Knowing The Difference

I try my best to do this to people I come in conta...

2010-02-28T21:54:12.493-05:00

I try my best to do this to people I come in contact with just because I know how good I would feel if I was on the receiving end to it.

But I would like to do them more to total strangers because sometimes, when you're having a bad day (or week), just kindness from a stranger you don't even know can make a world of difference!

Lovely post, makes me want to start doing things l...

2010-02-27T19:08:44.856-05:00

Lovely post, makes me want to start doing things like that. I try and do things to make other people's days a little better - smiles, holding doors open, saying bless you when a stranger sneezes, but leaving something that could brighten someone's day sounds like such a lovely idea :)

My Antonia by Willa Cather :)

2010-02-27T10:19:33.407-05:00

My Antonia by Willa Cather :)

What a cool idea. I have had friends, as well as ...

2010-02-26T22:35:46.937-05:00

What a cool idea. I have had friends, as well as strangers, help me out when I least expected it and it has always made such a difference. Great blog, thanks for sharing!
-Holly Renee
http://loveimaginecreate.blogspot.com

Shifting negative thinking by doing things for oth...

2010-02-26T12:05:49.960-05:00

Shifting negative thinking by doing things for others is a two for one deal I'd say. I don't know that I've specifically gone out of my way lately, but I think I'm generally kind to people. I hold doors, help them carry something, say hello and ask how they're doing, etc. I don't consider those kinds of things actually going out of my way I guess. :)

I believe one of the biggest reasons we're here is to bring kindness and compassion to others, and I am all for actions that support that purpose.

I joke that I do one nice act a day and then can g...

2010-02-25T23:03:49.585-05:00

I joke that I do one nice act a day and then can go back to being mean. That is an actual joke. While sometimes i'm not the nicest person, I always pick up a glove if it falls and get the person's attention, hold doors or help someone in need. That is just ingrained in me, I need just remember to connect with it more.

I think the emails & texts you send to check in on...

2010-02-25T21:17:47.885-05:00

I think the emails & texts you send to check in on me are random acts of kindness. I know you could also say that is part of being a friend, but you do a very good job of being a friend. :) It is nice to know someone is thinking of me and cares about how I am doing!

I am not very good about the whole random acts of kindness thing. I want to start to send random notes to people in the mail - I figure that will brighten a person's day!

First of all, I'm in love with the link you posted...

2010-02-25T20:41:51.870-05:00

First of all, I'm in love with the link you posted... what a brilliant idea!

Secondly, I think trying to be actively doing random acts of kindness is pretty awesome!

My favorite act of kindness is sharing food. Whate...

2010-02-25T18:59:27.690-05:00

My favorite act of kindness is sharing food. Whatever I've got, I want to share it.

Yours is the second blog I've read today with this...

2010-02-25T17:11:37.171-05:00

Yours is the second blog I've read today with this theme ~ I like it! And I will definitely check out Secret Agent L! I think complimenting people - encouraging them - is my favourite "random act of kindness". Even if it's a complete stranger ...

I completely agree with Kyla. Comments on my blog ...

2010-02-25T16:08:45.766-05:00

I completely agree with Kyla. Comments on my blog are little drops of happiness spread throughout my day.

I LOVE leaving operation beautiful notes (www.operationbeautiful.com) I have been leaving A LOT lately and it makes me feel so good!

This post is reminiscent of the commercial out now...

2010-02-25T14:29:43.535-05:00

This post is reminiscent of the commercial out now of people witnessing other people's act of kindness, which motivates them to do the same.

I always hold the door for others. Or stop for people crossing the street. And in a city like Chicago, it's amazing how many people are pleasantly surprised by the kindness.

That said, there's an amazingly high number of people who behave like it's expected I'd hold open the door for them. They don't acknowledge me or my actions. And to them, I usually yell, YOU'RE WELCOME. Jerks. =)

I've never heard of or read Secret Agent L; thanks...

2010-02-25T12:44:35.326-05:00

I've never heard of or read Secret Agent L; thanks for sharing =)

I think my favorite random act of kindness that I've experienced:
1. my old roomy, years ago, woke up, took my keys and warmed up my car/scraped off all the snow.

2. When people hold doors open for me, especially when i have a lot in my hands. so simple but so awesome.

I offered to help a Vietman War Vet carry his bags on my way to Florida; he wouldn't let me but thanked me for offering.

Pretty much anything I can do to assist an elderly person makes me happy, whether it be offering my arm, opening a door, or picking up something they dropped. I assume that counts of random acts of kindness!?

I'll definitely try to do it more though :)

I blogged on this very topic just before Christmas...

2010-02-25T12:19:07.999-05:00

I blogged on this very topic just before Christmas because of the film Evan Almighty.

I think that your (not so) random act of listening...

2010-02-25T11:27:38.249-05:00

I think that your (not so) random act of listening to me yesterday was an amazing act of kindness =)

This is kind of how I view the blogging community every time I e-mail or comment back its a little drop of happiness in someone else's day.

I am off to check out her blog - what an awesome i...

2010-02-25T11:06:17.351-05:00

I am off to check out her blog - what an awesome idea.

I feel almost selfish when I do a random act of kindness, I get so much satisfaction out of making someone feel good. Great post.

oh my gosh! i love this. thank you for introducing...

2010-02-25T08:38:29.075-05:00

oh my gosh! i love this. thank you for introducing me to secret agent L! random acts of kindness are just the best. i always say i'm going to do more things just because, but rarely end up doing them.

for years now i've wanted to go through the toll booth and pay for the stranger behind me. but i have yet to do it.

today, i'm going to try and not let the little things annoy me and get under my skin. thanks for the reminder, mandy!

xoxoxo

ps, more snowwwwwwwwwwwww....ahhhh!

Wow, what a beautiful writer you are. I thoroughly...

2010-02-24T12:25:07.788-05:00

Wow, what a beautiful writer you are. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this. These connections with other people are so wonderful, I agree.

And fried pickles...mmmm, love them! Fried jalapenos too, which are popular in San Antonio.

I love your weekend.

Did you like Valentine's Day? And where in the wo...

2010-02-23T16:13:55.038-05:00

Did you like Valentine's Day?

And where in the world did you find fried pickles? I've had fried oreos, but never fried pickles.

I must try fried pickles!! I love weekends like th...

2010-02-23T11:39:00.841-05:00

I must try fried pickles!! I love weekends like this - sometimes I get so consumed by the "I actually have a day free! I need to clean the house" feeling that I put that first all too often - this weekend I'm going to maybe take a leaf out of your book, and go do something fun :)

i always sneak things into the theater. just tonig...

2010-02-22T23:42:27.781-05:00

i always sneak things into the theater. just tonight we went to see valentine's day (like you) and my friends brought in wine.

i mean, would you expect anything less : )

I spent last weekend planning for next weekend! I'...

2010-02-22T22:27:03.161-05:00

I spent last weekend planning for next weekend! I'm taking Friday off just to have a random 3 day weekend that'll hopefully be as fun and relaxing as yours.
:)

Mmm, Fried Pickles. I wonder if there is a gluten...

2010-02-22T21:38:04.716-05:00

Mmm, Fried Pickles. I wonder if there is a gluten free version of them! I bet I could make them w/ corn starch or something. They are to die for!

Sounds like a fantastic weekend! Mine was wonderful, as you know! It was great talking to you! Made the drive fly by! :)

Fried pickles? I've never tried these but I feel l...

2010-02-22T21:19:02.732-05:00

Fried pickles? I've never tried these but I feel like I must! IT sounds like you had a great weekend. Your dat with your cousin sounds like heaven. I love spending those weekends with people I love too.

Mmmmm, fried pickles! YUM! I spent the weekend l...

2010-02-22T21:00:05.687-05:00

Mmmmm, fried pickles! YUM!

I spent the weekend lumping on the couch. It was divine.