Random acts of kindness

[snoopdoug1]

I've done multiple system restores/formats for people who are going to pay a hundred or so bucks to have someone else do it(of course, i never take any money). I'm almost like a free computer support line for anyone that I know who has computer issues.

For a more specific story, when I was growing up my Dad and my two brothers used to have to shovel the snow out of our driveway. Every time we shoveled our drive, we would also shovel the drives of 3 of our neighbors(a widowed lady, and two elderly couples). They would always come out and try to pay us, but of course we wouldn't take it. Most of the time we ended up getting cookies or something. One of the elderly guys would always try to come out and help us(I think he felt bad that we wouldn't let him pay), so we always made it a goal to try to have his driveway done before he could get outside to help! He didn't need to be out in the cold!

I've really liked this thread, surely more people have stories

 

[pclstyle]

this one is about my oldest uncle, who is a doctor, who's more or less been the driving force and inspiration behind all of my family, especially after my grandfather died. If inspiration isn't clear enough; his wife is a nurse practitioner, all 3 of his sons are now doctors (completed residency, one is a hospital admin- RUNS a hospital, the other is on an international medical missions team, the other is at nemc in boston), my closest cousin and his wife are both studying nursing, and another cousin and I are attending med school in the fall.

as a gastroenterologist/surgeon very respected in the field, he's always being sought after for diagnoses, treatment, and surgery, by wealthy, powerful socialites - people for whom money is not a concern, who aren't used to waiting, etc. even though plenty of physicians have taken the route of catering only to this particularly category of people, because it pays incredibly well, and status in the medical community rises exponentially with each high-profile case of treatment/recovery - my uncle has never been one to take the easy road. he is rarely in the hospital, and makes only 2 days a week available for scheduled appointments, though he's always on call. The rest of the time he is out in other doctor's clinics helping with consultations, doing things like regularly checking on elderly who don't remember to make their own visitations, traveling cross-state to do follow-ups with patients who can't make the trip themselves. he really is beloved by all who know him, and getting to shadow him for 3 months one summer was probably one of the best experiences of my life. his sons (aforementioned 3 docs) have all followed in his footsteps, and though they're somewhat scattered over the country and abroad now, it's so great to see them doing the same sort of things their father did for other people, carrying the same mentality that he carried.

anyway, to cut down the cheese. he's just a great man who had the potential to really be up there in the spotlight, working high-profile cases, carrying titles like "top-GE", etc - but for him it was never a question as to what he was really there for - applying the skills he was gifted with to help those less fortunate, without discrimination or prejudice, because that's what doctors do.


**random reminiscence - i had an inguinal hernia back when I was in college, the result of working-out excessively one season. i went to him first for advice, and told him i was in a good deal of pain. he made me drop my pants (already awkward enough being that he was my uncle), then after prodding for a second and evoking a shout of pain from me, said "that isn't pain, you should see some of my patients" and sent me off to go look up symptoms of conditions like colon cancer, ulcerative colitis, and crohn's disease. haha, i was furious, but i guess that's what uncles do

 

[John P]

For a more specific story, when I was growing up my Dad and my two brothers used to have to shovel the snow out of our driveway. Every time we shoveled our drive, we would also shovel the drives of 3 of our neighbors(a widowed lady, and two elderly couples). They would always come out and try to pay us, but of course we wouldn't take it. Most of the time we ended up getting cookies or something. One of the elderly guys would always try to come out and help us(I think he felt bad that we wouldn't let him pay), so we always made it a goal to try to have his driveway done before he could get outside to help! He didn't need to be out in the cold!

Great story! My thanks to people like you. My parents live in Kansas and I live in Seattle so I can't help them out much. My dad bought himself a snow blower but it still takes a lot of work to operate. So, a neighbor always comes over when it snows, grabs the snow blower and does my parents driveway, his driveway, and a couple of other elderly neighbors driveways. It's a win-win-win situation.

 

[snoopdoug1]

Originally posted by: John P.

For a more specific story, when I was growing up my Dad and my two brothers used to have to shovel the snow out of our driveway. Every time we shoveled our drive, we would also shovel the drives of 3 of our neighbors(a widowed lady, and two elderly couples). They would always come out and try to pay us, but of course we wouldn't take it. Most of the time we ended up getting cookies or something. One of the elderly guys would always try to come out and help us(I think he felt bad that we wouldn't let him pay), so we always made it a goal to try to have his driveway done before he could get outside to help! He didn't need to be out in the cold!

Great story! My thanks to people like you. My parents live in Kansas and I live in Seattle so I can't help them out much. My dad bought himself a snow blower but it still takes a lot of work to operate. So, a neighbor always comes over when it snows, grabs the snow blower and does my parents driveway, his driveway, and a couple of other elderly neighbors driveways. It's a win-win-win situation.

We always told my dad we needed to get a snowblower, and he just said that's what he had us for

Keep the stories coming!

 

[John P]

We always told my dad we needed to get a snowblower, and he just said that's what he had us for

My 3 brothers and I used to do all the shoveling for our house and few neigbors also back when we all lived there. The snowblower was purchased when all the free labor moved away

 

[snoopdoug1]

Originally posted by: John P.

We always told my dad we needed to get a snowblower, and he just said that's what he had us for

My 3 brothers and I used to do all the shoveling for our house and few neigbors also back when we all lived there. The snowblower was purchased when all the free labor moved away

Funny how that works, isn't it?

 

[ICAREFORYOUU]

I like dropping coins.. I love to see the joy kids have when they find money on the ground. They think that they're rich! I had those kind of days when I was little.

I also like putting in random coins into meters.

A simple smile or a good morning makes someone feels special inside.

 

[SKC]

bumping this thread, because it deserves to be.

 

[aleckz]

I pick up trash around my campus, always open doors for people. If someone is short change, I always help them out. I dont really see it as random, I feel everyone should be that nice to one another. I try not to be a douchebag to anyone, and then I get treated the same, and who knows maybe that same person will open the door for you or do something nice. I dont know if anyone remembers kindergarden, but the Golden Rule lives strong for me!

 

[Horus]

Once in Toronto I got my car towed. Fvcking impound guys are SATAN. Anyways, I go down there, pay the 100 bucks to get my car outta hawk. While I'm in there, there's a girl sobbing hysterically because she can't find her bank card or anything, so she can't pay to get HER car out of hawk. So, I pay, walk out the door...then my concience grabs a hold of me by the short hairs. I walk back in, slap my debit card down on the desk and say "I'm paying for her, too."

They all kinda look at me...impound guy shrugs, swipes me through, bing another 100 bucks outta the bank. The girl kinda looks at me in disbelief, says, "Why would you do that? I don't even know you!" to which I say, "You look like you needed it." I never expected to see that money again

On the way home, I get a call on my cellphone...I'd given the girl my number. So, I give her my email address, and she sent it all back to me, along with an invitation to the one of the best clubs in Yorkdale.

"Give and ye shall recieve"

 

[slag]

Couple years ago I was driving home from work in a snow/ice storm (took 2 hours to drive 38 miles), and I pulled into a quicktrip in my town to get a cup of coffee after being stuck in my car after work all that time. I got out and noticed a lady in a mini van with 2 children inside and her drivers rear rim was all mangled with a flat tire. She had hit a curb on the snow/ice and instant flat.

Without hesitation I knocked on her window and told her i'd change her tire for her. She responded that her husband would be getting off work in an hour and he would come help her. I told her i'd be happy to help and just asked her to point me where the spare and jack was. About 12 mins later, she was set up ready to go and she called her husband back on the cell phone letting him know she was on her way back. She had tears in her eyes because well, a van with 2 bored kids on a horrible weather day and having to wait for awhile for help can take a toll on you.



Bought a used car out of state earlier this year and had to get it inspected. As I was waiting for my inspection, they called the guy ahead of me over and let him know his inspection was done. He whips out a credit card to pay for the $10.00 inspection and they let him know cash or check only..

He had neither on him.

I overheard his conversation with the desk person and he said he lived 20 miles out of town and wouldn't have time to make it home, back and then to his job on time. Without a thought, I got up, reached into my pocket, pulled out a 10, and handed it to the person at the desk. The man was bewildered. He asked 3-4 times for my phone number and address so he could pay me back. I refused to give him this info and just asked him to pay it forward.

Every winter when it snows enough to shovel, I get on my lawn tractor (with front blade) and blade about 4 people's driveways who live near me. Last year, after I was done, one of the women who are a stay at home mom came over with a plate of chocolate chip cookies. MMMMM , tasty.

Just remember, its the little things that dont take much from us, but people remember for a long long time.

 

[Glayde]

I take the bus or bike to work on campus. Every school year, there's always someone who is taking the bus for the first time, and realize that they don't have the exact change for fare, and the drivers can't return change. They're basicly having to either step off the bus or pay a 5 or 10 for a dollar fare. I've paid the dollar for quite a few of them, which is no real big deal for me because i get a free bus pass from work. Just feels nice to save them the hassle on what is probably their first day to campus for that year.

 

[cherrytwist]

IMO the best thing about randoms act of kindness is the feeling you get from them without sharing them with others

Sometimes secrets are a good thing.

 

[DaShen]

Originally posted by: cherrytwist
IMO the best thing about randoms act of kindness is the feeling you get from them without sharing them with others

Sometimes secrets are a good thing.

I agree :thumbsup:

The act itself is its own reward.

 

[maximus maximus]

Bump.... what a great thread... makes me feel warm from within...
:thumbsup: :beer: to the OP and everyone else...

 

[jhayx7]

Bump. We need more!