Sunday, February 1, 2009

Random Acts of Kindness...

I had a dream last night and although I can't remember much of it at all, I do remember that I kept being told by the brother of a friend I had in the 4th grade, to "do good things".

So while I was waiting for the coffee to finish dripping this morning, I checked my inbox and one of my favorite "quotes for the day" was sitting there.
Todays quote was:

I expect to pass through this world but once. Any good therefore that I can do, or any kindness that I can show to any fellow creature, let me do it now. Let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again"
~ William Penn

And after the dream I had last night, I got all goose-bumpy, let me tell ya.

After the coffee was ready, I sat down again to check through the rest of my emails and there were several from friends of mine asking me to pray for their friends and family right now. I mean, I get these requests occasionally, but today there were far more than usual. Times are hard and a lot of people are going through things they never thought they would experience and since I love my friends, of course I'll pray for them.

But the part that really made my goose bumps get goose bumps was that I also received an invitation from a friend on Face Book to join the group,
"Karma Experiment - Pay it forward."

"You have been invited to participate in a karma experiment. As you are aware many people are going through tough times and we wanted to see if it is possible to change a person's karma.
~~Objective: Start something positive by sending good karma to every one of your friends by inviting them to this experiment.
~~Experiment: To increase a person's karma by doing a random act of kindness.
~~Outcome: The more friends that join and take action the better your karma will become."

Well, of course I joined, although I usually ignore the invitations on Face Book (*blushing*)... because to me, FB just seems so busy or cluttered. (just my personal opinion here, but if you love FB, that's great!)
Because obviously something or someone was trying to tell me something, with all the "Kindness" quotes, requests for prayers and then the Random Acts of Kindness invitation.

So I'm going to do this. I know that I can do this. I CAN make a difference in someones life.
Even a small difference is a difference that can improve someone's life in ways that we may never understand.

Would you like to join me in trying to make a small difference in the world?

If you do, could you post a comment with the act or acts of kindness that you've done for someone today ?
It could be an inspiration for someone else... and it's possible that it could snowball to other, unknown people. And if it does, wouldn't that be a wonderful thing?

"Have you had a kindness shown?
Pass it on; 'twas not given for thee alone, pass it on;
Let it travel down the years, let it wipe another's tears,
till in heaven the deed appears, pass it on"
~Henry Burton

10 comments:

Kathy said...

I just saw your invitation to join this in facebook. I will try to do an act of kindness tomorrow and post it then. Good luck on your task. Have a great day.

Joolz said...

Hi Tatersmama

We used to say that first 'verse' at my daughters' school Parents & Friends meeting as our opening prayer/affirmation.
I'll try to do a R.A.C soon. I did deliver both my mum and M-I-L a plate of fresh whiting fillets today, does that count? They love fresh fish! :)

Cheers - Joolz

rubiesrnotpurple said...

Ah Kate, this is one of the things (mantras/mottos/beliefs) that I live my life by. I truly believe that these random acts come back to us in very many ways.
(On that note - my lifesong is 'Try a little kindness' by someone famous whose name completely escapes me. I had planned on talking about just this topic in my journal. Good on you for doing it too.)
Love your work Tatersmama! Mwah.

Homestay Mama said...

Oh, Tatersmama, that was a beautiful post.

The doorbell rang this afternoon and when I opened the door an East Indian man and his wife with their two young children started to come in but quickly realized I wasn't the hostess they were expecting! They backed out, apologized and said they were looking for house number XXXX, which was a couple doors down the street from me. They felt totally embarrassed, but I smiled and told them they were welcome to come into my house, too. Then I showed them the house they really wanted to visit. Does that count as a random act of kindness?

Becky said...

It does my heart good when showing an act of kindness. At Christmas I donated bears to the Teddy Bear Roundup for children. They are given to children in the local hospitals all through out the year. It made me feel so good!

Bz said...

Hello~
First time commenting here. ...and I'm supposed to be commenting on Random Acts of Kindness... hopefully, I'll get to that. Wanted to say that I've read some of your blog the other day -came via the comment section from Neas Nuttiness. Love your blog...and your style of writing. ...and happened to stumble on some earlier posts with pics of 'other half' and son- very gentle looking souls, both.
ANYway, just wanted to say that I think you have a nice blog and you sound like a neat person.
Now... hmmm, I've go to go think of a random act of kindness to do!

Marjie said...

Is it still hot there? I figure if we average my 30 (and that's warm - it'll drop to 0 by Wednesday) with your 110, we'll both have a comfy 70 degrees F.

Just a thought.

redpoppy007@aol.com said...

great post...the world needs more kindness for sure.

Robynn's Ravings said...

I was kind to a very pushy salesman. My way would normally be to shun him for the smarmy way he acted but I saw him as a needy soul who put off vibes of leading a truly empty life. I found myself feeling empathy for him. I didn't buy his overpriced product but I left him with his dignity intact. Does that count?

And Rubiesrnotpurple: It's Glen Campbell and I loved that song too!

"You've got to try a little kindness,
Just show a little kindness,
Just shine your light for everyone to see,
And if you try a little kindness,
Then you'll overlook the blindness,
Of the narrow-minded people,
On the narrow-minded streets.

Thanks for the reminder of that song! And thanks, TM, for a reminder that we are to go forth and do good....everyday.

rubiesrnotpurple said...

Thank you Robyn.
I had typed Glen Campbell and then I thought "No that's not him" and got stuck. Just proves you should follow your first instinct. Clever people would have googled it but I'm not that computer literate yet.


Feedjit

FEEDJIT Live Traffic Map


FEEDJIT Live Traffic Feed


Thanks for visiting!


Thank you Libby!

Honest Scrap Award

Honest Scrap Award
Powered By Blogger