Random Acts of Kindness

[charlotte49er]

http://now.msn.com/diner-picks-up-tab-after-overhearing-bad-news-in-boston-restaurant

 

When one mystery diner in a Boston restaurant overheard a mother and daughter get some bad news, he took out a pen and scribbled this note to his waiter: "Do me a favor and bring me their check, too. Someone just got diagnosed. Don't tell them." The waiter, impressed by his customer's act of kindness, posted the note on Reddit — and we're glad he did. (Now we get to have our "faith in humanity restored," too.) The waiter, known as Whiskkas on Reddit, writes that the two women started crying after the daughter received a phone call mid-meal, and that he then combined the two bills as requested. He added: "I waited until the guy left and told them he had taken care of their check, and that he said best wishes, which was what he said to do on the note he wrote me on his second bill. The mother cried even harder, I almost lost it."

 

How many practice this?

 

I hate fast food. All of it's is greasy and loaded with salt!  However, every so often, I have to break down and get a couple of Micky D's Filet-o-Fish sammys.  (Maybe once every 6 months.)  Sometimes, I will pay for the car behind me bill.  I just tell the person in the window, "I'll also pay for the car behind me order."  I trust him/her that they won't simply pocket the money and charge them anyway.  (By then, I have driven away.)

 

In my younger days, when I went to bars to socialize.  I have picked up women's bar tabs or just a round of drinks.  But that really doesn't count as 'RAK'.  It was more to start a conversation. 

 

I used to always give to the Salvation Army's Bell Ringers at Christmas time.  (They are getting scarce the last several years as people complain to the store that used to allow them to set up.  "bell is too loud, they are asking for money,  not to PC, etc.)  Again, I don't look on that as a 'RAK'.  More so as just trying to give back to people less fortunate than I am. 

 

What's your RAK?

 

 

[Seal (SmittyIsOurSavior)]

I can't say I've ever done something major, but I definitely practice it daily. Whether driving, holding the door open for people, giving a little extra money to someone in need, or even just smiling at people as they pass by. You never know the kind of day or the week or the year they're going through, so you always have to consider that it could be the worst time of their lives.

That's another reason I get pissed at people who get pissed whilst driving. So he cut you off. Have you never done that to someone before? What if he just got fired, or just found out his child is in the hospital? You never know, so don't get so annoyed that you just lost two seconds off of your arrival time.

[PhillyB]

i love anonymously picking up people's drivethrough tab because there's zero reciprocity. it's not like buying someone a drink and knowing they'll probably get you back at some point; it's a sacrificial act that will remain unreturned. it's done for the simple act of extending altruism to another human being simply because they are another human being.

 

i try to do this every time i get greedily attached to my money and too focused on my monthly financial goals. 

[Hawk]

the thing is....it doesn't even need to be grand acts...even the little things count.  I can't recall ever picking up someones tab, but I've certainly bought a coffee and opened a door etc.  Even just a smile and a good morning is a pick me up for some folks, it doesn't even have to involve money.

 

 

 

[OneBadCat]

I can't say I've ever done something major, but I definitely practice it daily. Whether driving, holding the door open for people, giving a little extra money to someone in need, or even just smiling at people as they pass by. You never know the kind of day or the week or the year they're going through, so you always have to consider that it could be the worst time of their lives.

That's another reason I get pissed at people who get pissed whilst driving. So he cut you off. Have you never done that to someone before? What if he just got fired, or just found out his child is in the hospital? You never know, so don't get so annoyed that you just lost two seconds off of your arrival time.

 

The fact that they let their emotions best and inhibit their driving skills into making stupid and dangerous traffic moves is what pisses me off. Ever notice that you can't simply merge on to 85 more? Some dick always has to try and run you off.

[Happy Panther]

Sometimes when I am banging a chick I pull out.

 

It's the little things.

[Bronn]

I remember going to chic fil a once and getting breakfast for several people at one time. The bill was like $24, and I got to the window and was informed that the person in front of me had paid for it. They also left a card for their church, which was a pre-printed "You've received a random act of kindness" and asking that I join their congregation some time and/or at least return the favor to someone else.

I paid for the person's order behind me, and it was only like $4, lol.

I did write the church's pastor an email. I told him I wasn't religious but that I appreciated what this random stranger from his congregation had done, and stressed that if there were more gestures like that then the world would be a better place.

[Inimicus]

Go to your local Toys R Us this holiday season and pay for a strangers layaway.

 

Anyone buying toys on layaway for their kids Christmas can likely use the help and regardless of your religious slant you're making a kids Christmas morning that much better.

 

Just go up to the customer service desk and tell the person there what you want to do.  They will generally be very receptive to helping you even to the point of finding someone who is clearly buying toys for kids of a certain age range.

 

 

We started doing it a couple of years ago and let me tell you just how great a feeling it is to walk out of the store knowing you just made sure some kid would get their gifts regardless of what turn their folks finances took.

[toldozer]

Go to your local Toys R Us this holiday season and pay for a strangers layaway.

Anyone buying toys on layaway for their kids Christmas can likely use the help and regardless of your religious slant you're making a kids Christmas morning that much better.

Just go up to the customer service desk and tell the person there what you want to do. They will generally be very receptive to helping you even to the point of finding someone who is clearly buying toys for kids of a certain age range.

We started doing it a couple of years ago and let me tell you just how great a feeling it is to walk out of the store knowing you just made sure some kid would get their gifts regardless of what turn their folks finances took.

This is a great idea. I think I will be doing this this year. Generally when do you go? Like the first week of December?

[Inimicus]

This is a great idea. I think I will be doing this this year. Generally when do you go? Like the first week of December?

 

Different stores have different layaway end dates so call your local store and ask - its going to be something like 3 or 4 weeks before Christmas..  They usually require all layaways be picked up by a certain date so they can sell that stock if it goes unclaimed

[toldozer]

Gotcha thanks. Very cool idea

[Happy Panther]

I remember going to chic fil a once and getting breakfast for several people at one time. The bill was like $24, and I got to the window and was informed that the person in front of me had paid for it. They also left a card for their church, which was a pre-printed "You've received a random act of kindness" and asking that I join their congregation some time and/or at least return the favor to someone else.

I paid for the person's order behind me, and it was only like $4, lol.

I did write the church's pastor an email. I told him I wasn't religious but that I appreciated what this random stranger from his congregation had done, and stressed that if there were more gestures like that then the world would be a better place.

 

Nice gesture, although I prefer my RAKs to be completely anonymous. Asking for something in return defeats the purpose.

 

On a similar note, when I delivered pizzas in LKN there was one lady who wouldn't tip but would give you cards with bible verses and threats of hell on it.

 

I wanted to hide jalapenos in her pizza.

[Hawk]

sweet...I'm heading to all the stores now and just putting everything on lay away...hopefully one of you slides in and pays for it all!!!!!!

 

 

great jesture for sure.

 

 

one time my wife and I were leaving this restaurant downtown.  There was a street dude approached us and asked if he could buy our parking pass.  I thought to myself...this is pretty fricken smart actually.  He buys it from us and then hangs around and sells it to the next person that comes to the lot.  I usually just leave it at the machine when I leave, but I had to give this guy credit so I gave it to him instead.  When I got to the car I remembered I still had a Tim Horton's gift card in my glove box and knew there was a Tim's just around the corner, like every other corner in Canada and so I gave that to him as well....thinking if nothing else, he can sell the ticket I gave to him for booze/smoke money and the gift card to get a hot meal.  At the end of the day it cost me $10 in a gift card, but the look on the guys face was worth soooo much more.

[Happy Panther]

http://thechive.com/2013/03/20/chivers-and-their-random-acts-of-kindness-75-photos/