A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....02-17-04....Random Acts of Kindness

Billie

[Billie]

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day

Free Republic made its debut in September, 1996, and the forum was added in early 1997.   Over 100,000 people have registered for posting privileges on Free Republic, and the forum is read daily by tens of thousands of concerned citizens and patriots from all around the country and the world.

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day was introduced on June 24, 2002. It's only a small room in JimRob's house where we can get to know one another a little better; salute and support our military and our leaders; pray for those in need; and congratulate those deserving. We strive to keep our threads entertaining, fun, and pleasing to look at, and often have guest writers contribute an essay, or a profile of another FReeper.

On Mondays please visit us to see photos of A FEW OF FR'S VETERANS AND ACTIVE MILITARY

If you have a suggestion, or an idea, or if there's a FReeper you would like to see featured, please drop one of us a note in FR mail.

We're having fun and hope you are!
~ Billie, Mama_Bear, dansangel, dutchess, Aquamarine ~

Experiments in Anonymous Kindness
~ http://helpothers.org ~

Starting in September of 2003, small cards like this one began appearing all around the world. They are markers - a newfangled game of tag, where “you're it” because someone has done something nice for you. Then it’s your turn to do something nice for someone else and, in the process, pass the card along.

This is a game of pay-it-forward. It is a game that makes the world a brighter place by putting smiles on the faces of both the unexpecting recipient and the stealthy giver. It’s a game that makes us aware of the abundant opportunities to help others – folks we know and those we’ve never seen before. It is a game that teaches the fun of purely selfless giving – doing for others without recognition or reward. It is a game that celebrates anonymous service.

For these experiments in anonymous kindness, you are the scientist and the world is your laboratory. Is kindness truly contagious? There's only one way to find out...

Some Ideas

Want to do something kind, but just can't think of what to do? Here are a few ideas you might try. (And smile when you do them)

• Give a lottery ticket to a stranger.
• Compliment a stranger sincerely.
• Return shopping carts to the store.
• Buy biscuits for your neighbor's dog.
• Drive a neighbor without a car to the market.
• Shovel your neighbor's sidewalk or mow their lawn.
• Put a quarter in a parking meter that has expired.
• Send someone a small gift anonymously.
• Write something nice about the waiter or waitress on the back of your bill.
• Help someone start their car when it has stalled.
• Help someone find something they have lost.
• Invite someone who is alone over for Easter or Thanksgiving or just Sunday dinner.
• When visiting in a hospital, spend a few minutes with someone who has no visitors.
• Write someone who has just received sad news, a note of encouragement.
• Adopt a senior citizen or grandparent.
• Make copies of this page and give to all your friends.
• Bring your pet to a nursing home for a visit.
• Help people load their groceries into their cars or, if it's raining, hold their umbrella.
• Tell your boss that he or she does a great job.
• Plant some wildflowers along the roadside.
• Pick up trash or pull some weeds in your neighborhood.
• Give another driver your parking spot.
• Give family and friends "kindness coupons" they can cash-in for special favors.
• Write a thank-you note to a person from your past who has made a difference in your life.
• Clean graffiti off of neighborhood walls and buildings.
• Bring home-cooked meals, blankets and socks to the homeless.
• Write a note to the boss of someone who has helped you, praising the employee.
• Put an anonymous supportive note on a colleague's desk.
• Buy a box of popsicles to share with the staff on a hot day.
• Offer to switch a shift with a colleague when they need time off.
• Walk a colleague to their car or bus at night time for safety purposes.
• Mentor someone and share your skills, knowledge and abilities with them.
• Drop a few coins in an area where children play, where they can easily find them.
• Spend a few minutes going through your old photos, and send whatever you can part with to the people in the photos.
• Donate blood, and encourage others to do so.
• Wash someone's car as a surprise.
• Donate to the needy - money, clothes, food.
• Clean someone's home.
• If someone has a dog, and the person is temporarily incapacitated due to an illness or injury, offer to take the dog for a walk.
• Go to opportunity shops and purchase toys in good condition and donate them to charities for children.
• Surprise somebody with a small gift that they may be unable to afford.
• Be courteous in traffic and in parking lots.
• Stop to take a lost animal to its owner or to an animal shelter.
• Offer to be a wheel chair pusher if you know of a disabled group going on an outing.
• Volunteer for 'Meals on Wheels'.
• Take your neighbor’s washing off the line if it's raining and they are not home, or put out/take in the rubbish bin/recycling box.
• Step aside to allow a frail or elderly person to go ahead of you in a queue.
• Smile and laugh more often.

All of the text and information in today's post was found at http://helpothers.org. Most of you already practice kindness in your everyday lives, and there are probably no ideas above that you haven't already thought about or done at least once, so let me take this opportunity once again to thank you for all you mean to us ....

You are all the bestest and the finest!

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 02-16-04 Military Monday

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' The guy's good, folks!

Thanks, Mixer!

1) Click on the graphic to open the Calendar.
2) Once there you can click on any month and even click to the right to go into next year. Once you are in the month that you joined FR you will need to click on the number in the calendar and then an add item screen will come up.
3) In the next box enter your name in the "Calendar Text" field and then click on submit.
4) If any of the screens fail to load simply click on refresh in your browser and that will usually fix it.
5) If all else fails or simply if you want me to do this for you send me a FReepmail and I will gladly do it for you. ~Mixer

Click on the photo to view the album. To
submit your photo, please contact dansangel or .45Man
at
danbh59@yahoo.com
and include Freeper Photo Album in subject line.

[Billie]

You think I'm not a kind person? I licked a stranger once.

Awwwww, weinie. You are so kind, and cute!

[Dubya]

Honesty is the best policy. —Benjamin Franklin

It sure is. Hope I remember that. Thanks for the devotion.

[Billie]

Below are names of some of our FReepers' loved ones who are serving our country. If you have someone you would like to add, please address a post to Billie; Mama_Bear; Dansangel; Dutchess; Aquamarine; and/or deadhead, and we will add their name to this list. As we pray for them, we pray also for all our nation’s leaders, and military personnel, and their families and friends. May God hold them close to His heart.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

OhioWfan........................son mystery-ak..........son, husband Gogrammy................grandson Inspectorette...................son Blessed American..........nephew Slip18..........................nephew anniegetyourgun...........nephew Diver Dave.......niece, nephew Pippin....niece,nephew,loved one Doug from Upland......son-in-law weldgophardline.....brotherinlaw Future Snake Eater..........cousin WaterDragon..son-in-law,grandson BeforeISleep...................son katykelly............................son The Mayor........................niece LadyX.........................grandson fawn796.......................nephew Dubya............................nephew StarCMC......................brother kimmie7.....................brother ValerieUSA..................2 sons TexKat................son, step-son Spruce.....................daughter Warrior Nurse...........active duty SK1 Thurman...........active duty David Osborne.........active duty fc2tomschermuly......active duty bkwells..................active duty LongCut..................active duty Trish.......................active duty ODC-GIRL.................active duty thumperusn.............active duty

Maigrey................cousin ladtx....................2 sons Mama_Bear.........2 nephews gator girl............husband severa.......husband, brother Hostel..................cousin MozartLover......son, nephew LBGA........................son cookcounty..............son SpookBrat...........nephew Himyar.....................son boxerblues............2 sons the piper...................son sheeza...............husband kemathen7...........husband Tiffee4Bob.......boyfriend deadhead................cousin JimRobinson.....2 nephews Armymarinemom.....3 sons Rose in RoseBear.cousin's hubby Consort..2 daughters,son-in-law Darheel..................niece Donaeus...............nephew dixie sass.............nephew BeAllYouCanBe.........son AgThorn...............2 sons homeschoolmama.......nephew kneezles.................son Atomic Conspiracy..half-brother Atomic Conspiracy...nephew Atomic Conspiracy...niece Sunflowergal.......grandson visualops..cousin,adopted Marine

[Billie]

Good morning, Dubya. Somehow I can't imagine you 'not' being honest. :)

[MeekOneGOP]

What Bush vs Kerry is really all about

This is a "Don't Miss" article posted
by Jim Robinson last night (imho) ...

[Dubya]

Be kind is a good idea. I'll give it a try.

Yesterday My wife and I were out running around in our car. The battery went down and we were caught in the middle of the road and the car would not start.

Many, many people drove past us. A car with two people who spoke very little English stopped and ask if they could help.

We finally worked out by sign and talking that I needed a jump on my battery and I didn't have any jumper cables with me.

He said I'll be back I go home and get some.

And you know what he did. And my car started. I asked him if I could pay him. He backed up and put up his hands shacking his head no.

I thanked them and left to get my car fixed.

Not end of story.

I will be more aware of people who may need help that are stopped on the highways.

[Dubya]

I try to be.

When I lay down to sleep I go right to sleep. My wife ask me how I do that.

I told her everyday I do the best I can to help everyone. If I made a mistake I can't do anything about it. So I do not worry about anything.

Tomorrow I will get and do it all again.
Hope this makes sence. LOL

Eve says I got to go. Have a nice day all.
Dub

PS
Eve is very nice. But she worries about evrything she can think of.

[Billie]

What a nice story - and that couple could teach others a thing or two about being kind to strangers. I hope that others treat them as well, but somehow I have an idea they don't receive the same kindness and courtesy as they extended to you and your wife.

[Texagirl4W]

Oh, Billie, my friend, this is so refreshing this morning. I'm not complaining but this is not starting off to be a good week (at work). But to keep my sanity, I have to scope out FR a few times a day. Hope you all have a very happy Tuesday.

[Billie]

Thanks for sharing that, Dubya! Have a really wonderful day!

[Billie]

Hi, there, Texagirl! Thank you - we think it's nice to have a friendly little place to visit online - just sorta get away from the ugly stuff we can read everywhere else!<p.Hope your 'work week' changes for the better!

[dansangel]

((((((Billie))))))) - again you have given us not only a winner, but a true gift from your warm and generous heart. Made me *smile* it did. Thank you.

Love and ((((((HUGS)))))) to everyone that makes me smile on a daily basis here at the Finest.

To my *fuzziest* of brothahs,
[[[[[{{{{{(((((Louie_Wolfie_Man)))))}}}}}]]]]]

And, to someone that makes me smile even though he tries his best to *ruin* my day,
((((skinny dood)))))

:-)

[LadyX]

Lovely, lovely post, Miss Billie, and yes, those who frequent The Finest are among the kindest group anywhere, as Rus pointed out.

One on the list stood out in my mind - -
"Shovel your neighbor's sidewalk or mow their lawn."
prompting a Real Life Story for you....

Relocating from North Carolina to South Carolina in 1995 to be closer to our daughter in Columbia, and sons in Florida, we decided not to buy another home, but rent, for flexibility purposes.

We lucked into a psychologist who was moving to Augusta, Georgia and wanted a responsible couple to rent her very lovely home on the 95-acre lake, just a half mile from downtown.
It had a large front porch, 3 bedrooms, 2 full baths, and a great room with fireplace and wall to wall French doors and windows, and screened porch and deck, overlooking the lake -- for $400 a month!

She was delighted because my husband could do some repairs and painting, etc., and I was a Yard Junkie, the property large, sloping down to the water, and adjacent to a vacant corner lot the City owned.
A riding mower solved that aspect, and I love to wield my trusty weed eater, she not having had the time to care for it all.

I played to my heart's content with flower beds all over - hacked down the weeds and next door kudzu vines - truly in my glory.
Hung a hammock between two trees down by the lake, and watched endless sunrises and sunsets, reflecting on the water, and parades of baby geese and ducks.

A real plus were the neighbors, especially some older ones. Two doors over were Mr. Frank, a retired grocery store manager, and Miss Myrtle, about 17 years my senior.
Miss Myrtle was THE Epitome of Southern Gentlewoman, ever kind and cheerful and very caring. We spent many pleasant hours sitting outside by the lake, mulling over life issues.

Across the street was a widower, 16 years older, who had been in real estate successfully, but honored his modest Upcountry farming roots, still maintaining a small farm by the Country Club.

At times I got carried away, going over to weed eat the overgrowth from the back yard down to the lake for Mr. Frank, who had emphysema. Mr. Walter often played Good Neighbor, Southern Style, bringing me wonderful fresh vegetables. I now and then strayed over there to 'tidy up' his large front yard, since he had someone come to do it only occasionally.

After 2 1/2 years, our landlady had remarried and her husband pressed her to sell the house we were renting, and we were in a predicament trying to find a habitable house (few available at any given time) that was affordable.

To The Rescue charged Miss Myrtle, who daily kept nagging Mr. Walter - "Now, Walter, you just have to find a roof to put over Margaret's head!!"

Laughing, he came over to ask what we could afford, and said for us to look at every property within our range, and if a reasonable price, he'd purchase it to rent to us!!
Mind you, he was 80 years old at the time (6 years ago), with heart attacks, a pacemaker and bleeding ulcer, and certainly did not need to acquire another house.

We found one on a shady corner lot, closer to stores; easier to maintain as our strength declined, and lower cost for utilities and gasoline, etc.

He even told us to give him the bills for painting the entire house (3 coats on some dark walls), any repairs, new water heater, etc. AND the cost of lumber and screening for the carport for our cat to have his room!
It has the laundry room at one end, and with the double concrete drive, we still have that for parking the car.

It truly is a testament to the goodness of the Lord, leading us to just the right places, and persons who practice what they believe.

Indeed, smiles and kindness are the cement of life...

[LadyX]

" If someone has a dog, and the person is temporarily incapacitated due to an illness or injury, offer to take the dog for a walk.
Don't forget to take a doggie treat.

Weinie"

And don't forget some bananas for Gert the Gorilla..:))

[jwfiv]

Good morning, Billie...the gift of The Finest is a daily act of kindness, for which all of us here are grateful.

Today's thread is especially meaningful...good ideas, all...thank you.

The German word for child is "kinder"...and, if I remember right, the Christ said "Except you become as little children, you cannot enter the Kingdom of Heaven."

The Man is always on target...just blows my mind.

Such a wonderful life we are given.

[LadyX]

You always brighten our day when you come here!
Hope the stress level drops to nothingness.

Prayers for you go forth from Your Phinest Phreeper Phriends....

[lonestar]

Thank you, Aunt Billie!

Weinie

[lonestar]

Gertie has a background!

[Temple Owl]

Good morning Billie and all. I'll try to do something nice today.

[Billie]

Good morning, Sweet Sistah. Thank you for your always-sweet words - today's 'celebrate kindness' day was a treat to do. Knew it would be easy to present and more importantly, so very appropriate for the Finest FReepers, who just 'are' very kind. :)

Any news yet on Florida? (please tell me yes!)