Author Topic: One (small) good deed a day 2024  (Read 21449 times)

Dicey

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Re: One (small) good deed a day 2024
« Reply #300 on: February 21, 2024, 09:16:59 PM »
I've updated the year on this. Wish it could become one of those really long threads, hopefully corresponding to an increase in good deeds in the world!
Thank you. I love this thread!

Gagnante

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Re: One (small) good deed a day 2024
« Reply #301 on: February 21, 2024, 09:50:00 PM »
Oh my, how have I not seen this thread before?  I love this idea (akin to the movie Pay it Forward) and will look for future opportunities to give kindness.

Dollar Slice

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Re: One (small) good deed a day 2024
« Reply #302 on: February 23, 2024, 10:31:54 AM »
My friend said he wanted to go see a museum exhibit before it closes on March 3rd at the one museum I have a membership to, so I'm bringing him as my +1. Free admission and skip the lines. Plus there's another big exhibit in previews right now that we can get exclusive member access to during the same visit.

Dicey

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Re: One (small) good deed a day 2024
« Reply #303 on: February 24, 2024, 12:49:07 PM »
Today is the Friends of the Library's book sale day. The pre-sale last night was huge. I spent an hour this morning moving all the books up off the bottom shelves. More books will be sold and hundreds of knees and scores of backs will be saved. I'm counting it as a win.

crocheted_stache

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Re: One (small) good deed a day 2024
« Reply #304 on: February 24, 2024, 10:24:52 PM »
Just found this thread. Thanks for the reboot!

Today we got things done at home, so we weren't out doing favors for others. Previously this week:
  • Lent my folding table to a Buy Nothing neighbor.
  • Lent my patch kit to someone with a punctured bike tire. (He had the levers, pump, and know-how, so I handed it off with contact info and went on my slightly-late way.)
  • Reported a scary pothole I spotted on the freeway the one day last week I drove. It was big enough to do some damage and to prompt drivers to swerve. They say they'll take care of it. Who knows when, but at least they know it's there.
  • Picked up a couple pieces of plastic trash that I found blowing around when I walked and biked.

MaybeBabyMustache

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Re: One (small) good deed a day 2024
« Reply #305 on: February 25, 2024, 12:27:48 PM »
As always, this thread makes me happy.

We were skiing during the week, so outside of our normal routine. A few things:
-We helped reunite two lost kids with parents & ski patrol. One kid was five, and very, very lost, so we were happy to help him out. The second kid was seven, and only briefly separated, but we helped get him back up on his skis, and were able to get him reunited quickly.
-We treated DS16's BFF to some arcade & ice cream time, in advance of his birthday the next day. The boys are die hard ski buddies, and his birthday happens to regularly fall during ski week.

Dicey

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Re: One (small) good deed a day 2024
« Reply #306 on: February 26, 2024, 09:57:01 AM »
On our way home from taking down the Friend's Book Sale (free leftover books!), just before we turned down the last road to home, a friend called and asked if I could pick up three things from the grocery store just down the road. Instead of turning for home, we grabbed the groceries. Once home, we put them in a cooler and set out on our planned afternoon activities. We were near their house when we finished, so we dropped them off then. I also added a lovely jar of jam from my pantry. One more thing out of the pantry, hooray! These friends are recovering from injuries and surgeries, so I am happy to help. I just couldn't believe how easy it was to help them as we went about our day. Happy.

crocheted_stache

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Re: One (small) good deed a day 2024
« Reply #307 on: February 26, 2024, 11:16:08 PM »
This evening I'm putting together a summer vegetable and herb seed "care package" for a neighbor who also gardens, with a selection of seeds I've saved and seeds I bought for this year's garden but don't need a whole packet. Mr. Neighbor was laid off late last year and, last I checked, hadn't found his new thing yet.

Poundwise

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Re: One (small) good deed a day 2024
« Reply #308 on: February 27, 2024, 12:33:10 PM »
Oh my, how have I not seen this thread before?  I love this idea (akin to the movie Pay it Forward) and will look for future opportunities to give kindness.
I think this was @MaybeBabyMustache's idea, I just updated the thread title for this year. Thank you for helping those lost children!

@crocheted_stache, that's a cool good deed!  I bet your neighbor will enjoy starting seeds and they will provide comfort during the soul crushing process of job searching.

@Dicey Nice work as always on the book sale/grocery run! Love it when errands fit together so smoothly too... that's the ideal small good deed, something that requires only minor sacrifice but is a big help to someone else.

MaybeBabyMustache

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Re: One (small) good deed a day 2024
« Reply #309 on: February 27, 2024, 03:56:13 PM »
I volunteered to help a friend set up for the team soccer banquet on Thursday. She's done a lot to help the team, and I booked out my work schedule & can make it happen.

Dollar Slice

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Re: One (small) good deed a day 2024
« Reply #310 on: February 27, 2024, 10:00:37 PM »
Gave a young man in a wheelchair directions to a horribly convoluted detour (you wouldn't believe how bad) due to an elevator being under construction in the subway. There was no sign posted (!), just a boarded up elevator, but I had heard an audio announcement about it so I knew where to go.

Unfortunately I later received a good deed demerit for confusing a Latino man by answering "C" when he asked me a question about the trains - he thought I said yes in Spanish, but I meant it was the C train :-/ By the time we realized what happened, the train doors had closed!

Freedomin5

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Re: One (small) good deed a day 2024
« Reply #311 on: February 28, 2024, 05:58:29 AM »
Treated my team to Starbucks and chocolate. It was one of those days when everyone just needed a bit of kindness and a pick-me-up.

crocheted_stache

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Re: One (small) good deed a day 2024
« Reply #312 on: February 29, 2024, 01:05:01 AM »
Gave a young man in a wheelchair directions to a horribly convoluted detour (you wouldn't believe how bad) due to an elevator being under construction in the subway. There was no sign posted (!), just a boarded up elevator, but I had heard an audio announcement about it so I knew where to go.

Unfortunately I later received a good deed demerit for confusing a Latino man by answering "C" when he asked me a question about the trains - he thought I said yes in Spanish, but I meant it was the C train :-/ By the time we realized what happened, the train doors had closed!

I move to assign the demerit to the transit company for operating a system that's difficult to navigate.

One of my favorite litmus tests for transportation system ease of use is this generalized but not at all hypothetical scenario: you have just gotten off a plane from (whatever other country). English is your second or third language, and it's enough for routine stuff in restaurants and airports. Your phone is out of juice/not yet connected to service here. Can you easily find the correct train or bus and pay the fare?

If you'd like to actually do something about the first problem, figure out where to complain, and tell someone in charge what happened when they boarded up an elevator with no sign for the detour.

crocheted_stache

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Re: One (small) good deed a day 2024
« Reply #313 on: March 03, 2024, 05:39:31 PM »
This evening I'm putting together a summer vegetable and herb seed "care package" for a neighbor who also gardens, with a selection of seeds I've saved and seeds I bought for this year's garden but don't need a whole packet. Mr. Neighbor was laid off late last year and, last I checked, hadn't found his new thing yet.


@crocheted_stache, that's a cool good deed!  I bet your neighbor will enjoy starting seeds and they will provide comfort during the soul crushing process of job searching.

Update: I delivered the seed selection and the neighbors were home, so I got to say hi.

I'm happy to report that Mr. Neighbor's job search was successful. Yay for them!

Freedomin5

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Re: One (small) good deed a day 2024
« Reply #314 on: March 04, 2024, 03:29:06 PM »
Babysat for a friend so she could go to choir practice in peace.

crocheted_stache

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Re: One (small) good deed a day 2024
« Reply #315 on: March 05, 2024, 11:33:37 PM »
Removed a sharp object from the bike lane.
Requested repairs for a rough patch of roadway.
Requested repairs for a damaged bike rack on the bus.

Dicey

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Re: One (small) good deed a day 2024
« Reply #316 on: March 06, 2024, 07:52:24 AM »
I spoke before the City Council last night. There is bond money available and one elite group Iis trying to hog all of it. I reminded the CC that we library folk had campaigned hard to pass the bond and that it was designed to enhance the entire community. I only had to wait 3.5 hours for my turn to speak. Oh, and it was my birthday. That's how important our libraries are to me.
« Last Edit: March 06, 2024, 06:10:32 PM by Dicey »

LaineyAZ

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Re: One (small) good deed a day 2024
« Reply #317 on: March 06, 2024, 08:01:27 AM »
I spoke before the City Council last night. There is bond money available and one elite group Iis trying to hog all of it. I reminded the CC that we library folk had campaigned hard to pass thet bond and that it was designed to enhance the entire community. I only had to wait 3.5 hours for my turn to speak. Oh, and it was my birthday. That's how important our libraries are to me.

Wow, that's a big good deed!  I have an older friend whose mother started the library district in their Mountain west town many decades ago.  But her mother did something genius:  she got it set up so there was a separate tax line for the library district. (not sure of the exact tax verbiage but that's the gist of it). 
Point is that the local legislators could not change the library budget on a whim because it had a dedicated tax stream.

MaybeBabyMustache

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Re: One (small) good deed a day 2024
« Reply #318 on: March 06, 2024, 08:09:04 AM »
Love the commitment to libraries, @Dicey !

I ran a half marathon this weekend, and took the time to thank all of the volunteers (they were out in the rain, early on a Sunday, so props to them), & helped a special needs teen out along the way. He was a sweetie & super excited for his first half. So excited, he got separated from his family, & his hands were shaking enough he couldn't get his phone into his running belt. We hung with him for a bit, and sorted his equipment, until he was calm & found his group.

crocheted_stache

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Re: One (small) good deed a day 2024
« Reply #319 on: March 12, 2024, 08:36:56 PM »
Another day, another sharp object removed from the bike lane.

A few days back, I reported the six shopping carts I could see in a local waterway. I pick up small litter that I can easily reach and carry, but shopping carts in the water are going to need someone better qualified and equipped. Someone from the water district followed up and said they found at least 14 large items, including the shopping carts. They're not gone yet, but there's a maintenance ticket.

Prairie Gal

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Re: One (small) good deed a day 2024
« Reply #320 on: March 13, 2024, 09:00:16 AM »
I sent a package of craft supplies to a lady that recently lost a loved one and is hurting and doesn't have extra money. She wants to make a faith/remembrance journal.

MaybeBabyMustache

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Re: One (small) good deed a day 2024
« Reply #321 on: March 13, 2024, 06:03:54 PM »
I went to the store & noticed someone had super helpfully left a cart blocking not one, but two of the parking sports. This is a small lot to begin with. Parked my car a bit of a jaunt away, and returned the cart, freeing up the spots for folks.

Dicey

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Re: One (small) good deed a day 2024
« Reply #322 on: March 14, 2024, 07:33:02 AM »
I took my 99-year-old friend to the grocery store earlier this week. There were several things on her list that I had in my pantry, so I had her skip those things. Yesterday, I packed them up and delivered them. A couple of things were expired, but she cares even less about expiration dates than I do.

Dollar Slice

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Re: One (small) good deed a day 2024
« Reply #323 on: March 14, 2024, 06:46:10 PM »
My mom's favorite singer is in town this weekend, and somehow tickets sold out before we even knew about it. I follow him on social media but for some reason they didn't post about it until tickets were already sold out (WTF?). They decided to play at a small intimate venue of 350 instead of the usual multi-thousand-seat venue, and it probably sold out really quick. They also sold out a couple of small venues in the suburbs.

Anyway... I've been checking several websites twice a day. Every day. For weeks. Waitlists. Stubhub. Last minute ticket releases. There are ways... you never know.

And guess who just scored tickets to Monday's show at the intimate 350-capacity venue for her mother? :-)

MaybeBabyMustache

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Re: One (small) good deed a day 2024
« Reply #324 on: March 14, 2024, 07:02:04 PM »

crocheted_stache

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Re: One (small) good deed a day 2024
« Reply #325 on: March 14, 2024, 11:22:26 PM »
Someone in my Buy Nothing group asked for a particular book, which is about a niche topic and a little older. I don't have it, and apparently, neither does the local library, but the Internet Archive does, so I suggested that.

I also heard back from the city. I reported an automatic soap dispenser that was squirting soap onto the floor of a park restroom, and they've fixed it.

dangbe

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Re: One (small) good deed a day 2024
« Reply #326 on: March 15, 2024, 09:01:40 AM »
I also heard back from the city. I reported an automatic soap dispenser that was squirting soap onto the floor of a park restroom, and they've fixed it.
The world needs more heroes like you!

Lately I've been helping out a bipolar friend who was in a depressive state.  We've been spending a lot of time talking and I was able to inspire him to make an app.  Ever since he started on it he's been asking me for help and his mood has really turned around.   

MaybeBabyMustache

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Re: One (small) good deed a day 2024
« Reply #327 on: March 15, 2024, 08:06:34 PM »
A coworker was laid off at the same time as me. I've been sending him lots of open job listings. I'm not particularly looking, but a lot have come my way anyway, & he definitely needs to have a job (five kids in college!)

crocheted_stache

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Re: One (small) good deed a day 2024
« Reply #328 on: March 15, 2024, 09:10:15 PM »
I also heard back from the city. I reported an automatic soap dispenser that was squirting soap onto the floor of a park restroom, and they've fixed it.
The world needs more heroes like you!

Lately I've been helping out a bipolar friend who was in a depressive state.  We've been spending a lot of time talking and I was able to inspire him to make an app.  Ever since he started on it he's been asking me for help and his mood has really turned around.

Ongoing emotional support for a friend is not such a small good deed! Even helping your friend find something to do besides spiral further into their depression is emotional support, and it may save a life or restore quality of life to someone who is suffering.


Reporting things that I find out of order in public places is partly self-serving. While some of the things I spot are merely unsightly or annoying, others are outright hazardous. Cracked pavement can trap a bike wheel, and uneven sidewalks are a tripping hazard. I once noticed a cover missing from a foot-deep (30cm) utility box in a sidewalk where people were walking. For that one, I went back to check and poked again when I found nothing had happened the first time. It got fixed soon after my second try prompted an escalation, with half a dozen city staff on the email chain. The cities around are usually pretty responsive, especially when it comes to obvious hazards, so I suspect they just missed the first report in that case.

I often walk or bike, which means I see more of our streets and sidewalks close up than most of my neighbors probably do, and I can safely and easily stop to take a photo of the problem. I've reported stuff before, so I know where to report to get the city's attention. It's nice to see potholes filled, leaks stopped, drains opened, and street lights working again. It's a small investment on my part for sometimes big results.

Anyone can do this kind of thing. Find out how to report things where you live (often an email address, app, or web form) and then keep your eyes open when you're out and about. Pro tip: potholes don't look like much, so try to frame your photo to include some of the surroundings, such as a building nearby, to help crews locate the problem when they arrive.

crocheted_stache

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Re: One (small) good deed a day 2024
« Reply #329 on: March 15, 2024, 09:24:40 PM »
A coworker was laid off at the same time as me. I've been sending him lots of open job listings. I'm not particularly looking, but a lot have come my way anyway, & he definitely needs to have a job (five kids in college!)

I've done this, and also put people who are looking in touch with recruiters who contact me. I am trying to remember if I ever got a job by sending an application based on a listing I found, though. I've gotten a few interviews that way, but every job or nearly every job I've ever gotten was because I knew someone, however roundabout the connection.

Taran Wanderer

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Re: One (small) good deed a day 2024
« Reply #330 on: March 15, 2024, 09:25:33 PM »
I saw an electrician company service van with a dangerously low rear tire. I called the number on the van to let them know. Unfortunately I didn’t get the license plate or van ID number, but the lady on the phone thought she could figure it out based on location.

crocheted_stache

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Re: One (small) good deed a day 2024
« Reply #331 on: March 15, 2024, 11:31:25 PM »
I saw an electrician company service van with a dangerously low rear tire. I called the number on the van to let them know. Unfortunately I didn’t get the license plate or van ID number, but the lady on the phone thought she could figure it out based on location.

Bravo! You might have saved a life or at least spared them some expensive damage to the van.

MaybeBabyMustache

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Re: One (small) good deed a day 2024
« Reply #332 on: Today at 09:24:48 AM »
Picked up trash at the park during DS17's soccer game. Bonus, there was a dime sitting near the trash.

This one is more for DH, but our elderly neighbor got her car wedged against her garage door. It damaged one of the side panels, and she couldn't get the car out. DH spent some time maneuvering the car back & forth to avoid further damage, while I helped from the back. He somehow managed it. He then spent a few hours yesterday buffing out the paint transfer from the garage door, and it looks fantastic. Definitely saved her a bunch of money on body work. Yesterday, i provided no assistance other than keeping his company while I drank a glass of wine & cheered him on.