Random Acts of Kindness — tell us what yours are
Lake Tahoe News wants to start off 2012 on a happy, positive, joyful (insert favorite word) note. Mostly, we want it to be a kind note.
With that said, January will be Random Acts of Kindness Month on Lake Tahoe News.
We are asking all readers to let us know about a Random Act of Kindness that they did, were a recipient of, or that they witnessed. It could be as simple as opening a door for someone.
Start today by putting a comment at the end of this story. Then, each day a Random Acts of Kindness story will be on Lake Tahoe News announcing who won, why that person won and what was won.
We realize people may be reluctant to promote themselves. We hope you will get beyond that because your kindness deserves recognition and ideally will help foster more kindness from everyone who reads about it.
We also realize you may not want to get credit for receiving or witnessing a Random Act of Kindness. Still, the awareness of it and acknowledgement should be made public so people can see the world is full of goodness. The other thing you can do is ask the people involved if you could post their name and write about the Act. If you want them to be in the running for the prize, first post what the Random Act of Kindness was and say that you want that person to be a contender for the prize. Then you will need to send their email address to info@LakeTahoeNews.net with RAOK in the subject line and details in the body of the email or tell them about Random Acts of Kindness to have them write a comment on Lake Tahoe News so they put themselves in the running.
Randomly, one of the people who writes in will be rewarded each day in January.
While Random Acts of Kindness should not necessitate more than a “thank you” from the person on the receiving end, with the help of dozens of local businesses we are going to reward you for your Random Acts of Kindness.
Our goal is the kindness expressed throughout January will continue forever. But this will only be successful if you tell us about the Random Acts of Kindness. If you are shy about receiving a gift, consider donating your gift – if appropriate – to further extend the Random Act of Kindness.
A few rules and things to know:
• Anyone, living anywhere may participate. This includes people who write for Lake Tahoe News or do other work, advertisers, previous contest winners, and people in another country (though you may need to come to Tahoe to get your gift).
• Winners’ full names will be published.
• Prizes have already been assigned to specific dates so there cannot even be the perception of an individual or response receiving preferential treatment.
• All negative, irrelevant comments will be marked as spam. Go by the rule – If you can’t something nice, don’t say anything at all.
Thank you in advance for being part of Lake Tahoe News’ inaugural Random Acts of Kindness Month.
I helped a woman who was stranded at the side of the road. I ordinarily wouldn’t stop to help a complete stranger but the situation “felt” safe to me and she seemed like she could really use the help. As it turned out she ran out of gas and was on her way to Arizona to help her dad.
I helped a man from Portland locate his runaway daughter.
We were the recipients of a Random Act of Kindness. My husband and I were splitting wood in our driveway and a couple riding by on their bicycles stopped and helped us finish up. He split the rest of the rounds and she helped us stack it on the porch. Totally made our day. Thanks again!
Back in the 60’s when I was an ubnoxious teenager, driving a big ugly fire engine red ’48 Plymouth, and living in the Bay Area, I would pay the bridge toll for the car behind me. I would do this when an older person (over 30!) who may not care for obnoxious teenagers was behind me. It was great fun to watch them argue with the toll-taker then race to catch up with me (not that difficult to do, me in my Plymouth) and wave “thanks”.
Bridge tolls ranged from 35 cents to maybe a dollar by the end of the 60’s. Now that tolls are $5 or more I don’t don’t do it anymore.
Maybe I would for an obnoxious youngster (someone under 50) that may not care for geezers!
I was at Cork and More the day after Christmas talking about decorating for the holidays. I mentioned we had lost our house in the angora fire and Christmas was hard because all of the ornaments that had history had been lost. The nice woman in front of me bought all my ornaments I was picking up and a stand of light and I didnt even get her name.
To me the act of kindnes ,is to smile at everyone you see, I went into the store the other day at raleys by the Y AND A GIRL WAS CRYING , I am the type to stop and ask waht was wrong, she said her boyfriend was cheating on her, I said he was not kind and told her it was a sign to tell her she deserved better, I smiled at her and she was telling me I was so possitive about relationships that I put a smile right on her face and she went out and had fun, Of course got her number and I gave her mine, she told me she found a new love , Thats the way it rolls in Lake Tahoe, Positive,and being happy,That made me a wonder Lady for the day,Thats a act of kindness to give to others ,listne and be positive back if all is negative, Act of kindness is giving to others from what you have been threw yourself, advise never hurt any one, .
smiles to give to others,.Happy New Year .
When I was young my mother would always light vigil candles after mass, usually accompanied by one or two of my younger sisters. One day a visitor to our church observed her and noticed that my mother’s coat was very worn. This visitor left her own coat and that of her young daughter’s with the parish priest to give to my mother. My mother appreciated and wore that new coat for many years. She never knew the lady’s identity but thanked her in prayer and always did randon acts of kindness herself.
This ‘random ‘act of kindness’ remains with my sisters and I today and guides us in our own lives.
I cooked New Years dinner so my wife could enjoy her day.
We had a strange occurrence at the office today. We have huge plate glass windows and all of a sudden we heard this big thump and a strange noise. Larry Sabo, a realtor at Paradise Real Estate, went out to investigate and found a very stunned pigeon on the walkway. He took it in his hands and held onto him, brought him into the office and placed him in a dark box to calm down. A few minutes later the bird broke through the box but had blood on his eye, so Larry put him back in the box and took it out to Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care. The bird is hopefully saved because of what Larry did!
An older woman was struggling out of KMart with some packages recently. It was clear that she was having difficulty walking and was in considerable pain. Brenda Knox stopped to inquire if she could help her. The woman gratefully accepted the assistance to her vehicle explaining she had recently fallen and was having difficulty doing routine chores and errands. Brenda often pauses to help others and this is just one of those times.