Random acts of kindness: pay it forward chain headlines

Last night baby boy woke every 90 minutes, and partway through the night we had a house-related catastrophe (don't ask) that kept me awake through what little sleep I might otherwise have gotten.

Needless to say, I wasn't in a chipper mood when I "woke" up and got ready for work this morning.

But then... browsing Express on my commute this morning, I read the following:

Making the work less terrible, one overpriced coffee at a time
A woman started an act of kindness chain that lasted for hours at a Starbucks drive-thru in Florida. She ordered an iced coffee around 7 a.m. Wednesday and asked to pay for the caramel macchiato for the stranger behind her. He returned the favor. The chain kept going - all the way up to 379 - as employees began keeping count.

Other news sources claim that the chain re-started, lasted as long as 11 hours, and reached as many as 700 customers.

The news actually made me a bit misty-eyed. I know buying a cup of coffee is a small thing when there are seemingly insurmountable problems in the world, but small kindnesses matter. I'm sure the lady who started the chain had no idea it would reach all the way to Washington, D.C.

But it did.

Long time readers of this blog (who stuck around through my maternity leave earlier this year) know that I am a huge fan of random acts of kindness. I also have a borderline obsession with my morning joe. And this news, expertly blending the two, was a bright spot in my otherwise bleak morning.

Thank you, coffee lady, for making me smile today.

Year end roundup!

Welcome to another installment of the weekly roundup we all know and love: Friday potluck!

This week's theme: The funniest, weirdest, grossest, and most inspiring stories of 2012.


Damn You AutoCorrect!

The "25 Funniest AutoCorrects of 2012" is, by far, the funniest thing I read all year. Enjoy.

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Not McLovin that McRib...

Quite possibly the most disgusting thing I read all year was the Yahoo Finance story 11 Amazing Facts about the McDonald's McRib.

Scary quote:

The entire McRib sandwich contains about 70 ingredients — including a flour-bleaching agent used in yoga mats.

It's enough to make you go vegan...


Recipe on Repeat

The recipe I cooked most often in 2012 (aside from oatmeal and scrambled eggs) is this quick zucchini saute from Smitten Kitchen. It's an older recipe, but I found it this year.

Simple. Easy. Delicious.


The Blog Posts That Influenced Me Most:

Miss Zippy's "It's never the right time" struck a chord. Among other things, I've been putting off quitting my day job to pursue teaching/consulting. Sometimes today IS the right time... MCM Mama's "You don't own busy" was similarly inspiring.

Kim's New 2 U Cross Training Challenge has been a monthly adventure throughout 2012.

The Wannabe Athlete's Twitter tips also came in handy as I made the plunge into the Twitterverse.


Random Acts of Kindness

I'm a sucker for random acts of kindness stories. The news is filled with stories of crime and victimization, but every day people do nice things for one another...

My favorite acts-of-kindness stories this year were (in no particular order):

• 25 ways to spread joy
• Stories of residents helping one another in the wake of Hurricane Sandy.
• At an Ohio high school track meet, a Meghan Vogel saw another runner collapse. Rather than speed past, Vogel stopped to help the fallen runner across the finish line.
• And last, but not least, the South Carolina town where everyone pays for everyone else's drinks.

Seasons Greetings!

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Quote of the Week:

"An optimist stays up until midnight to see the New Year in. A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves."
Bill Vaughan

Happy 2012, friends!

Weekly roundup: paying it forward

Welcome to another installment of the weekly roundup we all know and love: Friday potluck. Since thousands of people still have no heat, shelter, or hot food, I'm skipping the sarcastic humor. This week's theme is going to be recovery.

Random acts of kindness

Many families and businesses with power ran an extension cords to the street so others could charge cell phones and other devices.


Image source: acts of kindness photos

Pedal power

Volunteers are taking turns pedaling bicycle-driven generators to power water pumps and re-charge cell phones.


Image source

Shelter from the storm

From now until November 7th, Airbnb is waiving booking fees for stays in hurricane affected areas, and is encouraging hosts to reduce their prices for those looking for shelter from the storm.


Quotes of the week:

"You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late."
~Ralph Waldo Emerson

"No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted."
~Aesop

What other random acts of kindness have you witnessed or heard of this week?

Thursday thanks

This week I was on the receiving end of a Random Act of Kindness.

On Tuesday, I decided to take my morning walk to the beach. There is a bridge toll along the way. I had 4 quarters lined up to pay the toll.

But when I pulled up to the toll-taker's window, a strange thing happened. The toll-taker waved me on and said:

"The lady ahead of you paid for you."

For less than the cost of a cup of coffee, that lady made my whole week.

Thank you random act of kindness lady, wherever you are!

Now... what should I do to pay it forward?
Or better yet: What would YOU do to pay it forward?