Fallsnewspress.com - On the Mark: Special week to celebrate random acts of kindness

by Dorothy Markulis, Reporter

When was the last time someone did something kind to you? Better yet, when was the last time you did something kind for someone else?

We're giving you a chance to catch up on your kindness opportunities as we celebrate Random Acts of Kindness Week Feb. 15 through 21.

During this economic low time, there are plenty of opportunities to be kind, whether it's working for Good Neighbors, donating to or working in a church food kitchen ,or offering words of support to someone having a tough time.

My brother, Gary, makes a point of giving a couple bucks to those guys standing out there on street corners with the cardboard signs that say: "Will work for food."

We gave him a lot of grief about that, telling him those guys were playing him for a fool.

He said that didn't matter. His intentions were for good, so he was getting a blessing from it, no matter what the intentions of the receiver was.

We've been following his lead. And you know what? We feel good about it, too.

Occasionally at the newspaper office, we receive cookies, flowers or other gifts from groups like the Scouts, women's clubs, committees and others who want to say thanks. They are never expected, because we feel like we're just doing our jobs. But they are always appreciated.

There's many hard-working professionals out there -- mail carriers, EMS workers, bank tellers, teachers, etc. -- who would appreciate a heartfelt thanks for doing such a good job. Tip a fast food worker at the drive-up window and watch their eyes light up.

I asked my colleagues to share their kind acts -- most wanted to be anonymous -- and got a wide variety of responses. It illustrated the many ways, both large and small, of showing kindness.

One gal said she loves it when she goes to empty the dishwasher and discovers her husband had tackled the chore earlier. As any woman will attest, that is a true act of kindness and love.

Another office co-worker commented, "I think it's awful that I have to really think about it. There's just not enough random acts of kindness."

Good point. It's a great topic for discussion in your own home or office.

Funny though, this same girl is the one who is always doing something special for others, whether it's a little food treat, kind words or cleaning the snow off everyone's car in the company parking lot.

Sometimes, just a friendly wave is an act of kindness. One guy here makes it a point to wave at cars passing by when he walks his dog.

"Maybe they'll have a better opinion of people in general if they see I'm smiling and waving," he said.

He's totally on the right path. We need more friendly people. That, in itself, is being kind.

There's this patient in a nursing home I visit. He's not only big, he looks mean, always glowering. So I made a point of giving him a big smile.

No smile back.

Next time I saw him, same thing, I smiled, he looked away.

One day I threw caution to the winds. I smiled at him and stood in front of him until he looked at me.

"Hey, that scowl is scaring me. How about a smile?" I said.

He was obviously surprised, but after a moment -- which seemed like an eternity to me -- he graced me with the most beautiful smile I ever saw.

Another co-worker, who is always doing kind things for everyone, said her most recent act of kindness was purchasing a fast food meal for one of the guys with the cardboard signs.

Sometimes an act of kindness sustains us for a day. Don't you just love it when someone says, "You've made my day"?

Sometimes an act of kindness is remembered for many years.

A fellow here recalls when he was in junior high school and needed one particular insect to complete his science class project. He said his dad was walking in a park and saw the insect he needed in the middle of a small swampish pond.

"He waded into the pond, up to his waist, grabbed the insect, and completed my collection," he said.

Another act of kindness, which will probably be remembered for a lifetime, was received by another woman in the office on one of the coldest days of last winter. She was driving to work when she discovered she had a flat tire. Long story short, a stranger changed the tire -- which turned out to be a major project -- in the freezing cold. He would not accept the money she offered but gave her a hug instead.

"I can't take the money," he said. "I gave you a gift. Just shre a gift with someone else."

That stranger nailed the whole point of Random Acts of Kindness Week.

Be kind. You will be blessed.

E-mail: dmarkulis@recordpub.com

Phone: 330-686-3943