Witnessing a Nice Act

The other day, while at the grocery store, I witnessed a nice act by someone else.  It took me by surprise.  There was a man who had just finished putting all his groceries on the conveyor, and noticed an older lady standing behind him with only two hallmark cards.  This man without hesitating asked her if she wanted to jump in front of him.  This melted my heart, because it has been over a year since I have seen this type of behavior from other people.  I smiled for the rest of the day.   This gentle person made two woman's day with just one kind gesture.  It really does not take much to do the right thing, and being kind is not as much a choice as more of a way of life; Being kind, in my opinion, would be a character trait.  We need more people practicing this way of life, and paving the way for others to follow.  Just my grocery's worth for the day.

Dachshunds on the Loose

Last weekend, Saturday around noon, I came across a couple of Dachshunds running across a busy five lane road.  It was a really busy road on that day, because UA's Crimson Tide was going to play Texas A&M.  Everyone was out getting their errands out of the way in time for the game, and this was the reason I was out too.  So, seeing these guys running amok in traffic alarmed me, and I made it my personal quest to corral the Dachshunds away from the road, and to catch them, so I could return them to their owner.  It took at least an hour, and I know I looked like a crazy lady.  I am in jeans, running against traffic, trying to get to the pups, before they get to the road again.  I made it, and I am not embellishing, I made it just as their little paws were about to step out in front of a truck.  I stomped real hard, because that was all the time I had, and luckily it turned them in the other direction.  At this point, I was invested, because, well, everyone looked at me as the crazy lady running into the direction of traffic, and I had to prove to myself I was not crazy.  Yes, I am still working on that one.  Anyways,  I finally got the little rascals rounded up, and got them home with the help of my husband.  I put up a crate in the back yard, and they curled up and went to sleep in the crate.  They looked so tired, and they were truly wonderful pups.  So, my husband and I decided to ride around the local neighborhoods to search for lost and found signs, since we did not find anything electronically.  In an amazing turn of events, we actually found a sign in one of the neighborhoods with the pups mugs on it, and the right phone number.  I did not mention the tag had a wrong number on it.  This person had just moved to Alabama, and was beside herself knowing her pups were lost with a tag and a wrong number on the tags.  This brought back memories of when my dogs dug out of the back yard, and I had just moved too.  My dogs tags were wrong, and the lady who found my dogs went the extra mile to find me.  It felt really good to reunite the pups with their owner.  Sometimes, you will get put out if you want to do nice things, but the rewards of showing you care outweigh anything else including a college football game.

Green Rimmed Glasses

As I was walking from the car through the parking lot to the grocery store, I ran across a pair of green rimmed glasses.  I walked past them, then turned around and went back.  I picked them up, and they did not have a scratch on them.  It was really weird, but I went ahead and took them in the grocery store.  I waited at customer service, and then handed them over as I told the lady I found them in the parking lot.  She smiled really big and said thanks.  I have no idea whose glasses they were, and I am hoping by simply picking them up and handing them in, someone else was able to get their glasses back, and without a scratch.  It is so easy to do nice things, and all it takes is a little attention.  When I first walked past them, I wrote them off as plastic cheap sunglasses.  When I picked them up, I realized they were nice glasses.  I hope all works out well for whomever lost them, and I hope it makes a difference a stranger cares about this person's well being.

Texas Hold'em Turbo Tournament

Last week I was in Vegas, and I found myself enrolled in a Texas Hold'em Turbo Tournament.  There were eleven of us, and the dealer.  Being brand new to this type of game play, I was terrified.  I am not sure why I was so scared, but I think it has something to do with it being new and walking on unfamiliar ground.  I sat next to the dealer on his right side, and I put my card out showing me the different ways to win, and I also announced I was new to the tournament game.  A couple of the people at the table smiled and said they would never admit to something like that.  The dealer proceeded to teach me how to properly play.  He gave me lessons right at the table during break on how to look at my cards, because I was struggling, and he corrected me if I went out of turn.  He also told me to splash the chips more, because I was too neat.  He was a super nice guy.  Then the dealers switched out more than once, and I got settled in, and I won a hand on a couple of eights.  My heart was pounding so hard, and I said so at the table.  By this time, the table was use to me, and everyone laughed heartily and said their hearts would have been pounding too.  It was a fun game.  I am unsure as to how far I was when I was eliminated, and I think maybe fourth or fifth.  I was kinda proud of this.  I did not expect to win, but I did expect to get eliminated first, so this was a pleasant surprise.  The players and dealer made this a fun game for me.  I only played once, because I just wanted to get my feet wet.  Maybe one day, I will play a tournament again.  We'll see.

Yikes, the A/C blew up

Ok.  Maybe I am embellishing some, and maybe I am embellishing a whole lot.  The indoor fan motor in the attic portion of the HVAC stop working.  It is a phase thing, and also a relay thing.  Anyways, last night, Friday-of course, is when it went on the fritz.  I had a nice warm sleep last night, but this is not about me, is it?  Nope, it is about the kind man who talked my husband through by-passing the relay jumper.  The nice technician also is going to replace our relay switch on Monday.  It is awfully nice to have a smart husband, and also a nice technician to help out.  I am now freezing, and am loving it.  Yep, it some how made it back to me.  I am very thankful for all the blessings in my life.

Bird Brains

Yesterday, 08/19/2013, I worked on my website, and while working, I kept hearing thunk, thunk, and more thunk.  I had already figured out the Hummingbirds were the culprit, and as I worked, I kept thinking, "How many more feeders do I need to put out?"  You see, my friend, I have three feeders out, and they are empty every couple of days.  Sugar is a necessary supply around here for these crazy Bird Brains.  Anyways, yesterday evening, sitting on the patio enjoying the breezes from an oncoming storm, I observed the little guys, and saw one attack itself from it's own reflection in the feeder.  Trying real hard not to pee my pants from laughing, the only thought in my mind went like this, "Stupid Bird Brains!"  Those goofy birds are attacking themselves in the reflections of the glass.  Jeez, now I need to figure out how to stop the reflection of the glass.  Stupid Bird Brains...

Did I mention I do kind things for animals too?

Grocery Store at Rush Hour

Yesterday, 8/13/2013, I found myself making a trip to the grocery store at rush hour, because the chicken I planned to grill was still in the freezer, whoops.  When I got to the buggy area to get a buggy, there was a gentleman behind me to get a buggy too.  So, I pulled one out, and said with a smile, "Here you go."  He was very surprised by this act, and I could see it written all over his face.  I was pleased.  Then, on the way home, I gunned it to get back into traffic.  When I was passing the school, I realized there was a whole bunch of cars trying real hard to get out of the parking lot.  Yep, it was rush hour, and yep, I had jumped out in traffic, and yep, I ended up stopping for some cars to come out.  As I looked into the rear view while driving on after this act of kindness, I saw the person behind me do the very same thing.  Whew, I felt a whole lot better, because I knew it would not look good to hurry up and get into traffic only to delay it.  This made me very happy to see others doing the same thing I did.  Again, I try not to have expectations, because I find myself disappointed, and also, I get pleasantly surprised a lot this way.

Good Acts of Others

Good Acts of Others

Since today, 08/05/2013, is trash pick up day, I want to talk about the neighbors and their nice acts.

Since I walk the dog through the neighborhood, I get to know some of the neighbors. One lady I met was putting up her neighbors' emptied garbage cans. She was really nice, and I liked her right away. She does this for her neighbors every week, and thinks nothing of it.

Today, I saw someone else in the neighborhood putting up their emptied garbage can, and then went back and took care of their neighbor's garbage can. Geesh, I guess I will talk with the immediate neighbors to find out if maybe I can put away their garbage cans too.

I love seeing others do nice things like this, and it gladdens my heart. I am happy.

Kindness At Home

Kindness at Home

Today, 08/04/2013, I want to stress the importance of my spouse. He asked me not to write about him, but I did a kind thing for him today, and I can't resist writing about it.

It truly is the little things we do for each other that count most. As my husband was working away on the fence post in the yard, and I am working on the computer in an air conditioned house, he comes in and announces he needs to go to Lowe's for Quickcrete. I ask him if he would like for me to go, and being the kind man he is, he said it was completely up to me. He knew I was absorbed with the computer, and he was going to leave me to work on it.

You know, I put down what I was doing and I drove him to Lowe's, because I wanted to do something kind for him. He is a very independent man and does not like for anyone to go out of their way for him, and it makes him uncomfortable. So, I did not tell him my kind gesture was for him today, because I feel that would put him on the spot, and then I would start with the expectation thing. It would all blow up. So, I had no expectations, and I enjoyed the drive.

Kindness is good when it can be directed toward strangers and such, but when it is directed at the one you love, it becomes a great feeling deep down in your soul going beyond happiness and into bliss.

Actively Listening

Actively Listening

Today, 08/03/2013, I was simply nice and smiled a bunch. What did come to mind, is the art of listening. At one time or another someone is going to open up their heart to you, and if you are not actively listening, you will miss one of the greatest gifts we as humans have, compassion for others.

I don't want to mention names, situations, or anything too personal about the people I come in contact with. Having said that, one day, someone wanted so badly to mourn the loss of a loved one, and I was completely blind to this persons suffering. Finally, when I quoted Victor Hugo, this person opened up, and told me about their loss. If you know me, you know I love to talk. Not this time. I could tell this person needed to talk when I started actively listening, and I shut my mouth. By the time this person was done, we were both in tears. I never interrupted, and I just listened. I felt compassion, and I in no way wanted to take away from what the person was feeling.

In life, my friend, you will find there are people who are one uppers, meaning they can match and top your pain. Or the Me too pigs, who really don't have a clue. I have not experienced the loss of this magnitude, and all I had to offer was compassion, tears, and a nod of my head. Please be kind when someone opens up to you; don't berate them, don't outdo them, and don't pretend to know what they feel, because you don't.

I felt blessed to have a heart open enough to let someone's pain in, was able to keep my mouth shut, and most of all, feel compassion large enough for the entire world if only for an hour.

Heavy Traffic

Heavy Traffic

Today, 08/02/2013, I was coming up to a red light, and there was a lady in a van trying to get out of a parking lot. She needed to cross in front of me and into on-coming traffic. Since I knew I was stopping at the redlight anyways, and the line for the light was long, I stopped short to allow her to get out of the parking lot. I also saw she was open from on-coming traffic, and could safely get on the road. This is my nice act I will talk about today even though there are others.

When I am in my car, I do not answer my phone, and I pay attention to all cars, people, etc. To me, I am a licensed driver, and I do not take my license for granted. I also do not take for granted my time is any more important than the next person. It makes me happy to help someone. If she was grateful, who knows? Again, I do not expect anything, nor do I expect if I was in the same situation, someone will let me out. Karma is not what this is about. It is about respect for other drivers, and realizing everyone is important. Instead of objectifying the car, I think of the person in the car. I wonder if we as a society do actually turn people in cars into objects instead of people. I only know how I think, and to me, I don't judge who's time is more important especially in traffic. I can only control my actions, and not someone else's. I choose to be respectful of the road, and if I can let someone out without inconveniencing the drivers behind me, I will do it every time.

So, I will note that today's kind act was in heavy traffic. I am sure I will come back to this page time and again.

Examples of Nice Things To Do

Examples of Nice Things To Do

A couple of months ago, I read a question to one of those articles where a person writes in. And, the question was, "How is it possible to do one nice act every single day?". I was floored by this question, and decided to address this very question to whomever reads this website. If you have gotten this far, then you know me, and who I am. I will give you my only umbrella in a down pour, or I will let you out in traffic.

I made a decision to do something nice everyday a couple of years ago, and it is amazing at the happiness I have felt from it. My happiness is not with what I have, or what I can do.

So, In a Way, this website will serve as a blog for me to share what I do every single day to be happy, and this entails one or more kind acts toward another person.

Please understand I do not wish for a thank you, nor do I wish for any specific behavior. This is what I do for happiness, and I do not wish to assume I have made anyone else happy. Though I can hope I may alter someone's life for the better, even if for a second.

What I am trying to say is I cannot expect anything from anyone. When I set expectations on others with or without communicating my agenda, I am setting myself up for failure. This also puts incredible amounts of pressure on the very person I want to do a kind act for, and then all is lost.

As I document my acts, it is my hope to convey how deeply happiness is ingrained in me, and how my very character changes. It starts to become and feel natural to offer kind acts. It becomes who I am all the way through, and I start recognizing anything less is unexceptable for me.