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[title] => Paying for the Person Behind You
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I finally got the chance to do it! I've always heard about people paying the toll for the person behind them on a highway, but these days, with EZ Pass and other electronic payments systems, it's hard to do this. Well today I was in Atlanta and as I headed north of the city on Route 400, I came to a toll that was $.50. Since I don't have EZ Pass in my rental car, I pulled into the lane marked "cashier" and prepared to pay my toll. Then I remembered that I could actually pay for someone else too. I gave the cashier a dollar and told her that I was paying for the person behind me as well.
As I pulled away, I watched in the rearview mirror to be sure the next person wasn't required to pay the toll. I was also curious to see if the driver would acknowledge the gesture in any way - perhaps a flash of the lights or a wave or anything. They didn't, which was OK, since I certainly didn't do it for that reason.
As with all anonymous acts of kindness, I'll never know what their reaction was when the toll collector told them their toll had already been paid. Were they surprised? Happy? Did it cause them to want to do something nice for someone else? I hope so, but I'll have to be satisfied that at least I did my little part to spread some kindness today.
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I finally got the chance to do it! I've always heard about people paying the toll for the person behind them on a highway, but these days, with EZ Pass and other electronic payments systems, it's hard to do this. Well today I was in Atlanta and as I headed north of the city on Route 400, I came to a toll that was $.50. Since I don't have EZ Pass in my rental car, I pulled into the lane marked "cashier" and prepared to pay my toll. Then I remembered that I could actually pay for someone else too. I gave the cashier a dollar and told her that I was paying for the person behind me as well.
As I pulled away, I watched in the rearview mirror to be sure the next person wasn't required to pay the toll. I was also curious to see if the driver would acknowledge the gesture in any way - perhaps a flash of the lights or a wave or anything. They didn't, which was OK, since I certainly didn't do it for that reason.
As with all anonymous acts of kindness, I'll never know what their reaction was when the toll collector told them their toll had already been paid. Were they surprised? Happy? Did it cause them to want to do something nice for someone else? I hope so, but I'll have to be satisfied that at least I did my little part to spread some kindness today.
[comments] => Comment (0)
[avatar] =>
)
Posted by: David Friedman
on May 16, 2012
I finally got the chance to do it! I've always heard about people paying the toll for the person behind them on a highway, but these days, with EZ Pass and other electronic payments systems, it's hard to do this. Well today I was in Atlanta and as I headed north of the city on Route 400, I came to a toll that was $.50. Since I don't have EZ Pass in my rental car, I pulled into the lane marked "cashier" and prepared to pay my toll. Then I remembered that I could actually pay for someone else too. I gave the cashier a dollar and told her that I was paying for the person behind me as well.
As I pulled away, I watched in the rearview mirror to be sure the next person wasn't required to pay the toll. I was also curious to see if the driver would acknowledge the gesture in any way - perhaps a flash of the lights or a wave or anything. They didn't, which was OK, since I certainly didn't do it for that reason.
As with all anonymous acts of kindness, I'll never know what their reaction was when the toll collector told them their toll had already been paid. Were they surprised? Happy? Did it cause them to want to do something nice for someone else? I hope so, but I'll have to be satisfied that at least I did my little part to spread some kindness today.
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[title] => Thinking of You
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This being the season of graduations, I was thinking of someone I know today whose only child is graduating high school this week and will be heading off to college in the fall. I remember well how I felt when each of our children was graduating. It's such a happy and sad event. Happy of course, for all that they've accomplished and for the excitement that lies ahead of them. Yet sad for the realization that a phase of our family's life is over. Knowing how these emotions can be magnified when it's an only child, I reached out to this person, with a personal note, to let her know I was thinking of her.
I sent another note today to someone I know who recently lost a sibling. While not wanting to compare a graduation with a death, in some way, I think it helps people to know that others are with them in spirit, sharing their experience with them. I suppose it's part of what it means to be a community and why humans have always been drawn to community. This year, when I'm thinking of someone and what they may be going through (good or bad), I've tried to actually let them know.
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This being the season of graduations, I was thinking of someone I know today whose only child is graduating high school this week and will be heading off to college in the fall. I remember well how I felt when each of our children was graduating. It's such a happy and sad event. Happy of course, for all that they've accomplished and for the excitement that lies ahead of them. Yet sad for the realization that a phase of our family's life is over. Knowing how these emotions can be magnified when it's an only child, I reached out to this person, with a personal note, to let her know I was thinking of her.
I sent another note today to someone I know who recently lost a sibling. While not wanting to compare a graduation with a death, in some way, I think it helps people to know that others are with them in spirit, sharing their experience with them. I suppose it's part of what it means to be a community and why humans have always been drawn to community. This year, when I'm thinking of someone and what they may be going through (good or bad), I've tried to actually let them know.
[comments] => Comment (0)
[avatar] =>
)
Posted by: David Friedman
on May 15, 2012
This being the season of graduations, I was thinking of someone I know today whose only child is graduating high school this week and will be heading off to college in the fall. I remember well how I felt when each of our children was graduating. It's such a happy and sad event. Happy of course, for all that they've accomplished and for the excitement that lies ahead of them. Yet sad for the realization that a phase of our family's life is over. Knowing how these emotions can be magnified when it's an only child, I reached out to this person, with a personal note, to let her know I was thinking of her.
I sent another note today to someone I know who recently lost a sibling. While not wanting to compare a graduation with a death, in some way, I think it helps people to know that others are with them in spirit, sharing their experience with them. I suppose it's part of what it means to be a community and why humans have always been drawn to community. This year, when I'm thinking of someone and what they may be going through (good or bad), I've tried to actually let them know.
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[title] => Doubling the Kindness
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I promise this will be the last story related to bringing my daughter home from college. As we've done before, we rented a minivan for the trip so that we'd more easily be able to fit everything in one vehicle. We arrived home last this afternoon and after emptying out the van, I headed to the rental car place to handle the return.
The woman at the rental car counter was particularly pleasant so I decided I might use one of my gift cards for her. When I noticed that she had a cup of coffee behind her that was from Starbucks, I asked her if she liked going there. Following her affirmative answer, I presented her with a Starbucks gift card. She was quite surprised and commented that it was so nice of me. I told her that my only request was that she do something nice for someone else today, to which she readily agreed.
As I've noted before, I'm trying to be better about gently suggesting a pay-it-forward notion to recipients of my acts of kindness, wherever it feels reasonably appropriate. In this way, I can at least double the kindness that gets put out into the world from each act.
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I promise this will be the last story related to bringing my daughter home from college. As we've done before, we rented a minivan for the trip so that we'd more easily be able to fit everything in one vehicle. We arrived home last this afternoon and after emptying out the van, I headed to the rental car place to handle the return.
The woman at the rental car counter was particularly pleasant so I decided I might use one of my gift cards for her. When I noticed that she had a cup of coffee behind her that was from Starbucks, I asked her if she liked going there. Following her affirmative answer, I presented her with a Starbucks gift card. She was quite surprised and commented that it was so nice of me. I told her that my only request was that she do something nice for someone else today, to which she readily agreed.
As I've noted before, I'm trying to be better about gently suggesting a pay-it-forward notion to recipients of my acts of kindness, wherever it feels reasonably appropriate. In this way, I can at least double the kindness that gets put out into the world from each act.
[comments] => Comment (0)
[avatar] =>
)
Posted by: David Friedman
on May 14, 2012
I promise this will be the last story related to bringing my daughter home from college. As we've done before, we rented a minivan for the trip so that we'd more easily be able to fit everything in one vehicle. We arrived home last this afternoon and after emptying out the van, I headed to the rental car place to handle the return.
The woman at the rental car counter was particularly pleasant so I decided I might use one of my gift cards for her. When I noticed that she had a cup of coffee behind her that was from Starbucks, I asked her if she liked going there. Following her affirmative answer, I presented her with a Starbucks gift card. She was quite surprised and commented that it was so nice of me. I told her that my only request was that she do something nice for someone else today, to which she readily agreed.
As I've noted before, I'm trying to be better about gently suggesting a pay-it-forward notion to recipients of my acts of kindness, wherever it feels reasonably appropriate. In this way, I can at least double the kindness that gets put out into the world from each act.
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Not only was today Mother's Day, but it was also graduation day at William & Mary. The main graduation ceremony took place in the late morning, and then each department held a separate commencement event/reception at different locations around campus at 2:30. Since I was in Williamsburg and it was a beautiful spring day, I figured I'd wander around campus some and soak up the celebratory environment.
Everywhere I went I saw families proudly gathered around their graduates, taking pictures to memorialize the event. In most cases, they took turns posing in all manner of combinations of graduates, siblings, parents, and grandparents. Usually someone had to be left out of each picture as they were the assigned photographer for that particular combination. This presented a nice opportunity for me to help out. Whenever I witnessed this taking place, I stepped in and asked if they'd like me to take a picture of everyone together. They were always so appreciative. I'd take a couple of pictures, sometimes with multiple cameras, congratulate the graduate, and then move on to another family. It was a joyous way to spend an afternoon.
Beyond the pleasure of helping out all these various strangers, walking around campus on graduation day brought so many different emotions to the surface. It was on exactly this day 29 years ago that I was one of those gradudates on this very campus. I'll always remember the bittersweet feelings I had that day as I excitedly looked forward to the future, and yet felt deep sadness over the recognition that some of these friends I might never see again.
As I saw each family beaming with pride as they looked upon their new graduate, I got a foreshadowing of what it will be like for me in just 2 years as my own children reach that day. I realized that it's not really about graduating college, as for many of us this is practically a given. Rather, it's about seeing your child become an adult. It's realizing that in some ways it seems like it was so long ago that they were little toddlers, and at the same time it seems like it was just yesterday. What I saw today was the immense pride that each family felt as they saw their little babies somehow magically turn into capable, successful young adults ready to take on the world. I'm certain it's something that parents have been feeling for thousands upon thousands of years regardless of their nationalities or their cultures. It's a truly universal experience. Pretty humbling and amazing.
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Not only was today Mother's Day, but it was also graduation day at William & Mary. The main graduation ceremony took place in the late morning, and then each department held a separate commencement event/reception at different locations around campus at 2:30. Since I was in Williamsburg and it was a beautiful spring day, I figured I'd wander around campus some and soak up the celebratory environment.
Everywhere I went I saw families proudly gathered around their graduates, taking pictures to memorialize the event. In most cases, they took turns posing in all manner of combinations of graduates, siblings, parents, and grandparents. Usually someone had to be left out of each picture as they were the assigned photographer for that particular combination. This presented a nice opportunity for me to help out.
Whenever I witnessed this taking place, I stepped in and asked if they'd like me to take a picture of everyone together. They were always so appreciative. I'd take a couple of pictures, sometimes with multiple cameras, congratulate the graduate, and then move on to another family. It was a joyous way to spend an afternoon.
Beyond the pleasure of helping out all these various strangers, walking around campus on graduation day brought so many different emotions to the surface. It was on exactly this day 29 years ago that I was one of those gradudates on this very campus. I'll always remember the bittersweet feelings I had that day as I excitedly looked forward to the future, and yet felt deep sadness over the recognition that some of these friends I might never see again.
As I saw each family beaming with pride as they looked upon their new graduate, I got a foreshadowing of what it will be like for me in just 2 years as my own children reach that day. I realized that it's not really about graduating college, as for many of us this is practically a given. Rather, it's about seeing your child become an adult. It's realizing that in some ways it seems like it was so long ago that they were little toddlers, and at the same time it seems like it was just yesterday. What I saw today was the immense pride that each family felt as they saw their little babies somehow magically turn into capable, successful young adults ready to take on the world. I'm certain it's something that parents have been feeling for thousands upon thousands of years regardless of their nationalities or their cultures. It's a truly universal experience. Pretty humbling and amazing.
[comments] => Comment (0)
[avatar] =>
)
Posted by: David Friedman
on May 13, 2012
Not only was today Mother's Day, but it was also graduation day at William & Mary. The main graduation ceremony took place in the late morning, and then each department held a separate commencement event/reception at different locations around campus at 2:30. Since I was in Williamsburg and it was a beautiful spring day, I figured I'd wander around campus some and soak up the celebratory environment.
Everywhere I went I saw families proudly gathered around their graduates, taking pictures to memorialize the event. In most cases, they took turns posing in all manner of combinations of graduates, siblings, parents, and grandparents. Usually someone had to be left out of each picture as they were the assigned photographer for that particular combination. This presented a nice opportunity for me to help out.
Whenever I witnessed this taking place, I stepped in and asked if they'd like me to take a picture of everyone together. They were always so appreciative. I'd take a couple of pictures, sometimes with multiple cameras, congratulate the graduate, and then move on to another family. It was a joyous way to spend an afternoon.
Beyond the pleasure of helping out all these various strangers, walking around campus on graduation day brought so many different emotions to the surface. It was on exactly this day 29 years ago that I was one of those gradudates on this very campus. I'll always remember the bittersweet feelings I had that day as I excitedly looked forward to the future, and yet felt deep sadness over the recognition that some of these friends I might never see again.
As I saw each family beaming with pride as they looked upon their new graduate, I got a foreshadowing of what it will be like for me in just 2 years as my own children reach that day. I realized that it's not really about graduating college, as for many of us this is practically a given. Rather, it's about seeing your child become an adult. It's realizing that in some ways it seems like it was so long ago that they were little toddlers, and at the same time it seems like it was just yesterday. What I saw today was the immense pride that each family felt as they saw their little babies somehow magically turn into capable, successful young adults ready to take on the world. I'm certain it's something that parents have been feeling for thousands upon thousands of years regardless of their nationalities or their cultures. It's a truly universal experience. Pretty humbling and amazing.
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I came down to Williamsburg, Virginia today to help get my daughter packed up for home at the conclusion of her 2nd year at William & Mary. Williamsburg is a pretty unique town, being such a major national tourist attraction. The town is nearly always filled with tourists, many of whom often look confused and in need of help. That's all the opening I needed.
I hadn't been in town long before I spotted a woman walking around the parking lot where I had left my car, looking like she was lost. When I asked her if I could help, she explained that she was looking for "the place near the College where all the shops were." Knowing the town as well as I do (I went to W&M as well, and am a frequent visitor), I was easily able to assist her in getting to Merchants' Square.
In an earlier blog post, I wrote about how I've become much more patient this year, particularly with senior citizens, as I now seem them as people I can assist, rather than as people who get in my way or slow me down. I noticed today that the same could be said of the tourists. They used to be annoying as they can clog up the town and never seem to know where they're going. Now though, my attention is more on how I can be of assistance instead of how they can be frustrating. As usual, it's all a question of what we choose to focus on.
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I came down to Williamsburg, Virginia today to help get my daughter packed up for home at the conclusion of her 2nd year at William & Mary. Williamsburg is a pretty unique town, being such a major national tourist attraction. The town is nearly always filled with tourists, many of whom often look confused and in need of help. That's all the opening I needed.
I hadn't been in town long before I spotted a woman walking around the parking lot where I had left my car, looking like she was lost. When I asked her if I could help, she explained that she was looking for "the place near the College where all the shops were." Knowing the town as well as I do (I went to W&M as well, and am a frequent visitor), I was easily able to assist her in getting to Merchants' Square.
In an earlier blog post, I wrote about how I've become much more patient this year, particularly with senior citizens, as I now seem them as people I can assist, rather than as people who get in my way or slow me down. I noticed today that the same could be said of the tourists. They used to be annoying as they can clog up the town and never seem to know where they're going. Now though, my attention is more on how I can be of assistance instead of how they can be frustrating. As usual, it's all a question of what we choose to focus on.
[comments] => Comment (0)
[avatar] =>
)
Posted by: David Friedman
on May 12, 2012
I came down to Williamsburg, Virginia today to help get my daughter packed up for home at the conclusion of her 2nd year at William & Mary. Williamsburg is a pretty unique town, being such a major national tourist attraction. The town is nearly always filled with tourists, many of whom often look confused and in need of help. That's all the opening I needed.
I hadn't been in town long before I spotted a woman walking around the parking lot where I had left my car, looking like she was lost. When I asked her if I could help, she explained that she was looking for "the place near the College where all the shops were." Knowing the town as well as I do (I went to W&M as well, and am a frequent visitor), I was easily able to assist her in getting to Merchants' Square.
In an earlier blog post, I wrote about how I've become much more patient this year, particularly with senior citizens, as I now seem them as people I can assist, rather than as people who get in my way or slow me down. I noticed today that the same could be said of the tourists. They used to be annoying as they can clog up the town and never seem to know where they're going. Now though, my attention is more on how I can be of assistance instead of how they can be frustrating. As usual, it's all a question of what we choose to focus on.
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Those familiar with the Ritz-Carlton may know that the blueprint for their legendary service is a series of 20 behaviors they teach and reinforce known as their "Basics." Basic #14 directs employees to "escort guests rather than pointing out directions to another area of the Hotel." Think of the difference in how we feel when we're escorted to our destination instead of just being given a series of right and left turns. I had a simple opportunity to practice this today.
After finishing a round of golf this afternoon, I went to the pro shop to enter my score in the computer that tracks our handicaps. While I was there, I noticed a man come in and ask one of the pros where the locker room was. He said that he was a guest waiting to meet one of our members who had not yet arrived. As the pro was about to give him directions, I jumped in and told him that I'd take him to the locker room. When we got there, I also arranged for the locker room attendant to find him a locker near his host, and made sure he had whatever he needed. As is often the case with simple gestures of kindness, it wasn't a "big deal", but it certainly gave the visitor a greater feeling of hospitality than letting him wander through the clubhouse, unsure of where to go or what to do.
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Those familiar with the Ritz-Carlton may know that the blueprint for their legendary service is a series of 20 behaviors they teach and reinforce known as their "Basics." Basic #14 directs employees to "escort guests rather than pointing out directions to another area of the Hotel." Think of the difference in how we feel when we're escorted to our destination instead of just being given a series of right and left turns. I had a simple opportunity to practice this today.
After finishing a round of golf this afternoon, I went to the pro shop to enter my score in the computer that tracks our handicaps. While I was there, I noticed a man come in and ask one of the pros where the locker room was. He said that he was a guest waiting to meet one of our members who had not yet arrived.
As the pro was about to give him directions, I jumped in and told him that I'd take him to the locker room. When we got there, I also arranged for the locker room attendant to find him a locker near his host, and made sure he had whatever he needed. As is often the case with simple gestures of kindness, it wasn't a "big deal", but it certainly gave the visitor a greater feeling of hospitality than letting him wander through the clubhouse, unsure of where to go or what to do.
[comments] => Comment (0)
[avatar] =>
)
Posted by: David Friedman
on May 11, 2012
Those familiar with the Ritz-Carlton may know that the blueprint for their legendary service is a series of 20 behaviors they teach and reinforce known as their "Basics." Basic #14 directs employees to "escort guests rather than pointing out directions to another area of the Hotel." Think of the difference in how we feel when we're escorted to our destination instead of just being given a series of right and left turns. I had a simple opportunity to practice this today.
After finishing a round of golf this afternoon, I went to the pro shop to enter my score in the computer that tracks our handicaps. While I was there, I noticed a man come in and ask one of the pros where the locker room was. He said that he was a guest waiting to meet one of our members who had not yet arrived.
As the pro was about to give him directions, I jumped in and told him that I'd take him to the locker room. When we got there, I also arranged for the locker room attendant to find him a locker near his host, and made sure he had whatever he needed. As is often the case with simple gestures of kindness, it wasn't a "big deal", but it certainly gave the visitor a greater feeling of hospitality than letting him wander through the clubhouse, unsure of where to go or what to do.
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[title] => Blowing in the Wind
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Wow. Today was a really windy day in South Jersey. In our town, it was also trash day. This combination means that empty trash cans, as light as they are, are likely to be blown from the end of people's driveway out into the middle of the street. And this can easily become a traffic hazard.
Sure enough, as I was coming home this afternoon I saw just such a garbage can rolling into the street. It would have been easy to drive around it and continue on my way; after all, it wasn't my can or even my street. However, I figured it would be such a simple thing to pull over and take care of it. In fact, that's exactly what I did. I parked on the side of the road, grabbed the garbage can from the road, and put it behind some shrubs that would protect it from the wind. This is one of those changes I've noticed as a result of my kindness project. In the past, I would have left the garbage can for someone else to deal with. Now, it's hard for me to pass up opportunities where I can help. No one will ever know that the can was out there and no one will ever know I took care of it. Except for me. How many others probably drove by, like I would have previously done, and simply figured it was someone else's problem?
It's certainly not curing cancer, but how nice would it be if everyone acted upon whatever opportunities for kindness, however small, showed up in their world?
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Wow. Today was a really windy day in South Jersey. In our town, it was also trash day. This combination means that empty trash cans, as light as they are, are likely to be blown from the end of people's driveway out into the middle of the street. And this can easily become a traffic hazard.
Sure enough, as I was coming home this afternoon I saw just such a garbage can rolling into the street. It would have been easy to drive around it and continue on my way; after all, it wasn't my can or even my street. However, I figured it would be such a simple thing to pull over and take care of it. In fact, that's exactly what I did. I parked on the side of the road, grabbed the garbage can from the road, and put it behind some shrubs that would protect it from the wind.
This is one of those changes I've noticed as a result of my kindness project. In the past, I would have left the garbage can for someone else to deal with. Now, it's hard for me to pass up opportunities where I can help. No one will ever know that the can was out there and no one will ever know I took care of it. Except for me. How many others probably drove by, like I would have previously done, and simply figured it was someone else's problem?
It's certainly not curing cancer, but how nice would it be if everyone acted upon whatever opportunities for kindness, however small, showed up in their world?
[comments] => Comment (0)
[avatar] =>
)
Posted by: David Friedman
on May 10, 2012
Wow. Today was a really windy day in South Jersey. In our town, it was also trash day. This combination means that empty trash cans, as light as they are, are likely to be blown from the end of people's driveway out into the middle of the street. And this can easily become a traffic hazard.
Sure enough, as I was coming home this afternoon I saw just such a garbage can rolling into the street. It would have been easy to drive around it and continue on my way; after all, it wasn't my can or even my street. However, I figured it would be such a simple thing to pull over and take care of it. In fact, that's exactly what I did. I parked on the side of the road, grabbed the garbage can from the road, and put it behind some shrubs that would protect it from the wind.
This is one of those changes I've noticed as a result of my kindness project. In the past, I would have left the garbage can for someone else to deal with. Now, it's hard for me to pass up opportunities where I can help. No one will ever know that the can was out there and no one will ever know I took care of it. Except for me. How many others probably drove by, like I would have previously done, and simply figured it was someone else's problem?
It's certainly not curing cancer, but how nice would it be if everyone acted upon whatever opportunities for kindness, however small, showed up in their world?
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I've mentioned before a pretty cool website called sparked.com that connects non-profits from all over the world with people who are willing to help out in a variety of ways. Put simply, the non-profit posts a "challenge" they need help with, and people "respond" to challenges that fit their identified passions and skills. I was notified of a challenge today that I was able to help with.
The non-profit is a pretty amazing organization, based in England, calledResolve International. It was started by a man who had been in Nepal and had seen, firsthand, the utter poverty that plagues so much of the country's people. He created the organization to make a meaningful difference in these people's lives. There are lots of ways people can help. The particular "challenge" I responded to mostly had to do with providing feedback on certain aspects of his website. Throughout this year so far I've come across so many truly inspiring projects being run by people literally all over the world. These projects serve as an incredible reminder of how much compassion and generosity really exists our there, despite what the steady stream of negative news would cause you to think. It's also a reminder to me to be proactive about filling my consciousness with the positive rather than the negative. And there is an awful lot of positive if you go looking . . .
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I've mentioned before a pretty cool website called sparked.com that connects non-profits from all over the world with people who are willing to help out in a variety of ways. Put simply, the non-profit posts a "challenge" they need help with, and people "respond" to challenges that fit their identified passions and skills. I was notified of a challenge today that I was able to help with.
The non-profit is a pretty amazing organization, based in England, calledResolve International. It was started by a man who had been in Nepal and had seen, firsthand, the utter poverty that plagues so much of the country's people. He created the organization to make a meaningful difference in these people's lives. There are lots of ways people can help. The particular "challenge" I responded to mostly had to do with providing feedback on certain aspects of his website.
Throughout this year so far I've come across so many truly inspiring projects being run by people literally all over the world. These projects serve as an incredible reminder of how much compassion and generosity really exists our there, despite what the steady stream of negative news would cause you to think. It's also a reminder to me to be proactive about filling my consciousness with the positive rather than the negative. And there is an awful lot of positive if you go looking . . .
[comments] => Comment (0)
[avatar] =>
)
Posted by: David Friedman
on May 09, 2012
I've mentioned before a pretty cool website called sparked.com that connects non-profits from all over the world with people who are willing to help out in a variety of ways. Put simply, the non-profit posts a "challenge" they need help with, and people "respond" to challenges that fit their identified passions and skills. I was notified of a challenge today that I was able to help with.
The non-profit is a pretty amazing organization, based in England, calledResolve International. It was started by a man who had been in Nepal and had seen, firsthand, the utter poverty that plagues so much of the country's people. He created the organization to make a meaningful difference in these people's lives. There are lots of ways people can help. The particular "challenge" I responded to mostly had to do with providing feedback on certain aspects of his website.
Throughout this year so far I've come across so many truly inspiring projects being run by people literally all over the world. These projects serve as an incredible reminder of how much compassion and generosity really exists our there, despite what the steady stream of negative news would cause you to think. It's also a reminder to me to be proactive about filling my consciousness with the positive rather than the negative. And there is an awful lot of positive if you go looking . . .
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[title] => Homeless at the Airport?
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Today was a long day of traveling with multiple flight delays, and I'm writing this past midnight - so I'll keep it short. When my flight finally arrived at the Philadelphia airport it was approximately 11 pm and the airport was mostly deserted. As I slowly made my way to baggage claim to await my luggage, I decided I'd look for someone to whom I could give one of the gift cards I usually keep with me.
Before long, I noticed an elderly woman sitting on a bench who honestly looked like she might be homeless. I decided she might be a better candidate for a McDonalds card than a Starbucks one. As I approached her to offer her the card, I wasn't sure if she even spoke English. It turned out that she did, though she spoke so quietly it was hard for me to understand her. It took a bit for me to explain to her what it was I was giving her. She had almost no teeth, and was dressed in rags. I can't quite figure out what she was doing at the airport. In any case, I was able to help her understand how she could use the gift card. She told me (I think?) that she was once an employee of McDonalds and she thanked me for the card.
I'm sure there's a fascinating story behind this woman and how she got to be where she was tonight and in the condition she was. Unfortunately, I was candidly too tired to spend the time and energy to learn more. However, I was at least able to help her buy a meal that was likely much needed.
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Today was a long day of traveling with multiple flight delays, and I'm writing this past midnight - so I'll keep it short. When my flight finally arrived at the Philadelphia airport it was approximately 11 pm and the airport was mostly deserted. As I slowly made my way to baggage claim to await my luggage, I decided I'd look for someone to whom I could give one of the gift cards I usually keep with me.
Before long, I noticed an elderly woman sitting on a bench who honestly looked like she might be homeless. I decided she might be a better candidate for a McDonalds card than a Starbucks one. As I approached her to offer her the card, I wasn't sure if she even spoke English. It turned out that she did, though she spoke so quietly it was hard for me to understand her. It took a bit for me to explain to her what it was I was giving her. She had almost no teeth, and was dressed in rags. I can't quite figure out what she was doing at the airport. In any case, I was able to help her understand how she could use the gift card. She told me (I think?) that she was once an employee of McDonalds and she thanked me for the card.
I'm sure there's a fascinating story behind this woman and how she got to be where she was tonight and in the condition she was. Unfortunately, I was candidly too tired to spend the time and energy to learn more. However, I was at least able to help her buy a meal that was likely much needed.
[comments] => Comment (0)
[avatar] =>
)
Posted by: David Friedman
on May 08, 2012
Today was a long day of traveling with multiple flight delays, and I'm writing this past midnight - so I'll keep it short. When my flight finally arrived at the Philadelphia airport it was approximately 11 pm and the airport was mostly deserted. As I slowly made my way to baggage claim to await my luggage, I decided I'd look for someone to whom I could give one of the gift cards I usually keep with me.
Before long, I noticed an elderly woman sitting on a bench who honestly looked like she might be homeless. I decided she might be a better candidate for a McDonalds card than a Starbucks one. As I approached her to offer her the card, I wasn't sure if she even spoke English. It turned out that she did, though she spoke so quietly it was hard for me to understand her. It took a bit for me to explain to her what it was I was giving her. She had almost no teeth, and was dressed in rags. I can't quite figure out what she was doing at the airport. In any case, I was able to help her understand how she could use the gift card. She told me (I think?) that she was once an employee of McDonalds and she thanked me for the card.
I'm sure there's a fascinating story behind this woman and how she got to be where she was tonight and in the condition she was. Unfortunately, I was candidly too tired to spend the time and energy to learn more. However, I was at least able to help her buy a meal that was likely much needed.
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[title] => Granting a Simple Wish
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I was tied up in meetings almost the entire day today so had little opportunity to deliver one of my typical acts of kindness. Thankfully, I always have some ideas in my back pocket, like going to one of my favorite sites, Wishuponahero.com.
As I perused some of the wishes that had been posted, I found a woman who described the "wakeup call" her family had been given about their health. It seems that the whole family is dealing with high blood pressure and diabetes, and the woman recognizes the need for them to improve their nutrition and to begin to exercise. She was looking for some input and advice on these topics.
Having been a lifelong runner, and having helped many people begin and sustain exercise programs over the years, I have many thoughts and ideas on this topic. I responded to the woman's request by sharing a few ideas and then inviting her to e-mail me for much more detailed suggestions. Hopefully I'll hear back from her and can offer her more assistance.
Lest people think that being nice always involves gifts of money, granting this wish is yet another example of ways to be kind that don't cost anything at all. More than half of my intentional acts of kindness, in fact, do not involve any financial cost, and I try to make it a point to keep a strong mix of types of acts. There are indeed lots of ways to be kind.
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I was tied up in meetings almost the entire day today so had little opportunity to deliver one of my typical acts of kindness. Thankfully, I always have some ideas in my back pocket, like going to one of my favorite sites, Wishuponahero.com.
As I perused some of the wishes that had been posted, I found a woman who described the "wakeup call" her family had been given about their health. It seems that the whole family is dealing with high blood pressure and diabetes, and the woman recognizes the need for them to improve their nutrition and to begin to exercise. She was looking for some input and advice on these topics.
Having been a lifelong runner, and having helped many people begin and sustain exercise programs over the years, I have many thoughts and ideas on this topic. I responded to the woman's request by sharing a few ideas and then inviting her to e-mail me for much more detailed suggestions. Hopefully I'll hear back from her and can offer her more assistance.
Lest people think that being nice always involves gifts of money, granting this wish is yet another example of ways to be kind that don't cost anything at all. More than half of my intentional acts of kindness, in fact, do not involve any financial cost, and I try to make it a point to keep a strong mix of types of acts. There are indeed lots of ways to be kind.
[comments] => Comment (1)
[avatar] =>
)
Posted by: David Friedman
on May 07, 2012
I was tied up in meetings almost the entire day today so had little opportunity to deliver one of my typical acts of kindness. Thankfully, I always have some ideas in my back pocket, like going to one of my favorite sites, Wishuponahero.com.
As I perused some of the wishes that had been posted, I found a woman who described the "wakeup call" her family had been given about their health. It seems that the whole family is dealing with high blood pressure and diabetes, and the woman recognizes the need for them to improve their nutrition and to begin to exercise. She was looking for some input and advice on these topics.
Having been a lifelong runner, and having helped many people begin and sustain exercise programs over the years, I have many thoughts and ideas on this topic. I responded to the woman's request by sharing a few ideas and then inviting her to e-mail me for much more detailed suggestions. Hopefully I'll hear back from her and can offer her more assistance.
Lest people think that being nice always involves gifts of money, granting this wish is yet another example of ways to be kind that don't cost anything at all. More than half of my intentional acts of kindness, in fact, do not involve any financial cost, and I try to make it a point to keep a strong mix of types of acts. There are indeed lots of ways to be kind.
