To want to know what good you do?

[fightbackorriseabove]

Life has been tough recently, and I find myself watching YouTube vids, podcasts, the news, and getting more and more down.

I feel as if we're losing ourselves as a race. Genocides, wars, the far-right, climate change, racism, misogyny, cost of living... it goes on and on.

I'd rather not discuss politics. I seem to have got myself in a permanent loop of rage-watching...

I need a break.

I want to find a bit of joy. There must be more kindness out there that we can use to counter all the shit.

So... what good do you do? What acts of kindness are out there? Even if it's not that big a deal in the grand scheme of things, what's happy - or neutral - in your life? What's made you laugh? Give me some positive stories! What are you pleased about? What are you looking forward to? hat have you achieved - big or small?

• I help cats. I help rehabilitate stray cats and find them new homes.

• I listen to my friends. I think/hope I'm a good friend.

• I take care of my daughter well and have at least one great big belly laugh a day with her. She is a joy. And very kind. Today, she told me she'd read "thousands of pages" at school, so I could "just forget" the library book. She also saw me having a lemsip-type thing and told me not to do drugs. And every day, she thinks it's a miracle that I can "feel" in her belly what she had for lunch at school. She doesn't seem to have worked out that I read it on the notice board next to the school gate.

• I have a very loving sister. We try to look out for each other.

• I have piles of unread books. I like to pretend I'm a big reader, but in reality, I WAS a big reader. But it's nice to have the pile.

Over to you.

I sent flowers to a friend that's struggling with ill health and I know she'll be really touched to open the door to them tomorrow.

I helped a random lady at the hairdressers find just the right business premises she needed and put her in touch with the owner.

I helped a distressed elderly resident near me sort out her care package because she couldn't get through to the council due to the fact they think everyone can use the internet (GAAAAAHHHHH)

And my husband is awaiting the outcome of a Serious Job application tomorrow and he's nervous even though he thinks he's hiding it. So I have some nice wine and a delicious dinner planned and I'll take DC to the 9am club on Saturday so he gets a lie in either way.

This is a lovely thread, OP

I helped a man carry his shopping to the car today. Not to brag at all. I was feeling super shitty tbh, was taking dd home from and he thanked me and said I was the loveliest woman

I almost cried, his kind words meant so much 🥺😭

This gif was me driving home from the shops 😂

I work with a school district that gives food and new clothing to our students in need. Sometimes our donations, although new, aren’t stellar and I do my best to put together outfits for the kids that they might like. If we only have say black clothing for a student, I’ll make sure they have colorful shoes, a colorful coat, hat, etc. I bought cute girly zipper pulls to put on winter jackets that are drab. I make sure siblings have clothing different from the other. We provide washing up liquid and other necessities as well and I crochet dishcloths to put in their packages along with the liquid, that kind of thing.

Since I work very quickly and don’t make much money I also feel like I am a great value for them!

Nice post.
I have done lots of voluntary work in the past.

I give or donate things instead of selling them on.

I feed the birds daily.

I am a foster carer to a young child with complex medical needs, now my own kids are grown and have established their own lives I feel I can really give back to the system as I was fostered myself and it wasn't always a great experience. I wanted to do it better and I think I am.

Lovely thread OP ( you can add that to your list!)

I look after my grandson and we laugh, have secrets and have the best tim
Our family motto is “Do The Right Thing”
Im applying to be a local community volunteer
I cared for my Dad for two years after Mum died. (Okay Im not doing it any more but still…)
If I find money I always give it to charity
I tip really well
I look after tradesman..bacon butties, tea and £20 for a couple of pints
I cook for my FIL
I put up with DH ex wife

I have recently trained to be a Samaritan and I am getting up at 1am tonight to do my first night shift. I want to use my time to focus on other people’s problems and try and help.

I feel there is so much anger and sadness in the world and I want to be better and help more

I help distribute free food to people in my local community, it is part of the food waste reduction from various supermarkets.Food is put into community pantrys or given to various people.

I volunteer for a variety of local causes doing a variety of things

I try to be a good family person, friend, neighbour

I have grown some vegetables & flowers from seed to eat & help nature & put out a a source of water in the garden. I share the extra produce.

I made my first insect hotel this year & hope to make more

I recycle & reuse

I help at a repair cafe

I pick up litter

I say please & thank you, manners cost nothing

I have donated blood in the past, but it gave me horrendous migraines, so I stopped

I pay my taxes on time

I once saw 2 people carrying a mattress in the rain as I was driving to work. I stopped & we squeezed the mattress into my car & took it to its mew home.

I hope for world peace & health & happiness for everyone

Love these. I try to be what I think of as a ‘secret angel’ in people’s lives, secretly doing kind things when I can without the need for recognition. I speak highly of people in their absence (or to their face). If someone is gossiping in the office I’ll seek to protect someone’s reputation by offering a fairer view or a bit of balance.

I work with young people and go out of my way to be kind, caring and helpful at all times, going above and beyond whenever I can. I think of all the times someone has done this for my own children (lovely teaching assistants at school, for example). When dealing with anyone at all I think how I would like someone to act with my own mum/grandad/child/dog and act with the greatest kindness and love.

In my own household, without wanting anyone to get out the small violins, I put myself last a lot and go without. So that everyone else doesn’t have to.

A silly one - before sleep I wish well on lots of people I may have encountered that day. Or my family and friends. I’m not religious at all, but it’s almost like I’m mentally sending them love or guidance in certain areas I know they’re struggling in.

I don’t always get it right, and I’m far from perfect. But I try to act with integrity and love. Life’s too short to be unkind.

I donated food from my allotment to the local community kitchen.

I picked fruit from a neighbours plot (she is struggling with severe fatigue ) and left it on her step so that her little ones could eat it. (by agreement with her).

I stopped for a chat with two elderly neighbours on the way to my allotment and called with some fruit for them on the way home.

I donate a lot to a charity

Yes I could sell it on marketplace but tbh we live in an area full of privileged people and I'd rather others have it than make a quick buck

I filled a box with apples from my apple tree for the third time this week and left it outside the front gate with a notice for people to help themselves. All gone by dinner time.
I stroked a random cat on my walk this afternoon.
I did one of my voluntary jobs this evening.

A friend was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. I went over every week bringing her a home cooked dish. She’s not on her own - her adult son lives with her and another adult child within half an hour, but she doesn’t like being on her own so I’d go keep her company.
I have a standing order to two charities.
I used to volunteer every week at my kids’ school (they have aged out).
If like to think I’m someone people can turn to in a crisis - I regularly visited another friend who had been sectioned and attended a few of her doctor meetings as her partner refused to.
I’ve had to call on others in a crisis (my father had a stroke in another country and I had two small kids that needed looking after so I could fly over; my son had a motorbike accident and I was 70 miles away;, my DH died suddenly) so I know how important it is to ‘be there’.

I'm loving all the pp who say nice things to dog owners about their dogs, this used to absolutely make my day when we had our lovely good boy.

I also like to compliment women (I'm a woman) on their hair, nails, lipstick, girlie things when it's obvious they've made an effort.
And compliment the dogs to their owners. I still carry treats for any dogs I come across on walks.
I donate to our local dog charity regularly.

I don't do a lot outside my family. I'm recovering from a long illness so I'm limited and I hope when I reply with advice or support on here that it helps a little bit.

I mow my neighbours lawn when I mow mine.
I tell my children I love them several times a day (even the dog).

I volunteer for a charity which provides an activity for disabled children.

Volunteer one afternoon a week in a community cafe.

Help clean the church (not a church goer)

Help with the local foodbank.

Give lifts to my partially sighted neighbour when I can.

I volunteer as a beaver and scout leader. Takes up a lot of my time on top of a full time job and raising 3 teenagers!
i use some of my annual leave for setting up camps etc.

Yes I do the same - I hate the thought of someone treading in it. I put my neighbours bins out and I also pick up any rubbish I see on the street and put in the nearest bin.

Walk a dog Daisy 4 x week for an infirm lady through the Cinnamon Trust.
Volunteer at local Foodshare.
Have adopted 2 abused dogs through Many Tears Charity.
Have 11 rescue battery chickens through Fresh Start for Hens.
Adopted 2 donkeys through the Donkey Sanctuary.
Collect for Poppy Day.
Volunteer support worker for GAIN.

So many wonderful posts on here, but for some reason yours really touched me. I work with complex needs children as a health professional, and within this I have met many wonderful foster carers, whose dedication to support a child when their parent isn't able to, is just mind blowing. Thank you

My 'good deads'
I run a Rainbow unit (girl guides)
I'm a parent governor
As a family we do regular litter picks in our village
I set up a playgroup post covid to try to re connect families
I sponsor a child abroad
But above and beyond all of these - I have (with my DH) raised 2 absolutely fantastic girls - kind, well mannered, funny, smart, I get told by all kinds of people what 'a credit they are to me' - but they are actually a credit to themselves, and I can't wait to see what they will go on to acheive

Teaching is my joy. Seeing the smallest of victories for the weakest of students, seeing their confidence build.... Every single moment like that is worth more to me then the years of toil spent in my old career.

I move bees and snails off the path so they don't get squashed. I compliment people on their hair colour/tattoo designs. Always say good morning/afternoon if I pass someone when I'm out walking. I am a registered organ donor but too scared to donate blood

I’m ultra polite to waitresses and shop assistants. I look people in the eye, I smile and nod and say “would you mind” and “thank you so much.” In fact, I go out of my way to smile and be polite. Kindness is the most important thing in the world, and refinement and good manners are forms of kindness.

I try to be extra nice to customer facing staff, engaging in friendly conversation as I've been there and know they get lots of grump bags. Arranging a medical appt, the lady I spoke to on the phone was ever so helpful and kind, so when I went to the appt I left her a thank you note and a small food gift. She called me to thank me, she was so happy.

If someone does a particularly good job I make a point of feeding this back to company.

Everyone is so overloaded, if someone makes a mistake I try to let it go with good grace and kindness.

I feed the birds (a bit more than tuppence a bag though), move snails and lost bugs out of harms way, and put loads of bowls of water out during the heatwave for the little creatures.

I say hello to people, and have a chat especially with older neighbours. I always greet restaurant and shop staff and say thank you when leaving.

Whenever new neighbours move in, I take them cakes and a welcome card.

I feed birds and an elderly neighbours cat. We adopted a cat after a neighbour didn’t want it anymore.
regularly buy some food for the foodbank and I’ll ask my dc if they want to buy something for a £1 for the foodbank too from time to time. They always say yes.
I always donate clothes, books and toys to various local places that happily accept them.
I have in the past sent little gifts to friends if they were feeling down.