Random Act of Kindness

[Hachiman]

Yeah, I've been the contributor to a random act of kindness...

On my way home one evening, I heard a car blow a tire. A young, attractive woman got out and asked if she could borrow my cellphone to call the auto club. Instead, after telling her to carefully move the car to a quieter side-street, I changed her tire for her. She was so grateful that she gave me her business card and said she'd buy me a drink.

She stood me up.

Nowadays, I think twice before I do a favour for someone. I still do nice things on occasion (e.g. give way to another driver who is obviously in a hurry, or hold the door open for the elderly), but I won't go out of my way as often as I used to.

cheers
Hachiman

[davedove]

Yeah, I've been the contributor to a random act of kindness...

On my way home one evening, I heard a car blow a tire. A young, attractive woman got out and asked if she could borrow my cellphone to call the auto club. Instead, after telling her to carefully move the car to a quieter side-street, I changed her tire for her. She was so grateful that she gave me her business card and said she'd buy me a drink.

She stood me up.

Nowadays, I think twice before I do a favour for someone. I still do nice things on occasion (e.g. give way to another driver who is obviously in a hurry, or hold the door open for the elderly), but I won't go out of my way as often as I used to.

cheers
Hachiman

I'm sorry you had that discouraging experience. But do try to remember, we don't do these things for other people, we do them for ourselves. If you perform acts of kindness so that others will appreciate you, you're doing them for the wrong reason, because people will disappoint you so many times.

A line from a Garth Brooks song:

I do these things not to change the world; I do them so the world will not change me.

[Hachiman]

I'm sorry you had that discouraging experience. But do try to remember, we don't do these things for other people, we do them for ourselves. If you perform acts of kindness so that others will appreciate you, you're doing them for the wrong reason, because people will disappoint you so many times.

A line from a Garth Brooks song:

I do these things not to change the world; I do them so the world will not change me.

You do have a point, however I was originally just being kind when I changed her tire - I didn't expect any form of reward. However, her appreciation for the favour was "going to be returned" by buying me a drink (which never happened). Had she never made that offer, I wouldn't feel offended.

Besides, I still do nice things for the sake of being nice... they're just smaller acts. My understanding of karma (a discussion of which isn't really appropriate for this forum) supports my belief in being nice to people. I just think about the circumstances more these days before I act.

cheers

Hachiman