Acts Of Kindness

[Deleted member 33052]

Now I'm curious, @Allie D.

 

[Heather]

I some how think that doing these little things for others will bring me some sort of solace....so far it hasn't happened

 

[City Slicker]

Christmas Day I went for my annual 10k run. I have Hank running with me now, well, he's up to about 7k and I trot the rest of the way with him. This is first time I have ever had anyone I love and trust run with me on Christmas Day.

We hit the trail and were about 4k in when I spotted a woman sitting with her back against the public bathroom wall. She was sitting on the cold concrete, the washrooms were closed of course but as I got closer I could see she was crying.

I tried to make eye contact with her but she didn't look so I thought to maybe give her privacy and we ran on. Something about her being there all alone bothered me so Hank and I circled back around until we were a few metres away from her.

I called to her and asked if she was ok. She still didn't look at me but she nodded her head. I said 'I am sorry, its a stupid question but it doesn't look like you're ok. Is there something I can do?'

I made a mental checklist of what I had brought...biscuits for Hank, a protein bar for me and two quarters for the phone in case.

But in the short few seconds this conversation was taking place, Hank was moving towards her until he had stretched his leash and was pulling a bit to get closer to her. As I was having Hank heel, she said, 'it's ok, I used to have a dog too when i was growing up.' I moved closer to her as there was no way Hank was not going over to her. She reached her arms up to Hank and as he approached her she buried her face in his neck. She made no sound at first but then I could see her shoulders shaking and I knew she was sobbing. Then came the sounds.

I moved over to where she was sitting and sat down beside her on the concrete and just sat beside her with my head back against the wall while she sobbed and hugged Hank.

I think we were there for a good 10 minutes before she was able to talk and brought her head up from Hank's ruff. He had laid down in front of her and he did not move once through the entire exchange.

Finally she apologized for wetting Hank's fur and we chatted really briefly for a few seconds about Christmas being hard and her not knowing what to do. Then she reached up and cupped Hank's muzzle and gave him a very gentle kiss on his nose. She called Hank her Christmas Angel. I asked again if there was anything I could do for her and she said that hugging Hank was the most perfect thing she could do and it was what she needed.

I said I would be running back the same way with Hank and if she needed another hug we would be there. We said our goodbyes and we continued on the run. On the way back I looked for her the rest of the trail but she had gone. I hope she is ok.

This is Hank's act of kindness. He healed a portion of me with what he did.

 

[Deleted member 33052]

@City Slicker. Thank you for sharing that... It was just what I needed to hear right now. :')

@Heather. Doesn't it give you a good feeling to know that you've made someone else happy?

 

[Heather]

@City Slicker that is a beautiful thing you and Hank did. I'm crying just reading it.

@Mal Content yes, for a moment

 

[EmmaOwl]

Now I'm curious, @Allie D.

LOL Thanks for putting on the pressure, Mal!! ;)

You aren't missing much, and I figured someone who had the ability to do so would take the damn thing down. Oh well. I'm sure I've posted worse than that. :D

It was a bit of manic rambling that was better expressed in an earlier post:

It's not a quota, Mal.

You are awesome but... You are also a dope :P when you write about missing out on a day or anything. You being your kind self is all you need. And kindness to yourself is very important, too. You might not be able to sum up or name all the wonderful things that you do... but you still do wonderful things all the time - you can't help it! That's how you are.

That sounds sappy doesn't it?? Sorry.

 

[EmmaOwl]

View attachment 45329 I don't know if this counts, but I made holiday cards and small pi...

That's cool work, Lola. And... of *course* it counts, as you said to Mal! You guys are starting to make me think, I should be more hard on myself! (j/k. Sorta.)

 

[Deleted member 33052]

I'm all about sappy! You already know that though, don't you? :p

Allie, thank you for your very kind words. I'm kind of floundering right now, and needed to hear that!

Please, be gentle on yourself. We all have different roles in the world. I was raised to be a giver, and I've never really veered from that path. You are awesome just the way you are, and need only to do what feels right for you. :hug:

LOL Thanks for putting on the pressure, Mal!! ;)

You aren't missing much, and I figured someone w...

 

[Deleted member 33052]

Heather, maybe the trick is in learning how to stretch that moment out until you have another chance to feel that way... I know how you feel, though.

@City Slicker that is a beautiful thing you and Hank did. I'm crying just reading it...

 

[Cobra]

In the Hunger Games series, Katniss deals with her PTSD by listing a number of good acts she has seen people do before- I'be always loved her and have tried it myself, but I dissociate so much that it's hard to think clearly and sort through my head. This thread allows me to do what she does though, so thank you to everyone contributing :)

 

[Lola Nocheprieta]

I moved over to where she was sitting and sat down beside her on the concrete and just sat beside her with my head back against the wall while she sobbed and hugged Hank.

That's beautiful, @City Slicker. It was both your and Hank's act of kindness. Those quiet moments of connection are made to sustain us.

 

[Ladyghosthunter]

I do random acts of kindness as much as I can because people in this world have nothing or are less fortunate than I am. I'm going to donate a lot of stuff to the homeless shelter next week. Thank you all for the idea!