Random Acts of Kindness
Often we think that acts of kindness need to be grand gestures, but I have to agree with Richard Dehmel who says, “A little kindness from person to person is better than a vast love for all humankind.” Often it is the little things – like not sighing loudly in the direction of the mother ahead of you in line with a screaming child — that really change a person’s day. As Paul Dazet said, “Little things done with great love will change the world.”
It’s Random Acts of Kindness week this week and as I was thinking of that I was reminded of this photo a friend of mine took on a recent trip to China. Gord saw this a student sitting on the sidewalk, not even looking at the people passing by.
When he got back to Canada he wanted to get the writing translated to see what calamity had this young man so bent over and beaten down. I took the photo into work and a co-worker’s Mom translated. It turned out that the student in the photo is asking for the equivalent of about $3.50 for train fare to a city in the north. Change from a $5 bill was all it would have taken to completely change his situation.
It reminded me that often it is a very small thing that people are asking for. We can be so quick to just walk on by. Random Acts of Kindness week is a challenge, an opportunity, to stop walking past. Take a few minutes this week to make someone’s day and in the process, make the world a little better. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
5 Ideas under $5 (from helpothers.org)
• Tape the exact change for a soda to a vending machine
• Treat someone to a cup of their favorite coffee
• Pay the toll for the person behind you
• Leave chocolate on the desk of your co-workers
• Write a note of appreciation to someone
Have you been the recipient of an act of kindness? Do you have a favorite idea? Share it in the comments.
Top photo Getty, bottom photo Gord Wall, Gord Wall Photography
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