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17 Ways To Be A Kinder Person

17 Acts of Kindness To Practice
We are all kindhearted (well, most of us are) and like to do kind things for other people. But sometimes we just can't think of anything to do. I've come to your rescue with 17 different ways to be a kinder person.Please feel free to leave additional suggestions in the comments section of this hub.
How To Pay It Forward With One Kind Act At A Time
- Write a "thank you" note to someone who doesn't expect it.
- While driving, look for opportunities to stop and pick up litter..
- Pay the bridge toll for the car in back of you.
- Wheel in a neighbors trash carrier for them.
- Prepare a sack lunch for a homeless person and hand it to them as you pass by.
- Prepare homemade chicken soup for a sick person.
- Help an elderly person load grocieries into their car at the supermarket.
- Visit a nursing home, find out who has no family and spend time with them.
- Give a "grouch" a hug.
- Pump gas for the elderly and wash the car windows..
- Adopt a homeless pet instead of getting a new one..
- Notify police immediately when you see a pet left in a hot car.
- Donate unwanted goods to charity
- Purchase gifts to hand out at a childrens hospital.
- Donate your talent or time to a school or hospital.
- Recycle everything. There isn't much that can't be re-used in some way.
- If someone in line at a supermarket is short a couple of dollars, cover the amount.
He who gives when he is asked has waited too long.
~Sunshine Magazine
A Simple Act of Kindness
When someone extends a helping hand to us or does a good deed, we seldom if ever can pay that person back. But we can help someone else and when we do we are paying it forward. Now is the time to pay it forward and make a better world.
One afternoon as I was out doing errands I suddenly became thirsty, craving a diet coke. I was completely worn out and anxious to get home. Just up ahead I spotted a McDonalds and pulled into the drive-through ordering a small drink.
Waiting in line in front of me was a man in a "U-Haul" van picking up his order. As the driver of the van was paying for his food I noticed a wave and a smile directed to me as he drove out of Mc Donalds.
As I proceeded to pay for my drink, the young woman at the pick-up window also smiled and said "There's no charge. The man in the u-haul paid for your order."
Big deal? Some of you might be thinking "no big deal." But to me it was. It was a very big deal. That small act of kindness took me from a very tired and drained shopper to a lighthearted, beaming with energy person.
I will never see the man in the u-haul again. I will never be able to thank him. But I can "pay it forward." Another act of kindness to pass on to someone else.
Dare to reach out your hand into the darkness, to pull another hand into the light. ~Norman B. Rice
Kindness Given Freely By A Complete Stranger
I didn't remember much after I hit the pavement. Somewhere, off in the distance I could hear a siren screaming. The voice of a woman softly telling me not to move and that help is on the way.
Another voice echoed, "Lift her head gently so I can make a pillow for her with my coat." I was so cold that even my pink sweatsuit and pink leather Ugg Boots lined with soft lamb's wool couldn't keep my body from shaking.
I would learn later that wearing those Ugg Boots was a big mistake. It seems that the emergency room had it's share of women experiencing nasty falls because of the way the soles are constructed.
All I could think about besides the pain coursing through my body was my little Shi Ztu. He and I were just beginning our walk in a nearby office complex with pebbled walks and green lawns. Somehow I tripped and down I went.
I pleaded for the kind woman kneeling next to me to keep my little dog safe. She was a stranger, but this kind lady was all I had. She assured me that my Clancey would be well taken care of and I was not to worry.
The sound of the siren became louder and in seconds I was being lifted into the ambulance. The kind lady was given my address as well as directions to my neighbors house and once more she assured me that Clancey would be well taken care of.
A Beautiful Example of Kindness
Laying in a hospital bed and hooked up to an IV, all I could think about was my little dog. Was he hungry, scared and confused? All I wanted to do was go home. The nurse came into my room and handed me the phone. "You have a call from the lady who helped you." Because both of my hands were a little banged up from the fall, the nurse held the phone up to my ear. It was like speaking to an angel.
She assured me that Clancey was just fine and at my neighbors house being looked after. She had went to McDonalds for a bite to eat and ordered a side of chicken and some water for Clancey. Then she drove over to my area and went door to door to find the right neighbor to take care of Clancey until I arrived home later that evening.
I thanked her for all she had done. I also found out that she lived quite a long distance away from me. She wished me well after making sure there was nothing more she could do for me.
She also called the hospital to check up on me several times during my evenings stay. I never saw or spoke to her again.
3 Simple Acts of Kindness
- Smile at people
- Say "Hi".
- Pick up stray trash
Clancey
Final Thoughts
I will never be able to repay the nice lady, that good samaritan, who stopped to help me when I fell. She went way beyond the call to come to the rescue of a perfect stranger and her little dog. But I can pass on what I have learned from her. I can pay it forward and make a better world.
The feeling of paying it forward is one of the best we can experience as a human being The reward is in the doing, in the act of giving. There is no thought of reward. There is no need to be thanked.
Find some inspiration and jot down a list of ways you can pay it forward. Consider more small acts of kindness that you can generate. Once you've learned how to do this, it will change your life. Charity is pure love.
expect to pass through life but once. If therefore, there be any kindness I can show, or any good thing I can do to any fellow being, let me do it now, and not defer or neglect it, as I shall not pass this way again.
~William Penn
Please Answer The Following Question
Which Of The Following Ways Do You Practice Kindness?
© 2012 Audrey Hunt
Comments
Audrey,
An Angel wrote this hub, and her name is vocalcoach and she flies through the hearts of all her fans and I am one of them.
We are blessed to have you to share all your talents with us. I thank you from my heart.
Bobbi Purvis
Vocalcoach, I enjoyed your hub, including the video and links. Recently a friend of mine posted a neat post on facebook. Basically it said, "I am looking for 5 people to do something nice for this year. It can be anything from a post-card to making cookies. It will be when and what I want to do for you. My only criteria is that you post this on your site and are willing to do the same for 5 other people." I thought that was a great idea and reminded me of your hub. Lenzy
Your final quote is one of my absolute favorites. I try to do little (or big) things for people all the time. Purposely "pay it forward" is something I will intentionally start doing. Very thought provoking. Thank you for writing and sharing it with the rest of us. Voted up and awesome.
Such great advice! When my son was around 4, a very elderly lady was in line at the grocery store in front of us. I would normally have my children in a cart at that age, but my daughter wasn't with us that particular shopping trip. So I let my son walk with me. The lady dropped money on the floor and was too frail to bend down and pick it up. My son picked it up for her and handed it to her. The lady smiled and said a quiet thank you.
As we were going to leave, a lady behind us gave my son an ice cream on her. She said that he did such a nice thing and she wanted to do something nice for him to show him kindness still means something in the world. I thought that was so sweet.
What a great hub! I am a big fan of the pay it forward thing--and while I am sorry you had your accident, it gave someone else the opportunity to do something really kind--best to you!!
This just highlights that 'kindness' doesn't need to be some grand over-inflated gesture. Simple things such as paying for someone's drink or just assisting some in need.
I have paid for people in line behind me at the grocery store. I'm not sure who felt better for it, me or them.
Here in Brazil, I see much of this. People who are considered poor, find other ways to help. People bring me plants, help me with my car, and generally pitch in to help a neighbor.
Well written hub. I'll be sharing.
These are all great ideas. I especially like the ones of giving a bag lunch to a homeless person and helping the elderly load or unload their groceries, visiting the nursing home or a hospital patient with no family, etc. Everything doesn't have to cost a lot of money to be helpful. Voted up, useful, and will share.
I love this hub with a clear passion. Especially the photo of vocal coach and Clancey.
Your lists, tips, were spot-on.
If Christians would read this hub and put these things into motion, what a great place our world be.
vocal coach, you rock!
After reading another hub about acts of kindness I started trying to do these things each day. Yesterday I did an act of kindness and then got kicked in the face (metaphorically speaking). I just took a deep breath and kept on going. It can be hard to pay it forward when there are people ready to tear you down! Arg.
If a stranger paid for my drink I would be certainly uplifted!!! I do think it was a big deal, never happened to me (although a nice Australian man paid for my visa on arrival to Indonesia, he was totally wanting you know what, which makes it completely different). Kindness, when not expected, can be particularly effective in lightening up our lives and sometimes doesn't really cost anything. Nice experience sharing, thoughts and ideas for a hub.
This is a first hand account as to the goodwill that is still to be found in the human race. How very refreshing! I particularly love your tip of giving a grouch a hug. I think that would force a smile onto anyone's face! Great hub, Audrey!
Ah, Leslie shared this heartwarming, beautiful and loving piece that I had missed the first time around, Audrey.
Simply perfect... an inspirational and powerful read.
Merry Christmas to you and family. Love, Maria
I find this hub beautiful and inspiring. Thank you!
when you were lying on the pavement with only one friend in the world - i was right there with you! This brought back memories - big time - although i would never blame my beautiful, warm, fuzzy uggs for anything - i'm sorry that yours 'turned' on you..
mine was a amotorcycle accident - and my new 'best friend' was the lead ambulance driver - who was wonderful and stayed with me all the way until x-ray (against policy, but - i begged...lol)..and came to visit the next day bearing a teddy bear!
I absolutely LOVE your list of small ways to pay it forward every day! They're fabulous! I often wonder 'what can i do, what can i do?' and worry i'm not doing all i could - and these really help!
sharing forward and posting to HOW..
A great lesson is shared by you vocalcoach. It is always the small things that bother us but also the small things people do to help that also mean the most. This happened to me when I was on the bus to the mall and I had no idea that the fare had gone up 50 cents. I also use my credit card to buy everything so only had enough change for one way now. Then a stranger handed me one of his bus tickets and told me to have a nice day. You are right about how good it makes you feel that someone cares to show a kindness to an stranger. I never forgot this either and go about my day doing little things to pay it forward. I so like that way to live.
Beautiful Audrey and I vote up and across plus share. Here's to a wonderful day for you.
Eddy.
So sorry your UGG boots caused you so much damage and pain! (I wrote a review on Uggs and didn't include that aspect.)
As for this hub, it shows basically we are all good. Little thinks in life are what make it worthwhile. Paying it forward is so easy and I think we do it sometimes without even thinking.
I think the Sandy Recovery is making it's own pay it forward movement and showing that William Penn is right, if there is any goodness we can do, let us do it now.
Voted up, useful, awesome, and interersting.
Such an inspirational hub!
What a beautiful story and simple but great ideas for paying it forward. Thankfully there are some amazing people out there. The woman who took care of Clancy for you was one of them. Strangely, ny son and I stopped to buy a coke the other day. A young man came to the register at the same time as us. He insisted on paying for our drinks. I was speechless. It was so unexpected and so sweet. Like you, the only way to repay it is to pay it forward! Thank you for this great read and beautiful words! I look forward to reading more of your hubs!
I love your wonderful ideas for paying it forward. Let us build a better world one person at a time through one act of kindness at a time. God Bless You Sister! :-)
Your friend,
James
Love the Ugg boots...both of my little girls love their pink boots...so I of course thought of them when I saw your first photo....sorry your boots caused some stress in your life.
I am glad that Clancey was taken care of by such a wonderful person....a great story to read....and one that makes very happy to read that people like this are still out there....voted up and interesting.
With all the bad news we hear about nowadays, it's great to be reminded that there are these kind selfless people in the world around us. Reading this has brought a smile to my lips (plus I know just the grouch I am going to hug next time I see her!)
What a lovely hub and an inspiration for us all to do more for others. Sometimes life passes us by and we forget to stop and be present in the moment, by looking for opportunities to pass on random acts of kindness not only do we stay present we also make the world just a little bit better. Something I like to do from time to time is to take a big bunch of flowers to someone who is in hospital and has no family. Voted up and beautiful.
Oops! Looking at your list of acts of kindness, I realize that I'm not really that kind. I do practice my own acts of kindness and I'm happy when I can help someone in need. Beautiful hub :)
What an awesome hub! how lovely that the lady who helped you went on to find somewhere to keep your dog safe too, and of course the guy as well, yes you are so right, we should always go out of our way to help others when we can, and of course when someone helps us it makes us feel so wonderful, amazing hub, cheers nell
This really is one of my fave hubs of yours Audrey. I am back to share, this one needs a bump this weekend!
Wonderful! I really enjoyed reading your article and I completely agree with you about "paying it forward"....and as I read this, with all the terrific things we can do to assist others, it made me think of the amazing movie, "Pay it Forward", with Helen Hunt....it's one of the best movies I've ever seen, and if you haven't seen it, you may want to check it out. Thank you for sharing this and take care! Helen
Oh my goodness, I have teary eyes after reading this hub. It is so wonderful when the good comes out of the people around us. Voted up and sharing.
Audrey, stories and accounts like these keep my faith alive in the goodness we have in us all. Somehow along the way of life dust has managed to accumulate on it. We need to dust off this dirt of being insensitive to others' need.
There are instances in the lives of each one of us when we have been helped by a kind thought, a kind deed being done without a purpose of gratification. It would be so much nicer to pay this forward as most of the time that someone who has done us good has not even waited to accept our thanks.
Wonderful hub, great thoughts and very useful list of ideas to perform a good deed. You are a kind lady indeed Audrey, it shows in your writings.
Voted up and all across. Shared these wonderful thoughts too.
I was recently walking in a big city when I saw a woman struggling to carry four large moving boxes from her car to a nearby building. A passing pedestrian stopped to help her carry the boxes. It probably took him only about two minutes, but it made her day much better!
This is a great story and just the other day I was really tired in Walmart with my two smaller kids my son asked to take my nook in the store and I thought it would keep him busy so we could grab dinner. At the check out he stood up in the basket and put the nook on the counter. Long story short the little boy in line behind me ran all the way to my car and gave it to me ~ I wanted to hug him but he ran away super fast I'm really thankful....Voted up
You sure are a popular lady with all these comments. Your story touched my soul. You tell stories well, and they are so easy to follow. I saw a movie about paying it forward. It was sad, so unlike your hub. I remember that you do training over the phone. That must be so interesting to meet all kinds of people. I may get in touch with you. I hope you still have that nice little dog Clancy, and thank God for that lovely lady. Happy writing. Regards, Audrey - from Audrey I remembered we have the same name.
Thanks for writing this wonderful hub, what a great message to spread! Glad you and Clancey are well.....Voted up!
Great hub. Simple acts of love require little but reap huge benefits to the giver and receiver.
I loved this! What sweet experiences! Is Clancey the dog that you recently lost? What a special little buddy. Loved this hub. It would behoove us all to do these random acts of kindness. I'm going to try to remember to do more! Thanks! I'm sharing this one!
How cute is Clancy! I adore the kind things in life and this hub personifies just that! Thank you for sharing your warm wisdom, Audry. My favorite one is "give a grouch a hug" it is all but my mantra!
HubHugs~
Such an excellent Hub! Loved it, Shared and voted up.
Thanks, Audrey...kindness begets kindness....if only more of us see it that way.
This is a way of life for us. A few years ago I took in a woman who had just come out of an abusive relationship. Her and I together have been helping others out of abusive relationships and homeless people with children since. We now for the most part support two homes where we see the the needs of the locals. We occasionally take them in from further afield when it is in the best interest of the mother to be far from her abuser.
We offer a hand up instead of a hand out. The women need to know their life has value. They can choose to work for the corporation or volunteer at local schools and churches. Some do both. In reality we teach pay it forward by example. I still volunteer usually six weeks of the year, outside the corporate walls.
This was a great idea for a hub, we will be sharing it in our facebook group "Optimization Land".
Hi vocalcoach... this in itself is a great way to pay it forward as it speaks volumes to the kind of person you are. The many eyes who will read this will likely do something kind to another during their day. Great hub thank you for sharing this with us.
Hugs from Canada
My granny believed in the "pay it forward" principal, but she called it "casting your bread upon the waters" - she taught us that we should always be ready to help without being asked, and that those random acts of kindness would someday come back to us from an unexpected source at a time when we needed help. Her expression was "Cast your bread upon the waters - someday it will come back to you."
This is a wonderful, inspiring hub! I think most people are kind hearted. The world has just become too fast paced, everyone is in such a hurry. I hope your message is contagious. What a wonderful world this would be if everyone would "pay it forward". Voted up and socially sharing. Have a wonderful day! :)
This hub has made me burst for joy in humanity. We really do have a good side! Sometimes the stresses of life get in the way and it's too easy to focus on the negative. But, I was nearly in happy tears as I read this. You also gave me some ideas. Thank you for writing this!!
Your hub touched my heart. A stranger helping withiout knowing who you are - kindest act ever. A great hub. Voted up.
@vocalcoach...This is so inspirational and certainly promotes the idea of "paying forward".
Wasn't that phrase started by an elementary child who was honored in a movie by the same name? It really is a powerful force for good when applied in daily life.
What an amazing story. Thanks for sharing it. When I visited your page I was drawn by the Uggs and Act of kindness title thinking it would be a list of things to do - your story is a great example of what is Right in the world.
Amazing what a small act of kindness does. I'm so Glad that your are all right Vocalcoach, I too have been there and done that kind of a fall. People, strangers, can be Wonderful... and when it's my turn, I'm hoping to do my part. Thanks for sharing.
Wow, vocalcoach,
judging by the number of comments, YOU are one talented person. And I know I admire your talent too. This was a truly enjoyable read. Cheered me up. "One kind, obscure act in the east will ultimately affect an event to the west," an old saying I picked up. VOTED UP and all the way. Glad to meet you on Hubs. May you continue to touch lives with your amazing talent.
Your friend,
Kenneth
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