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.”