Ang Bahay ni Kumareng Grace

Remember, there’s no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end.

Scott Adams

I’ve always been an advocate of RAK (random acts of kindness). Honestly, I believe that our world would be a much better place if only each person would incorporate even just one RAK a day. And the best thing about RAK is it is easy to do, easy to spread, and free!

Jo of Wits and Nuts is celebrating her birthday and has asked us to post about how we made someone we know and a stranger [or not-so-stranger] happy. And what best way to make someone happy than through RAK?

I so, so love this contest! It is, for me, a great concept of a contest because it helps spread love and kindness in the world.

This challenge seems hard, but in reality, it isn’t. Hard because we try to rack our brains out trying to think of world-changing, hero-type kindness we have done. We are thinking of something big. But, as some of us might not be aware, we are constantly presented opportunities of being kind! Small acts of kindness that make someone happy.

Have you lately opened a door for someone whose hands are full? Have you let someone someone ahead of you in line [wherever it is]? Have you given a tip to a server who has done his/her job well? Have you smiled at someone? Have you massaged your mother’s back? These are all acts of kindness. Proof that opportunities to be kind and make someone happy are EVERYWHERE and present AT ALL TIMES!

So, allow me to share some opportunities to make someone happy.

Someone I know: My daughter’s closest friend here in our neighborhood is the daughter of our neighbor’s helper, Ate Lalaine. Ate Lalaine has been with our neighbor ever since I was a kid. She has seen me grow up. She was also “ate” to me. Recently, her daughter, Juday, got sick and was hospitalized. Fortunately, Juday got well and was able to get out of the hospital after 3 days. One night, as I was walking outside, I saw Ate Lalaine talking with our other neighbor’s helper and our driver, and she was obviously distraught. I appproached them and asked what was wrong, our driver told me, “Kailangan kasi ni Lalaine ng pera. Nagamit nya yung pera ng paluwagan [among helpers] para sa pagpapa-ospital kay Juday.” Instantly, I mentally calculated if I had enough money and ran to the house to get it. As I walked outside, I told Ate Lalaine, “Ate Lalaine oh, eto na. Wag ka na mamroblema. Sana wag na magkasakit si Juday.” Ate Lalaine’s big smile and never-ending words of thanks were enough to make my heart smile too. Thank you, God, for this opportunity.

Strangers: Being kind to strangers [and then making them happy in return], is one of my favorite things to do. Why? Because it is pure…we know that we do it simply because we want to and without expecting anything in return. Regarding this, I remember my favorite 2008 Christmas moment. Last Christmas, I decide to pack noche buena food and give it to two strangers [well, not strangers in its strictest sense]. Here, I share excerpts of that memory from my original post:

Now, for my favorite memory: The second one I gave the food to was the gasoline man who always puts air in my tires. Almost every week, I would pass by Shell in Better Living, and every time, he’s there. He already knows the pressure of my tires, and no need to ask anymore. What struck me the most about him is that he was so hardworking (he might have needed a shoulder pain pump for all the work he’s doing) and yet he always smiles, as if providing service is a pleasure for him. So I said to myself, someday, I’d like to do something good for this man.

Last week, I went to Shell one afternoon. Seeing me, he approached immediately [with a smile] saying, “Mam, 30 po diba?” And I told him, “Kuya, di po ako magpapahangin. Ibibigay ko lang po ito sa inyo.” And I handed him the food. If I could summarize Christmas happiness in one moment, it would be that. The look on his face is something I will never forget. He looked so happy that all he was able to say was, “Thank you Mam,” with tears almost falling. As I left the station, I looked at him from the side mirror and saw him still staring at the noche buena package. It might have been a problem for him to find the money to buy noche buena for his family, but now, no problem anymore! His family will be having noche buena! Grabe! I was so happy. My heart was full again and I also almost cried out of happiness. I decided to do this every year!

Aawwwww, recalling these brings tears to my eyes! I am so, so thankful to to be able to be given the chance to make these people happy because as much as we think kindness is for the recipient, it is also for the giver. RAK is food for the soul, don’t you think? It nourishes our souls and brings “life” to our life! In short, not only does it make the recipient happy, but it also makes us happy!

So go out and practice RAK! Make someone happy today!

Have a great rainy weekend!!!

Tags: Contest, Life

This entry was posted on Friday, July 17th, 2009 at 6:39 am and is filed under Life, Reflection. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.