Of course, the whole point of the exercise is to integrate small altruistic gestures into your everyday life, rather than cram lots into one day like I did. Nevertheless, spending the day performing kind acts convinced me of one thing: in general, people are highly suspicious of strangers being nice to them.

To be fair, a lot of people responded well once they realized I was on the level, but many others walked away from me, or ignored me (having a photographer in tow probably doesn’t help).

I don’t think it’s anything to do with safety or feeling intimidated. Instead, I think we all just automatically assume that if some randomer approaches us offering to be nice then they must be selling something, or trying to get money out of us in some way. That’s just a bit sad, isn’t it?

I’m really getting into the spirit of things now. I wrack my brains to figure out where would be the next best spot to target folk with some kindness. Then it comes to me: bankers! I head down to the IFSC, passing a flower stand where I pick up a bunch of roses. When I get down there, I lurk on a corner until I spot a busy-looking girl on her way to work. I approach her and offer her the roses, but she deploys some wonderfully rich Anglo-Saxon language to put me in my place.

Undeterred, I wait a minute and offer them to a second girl. I’m expecting to get pepper spray in the eyes, but to my surprise she stops, laughs and even agrees to pose for a picture.

I’m on a roll. I pop over to a coffee shop for my daily caffeine transfusion, and ask a man and woman behind me if I can buy their coffees. They take some convincing, but I keep insisting and they eventually agree. We even end up chatting for a few minutes.

Heading back towards town, I pop into Tesco for some lunch. While paying, I ask the lady behind me if she has a clubcard, and, if so, would she like the points from my purchases? Happily, she has a card and very gratefully accepts.

On the way out I see an older lady with two plastic bags and offer to carry her bags to the bus stop. She refuses at first, but I tell her I’m heading that way anyway. She hands them over and we have a lovely chat about her recent trip to Mexico. I realise that my life seems lame and boring in comparison. Perhaps she should carry my bags?

Go read all about Decians good day right here

I’m always amazed when I come across these stories.  It’s so simple:  One person does something kind,  with no chance of repayment or even acknowledgement.  Just a kind act,  from one strange to another.  So often it’s some anonymous person in front of you in line, or at the toll booth,  or well… anywhere.  Before you know what happened your way has been paid by someone you don’t know. Whether it’s a dollar or a hundred thirty nine dollars the outcome is the same:  You believe in basic human kindness again.  You believe in a world of possibilities.

And you are given hope.  

Mary Wadley never imagined the fortune she’d find the night she was checking out at a local Walmart store.  In fact, she’d moved to Arkansas, hoping for better luck after she was laid off her job in Michigan.  But it was still hard making ends meet for herself and her son.

“I’ve been praying to god, help me, give me a break, send someone to help reduce the pressure on me,” said Wadley.  And that help was found in lane six of the check out area.

Wadley was checking out groceries Tuesday night at Walmart in Searcy.  The balance was $139…. But when it was time to pay, the cashier stopped her.

“I looked up at her in shock and she said, that guy just paid for your groceries,” said Wadley.

The man had been in front of her in line, and smiled at her before he left.  And I looked up and he was walking out the door he never looked back, he just walked out,” Wadley said.

So, who is he?   Wadley doesn’t know but she’s looking for him.

“I just want to say thank you to his face and you really helped and now me and my son are going to make it ok,” said Wadley.  She calls the anonymous stranger an angel.  And says, even if she never meets him, she wants him to know what a difference he made in her life.  And she’ll always treasure the receipt as a symbol of hope during tough times.

“I’ve had a lot of bad things happen in the past year, it touched my heart, put a smile on my face and a smile on my heart, and let’s me know there are still good people out there.”

via KARE 11,  Minneapolis St. Paul