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.”