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Random Acts of Kindness

September 6th, 2013 at 05:29 pm

Yesterday while I was waiting for the train home a young woman suddenly started screaming and running around the station in a panic. I recognized her as one of our special students. We have a program here at the college for college-age young adults who are developmentally disabled. They don't earn a degree, but they take classes in life skills (practical information to help them be independent)and they earn a certificate. It's a great program.

I had trouble understanding what she was saying at first, as her speech is slurred, but it turned out she had left her wallet at the college. I offered to help her and she asked me to go with her to find it. Begged me, actually. There was a taxi sitting at the station, so she and I took it (I wasn't sure she could walk to the college -- she has a bad limp). And anyway she was in such a panic, I don't think she could have walked for that reason alone. Long story short, after checking two different buildings, she actually found the wallet. The taxi driver could see the situation and was very kind about waiting for us as we looked. The charge was $9 and I gave him a $2 tip.

It was hard to make the girl understand that we missed the train and that we would have to wait for another one, but when she comprehended, she called her mother to tell her she would be on a later train. I must have asked her a dozen times if her mother would be there and she said yes. So I just have to believe she eventually got where she was supposed to be safely.

Her only response after she was all settled down was, "Do you have any gum?" But I know there is a mother somewhere thanking me.

The funny thing is, I came to someone else's rescue again this morning! There was a man on the train who had a ticket, but it wasn't for the right zone. The conductor told him he would need to pay more to get to his destination, and he said he didn't have cash, just the ticket. I was sitting right across the aisle, so I asked the conductor if it would help to take a punch out of my ticket (which is just an extra that I purchased the day I forgot my monthly pass). Basically I was donating one of my rides, but since it is only a back-up ticket for me it didn't feel like I was losing anything. I was glad to help.

So call me superhero! Seriously, I do like to do random acts of kindness, but rarely get the opportunity two days in a row. It's a nice warm fuzzy feeling!

There was no other spending yesterday besides the taxi, and I brought my breakfast and lunch today.

I've made an appointment with the contractor to fix my ceiling next Wednesday.

The weekend is almost upon us, and life is good!

12 Responses to “Random Acts of Kindness”

  1. creditcardfree Says:
    1378486609

    Thanks for sharing! You did some very nice things. And I'm sure her mother is grateful.

  2. rachel021406 Says:
    1378489045

    How awesome!! Maybe they will pay it forward!

  3. PatientSaver Says:
    1378489398

    Well done! If everyone did that when they saw a need, imagine what a world it would be.

  4. pjmama Says:
    1378489850

    How wonderful! That was great of you to do. It can be so anxiety-arousing for young people like her when something out of the ordinary like that happens. I'm sure that situation could have escalated to far worse!

  5. NJDebbie Says:
    1378505280

    I was touched by your kindness. May the universe pay it forward!

  6. LuckyRobin Says:
    1378507918

    I'm sure you made that man's day and maybe even restored his faith in humanity! As for the girl, you made her feel safe and secure and I'm sure that she will remember that, even though it may not seem like much of it got through. You did good. You are good people!

  7. My English Castle Says:
    1378518931

    Love it!

  8. Thrifty Ray Says:
    1378526398

    What kind acts to do for others in need. Thank you!!

  9. baselle Says:
    1378529972

    Way to end your week on a high note!

  10. Looking Forward Says:
    1378534515

    Great job! Big Grin And no more flushing toilet tops off the high points of the week.

  11. MonkeyMama Says:
    1378565614

    That is great! I was just having a trip down memory lane and thinking about how small (or actually a little bigger) acts of kindness are so prevalent in my memories. & how I think that is basically the meaning of life. Because at the end of the day that's the stuff you remember and that matters. I will have to get around to posting on that.

    P.S. Are you EXHAUSTED or what - what a heck of a week you have had??

  12. CB in the City Says:
    1378737065

    Thanks everyone. I appreciate YOUR kindness!

    Yep, I'm exhausted, but everything is on the up and up now!

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