Another day where reflection and service are expected

Found this post from 2009 in my drafts, six years later it is still relevant with the removal of one phrase referencing the upcoming Inauguration.

For many people giving back to the community is something they do regularly...supporting schools, students, community members, educators, neighbors, by random acts of kindness or deliberate discussions.

In celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day many people are doing a variety of things. Visit the government website and share what you are doing in support of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, find a place to serve, search all things #MLKDay, and learn more about MLK Day.

So while you may be basking in celebration for the Super Bowl contenders, concerned about homework, job searches, where the next paycheck is coming from, ailing family members...take a moment and doing something nice.

If you are a regular practitioner of random acts of kindness or volunteer, you understand the healing and calming powers of what giving back means. You will be surprised at how healing and calming.

Take what you can in the spirit of MLK Day and use it to prepare for International Random Acts of Kindness Week February 9-15, 2015. 

How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world. ~Anne Frank

Don't forget the little things and RAOKs are OK

Merry Chrismahanukwanzakah!
Last night on the way home, a car became disabled in front of me on a busy highway. The easy thing to do would have been just to go around them...but I didn't. A young man jumped out of the driver's side, went to the passenger side and took out a baby carrier and a young lady got out of the passenger side. For a brief minute I thought it was a joke. I turned on my flashers and asked the young lady if I could call anyone. Both of them busy on the phones trying to reach someone for help. She said they were calling friends.

I called family to let them know that I was staying on the road until some type of help arrived. I called the non emergency RCSO number. The dispatcher asked was I behind the described car (apparently someone called and reported a disabled vehicle). The dispatcher said a deputy is trying to get there. As you can see, traffic was backed up for miles.

They were a young couple with a one year old. People had comments and criticism as they drove by and I wished them "Happy Holidays, hope you never have an incident". I put the young lady and the baby in the back seat to stay warm. The deputy arrived and assessed the situation, jumped the car battery but it did not stay running. He stopped an 18 wheeler to block the traffic so we could push the car off the road. I waited with the young couple until the tow truck arrived to tow the car. The baby had been great the whole time, not a whimper, just mesmerized by his surroundings and probably wondering WTF. Of course with all of the phone calls for help phone batteries died. I let them use my car charger while we waited.

Of course, with the car incident, the young lady had to call off her job for the evening. The young man said he would ride with the tow truck driver. I volunteered to drive the young lady and her child home. On the way to take them home, the baby decides to exercise his lungs. We stopped at a convenience store and picked up some juice for the baby. I said this was the least I could do since over 100,000 cars passed us and not one person offered to stop and assist. I said I wish I could do something like Ellen does for people, but I am not that well off, so a juice it will be. 

I know it is that crazy time of year, but take a minute to pay it forward. It is the little things that matter whether you say, "Thank You" or ask (and mean it) if someone is OK. They asked why did I do what I did and I told them I would hope someone would do this for my daughter, mother, or myself if our vehicles became disabled. I took the picture and told them I would do a blog post about this event. Southern hospitality? Didn't see any of it last night. Even mentioned it to the deputy and he said he is not surprised.

So take a minute this season and practice a random act of kindness (RAOK), check on a neighbor, stop and check on the young couple broke down in the middle of traffic, or choose an idea from the Random Acts of Kindness site.

Remember there's no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end. Scott Adams Creator Of Dilbert Comic Strip

Merry Chrismahanukwanzakah!