Have you ever done something nice for someone you didn't know well, a small act or gesture of kindness just because you could?
If you've done it I'm going to take a punt and say it felt good; that's how I feel about those little things I do for others and even though it comes from an ethos of giving without the expectation of anything in return, in truth, there's a lot one receives in return when one gives in that way.
Over the weekend I was at a cafe where the poor unfortunate couple next to me had a terrible experience with their meals, you can read about it here, and because I didn't want to witness the train wreck that was their experience I left to go to another cafe and work on my computer a little. I say 'work' but in reality I was looking up a new long range rifle I'm interested in acquiring.
As always I had coffee.
I decided that Earl Grey tea was what I needed and, as always, my tea for one came with cookies for two.
I go to that cafe a lot and always get treated with great respect and courtesy, am known by name and I know the workers' names in return. We chat, catch up on the latest happenings and it's all rather nice, the coffee is good and I feel welcomed. I never sometimes get a free coffee but never ask for it (I prefer to pay my own way) but always get two cookies. (They put a little cookie on the side of every cup of tea, hot chocolate or coffee they serve but two? Nope, apparently that's for the special people only...or so I was told.)
The way I'm treated and am made to feel is why I come back; the coffee is good too, and even though it's one of the more costly places to get coffee around here I keep paying it because the experience they give me.
The two cookies? Well, they're neither here nor there and I don't actually eat them to be honest, too much sugar - I take them home and give them to my girl. What matters is the thought behind it, the small gesture of kindness that the baristas don't actually have to make, but do. I once asked the girl behind the counter why she gives me two cookies instead of one and she said that she likes me, I'm friendly and always happy (even when I'm not) and that a little chat with me makes her day much better...Nice right? I asked if her gesture makes her feel good as well and she said yes...and there it is...the return on investment.
Small acts of kindness are done every day by millions of people and the best ones are those that are not advertised, promoted or boasted about by those doing them. I think it's nice to call them out when they happen to us though - A little shot of positivity in a world that needs it desperately. So, do you have any small acts of kindness others have done for you that you'd like to share?
Design and create your ideal life, tomorrow isn't promised - galenkp
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Image(s) in this post are my own
Every now and then I guess life give us the chance to have that kind of gesture, and I also guess those chances we gotta take'em, just for the benefict of feeling really well when doing that, I have gladly taken every shot I could to get a smile or a thankfulness gesture or expression from someone in need of anything, sometimes affective rather than material. Cause that's it, I feel lighter out of an unespected moment in which I could do good, no better prize in spite of others thoughts though. Greetings.
It seems you understand the benefits of a little kindness it generosity and it's a nice way to make someone feel good and ourselves also. Well done.
Hi Galen. During 2020 I worked, despite the lockdown, not from home from my office, and if possible, I saw my clients in person and not online. I share space with other colleagues, but during those months only I went to the office. Since then, every time I go to work at the office, a neighbor brings me coffee from her house and a sandwich, thanking me, I guess, for continuing to work during the months of confinement. Today, I'm sure I'll see her again in a while. And, I can say that it's a gesture I like, and it makes me feel good.
Greetings
You clearly made an impact on that person and that's prompted her to continue her small act of kindness and I think that's pretty cool all round! Well done both of you.
Thanks,have a great end of day.
This reminded me of a Japanese restaurant I used to go to back in college. They were pretty new and were a bit of a walk away from the campus. They were next to the computer shop that we frequently went to though. Even though their food cost a bit higher [it's Japanese, and not chinese] for a student's allowance, I still ate there a lot; almost 3 times a week. Eventually our group became a regular and the owner would give us free fruits as dessert. This act of kindness really made our group eat there more frequently. I think it worked out for both of us. We were regulars, and helped their business, and we got free dessert.
It's good business sense to make customers feel comfortable and welcome and there's many simple ways to do it, manners and courtesy for two...which since covid-19 seems to have declined.
Yesterday I was standing in the line at the take-away and this sort of situation actually happened.
This site has over 3000 people and this random guy I have never seen before looks at me and asks if he can borrow a R5, he will pay me back on Thursday.
I don't even know him, but I could see he was adamant about finding me and bringing me the money on Thursday. I gave him the cash and told him not to worry about it. He said "God bless you brother" and seemed genuinely surprised and grateful.
Yes. That was a good feeling. Just giving a hand. I know what it is like being on site and being short for a meal.
It's these little things that can make a big difference to the receiver and the giver albeit in different ways. Nice work!
💪💪💪💪 Thanks!
I just did something nice... Fed my Cat
Seriously I read this while doing something I do not do often these days.
I was sitting at the "De-Railed" diner. A train themed restraunt at the Oasis Truck stop here in Alabama on i-10 near the Florida Panhandle.
While having a "smashburger" I read your post and decided to pay it forward with a nice gratuity and some kind words.
And then I came back out to the truck and fed my co-pilots. =^,,^=
That looks like a cool diner and a smashburger sounds like my style!
It's pretty rare you get that kind of thing these days. I have a social media feed that is filled with people doing good things but expecting kudos for it. Probably part of the reason I just don't post that much on my social media. My wife and I have a mutual friend who always seems to be fishing for compliments. Maybe she didn't get enough love when she was younger.
So many people are so uninspired about who they are that they feel the need to promote who they're not.
I always like to be kind and like to mention without expecting anything in return, just because it gives me satisfaction, including helping others in any way I can. Recently a colleague here had to have a quick operation, no one knows but me, she trusts me, and she is far away but I left what I had to do during the day to accompany her because she was suffering from anxiety, every day until she had the operation and everything went well. She is immensely grateful for that time.
Many times I receive little things from people that I don't expect and that makes me feel good, it's a back and forth. Giving without them knowing that I am me.... fills me with joy!
Well done for helping that person, magnificent indeed.
I'm glad I helped her, she was able to sleep and relax and now she's great!
I try and make it a habit.
People are so stuck in their own mindspace that they can often be worrying about their own issues too much to interact properly with those around us. When I consider it, the only purpose we have here is to interact with the universe around us. It is our choice whether we make it positive or not.
Small acts of kindness do so much for our sense of worth and impact that universe in a positive manner (mostly:) so I try and do that automatically at every opportunity.
That's a good point, people are so caught up in their own lives these days they fail to see that looking beyond actually has great benefit and small acts of kindness or generosity pay big dividends.
Small acts of kindness are always awesome. I don't have big news to share, but it's probably helping the elderly or tourists with directions when they approach me randomly. Fortunately, most of the time, I am not in a rush so it's ok.
Helping people in small ways helps oneself at the same time, just in different ways.
As a child, my mom worked as a waitress and she used to tell me, “Look at how a person treats a waiter, and you’ll see what kind of person they are.” From what little we know about you, I know you’re an incredible person, but with this post, you demonstrate it once again. I admire you for that, Mate.
My example would be more medical(what a surprise uh? 😅)
When I’m on duty, I always stop by the departments to greet and chat a little. I do the same with the service staff, and in the cafeteria, something similar happens to me as it does to you.
The ladies in charge of serving always give me a little extra and tell me to come back for more if I'm hungry, all because I ask them how their day is going and how life is treating them. My mom taught me to be this way; it comes naturally to me, but for those people, it’s a great gesture, and they appreciate it.
That’s why it’s always important to be kind; it costs very little but makes a big difference.
It's all rather simple as you point out, not difficult and, in fact, quite enjoyable to treat people correctly and the results are good.
I think "giving without the expectation of anything in return" doesn't exist. We all know the good feeling we get from giving, and that for sure motivates us to do more kind things for others.
Well, I disagree with you as I, and many people I know, are generous without actually expecting anything back in return for that generosity. That doesn't mean something doesn't come back though, just that they don't expect it to.
Yeah I meant more in the way as people don't give anything without expecting the good feeling for themselves at minimum.
Ah ok, yeah I get it now.
It inspiring. Although an act of kindness is like sowing a seed which the reward will come even when least expected.
Good things happen to those who give without the expectation of anything in return.
That's so nice of the barista lady.
Those little acts of kindness are really the day makers
Sure is!
Wow nice write.
It's good to show a little act of kindness ✌️
It doesn't bite.
Yiu have a good heart 💕
Meanwhile I'd love to know the mark down technique you used for the sentence that is being crossed and the underlining demarcation.
Thanks
Thanks for your comment.
Here's the markdown:
Oh wow
Thanks
Will try it out
Ok.No worries.You're welcome.
Good afternoon friends and best wishes for today and I wish you the best always.
Best wishes to you too.
P.S. Did you ever get that "work" done you spoke of briefly..?
I always get work done, it's just what I do. #teamneverquit
Sometimes putting smile on people's face is no difficult task. I have had times when I do nice things that almost cost me nothing to people, the feeling it brings in indeed heavenly.
Exactly what I said. ✅
You are absolutely right on that my friend
Hello galenkp!
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