ARK - Act of Random Kindness ... have you done one lately?
By super_jj
@super_jj (1416)
Philippines
October 6, 2008 3:50am CST
I was quite pleased with myself as i was able to do something good last Saturday. And i'd like to share it with you guys.
LAst saturday was payday for me here at work, so when i got off from the office at around 2:30pm, i decided to withdraw some money and treat myself and chill at a coffee shop. So after going to the bank, i walked to the coffee shop near the boulevard. The day was humid and i decided to sit by the coffee shop's outdoor tables to enjoy the sea breeze. It was still quite early in the afternoon, so there werent much people there yet. Then came the "Badjaos", (i think they are the Filipino equivalent of the Gypsys). I normally get annoyed at them coz they'd mostly pester you and ask for whatever it is that you are eating. But that day, i didnt feel like getting annoyed. I still havent ordered, anyway. But there was one "Badjao" kid that cought my attention. He was not with the group of the rowdy pre-adolescent "Badjaos". He was alone and his hands were full of bags of peanuts which i later learned he was trying to sell. He was about 8 years old. He came over to my table and asked if i wanted to by some peanuts. I was about to shoo him off, but for some reason,i didnt. I asked him his name. Ronnie, he said. I asked where he lived and why he wasnt at school. He said they live in a plastic tent near the beach. His dad goes to sea to catch some fish for them to eat. His older siblings beg in the streets downtown. His mom buys raw peanuts with the money his older siblings bring home after a day of begging. He says he sells the peanuts so they can buy rice and other food they need. He says he doesnt go to school because they have no money and he doesnt have shoes to wear to school.
Then the waitress came to take my order.
"Are you hungry?" i ask Ronnie. Hesitantly, he nodded shyly.
So i ordered some juice for him and a sandwich.
Afetr taht, he was teary-eyed when he thanked me for the food. He didnt have any breakfast and lunch that day.
It broke my heart that such a young soul like him is burdened by everyday life. He's only 8, he should be in school, or playing with his friends. Not selling peanuts to help support his family.
I told him to meet me at the coffee shop again next month.
When i got home that Saturday, i rummaged through some of my old clothes that i dont use anymore. And i told my mom to rummage through my old kid-clothes. I'm going to bring some of them next month for Ronnie.
After that day, i felt really happy and proud of myself for sharing my afetrnoon with someone who needed what i could offer. It does feel good to help someone, even just one kid.
Have you done any act of random kindness lately?
1 person likes this
6 responses
@mapi26 (549)
• Philippines
6 Oct 08
wow that's nice of you. keep it up! :)
for me, i at least make sure that i help others the best that i can. here in mylot if there are questions that needed to be answered & it's within my knowledge, i make sure to give all possible answers that i know of.
there's also some habit that i do, i don't throw plastic cups, bottles, cans, etc. i don't include these stuff in my garbage bag, this is what they call "kalakal". people usually sell this to those who collect them but what i do is collect them & give it without any payment. for me this is my share for them coz i know that it'll help them a lot. last week i felt so happy with one of the person i gave thse kalakal to. it was 4 in the morning & i was walking headed to my apartment. i have then collected many kalakal, max of 3 black garbage bags. my hubby also decided to throw 2 beds & 3 pillows which was then not in use as our housemate left it. while i was walking i saw a man in his bike, i knew then that he is collecting stuff, i called him & gave the kalakal. i saw in his eyes how happy he was receiving bundles of kalakal that he could sell. i also decided to give the bed, the pilows & some house stuff that we're no longer using. i felt so happy & almost teary eyed when he said that his child could use these things. it almost broke my heart. i know it was not too much to give but i know in my heart i was able to help a man's family to have a decent bed where they could rest during night time. we all know it's hard to sleep in "papag".
2 people like this
@Wordplay (239)
• Canada
7 Oct 08
That was such a beautiful story...it brought tears to my eyes.
I believe in doing random acts of kindness. Sometimes the opportunity just presents itself, as it did in your story. It would have been too easy to ignore the boy and say "it's not my problem". But when you can look back at the situation and know that you have done the right thing, it is the best feeling in the world.
1 person likes this
You made me feel unhuman. I am not the person to show kindness towards total strangers. 
I am very kind to people I know and dont bother with strangers.
@Munchkin547 (2778)
•
6 Oct 08
I don't think i've done any real random acts of kindness lately, although i think you did a good thing!I remember a few weeks ago at work there was a lady who had dementia and she was worried she didn't have any trousers to wear to work the next day. She was obviously really worried about it so i asked her what colour trousers she wanted, she said she wanted blue ones, so i went down to theatres and "borrowed" a pair of blue scrubs trousers for her!! at least she managed to relac after that, i felt i had helped her then!! xxxx
1 person likes this
@rocketj1 (6955)
• United States
7 Oct 08
I have always had trouble with the phrase "random acts of kindness" I don't think kindness should be random at all. I think it should be purposeful and well thought out. Randomness means "hit or miss" to me. Purposefulness is a much more of an intentional use of my time, talents, and resources. There is a purpose to my kindness to others. It is because it is obedience to the one who shared the ultimate kindness with me.
1 person likes this
@red_amethyst (3518)
• Philippines
6 Oct 08
you're title really caught my attention because ARK is my signature in my other forum. sometimes we need to do kindness to the people around us especially the poor and deprived ones. as of now, this day, i really haven't done something kind to others. but normally i do it. no chances at this day though.
take care. God bless
