Random Acts of Kindness

No.

Well, I can't think of a specific example...that's a little sad. I think I need to keep this "pay it forward" thing top-of-mind for a while. Thanks Rickie!

It doesn't have to be a big thing. I talked to an old(er) man yesterday and made him smile. It felt good.

Rickie The Grey wrote: It doesn't have to be a big thing. I talked to an old(er) man yesterday and made him smile. It felt good.

Yes but I don't think about it like that. Do you want me to tell you I hugged my son? Told my wife I love her? Played with my dog? Mowed my mom's lawn? Said something nice to a stranger?

I guess maybe it's useful for people who are new to all this but when you do it every day it doesn't even come up.

Hmm, I dont think hugging your kid, or showing affection towards your wife would apply. Given you probably do that often, even multiple times a day, its no a random act.

Really, you dont have to go out of your way at all for that.

Im actually a little baffled at the need for sarcasm and false modesty in this thread.

IT depends on how the good deeds are stated. if you are bragging about your good deeds then you are only doing them for yourself and not for others. But if it is to push others to do the same and not really pointing the fact to your self then it is not bragging and is a good deed in itself

I dont measure the worth of a deed by how selfless it is. A good deed is such no matter who you are doing it for.

As the lady throwing the starfish back into the ocean said..

"To that one, it matters."

Whether or not she was somehow selfish in you intentions, the one helped, is still helped.

Khaos wrote: Hmm, I dont think hugging your kid, or showing affection towards your wife would apply. Given you probably do that often, even multiple times a day, its no a random act.

Really, you dont have to go out of your way at all for that.

Im actually a little baffled at the need for sarcasm and false modesty in this thread.

IT depends on how the good deeds are stated. if you are bragging about your good deeds then you are only doing them for yourself and not for others. But if it is to push others to do the same and not really pointing the fact to your self then it is not bragging and is a good deed in itself

I dont measure the worth of a deed by how selfless it is. A good deed is such no matter who you are doing it for.

As the lady throwing the starfish back into the ocean said..

"To that one, it matters."

Whether or not she was somehow selfish in you intentions, the one helped, is still helped.

I don't disagre with you about that maybe i stated what i meant in the wrong way. yes a good deed will always be good as long as it was with good intentions.

Why not then, instead of going on about how "good" we are, that we might just share some acts of kindness that others have bestowed on us ...

I'll go first :

A chinese student, one that I don't know very well but who passes in conservatoire most evenings, noticed that I'd lost a bit of weight (I haven't but ...) and so he brought me some September cakes so that I would have something to eat. It was so sweet a gesture that I didn't dare tell him that I do eat at work, just usually out-of-sight of the usagers.

Khaos wrote: I dont measure the worth of a deed by how selfless it is. A good deed is such no matter who you are doing it for.

As the lady throwing the starfish back into the ocean said..

"To that one, it matters."

Whether or not she was somehow selfish in you intentions, the one helped, is still helped.

I'm with you on this one Khaos. I've always argued that even if there is ulterior motives involved, doing something nice for someone else is doing something nice.

Speaking of having ulterior motives, the recruiter I'm working with has been very straight with me and has helped me aim for exactly what I want. I think of that as an act of kindness he has bestowed upon me, even though he may not have my interests in mind at all. He has already filled is quota for the year and is now in a position where he does not need to push people into needed "grunt work" positions, so he skipped straight over that stuff and has shown me positions that fit my interests and level of intellect. The truth behind it is that if I fill either of the positions I am looking at I will be filling a position that has sat empty for quite a while because few people qualify. If I can fill this position it will make the recruiter look very good for being the one to find a suitable recruit. He has his ulterior motives and I have mine, but in a way we are both benefiting and both doing each other a kindness.

May the Force be with you,
Rai

Ah, something kind someone did for me... this one time... at band camp...