OT - RAOK - What have you done lately?

[mom2faith]

First of all I am not saying this to brag, I just am responding to the lady who had her camera stolen off a Bus to MK. She seemed so disappointed in all humanity, that I felt I needed to let her know that there are still us good guys out there - and where else to find them but on the DIS!!

So, I thought we could post our Random Acts of Kindness here in hopes that we can share ideas and influence others to join us!! Remember "Pay It Forward?"

So here is mine:

1. I will always run to hold doors for people (older ladies, moms with kids, etc - anyone with their hands full).

2. Once a month, I pay for the coffee for the person behind me in Drive Thru. I love the reactions from the cashiers, I can only imagine how that person in the car behind me feels.

3. This is a big one, and pertains directly to this lady with the camera. On Tuesday I went to the bank machine to pay a bill. The lady in front of me finished and walked away. I went to put my card in and the machine would not take it. I tried and tried and was about to get in line for the other machine when I realized - her card was still in there, and the machine was asking me if I wanted to do another transaction. I immediatly hit cancel, got the card and ran after her. I got back and finished my banking. It was after I was done that I realized - I could have cleaned out her account. I mean a never would, but she walked away leaving her account right open to the person behind her in line. It got me to thinking, I wonder if there are people who would've just cleaned her out? I mean, obviously there is, but my first thought was definately not to steal from her, but to catch her to give her card back.

So to the lady with the missing camera, there is hope.

Please join me and share your RAOK!! I would love more ideas myself!!

 

[ADisneyQueen]

Well, this is not something I did, but received. Last week Walmart called me and said that a customer had turned in my purse (I didn't even know it was missing, I had just gotten home). I had left it in the cart in the parking lot! Thankfully, everything was still in there and they even had it locked up in the office at walmart, not just sitting there at customer service.
So, there are a lot of honest people out there!

 

[bumbershoot]

We live right outside of our downtown area, and while we enjoy the urban setting, there are some unsavory characters around.

While taking a walk the other day, I saw a checkbook sitting on the sidewalk. I passed it by, then re-thought. Turned around and picked it up. Looked like the brand new 5-check checkbook a person with a brand new account gets, with account numbers, an explanation of how to use the checks, and NO NAME on the checks. The types that almost no one actually takes, of course, but some places will.

I decided to pick it up, rather than let some other person find it and possibly try to use it. I have a sneaky, unsavory SIL, and she and her ex-husband could have probably found a fellow unsavory person to take the check (giving them cash), deposit it into an account, then that person would take the money out and close the account and disappear...so the person who OWNS the account would be out the money...sneaky unsavory things that I wouldn't know how to do, but others do.

So I got home, called the bank, let them know that I'd found it, the account number, check numbers, and after they thanked me, I put it in the shredder.

I felt good about that.

 

[bailey3131]

Hello,

I have a few things that I have done:

I saw someone driving down a very busy 4 lane road with their purse on top of their car and it flew off and I stopped the car and picked up her purse and all the belonging and took it home and called her and met up with her to return everything to her.

When I was a little kid (probably 7 or 8)I found a purse in the carnival roller coaster at our church summer fest and gave it to the person running the coaster and then someone announced over the microphone that someone was missing a purse and I told my family I found one and went to the carnival operator and he denied I found it and my uncle actually pulled every piece of his belongings out from under the ride and sure enough there it was. I was rewarded $20 from the woman.


I will always hold a door for just about anyone especially strollers, elderly, ect....I have passed that down to my kids and they just don't know when it's time to stop holding the door. LOL.... They would stand there all day holding the door if I would let them

BUT.....My favorite act of kindness was done unto me: I was in the parking lot and one of my kids knocked my purse over and everything fell out and I thought I had all my belongings but when I got home I noticed that my memory cards that I brought to the store were missing. I called the store and they had one of the cards but not the other. On my cards were pictures from Disney and also my daughter's communion pictures and many other special occasions that I was the only one with the pictures.
A few days later I received a call from my kids school(this was the end of summer and kids were still on break)and the secretary happened to stay a little later that day and she received a call from a stranger saying she found this memory card in the parking lot and she sat there and went through the pictures and found a picture of my kids gym uniform and the school behind him and tracked us down that way. She brought the memory card to the school and I went that day and picked it up. Once I found all this out, I cried and cried. I was so amazed at the wonderful act of kindness and for this woman going to so much trouble for a total stranger.

There are really nice people out there.

 

[mousehouselover]

I had to think about this for a few minutes........ guess that means I've been kind of stingy lately, must work on fixing that.....

I got a happy meal and I gave the toy to a little kid visiting with her dad for the weekend.

I made 3 batches of rice crispy bars and took most of them to work. (I had to leave a few for my kiddos) No special occasion, I just had a craving for strawberry crispy bars.

I flagged down a driver on the highway after I saw smoke coming out from under his SUV. Turns out he had just had his oil changed earlier in the day. I lost a headgasket years ago and that was the only symptom my car had, so I wanted to warn him in case it was something major.

 

[DISNEYNV]

I found a digital in a rented locker at Universal and gave it to the locker attendant. Couldn't imagine keeping someones camera!

I was the only one once who stopped to make sure a lady who just hit a dear with her minivan was all right. This was in the middle of the afternoon on a busy highway too!

Another dear story... I was on my way to class once and saw what I thought was a dog on the side of the road. Here it was a dear with a broken leg. I called the cops and stopped more traffic and the cops thought I hit it! I told them no that I just saw it. It was alive and tried to get up. I felt so bad and I guess they had to shoot it, nut I didn't stick around for that!!!!!

One time I was at my bank parking lot when I was younger and someone ran into a parked car. After I ran in to see who's car it was I ran out and followed the guy ( who was obviously intoxicated) to a bar down the steet from the bank and got his license plate number for the police. The lady who's car was hit was very thankful.

I also stop for turtles along the road and move them to safety. I did this once and stopped traffic but had a guy appaud me... Another turtle fan I guess!

I found a wallet once in a Target parking lot and was about to tale it in to customer service when a guy came over with a lid and said it was his. I gave it to them nut they really didn't say thanks. I guess they thought I was going to pocket it.... That is what most people would think I guess.

 

[a1tinkfans]

First of all I am not saying this to brag, I just am responding to the lady who had her camera stolen off a Bus to MK. She seemed so disappointed in all humanity, that I felt I needed to let her know that there are still us good guys out there - and where else to find them but on the DIS!!

So, I thought we could post our Random Acts of Kindness here in hopes that we can share ideas and influence others to join us!! Remember "Pay It Forward?"

So here is mine:

1. I will always run to hold doors for people (older ladies, moms with kids, etc - anyone with their hands full).

2. Once a month, I pay for the coffee for the person behind me in Drive Thru. I love the reactions from the cashiers, I can only imagine how that person in the car behind me feels.

3. This is a big one, and pertains directly to this lady with the camera. On Tuesday I went to the bank machine to pay a bill. The lady in front of me finished and walked away. I went to put my card in and the machine would not take it. I tried and tried and was about to get in line for the other machine when I realized - her card was still in there, and the machine was asking me if I wanted to do another transaction. I immediatly hit cancel, got the card and ran after her. I got back and finished my banking. It was after I was done that I realized - I could have cleaned out her account. I mean a never would, but she walked away leaving her account right open to the person behind her in line. It got me to thinking, I wonder if there are people who would've just cleaned her out? I mean, obviously there is, but my first thought was definately not to steal from her, but to catch her to give her card back.

So to the lady with the missing camera, there is hope.

Please join me and share your RAOK!! I would love more ideas myself!!

Not a RAOK but we try and buy extra food and give it to food pantry on a regular basis! It goes directly to those living in your community!!
As far as opening doors, being polite and kind and doing the right thing, those aren't RAOK,
They just are Part of our Daily Lives! Kids learn from parents!!!
I read that other thread too, I felt so bad that she was so disheartened, there are SO MANY really good people out there, Hope she keeps the FAITH and gets her camera back
Have a GREAT weekend Everyone!!!!

 

[AuroraBeauty]

What a great thread! Putting out positive energy into the world is something we need more of.

When going to the grocery store, I always try to take the cart of someone who is putting their child into a car seat or the older folks.

If a police officer/firefighter is in line after me for coffee I always offer to pay for them as a way to say thank you.

When I see military personnel I always smile and say thank you!

Like the person who left their camera on the MK bus, DD took off her princess sunglasses and forgot them on the MK bus. Not nearly as tragic but for a 5 year-old it was the end of the world. The CM at our hotel got DD a new pair and one of the little holders so she could keep them around her neck.

Can't tell you how many wallets/purses I've turned in to Security at WDW or DL from people leaving them behind in the ladies room.

At a hotel once when I went to wash my hands there was a VERY large diamond ring sitting on the side of the sink. Never thought to keep it b/c I know how devastated I would be if I lost my ring. Turned it in and the hotel staff took my name/number. A week later I got the nicest thank you note from the owner -- and a very generous gift card to a local store.

Goodness/Kindness is alive. It is free and when passed along very contagious. No one has ever died from goodness/kindness happening to them or from giving goodness/kindness to another person.

Something as simple as a smile can change a person's day for the better.

I know it's tough out there and not everyone is pleasant. The challenges we all face on a daily basis can zap us of our patience and energy. But how about if we all try to add just one act of goodness/kindness to our day?

Pixie Dust to all!

 

[Kickapoo Joie Juice]

I am totally weirded out when strangers pay for me.

It actually does not make me feel good, it makes me very stressed. I have no idea what your intentions are. I can remember 3 times when it happened to me.

Once, the next day on the elevator, the guy that had bought my coffee at the cafe hit on me. In front of my kids (I had them at work with me that day). I didn't have a chance to tell him "don't buy my coffee", it had already been purchased and he had left.

Take that money and give it to charity, I can buy my own coffee, thank you.



We've found and returned several cameras at Disney. When we do, we take a picture of ourselves making "thumbs up" signs, 'cause we think they probably want to know who found their camera , then we hand it in-usually to the stroller return at the front of the park...

 

[Lovin' Disney]

Here are some things I've done:

-I found a paycheck in the doorway of our Dollar Tree. I looked up the lady's name in the phone book, called her, and dropped it off at her house later that day.

-I work at a large retail store and 9 times out of 10 I will put the bags in the person's cart so that they don't have to do it themselves. People really appreciate that and say they can get it themselves, but it only takes a few seconds and it brightens their day.

-I always hold the door for everyone, especially the elderly. I had to yell at DH because he would never hold the door for anyone and we live in a town with a lot of elderly folks. He is getting better at it now, though.

 

[mom2faith]

Maybe we should make this a weekly thread - What have you done for others this week! It will keep us all honest and thinking about what we can do for others.

Amy

PS About the buying coffee - Kickapoo, maybe you do not like it because you had such a bad/awkward experience with it. I think it is a small thing that can may someone's day!!

I had a friend once who was stuck at a gas station with gas already pumped and her bank card would not work. A guy behind her in line paid for her gas and she offered to pay him back and asked for his address. He told her to pay it forward. For some reason I cannot remember exactly what she did, I know she did pay that $20 forward somehow.

 

[pixiewings71]

I love ROAKs!!! I try my best to remember to do something nice for someone else at least monthly if not weekly. Some weeks are easier than others. One of my favorites is to pay the toll for the person behind me. I don't this much because I don't cross the bridge often but it's fun to do. I even have fastrack so can just drive thru but I'll make a point to go a booth and stop, pay and say "I have fastrak, this is for the guy behind me" I usually get a honk and a wave later down the road.

I hold doors too, my kids do too, it's courtesy and I feel it's not so much a ROAK as something that our kids should just learn to do for others. kwim?

I also like to give Redbox codes to those in line behind me at the Redbox, people LOVE that! I don't drink coffee but I would do the coffee gift too if I did. I think that's super nice of people to do for people who help keep us safe.

There are a lot of other things we do too but the toll thing is probably my favorite.

 

[fireflymedic]

Back in '05 when I went to sit down on Sorin there was a cell phone in my seat, I gave it to a CM, I hope the owner fianly got it back.

 

[Tiggerish]

I was on the receiving end of a RAK today. I have MS which more recently has meant some major mobility issues with walking and standing stamina.

I did my grocery shopping this morning and it took a little longer than I had planned. Conseqently, I was on my feet for a longer amount of time than I had the actual strength for. So by the time I was pushing my loaded cart out to the parking lot, I was very walking very, very, slowly and literally dragging my uncooperative feet while using the cart to hold myself upright.

A young man (19/20sh) walked by me on his way into the store. I had just reached the side of my car (which was fortunately in the first handicapped spot but far away from the cart return) As I approached my car I was already trying to figure out how I was going to get the cart returned and then stagger back to the car without any support since I had forgotten my cane at home. (I am not good at this mobility challenged stuff as I have been having a hard time accepting my most recent diminished abilities.)

The young man stopped, turned around, came back to me and said, "Please, let me help you. " He quickly put my bags into the car then returned my cart and ran off with only my very grateful thank you. That man does not know it but his simple acts very much made my day better and my spirit lighter.

 

[pixiewings71]

Back in '05 when I went to sit down on Sorin there was a cell phone in my seat, I gave it to a CM, I hope the owner fianly got it back.

We found a cell phone once at our dog park, we called the entry listed as "Mom" and gave her our info, the phone's owner called us back soon and made arrangements to pick her phone up from us on her way thru our town the following weekend. She was very grateful and tried to reward us with cash but we declined. She said she was going to add an entry titled "ME" to her phone so people would be able to call her at home if it happened again. We have "home" and "babe" programmed into our phones but I was thinking about adding an entry titled "If I'm lost and you find me" LOL

I was on the receiving end of a RAK today. I have MS which more recently has meant some major mobility issues with walking and standing stamina.

I did my grocery shopping this morning and it took a little longer than I had planned. Conseqently, I was on my feet for a longer amount of time than I had the actual strength for. So by the time I was pushing my loaded cart out to the parking lot, I was very walking very, very, slowly and literally dragging my uncooperative feet while using the cart to hold myself upright.

A young man (19/20sh) walked by me on his way into the store. I had just reached the side of my car (which was fortunately in the first handicapped spot but far away from the cart return) As I approached my car I was already trying to figure out how I was going to get the cart returned and then stagger back to the car without any support since I had forgotten my cane at home. (I am not good at this mobility challenged stuff as I have been having a hard time accepting my most recent diminished abilities.)

The young man stopped, turned around, came back to me and said, "Please, let me help you. " He quickly put my bags into the car then returned my cart and ran off with only my very grateful thank you. That man does not know it but his simple acts very much made my day better and my spirit lighter.

That just made my day! I'm so glad that young man helped you out.

 

[theatermouse]

It's not really a random act, but kind. When an elderly person, usually woman, stops to talk with me or my son (usually him) I stop and let them. My son was being himself (CUTE ) and a woman stopped to say something to him as I was loading our purchases into the car. He loves the attention and you never know if we were the only ones that elderly person gets to speak to that day. Many may be away from their family or not have toddlers around, so they enjoy interacting with one for a few moments.

I do things as I see them happening, like someone dropping something & letting them know or returning it to them. Or I'd take a cart from someone on the way into the store so they didn't need to return it. Just little things that help.

 

[Kickapoo Joie Juice]

The young man stopped, turned around, came back to me and said, "Please, let me help you. " He quickly put my bags into the car then returned my cart and ran off with only my very grateful thank you. That man does not know it but his simple acts very much made my day better and my spirit lighter.

What a wonderful kid that was-don't we all wish that HE's the guy our daughters find some day?

And yes, I have free coffee issues...

 

[AuroraBeauty]

We found a cell phone once at our dog park, we called the entry listed as "Mom" and gave her our info, the phone's owner called us back soon and made arrangements to pick her phone up from us on her way thru our town the following weekend. She was very grateful and tried to reward us with cash but we declined. She said she was going to add an entry titled "ME" to her phone so people would be able to call her at home if it happened again. We have "home" and "babe" programmed into our phones but I was thinking about adding an entry titled "If I'm lost and you find me"

Law Enforcement/First Responders look for an entry labeled ICE (which stands for In Case of Emergency) on cell phones so they can try and identify people or notify someone whom the phone owner would want.

Just an FYI.

 

[pixiewings71]

Law Enforcement/First Responders look for an entry labeled ICE (which stands for In Case of Emergency) on cell phones so they can try and identify people or notify someone whom the phone owner would want.

Just an FYI.

Yes, we have ICE in our phones automatically but I don't know if I would call an ICE number to report a missing phone. My ICE contacts are not the same numbers I'd want to someone to call if they found my lost phone, kwim? Well, one is because it's my sweetie. OH and this is only on NEW phones, until we traded up in 07 we did not have ICE on our phones and they were not old. We trade up every 2 years or so with our phones so we are pretty current with features.

 

[playswithstars]

My brain is kinda shut down right now from studying for a big test so the only thing I can really think of now is actually Disney related. It's also like a month old but I guess it still counts.

Our family gave an extra set of fast passes to Toy Story Mania that we weren't going to use to a family on their 1st visit ever to Disney. They hadn't realize they would need to get their super early and the fast passes were all out for the day and they didn't plan on waiting in Standby.