Random Acts of Kindness (RAK)

[cave76]

Random Acts of Kindness

Have you ever performed one?
Have you ever been on the receiving end of one?

If you answer, please just say yes or no. The reason for that is explained below.

I will say that I have received several RAKs and have given several. I don't keep track, but I know that both receiving and giving have a wonderful feel to them.

Hint: Opening a door for a senior citizen doesn't count. Of course, we all do that!

I personally believe that the best RAK is one that is given quietly and without fanfare and without bragging about the act on social media.

One example I just read about this last week was when, as the headlines read:
Amy Adams gives first-class airline seat to soldier, sits in coach, passenger says

Amy Adams gives first-class airline seat to soldier, sits in coach, passenger says | Fox News

Note that Ms Adams didn't post on any forums about what she did. Because of her celebrity status people did notice her, of course, and a passenger tweeted that information to the world. Ms Adams or her publicist didn't.

As an unknown poster said on CityData:
The best part about giving a RAK is to keep quiet about it. That poster also said she thought it was tacky to go about saying 'look what I did. Aren't I great?"


But what is the difference between an RAK and just plain ol' helping someone? What do you think? Is the secrecy? Maybe.

 

[creative]

I am a great proponent of RAK! Giving is its own reward and it helps to make a small difference in someone's life.

For anyone not to familiar with this, here is the official site (click on kindness ideas if you need inspiration)

Welcome | Random Acts of Kindness

You ask if there's a difference between random acts of kindness and just helping someone....well, maybe not a lot. I guess many would be more prepared to help someone they know though. Sometimes it can be a question of spontaneity, seizing an opportunity that presents itself, e.g. letting someone go before you in the check out queue if they have just a few items and you have a full basket of goods.

I once had a double whammy of RAK at a time of need. My bike chain got all tangled up suddenly, on a high street. I upturned the bike on the pavement and started to grapple with yanking the chain free...not easy. This cheerful man came up and proceeded to take over the job. He did it but was covered in greasy hands (which embarassed me). He didn't seem to mind though and, after I offered my deep thanks, went away as cheerfully as he had appeared.

I had black grease on my hands also so had to find a way of washing them. Nearby was a cafe that had a toilet. I propped my bike outside the shop and was hesitant about leaving it there unchained (didn't want to touch the fabric covered chain with my dirty hands). 3 people (who were chatting together nearby) had apparently seen this and came over. To my amazement, they offered to stand guard over my bike whilst I washed my hands! I could hardly believe it - seemed so unusual and heaven sent. I came out with cleaned hands and thanked them.

 

[cave76]

I am a great proponent of RAK! Giving is its own reward and it helps to make a small difference in someone's life.

For anyone not to familiar with this, here is the official site (click on kindness ideas if you need inspiration)

Welcome | Random Acts of Kindness

You ask if there's a difference between random acts of kindness and just helping someone....well, maybe not a lot. I guess many would be more prepared to help someone they know though. Sometimes it can be a question of spontaneity, seizing an opportunity that presents itself, e.g. letting someone go before you in the check out queue if they have just a few items and you have a full basket of goods.

Thanks for giving that reference to RAK. I assumed (falsely) that everyone knew what it meant.

I have to admit that although before I got so ill (where just standing is a chore) I would almost always let the person with just a few items go ahead. Now, I'm ashamed to say, that I don't do it very often, if at all.

One thing I do now is leave my emptied grocery cart in in front of the handicapped spot where I park. It's not laziness. It means that sometimes (always?) I rarely have the energy to return it to the cart corral----- but it's also an 'act of kindness' for the next handicapped person. The cart is right there and that's a plus if walking a few feet is a chore---- and it often is.

 

[Kayelle]

I agree that the most profound RAK is one that's done anonymously as in your example of Amy Adams and the soldier. I've done several but decline to talk about them because in my mind they will no longer count if I do.

I can think of RAK for me however, that stands out in my mind even though it happened 46 years ago.

I was a young woman and expecting my first child any day when I had a flat tire on a country road. Since I was alone and there wasn't such a thing as cell phones, I opened the trunk to attempt and change the tire myself. This scruffy old farm worker came out of the bean fields and offered to change it for me.When he was done I thanked him and offered him the only two dollar bills I had in my wallet apologizing I didn't have more. He smiled and refused my money, but I insisted. Then he told me who he was...I recognized his multimillionaire name as the largest land owner in the whole area. I thanked him again for his kindness and left him with a smile. I've never forgotten him and my first son was born 3 days later.

 

[CrazyCatLady]

I've never done anything huge, but I let people out in traffic in front of me and let an elderly or handicapped person go ahead of me in a checkout.

I've loaded groceries into cars for people, and little things like that.

Once I had a horrific shoulder injury which put me out of work for six months. I was unable to use my arm at all, but we needed groceries and cat litter, etc. I was trying to drag the tub of litter into the bottom of the cart when a sweet woman showed up and did it for me. She waited for me at the checkout, and loaded the car for me. I was in pain, it was my first time out driving with one arm, I was so frustrated I wanted to cry, but that sweet woman just turned everything right for me.

I have no idea where or who she is, but I'll never, ever forget her kindness to me. She hugged me very, very gently when I thanked her profusely for helping me.

People are wonderful. So is life!

 

[GotGarlic]

...When he was done I thanked him and offered him the only two dollar bills I had in my wallet apologizing I didn't have more. He smiled and refused my money, but I insisted. Then he told me who he was...I recognized his multimillionaire name as the largest land owner in the whole area.

This reminds me of a thought I had about the Cracker Barrel discussion. Just because someone "looks needy" doesn't mean they are.

 

[chiklitmanfan]

I've worked in the airline industry my entire life and my radar is always "on" while transiting through any airport. A couple of years ago, with extra time before boarding, I escorted a blind passenger to his boarding gate. Then, coming back down the escalator, I spied 2 passengers gesturing with a security guard. I showed them my SIDA badge, looked at their boarding passes and escorted them 2 concourses over. They were husband and wife and as I let them off near their gate the wife mouthed a silent "Thank you." I've never considered this a burden or a chore but something that gives me great pleasure. I have a disability myself and always appreciate it when someone approaches me and asks "Can I help you?"