March 2009 at 1:38 pm :
Indeed bold! You go Joanna!!
17. March 2009 at 12:01 am :
You never know when a RAOK can change everything for a person that is in need of it.Even something so small to some, can be so huge to that person in need.
and found a momma bunny with 4 little babies. I took the babies upstairs to her and the look on her face..was one I will never forget. I saw her smile and just reach out for those babies…. and make over them like they were real babies! And they were to her…. she lit up like a Christmas tree… and I knew that one little RAOK changed her mood and spirit …and now everytime I go to her house I make sure I bring her those babies to love on while I am there.It makes all the differance in the world to her.
I was cleaning a ladys home for her b/c she is wheel chair bound now due to a sudden illness. I knew she was becoming so depressed, b/c she is so use to being able to get around on her own. She also has a rabbitry.I hadnt seen her smile in so long so one day iI ventured down to her rabbiitry- better said a MAZE of cages
17. March 2009 at 7:32 pm :
Thats beautiful! Thank you for sharing that with us Sheri! Life demands so much of our attention these days, that it’s easy to forget about other people whose lives have “slowed down” (like the elderly, the sick, and wheel-chair bound). We should never forget about these people and a little visit to spread happiness in a bleak home is truly an act of sincere compassion!! Thanks again… =)
14. April 2009 at 11:28 am :
The people I love to be kind to are the one’s who are nasty or one’s who just love to start gossip. Their story changes the kinder you are to them. You receive so much for one moment of kindness.