how many of us go out of our way to commit random acts of kindness?

Discussion in 'Hippies' started by cerridwen, Aug 25, 2004.

  1. cerridwen

    cerridwen in stitches

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    About a year ago, I was thinking of this, what is it specifically that I do that somehow benifits the community or the world I live in? I mean, it's one thing to sit and protest or sign petitions, but I always felt a need to do a bit more.

    At my grocery store (as, I'm sure, exists in most other grocery stores) is a bin at the exit, where you can drop a canned good for the poor... each time (or most of the time) when I go grocery shopping, I promised myself for a full year that I'd drop a can of food in there each time I did groceries.

    As many of you may know, I'm wiccan, so for a full year's worth of holidays (there are 8) I also donate a pint of blood (two more times this year left) to help with the whole Red Cross thing... my husband thought it was good that I was doing that, so the last 3 times he came with me to donate a pint of blood also...

    Anyway, it's small, but it helps. It's simple enough, and it's even rubbed off on a few people.
     
  2. FunkyPhreshMama

    FunkyPhreshMama Visitor

    i always hold the door open for pretty much anyone who is next to go thru it! and i can tell they are not used to it because they always seem so suprised when i do it... not to long ago i met a man who lived in his car and was having trouble getting a job so i met him at the laundromat and payed to have his clothes washed so he wold have something clean to wear while filling out applications and stuff
    *
     
  3. cerridwen

    cerridwen in stitches

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    that is such a sweet idea....
     
  4. soulrebel51

    soulrebel51 i's a folkie.

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    I havent been able to do much this summer, but i hold the door open for anyone whos behind me all the time...when i was in the city all change i found on the ground i donated to the red cross and salvation army....whenever someone drops something, like a pen or a bag or a book, if i see it and they havent picked it up yet ill go and pick it up.....if someones having a hard time on a test and they are near me i will gladly help them by giving them the answer if i already have it...i have given blood before.........this year i will most likely donate all of clothes that i never wear anymore to some kind of children's program....um..thats all i can think of right now
     
  5. Pobble

    Pobble Member

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    I can't donate blood yet- but my dad does and it's a tradition I fully intend to continue in a couple of months.


    Other than that- Ive just come back from a conservation holiday in Bedfordshire (you build bridges for walkers, clear bracken, manage woodland etc.) and plan to go on another the next time I get time off.

    Ok so it's small- but I use energy efficient lights, always turn them off if I'm not using them, recycle paper/ glass, open doors and smile at people I meet etc.
     
  6. teepi

    teepi living my dream

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    My husband and I try to help everyone we can, currently I am tutoring a young man across the street with his reading, his parents are both alcoholics and I have him over a few times a week to help me in the garden, have dinner with me, then we read. He gets to take home anything he wants out of the garden and I am helping him build his own home library with books I pick up at yard sales.


    The sweetest thing I ever saw my husband do for someone other than me, was one day at the library we saw a shabbily dressed woman( don't know if she was,but..alot of homeless people hang at the library all day) reading a book and having to hold it about 4 inches from her face, as we were leaving, my husband took off his reading glasses and gave them to her, she started crying...me too.
     
  7. sugrmag

    sugrmag Uber Nerd

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    I donate blood, and at school I spend 9 hrs a week sitting in classes with students that are visually impaired and take notes for them or read to them, or help them with computer work.
     
  8. backtothelab

    backtothelab Senior Member

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    Whenever I see someone fall on the stairs I always help them out. I hold the door open alot too. It really bothers me though. People in my school don't even say thankyou sometimes, like it's my job or something to get the door for them. I'll hold a girl's books for her sometimes, but I do it more to pick up chicks then to be a nice person.
     
  9. soulrebel51

    soulrebel51 i's a folkie.

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    I plan on doing something likethis this coming year, but I think its less than 9 hours a week.
     
  10. mary jane

    mary jane Member

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    you are all beautiful people!!
    -Mary Jane-
     
  11. Iron Butterfly

    Iron Butterfly Member

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    Not much, but I usually pick up any trash I see if I'm walking around on the street, and I'll make a big scene and harass any random person if I catch them littering.
     
  12. Luke (crazy horse)

    Luke (crazy horse) Member

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    I just try and be polite to people...and help them out in situations where I can...


    Do little sacrifices, and basically do unto others as you would have done to you....it can be hard at times to not get impatient but I'm working on it.
     
  13. dylanzeppelin

    dylanzeppelin daydream believer

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    For one of my classes we had to write about reactions to a random act of kindess to a stranger. At first you would figure it would be fine, but having to go out of your way it makes you feel really great inside. Since then, I have tried to do something even just a smile to help someone out. It's such an awesome feeling and I think everybody should at least once a day. Couldn't help.
     
  14. novarys

    novarys Hip Forums Supporter HipForums Supporter

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    aww that blessed me..all of these entries have blessed me. It's great to see that there are people who do care after all. wow. When I meet new people that are introduced to me, I usually offer a hug. Some think it's wierd and uncomfortable but some really need it and take it willingly. When I'm driving and I noticed debris in the road that everyone is driving around...I usually wait til' there's no traffic and move it.
    But I'd like to do more
     
  15. beachbum7

    beachbum7 Lookin' for any fun

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    Unfortunately, I don't go out of my way to commit random acts of kindness. But I do simple things like opening the doors for others and picking up things others have dropped.
     
  16. cerridwen

    cerridwen in stitches

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    I'm trying to get my family more involved in some charity things... Kinda challenging them because my dad often talks about being perfectly christian and all... So I'm getting together with them to spend a day at a soup kitchen next month... I plan to donate 2 or 3 saturdays that monty at least to helping out and bringing food... I think it'd be a good opportunity to get my parents out of the house, they're in a bit of a routine of doing things...
     
  17. Nisha

    Nisha Forlorn.

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    my family does the odd act of kindness once in a while (that is my mum and step father) meanwihle my dad.. wel.. he really lieks to just grab for himself.

    i try to help out people but i do it either in school or close places i know, like church and stuff... whenever i can i try to be as helpful as possible.

    in india, i saw many little children or mothers with their babies that had like a little handkerchief around them (on the babies) and they were all alone just keeping to themselves... i gave alot of them some money since i got alot of spending money (a dollar here is like 50 rupees there, so every little bit helps) and i have donated several of my clothes to the church or organizations that help the needy.

    when i am older i wanna go to india again with a few big big suitcases of brand new good sturdy clothes and give them to any child i see that is barely clothed or all alone. i mgiht also open up an orphanage in tibet or another needy country with someone who also posts on these sites, and help find homes for them.

    there are sooo many things i want to go to, and not just help out here where i live, but other countries tooo..
     
  18. mebesideme

    mebesideme Member

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    Ever since I became my current self, as in my current ideal, philosophy, theology, I have tried to make a point of doing selfless things more often. I always try to make others smile and feel liked and respected, and hope that it carries through to everyone from the person I am nice to onward.
     
  19. sweetersappe

    sweetersappe Member

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    A great way to help someone out is to be a mentor to a younger person. I am a mentor to a 17 year old girl. She has had some problems in the past (with family and with the law). Now, she is preparing to go to college and becoming a lovely young lady. I hope I have had something to do with that. Mentoring is a very rewarding activity!
     
  20. Purple_Burnt_Squirre

    Purple_Burnt_Squirre Member

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    I'm just random when it comes to that four girls were collecting on a really cold day so as well as a donation I gave them each a hot chocolate lol I don't know what else I've done I don't really think about you know just happens
     

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