If I can ask for RS's help doing a random act of kindness.

If you remember the story I told you about my friend with cancer, his widow's(Tina) mom nominated her for mother of the year. She is such a great and strong women with everything she has gone through the past year and being such a role model and solid as a rock for their son it was unbelievable.

If you don't mind please like and hopefully she will receive credit for her hard work.

Tina Jansen | Walmart - Mom of the Year

i would like to thank a RS member for his help, i have no clue how long you were waiting outside but i appreciate it! someone hit my car while it was parked outside my house and he waited for how long until i woke up to come out :lol thank you once again! good way to wake up and start my day!!

Here's a heavy one.

White Spot the other day grabbing dinner during an overtime shift.

Kid (5 or 6 year old boy) and his mom (mid-late 30's?) eating at the booth next to my table. Couldn't help but overhear. Okay, I was eavesdropping a little bit, but there's not a whole lot to do when you're eating by yourself.

Kid: Mommy
Mom: Yes?
Kid: Is Daddy ever coming home?
Mom: Not for a long time, dear. Maybe someday.
Kid: Can we see him?
Mom: (Tearing up, faking a smile) It doesn't work that way.
Kid: We can take the bus to his work like we used to.
Mom: Sorry, sweetie. I don't think we can.
Kid: Why not? I haven't seen him since I was a baby.
Mom: Your Dad's... busy with work.
Kid: But it's Father's day soon and I've never seen him in so long.
Mom: (Really tearing up) Maybe some day.
Kid: Aw. Okay. Happy birthday Mommy. (Picks up the placement mat thing they give to kids with crayons.) I drew this for you. It's me, you, and daddy.

Mom starts crying BIG time.

Kid: Why are you crying, Mommy?
Mom: No, it's just allergies. Thanks, buddy. It's beautiful.

Mom tells the kid she has to use the washroom, and bolts around the corner with her hand over her face. Kid continues to draw on the sheet.

At this point, I'm tearing up and trying to get a grip of myself. I came to a conclusion that it's either a bad divorce, or the dad passed away. Gut feeling told me it was probably the latter and she hasn't told the kid yet. Either way, a kid growing up without a father can be rough.

I go up to the waitress and tell her I want to anonymously pay for the Mom and the kid's meals, and to send them each a slice of cake with a candle. When the waitress asked me why, and I said I just overheard that it's the mom's birthday. Waitress only charged me for their meals, and said the cake will be on the house.

I sit back down to finish my food. Mom sits back down with her kid. Waitress brings over a couple slices of cake for the mom and the kid, and tells the mom their bill has been taken care of. Mom, surprised, asks who, and waitress just says someone who decided to stay anonymous. The joy in the kid's eyes was priceless. I pretended to play on my phone, but the mom was staring straight at me when I looked up. They work on their cakes, and I finish up my meal. The mom sits down at my booth.

Her: You didn't have to do that.
Me: I don't know what you're talking about.
Her: No one else could have heard it was my birthday.
Me: Happy birthday.
[boring dialogue went on for a few minutes]
Her: Do you... always do this kind of thing?
Me: Not really. But I overheard a conversation I wasn't supposed to overhear, so this was the least I could do.

We then got into another fifteen-minute ish conversation, which ended with me wishing her happy birthday again, and the best of luck with everything.

:tears:

Moments like that is a true random act of kindness... Gave her the hope she didn't have and the best birthday gift possible for someone in her situation. Good on you PJ if I ever meet you I buy you a beer.

Good guy PJ
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Thanks guys.

It was one of those moments where I knew I had to do something, or else I'd be thinking about it forever wishing I did otherwise.

WOW. That is fucking rough. Good for you for giving her a nice moment to break up the awfulness of that situation. Can't imagine what it's like to tell a kid that he's not going to see his dad again (assuming your theory is correct).

:tears:

I thought this only happens in fiction

WHAT ARE ALL THESE ALLERGIES IN MY EYES

Make that two.

Me too. That conversation was so surreal and gut-wrenching that I almost wanted to throw up. Or maybe it was just that sketchy pasta.

At first, I kept trying to think of other possible explanations.
Maybe it was an ugly divorce. Maybe the dad left town for work. Maybe the dad's gay, or cheated on the mom or something.

But everything kind of pointed to the theory I concluded. When I was talking to the mom, I wanted to steer the conversation towards what the case actually was, but I deemed it inappropriate, so I just wrapped things up as clean as possible.

PJ.....

you are fucking awesome dude, this thread makes me warm and fuzzy whenever I open it up

To coin a phrase, "this thread makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside like chicken noodle soup and vodka on a cold morning after."

PJ, you sir, are a good man.

Today, I gave my mcwrap to an old chap sitting next to me on the train, who I thought was homeless. I hesitated at first, since it'd be rude if he wasn't, but either way I hope he enjoys it :)
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I find the best way to deal with things like this is to ask if they're hungry. The reason is because either possibilities you could offer your food to and it wouldn't be offensive. Kind of like...

You: Hey man, are you hungry?
Person: No
You: Alright, just checking. *awkwardly walk away*

You: Hey man, are you hungry?
Person: Yes
You: Want to have my extra ______?

Me: Hey man, you want this extra burger?

Person: What?! Do I look homeless or something?!

Me: What? No...I'm just full and you're sitting next to me. This will get cold when I get home and I think microwaves are the devil. Okay, maybe only the first three things.

Unless they're douchebags, people always respond well to a little humor. If they're not homeless, they won't be offended and at worse, they'll just think you're an overly friendly weirdo that talks to strangers out of nowhere. If they are homeless, I'm sure they'll appreciate the food and quip.

I've opened with "Hey man, you want this extra <something>?". If I ever get fast food downtown, I like to take advantage of the 2-for-$money deals and give an extra one to someone hungry. It's less "offensive" and less "pity" when you just...happen to have an extra burger in your hand. It's like giving restaurant doggie bags to homeless folks.

Never gotten an offended response...even though when I thought about it later, one of those dudes was probably just a hipster and not homeless. Guy took the Teen Burger with a big smile and a thank you, though...

not really an act of kindness...
but found about $100 worth of cash (some $20s and $50s) laying in my condo's gym floor..
The gym was empty the whole time, so I brought it to the security front desk after I finished my workout...

the security kinda just said: "errr...okay", took the money and put it in the drawer tho :badpokerface:

PJ always has the best stories. Another one for the books :thumbsup:

Then after you walked away, in his pocket ;)

Next time put a note up saying if someone lost some money to contact you. If they don't it's your and if they do it could be some smokin hot women that lost it and will be really thankful :fuckyea:

I like the way Murdoc thinks :lol

Always give food when you can; they don't always get treats you and I don't even think twice on.

I was sitting at dq just down the street from me and an old homeless guy goes in for like five mins; comes out and asks if I have any spare change cause he'd like an ice cream. I told him I had no change but I'd go buy one for him and came out with a large chocolate dipped one.. It makes you thankful that even though its only $5 to me I know this is something that he may rarely get to treat himself to on a hot day like that.. I wished I had bought him a cheeseburger to take with him but whatevs lol

10:30pm-ish, turned down a wrong street the other day in richmond. As I was stopped at the intersection of a small side street, two asian women (mainlanders) waved me down looking for some help because they were lost. They showed me a business card for a franchise hotel just a couple of blocks away. It was pretty dark and they had some boxes of stuff, I can't understand mandarin but my passenger only knows a little, so it was useless trying to explain to them they had to walk over the overpass. Ended up driving both of them and their boxes to the hotel and continued on my way to the night market.

One of my good friends Jessica has decided to start this random act of kindness tour/event with her friend where starting September, for a full year, they both will be traveling across North America doing random acts of kindness for people, volunteering with charities, etc... in different citys, filming it/blogging it hoping to inspire others to do random acts of kindness.

They started this early a couple days ago locally, I'll leave the video here