The idea is to create a brief reprieve from the chaos and stress of the day and share those Random Acts of Kindness that are happening everyday around the globe and right in our backyard. Now, I thought this was an original idea until I "Googled" Random Acts of Kindness and discovered there is a Foundation solely dedicated to creating and communicating those Random Acts of Kindness. Their website is www.actsofkindness.org
Submit your ideas and reports of those random acts to info@outofthefire.com and we will post them here on a weekly basis as well as share them on WCEI.
I believe this is an important community effort, as distracted as we are on a daily basis it is important to take time out for each other to connect with kindness. Afterall, we do ahre this planet so we may as well do what we can to make it a positive place. It also make for healthier individulas. It is a scientific fact that anger, frustration and isolation is a major stressor to the body and ultimately leads to stress related health problems such as heart disease, cancer and depression. Those individuals that shift their mind from thinking about themselves to caring for others become more positive and are generally healthier individuals.
So I challenge you to share your Random Acts of Kindness and become part of a growing number of individuals who seek a more selfless existence.
Hello,
I have to report a RAOK (Random Act of Kindness) by my husband, Bob Rauch. Several weeks ago there were two stray dogs meandering our Easton Club neighborhood. They were very cute, but very wet and dirty, white, West Highland Terriers who seemed to be lost. Not having seen them in our area before, we decided that they were looking for a free hand-out, but probably wanting to go home, wherever that might be. Bob and our neighbor, John, walked up and down the road to see if someone knew of the dogs or their owners. Another neighbor had seen them before and said that she thought they lived in nearby Woodland Farms. Being the loving pet owner that my husband is, he scooped up the two of them, put them in the back of his SUV, and drove to that area in search of their rightful owners. After speaking to some residents and making a few phone calls, Bob was able to reunite the pups with their Mommy and Daddy. I'm sure the owners were glad the escaped dogs had been returned, and Bob and I both felt good about the 'random act of kindness'.
Sincerely,
Dale Rauch
SUNDAY I WAS DRIVING TO THE EASTERN SHORE ,GOING THROUGH THE TOLL BOOTH BY SANDY PARK. I PULLED UP WITH MY 2.50 TOLL AND THE TOLL BOOTH LADY SAID THE PREVIOUS CAR PAID MY TOLL. IT WAS LIKE A MIRACLE.
THEN,LISTENING TO YOUR RADIO STATION I HEARD ABOUT YOUR RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS REQUESTS.
A FEW YEARS AGO I BOUGHT A SMALL PAPER BACK "SIMPLE ACTS OF KINDNESS"
LITTLE WAYS TO MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE. COPYRIGHT 1998 BY RAY ALONZO
P.O BOX 888 FRESNO, CALIFORNIA 93714-0888. ISBN 1-57757-025-1
ONE OF THE ACTS OF KINDNESS IN THE BOOK IS PUTTING A DOLLAR BILL UNDER SOMEONES WINDSHIELD WIPER. A FRIEND OF MINE AND I WERE IN THE PARKING GARAGE OF A HOSPITAL. WALKING TO OUR CAR WE PICKED OUT A CAR TO PUT A DOLLAR UNDER THEIR WINDSHIELD WIPER. SHE TOLD ME SHE PICKED OUT THE OLDEST CAR SHE COULD FIND. IT TURNED OUT TO BE AN OLD BEAT UP CAR LIKE HER SON DROVE WHEN HE WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL.
KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK, SPREADING MORE KINDNESS. HEAVEN KNOWS ,WITH GAS PRICES , THE ECONOMY, THE WAR, EARTHQUAKES, FIRES, TORNADO'S, AND FLOODS, EVERYONE NEED LITTLE WAYS TO MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE.
I HOPE SOMEONE WILL MAKE A BOOK OF THE RAOK YOU RECEIVE.
IF SO, PLEASE REMEMBER ME I WILL BE THE FIRST TO BUY A COPY.
I LISTEN TO YOUR RADIO STATION ALL THE TIME.
IT COMES IN GREAT ON THE WESTERN SHORE.
SINCERELY
MARILYN SENN
HOLLYWOOD, MDL. 2063
A few years ago, I owned a condo at the beach that I rented out, usually a week at a time. Between tenants, I drove from Easton to Ocean City, cleaned and sanitized, met the next tenants and gave them keys and then drove back to Easton the same day. On this particular day the new tenants arrived late, which meant that I missed dinner. On the way home I stopped at a fast food drive in window and ordered a milkshake to get me home. Imagine my surprise when I tried to pay and the attendant told me that the person in front of me had already paid. I wasn’t expecting that one and it surely did put a positive spin on a day that had been very tiring.
Another RAOK happened quite inadvertently when I was caring for my elderly mother by living in the house just across the driveway from her house (close but not too close) so that I would be available when needed, which was often. Working full time, I had a housekeeper come in and clean both houses once a month. It happened to be her day there when a delivery of flowers arrived from the Robin’s Nest Floral and Garden Center, which she very graciously accepted. When I arrived home late that evening, I found a lovely bouquet of sunflowers on the kitchen table with a note that read, “To My Honey Bunches of Oats.” I had left my cereal box on the table that morning which happened to be Honey Bunches of Oats Cereal. I looked at the flowers and then at the cereal box, then looked for the hidden Candid Camera. Being single and not dating, nor any prospects of dates hanging about, I was totally mystified about who might have sent me flowers, especially with that note. The next morning I called the Nest and spoke with Ken Morgan. After explaining that I had flowers from someone and wanted to know who, he told me that it was the flower arrangement from Hell. They were meant for the girl on the farm next to ours. My housekeeper barely knew my name and just accepted them. Ken had ended up sending another bouquet out to Honey Bunches of Oats after her boyfriend complained bitterly. I offered to pay Ken for the arrangement, but he said to just enjoy them with his compliments. How sweet. We had a good laugh over it. J
Bette Lucas
Hello Amy. I called you to share my flowershop story.
Today, February 13, 2009, I went into Harrison's Flower shop to purchase a vase of flowers for my good friend from her son. Her husband is not one to purchase presents for her on holidays. While I was waiting for her vase of flowers to be put together I was speaking to a woman who was helping out inthe shop. I was telling her what I needed and that my husband had flowers sent to me and he is in Iraq. It is unfortunate that my friend's husband doesn't do things like this for her. A gentleman walked in and overheard our conversation. As I went to pay for the flowers, he told me to put my money away. He thanked me for my husband's service and that he would like to take care of paying for my friends flowers. With tears inmy eyes, all I could do was turn around, hug the gentleman and thank him for his kindness.
I am truly blessed to have my own hero, wonderful friends, and now a total stranger who thanked me for what my husband is doing for the country. This stranger is a kindhearted, selfless person.
Thank you for publicizing this story. It is not about me, my husband, or my friend and her son, it is about the kindhearted stranger in the flowershop.
Happy Valentine's Day!
Lori Eutsler
Phil Stovall, president of Higgins & Spencer, Inc. in St. Michaels has implemented a creative way to serve the community during these challenging economic times. He contacted Habitat for Humanity to see if they could use help. After an orientation about the work Habitat does, the Higgins & Spencer staff has committed to work on the Habitat jobsite, Milestone on Clay St., every Wednesday for the foreseeable future. They will install all appliances, donate and install Hunter Douglas blinds and work with Habitat construction staff and volunteers. This is an amazing gift to Habitat and will certainly help Habitat to move forward in an efficient way and therefore be able to move more families that are deserving into their new homes. Phil Stovall can be reached at 410-745-5192.
