To ask for random acts of kindness that you've carried out...

[IchWill]

I believe that kindness breeds kindness. I often carry out random acts of kindness, because:

1. If I'm able to, why wouldn't I?
2. The world would be a nicer place if we all helped others out more often.
3. It makes me feel good to make a positive impact on someone's life.

Most I go about and do quietly, genuinely not helping people for recognition or glory, but when I have shared one or two examples with friends, they've said I've inspired them.

Let's hear your random acts of kindness...

I used to prescribe hearing aids before I gave it up - it was unbelievable the amount of old people who'd come in to get the aids fitted with a full two grand in cash on them to pay with. One older man must of had an envelope with about 4 or 5 grand in it so when he paid and was going to leave I walked him to the bus stop as I was so scared someone would mug him.
In the town I live in, there's a little old man who walks every day from his house at the other end of the town into the centre. He walks so slowly and he's nearly blind and has a stick. I saw him trying to cross the road at a really busy junction when I was out for a jog one night - I was miles away when I first spotted him (as he wears a high vis jacket) but not one person stopped to help him. By the time I got to him he was still waiting so I asked if he'd like help and he said yes please. I managed to get the cars to stop by standing in the middle of the road and making the stop hand motion - got him safely across the road and we had a nice wee chat :)

I was walking out of TK Maxx to take the tube home when a really lost American woman stopped me, wanting directions to her Travelodge.

I'm bad with directions but she had no internet on her phone so I found the route, took her to the bus stop, she got on the bus and if she got off at the right one she only had a quick walk!

Honestly I find myself confused and flummoxed at life so much and stop people for directions about once a week, so nice to pay it forward

At the toll booth at the entrance to the Tamar Bridge I’ve paid ‘for the car behind me’ as well as my own a few times, partly to be kind but also to amuse myself and my son as we clock the driver’s completely baffled face as we drive off..

A client remembered a small piece of work they'd left off the last job I did for them, but I'd already submitted my invoice so did it for free today.

Not random, but my friend is unwell and has frequent hospital stays, usually ending up in a 4 bed ward. I visit her with flasks of hot water, tea bags milk sugar coffee and most importantly china mugs
I thought I was the only one to do this.
Having spent time in hospital where the staff were so busy you were lucky to get your water jug topped up, I know how important this is.

About 25 years ago I was working an afternoons overtime. I read a story in Take a Break about an 11 year old girl committing suicide because of bullying in school over her weight. From the story the family didn’t have much so I posted a cheque of what I would have earned that day. Just wanted the mum to know someone cared. Only had the street name and town so hope it arrived ok.

Gave up my seat on the bus to a young man with a heavy cold who looked like he might be homeless. He seemed glad to sit down.

I found a student Railcard while dog-walking. It was issued by a bank, so I took it to the nearest branch so that they could return it.
I also paid a bus fare when the person was a pound short.

I volunteer for a local community of mums. One of the Mums has posted that she has no money to afford any christmas presents for her DS5 (who is old enough to know what Santa is) my DS is a year older so I have offered her all of the toys he no longer plays with that are in good nick and that I was going to sell, however this thread is making me wonder if there is anything else I can do to make Christmas special for their family gets thinking cap on

@Toomuchadoaboutnothing

Wouldn't you know if it arrived safely by whether It was cashed or not?

Also I too tend to err my RAOKs towards the homeless - bought many hot meals and beds in my time for people living on the streets.
Was on my way to McDonald's with DS the other day, when I saw a woman in the street who asked if we could just stop for a chat. We ended up talking for ages and I asked if she fancied a maccies and that I was taking DS there for his tea. DS asked if he could eat it outside with her rather than eating it inside (he's 5 and has SPD, possible ASD and gets really anxious about seeing other people eat foods which aren't safe - in this case it was a burger and chips that she had while he had his usual nuggets) proud mummy moment!
Have applied for funding for a social enterprise idea which could hopefully really help the homeless situation in my city (it's a big city where homelessness is RIFE and just breaks my heart)

Scifi101. It’s so long ago I can’t remember if I ever checked if it had been cashed.

I've done a few that I've never told anyone about.

Someone on a FB page was asking what she could do about the fact her emergency electric was about to go off and she had no money. She had 1DC so I messaged and pinged over £10. She offered to pay me back but I didn't need it.

Someone was asking for food parcel information for 2 16 and 17 year olds who had left home/been thrown out and they were staying with the lady but money was tight as it was and needed extra food. I got her details and sent a small Tesco delivery.

The other day I put up a lunch bag and t shirt on a free page. And offered it to my friend in the end. As I was looking down the comments, I saw someone had asked for it for their daughter who had lost their lunch bag when having a diabetic hypo. I clicked on their profile and found a gofund me page as the little girl (12yrs) had been ill this year with diabetes kidney failure. So I asked for their address and sent her the exact same one I had given away.

I had a lot of kindness when I left my XH and fled to a refuge after DV. So when I can, I pay it forward. I always do it over messenger so only me and the person receiving the kindness knows because I genuinely don't want attention because of it. But it's nice to share it here because it does feel good doing little RAOK.

We do a Christmas hamper every year for a local family via the food bank. We get told how many adults and kids, and the ages of the children and we buy canned and long life food for them to make a nice Christmas lunch. We also buy lots of extras to fill their cupboard with staples and this year we went slightly overboard with the 'small gift' we are supposed to include - it's a single mum with a 1 year old and we've filled an extra box just with gifts. We will never know who they are but I'm hoping it helps them enjoy a nice Christmas together

I was in a coffee shop recently and there was a mum and daughter in there, there girl asked her mum if she could have some shortbread and I heard mum whisper I don't have enough money, maybe nxt time and she then just ordered 1 hot choclate (presume to share)
They went and sat down, I ordered myself a coffee to go and then got the mum and daughter another hot choclate and and some shortbread and asked the lady at counter to take them over after I left.
I did worry after if I'd overstepped the mark but it's done now

Popsicle434544 - I bet you made their day!

I bet they were delighted, that’s so lovely.

Unless the mother was like me and used the "lack of money" to not overindulge a child.

@IchWill thank you for this thread which I found this morning. Have been inspired to

Buy and put two carrier bags of shopping into food bank in supermarket this afternoon

Stop to let cars out of side roads in rush hour traffic

When visiting my parents in care home to sit and chat with the other residents as well as my parents

a few years ago when i wasn't as cynical/frightened of life i heard noises at my door late at night and it was a really drunk girl trying to get in. i mean, she was hammered and it worried me. she had the wrong door, we tried the key in my neighbours door (she said where she was meant to be staying, they were out) and in the end she gave up and said she'd sleep in the corridor... which was completely unsafe. i let her in, phoned her friend to let them know she was OK (they were concerned but ok after i'd spoken to them) and i let her sleep on my sofabed. i must confess i did hide my passport and card and i also locked us both in just in case it was a scam or something like that :/ so she couldn't let anyone else in. but back then i trusted my instincts and it was 100% genuine situation... anything could've happened to her sleeping out in the corridor and i don't think she had any clue of how dangerous the area was (i used to live in a red light district... it was cheap rent and i hadn't realised before i moved in as i didn't know the area). my flat was clean and safe and i hope that by doing that, i at least kept someone else safe.

I saw the most lovely raok today. A local woman posted on Facebook about where she could get local assistance for money for her heating and a stranger told her they'd pay for $250 of oil to be delivered the next day.

@Applepudding2018
I think stopping to let cars into busy traffic is one of the nicest raok. You can be stuck for ages if you're in a feeder lane. It always makes me feel so good towards the stranger who let us in. It can lower stress and tempers on a journey. Nice one.

I'm far from perfect, but I do think that kindness is just sometimes about being aware of what is going on around you and reacting to it. (a skill that can be practised) I do think that lots of micro kindnesses can make society a better place. Giving someone a seat, helping someone with shopping up a hill, holding a child whilst a mum finds her bus pass, picking up a dropped toy, looking cashiers in the eye and saying thank you - that kind of thing.

I work in a very touristy area and try to stop relatively often when there are tourists looking very lost. I’ve helped loads of people although I did once send a family off in the wrong direction because I got confused myself in my over-eagerness to help

I do think that lots of micro kindnesses can make society a better place.
So do I. I think they can make a profound change.