I challenge you!!
By dloveli
@dloveli (4366)
United States
December 12, 2009 7:50am CST
As the christmas holiday is coming upon us some of us become inspired to pass on the christmas cheer. I think this is a wonderful Idea but I also think it shouldnt take christmas for us to do something nice. I am not just talking about money, gifts, or good deeds either. Some of us cant afford that type of thing. I am talking about random acts of kindness. Opening the door for someone, say thank you to a clerk when they help you, take out a neighbors trash, etc. Things that dont cost anything but really make an impression on people. I always try to treat others as I want to be treated but sometimes we become complacent and forget to say thank you or goodmorning, leave a friend in a lurch because we are too busy. Guilty! About two years ago I was at the mall and I watched the salespeople do the very minimnum they could to help this elderly woman who was trying to buy a television. They didnt even offer to help carry it. It was me who offered then they realized if they didnt help it would look terrible. I ve seen cab drivers sit in the car as elderly man lugged his bags to his door. He then expected a tip. That was when i realized that I was going to become a better person. I began doing random acts of kindness. Its kind of like the movie Pay It Forward. In the movie you help three people and then they each help three people and so on. In my case I do simple random acts of kindness. I say thank you to the operator and sales help. I help people carry their bags when they need it. I talk to a stranger who looks like they could need a friend. If you help someone or are kind to someone it changes their mood or outlook if for just a moment. Hopefully they will do a random act to someone else. If not I know that I was kind. My children do the same thing. My daughter has told me that she now says good morning to everyone she sees. She says please and thank you. She has actually made friends helping people. I am so proud of her. My oldest is the same way. Now they love to compete and see who can help the most. Its wonderful the way it works. Honestly you feel great doing it and the person you impact will feel great too. I promise. I AM CHALLENGING ALL MYLOTTERS TO REACH OUT AND DEMONSTRATE A SINGLE,RANDOM ACT OF KINDNESS EACH DAY... Dont make it more complicated than it is. Just help someone with a kind word or gesture. Encourage your children to do the same. Make it a family project. Eventually it will become second nature. For those of you that take the challenge, you have helped pass good will on to all the citizens all over the world. Happy Holidays MyLotters. Let me know if you accept the challenge and how? dl
2 people like this
7 responses
@dloveli (4366)
• United States
12 Dec 09
I guarantee that everytime you did any of those things you effected someone. When someone tells you hello or thank you it lets them know that you acknowledge them. I have chatted with you for some time now. There has not been one time that I didnt walk away feeling as if you really cared about what I was talking about. Or the fact that you were glad that I responded to your discussions. For this, My FRIEND, I thank you. I wish you peace and good will Lakota. dl
1 person likes this
thanks for the compliment hugssssssss
@savypat (20216)
• United States
12 Dec 09
We have often discussed kindness on mylot and you can bet I am all for it. It costs only your attention and a very small bit of time. Who among us cannot give this. If you do this no matter how badly your own life is going you will find a small miracle and feel much better about yourself. Just smile at someone and see.
3 people like this
@dloveli (4366)
• United States
12 Dec 09
I couldn't have said it better Savy!People always use the excuse that they are broke themselves or busy. Well as you said, it doesnt cost anything to smile or to say hello to someone. I hate when I see someone watching another person struggling to do something when all it would take is 1 minute of their time. Thank heavens we have people like you to remind us. Thank you for being so kind. I hope you and yours have the best holiday possible. dl
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
12 Dec 09
hi dloveli I have been doing that lately and helping this one lady here to get into a chair that does not hurt her back, also made me a new friend. we now talk a lot to each other. I have helped various people just by holding the elevator for them or pulling out a chair for them, just little things, and smile at people and say good morning, that always get a smile or two.
and I always thank the care givers as that is sort of a thankless job to my way of thinking.they are always pleasantly surprised they say you're welcome back. to me.
2 people like this
@dloveli (4366)
• United States
12 Dec 09
That is just what I am talking about Hatley. Doesnt it make you feel good? Believe me when I tell you that the person you have helped with the chair is telling everyone how you've helped her. Maybe it will give others the idea to help someone. Saying thank you to someone means alot. Thank you my friend for being so kind. Glad to know that I have you as a friend. dl
1 person likes this
@crazydaisy (3896)
• Canada
13 Dec 09
I always told my daughter alway say Please or Thank You and always help other people if they need help exp.older people with bags or give a seat to them on the tranist.I told her what goes around comes around. do good it come back to you in different ways which you don't expected it to.
cd
2 people like this
@dloveli (4366)
• United States
13 Dec 09
Your children are very luck to have a mother like you. It means so much to have someone point out the way to go in life. As mothers we have to plant the seed of kindness. Its clear to see that you have a green thumb. You planted seeds that will grow into something great. My daughter is 14, soon to be 15 she tells me, and sometimes I will just listen to her when she is talking to a friend. She is such a good friend! She is truly a friend. She listens and gives advice when needed. All the neighborhood businesses are always telling me what a polite kid she is. I am so proud! That's all it takes. Children learn from example. So its as simple as setting an example. At least for us it is. I am convinced that by all of us opening a door, saying thank you, helping with packages, and so forth will let others see how happy it makes someone. They dont want to be the last man standing so they will jump on the kindness bandwagon. (I hope)... The one thing I have told everyone is dont get comfortable with the same act all the time. I mean keep doing what you're doing, saying thank you and stuff. Do something new everyday. Happy MyLotting. Thanks for your response. It makes me feel good knowing that my discussion interested you. dl
1 person likes this
@Opal26 (17679)
• United States
13 Dec 09
Hey dl! I accept the challenge and can tell you that we are alot
alike! I already do many acts of kindness just because! I was
walking to the store one day during the summer and I saw an
elderly couple in my neighborhood taking luggage out of their
car. Now I am not so young, but in better shape then they were
so I offered to help and I did and carried their luggage into
their apartment! I felt so good! I do things like that whenever
I can without giving it a second thought! And I am disabled myself!
There are days when I can barely walk because of the pain in my
knees and ankle, but if I see someone worse off then me I'm there!
My neighbor passed away three weeks ago and his family needed
me to let the moving guys in because they were running late
last Sunday afternoon and I had the key to his apartment! I was
in the middle of cooking dinner! I stopped what I was doing and
was there! I ended up spending hours in his apartment helping
his family pack up his stuff, which broke my heart, but I loved
this man and it made me feel good to be with his family! Now
me and his ex-wife have been staying in touch and I have his
family as friends so I will always have my friend close! And
I saw the movie "Pay It Forward"! Everyone should see it! It
is true that is so much better to GIVE then to RECEIVE! God
Bless You and Your Family! Happy Holidays to you!
2 people like this
@dloveli (4366)
• United States
13 Dec 09
You are absolutely right when you say we are alot alike! I find your discussions very interesting. I try to be a good person but its hard sometimes due to ignorance. I dont ever want to be the reason that someone had a bad day. I was near tears reading your response. You're a very selfless person. THere arent too many of those types around anymore. You're one of a dying breed. I must tell you this though dont hurt yourself trying to impact others. At the end of the day you probably wont get the same treatment in return. I understand you were close with the neighbor and please forgive me for implying this. Dont let them take advantage. Sometimes before we know it we feel as if doing any and everything for them will be the right thing to do. IT ISNT. You are a wonderful person with a heart of gold. Dont forget that you must help and guide someone else, YOURSELF! being kind to yourself is the nicest thing you could do for anyone. Happy Holidays Opal. I must say that I am honored to know that I am like you. Its an HONOR. dl
1 person likes this
@anniefannie (1737)
• United States
13 Dec 09
that is good thing to do, i try my best to do that all times and i have taught my children to be kind to others and i never heard anyone to say that they were not. merry Christmas to you and may god bless you
2 people like this
@dloveli (4366)
• United States
14 Dec 09
Thanks for the Christmas wishes Annie! I hope that you and yours have a safe and happy holiday as well. Teaching your children right from the start how to have goodwill towards all is a smart idea. Most people start off eager and then as our children grow it falls to the wayside. It is good to know some children have decided to carry on the morals and values we set aside. My children have also chose to be courteous, and kind towards others. As it is the season of giving I have also taught them that even though they are nice to people that the challenge is to do alittle something extra that they normally wouldnt do. Hopefully all will see the challenge as you have and do an extra good deed for a person they dont even know. God willing.Peace and love to you and your family dl
@suzzy3 (8341)
•
16 Dec 09
I love doing things like that.One week whilst in the supermarket an older lady dropped five pound note on the floor and was just about to walk away and I called her back and gave her the money,The look on her face said it all.I always open doors help anybody that seems to need it.sometimes it is not always appreciated but then others around me say never mind dear.I have had random acts kindness my self,someone helps you or smiles it makes so much difference to your feeling of self worth.I always say to my kids don't let the miserable so and so's put you off helping people ,you get them sometimes,When my son was about 10 years old ,he would step aside at the bus queue to let someone elderly get on first."After you " he would say.The older people in the village loved him ,I was so proud of him.We were brought up to respect our elders and it has stuck and been passed on to my kids they would do anything for anyone within reason.This is a good discussion get some feel good factor going.
