Kindness and exuberance
So to summarise, here are the most popular/interesting nominations for professionals who should receive some kind of surprise recognition as part of Kindness Day tomorrow:
TEACHERS
CARERS FOR THE ELDERLY
NURSES
CALL CENTRE PEOPLE/TELEMARKETERS (controversial, but a job’s a job, and it’s a pretty shit one)
TRAIN STAFF
…there are also several nominations for individuals.
So far two people have put themselves forward to track down members of these professions and reward them in some way. We need more. I can take care of Train Staff, though it will have to be on Sunday. Teachers might be a challenge, because it’s the weekend, but maybe you know one personally. Plus, I think we can extend the endeavour to last until Monday 15th, if it means we have more opportunities to dispense Kindness.
If you have any way of contacting any of the above categories of people – or if you nominated an individual – please sign up below to treat them to a small act of kindness of Kindness Day, tomorrow, November 13 (which, if you’ve just tuned in, is not something I invented while drunk, but a genuine movement which I’m hoping to lend this blog’s support to). If you have an idea for something nice you could do, so much the better. But if not, just sign up, and we will brainstorm the nice things.
Also, remember as part of Kindness Day I am asking EVERYONE who reads this blog to do one or more Kind Things for people or persons in the general public. This could be someone you live with, or a stranger, or David Cameron, or anyone, really. Kindness is pretty universally popular.
So. I would like you all to do two things:
1. See if you can think of a way you can help one of the above sorts of people, even a tiny way, and write it below. It could be anything: a compliment, a pat on the back/snog, a Curly-Wurly, just a public acknowledgement of their efforts.
2. Plan some more general kindness for tomorrow, the 13th – and again, if possible, leave it in a Comment, so you are bound by a public pledge and are more likely to feel pressure to do it.
I am going to get online either later today, or in the early hours of Saturday, to see where we’re up to. I will then coordinate between people with ideas and people with enthusiasm. So this could be a Double Blog Day or at the very least, a normal blog day followed by an early-hours post tomorrow.
As I’ve said before, you can of course be kind all the year round, and that’s probably what we ought to be aiming for, but events like this provide the kick in the proverbial pants which we all need from time to time. I am awaiting your promises. In the meantime, I’m lining up a bevy of kind acts for tomorrow, when I’ll be in Scotland. In fact I’m already in Scotland. Did I mention I’m playing in Dundee? I bloody am!
Posted by Trish & Tony on November 16, 2010
We were at Mark’s show in Dunfermline on Friday night (12th), and I thought the audience were extremely kind in providing refreshments and sweeties for Mark! Perhaps a tad premature as it was a few hours away from actually being the Day of Kindness, but with wine being served by the half pint in the bar, its understandable that some people may have had no idea what day it was…nevermind time!
It was a really funny show and Mark left with wine gums and overpriced Irn Bru…both donated (although the latter was then charged) by audience members. Awe how sweet. He narrowly avioded the haggis!
I didnt get or give anything on the Day of Kindness as I didnt know it existed…pity Mark didnt mention it while on stage. Coincidently, I brought home 2 chocolate oranges for my partner on Saturday…so unknowingly did my bit for the cause!
Posted by cymruangel on November 15, 2010
So on being nice to carers for the elderly I didn’t manage as much as I wanted to achieve. However, I did a tea run on the ward on Saturday, and brought back chocolate biscuits for everyone as well, and we’re also planning to take one particular carer out for dinner.
I made sure a man didn’t leace the train without his hat (on the way home after a disappointing Welsh rugby result), and woke another up for his station.
Nothing spectacular, but small acts of kindness are better than none, I hope.
Posted by Tibbs on November 15, 2010
Well I’m a bit late to this (I’ve been skimming the posts the last few days, but haven’t really had time to read fully, or comment, or make any sort of plans) but it seems tomorrow still counts, and as I work at a hospital I shall endeavour to locate at least one of the nurses stations and supply it (or rather, the nurses who use it) with some sort of treat. I am thinking cookies, or possibly flowers. Or both!
Posted by Alice on November 13, 2010
And as for tomorrow I’ve a brilliantly clever and stressed friend who I shall try to help out tomorrow, probably involving baked goods.
Posted by Alice on November 13, 2010
I’m going to do a tour of homes for the elderly in December (pantomime, I’m not just visiting) and I’m always struck by the work the staff there do, largely unthanked for various reasons. I’d happily try to do something kind in each home I work in; I’m only there for an hour at a time but that’s long enough for a compliment at least I reckon.
Posted by Corey on November 12, 2010
I was on the tube on Monday and an oldish couple got on but there were no seats left. She was breathless and nobody near her got up, I couldn’t believe it to be fair. So I offered my seat without really thinking about it, and as she got off she told me how polite I was, which was nice of her, but she was surprized someone did this!? Now, I’m from the North where public transport never gets that busy, but surely this must still happen???
Posted by Someone on November 12, 2010
Like a few people, I shalln’t get a chance to see any of the nominated professions, but I shall make an IOU of kindness out and see what I can do next time I leave my fort (house).
I shall be seeing my family though, and so my act of kindness, though it is paining me to agree to this in my head, shall be to stop being (deservedly) unfriendly to one of them, and perhaps try be pleasant, or even ‘kind’ to them. This won’t obviously make sense here to anyone, but as you say, writing it down will make us commit to it properly.
I shall also see about giving something to someone which is too complicated to explain here, but I think someone could make use of it. Mm, criptic.
Posted by Cathy on November 12, 2010
My old school has a Sixth Form Open Morning tomorrow, so via Facebook I’ll be asking my old school friends to do nice things for the teachers on my behalf – tea and biscuits are the only thing that get them through it as I remember…
Posted by Linsey on November 12, 2010
I’ve been so lax with commenting at the moment, I’m ashamed. But here goes!
My friend’s mum works as a supply teacher, and although she loves her job, it comes with a lot of stress and disrespect from pupils that don’t see supply teachers as people with authority. I know it’s not the worst job, but I’ve heard horrible stories from her, and it’s a pity because I would definitely list her as One Of The Nicest People I Know. I’m at uni now, so I’ve asked my sister to go and drop some chocolates round, as that’s all I can really afford, but I know she’ll appreciate the act.
Also I’m at work tomorrow, so I’ll endeavour to be kind to all my customers! (Even the nasty ones, although I’m sure I’ll have to keep reminding myself)
Posted by Ally on November 12, 2010
I know two people who are training to be teachers? Does that count? And I’ll be seeing them on Sunday so I can buy them coffee and chocolate
Posted by Rachael on November 12, 2010
note: I meant the mystery as to why people want to be a dentist not the mystery of what Gino would do if he wasn’t a chef. As far as I am aware that question has not been troubling you.
Posted by Rachael on November 12, 2010
I was reading an interview with Gino D’Acampo earlier and when he was asked what he would do if he wasn’t a chef he said “a dentist. Teeth fascinate me and dentists look cool in those white jackets!” When I saw it I thought “mystery solved, I must tell Mark”
P.s. I will get some chocolate and hide it under my mums pillow tomorrow.
Posted by josie on November 12, 2010
I’m just gonna be lovely all day. Hopefully that counts!
Posted by Anji on November 12, 2010
Well my best friend is a nurse, so tomorrow I will send her a lovely message. I will postpone giving her something for when I see her at the start of dec and back date it – if that counts?
That and in general acts of kindness I’m going to a 4 year olds party tomorrow so will be doing lots of kind acts to hyper kids. And on Sunday I’m cooking a family meal.
I know some of those are slightly delayed but you can’t really put a time limit on kindness can you?
Posted by Natalie-Helen on November 12, 2010
I have sweets to give the lady who helps to look after my Nan. So thats one person.
Also my mother is a pre-school teacher and I tidied the kitchen today and cooked dinner several times this week. And probably will do either Saturday or Sunday dinner too.
Plus I intend to make a cake to take to the pre-school on Monday for all the ladies as a treat.
These are my Kindness day things for nominated professionals but in general I help my mum look after my Nan which does not sound like much but as she keeps thinking I’m a stranger really puts an emotional strain on things.
Also I’ll send out super happy kind thought to all blog readers, except the nasty ones (we all know who I mean)
I hope the Kindness helps!
^_^
Posted by Laurs on November 12, 2010
Well, I’m a teacher so I will give my colleagues an extra day to write their reports before I check them…
And my kindness act: I’m going to help my friend, who has ME and is going through a really rough patch with it at the moment, to finish her unpacking as she had to move house a couple of weeks ago. She knows about that bit, but I’m also going to do a load of cooking for her so she can put things in the freezer and simply microwave it so she can actually eat something more substantial than a piece of bread or a biscuit.
Posted by Phill on November 12, 2010
I will be on a train tomorrow, so I may be able to do something kind for the train staff. I do know a few teachers although I won’t be seeing any of them tomorrow, and I don’t think I know anyone in any of the other jobs. I will see what I can do…
Posted by Daniel on November 12, 2010
As a teacher myself, I shall lead an assembly on Monday when all of the children tell their class teachers why they’re great and then bring everyone a cup of tea and a biscuit during the afternoon. I shall also cancel the staff meeting we were due to have to give the staff the gift we all crave the most – time!
Ps if anyone wants to pass on a kind comment to a teacher but can’t get to a school / don’t know any then I have some very deserving colleagues I would be happy to pass messages on to.
Posted by Helen on November 12, 2010
I am absolutely up for rewarding people of these professions, I can’t do tomorrow though. But I am availiable on Sunday or Monday. And I know it’s not ideal but next saturday I do have plans to go on a train and I think I’ll make thank you cards and bring biscuits to give out. But that’s next week so..for Monday…I can make cakes and take them to my old teachers? Or something else, I’m open to ideas.
And tomorrow we are having family over so I shall:
Help with the cooking
Help with the washing up
Offer to make tea etc
And hopefully there will be the opportunity to do something else, like if I see our postlady I’ll say thank you/offer her a biscuit.
Posted by Misha on November 12, 2010
Dundee you say? Ooerr.
Thinking about it I know a couple of teachers, my old form tutor Emma has moved to newport which is near me, and my Dad’s girlfriend is a part time teacher. There’s also the lovely Sarah W who’s a teacher too. Unfortunately i’m not sure I’d actually get to see any of them face to face on Saturday, or that weekend actually. Hmmm.
I could possibly arrange to speak to one of them though and just generally be nice in conversation I suppose.
Posted by Kathryn on November 12, 2010
Having volunteered I’m now considering the practicalities of not actually living anywhere near a school or a call centre or a train. The centre of Cambridge is kind of an awkward place to be. I’ll do my best to leave something sweet and edible in our local medical practice, but I’m not sure how else I can help. I might just do some baking for the benefit of all the other stressed students around me.
Posted by Sephy on November 12, 2010
…could be a great opportunity to be kind to a lot of people at once. I haven’t thought of what yet though. Anyone got any ideas? maybe I’ll just stay behind and do the clearing up.
Posted by Sephy on November 12, 2010
I’m gonna order loads of takeaway food to be delivered to work for the doctors and nurses on the night shift. I’m not working on Sunday so it would be anonomous and i think this would be better as I don’t want it to seem like I’m rewarding myself. That isn’t the intention at all, I don’t think I’m very selfless in my job, not like my colleagues. We could all ring up a call centre and be nice to the staff.
For Kindness Day in general I’ve had few ideas;
1) I’m gonna go to my parent’s house first thing and make them and my siblings breakfast.
2) I’ve bought a job lot of gloves and I’m gonna give them to anyone I see who looks like they have cold hands.
3) I’m going to a family party in the evening and I reckon that could be a greatning and I reckon that
Posted by Sarah on November 12, 2010
I work in a call centre. I am also deemed reponsible enough to have keys to the office.
My plan is to pop to the supermarket and buy one of those massive tins of celebrations, and leave them in the office to be found by the Saturday staff tomorrow
Posted by Aphra on November 12, 2010
I suggest some kind of simultaneous act of gratitude, like everyone at 2 PM (or whatever time zone you’re in) turns to the person they wish to thank, and says “Nice one” and then “Do you want a cup of tea?”.
Posted by Rachel/Pandora on November 12, 2010
At the moment I’m in the middle of making dinner (with home-made bread and everything) for my parents and one of their friends, who are all teachers.
I’m doing it tonight cos its the end of the week and they’ll probably all be tired and fed up. Its not really much, but I hope it’ll be appreciated.
I’m also tempted to bake some cookies or something that they can put in the staff room on Monday. They teach at the school I went to, and although its not the best school in the world I’m pretty fond of it, and most of my favourite staff are still around.
Posted by Adele on November 12, 2010
Hmmm, I don’t think that I will be intentionally seeing any of those people tomorrow unless I get an unexpected telesales call over the weekend.
I had every intention of voting for Veterinary Nurses as a group of professionals that ought to have some recognition for what they do, but got distracted after reading the original blog and forgot. Vet nurses are an amazing group of dedicated people that studied hard to get where they are and get paid a pathetic salary for the privilege.
To make up for it, I took it upon myself to bake a cake yesterday, and delivered it to some nurses that I know fairly well at a local veterinary practice to say thank you.
I’m now considering what I might do tomorrow since I did jump the gun a bit by doing the kind act today, but as you say, we should aim to be kind all the time not just when reminded.
Cake anyone?