What is your random act of kindness?
Sep 25th, 2006, 02:37 PM
#1
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What is your random act of kindness?
As I live and work in a tourist mecca--SF--my daily act of random kindness usually involves giving directions to a lost tourist. Whenever I see someone staring at a map or looking lost I ask if they need directions. I figure it leaves a good impression of my City and it costs nothing. I think daily acts of random kindness really do improve your life.
Sep 25th, 2006, 02:42 PM
#2
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Mine is to offer to take a photo of the travelers. As the "official" photographer of my family, I'm rarely IN the pictures. The best moment I had doing this was in Seattle one Fourth of July at the end of a citizenship ceremony. I spent about 45 minutes just going from group to group taking their first "offical" American photo.
Sep 25th, 2006, 02:45 PM
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Oh, this Saturday I was on a bus, and an elderly couple from Australia was going to the DeYoung. Dunno, who told them to take bus 2 to Park Presidio (12-14 ave!!) and walk to the park from there!
I took them off on 6th (going to the park, only to the Arboretum) and put them on 44, made sure they got off at the museum.
I took them off on 6th (going to the park, only to the Arboretum) and put them on 44, made sure they got off at the museum.
Sep 25th, 2006, 03:14 PM
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I drive my kids crazy with this stuff. I saw a tiny old lady looking at teh intersection like she didn't know whether she could cross or not. Though we were headed for a dr appt for DS I stopped and asked her if she needed some help getting across the street. She said she was just watching the fire truck about a block away. I looked down the block and sure enough there they were.
Got the old eye roll from DS but it's all in the modeling. One day he might help people out too.
Got the old eye roll from DS but it's all in the modeling. One day he might help people out too.
Sep 25th, 2006, 03:22 PM
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I too offer to take photos for people...one time some guy acted like I was going to steal his camera...so sad that his life sucked so much that he was so distrustful..all of the other times, people light up...even amongst non-English speaking people...we can communicate!
Sep 25th, 2006, 03:22 PM
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My most recent occurred Saturday at our local Home & Garden Show in the Civic Center.
FYI, there are two exit doors that lead to a semi-circular hallway. When asking where is the women's restroom, people sometimes tend to just say 'go out that door and take a left' (when it would be MUCH shorter to exit the opposite door and turn right!).
In other words, if you exit and go left, you have to walk the entire semicircle to get there.
Well, Saturday, although we were standing near the (left) exit, I directed a little elderly lady with a quad cane, obviously struggling to walk to the SHORT walk after others had just given her the standard reply. In fact, I walked her to it, pointing out the trip hazards along the way.
She thanked me profusely.
FYI, there are two exit doors that lead to a semi-circular hallway. When asking where is the women's restroom, people sometimes tend to just say 'go out that door and take a left' (when it would be MUCH shorter to exit the opposite door and turn right!).
In other words, if you exit and go left, you have to walk the entire semicircle to get there.
Well, Saturday, although we were standing near the (left) exit, I directed a little elderly lady with a quad cane, obviously struggling to walk to the SHORT walk after others had just given her the standard reply. In fact, I walked her to it, pointing out the trip hazards along the way.
She thanked me profusely.
Sep 25th, 2006, 03:23 PM
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Love your story, TrvlMaven. How wonderful to help celebrate citizenship. Just a suggestion, step out from behind the camera every now and then and get in the picture. Your kids and grandkids will thank you. One of the real regrets I have is how few pictures there are of my parents taken in the "kid" years. Seems they were always behind the camera.
Sep 25th, 2006, 03:28 PM
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There's a youth hostel about 10 blocks from my house and I'm stopped at least once a week by lost european tourists. (I don;t know why they always seem to stop me - perhaps I look friendly - or at least more familiar to them - since the neighborhood is very diverse).
And I always give them directions - no matter how dense or stubborn - some of them may be. (IMHO the stubbornest seem to be those with the worst sense of direction - perhaps because they're the most confused.)
And I always give them directions - no matter how dense or stubborn - some of them may be. (IMHO the stubbornest seem to be those with the worst sense of direction - perhaps because they're the most confused.)
Sep 25th, 2006, 03:29 PM
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I try to be polite and understanding to the people around me. Especially when travelling. I don't blow up at the airline staff if the plane is late, I don't scream at the restaurant staff if they mess up my order, etc. There's something nice about getting a smile of appreciation back from someone who is having a bad day...
The best random act of kindness that ever happened TO me: I was a Costco buying 40 lb bags of dog food for a rescue group. I had bronchitis and wasn't in very good shape. As I pushed to cart to my truck, a nice man turned to his two sons and said "help that lady put her groceries in the truck." He didn't want anything in return. I try to look around me now in parking lots to see if someone else needs help.
The best random act of kindness that ever happened TO me: I was a Costco buying 40 lb bags of dog food for a rescue group. I had bronchitis and wasn't in very good shape. As I pushed to cart to my truck, a nice man turned to his two sons and said "help that lady put her groceries in the truck." He didn't want anything in return. I try to look around me now in parking lots to see if someone else needs help.
Sep 25th, 2006, 03:30 PM
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I make paper airplanes for kids who are having a difficult time on the plane.
I offer to take photos of couples.
My DH gives directions all the time.
****
I just want to thank the NYPD and the officers who show random acts of kindness to visitors in NYC on a daily basis. They put the police in my little village to absolute shame. Not a friendly, helpful person among the bunch. It pains me to pay their salaries. Sigh.
I offer to take photos of couples.
My DH gives directions all the time.
****
I just want to thank the NYPD and the officers who show random acts of kindness to visitors in NYC on a daily basis. They put the police in my little village to absolute shame. Not a friendly, helpful person among the bunch. It pains me to pay their salaries. Sigh.
Sep 25th, 2006, 03:30 PM
#12
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Kindness should never be random. But unfornately we are not always as kind to strangers as we are to people we know. This is why I do something everyday, be it taking a photo, giving directions, letting someone in front of me in line, or even holding the door. Maybe in a better time and place, none of these acts were unusual, but they are now.
Sep 25th, 2006, 04:24 PM
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I am an Australian, so I will always remember the kick I got out of shepherding an elderly British (North Country) couple through a particularly complex central London underground station to make sure they got on the correct train on the correct line. They hadn't a clue, and thanked me profusely!
Sep 25th, 2006, 04:26 PM
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travel addict
"Pay It Forward" has become my mantra (although I usually paraphrase).
I usually help in leading some lost soul to whatever attraction they want that I happen to be near. I have them follow me in my car and get them to their destination or at least on an easy to follow route.
"Pay It Forward" has become my mantra (although I usually paraphrase).
I usually help in leading some lost soul to whatever attraction they want that I happen to be near. I have them follow me in my car and get them to their destination or at least on an easy to follow route.
Sep 25th, 2006, 04:27 PM
#17
Offering to help tourists (Seattle)
Helping non-English speakers on planes and in airports (frequent Mexico travel)
Insisting people with few item cut in front of me at the check-out line at the grocery store
Helping non-English speakers on planes and in airports (frequent Mexico travel)
Insisting people with few item cut in front of me at the check-out line at the grocery store
Sep 25th, 2006, 04:51 PM
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When I am in SF I usually end up answering questions and giving directions to visitors several times a day.
Like Suze I tell people with just a few items to go ahead of me at the cash register line.
I always take time to give directions to visitors in our small city, normally they are wondering how to get to the the large outlet center.
I try to be pleasant even when someone seems grumpy, I assume they probably have a worry or stress in their life and so I don't take it personal.
I agree SAB, daily acts of random kindness really does improve ones life.
Like Suze I tell people with just a few items to go ahead of me at the cash register line.
I always take time to give directions to visitors in our small city, normally they are wondering how to get to the the large outlet center.
I try to be pleasant even when someone seems grumpy, I assume they probably have a worry or stress in their life and so I don't take it personal.
I agree SAB, daily acts of random kindness really does improve ones life.
Sep 25th, 2006, 05:28 PM
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My random act of kindness would be giving clear directions, and helping people that are disabled....I usually offer to help them cross the street if they seem a little lost....most aren't, of course, but some of the older people with vision disabilities I will help. Sometimes I just watch for a little bit, and if a person who has vision problems seems to be having a hard time, I offer to help them.
This weekend my random act of kindness was helping a tourist find wifi in SF. I told him that the coffee shops in upper fillmore have wifi, but that there are fewer coffee shops with wifi in the fillmore area between mcallister and geary.
This weekend my random act of kindness was helping a tourist find wifi in SF. I told him that the coffee shops in upper fillmore have wifi, but that there are fewer coffee shops with wifi in the fillmore area between mcallister and geary.
