Random Acts Of Kindness
Tuesday, December 14 2004I hope this finds you well and enjoying this special time of year. It's the season to be jolly and the season of goodwill to all men - and women! It's also a time when many people can feel they're missing out on the jolliness and everyone else is having a good time. It can be an exhausting time too as we rush around getting everything done and ready for the Big Day itself, trying to make it as perfect as possible. So, I thought it would be the ideal time to get all of us engaged in some Random Acts Of Kindness!
It's also the title of a little book that came out a few months ago by Danny Wallace, a journalist and comedy writer. The book lists 365 "ways to make the world a nicer place" and you may also have seen "Join Me" posters in UK cities, with a web site address, Join-Me.co.uk. urging you to join his karma army or cult of kindness. The cult has a simple message - undertake a random act of kindness for a stranger when you can. I like it! And, as a FH Newsletter subscriber, you are one of over 10,000 members who receive this missive every week. Just think what we can all do. The site also receives over 500,000 visitors per month, so we can really reach huge numbers of people and recruit them into our own army.
So, from today onwards until the end of the year, there will be a special section of the Conversation Board dedicated to our activities. You can see it now by clicking here.
Post your acts of kindness on the Board along with your locality and let's have some real fun with this. Let's aim to chalk up at least one act per day from today until 31st December. Your generosity can include money but doesn't have to and who knows what impact your deed could have?
Here's my favourite example from Danny's book from Lorna Mann in Sydney: "I met a bloke called Jeff the other night in Sydney whose life has changed thanks to a random act of kindness. He was a rich restaurateur who was sitting on a park bench one night when a homeless fella walked up and offered him his only possession: his blanket. The homeless guy thought Jeff must be homeless too... And yet was willing to give away the only thing he owned. It had such an impact on Jeff that he packed in his restaurant and started a non-religious charity that now feeds 500 people a night ...That was ten years ago. And what happened to the original homeless guy? He was best man at Jeff's wedding!"
Here's a small example from my own experience. About eighteen months ago I discovered this gastro-pub near where I was living in North London and the food was sensational. My son Jamie and I became regulars and discussed how all the thanks and tips went to the waiting staff, but never the chef, who was the one responsible for the fabulous fare. That evening, we decided to write a compliment note to him, thanking him and telling him we'd spread the word.
Well, the chef was so flabbergasted that he had to leave the kitchen and find us to explain no-one had ever done that before. At only 24, Neil was working himself into a sweat every night to turn out some of the best food I'd ever seen or tasted.
Some months later, when I mentioned my birthday was approaching and I'd be bringing about 8 friends over to eat, he said he'd like to give me a present - of being my personal chef for the evening, refusing to take any payment apart from the actual cost of the food! Neil discussed menus with me and then took care of everything else, buying the food, cooking it, and clearing up afterwards. He even brought his girlfriend to waitress! It was a wonderful evening and all because of our appreciation of his talent.
To get the ball rolling I have decided to give away an online course to the first 50 people to respond to our offer, for you to pass on to a friend, as an act of random kindness! Just choose someone who you think would really appreciate your gesture and select the best course for them.
To nominate a friend to receive a course, simply drop a line to kindness@fionaharrold.com with the following info:
- your friend's e-mail address
- your name and your friend's first name
- the course you think they'd most enjoy or benefit from
Then, if your e-mail is among the first 50 to contact us, we'll e-mail them directly to let them know how to access their free, six-week online course.
Click here to see more details about how to nominate a friend for a free course.
