Random strangers, random acts of niceness

[wh..sh]

So, I was having one of those low, uncheerful days. I decided to take a break from work and walk to get lunch.
I saw a truck pulling out of a parking lot and the person stopped for me to cross the road. I waved my hand and kept walking while lost in my serious, dull thoughts. Suddenly the person yelled at me saying "I stopped just so I could make you smile". I smiled right away. And I unconsciously had a big smile on my face for the rest of the day.

I was thinking about that incident today. I wish I could thank that person for their niceness and how their act has extended beyond the intentions. This thread's for all those random strangers who, out of nothing, make your day felicitous!


Ok, I will go throw up now.

[Sham]

First, thanks a lot for making me look up the word, felicitous.
I really do aim for doing a good deed a day. I keep a few extra umbrellas in the car to offer up if it's raining.
I think I got this from attending BM for so many years.
Most people look at me like I'm some sort of idiot.
Have a nice fucking day!

[AntiM]

My swim aerobics instructor added the head/face pressure point exercises today in class because she knew I had a nasty headache.

[junglesmacks]

I counted a few more ceiling tiles this morning for the girlfriend. Even threw in a thought of Tammy Faye Baker sliding into 3rd base.

[bigdane]

I'm trying out new fudge recipes and packed some up (raspberry white choc) into snackbags and gave then out to random employees at work...not sure how altruistic though as I really wanted to get rid of it before I ate it all...

[Sham]

I counted a few more ceiling tiles this morning for the girlfriend. Even threw in a thought of Tammy Faye Baker sliding into 3rd base.

Why would you do that to me? WHY? I need to wash my eyeballs out with bleach.

[wh..sh]

I thought we could reminiscent what nice strangers have done for us, but thanks for making this about yourself once again

[moonrise]

I counted a few more ceiling tiles this morning for the girlfriend. Even threw in a thought of Tammy Faye Baker sliding into 3rd base.

Why would you do that to me? WHY? I need to wash my eyeballs out with bleach.

Help! My face has fallen, and I can't get up!

The California DMV lady asked the (19 million) people waiting in line if she could answer any easy questions...she saved me and one other person hours of time, phew!
The kid at the store exchanged something without the (hopelessly) lost receipt.

The weatherman is predicting rain tomorrow, starting out light and becoming heavier later in the day, I'm expecting anvils followed by painos. We'll see!

[maryanimal]

Nowadays it tickles me pink when someone opens a door for me. I think it's the lost art of ultimate courteousness. And I always say "thank you so much".

[OregonRed]

The weatherman is predicting rain tomorrow, starting out light and becoming heavier later in the day, I'm expecting anvils followed by painos. We'll see!

That made me laugh out loud and the end of an extremely fucked up day. Thank you!

[Sham]

I thought we could reminiscent what nice strangers have done for us, but thanks for making this about yourself once again

wh..sh, I can hardly ever remember a kind act directed towards me--except in BRC. Years ago, someone helped me put a large door in a truck at Home Depot, but I sort of asked. Sometimes I need and odd penny or two in a store to keep me from getting a pocket full of change--but no one ever offers. Even trying to cross a lane of traffic, most people close the gap so you can't cross over. Holding a door for me does happen from time to time, but even that's becoming rare.

I think people are much more self absorbed these days and less aware of anything or anyone around them that doesn't benefit them.

Maybe this is why a week in BRC is so utterly refreshing to me. If you just have a confused look on your face while on the playa, five people will stop and ask you what you need. You can count your wait time in seconds---not minutes.

[AntiM]

When I fell, and several people walked by me, a nice man stopped his car in the road, hopped out and got me to my feet.

[junglesmacks]

I counted a few more ceiling tiles this morning for the girlfriend. Even threw in a thought of Tammy Faye Baker sliding into 3rd base.

Why would you do that to me? WHY? I need to wash my eyeballs out with bleach.

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! Hahahahah.. horrible.

That literally has been the one single image in my mind that I've used my entire adult life when I need to uhh.. um.. delay the process a few seconds longer.

[Drawingablank]

Well I don't have a lot for this thread since I've only seen one other human in 10 days, but I did help him track and then drag his deer out to the road in the pouring rain.

I have been doing nice stuff for the critters though, and the raccoons (and sometimes skunks) come by the cabin each night for table scraps.

[wh..sh]

wh..sh, I can hardly ever remember a kind act directed towards me--except in BRC. Years ago, someone helped me put a large door in a truck at Home Depot, but I sort of asked. Sometimes I need and odd penny or two in a store to keep me from getting a pocket full of change--but no one ever offers. Even trying to cross a lane of traffic, most people close the gap so you can't cross over. Holding a door for me does happen from time to time, but even that's becoming rare.

I think people are much more self absorbed these days and less aware of anything or anyone around them that doesn't benefit them.

Maybe this is why a week in BRC is so utterly refreshing to me. If you just have a confused look on your face while on the playa, five people will stop and ask you what you need. You can count your wait time in seconds---not minutes.

It is rare but it does happen Sham... there was a time when I wouldn't even have noticed people being nice to be, let alone being nice to others. Until one day, when my best friend moved to a different city and she was going through a rough patch in her life. She went by a crowded beach and sat on the rocks one evening. She said the most amazing thing happened to her. As she sat on the rocks and where everyone was minding their own business (you don't exist to others in such a place) when someone came up to her and told her that everything will be fine and that she should remember that there are loved ones waiting at home for her. Ofcourse they thought she was going to jump off the rocks and kill herself, but she was so touched by that act. She said, it just made everything better, instantly.
If we don't feel rightfully feel entitled to people's attention and help, every small thing that someone does becomes an act of niceness, I think...

[wh..sh]

Nowadays it tickles me pink when someone opens a door for me. I think it's the lost art of ultimate courteousness. And I always say "thank you so much".

Right? I know!
Sometimes I think I married my husband because he always opened doors for others and always runs to be someone's help
He is the nicest person I know and sometimes I have to single-handedly make up for the evilness that necessary in the family. Tough life, I say.

But generally where I live, most people open doors for you than not.

[ygmir]

and really, that's the key, isn't it?
doing small, but kind things, for others.

We get so insulated, from "others", and expect them to ignore our needs, or common courtesy. It's so refreshing, to see someone doing a nice thing.

But, the lesson, would seem to "teach by example" and, be nice to others, without expectation of recompense.

[Nipple]

Before I moved to Oregon, we set up an exploratory committee. A bunch of us piled into a station wagon. Craig and I ended up in the back seat, facing out the back of the wagon. This was fine for the trip down, but quickly became awkward at stoplights, as we sat gawking into the soul of the person in the car behind us.

My son had left some stuffed animals in the car. One was a giraffe.

As we continued driving around, I became bored with sitting and looking out the side windows at intersections. I stuck the giraffe on my foot, and whenever we came to a stop, I would creep the giraffe up over the edge of the back window, as though it were peering out. After a few moments, I would look over, and if the person behind had taken notice of the giraffe, I would begin to scold the giraffe until it ducked its head down below the edge of the window, and then I'd make an apologetic gesture to the person in the car behind us. "Sorry the giraffe had been staring. He really should have better manners. He's embarrassed me, and made it awkward for you. My apologies."

People seemed to enjoy it.

[theCryptofishist]

Nowadays it tickles me pink when someone opens a door for me. I think it's the lost art of ultimate courteousness. And I always say "thank you so much".

Right? I know!
Sometimes I think I married my husband because he always opened doors for others and always runs to be someone's help

I am a notorious bitch at doors. I'd rather do them myself. I haven't learned the skill yet (four years now!) because I simply am not allowed to practice. I do not put myself in the same catagory as "carrying lots of packages".
It's a nasty hairy issue. I think a lot of people try and do things for me partly because it's easy and socially expected, but also so they don't have to face the uncomfortable feelings that I bring on by my mere existence. It's made me incredibly suspicious of "help", and I've stepped on a lot of toes. Meanwhile, I'd really like to do some education about curb cuts--which pretty much nobody knows how to properly use--but end up toe angry to really be effective.

I have no answer for this.

[wh..sh]

Before I moved to Oregon, we set up an exploratory committee. A bunch of us piled into a station wagon. Craig and I ended up in the back seat, facing out the back of the wagon. This was fine for the trip down, but quickly became awkward at stoplights, as we sat gawking into the soul of the person in the car behind us.

My son had left some stuffed animals in the car. One was a giraffe.

As we continued driving around, I became bored with sitting and looking out the side windows at intersections. I stuck the giraffe on my foot, and whenever we came to a stop, I would creep the giraffe up over the edge of the back window, as though it were peering out. After a few moments, I would look over, and if the person behind had taken notice of the giraffe, I would begin to scold the giraffe until it ducked its head down below the edge of the window, and then I'd make an apologetic gesture to the person in the car behind us. "Sorry the giraffe had been staring. He really should have better manners. He's embarrassed me, and made it awkward for you. My apologies."

People seemed to enjoy it.

Is that a giraffe staring at me? Nope, its just Chuck Testa.

I was wondering why this seemed familiar, thanks JS for reminding me of Chuck Testa.

[Savannah]

As we continued driving around, I became bored with sitting and looking out the side windows at intersections. I stuck the giraffe on my foot, and whenever we came to a stop, I would creep the giraffe up over the edge of the back window, as though it were peering out. After a few moments, I would look over, and if the person behind had taken notice of the giraffe, I would begin to scold the giraffe until it ducked its head down below the edge of the window, and then I'd make an apologetic gesture to the person in the car behind us. "Sorry the giraffe had been staring. He really should have better manners. He's embarrassed me, and made it awkward for you. My apologies."

People seemed to enjoy it.

Love it.