Acts of Random Kindness

By Rebecca the Bookseller

We just watched Evan Almighty - a great family movie with Steve Carell, who is a very funny man. He plays a guy elected to Congress on the campaign slogan of: "Change the World".

In perfect casting, Morgan Freeman plays God - who appears to tell the new Congressman to build an Ark.

You can imagine how well that goes over with everyone in DC, including his family.

Great soundtrack and a happy ending, of course, where the bad guys are revealed and everyone learns a simple lesson: How do you change the world? One Act of Random Kindness at a time.

So, do one today. If someone ahead of you at the grocery store is short and you've got an extra buck, hand it up. Let someone older or sicker take your prime parking spot. Listen to someone who needs to talk. Hold traffic so someone who walks slowly can cross the street. Stick a white pin in a voodoo doll (and if that makes no sense to you, you need to catch up on Ramona's great blog yesterday.)

Call or visit someone sick or lonely. Or - here's an easy one - share an act with the rest of us on TLC, and maybe inspire someone else.

Happy Sunday!

Comments

[Harley]

Will do! Thanks for the reminder. I needed it today.

[Kerry, the Martial Tart]

Thanks for the reminder, Rebecca. When I lived in the Bay Area, a favorite RAK was to pay bridge toll for the car behind you. The same works, of course, for toll roads.

Around here, where traffic is horrid and drivers clueless, I try really hard for simple courtesy: waiting so an oncoming vehicle can make that left turn across my lane; giving the bicyclists on the long country roads (with no shoulders and nasty ditches) plenty of room; letting folks pull out of parking lots. I know how much of a lift I get when someone returns the favor, and I figure anything to reduce the aggravation level on the roads has to be a Good Thing!

[Joe]

Rebecca, you are the perfect person for this. Those of us who know her can tell you that she lives her whole life this way.

Paying it forward, right?

[ramona]

What a good way to start a Sunday morning! Does complimenting you on this fine suggestion count? You get only white pins, Rebecca.

[William Simon]

This is how we should live every day....

[Mary Storyteller]

Such a great idea! I had a friend in college who would always slow to the pace of anyone who might not make it across on "walk" -- she figured that way they wouldn't feel alone and vulnerable, and if any drivers got ugly about the delay -- well, she grew up with brothers, in the woods of Minnesota, and she could certainly take care of anyone she was likely to meet.
I try to give right of way to anyone who needs it -- it's almost a family joke, and it does make the day more pleasant, especially if there's a little thank-you wave involved. Right now, it's nearly impossible to make a left turn out of our subdivision during busy times, and incoming left turn people will sometimes wait for those coming out -- good neighbors!
When my mom was ill with what became her final illness (lung cancer -- don't smoke!), my students were so kind to me; they really helped me keep it together, with cards, prayers, Chicken Soup books. I thanked one young lady for her kindness, and she replied, "Last year, you helped me. Now it's my turn."
Yep, there's hope for the world if we all remember to help each other.