Good Deed 8

There is a cat that appears to be living under our deck. From the neighbourhood gossip (of course), I have learned that the owners don't let it in the house anymore, but they sometimes leave their garage door a little open so it can sleep in there. I guess it prefers our backyard. We have been feeding it and letting it in for a couple minutes at a time so it can warm up, but cannot adopt it. My husband has asthma and is allergic to cats, and both of my boys have asthma, but if it wasn't a health concern I would adopt it in a second.

I have also learned that the so-called owners will be moving shortly. I don't know if they intend to take the cat, but in case they don't, I have implemented a plan to make sure the cat has a home. I went to a local coffee shop today and arranged that if these people move and leave the cat, I will post my information for anyone interested in adoption. It is a domestic cat and very friendly with adults and children, but if it is an abandoned animal, I want to help it find a home. So that was my good deed of the day. I hope the cat appreciates it. I know he appreciated the prime rib yesterday.....

Good Deed 7

I have had some mail sitting here that was addressed to the previous owner of the house. We have lived here for 1 and a half years, but some still gets through. Usually I write Return to Sender and post it with my bills, only to get the same mailer sending more to the wrong address.

I know (from friendly neighborhood gossip) that the previous owner lives in the apartment buildings down the street from me now. Instead of Returning Ineffectively to Sender, I walked down the street, introduced myself to the porter of the building (or superintendent?) and gave him the mail for the tenant in his building. I have avoided doing this before because it just seems strange and nosy (why would I know where the guy lives now when I've never met him?), but I wanted to ensure that he received his mail. Especially since some was from other countries with personal handwriting on the envelopes. I bet he doesn't want those lost in the mail. So I forgot how weird it would seem and hand delivered it. That was my act of kindness for today. Pretty good for a Monday!

Good Deed 5 and 6

I didn't write yesterday but that doesn't mean I failed in my mission. I still completed my good deed though. I went out to a Chapters, and despite everyone there being in a horrible mood, I  opened the door for an elderly lady while leaving. There were more people coming, so it turned into holding the door for a family of four, a middle-aged couple, and another lady. I smiled and was polite to everyone, although I was in a pretty bad mood myself. The first lady was appreciative, the parents of the family gave me dirty looks, the couple was grateful, and the other lady ignored me. Two out of four isn't bad, although I think people should be a little more congenial, especially if someone is doing something nice for them.

During my excursion, most people were pushy, rude, and generally grouchy. The coffee I got at Starbucks was the wrong size the first time they made it, and the wrong kind the second time. This didn't do anything for my disposition, but it does lead to my good deed for today. Because of the first mistake I got a certificate for a free hot beverage, any size and kind. I gave it to the cashier at the grocery store today, because she joked that she hadn't had a coffee yet. I figured she could get a large caffeinated something or other on her lunch break. She accepted the free coffee readily, but didn't say thank you.

The discouraging reactions to my good deeds this weekend made me consider whether I should just do nice things when people don't know it's me. But then I thought that would not really serve my purpose. I don't need recognition, but I do want to make other people think about being nicer to others on a whole, and I'm not going to make anyone think about anything if I do it all secretly. So no matter how rude or unappreciative people are, I will try to do more noticeable good things to set an example.

Good Deed 4

Today in our end of town it was very cold, bitter, and windy. It was also garbage day. The wind gets so strong sometimes that garbage cans are found half way down the street, and recycling bins cannot be found anywhere. For my act of kindness today, I brought in the garbage bins of the four people on my block after the trucks went by to empty them. I did the same with the recycling bins a couple of hours later. It wasn't so windy that they would have ended up across town, but they could have blown into the road. And I saved four people from having to go out in the cold to do it later.

Good Deed 3

Today it snowed here. My five year old son loves to shovel the driveway, and my fifteen month old son likes to push a shovel, so we all trekked outside to shovel some snow. I cleared off my next door neighbour's driveway for her as my good deed, while my boys shoveled our own. For those of you who will be following my 365 acts of kindness, she will probably be the recipient of many more good deeds. She is a great neighbour. But in the interest of performing a  kindness to a stranger, I also shoveled someone's driveway across the street. My boys helped of course, but it counts.

Good Deed 2

At the post office today with my fifteen month old son. He wanted to run all around the store and was grumpy as a baby can be. I still remembered my resolution though, and let two people in front of me in line. These people looked as if they were in a greater rush then I, despite my fussy toddler. So we waited another five minutes so I could my accomplish my goal for the day. One man nodded to say thank you (I hope), and the other man just ignored me but moved in front anyway.  Does it count as two good deeds when there's a baby around?

Good Deed 1

Well, it's New Year's Day. Since all the stores are closed today and I am sick (what a great start to the year), I have decided to keep my good deed close to home. I scraped off my neighbour's car for her, because  know she is going to work a bit later. Whether she notices or not remains to be seen, but it doesn't matter either way. I have achieved my goal this day. Happy New Year everyone!