10 November 2019

Kindness

Being on the receiving end of acts of kindness is wonderful. Perhaps the only thing that might better it is dishing out acts of kindness yourself.

Let me tell you about two acts of kindness that I experienced last week.

First of all, going back to last Monday. Shirley and I had been to the Meadowhall Shopping Centre on the edge of the city. Afterwards, we stopped off at the Centretainment complex intending to find somewhere for lunch.

We decided upon Nando's. Previously, I had only experienced this restaurant chain twice. They have very confusing menus. Anyway we managed to place our order - two "mozamb" chicken wraps with sides of chips and mixed salad. Then Shirley went to find some sauce and came back with a delightful lemon and herb peri-peri sauce which was an excellent accompaniment to the meal.

We noticed that it is possible to buy bottles of sauce from Nando's but when we asked a waiter about that he said that our chosen sauce was quite a new one and they don't yet have any bottles to sell. Then he added, "But wait a minute, I will go and get some for you to take home!"

Five minutes later he returned with a paper bag containing ten little plastic pots with lids. He had decanted some of our favoured sauce into each one of them. There was no charge - it was just a simple act of kindness with no thought or expectation of reward.

Secondly, I was in Hull yesterday to watch my beloved football team being beaten by West Bromwich Albion. Stupidly, I went through my allotted turnstile without buying a programme from the sellers outside. 

Once inside the stadium I walked up and down the concourse hoping to buy a programme from somewhere else. Finally, I asked one of the yellow-coated stewards about my quest and he informed me that supporters could only buy match programmes outside.

"Tell you what though - if you give me the money - I'll go out to get you one."

He went down the concrete staircase and was let out of the stadium through one of the emergency exit doors. Three minute later, he returned with my programme.

I said to him, "Please may I shake your hand. That was such a lovely act of kindness. You did not have to do it but you did it all the same. Thank you!"

He blushed slightly. The fellow was around thirty years old. Though we lost the game by a solitary well-taken goal that steward's simple act of kindness almost made up for my disappointment. 

One of my favourite sayings is, "It's nice to be nice" and those two young men proved the veracity of that particular credo. In spite all of the badness and selfishness in this world there is a hell of a lot of kindness out there too.

26 comments:

  1. Simple acts of kindness remind me that the human beings as a species still have hope and they give me hope as well. All is not yet lost.

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    1. Nursing is considered a very kind profession and in their working lives most nurses dish out countless acts of kindness.

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  2. Such acts of kindness happen every day and (probably) everywhere. They don't cost the giver much, apart from some time and effort, but their value is immense - both to the receiver and the giver.
    The two instances you described here are very good examples. Thank you for sharing them!

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    1. Though I have never met you Meike, I suspect that you have been responsible for many acts of kindness.

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  3. You are exactly right about this. And I agree with what Lilycedar said. Witnessing these simple acts of kindness restore my faith in humanity too. Yesterday when I went to a facility with my son for a medical problem, the receptionist was so very kind. She allowed her own humanity to shine forth and it cheered us both immensely. I was also very aware of how my son treats others with openness and honesty and interest and that made me feel good too. I think it's important to not only be one of the nice people who do nice things but also to acknowledge and thank the people who show us kindness. Life is so much sweeter this way.

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    1. Life would be bitter tasting if we didn't add or taste a little sweetness. Giving and taking.

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  4. I would hope that, in my long life, I have made an impression on some beings by the simple act of kindness. I sure have tried.

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    1. If I had shadowed you like a familiar of yore, I suspect that I would have witnessed countless acts of kindness.

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  5. Does this mean that because of these lovely acts of selflessness you will visit both of these establishments again?

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    1. Well I have been visiting Hull City's grounds for 57 years so I can't see that stopping any time soon but I am not that bothered about Nando's.

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    2. I was hoping that might be the other way round.

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  6. Any act of kindness these days makes me realise that there may still be hope.

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    1. These are not the most conducive times for acts of kindness.

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  7. These are the times when kindness is most needed.I'm glad some people are making the effort

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    1. It is the best way to fight back against division and fear... simple acts of kindness.

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  8. I love to acknowledge simple acts of kindness, as you did, because some people take it for granted. When you reach out to another in kindness I truly believe you receive much more than you have given. It is one of the joys of life.

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    1. ...even though acts of kindness are rarely championed or even acknowledged.

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  9. There's a hell of a lot of kindness but we don't hear about it. My neighbor shoveled my walk this morning. Who will hear about it. I can't even find her to say thank you.

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    1. Perhaps you will give her your precious "thank you" tomorrow.

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  10. In this life, kindness is everything. Everything.

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  11. Being nice to others is being nice to yourself. Being kind to others is being kind to yourself. Far better ways to live one's life as far as I'm concerned.

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    1. I agree that doing good things makes you feel good.

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  12. The little kindnesses, like everyday manners, grease the wheel of humanity.

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  13. It really doesn't take much, does it? As you said, a small act can make a big difference.

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