On the way through the international terminal at LAX, I cleared security and saw an elderly man looking quite perplexed. He walked toward a security guard as if to ask him something, then thought differently, and backed away. I went on toward my gate, so I wouldn’t be late.
I hadn’t taken ten steps when I knew I had to go back...
Sure enough, he was still standing in the middle of a river of people, who were swarming by him. I asked if I could help him. Turns out he only spoke Spanish, and had no idea what gate had his flight home to El Salvador. I found out and helped him get there.
My simple act of kindness was a beacon of light to him in a strange land. We all get in a spot like this sometimes and need someone to reach out and help us.
Remember when someone helped you out? Maybe today is your turn. In fact, I’m sure it is.
Your kind word or small act of kindness may be just what your spouse, child, best friend or even a complete stranger needs today. Why not make it a point to find someone to share your good with today? It’s a splendid way to circulate prosperity.
-RG
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Greetings, Randy! Only you can write about simple things from our days which are just a pure beauty of life we forget in a life routine.... and everytime you bring me back myself. Thanks, thanks and thanks and... what can I do for you, Randy :))) Stay blessed forever! All my love, Karina
Wow Randy. I wrote a similar blog post today, except mines involved a child. Thanks for sharing.
It's interesting you bring this subject up. Over the past few days, while driving, I saw a man standing by the side of the road with a sign that said, "will work for food". It bothered me all day that I did not stop and give him some money that I knew I could spare. I justified it in my mind that it was probably someone trying to take advantage. The image would not leave my mind and I realized that I had judged someone I did not even know and what does that say about me? I was reminded of the verse in the bible where Jesus said, "what you do for the least of them, you do for me" and, "feed my sheep". The next day, I saw another man on the side of the road, again with a sign that read, "will work for food". I immediately pulled over and gave him money. I was given a gift by this experience. I will try to never again judge what someone else's circumstances may be and I will do what I can to help when an opportunity presents itself to do so. I prefer not to share about my giving, but in this case I hope it helps someone else to do the right thing and not drive by and judge like I did the first time.
You were a blessing to that man and you will reap many blessings for that.
Much success! 🙂
🙂 Such a perfect message for me today! Thank You Randy!
K
I love doing these random acts of kindness and seeing the expression on the other persons face.
I swear... whenever I hold a door for an older lady - they think it's the most amazing thing they've ever seen!
Which makes me happy... and confused/disappointed at the same time (b/c it's so rare).
Jeremy Reeves
http://www.ReevesCopy.com
Great. And for my random act of kindness for today, I left in your website link! But please honor the rules of the community for future posts.
Thanks, RG
Kindness feels so good in my spirit, whether I am receiving or offering it.
My way of being everyday in this huge Metropolis (NYC) is to smile to strangers, and watch some light up because they were notice in the crowd. A smile to me is kindness
without words.
Smile!
Randy, thanks for the thought.
Thanks Randy... for a wonderful post... reminds me of what happened here where i live...
if only someone had done what you did - choose kindness... to stop for just a moment and choose instead to connect... to ask a simple question, "are you okay?" to the Polish immigrant Robert Dziekanski when he came to visit Vancouver, Canada...
instead, people chose fear and then the police decided to taser him until he died...
he couldn't speak english either...
- if only someone had asked for help to help him...
(((o)))
Randy, If we all did a little more of this the world would be a MUCH better place.
I can only start in my little corner of the world, and I will do that today. A big part of it is slowing down, and noticing other people who may need help.
Eric
Simply true. And of course it multiplies. You feel better and therefore continue on your way with a lightness in your heart which you inadvertently share with others. And the other person will also spend their day coming from a positive place which will flow to their family and co-workers, etc. And all of those effected people will touch others and so on and so on. Love and kindness are powerful.
Giving of oneself is truly the greatest gift!
Absolutely Randy!
I make it a point to help someone everyday and the smile on their face and the thanks just makes me so happy! Great energy exchange.
Part of my daily "Doing Now List" is two random acts of kindness. No carryover allowed.
I'd like to shift the focus here. I think lots of people are good at giving help, however, how good are we at asking for help? In your situation, Randy, what stopped that man from asking for help? Was it a potential language barrier or, at its core, was it worthiness and deservability? I have always been good at helping others. Lately I have opened myself up to receive by asking for help, not out of neediness but from a space of allowing others to provide service. And people love to help. Just this morning, I asked a friend to drive me to the airport when I leave town in 2 weeks for a conference. He is happy to help me.
So I challenge all of us to not only look for ways to provide service, but to ask for help. Allow others to service us. Giving and receiving are two sides of the same coin. Open yourself up to receive. You deserve it!
Great point and that can be a whole blog series in itself!
-RG
Randy,
I love to do random acts of kindness. I run the risk of filling my ego, but the warm wonderful feeling you get makes me feel good. It can be very simple like letting someone with one package go ahead of you at the grocery store.
Jim
I have this posted on my fridge.....
Don't Miss Your Blessing.... It's a Great Day
You created a Great Day for yourself and the lost traveler. Kudos to you RG !!
...and you wonder why everyone loves you. it's not just because of those eyelashes! 🙂
everyday, i have moments like this. on both ends of the giving and receiving. life is beautiful, as is this post & as are you. thank you for sharing. xoxo
Maybe a shout out the hospital staff, doctors, lawyers, firemen, policemen, and so many other folks that do it every day and make the world go around.
Dan Worth
How nice Randy. God bless you. Little things matter 🙂 It's real care.
Helping someone or putting a smile on someones face is definitely what the world needs more of. I try to teach this to my kids. Around the holidays last year, my daughter recieved 2 birthday gifts that were almost identical (her bday is right before Xmas). Instead of taking it back to the store for an exchange I convinced her to try something different. She found someone a little younger than her walking into a store with her dad and offered the gift to this other kid as a suprise holiday present. The kids look of shock and then happiness will stay with my daughter forever.
RJ
In addition to all the other benefits of doing acts of kindness, an experiment showed that people who did 5 acts of kindness per week, and did all 5 in one day showed a 40% increase in happiness by the end of the 6 week experiment. The website above leads to the reference and to the original 2005 experiment for those curious.
As Human Beings we all have the opportunity to do an act of kindness. Kindness is an universal language that most people understand.
Thank you for sharing this simple story of basic human decency. Caring for our fellow man is our true essence.
It is fundamental - if you want love, give love. If you want happiness, give happiness - and if you want kindness - GIVE KINDNESS! Godspeed Randy!
Hi Randy,
What a great story! A simply act of kindness will multiply. I'm sure this gentleman felt love & kindness towards you and will remember you kind gesture & play it forward.
Thanks for sharing.
Ann
i like how you put that.....circulating prosperity. i have to admit, this is an area i am always trying to improve in. i have made some progress though. i used to be quite the cynic, that wasn't very fond of people in general. now, it takes some mental prodding, and at times part of me is aggravated by the inconvenience, but i do try to help a stranger in need when it presents itself. i don't believe so much in karma, or that mystical energies will reward me, but i do believe in the butterfly affect. there is no telling what a profound impact your tiny gesture could lead to.
Oddly enough I am (today) helping someone get a job through the connections I have.
Thanks for the reminder...
...I can only imagine how that would have sounded and looked like! I've heard you speak the language! I love talking with people when I travel - when I'm lost and they're lost and we discover each other. I still communicate with many I've met. The best experience ever was leaving Miami and heading to Martinique for a cruise, our luggage was delivered somewhere else and we were left on shore while the tender took those with luggage in tow. On shore in Martinque it was fabulous and we were enjoying the food, drink and pretty much staying away from the ugly americans who shared our lost luggage predicament. Long story short, a woman who'd been with us and in a stay positive frame of mind that being there was the best part even sans courture turned out to be the cruise director. She adopted us and there was a Jeep or car on every island ready to take us on the daily excusions and to events in St. Barts, and other extraordinary destinations...all a result of a positive attitude and being friendly. I'm going to do that again today. I feel fortunet to have those experiences.
Congratulations Randy, you made a difference to him. I try to do the same, and sometimes I found myself as intrusive, but it is worth... we get the best gift.
Today I drove by a guy who had dropped two dozen beer on the footpath. The cartons were broken and glass was on the footpath. I swung around and helped him clean up. Having a broom on the trailer I was able to sweep the glass from the footpath. I then drove him home just around the corner.
He was so appreciative.
Of course, step over the fact it was beer, It is his birthday and he was celebrating. Accidents occur ( or did he attract it) and are frsutrating to whoever is involved.
I was glad to help out and it was indeed uplifting.
I like helping everybody
but it seems i have to change my goals.
Prosperity TV
Greetings, Randy! Only you can write about simple things from our days which are just a pure beauty of life we forget in a life routine.... and everytime you bring me back myself. Thanks, thanks and thanks and... what can I do for you, Randy :))) Stay blessed forever! All my love, Karina
Wow Randy. I wrote a similar blog post today, except mines involved a child. Thanks for sharing.
It's interesting you bring this subject up. Over the past few days, while driving, I saw a man standing by the side of the road with a sign that said, "will work for food". It bothered me all day that I did not stop and give him some money that I knew I could spare. I justified it in my mind that it was probably someone trying to take advantage. The image would not leave my mind and I realized that I had judged someone I did not even know and what does that say about me? I was reminded of the verse in the bible where Jesus said, "what you do for the least of them, you do for me" and, "feed my sheep". The next day, I saw another man on the side of the road, again with a sign that read, "will work for food". I immediately pulled over and gave him money. I was given a gift by this experience. I will try to never again judge what someone else's circumstances may be and I will do what I can to help when an opportunity presents itself to do so. I prefer not to share about my giving, but in this case I hope it helps someone else to do the right thing and not drive by and judge like I did the first time.
You were a blessing to that man and you will reap many blessings for that.
Much success! 🙂
🙂 Such a perfect message for me today! Thank You Randy!
K
I love doing these random acts of kindness and seeing the expression on the other persons face.
I swear... whenever I hold a door for an older lady - they think it's the most amazing thing they've ever seen!
Which makes me happy... and confused/disappointed at the same time (b/c it's so rare).
Jeremy Reeves
http://www.ReevesCopy.com
Great. And for my random act of kindness for today, I left in your website link! But please honor the rules of the community for future posts.
Thanks, RG
Kindness feels so good in my spirit, whether I am receiving or offering it.
My way of being everyday in this huge Metropolis (NYC) is to smile to strangers, and watch some light up because they were notice in the crowd. A smile to me is kindness
without words.
Smile!
Randy, thanks for the thought.
Thanks Randy... for a wonderful post... reminds me of what happened here where i live...
if only someone had done what you did - choose kindness... to stop for just a moment and choose instead to connect... to ask a simple question, "are you okay?" to the Polish immigrant Robert Dziekanski when he came to visit Vancouver, Canada...
instead, people chose fear and then the police decided to taser him until he died...
he couldn't speak english either...
- if only someone had asked for help to help him...
(((o)))
Randy, If we all did a little more of this the world would be a MUCH better place.
I can only start in my little corner of the world, and I will do that today. A big part of it is slowing down, and noticing other people who may need help.
Eric
Simply true. And of course it multiplies. You feel better and therefore continue on your way with a lightness in your heart which you inadvertently share with others. And the other person will also spend their day coming from a positive place which will flow to their family and co-workers, etc. And all of those effected people will touch others and so on and so on. Love and kindness are powerful.
Giving of oneself is truly the greatest gift!
Absolutely Randy!
I make it a point to help someone everyday and the smile on their face and the thanks just makes me so happy! Great energy exchange.
Part of my daily "Doing Now List" is two random acts of kindness. No carryover allowed.
I'd like to shift the focus here. I think lots of people are good at giving help, however, how good are we at asking for help? In your situation, Randy, what stopped that man from asking for help? Was it a potential language barrier or, at its core, was it worthiness and deservability? I have always been good at helping others. Lately I have opened myself up to receive by asking for help, not out of neediness but from a space of allowing others to provide service. And people love to help. Just this morning, I asked a friend to drive me to the airport when I leave town in 2 weeks for a conference. He is happy to help me.
So I challenge all of us to not only look for ways to provide service, but to ask for help. Allow others to service us. Giving and receiving are two sides of the same coin. Open yourself up to receive. You deserve it!
Great point and that can be a whole blog series in itself!
-RG
Randy,
I love to do random acts of kindness. I run the risk of filling my ego, but the warm wonderful feeling you get makes me feel good. It can be very simple like letting someone with one package go ahead of you at the grocery store.
Jim
I have this posted on my fridge.....
Don't Miss Your Blessing.... It's a Great Day
You created a Great Day for yourself and the lost traveler. Kudos to you RG !!
...and you wonder why everyone loves you. it's not just because of those eyelashes! 🙂
everyday, i have moments like this. on both ends of the giving and receiving. life is beautiful, as is this post & as are you. thank you for sharing. xoxo
Maybe a shout out the hospital staff, doctors, lawyers, firemen, policemen, and so many other folks that do it every day and make the world go around.
Dan Worth
How nice Randy. God bless you. Little things matter 🙂 It's real care.
Helping someone or putting a smile on someones face is definitely what the world needs more of. I try to teach this to my kids. Around the holidays last year, my daughter recieved 2 birthday gifts that were almost identical (her bday is right before Xmas). Instead of taking it back to the store for an exchange I convinced her to try something different. She found someone a little younger than her walking into a store with her dad and offered the gift to this other kid as a suprise holiday present. The kids look of shock and then happiness will stay with my daughter forever.
RJ
In addition to all the other benefits of doing acts of kindness, an experiment showed that people who did 5 acts of kindness per week, and did all 5 in one day showed a 40% increase in happiness by the end of the 6 week experiment. The website above leads to the reference and to the original 2005 experiment for those curious.
As Human Beings we all have the opportunity to do an act of kindness. Kindness is an universal language that most people understand.
Thank you for sharing this simple story of basic human decency. Caring for our fellow man is our true essence.
It is fundamental - if you want love, give love. If you want happiness, give happiness - and if you want kindness - GIVE KINDNESS! Godspeed Randy!
Hi Randy,
What a great story! A simply act of kindness will multiply. I'm sure this gentleman felt love & kindness towards you and will remember you kind gesture & play it forward.
Thanks for sharing.
Ann
i like how you put that.....circulating prosperity. i have to admit, this is an area i am always trying to improve in. i have made some progress though. i used to be quite the cynic, that wasn't very fond of people in general. now, it takes some mental prodding, and at times part of me is aggravated by the inconvenience, but i do try to help a stranger in need when it presents itself. i don't believe so much in karma, or that mystical energies will reward me, but i do believe in the butterfly affect. there is no telling what a profound impact your tiny gesture could lead to.
Oddly enough I am (today) helping someone get a job through the connections I have.
Thanks for the reminder...
...I can only imagine how that would have sounded and looked like! I've heard you speak the language! I love talking with people when I travel - when I'm lost and they're lost and we discover each other. I still communicate with many I've met. The best experience ever was leaving Miami and heading to Martinique for a cruise, our luggage was delivered somewhere else and we were left on shore while the tender took those with luggage in tow. On shore in Martinque it was fabulous and we were enjoying the food, drink and pretty much staying away from the ugly americans who shared our lost luggage predicament. Long story short, a woman who'd been with us and in a stay positive frame of mind that being there was the best part even sans courture turned out to be the cruise director. She adopted us and there was a Jeep or car on every island ready to take us on the daily excusions and to events in St. Barts, and other extraordinary destinations...all a result of a positive attitude and being friendly. I'm going to do that again today. I feel fortunet to have those experiences.
Congratulations Randy, you made a difference to him. I try to do the same, and sometimes I found myself as intrusive, but it is worth... we get the best gift.
Today I drove by a guy who had dropped two dozen beer on the footpath. The cartons were broken and glass was on the footpath. I swung around and helped him clean up. Having a broom on the trailer I was able to sweep the glass from the footpath. I then drove him home just around the corner.
He was so appreciative.
Of course, step over the fact it was beer, It is his birthday and he was celebrating. Accidents occur ( or did he attract it) and are frsutrating to whoever is involved.
I was glad to help out and it was indeed uplifting.
I like helping everybody
but it seems i have to change my goals.