Hey there--
I have a really, really depressed character who, though she despises the human race, usually goes through life practicing random acts of kindness. Examples: she went out and got a "thank you for making a difference" card for a barrista who was having a bad day; she left a handful of chocolates on a coworker's desk; she takes time to buy a copy of the local paper from a homeless vendor even though she's already bought two.
So: I need a few more examples. Because frankly, I ain't that kind. Anyone out there have some ideas of random acts of kindness -- the more it is possible for her to do them anonymously, the better.
Thanks for any help you can offer!
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It is the function of art to renew our perception. What we are familiar with we cease to see. The writer shakes up the familiar scene, and, as if by magic, we see a new meaning in it.
Anais Nin
60,214 / 50,000
Nov 25, 2007 - 17 10
Feeding the meter is a good one.
Seeing a little old lady eating alone at a restaurant and picking up the cheque. Oh and sending a dessert too.
Leaving change on the ground near a bus shelter. There's always some one short of change.
let me know if you need more.
-mm
50,286 / 50,000
Nov 25, 2007 - 19 57
Complimenting ugly people.
Picking up litter.
Kicking beached and flopping fish back into the river.
Mailing letters found on the sidewalk. (Bonus if found without postage, double bonus if the letter was not supposed to be sent and causes a lot of trouble.)
Dropping off found wallets and purses at the police station. (They take your name, though.)
Dropping found identification cards in mailboxes.
Dropping found keyrings off at grocery stores. (If they have a saving club tab attached, the grocery store will call the owner. The same thing works for library card keytabs, but you have to drop those off at libraries.)
Giving directions to people who don't speak English. (I did this for some German tourists this month, and it must be good for at least 250 words. They wanted directions to the highway, but they called it "the road." Just understanding that was good for 200 words.)
Moving someone's wash to the dryer in the laundry room and paying for and starting the dryer instead of just piling stuff on top of the machine. (Note, if she puts it at the wrong setting, this can piss someone off.)
Knocking on someone's door when they leave the keys in the lock, then walking off.
Pretending to walk to the door of a subway so someone who needs it more can take your seat without feeling patronized.
Stopping at crosswalks, not blocking intersections--even major parking lot entrances--and yielding even when you have right of way. Giving space to cyclists. (Okay, these are really laws, but where I come from, actually following them is an unexpected gesture.)
Catching people who are falling or stepping into traffic.
Getting books and videos off high shelves for children in bookstores or video rental places. (As long as it is an appropriate book or video.)
Moving a chair or table in a crowded coffeeshop before someone in a wheelchair has to ask, especially if she pretends it is for her convenience and not for the other person's.
Taking a surge protecting powerstrip to your local coffeehouse in November.
Leaving space when parallel parking.
Thanking people.
Apologizing when other people are wrong.
Not laughing at people on Segways, especially if they are wearing helmets.
Take a penny, leave a penny.
Returning shopping carts from parking lots, especially when it is not your cart.
Wiping down the weight machine after using it.
Holding doors.
Staying to the right and tolerating people who don't.
(The feeding other people's meters thing is technically illegal.)
I could probably thing up more.
EricH
50,232 / 50,000
Nov 25, 2007 - 23 04
Complimenting ugly people.
Picking up litter.
...
Not laughing at people on Segways, especially if they are wearing helmets.
EricH
Or I suppose you could pick up ugly people on Segways....
30,217 / 50,000
Nov 26, 2007 - 01 32
This might sound really bizarre, but I have left quarters or a dollar bill on the back of a toilet in a bathroom in a church a few times. I figure maybe someone needs a buck, or maybe they can use it to light a candle? :)
60,214 / 50,000
Nov 26, 2007 - 06 10
Feeding someone elses meter is illegal? Good greif! How do they know I'm not the person in the car's mother, or wife, or really old girlfriend? I mean really. Being nice is illegal? What next?
51,490 / 50,000
Nov 26, 2007 - 10 06
Dropping found bank cards at the specified bank, even if it's out of your way. I can't tell how many times my boyfriend has lost his debit card, and there's rarely some kind person who will pick it up and bring it to the bank instead of, say, trying to use it.
50,042 / 50,000
Nov 28, 2007 - 13 38
Ohh. I like this thread. Random acts of kindness are lovely.
Spontaneous gifts or cookies or whatever without a holiday are always good.
Leaving quarters on the sidewalk; little kids who find quarters are the happiest thing ever.
Leave a piece of candy with some sort of good message (have a wonderful day, I hope you know that you're really wonderful, etc.) in the vending machine slot for someone to find.
Make eye contact with strangers. Smile. Yes, this is a random act of kindness.
Leave money in pay phone change slots.
Write happy thoughts on the outer edges of dollar bills for people to read (this is also illegal).
Anonymous nice letters.
50,044 / 50,000
Nov 28, 2007 - 20 27
I'm thinking you probably want things that don't require actual contact with the person, or would risk a thanks. Hmmm...
Oooh, leaving a tip in those tip jars at cashiers
There could be a situation where two people, significant others, family members, good friends, are fighting over something, and she somehow initiates a reconciliation. Like, I don't know, leaving a not for one of them telling them that the other person really does want to make up, or something like that.
Helping a little girl when she gets separated from her family at a mall or something. You know, taking her up to the front desk or something and making sure their parents are paged, and staying with the girl until they get there, but leaving before she can be thanked. Yeah. Something like that
Random gifts are always good. Notices a neighbor kid that needs knew skates for hockey or something like that, but can't afford them, and leaves them as a gift.
739 / 50,000
Nov 28, 2007 - 20 53
Buying flowers for all the admin staff in the office (works well if it's an all-female staff); paying the toll for the driver behind you (unless you're on a cashless tollway); giving the person in the supermarket queue in front of you the 20c (or whatever) that they need to pay the exact amount rather than presenting the cashier with a $50 note for a $5.20 purchase...
50,092 / 50,000
Nov 30, 2007 - 00 02
I once gave 20 dollars to the check out lady to put toward the groceries of the single mom behind me.
The single mom saw me in another store later and told me thank you.
72,973 / 50,000
Nov 30, 2007 - 00 14
I often take hungry-looking young women to dinner.
Usually to the kind of fancy places they don't usually go to because they can't afford them.
51,814 / 50,000
Dec 8, 2007 - 10 27
Leaving a thing of candy and a note on a friend's windshield if they looked like they were having a bad day. (That one's always fun... bonus points if you know their fav. type of candy.)