After a long and tiring day, heading home on a cold night and still needing to stop at the grocery store for a few things, I was cranky and not really in the mood to cook when I got home. I wheeled my cart around the grocery store a few times, trying to decide what I wanted and realizing I didn't even want to make any effort to microwave anything. Really, I was that lazy.
I went through the self-checkout, stopped by the food donation bin to drop off the crackers I'd added to my cart for that purpose (which I was figuring would be my RAOK for the day) and then pointed my car to the local fast food drive-thru. It was quick, hot, didn't require any effort, and was on the way home anyway. Yeah, I was truly that lazy.
As I was pulling into the drive-thru, I noticed a man in a puffy jacket digging through a trash can standing on a strip of sidewalk between the restaurant and the hotel next door. I thought at first, seeing the shopping cart next to him, that he was a recycler looking for discarded bottles and cans. We have quite a few of those folks who travel around my neighboorhoods since we have a lot of businesses and apartment buildings in the area. When I passed by, though, I saw that his bags weren't full of cans and bottles, but clothing and other items. It was a really chilly night, too, and his breath puffed in cold wisps as he worked his way through the garbage can for whatever it was he was hoping to find.
I could still see him across the parking lot as I placed my order. On impulse, I added two tacos from the cheap-o dollar menu on the board to my order. I had them place the tacos in a separate bag, drove back around to his location and said "Sir, would you like some tacos?", and he replied, "I'm not asking for anything but if you're willing to give them, I'm willing to take them." I passed them over, he said "Thank you very much." I said, "You're welcome, enjoy!" and drove off.
It was short and simple and not very inspirational, I'm sure. But it was proof that even in the laziest and easiest of circumstances, there are opportunities to be kind to others. Hope he liked the tacos.
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
On the 24th day of...
I volunteer weekly for the Humane Society Silicon Valley (or try to, as scheduling and health permit) so since it's scheduled, it's not really a "Random" Act of Kindness. But being present to help someone find their purrfect new friend makes a regular shift extra special. On this day, I got to experience it twice!
The first to be selected was a tiny tuxedo kitten named Elf who, despite being half the size of the other kittens in the room, wasn't afraid to wade in and play with the big boys. Just like the couple in Winter Wonderland, he frolicked and played, and quickly won the hearts of the couple looking to adopt. Well he won more than their hearts because, as that couple was filling out their paperwork, a family with two young girls came in looking for a new kitten companion for one they already had at home, and they also fell in love with Elf. They were sad to learn he'd already been claimed, but they set their minds to meeting the other kittens.
Pretty soon, Smudge, a black kitty with undertones of silvery fur, captured their attention. As I left my shift that evening, they were settled at the desk, filling out the paperwork to bring Smudge home.
With a little patience, and with talking to people and giving them time to learn and play and exchange happy kitty thoughts, two more purrbabies have homes for the holidays. Job well done!
The first to be selected was a tiny tuxedo kitten named Elf who, despite being half the size of the other kittens in the room, wasn't afraid to wade in and play with the big boys. Just like the couple in Winter Wonderland, he frolicked and played, and quickly won the hearts of the couple looking to adopt. Well he won more than their hearts because, as that couple was filling out their paperwork, a family with two young girls came in looking for a new kitten companion for one they already had at home, and they also fell in love with Elf. They were sad to learn he'd already been claimed, but they set their minds to meeting the other kittens.
Pretty soon, Smudge, a black kitty with undertones of silvery fur, captured their attention. As I left my shift that evening, they were settled at the desk, filling out the paperwork to bring Smudge home.
With a little patience, and with talking to people and giving them time to learn and play and exchange happy kitty thoughts, two more purrbabies have homes for the holidays. Job well done!
Monday, December 17, 2012
On the 17th - 23rd days of...
Last week was a bit chaotic. Due to a heavy cold that morphed for a day or two into flu-like symptoms, and then the aftermath of the CT school shooting, I found it difficult to summon the energy to blog online. But that didn't stop my commitment to the Random Acts of Kindness for December; they continued to be done, even though I wasn't reporting them daily. So here's a little catch up on how things went:
Monday 12/10: I signed up to "feed the elves". The staff members of The Family Giving Tree are really hard at work right now, putting in long hours coordinating the seasonal volunteers, pick up/drop off of donated gifts, all of the agencies involved, and the other office logistics aside. During the two weeks they are at their busiest, an opportunity is provided to the public to help provide lunch/dinner for these dozen or so "super elves" so that they can grab an hour to rest tired feet and angry bellies without having to scramble for it on their own.
Tuesday 12/11: This was definitely the worst of my sick days. Conveniently, I had already planned it as a vacation day, thinking it would be ideal for running around to do last minute holiday errands and mailings. When the day came, though, and I realized how horrible I felt, I realized that the best Random Act of Kindness I could do on this day was to take care of myself and keep my germy self out of the public face. While it ended up setting back my plans a bit, it was the smartest decision.
Wednesday 12/12: This ended up being another "repeat a previous act" day, but it's still a good one. Having come across several more non-fiction books that would be ideal for the Women's Prison Book Project that had ended on Nov. 30, I contacted the organization and they said "Please send them!" So on this day, I did!
Thursday 12/13: And yet another book-related act of kindness! I had read an article posted on FB courtesy of one of our local used bookstores regarding an annual reading program in our community that provides new and gently used books to underprivileged children, and how significantly low donations had been running this year (previous years they had near 80,000 donations at times, but this year they were barely at 2,000). I had just recently finished reading both the first Percy Jackson book, and the first book of The Hunger Games trilogy, and since both still looked brand new, I dropped them off in the collection box for this effort. Hey, older kids/teens need something to read too, right?
Friday 12/14: This was, of course, the day of that heartbreaking attack in CT (and a similar one involving a knife at a school in China). Much of the day was spent in confusion as the news reports came out, and in prayers for everyone involved. However, this was also the day that I had signed up for to "feed the elves", so for a little while at least, it was about best face forward! I delivered piping hot pizzas, chicken wings, a couple dozen sodas and some mini-cupcakes to the big warehouse. While there, I was able to see a bit of the ebb and flow of toys being dropped off by companies, and picked up by the agencies for distribution to their kids. It was a much needed balance for the violence being described on the news, a reminder that people are good in this world, too.
Saturday 12/15: After being mostly cooped up the previous week due to illness, and having to deal with the sadness of the night before, I was ready to get out of the house with a friend and enjoy the holiday festivities--it would have been far too easy to wallow in depression otherwise. Despite weather reports calling for occasional showers, the day was pretty blustery and rainy. So while we didn't do anything specifically act related, the day was taken with a lot more patience, care, and caution than may have otherwise been displayed: letting drivers in, giving pedestrians plenty of room, and generally being aware of the people around me to help keep me, my passenger, and those around me as safe as possible in a world that isn't often so.
Sunday 12/16: A quiet Sunday spent at home with my kitties, but I was finally able to work on a task I'd been meaning to do for the last couple of weeks: going through some of my craft supplies to fetch beading items to give to a friend of mine who has been enjoying a rekindling of jewelry-making inspiration. I didn't unearth them all, but I was able to find quite a few things to pass on to her at work the next day. Much as I'd love to make something myself, I haven't been inspired to that task of late, and I'd rather someone who is find use for them than have them sit around unused in the house, even though beads don't take up a whole lot of room.
So that's how my week went. A new week is starting today and hopefully, now that I'm back up and functional, a return to the daily updates as I'd originally committed to. We'll see how it goes!
Monday 12/10: I signed up to "feed the elves". The staff members of The Family Giving Tree are really hard at work right now, putting in long hours coordinating the seasonal volunteers, pick up/drop off of donated gifts, all of the agencies involved, and the other office logistics aside. During the two weeks they are at their busiest, an opportunity is provided to the public to help provide lunch/dinner for these dozen or so "super elves" so that they can grab an hour to rest tired feet and angry bellies without having to scramble for it on their own.
Tuesday 12/11: This was definitely the worst of my sick days. Conveniently, I had already planned it as a vacation day, thinking it would be ideal for running around to do last minute holiday errands and mailings. When the day came, though, and I realized how horrible I felt, I realized that the best Random Act of Kindness I could do on this day was to take care of myself and keep my germy self out of the public face. While it ended up setting back my plans a bit, it was the smartest decision.
Wednesday 12/12: This ended up being another "repeat a previous act" day, but it's still a good one. Having come across several more non-fiction books that would be ideal for the Women's Prison Book Project that had ended on Nov. 30, I contacted the organization and they said "Please send them!" So on this day, I did!
Thursday 12/13: And yet another book-related act of kindness! I had read an article posted on FB courtesy of one of our local used bookstores regarding an annual reading program in our community that provides new and gently used books to underprivileged children, and how significantly low donations had been running this year (previous years they had near 80,000 donations at times, but this year they were barely at 2,000). I had just recently finished reading both the first Percy Jackson book, and the first book of The Hunger Games trilogy, and since both still looked brand new, I dropped them off in the collection box for this effort. Hey, older kids/teens need something to read too, right?
Friday 12/14: This was, of course, the day of that heartbreaking attack in CT (and a similar one involving a knife at a school in China). Much of the day was spent in confusion as the news reports came out, and in prayers for everyone involved. However, this was also the day that I had signed up for to "feed the elves", so for a little while at least, it was about best face forward! I delivered piping hot pizzas, chicken wings, a couple dozen sodas and some mini-cupcakes to the big warehouse. While there, I was able to see a bit of the ebb and flow of toys being dropped off by companies, and picked up by the agencies for distribution to their kids. It was a much needed balance for the violence being described on the news, a reminder that people are good in this world, too.
Saturday 12/15: After being mostly cooped up the previous week due to illness, and having to deal with the sadness of the night before, I was ready to get out of the house with a friend and enjoy the holiday festivities--it would have been far too easy to wallow in depression otherwise. Despite weather reports calling for occasional showers, the day was pretty blustery and rainy. So while we didn't do anything specifically act related, the day was taken with a lot more patience, care, and caution than may have otherwise been displayed: letting drivers in, giving pedestrians plenty of room, and generally being aware of the people around me to help keep me, my passenger, and those around me as safe as possible in a world that isn't often so.
Sunday 12/16: A quiet Sunday spent at home with my kitties, but I was finally able to work on a task I'd been meaning to do for the last couple of weeks: going through some of my craft supplies to fetch beading items to give to a friend of mine who has been enjoying a rekindling of jewelry-making inspiration. I didn't unearth them all, but I was able to find quite a few things to pass on to her at work the next day. Much as I'd love to make something myself, I haven't been inspired to that task of late, and I'd rather someone who is find use for them than have them sit around unused in the house, even though beads don't take up a whole lot of room.
So that's how my week went. A new week is starting today and hopefully, now that I'm back up and functional, a return to the daily updates as I'd originally committed to. We'll see how it goes!
Sunday, December 9, 2012
On the sixteenth day of...
This morning I decided I really wanted to do some heavy-duty cleaning around the house, but I needed to make a quick trip to the store to pick up a few things for the week ahead. Because I also wanted to indulge in that Sunday American tradition known as watching football, my trip was a bit hurried so I could get back home and settled.
As I came through the doors, I passed the Second Harvest Food Bank donation barrels. No big deal, they are always there. Plus, they have donation barrels at my local library, and I always drop off donations any time I go pick up a hold book. Those barrels are something I pass by regularly.
Today the sight of them stayed with me for some reason. I don't know if it was the whole awareness of it being the "big holiday food drive" push, or the thought that I was there casually picking up "whatever" and didn't have to really worry about where my next meal was coming from. Maybe it was just the early morning combined with PMS making me extra sentimental. But for some reason, after being done with my shopping and in the process of heading toward the self check-out at the front of the store, the image of those two barrels standing guard at the exit door, silently waiting for someone to notice them, came to mind and would not leave.
Turning around and heading back into the heart of the store, I was reminded that for only $10 more on my bill, I could buy four bags of rice, two cans of beans, and two large cans of soup. For an elderly man, or a small family, or someone who has been looking for work and hasn't found anything they can live off of yet, those four bags of rice, two cans of beans, and two large cans of soup could mean the difference between something to eat, and nothing to eat. What a sobering thought, and what a simple solution.
I don't expect that I'll always have $10 extra to buy things like this, but it is entirely possible to add one extra can of tuna, or one more box of crackers when I go shopping. Knowing that the barrels stand so patiently waiting will help remind me that people aren't hungry only at Christmas.
As I came through the doors, I passed the Second Harvest Food Bank donation barrels. No big deal, they are always there. Plus, they have donation barrels at my local library, and I always drop off donations any time I go pick up a hold book. Those barrels are something I pass by regularly.
Today the sight of them stayed with me for some reason. I don't know if it was the whole awareness of it being the "big holiday food drive" push, or the thought that I was there casually picking up "whatever" and didn't have to really worry about where my next meal was coming from. Maybe it was just the early morning combined with PMS making me extra sentimental. But for some reason, after being done with my shopping and in the process of heading toward the self check-out at the front of the store, the image of those two barrels standing guard at the exit door, silently waiting for someone to notice them, came to mind and would not leave.
Turning around and heading back into the heart of the store, I was reminded that for only $10 more on my bill, I could buy four bags of rice, two cans of beans, and two large cans of soup. For an elderly man, or a small family, or someone who has been looking for work and hasn't found anything they can live off of yet, those four bags of rice, two cans of beans, and two large cans of soup could mean the difference between something to eat, and nothing to eat. What a sobering thought, and what a simple solution.
I don't expect that I'll always have $10 extra to buy things like this, but it is entirely possible to add one extra can of tuna, or one more box of crackers when I go shopping. Knowing that the barrels stand so patiently waiting will help remind me that people aren't hungry only at Christmas.
On the fifteenth day of...
There are lots of organizations that collect toys, clothing, and food for families in need during the holidays, so it's not hard to find someone to help, and it's not easy choosing where to spread the gifts you might have to offer.
One event that I really wanted to participate in this year, though, was the annual Toys for Tots "Stuff the Bus" campaign, sponsored in part by one of the Bay Area radio stations I listen to. In exchange for bringing by a new, unwrapped toy, the radio station will give you a holiday-themed CD. From what I understand, there is a whole group of people that attend every year, and have built up quite a collection of holiday CDs.
Even without the gift, though, I really wanted to participate in the event. I had gone to a local hobby shop and picked up a few arts n' craft kits, and because I had plans for the rest of the afternoon, I made sure to be there bright and early for the start of the event. I knew it would be a relatively quick exchange - they handing me the CD as I hand over the toys. What I didn't expect, though, was the fanfare.
Fully uniformed Marines in their dress blues stood at attention and helped direct my car down the special lane in the street that was blocked off for this purpose. And at the end of the line stood a complete army of yelling, jumping, cheering Girl Scouts and their parents (a lot of them fathers, I was so happy to see), and as we did the exchange of items, what touched me more was the exchange of words: "Thank you for helping kids like me!" "Happy holidays!" "Thank you for changing lives!!"
It's what stayed with me later when I was telling about the event to a friend of mine: "...and there were all these kids and they were running to keep pace with my car, and waving hello, and clapping. And behind them were a bunch of adults yelling just as loudly over their heads and waving with just as much enthusiasm."
And then, as an afterthought, "Oh ya, and I got this CD."
One event that I really wanted to participate in this year, though, was the annual Toys for Tots "Stuff the Bus" campaign, sponsored in part by one of the Bay Area radio stations I listen to. In exchange for bringing by a new, unwrapped toy, the radio station will give you a holiday-themed CD. From what I understand, there is a whole group of people that attend every year, and have built up quite a collection of holiday CDs.
Even without the gift, though, I really wanted to participate in the event. I had gone to a local hobby shop and picked up a few arts n' craft kits, and because I had plans for the rest of the afternoon, I made sure to be there bright and early for the start of the event. I knew it would be a relatively quick exchange - they handing me the CD as I hand over the toys. What I didn't expect, though, was the fanfare.
Fully uniformed Marines in their dress blues stood at attention and helped direct my car down the special lane in the street that was blocked off for this purpose. And at the end of the line stood a complete army of yelling, jumping, cheering Girl Scouts and their parents (a lot of them fathers, I was so happy to see), and as we did the exchange of items, what touched me more was the exchange of words: "Thank you for helping kids like me!" "Happy holidays!" "Thank you for changing lives!!"
It's what stayed with me later when I was telling about the event to a friend of mine: "...and there were all these kids and they were running to keep pace with my car, and waving hello, and clapping. And behind them were a bunch of adults yelling just as loudly over their heads and waving with just as much enthusiasm."
And then, as an afterthought, "Oh ya, and I got this CD."
Saturday, December 8, 2012
On the fourteenth day of...
I was still feeling under the weather yesterday, and knowing that I had big plans the next day (today) that I did NOT want to cancel out on meant that all I wanted yesterday after work was home and sleep. I decided that it would be a good time to rinse off and repeat one of my previous RAOK and dropped off more books at the library donation bin.
I must admit to feeling like I was cheating a little as I headed in and toward the donation bin. But then I noticed two library patrons perusing the sales shelf stationed nearby, already with one or two books in hand each, and I was reminded of the importance of receiving donated books to help keep those sales shelves filled and enticing. I left those books behind without another guilty thought and headed home with gratitude for my lighter spirit, and the warm bed waiting for me at the other end.
I must admit to feeling like I was cheating a little as I headed in and toward the donation bin. But then I noticed two library patrons perusing the sales shelf stationed nearby, already with one or two books in hand each, and I was reminded of the importance of receiving donated books to help keep those sales shelves filled and enticing. I left those books behind without another guilty thought and headed home with gratitude for my lighter spirit, and the warm bed waiting for me at the other end.
Friday, December 7, 2012
On the thirteenth day of...
I've been battling a cold that's been circulating around work, and yesterday I was just physically and mentally wiped. After taking care of a couple errands, my intention was to head home and to my pillow. Do not pass Go, etc, etc.
"But what do I do about my RAOK?" my do-gooder brain voice asked.
"Getting your germs out of everyone else's air should be considered a kindness itself." came the stuffy-achy reply.
After making a quick (ish, for this time of year) stop at the post office to begin mailing out the holiday packages, I spotted my RAOK salvation in the form of a bell ringer in front of a red bucket. Grabbing my change purse as I walked out the door, I emptied it into the bucket while chatting briefly with the lady of the bell. She admired my coin purse (made from a red baby's sock), commented on me getting some tea for my throat, and made much more fuss over the 80-someodd cents I dropped in than I am sure was warranted. "No no," she said, when I tried to wave it off. "All those cents add up to something wonderful, so every little bit helps."
As I stepped to the curb to head back to my car, she called out "Merry Christmas! And gosh, I sure hope you feel better soon."
Little bits, indeed.
"But what do I do about my RAOK?" my do-gooder brain voice asked.
"Getting your germs out of everyone else's air should be considered a kindness itself." came the stuffy-achy reply.
After making a quick (ish, for this time of year) stop at the post office to begin mailing out the holiday packages, I spotted my RAOK salvation in the form of a bell ringer in front of a red bucket. Grabbing my change purse as I walked out the door, I emptied it into the bucket while chatting briefly with the lady of the bell. She admired my coin purse (made from a red baby's sock), commented on me getting some tea for my throat, and made much more fuss over the 80-someodd cents I dropped in than I am sure was warranted. "No no," she said, when I tried to wave it off. "All those cents add up to something wonderful, so every little bit helps."
As I stepped to the curb to head back to my car, she called out "Merry Christmas! And gosh, I sure hope you feel better soon."
Little bits, indeed.
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