A few pictures I found on the internet. The first one is just a list of some kind actions that can be done. The second is a picture that I thought really shows how a person choose their own way and actions. The third is a cartoon joke I found that showed that kindness can make a difference and surpass violence.
On Oprah's website she has these calendars (from her magazine O) for each month. Each one has 2 ideas (24 all together) for the reader that pertain to Random Acts of Kindness. All of the ideas that are given are something that is actually easy to do. People wouldn't have to go crazily out of their way, just tweak their actions a little bit. I found the calendarshere
In 2006 Oprah decided to have one of her giveaway shows. This one would involve the gift of giving back. She gave each one of her audience members $1,000 to donate to their choice of a charitable cause. The people had only 1 week to complete this mission and were given debit cards and dvd handycams to showcase their actions. This giveaway made a huge impact, creating many headlines in the news. In the end 314 videos were returned displaying all the acts of kindness. On the website there are many stories of the audience members as well. I found the information about the giveawayhere
I found this really good site calledhelpothers.org, and its all about random acts of kindness. This is a good site because it gives plenty of ideas for people to do as well as stories from people who have either done an act or received an act. The site also has groups to join as well as things called smile cards. They want people to get these cards and leave them with the act that they wish to perform. The cards help explain the whole process and act as a game of "tag" as a way of spreading the kindness. Smile cards help keep the ripple going and spread this idea even further.
One thing that impressed me was the fact that you don't have to pay to get the smile cards. The reason? The site takes donations from regular people like you and me in order to cover the cost. At first, the people who started the site covered the cost, but realized how much this idea was spreading and soon realized they couldn't continue to pay for the cards. Since they wanted to keep them, without charging people, they have asked for donations instead. Each $1 that is donated, 20 cards are made and shipped. They also give the option of donating stamps as well. This idea is really intriguing because if you donate, you are essentially paying it forward and allowing someone else to get these cards for free.
This is a music video by country group Lady Antebellum. The song title is "I Run To You" and the lyrics are about how you go to that one person when things in your life aren't going well. It talks about how the world keeps moving and spinning faster and how they run to a certain person.
Why I wanted to post this video is more based on what they show during the song. It shows a bunch of people doing small things for strangers and how it makes an impact. Each person pays it forward and helps some new stranger out..kinda like the Liberty Mutual commercial I posted before.
Here are a list of some quotes that I found relating to Pay It Forward and Random Acts of Kindness. When looking, there was so many different quotes I found so most of these on the list were my favorites. There are some by famous people, some are unknown, and some by not as famous people. Hope these quotes make an impact on how you see this whole movement. "If you can't return a favor, pass it on." Louise Brown "Be the change you want to see in the world." Gandhi "Kindness is a language which the deaf can hear and the and the blind can see. " Mark Twain "No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted." Aesop "Real generosity is doing something nice for someone who will never find out." Frank A. Clark "Don't wait for people to be friendly, show them how." Author Unknown "Kind words can be short and easy to speak but their echoes are truly endless." Mother Teresa "For attractive lips, speak words of kindness." Audrey Hepburn "Kindness comes from different directions... kindness comes to you, through you and from you. It's just a matter of when you want to start!" Vangie Fuentes, RAK member "Today, make an investment in someone else's happiness." Unknown "Strive to be first: first to nod, first to smile, first to compliment, and first to forgive." Unknown
I found a really great article whose author writes for the Boston Globe. The article was about Paul Levy, the CEO of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. In March, he had to make some difficult decisions about layoffs and how he was trying to do everything he could to not have to layoff any workers. The article talks about how Levy decides to walk around the hospital and noticed how the transporters (people who push patients in wheelchairs) were making the patients feel better, how the workers who delivered food talked with the patient and family, and how a lot of the other workers who are taken for granted made an impact on his medical center. This is when he realizes that many people need this job, due to the economic downfall.
The article goes on to talk about how Levy proposes the idea of having no layoffs, in return for some sacrifices from other workers, in a meeting with the workers. Levy is surprised to see that the workers are cheering and showing support for this idea. As time goes by Levy receives numerous suggestions about how to make this situation work.
Reading this article, I really liked how Levy went about doing things. He was able to see the point of view of many of the workers who get overlooked and make a good and positive change. Each one of the workers who were willing to sacrifice also made an impact since they were helping others while receiving nothing beneficial in return. I thought that this medical center was really onto the right idea and made me appreciate this CEO much more.
This blog is about the ideas Pay It Forward and Random Acts of Kindness. Both of these concepts deal with people performing acts of kindness to strangers in order to make their life better. Both try to brighten peoples day through the use of kindness. These acts can range from small things like opening up a door, sending a thank-you, or paying for someones coffee or they can be bigger like donating money to a charity, or helping a friend move into a house, etc. These acts are done in the hope that they really make an impact on the person and hopefully change their attitude on life and even pass the kindness on (by paying it forward). This blog therefore, is about these two concepts and how they are affecting my life, as well as people in other areas.
I am 21 and am currently attending Saginaw Valley State University where I am in the Nursing Program (hopefully I'll make it out of the program alive!). I'm a total book lover and also love spending time with my dog, Eddie.
