Kindness

[Alison]

With all this talk (again) about blowing up planes, stuff in the local paper about young men (and girls) fighting for no particular reason but seriously hurting each other nevertheless I'm beginning to wonder whether anyone is ever kind to each other anymore? Anyone got any examples of random kindnesses to cheer me up - either kindnesses that you have had done unto you, or that you heard about?

I'd like to think kindly on the world again!

You do live in a basically kindly world, you just need to stop reading those stories. Often they're not even half the story and are written in a sensationalist way to get people worked up. I see small (and sometimes larger) acts of kindness on a daily basis whether it just be a smile to somebody who is down, a thank you when needed or something which takes far more effort. All these things count but are often not noticed by society because we're too busy being told that All teenagers are bad (especially the ones that are parents too!!!), EVERYBODY on benefits are scroungers, ALL people in Yorkshire are tight etc etc. Some people will fit these catorgories but very few do all the time and most none of the time. I find that acts of kindness often attract other acts so try and set myself targets to be a better person - even if nobody else notices at least I feel better about myself which helps me

[piskieinboots]

.... I find that acts of kindness often attract other acts

Good example of what goes around comes around

[Flummery]

Living in a village you see acts of kindness all around you every day. People really do look out for one another.

[katiegr]

Thanks everyone; you've cheered me up already!

[buzzingtalk]

I'm always letting people out in front of me when I'm driving; something small but I know when someone does it to me, it does make me smile. Its all about the small things, that almost get overlooked - but happen most days - which funnily enough most poeple forget about until they really think. These are the difference between a good and a bad day IMO

[Patchninja]

I'm going through a tiresome bout of breast cancer at the mo and have had some lovely random acts of kindness - everything from boxes of choccies to lovely messages, visits.....phone calls from relative strangers who could offer some first-hand advice..... people really are very kind.

[RoadCar]

I stopped been kind to people as most people are so rude, it really most made me a more miserable person.

[Polly Fouracre]

I stopped been kind to people as most people are so rude, it really most made me a more miserable person.

Reading this made me feel a bit sad. I try to be kind to people in my everyday life and even if I get a snarl in return sometimes I know that I have done my best.
Having said that I do occasionally enjoy a verbal fight with someone(usually in Tesco car park) It's the Irish in me!!

[weekendwellies]

The people who live in my road (only 8 houses in the street) are extremely kind. The lady next door has given me houseplants and cake for 'keeping an eye on her house' when she goes away. I have repaid by giving rhubarb, pears, etc when I have them. She has also offered to show me how she makes her lovely marbled bundt cake that she gives us, when I said how nice it was. The people opposite took my girls in after school years ago, when I was held up at work and they didn't have a key at the time. Those who are out when the bin men come, have their bins pushed up their paths for them, so the houses are not obviously unoccupied to passers by. I know if I ever had a plumbing or electrical emergency, that Alex over the road would help out.

I dont know anyone from the rest of the estate, but my immediate neighbours are fantastic.. bar one who keep to themselves and have barely said 2 words to us.

[Alison]

I stopped been kind to people as most people are so rude, it really most made me a more miserable person.

Considering most people to be rude is quite rude in itself and even if other people don't notice / appreciate an act of kindness doesn't mean that you shouldn't do it - don't sink to the lowest level or you'll only be mixing with the sediment.

[Plot10]

Many years ago, I was working in a dead end job, feeling like my life was going nowhere. My friends had all moved on and I couldn't see any way out.

Purely by chance, I bumped into a girl I'd been at school with. We hadn't been close and she'd had hard time from a lot of people after she got pregnant at 15 and left school (I come from a very small town - nuff said).

She had no reason to be nice to me or do anything other than say hi and move on but she invited me to her flat for tea and a chat. No biggie but that small act of kindness changed (and possibly saved) my life. Just the realisation that someone thought enough of me to want to spend time in my company gave me the confidence to quit my job, re-sit my exams and appy to University.

We still bump into each other now and then, she has no idea what she did for me that day and if I can ever find a way to repay her, I will.

Sorry if that's a bit personal but that small act of kindness for her was one of the biggest things to happen in my life.

[Polly Fouracre]

I'm always letting people out in front of me when I'm driving; something small but I know when someone does it to me, it does make me smile. Its all about the small things, that almost get overlooked - but happen most days - which funnily enough most poeple forget about until they really think. These are the difference between a good and a bad day IMO

I do the same (often to the annoyance of the driver behind me) and I hope that that small act will cause a ripple of kindness, that that person will let two people out and that they will let people out with a smile etc. etc.

[lizzylemon]

That's really very special. Thanks for sharing. Perhaps one day you could tell her what it meant to you - thanks enough perhaps for her.

[chris]

I've said it before on here, but I've had loads of seeds and beans from people here - for nothing in return. I like that. Not to mention all the advice.

I've also had a load of chilli jelly, onions, garlic and seeds from someone who I was only after a couple of tomato seeds off - really shocked, didn't know how to react to it really!

[wellie]

Kindness.
Kindness is what you make of it, and for me, is a feeling, and to me, is something that warms you inside, and when you wake in the morning, it makes you come alive when your bare feet hit the floor out of bed, knowing that you can make a difference to someone's life just by looking into their eyes and talking with them however briefly, for a conversation.
People have forgotten how to talk to each other and enjoy each others' company.