I was in Starbucks the other day (I admit, I do go to Starbucks) and overheard the woman in line behind me saying she wanted an iced coffee, so I gave her my “treat receipt”. I didn’t need mine. Earlier that same day I noticed some large opened safety pins on the sidewalk which instantly set off my “mommy radar” with a vision of them being stepped on by small barefoot feet so I promptly, and carefully, picked them up and threw them in the trash.
Not to glorify myself, but both acts got me thinking about the tiny, not strictly necessary, acts of kindness people are doing around the neighborhood on a day-to-day basis. So many people doing so many acts, however insignificant, have got to add up to an overall better quality life. Want to share the little good deeds you’ve done lately? Noticed others doing? Suggest some? Or read what others have done for inspiration?
What a fun idea for a post — and perhaps we’ll learn something about our neighbors and neighborhood here.
I am often on foot in Wallingford. It’s not uncommon to spot broken bottles & glass in the road. Or nails. I seem to have a bit of radar for things that could damage car tires. So even though I don’t drive here, I pride myself on being a remover of all things dangerous to tires. I know how terribly inconvenient a flat tire can be.
I will not, however, pick up dog crap on the sidewalk. That’s for the dog walkers, I guess. But I hate seeing it! Double hate stepping in it! (I know, there’s a solution to that, but I can’t convince myself to pick up dog crap. I’m a cat person.)
Cool post. I have seen a lot of random acts of kindness in our ‘hood. One of the reasons I love living here. This reminds me to be more aware of small things I can do to help our neighborhood be a better and friendlier place!
FreGirl, you are too modest. You take great pains to help people find lost pets, and in one case, a lost but very well-used scrapbook.
Great post idea.
The woman who used to sit outside the QFC (Mary Elva) gave me a hand-crocheted baby bib after she saw me with my newborn. And I cannot even count the number of people who opened doors for me when I was maneuvering a double stroller.
My kids like to pick up the trash on the sidewalks and point out stray dog poop to pick up.
In my first couple weeks in the neighborhood, I strolled down to Wally’s Pets and after browsing the cat treats found one my kitties would love, only to find once I got to the counter, that I had left my wallet at home. The wonderful woman at the counter asked me simply if I would like to pay her back later. I was astonished and did not take her up on the offer, but only because I thought I may not remember to come jogging back. Thank you Wally’s Pets lady – you made my day!
A few weeks ago, my daughters and a friend put up a lemonade stand in front of our house. As I was doing yardwork nearby and was able to observe, I couldn’t help but feel that many (most?) of the people that stopped were doing so out of kindness. The kids were so excited and had a great time — and hopefully learned a thing or two from the experience. I vowed from then on to stop at neighborhood lemonade stands, even if the prices are outrageous!
It would be hard impossible to count the Wallingford neighbors giving little gifts with no thoughts of compensation or recognition. Planting flowers, trees and art in yards and public spaces, emptying the little trash cans at bus stops, organizing and executing neighborhood events, painting out graffiti, keeping sidewalks walkable, storm drains clear and utility poles trash-free, creating and improving public spaces such as the Wallingford Steps & street-ends and on and on and on…. Little gifts to their neighborhood that create cohesiveness and make us proud to live here.
All these things and so many more are done, rarely with rewards or acknowledgement (Metro does give bus passes to folks taking care of the trash bins), by volunteers as their gifts to the neighborhood. Mostly they’re not looking for it, but I’d like to thank them anyway. They definitely add to the quality of our lives!
What goes around comes around. If we want to change the world, let’s change ourselves, and our children, into kind and caring people. It’s just that simple.
One of our neighbors brings a garbage bag and “grabber” and picks up trash in Meridian Park as she walks her giant schnauzer.
It’s been a summer of kindness and luck, actually. It started with my 20-year-old son losing his wallet on the #44 bus. He got through to Metro, who patched him through to the bus driver, who went and looked where my son had been sitting. Not much chance it would be there, after an hour. But there it was, with everything in it. Two weeks later, he found a wallet on the ground while walking around Green Lake. While the address on the driver’s license was no longer accurate, he used Google, found out she was on the honors’ list at the UW, tracked down her phone number through the UW directory and an hour later, she had her wallet back…
One recent evening I met Jenny R. at the NW entrance of John Stanford Int’l School. I learned that she has been watering the street trees and native garden at the school for many summers. She walks from her house, hauling her own hose and faucet connection. Those trees and shrubs would not get any water during summer vacation otherwise .Thanks to Jenny for noticing what needs to be done and then – doing it.
A little thing undoubtably, but I love it that the neighbors on my street will pull in trash cans for one another without being asked. This is especially great since our trash gets picked up on Friday so if you want to leave town for the weekend but don’t want your house looking “empty” with trashcans out front all weekend. It also seems like our block really looks out for one another. I’ve had neighbors question a friend who stopped by to check on our house. They were worried he might be casing the property. Great to know that in our little neck of the woods we’re all trying to look out for one another.
My kind neighbor fixed a hole in my roof without my knowledge–he learned about it from my next-door neighbor who spotted it. He also mowed and watered the grass in my yard while I was out-of-town. An angel, no doubt. Since my husband recently died, I’ve come to love Wallingford even more. It’s a comforting place for me.
I am touched and impressed by all your comments! I had to add two examples of “good deed” neighbors of ours.
One mows the grass by the sidewalk not only in front of his house but several houses on either side, so that whole section of the block always looks great.
Another offered to wire up an outdoor sensor light on the outside of his garage to shine in our yard at night, which makes it feel much more secure. He paid for the light, wiring, cost to run it, everything! Out of the kindness of his heart.
Not to mention neighbors catsitting, babysitting, organizing block parties and many other kindnesses. It’s all appreciated!
Loving this post!
Do you know Mosaic Coffeehouse behind Dick’s at 2nd? They are a non-profit cafe where you decide what you want to pay for what you consume. At the end of the month, after operations costs, Mosaic gives the proceeds to a selected non-profit of the month. (http://www.mosaiccoffeehouse.org)
There is a community meeting room there, the Den, that was lacking some luster, cozy, and function. So a group of us Bizniks (a business networking and socializing group) took to giving the Den a facelift!
A slowly unfolding redesign, the Den, where many a community and business groups have their meetings at little to no cost (room is for use by donation), has been receiving it’s uplift. I’m at the design helm and it sure is looking better!
Go take a look at where it is thus far: http://www.ecokinddesign.com.
If you feel so inspired to help in some way, we are still accepting monetary and product donations to help bring this space to the ultimate community meeting space that it can be! Contact me for more info….206-818-9102 or [email protected].
Keep up the great gifting of sweetness and kindness everyone!
Bright blessings,
Amy Woidtke
Awww…I feel so happy to be living in Walilngford again. You people are nice. 🙂
What happened to MaryElva? She was awesome.
So we have a large ceramic boxer on our porch and she gets a lot of attention. A few weeks ago I was working, on my couch in my pjs of course, and I see two guys walking up the steps, carrying her. She’s not light.
Turns out they’d been by a million times on their way to Molly Moon’s and thought the dog was hysterical. So when they saw her on someone’s lawn three blocks away that morning, they decided to bring her home. What good neighbors! I hadn’t even noticed she was gone.
Of course, I can’t even count the number of times our actual neighbors have helped out with the yard, the kid(s), the cooking, the eating of my terrible cooking (please come eat this, i just can’t throw it away, can i?!) and just general neighborliness.
I live right by Tangletown and have had the pleasure to get to know my next door neighbor quite well this summer as we’re both in the backyard quite a bit. He’s been overly helpful lending lawn and garden tools, and I even came home last week to find he had mowed the lawn for us! A great neighbor to have.