Acts Of Kindness: Spread The Love

There are many different Acts of Kindness.  As this has been my focus for this week, I am going to touch on some stories shared with me, another I read about on the Good News Network, some Twitter love, and two instances of local people rising to the occasion during a recent snowstorm.  All different, but generous of heart and spirit with all the best of intentions.  Some grander than others, but equally as important!  Every act is done for the simple reason that it makes us feel good to help another human being.

Twitter Love for The Holidays

I have written a few times about twitter love and the very supportive community they have with each other.  In this instance, on Twitter is a group of parents aka #patfrat and within that group are a bunch of dads or #dadsquad (I think I have that right.)  Some of these men started a fundraiser of sorts called #littlewheelsforbighearts.

The idea is to buy Matchbox cars or Hot Wheels, take a picture and bring it to the nearest Toys for Tots box. We all know that a neat little car can give hours of enjoyment to any child; Imagine what it could do for a child who doesn’t have much. The goal was 2000 cars for little ones.  As of 11/14 they already had 2,066 cars donated!  Such a simple, easy thing with a tremendous ripple effect to put a smile on hundreds if not thousands of kids.  Kudos to those guys – a fantastic idea for an act of kindness that went viral.  I can’t wait to see how many more they get!  Stay tuned and you can participate by clicking the link or # above!

More Holiday Spirit

My girl, Denise used her Amazon points to buy a pack and play to donate to the Ronald McDonald House.  When I questioned her, she told me that although purchased with the Christmas spirit, she buys necessities for them throughout the year with her points.  What a great idea and generous way to use your ‘free money’!   A simple act of kindness making a huge difference in the lives of many in their time of need.

Also this past week at a Christian concert, her sister, Debbie,  just sponsored two young boys in Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic through World Vision.

This is something I always wanted to do and is on my bucket list!

Random Acts of Kindness

Last week I posted that I was going to perform a random act of kindness the next day and I would tell you guys what I did.  I didn’t know what I was going to do, but I knew it would come to me.  So last weekend Freddy and I were in Cortland visiting our daughter, Bella.  We were at the same diner two days in a row and had the same waitress. The restaurant was filled with people both times, and she was on her game.  Wendy was very friendly and a hustler!  The second day at breakfast, she shared with Freddy, Bella and I that she went back to college at 34, about to turn 37 and was to graduate this upcoming spring.

It was a huge accomplishment for her.  Wendy also told us she was moving and starting a new life as soon as she received her degree in business.  I knew that was my moment and I  wrote her a note in a napkin congratulating her on the upcoming commencement with an early graduation gift wrapped inside.  She was so surprised and ran to the door as we were leaving to say thank you.   I felt so good!

My friend Joanie had a great story.  She was stopped leaving her street by an older woman lost and looking for a local cemetery.  Instead of giving her directions, she had the woman follow her and took her there.  When they arrived, the woman could not find her friends and called them.  They were at another entrance and planned to meet at a specific section.  Knowing the enormity of this cemetery,  my friend continued her act of kindness and drove around the cemetery until they found where her friends were waiting.  Of course, the woman was grateful and I know how good my friend felt after that!

For World Kindness Day on 11/13, Shannon …. an Essential Oils woman (I do love my essential oils) put together dozens of gift packages to give out to unassuming people.  An act of kindness spreading the love with gifts to make you feel better.

I heard another story from Sandra B. who found money and went to great lengths to return it to the rightful owner.  It turned out the money belonged to the parking attendant outside a medical facility.  It was probably his tip money from his hard work.  Something like that can be huge to a person who is probably getting paid minimum wage.  Thank you for your honesty, Sandra.  Sometimes in the world we live in today, it feels like it is hard to know who you can trust or if there are any honest people left – but they do exist!!

Just Listening Acts of Kindness

Also seen on twitter this week was by a Bryan Hayes …

I just meet the Sweetest old lady in Lowes, she asked a question, and it ended 40 mins later.
She told me about her kids, her late Husband, and shared a lot of wisdom. 
She ended it by saying
“Thanks for listening to an old lady “
Never be to busy to listen, someone needs to talk 2U

Kristine … Kristine was a friend who I graduated from High School with and hadn’t seen in 35 or so years.  We recently got back in touch, and she shared a couple of stories of her week with me.  This past Monday my friend was leaving the grocery store and saw a senior woman looking lost and confused.  She asked if she needed help and this woman told her she lost her car. Kristine spent the next 30 minutes having a lovely conversation with the woman while helping her search.   Another elderly woman, who noticed what had happened,  told her how sweet she was and then proceeded to hold another lengthy conversation.

The next day while shopping at Walmart, Kristine was looking for something and reached out to an employee.  She noticed the worker was a disabled young man and again, a conversation ensued.  She said he was so sweet and seemed lonely so she stood and listened to him talk about music from the 60s, 70,s and 80s and how the music after that went downhill.  (I most of us can all agree with that).

The moral of her stories is she took the time to chat with three people who clearly wanted to converse. There are a lot of lonely people in this world. It probably made their day to have somebody who would simply listen to them.   A free act of kindness that made a difference in somebody’s day.

Good News/Acts of Kindness

In my mission to predominantly spread mostly good news, I also came across a simple story of two people eating breakfast alone who came together and became friends.  (Read the story from The Good News Network here)

Last but not least, this past week, New York had been hit with a storm that wreaked the havoc on our streets and highways.  The worst road situation I have ever seen in my life!  The humanity really comes out in people in difficult situations, and these two stories that I heard about made my heart full.

The first is a couple that owned a food truck on their way to an event. They couldn’t get to an event they were heading to, so they opened their truck to the other commuters stuck on the roads for several hours. They opened their hearts and business feeding dozens of hungry people and putting a smile on their face. (Attach story)

Another wonderful story was about a man named, Kenneth Whitney.  Mr. Whitney is a public safety officer who works for the Yonkers schools.  This beautiful man came across a school bus of special kids stuck on a street in Yonkers and then spent hours giving out sandwiches and drinks.  He even took those children who needed to use the bathroom to a nearby nursing home.

Mr. Whitney stated, “If we take more time to help one another in a time of need, the world would be a much better place.”

I couldn’t agree more Mr. Whitney! It is people like you and all the other good samaritans and generous people that make us realize who the real heroes are in the world.  God Bless you!

Final Thoughts

All of these acts of kindness, big or small, are essential.  They are the moments that keep us hopeful.  The times that keep us optimistic of a world that could be.   They put a smile on our face and the face of another human being at a moment in time.  Isn’t that what kindness is all about … simply putting a smile on the face of another human being?

It fills your heart, and it warms their heart, and hopefully, that person will have the opportunity to pay it forward.  One thing is for sure; it will be remembered forever by the recipients and have an everlasting effect on all involved. The feeling that you get when your kindness is appreciated will make you want to do it again and again.

Thank you to all you beautiful human beings out there!! I LOVE YOU and as somebody said to me this week … I SEE YOU!

My store for giving back is always open … Sunday with Sandy For A  Cause.

Much Love and Happy Sunday!

Sandy

#BeKind #spreadlove #enlighten #empower #inspire #educate