Day 362 to 366 – The Final Post

Well, my year is over and I completed at least 3971 random acts of kindness in 366 days… an average of just over ten a day … 10.8 to be exact!

I’m really grateful to the journalist Helen Chislett for suggesting and encouraging the endeavour … I would never have embarked on it without her influence … thank you.
 
This Blog was not the beginning and is not the end of my acts of kindness. My random acts of services did not commence on the 30^thNovember 2011, they began many years ago and were motivated by my Faith and the wonderful story of the stranded starfish.

Like most true stories my story began in the 'middle' and will forever be a record of how we can all make a positive difference to someone else’s life ... if we choose to.

I know my acts of kindness will not be nationally or internationally recognise, they do not merit a Nobel Prize or an MBE, and they will not be included in the final narrative of the 21^st Century; when historians get around to write it. But in some small way each act made a positive difference to someone and for that the World must be a better place ... well at least I hope it is.

My final recorded random acts of kindness included:

30 x Proactively ‘gave-way’ to other drivers

5 x Gave a big smile to a stranger

4 x Gave cash to a charity
3 x Held the door open for someone
3 x Put neighbours bin back after the bin men had been
15 x Proactively ‘gave-way’ to a pedestrian
3 x Picked up rubbish in the neighbourhood
4 x Voluntary Work for the Langford Village Community Association
4 x Voluntary Work for the Patients Reference Group

Sub total: 71
Final total: 3971

Target: 3000+ in 12months

Commenced 30^thNovember 2011- Concluded 29^th November 2012

Motivation for ‘’My Ten-a-day’

One day a man was walking along the beach when he noticed a boy picking something up and gently throwing it into the ocean.

Approaching the boy, he asked, “What are you doing?”

The youth replied, “Throwing starfish back into the ocean. The surf is up and the tide is going out. If I don’t throw them back, they’ll die.”

“Son,” the man said, “don’t you realize there are miles and miles of beach and hundreds of starfish? You can’t make a difference!”

After listening politely, the boy bent down, picked up another starfish, and threw it back into the surf. Then, smiling at the man, he said, “I made a difference for that one.”

 

 

Day 345 to 361 – 'Reasons' To Be Cheerful!

Today was to be my first full day with my new link. Jacob (not his real name) is severely autistic and his family are in desperate need of some respite care, so they can have some time doing 'normal' things with each other; things we would take for granted.

Unfortunately I hurt my back falling on the stairs last week and I am now in the grip of sciatica … certainly a 'reason' to postpone today’s outing.

Also the Youth Club I was to take him to this morning had to close for the day because of some building work … another 'reason' to postpone the day.

To top it all … high winds and rain were expected today. This could make driving conditions dangerous … yes, you’ve guessed it, the final 'reason' to spoil a wonderful opportunity to serve Jacob and his family.

But maybe not!!!!

There are often reasons why we cannot do good deeds, but rarely are they insurmountable.

Today’s respite care went ahead as planned, the adversity was overcome and the reward was to hear Jacob squeal with laughter and delight when he bowled a strike at the ten-pin bowling alley this afternoon … sheer joy!!

Other ‘reasons to be cheerful’ over the past two weeks have included:

96 x Proactively ‘gave-way’ to other drivers

15 x Gave a big smile to a stranger

21 x Gave cash to a charity
12 x Held the door open for someone

8 x Voluntary work for Ipsos Access Panels

2 x Voluntary work for Take-A-Break
1 x Helped someone in need
11 x Put neighbours bin back after the bin men had been
29 x Proactively ‘gave-way’ to a pedestrian
10 x Picked up rubbish in the neighbourhood
1 x Gave my money back after being given too much change
20 x Voluntary Work for the Langford Village Community Association
1 x Lent a stranger my telephone to make a call
3 x Replaced store’s merchandise that had fallen off the display

Sub total: 230
Running total: 3900

Target: 3000+ in 12months

Commenced 30^thNovember 2011

Motivation for ‘’My Ten-a-day’

One day a man was walking along the beach when he noticed a boy picking something up and gently throwing it into the ocean.

Approaching the boy, he asked, “What are you doing?”

The youth replied, “Throwing starfish back into the ocean. The surf is up and the tide is going out. If I don’t throw them back, they’ll die.”

“Son,” the man said, “don’t you realize there are miles and miles of beach and hundreds of starfish? You can’t make a difference!”

After listening politely, the boy bent down, picked up another starfish, and threw it back into the surf. Then, smiling at the man, he said, “I made a difference for that one.”

 

Day 328 to 344 - Ripples!

As I come to the end of this Blog … 22 days to go! … I am beginning to reflect on the past year and begin to wonder what consequences resulted in each individual act of kindness shown.

I am sure that many of the recipients appreciate, at the time, the kind act and maybe some perpetuated the kindness by doing good to someone else.

Maybe those of you who have read my ‘postings’ were inspired to do some good yourselves.

Maybe the act of kindness had a profound affect on someone’s life or simply reminded them that there are still people out there that care.

Like dropping a pebble into the water, acts of kindness have a tendency to ripple out, circling on and on and on. Spreading from the centre, they flow out into humanity and there is no way of telling what affect they will have and where they will end.

I’m on the home stretch now!

Pebbles dropped into life’s living water recently included:

80 x Proactively ‘gave-way’ to other drivers

14 x Gave a big smile to a stranger

13 x Gave cash to a charity
12 x Held the door open for someone

10 x Voluntary work for Ipsos Access Panels

8 x Voluntary work for Take-A-Break
1 x Voluntary work for Patient Reference Group (NHS)
4 x Wrote a letter of appreciation to someone
7 x Put neighbours bin back after the bin men had been
20 x Proactively ‘gave-way’ to a pedestrian
5 x Picked up rubbish in the neighbourhood
1 x Voluntary work for the Thames Valley Police
1 x Gave my neighbour a lift into town
9 x Voluntary Work for the Langford Village Community Association
1 x Helped a stranger with her food tray at a restaurant
1 x Replaced store’s merchandise that had fallen off the display

Sub total: 187
Running total: 3670

Target: 3000+ in 12months

Commenced 30^thNovember 2011

Motivation for ‘’My Ten-a-day’

One day a man was walking along the beach when he noticed a boy picking something up and gently throwing it into the ocean.

Approaching the boy, he asked, “What are you doing?”

The youth replied, “Throwing starfish back into the ocean. The surf is up and the tide is going out. If I don’t throw them back, they’ll die.”

“Son,” the man said, “don’t you realize there are miles and miles of beach and hundreds of starfish? You can’t make a difference!”

After listening politely, the boy bent down, picked up another starfish, and threw it back into the surf. Then, smiling at the man, he said, “I made a difference for that one.”

 

Day 307 to 327 – Showing Us the Way

This week’s outing with Harry followed the same familiar pattern; Bowling, McDonalds and City Centre shopping. Although we pretty much do the same thing every month, I still get great joy out of being with this very special young man.

As we enter the MK Centre we pass the Big Issue seller. Each time we do this I stop and buy a magazine from the vendor. Unfortunately I had no change so decided to by-pass the seller and purchase one on the way out. To my surprise and joy Harry had other ideas. He boldly walked straight up to the women and waited for me to make my purchase.

What a valuable lesson Harry was teaching me. The buying of the a Big Issue had become part of the routine of our outings together. In other words ‘doing good’ was now a habit and behaviour that Harry needed to complete. If only we all could be that teachable and make habits of 'doing good' so quickly … thanks Harry!

Other good deeds achieved these last few weeks included:

63 x Proactively ‘gave-way’ to other drivers

25 x Gave a big smile to a stranger

20 x Gave cash to a charity
22 x Held the door open for someone

20 x Voluntary work for Ipsos Access Panels

4 x Gave respite care to a family

3 x Struck-up a cheery conversation with a stranger

2 x Wrote a letter of appreciation to someone
7 x Put neighbours bin back after the bin men had been
35 x Proactively ‘gave-way’ to a pedestrian

1 x Voluntary work at the NHS

4 x Picked up rubbish in the neighbourhood

1 x Gave cash to a Big Issue seller

Sub total: 207
Running total: 3483

Target: 3000+ in 12months

Commenced 30^thNovember 2011

Motivation for ‘’My Ten-a-day’

One day a man was walking along the beach when he noticed a boy picking something up and gently throwing it into the ocean.

Approaching the boy, he asked, “What are you doing?”

The youth replied, “Throwing starfish back into the ocean. The surf is up and the tide is going out. If I don’t throw them back, they’ll die.”

“Son,” the man said, “don’t you realize there are miles and miles of beach and hundreds of starfish? You can’t make a difference!”

After listening politely, the boy bent down, picked up another starfish, and threw it back into the surf. Then, smiling at the man, he said, “I made a difference for that one.”

 

Day 301 to 306 – The Sleeping Children

During my recent trip to Paris, France, I found myself walking through the Saint-Germain district. This is quite an affluent area of the City with many luxurious houses, hotels, shops and restaurants. It is also the home of the ‘homeless’; men, women and children who live and sleep on the streets.

I passed two young children, maybe 5 or 6 yo, sleeping between their mother and father on the sidewalk. The father was patting his child to help her settle; the noise of the busy traffic and pedestrians was probably the reason why the child could not sleep.

What a pitiful and sad sight. Even now as I write this entry I am brought to tears. Why, in a City as rich and beautiful as Paris, do we have children sleeping on the streets? What sort of people are we to allow such a situation to persist in a, so called, civilised Western society?

I gave the family all the Euros I had … which wasn’t much. I wish I could have done more.

Other acts of kindness achieved this week included:

2 x Gave cash to a charity
1 x Gave cash to a homeless family
2 x Gave cash to a beggar
25 x Proactively ‘gave-way’ to other drivers
1 x Picked up rubbish in the neighbourhood
4 x Voluntary work for Ipsos Access Panels
2 x Gave a spontaneous gift to a friend
2 x Voluntary work with the local community association
1 x Did an act of kindness to a colleague

5 x Gave a big smile to a stranger

1 x Gave respite care to a family
6 x Proactively ‘gave-way’ to a pedestrian

1 x Gave cash to a Big Issue seller

Sub total: 53
Running total: 3276

Target: 3000+ in 12months

Commenced 30^thNovember 2011

Motivation for ‘’My Ten-a-day’

One day a man was walking along the beach when he noticed a boy picking something up and gently throwing it into the ocean.

Approaching the boy, he asked, “What are you doing?”

The youth replied, “Throwing starfish back into the ocean. The surf is up and the tide is going out. If I don’t throw them back, they’ll die.”

“Son,” the man said, “don’t you realize there are miles and miles of beach and hundreds of starfish? You can’t make a difference!”

After listening politely, the boy bent down, picked up another starfish, and threw it back into the surf. Then, smiling at the man, he said, “I made a difference for that one.”

 

Day 288 to 300 – Just Do It!!!

Over the past few years I have often been in a queue at the checkout of a store when the person in front of me has simply run out of money to pay for the goods they have selected. I’ve often wondered what would be the right thing to do in these circumstances.

Recently I was faced with this very dilemma in two stores in my town and, on both occasions, I simply pitched in and gave the person the money they needed.

Sometimes we just need to act! …‘wondering’ about things will never get the job done!!

Other opportunities presented to me recently have included:

7 x Gave cash to a charity
2 x Gave cash to a shopper short of change
64 x Proactively ‘gave-way’ to other drivers
3 x Picked up rubbish in the neighbourhood
35 x Wrote a letter of appreciation to someone
5 x Helped someone in need
3 x Voluntary work with the local community association
4 x Held the door open for someone

8 x Gave a big smile to a stranger

4 x Put neighbours bin back after the binmen had been

2 x Voluntary work for Ipsos Access Panels

Sub total: 137
Running total: 3223

Target: 3000+ in 12months
 
Commenced 30^thNovember 2011

Motivation for ‘’My Ten-a-day’

One day a man was walking along the beach when he noticed a boy picking something up and gently throwing it into the ocean.

Approaching the boy, he asked, “What are you doing?”

The youth replied, “Throwing starfish back into the ocean. The surf is up and the tide is going out. If I don’t throw them back, they’ll die.”

“Son,” the man said, “don’t you realize there are miles and miles of beach and hundreds of starfish? You can’t make a difference!”

After listening politely, the boy bent down, picked up another starfish, and threw it back into the surf. Then, smiling at the man, he said, “I made a difference for that one.”

 

Day 271 to 287 – Meeting Special People

Over the past few weeks Social Services have linked me with another autistic child. Like Harry he has very little speech and has some quite challenging behaviours. But there is something about these children that is special and unique. The day I met this boy I immediately ‘clicked’ with him and fortunately he ‘clicked’ with me; he is the most endearing child.

I’m really looking forward to spending time with this boy by providing his family with respite care.

I would encourage anyone to get involved with this type of voluntary work; especially men (they are really short of males willing to do this type of voluntary service). It can be worked around a busy career and can be a little as one Saturday morning a month. Go on! … give it ago!!

Other random acts of kindness achieved this last few weeks have included:

7 x Gave cash to a charity
93 x Proactively ‘gave-way’ to other drivers
8 x Picked up rubbish in the neighbourhood
4 x Involved in giving respite care
31 x Held the door open for someone

5 x Voluntary work for Ipsos Access Panels

1 x Gave some brand new tools to the guy who put down our wooden floor
9 x Proactively ‘gave-way’ to a pedestrian
8 x Put neighbours bin back after the bin men had been

8 x Gave a big smile to a stranger

77 x Wrote a letter of appreciation to someone

Sub total: 251
Running total: 3086!!!

Target: 3000+ in 12months

Commenced 30^thNovember 2011

Motivation for ‘’My Ten-a-day’

One day a man was walking along the beach when he noticed a boy picking something up and gently throwing it into the ocean.

Approaching the boy, he asked, “What are you doing?”

The youth replied, “Throwing starfish back into the ocean. The surf is up and the tide is going out. If I don’t throw them back, they’ll die.”

“Son,” the man said, “don’t you realize there are miles and miles of beach and hundreds of starfish? You can’t make a difference!”

After listening politely, the boy bent down, picked up another starfish, and threw it back into the surf. Then, smiling at the man, he said, “I made a difference for that one.”