Random Acts

I have a new project. I read something about ‘random acts of kindness’ the other day. According to the serious and scientific source of Wikipedia, a random act of kindness is ‘a selfless act performed by a person or people wishing to either assist or cheer up an individual person or people’.

I guess the main thing about a random act of kindness (RAK for short) is that is it something you do joyfully without any expectation of getting something in return. Other than the satisfaction of knowing you have done a good thing, even if you are the only person knowing about it.

So all that being said, my new project is to perform a random act of kindness every day for the next month. That’s Feb 15 – Mar 15 (I started yesterday). I am going to write about my experience; not to demonstrate any grand gestures but because I figure it’s a good thing. Both the RAK’s and the writing.

So yesterday, I walked to pick up a visiting friend from the nearest tube station (substitute metro, underground or whatever it’s called where you live). Not because he didn’t know how to get to our place but because I wanted to. Besides, we got to spend more time together that way.

Today, I had a chat with the guy behind the counter in a local café. Someone commented about him being grumpy. He wasn’t grumpy to me, which is a good thing. Otherwise I might not have had the good grace to talk to him as bad customer service instantaneously sends me into a very bad and snappy place. But that’s a different story. So I asked Mr Man behind the counter how he was doing. Turns about he’d been working by himself without a break since 6:30am. This was about 2:30pm, so eight hours later. No wonder he looked knackered! He was still there when we left an hour later. So I just said something nice when I placed my order and told him to get some rest after he finished his shift as we were leaving. I don’t know whether it made a difference but I do know it’s nice to feel acknowledged.

I have no idea what I am going to do for the next 28 days. I don’t even know why I’m doing this, but it came to me and I am going with it.

After all, only good can come of it.

If you want to join me today or any other day, please do and leave a comment about your experience, if you fancy.

Just imagine how much good could come out of more people being more kind…