When was the last time you gave a total stranger an act of kindness?

yesterday

Mind sharing what that kindness was?
@stanleybmanly or anybody else who answers this question?

I regularly try to hold doors open for people laden with stuff, elderly folks, or anybody who is having a hard time walking or possibly navigating a heavy door.

I often chat up older people in the grocery store that look like they could do with a friendly chat.

As of today, because of this question, I’m going to step up my pay it forwards.

I guess that depends on what is considered an ‘act of kindness”. I hold doors open for people all the time.

I have this thing about people panhandling. If they ask for money, I will sometimes give it, and often not. If however they’re in front of a restaurant and mention that they’re trying to get something to eat, I will call them on it, march them inside and have them order some food. It isn’t heroic, because I’m not that frequently on foot. Moreover, the expensive places NEVER have panhandlers in front.

I may be an advocate of lowering the standard for what is considered an “act of kindness”. For me, the simple act of people really seeing me is a huge act of kindness. I try to do this more often.

The last time was today – a woman and her daughter were up on a cliff (we went on a hike at a ravine/chasm) and taking turns taking photos of each other. I told my kids to hold on, backtracked and offered to take a photo of both of them together. They were happy to do so, and when they got together to pose for the photo, they hugged with such sincerity and intensity, it made my day.

A couple of days ago, I went to the market to get groceries, and I noticed an elderly man approaching the door behind me. I waited for him in the entry way and offered him a cart – not in a “you’re an old man” kind of sympathy way. I mentioned (truthfully) that these carts always give me trouble getting them apart. He laughed and agreed. And he told me that he once pushed two carts around the market because he was stubborn and they wouldn’t come apart. The image is hilarious.

Anyway, “kindness”?, I’m not so sure. Just trying to see people. When people do it to me, I am grateful. When I do to others, I am grateful. It feels great no matter what. Sometimes it’s as simple as an interaction with a cashier at a market. It’s short, but deeper than the usual “you’re just a means to me getting my food”. It’s hard to explain.

Yesterday

I took pity on a bunch of ignorant morons in a recent thread here.
Well, at least they never saw me point & laugh.

Oh, the other day.

I’ve handed cash to strangers that were short of it, given rides to people I never met before, and helped at accident scenes. It comes naturally. I may make sure my s/o isn’t in the car, in case I’m wrong, but it hasn’t bit me yet.

I also open and hold doors for others on a regular basis and chat up strangers as @Kardamom mentions. The other day I offered to take someone grocery cart back for them. I don’t really pay attention or consider good manners, being good natured and helping others to be acts if kindness. Today I saved a spider that fell in my coffee cup. haha

I was sitting on the porch when this little jumping spider just fell into the cup from out of nowhere.
The coffee was lukewarm so he didn’t get scalded.
I fished him out with a leaf from one of the plants on the porch and then, I gave him a bath. lol
The hose was hanging over the porch rail and it has an attachment that adjusts down to a fine mist.

I gave it a little shower to get the coffee and cream and sugar off of it and then set him on the shade screen cotton cord to dry. He zinged off after a few minutes to live another day as a jumping spider in the hills.

@Coloma Laughs. I used to have a cup in my old office labeled L.B. It was the one I used to rescue ladybugs and release them outside.

My favorite thing to do is to offer to reach items on the top shelf at the grocery store. I’m not super tall (6’), but I’m taller than the older folks and (most) soccer moms so I can lend a hand.

The other day I was in a book exchanging festival. I had donated a lot of books before and I was looking for some new books in replacement for the last books. As I picked up a certain book and was wondering whether to add to my bag when someone cried: “Where is <the name of the book I picked up>? I need it for my study!”. After some seconds of thinking, I gave that book to them. They were really grateful.

@cookieman I wish I could find you in my grocery store!

On Friday when I listened to an old man talk about all his life for an hour outside a shop. :)

Today. Helped an old lady carry shopping which was too heavy for her. She had a walking stick and was struggling.

I try to be courteous every day but the last act of kindness I remember was Tuesday when I gave some money to a homeless man. I hope there have been other acts since then but I can’t think of any right now.

Last week. I noticed a young man struggling with a public phone. He asked me for some change, which I couldn’t provide – so I offered my phone instead. He called his mom to come pick him up, because the busses were on strike. He was grateful, and quite shocked at my trusting him.

Yay, @cookieman! As Blanche DuBois might have said: “I have always relied on the kindness of strangers.”

To answer the Q: I picked up the poo of the dog of an older lady who has trouble bending down that far.

@canidmajor Instead of being the wind beneath my wings, you are the poo beneath my shoe : ) Thanks for helping that lady.

@chyna Next time you go to the store, let me come with you. I’ve got one of those grabby things that can reach stuff on the high shelves.

@Coloma and @Adirondackwannabe I’m like the underground railroad for bugs. I have actually walked up 3 flights of stairs to find a cup, and rescue a bug, and take it outside.

I haven’t done it in awhile, but next time I’m there, I shall buy $10 worth of easy to eat/open groceries for the first person in front of the 99 Cent store who asks me for change. I used to do this more often, when it was really bad. Good choices: bag of apples, cans of beans or tuna with pop tops, kits with crackers and either egg salad or ham spread in pop top cans, cans of nuts (ask about nut allergies before giving it to them) a giant bottle of water, a couple of bananas, a loaf of bread, a jar of peanut butter, a package of plastic utensils, a container of hand sanitizer, a chocolate bar. If they have a dog, then cans of dog food, a plastic bowl, and a can opener.

@Kardamom My old office was an 1850’s farmhouse, nice but with plenty of places for ladybugs to come in. In the Spring I’d find 8 to 10 ladybugs almost every morning. I want them out eating other bugs.

@chyna: Well if you’re ever shopping in Boston…

First great question I gave out, expecting some warming answers.
Mine was telling someone how to go to somewhere

@wsxwh111 and just WHERE did you tell them to go? lol