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Post by heartpawprints on Jun 5, 2013 15:22:57 GMT
One of the things that is great about this forum is that the kindness of people on it and the love they have to give shines through. Can we push that out and share just to make a little more happiness in this world?
Some years ago I was on a course and had not long found out I'd been offered a job. There was this very bedraggled looking guy, dirty and hungry looking on the high street during the lunch break. I did something I've never done before and crouched down to talk to the guy. Before that he had no coins in his cap on the floor but just me being there chatting to him must have changed something as people started throwing money in. I gave him a tenner for food and felt really delighted to have been able to make a difference.
What stories do other members have?
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Post by scallywag on Jun 5, 2013 15:49:28 GMT
My OH and our Sales Director went to Africa to see a project that both were involved in, building a little village / school for orphaned children. Whilst there they met all the orphans, they were such lovely happy and grateful children, even to just receive a crayon and a book, their smiles were from ear to ear. Eddie said he wanted to sponsor a child thru school, and for the child to go to school they had to have a uniform. He decided thou that the child who had a sister and a brother should also be allowed to be sponsored by us, we were not allowed, one child only they said. We got our way thou, and still sponsor the 3 for school, medical and living in the village gives us such a feeling to be able to make a difference, if only to those 3 x
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Post by tonib on Jun 5, 2013 20:17:54 GMT
Those 2 put me to shame, Ok I have regular donations to various human & animal charities but I can't think of any random act of kindness. Congratulations to both posters for theirs
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Post by cazypops on Jun 5, 2013 20:25:02 GMT
I know it's not much but I always try and smile at strangers in the street, especially elderly people. A smile costs nothing but if it brightens up someones day thats good enough for me.
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Post by heartpawprints on Jun 5, 2013 20:45:03 GMT
Tonib don't be daft. If you look on the random acts of kindness website it's the small things like paying for the next person's drink in your queue, clearing a neighbour's path during snow, it's loads of things I bet most of us have done already. One thing people could do is give food tins, pasta etc into the salvation army to help with their food banks. A simple smile to a stranger is a great act of kindness. Who knows how it might lift them?
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Post by gladys on Jun 5, 2013 22:17:19 GMT
I buy warm drinks or food for homeless people, although I haven't done it for a while as I'm very rarely in the city. But when I lived in Cambridge and worked a short walk away from the town centre I would often buy a meal for a little old homeless man and his dog. I can still remember their favourite - Burger King burger, large fries and a coffee. The dog got the burger and the man ate the fries in the bun. It's not much but it makes you feel warm in side when you bring a smile to someones face and a wag of a tail.
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Post by scallywag on Jun 6, 2013 8:01:03 GMT
Those 2 put me to shame, Ok I have regular donations to various human & animal charities but I can't think of any random act of kindness. Congratulations to both posters for theirs Yes don't be daft tonib we are fortunate as we have a successful business thou having said that it only costs us the equiv of 8 pub meals and a pint, now that is sad isn't it? We should socialise less and do more . We as in me and Eddie, not you's xx
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Post by migsy on Jun 6, 2013 10:15:42 GMT
A smile definitely costs nothing,who knows what is going on in some one elses life? it could certainly make a difference to someone.(even if you do get the odd or blank look at times). Also,I slip the Big Issue seller Β£2,and say I don't want a magazine as I don't the get chance to read it.Poor souls are stood out in all weathers,and are quite pleasant,though they are invisible to many.
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Post by Pawsforthought on Jun 6, 2013 12:24:39 GMT
I always chat to the 'Big Issue' people, and buy an issue (and say 'keep the change' lol) It doesn't seem like much but they are always so happy to have someone talk to them. There was a guy selling the big issue at the train station I used to get to college every day, I always said good morning or hello etc and he recognised me each day because we saw each other a lot. My brother saw that his story was in the back of the issue one month and he read it. The guy became an alcoholic and lost his home after his daughter had died because of that, I ALWAYS smile at the homeless, even if I can't give them anything. I know that they're not money-snatching scavengers like a lot of people seem to think. I wonder how those people would feel on the other end of their prejudiced attitude. I always smile, but don't that often get one in return. I hold doors open for people, it's how I was brought up in the school I went to. One time I had to wait for my mum to get herself some clothes while we were in Florida. I didn't feel like going around with her so instead I waited by the door and held it open for every person coming in and out!
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Post by Pawsforthought on Jun 6, 2013 12:25:42 GMT
My brother gave a tenner to one of those big issue people for an issue! The guy was SO grateful. He said to him that he'd get himself a nice warm lunch with it.
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Post by heartpawprints on Jun 6, 2013 12:31:05 GMT
I feel humbled as I am one of those ignore big issue sellers people. You've all made me rethink this so thank you
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Post by cia on Jun 6, 2013 15:35:27 GMT
Lovely stories. I have an elderly neighbour who tells her friends that the fairies have been again. What she is refering to is the newly planted flower/s at her front door. Every season i plant her something new of which brings her a aray of colour through her glass front door.
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Post by heartpawprints on Jun 6, 2013 18:37:48 GMT
Cia your fairy alter ego is great!
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Post by cia on Jun 7, 2013 8:53:52 GMT
Why thank you.
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Post by heartpawprints on Jun 7, 2013 20:46:01 GMT
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