Earlier this week, I was driving through a vintage neighborhood. The narrow streets are windey and curvey and there are a couple of dangerous intersections. At one of them, there was a stopped car and traffic was building up behind it. As I was driving through, I saw that a lady had gotten out of her car and was trying to pick up a dog. I slowed down and asked her if she needed any help. (I couldn't tell if the dog was hurt or had been hurt.) She replied that the dog looked really thin and she wanted to notify its owners. The dog had a tag on so she was going to be able to get a number off of it.
As I continued driving so that the cars behind me could go too, I thought of how nice that lady was...to stop her car and to help a stray dog in bitterly cold, snowy Michigan. A random act of kindness.
In stamping, we have random acts of kindess...better known as RAKS. Stampers send cards to other stampers. You might find the occasional stamped image slipped inside, a few primas or ribbon. Don't you get so excited over these little things.
But RAKs are so much more than cards. I have benefitted greatly from small acts of love and service. Once someone, who I didn't even like, took my hand and held it during an uncomfortable situation. I was overwhelmed by his thoughtful gesture. A stranger has held the door open for me and my 3 young kids while we are trying to go in and out of stores and not get separated. Recenly a friend of mine came over just to tell me that she cared for me and worried about me. I have a couple of stamper friends who send me fun stamping treats in the mail. All these things have brightened my day. I have a friend(aka M*)who is so kind and gives so much service to so many people that I decided she gives RAKS...as in REGULAR Acts of Kindness! Earlier this week Imastampin posted on the Splitcoast website that it is Random Acts of Kindness Week. Imagine that...a whole week where people look to perform RAKs.
I have been wanting to offer some blog candy on my blog. If you want to get a chance to win some, here is your chance! During the next week, DO some Random Act of Kindess for someone you know...or even someone you don't. Look for opportunities to serve someone else. Then leave me a post about what you did. I'd love to hear about it. I'll draw a name on Sunday Febrary 25! (I'll post the prize when I think it up in the next day or two.)
RAKs should happen all year round...and be something more than a card!
24 comments:
Great idea and thanks for letting me know about your contest (so much easier that way!)...
How sweet! Love all your comments of how RAK's have added to your life. :)
And aren't you proud? I figured out how to leave a comment for you on your blog! ;)
What a FABULOUS idea!
excellent plan, Dawn.
Great idea I love raks!they make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside.
What a great heart you have!
There is a lady on one of my stamping lists that has been ill for years and does nothing but give and give,, she is now in a retirement home and cant' really stamp anymore,, but she can color,, so there are dozens of us that send her stamped images and postage and glue,cut paper, colored pencils ect,,, and she spends HER days raking people,, she is a gift to us, I just received a birthday card yesterday from her :) and I am making an envelope to send her in the next few days full of images and postage.
What an awesome idea!!! I recently offered blog candy (V-day) I decided to snow ball it a bit and pick 3 instead of one. The other 2 had specific reasons (you can read them on my blog) but then I also decided to RAK 2 other people who don't know yet while I was at it(so I am going to be a busy gal this weekend). I love doing RAKs for others it gives such a feeling that can't be described. I find more enjoyment out of RAKing than being on the recieving end. I also am surprising my husband's grandmother this week with a gift that will help her put on her jewelry (she's 90).
What a great reminder! Everyone seems to be in such a hurry every day. When I am stopped at a stop sign, I wave someone through even if it is my turn. Something simple but I know I appreciate it when it is done to me.
Bravo Dawn! What a great reason to give blog candy!!
There is nothing in the world that makes you feel as good as doing something kind for someone and expecting nothing in return.
Claudia
There is nothing in this world that makes you feel better than doing something kind for someone else and expecting nothing in return.
Claudia F.
I love this idea! This is something I emphasize with our Cub Scout troop and our Girl Scout Troop. These kids amaze me with what they do, and make me want to be a better person constantly. After the snow we have been receiving I have just been exhausted with trying to keep up with the shoveling. I kept a watch on my neighbors house, I was SURE that one of her 5 healthy children would come and shovel for her. No one came at all, this hurts my heart. So after 2 hours working on our own drive way, we made our way across the street to do hers. It was hard work, but I felt so much better after it was done. Knowing that she does need to go and get her medications. And knowing that she would have no problems getting her car in and out now. It is all worth it! Christine
I don't know if this counts, but My husband and I had a furniture ministry called "There's Hope Ministry" where we collected good used furnture and gave it away to people in dire need.We used our own truck and horse trailer, never asking for recompense from anyone, we just wanted to share God's love. It didn't matter what color, ethnicity, age or anything else, except that you had a need and we wanted to help. I got seriously ill for 1-1/2 years and sadly after 3 years of doing this we had to quit. Although...I am on the road to recovery I am very anxious to get back to helping others my fellow brothers and sisters.
DW
I am not sure if was out of kindness-I was freezing to death waiting for the girl ahead of me to pay her parking fee after dinner on Saturday-so I paid for it and mine too. It was less than two bucks and I know how it is on Saturday nights in a campus area at the end of the month. short on cash for sure. I told her to do it for someone else someday and got back in my car to go get coffee.
What a good idea. I like to do RAK's too. I make up gift sets and send them to people all the time. Even if it is something small, people appreciate it. I am one of those who does for other people and don't know what to do when someone does it for me. LOL I recently got a altered paint can in the mail from someone on scs. It was a total RAK. I freaked out. I didn't know what was going on. I was happy and then freaked out. I am the one who does this for people, not the other way around. But I guess now I know what they feel like when they get something from me. And that felt pretty good.
What a great idea. It is better to give that to recieve, and it feels soooo good.
~~Rita~~
My husband and I went to Boston for the weekend to visit my sister-in-law. The Wednesday before we arrived they had a huge ice storm and there was ice everywhere and it was super thick. Well while we were there we were walking around shopping and a woman ahead of us slipped on the ice and dropped her coffee and bag she was carrying. Well we immediately ran (well walked...we didn't want to fall too) over and helped her pick everything up. We were about to go in the coffee shop and asked her if she had a moment we would be more than happy to buy her another coffee. She came in and we all chatted for a bit. I really hope it made her day!
This is going to sound so cliche but we offered to help change a lady's tire yesterday. Unfortunately, she did not have a spare so we could only lend her our phone so she could call her BF. I guess my RAKs lately have been taking care of my niece (17 years old but that is a lot of driving esp. with toddlers!) since she is staying with us while the grandparents are in Palm Springs for two months. I RAK with a lot of cards but that may be a bit selfish since I have a bit of a backlog. And I think many others may agree, being a mom is constant RAKs!
I went grocery shopping Sunday afternoon and as I passed a lady unloading her shopping cart I offered to take it back inside for her. Today at the post office I picked up an envelope a lady dropped on the floor. No one else even offered. I do little things for people all the time, and it feels really odd to me to be tooting my own horn, as some would say. So, there you have my most recent RAK's. Now, give me the candy and no one gets hurt!
~~Rita~~
Great idea for a contest....this week my DD was off from school and we had no real plans. My mom is a nurse in a nursing home and we were going to meet her for lunch. Me and my 3 y/o DD and my 2 y/o DS got dressed up, made some St. Patty's Day shamrocks to give out and went to visit. Elderly people love to see babies, it reminds them what life is all about. My kids were very good (for a change!LOL) and said hello to evetyone and DD even gave out some hugs and sang some songs. It is something we do often and it makes you feel really good inside.
My RAK is that I bought lunch tickets for two eldery people here in the retirement park where I live. The lunch is tomorrow. These two people were friends of my parents and are now in poor health. Preparing meals is a hardship for the two of them.
I love this sort of thing (RAKs that is)! It feels funny to tell about a random act, but here goes. Tonight I gave my brand new downline, a jumbo wheel that I had two of so that she could use it and enjoy it. Tomorrow I'm going to make her tabs in all the SU colors using the new rounded tab punch so she can put them on folders and organize her cardstock. Oh! and on my blog, in exchange for advice on a card, I'm giving away the card (blank on the inside and reusable) along with some goodies. I'm hoping this little prize will be fun for someone to receive. :)
I love your blog, and I recently offered up some blog candy, as I love the acts of kindness that people do so think it is a great idea, thanks for the lovely thoughts
I have too many cards. I decided I would give some to worthy causes. While my husband was recuperating from a surgical procedure I filled a box for the supervisor of a chemo unit to use for her patients. I still had cards so I filled another box of cards for the supervisor of a pallitive care department (team who works with chronically or terminally ill patients and their families). Makes me feel good that they will be put to good use.
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