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Original poster

Random Acts of Kindness

57 replies

Earlybird · 17/12/2005 11:34

I was in Starbucks this morning and when it was my turn to pay, was told that a woman had paid for drinks for everyone in the queue.

That gesture of generosity made me think about those rare moments in life when total strangers do something kind just for the sake of it.

On occasion, I will put change in parking meters...and, while I do it to help those who are about to get a ticket, must admit it's also to aggravate the parking wardens who are too zealous in performing their duties, IMO...

As the holiday season approaches, I am aware of how fortunate I am, and how much I take for granted. I could easily be kinder to others, if I consciously made the effort, and if I did, perhaps it would improve my karma , or simply be satisfying to know that my actions had made a small difference for someone.

Have you ever been the recipient of a random act of kindness? Have you ever spontaneously done something kind for someone?

OP posts:
batters · 17/12/2005 11:38

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Nightynight · 17/12/2005 11:54

Yes, I have been the recipient of random acts of kindness, and I do try to pass them on.

KateF · 17/12/2005 11:58

When I was desperately worried because dd2 was having tests for leukaemia some friends brought meals round for three days. I was so grateful and moved that they had bothered. I recently did the same for a friend struggling with her three boys and newborn daughter because I knew how much it helped me.

cranberryjampots · 17/12/2005 11:58

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MerryMegandSnowySoph · 17/12/2005 12:29

there was an old couple in my news agent waiting to use the photocopier. They asked the shop bloke how to use it and he told them to wait as there was a long Que (sp), which I was in. I didn't want them to wait so I went and showed them. They were lovely and very thankful I just blushed and said "no problem" then ran off back to the Que sp?.

I was parking the car one day and sat in the car and a chap and his partner knocked on my window and asked if I wanted there car meter sticker with 2 hours left on it

Christie · 17/12/2005 12:56

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bakedpotatohoho · 17/12/2005 13:32

loving this thread

When I was about 18 I met a group of 10 or so French students who were hunkering down on the street for the night. My parents, who lived around the corner, were away, I'd just been interrailing and people had been very hospitable, so I invited them back to camp in the sitting room

I suppose I wouldn't do that now. I certainly didn't tell my parents . But I'm still pleased I did it.

PruniStuffing · 17/12/2005 14:17

I haven't been on the receiving end of this, but I know there are people who have been through IVF and been successful who will pay for the cost of a cycle, to be allocated by the clinic as they see the need for it.

As it costs somewhere between £2500 and £5000 a cycle, and as the impact of giving someone the chance to have a child is immeasurable, I think this is one of the most generous things I have ever heard of.

ChaCha · 17/12/2005 20:33

Just two days ago when I was in our local shopping centre an elderly lady dropped her purse as she was trying to load groceries into her trolley. I picked it up, tapped her on the shoulder and returned it to her. She almost started crying and insisted that I take something and like merrymeg I blushed and made a quick exit. I met her in every shop that I went into until I went into a coffee shop and she insisted that I take something..she was such a lovely old lady, felt really good all day about being able to do something so small that made someone else so happy.
I love acts of kindness

coribells · 17/12/2005 21:01

When I was heavily pregnant with DS a very elderly lady insisted on me having her seat on the bus.

PeachyPlumFairy · 17/12/2005 21:19

A few incidents spring to mind. A few months ago i was out with Dh and my boys and this older couple came and gave them eight or nine balloons, looked like they had been celebrating an anniversary or something. The boys were so happy.

Also, there is a charity called NewstrAID in the media industry, an industry not noted for their kindness. DH's job is in an allied trade. We applied to them for Sam to attend BIBIC, they don't normally do kids but they gave us not the £800 we asked for £1700 AND completely unasked £19 a week treat money for the boys whilst I am at Uni. I cried on the phone, and I'm not normally prone to that!

try to do little things when I can, although funds limit I guess. Used to have a friend whose life went down the swanee rapidly when she became ill, couldn't work and her Fiance dumped her and fleeced her for everything simultaneously. I used to just pop a bag of sweets in the post each week so she knew someone was thinking of her. used to occasionally buy clothes for a friend whose XP was on the run and bankrupt... turned out she was putting him up, living off his illegal earnings, and accepting our money when she knew we were struggling! We lost our house, she bought a new convertible.

Should do this more though, and that's my new year resolution I believe.

MARINAtivityPlay · 17/12/2005 21:25

A mumsnetter whom I did not know well at the time (well, in RL anyway...) insisted on loaning us her holiday home for a week's break after our ds2 was stillborn prematurely.
I thought that was the kindest thing possible at the time and still do. Despite being pg herself then she and her dh went down to the home the previous week to set it all up and leave stocks of groceries and wine.
We've become good friends since and helped each other out in lots of smaller ways but I will never forget that gesture.
I've not been able to do anything of quite that magnitude, or of the lady in Starbucks, Earlybird, but I do try and do small kindnesses when out and about - even door-holding, seat-offering, direction-giving, help a little.
What a lovely idea for a thread...

santagotstuckOOPSthechimney · 17/12/2005 21:27

Today in the park a mum took her little toddler off the roundabout.
He promptly threw up, alot, all over himself.

It was so nice to be able to hand her a new packet of wipes and let her clean the poor little fella up. I was very proud of the fact that I had remembered to bring out wipes anyway!

Poor little boy- i know it isn't a big act of kindness compared with most of the others, but I am glad I was there, as she hadn't got anything to clean him up with

ItllBeLonelymumThisChristmas · 17/12/2005 21:29

I give my unexpired parking tickets to people - have done so a couple of times lately - but apparently that is illegal so watch out if you are feeling generous!

hornbag · 17/12/2005 21:39

We went for an out-of-season trip to the seaside and ended up in the amusement arcade feeding 2p after 2p into the waterfall machines. DD was desperate to get a token but it was looking like it would cost about a fiver to get a token (worth about 20p!!!).

A lady next to us won a token and gave it to our DD -you would have thought she'd given her the moon, she was so excited. DD "bought" a cheapo bracelet with it.

I just love hearing about gestures of kindness -it gives you such a warm glow

MerryMegandSnowySoph · 17/12/2005 22:12

It's crazy isn't it?? the feeling you get when helping someone/stranger out just coz you feel like it, is sooooo good for the recipitent and yourself. Imagine if we all did this once a day what a nice place the world would be... hopefully one day

sorry am babbling and thinking out loud

Sai · 17/12/2005 22:42

I think I have a 'generous spirit' and am often kind.
The one act that sticks in my mind is when I saw an elderly neighbour (who I didn't really know very well) hobbling with her walking stick down the road. I stopped to say hello asked her where she was off to. She replied that she wanted to post a letter so I lied and said I was going that way anyway and I'd post it for her.
She was so grateful and off I went to post it.
On my way back home I found a £5 note on the street.
Looks like someone was repaying my knidness.

foundintransleightion · 17/12/2005 23:15

When I was trying to finish my doctorate, dh still studying, and we were struggling financially a friend paid part of my tuition fees.
She could afford it but it was still amazingly, amazingly generous.
SIL's family gave us a loan, which we've started repaying - they have tried to stop us repaying the rest.
I've been showered with kindness and donations of clothes and equipment since ds was born.
I'm not really in a position to be very materially generous, but I try to be there with time and abilities for friends, students etc.

Groggymama · 18/12/2005 23:15

a tiny little old lady always puts everyone's wheelie bins back up their drives on the street and says its her job!

Original poster
Earlybird · 19/12/2005 12:56

I read yesterday about a man who annonymously gives money to children who go to his church. The money is sent in a card with the instructions to "buy themselves something fun". Each gift is about £10, so not a huge amount, but still a lovely surprise for the recipients. He's been doing it for years, and says it gives him immense satisfaction.

OP posts:
spruceylucy5 · 19/12/2005 13:07

When I was a poor student, I had to retake an exam and I couldnt afford to do it. My mentor came and told me that he had paid my resit fee in memory of his mother. I dont even know how he knew I was struggling financially. I will never forget this act of kindness.

spruceylucy5 · 19/12/2005 13:09

I once gave a tramp a sandwich and a can of beer in a carrier bag. He came running up the street after me, to return my purse which I had left in the bag.

MerryMegandSnowySoph · 19/12/2005 13:23

awww spruceylucy that is lovely

geekgrrl · 19/12/2005 13:27

I once found a wallet with some cash, cc's , business cards and a prescription in it. Didn't know where to hand it in really (I've heard a lot of 'lost & found' people take the cash) so popped it in an envelope and sent it to the address on the presription (the name matched the cc's).
Don't remember ever being the recipient of a RAoK on a larger scale, but it's the little things like people helping me down some steps with the pushchair, a supermarket employee giving ds a free biscuit 'just because', someone smiling and talking to dd (who has SN, and is cute as a button - yet a lot of people prefer to ignore her), that really make a difference on a day-to-day basis.

mythumbelinas · 19/12/2005 13:29

my friend also gave a tramp some money .. on new yrs eve .. he grabbed her to give her a kiss!!!!