Pretend you're Harriet the Spy or Amelie or a Rockefeller... What secret, good deed would you do or prank would you pull, if resources weren't an issue?
Amelie is my favorite foreign film! Lurve it. Not to steal the same idea, but I would pull a George Clooney, too. Since my Friend Circle involves two people whom I've known for over 20+ years (each), it'd be just a dinner and the amount I'd give them would be, like, 5 mil or something.
Inspired to add a story about a friend who passed away 10 years ago. Maria was a HS buddy. In her adult life she lived in Paris and had an elderly neighbor widow who lived alone. Maria brought her flowers every week which always brought a smile and many Merci’s from the widow. I heard this story told at Marias funeral. The smallest of gestures can change a life.
I’ve been in the process of rescuing 19 abandoned kitties at an evicted drug house up the rural dirt road I live on. If I had unlimited resources I’d gift a gazillion dollars to the national parks so they could buy the land and build an international cat sanctuary. (I confess, my altruism only extends to animals today, feeling grumpy about humans at the moment.) And yes, this would be secret...errr...to the cats. I won’t tell them who made the donation.
I have been practising small kindnesses everywhere I go over the last year. Admiring someone's nail polish or commenting about how good a certain colour looks on them, or how beautiful their eyes are. These are strangers and the effect these small gestures has on their face and body language is incredible. I can literally feel their body unfold as they smile and say thank-you. It makes me feel good to make others feel seen. Especially when they are just going about their daily routine and not expecting it. It also helps me practise being in the present moment.
I love this idea! I don’t think planning a secret good-deed prank could fail to make one happy. Just reading about that fantastic Wi-Fi prank made me happy!
I love these stories. Instead of just News at 6 or whatever there should be a show called Good News-- all positive stories about people helping others. I once paid for a woman's groceries when she didn't have enough money. One of the most gratifying times in my life was when I was a baby cuddler at Swedish Hospital in Seattle. Once a week for 2 years. It was bliss. I stopped when Covid hit.
I was leaving a Shakira concert in a towncar from backstage (don't ask) -- this was before her English language crossover. There were some young girls waiting out back for her. It was getting late. I rolled down the window just enough for my arm and waved. They were ecstatic. My friend said that was a jerk move. Now they'll think Shakira waved at them and she didn't. I told her they looked about 16 and had school tomorrow. Now they could go home, get some rest and believe that Shakira waved to them (which she totally would've). Maybe I am a jerk, but it was coming from a good place. xo
This is the best thread ever! I always wanted to fly around the country to every guitar shop with a layaway program, and pay off all the girls guitars. I'd also love to have a secret foundation to pay off the medical debt of women over age 40. Just like, write to us and attach your bills, and we'll take care of the whole thing. And something for the low-income children of professional artists, a college fund or therapy resources. IYKYK!
A dear friend loves to do kind deeds disguised as "pranks." I've been party to sneakily cleaning someone's house when they're going through a hard time. When my MIL passed, and the meal train slowed down but our hearts were still heavy, she ordered all the ingredients for an easy meal, including cookies, delivered to our house from the other side of the country. Honestly, her pranks are the best!!
Actually, I was on the receiving end of a good deed, today. I’m working remotely from my son and DIL’s house, this week. They’re both Marines and I’m helping out with taking care of the grandbabies... and didn’t realize until this morning that I’ve lost my wallet.
THEN I realized the random number that was trying to reach me (and the hubs) may be the person who found it?
YUP! I left it on the roof of my car while buckling the grandbabies into their car seats at the oldest’s preschool--tired Mimi walking, some things never change, LOL!
The best part of this story is that the person was driving a few cars behind me, saw my wallet fly off the roof of my car, stopped and turned back to retrieve it!
My husband is on his way to pick it up from this kind person (after dropping our oldest grandbaby at her preschool) but not before grabbing a gift card as a thank you for their being a solid human. 🥹
Thursday Threads: Mischief as superpower! What benevolent prank would you play?
Amelie is my favorite foreign film! Lurve it. Not to steal the same idea, but I would pull a George Clooney, too. Since my Friend Circle involves two people whom I've known for over 20+ years (each), it'd be just a dinner and the amount I'd give them would be, like, 5 mil or something.
Inspired to add a story about a friend who passed away 10 years ago. Maria was a HS buddy. In her adult life she lived in Paris and had an elderly neighbor widow who lived alone. Maria brought her flowers every week which always brought a smile and many Merci’s from the widow. I heard this story told at Marias funeral. The smallest of gestures can change a life.
I love this thread and plan to savor it for the rest of the week.
I’ve been in the process of rescuing 19 abandoned kitties at an evicted drug house up the rural dirt road I live on. If I had unlimited resources I’d gift a gazillion dollars to the national parks so they could buy the land and build an international cat sanctuary. (I confess, my altruism only extends to animals today, feeling grumpy about humans at the moment.) And yes, this would be secret...errr...to the cats. I won’t tell them who made the donation.
I have been practising small kindnesses everywhere I go over the last year. Admiring someone's nail polish or commenting about how good a certain colour looks on them, or how beautiful their eyes are. These are strangers and the effect these small gestures has on their face and body language is incredible. I can literally feel their body unfold as they smile and say thank-you. It makes me feel good to make others feel seen. Especially when they are just going about their daily routine and not expecting it. It also helps me practise being in the present moment.
I love this idea! I don’t think planning a secret good-deed prank could fail to make one happy. Just reading about that fantastic Wi-Fi prank made me happy!
I love these stories. Instead of just News at 6 or whatever there should be a show called Good News-- all positive stories about people helping others. I once paid for a woman's groceries when she didn't have enough money. One of the most gratifying times in my life was when I was a baby cuddler at Swedish Hospital in Seattle. Once a week for 2 years. It was bliss. I stopped when Covid hit.
I was leaving a Shakira concert in a towncar from backstage (don't ask) -- this was before her English language crossover. There were some young girls waiting out back for her. It was getting late. I rolled down the window just enough for my arm and waved. They were ecstatic. My friend said that was a jerk move. Now they'll think Shakira waved at them and she didn't. I told her they looked about 16 and had school tomorrow. Now they could go home, get some rest and believe that Shakira waved to them (which she totally would've). Maybe I am a jerk, but it was coming from a good place. xo
This is the best thread ever! I always wanted to fly around the country to every guitar shop with a layaway program, and pay off all the girls guitars. I'd also love to have a secret foundation to pay off the medical debt of women over age 40. Just like, write to us and attach your bills, and we'll take care of the whole thing. And something for the low-income children of professional artists, a college fund or therapy resources. IYKYK!
This will be fun to ruminate on. So many possibilities!
Your mom planting flowers in her neighbor’s garden! ðŸ˜
A dear friend loves to do kind deeds disguised as "pranks." I've been party to sneakily cleaning someone's house when they're going through a hard time. When my MIL passed, and the meal train slowed down but our hearts were still heavy, she ordered all the ingredients for an easy meal, including cookies, delivered to our house from the other side of the country. Honestly, her pranks are the best!!
Actually, I was on the receiving end of a good deed, today. I’m working remotely from my son and DIL’s house, this week. They’re both Marines and I’m helping out with taking care of the grandbabies... and didn’t realize until this morning that I’ve lost my wallet.
THEN I realized the random number that was trying to reach me (and the hubs) may be the person who found it?
YUP! I left it on the roof of my car while buckling the grandbabies into their car seats at the oldest’s preschool--tired Mimi walking, some things never change, LOL!
The best part of this story is that the person was driving a few cars behind me, saw my wallet fly off the roof of my car, stopped and turned back to retrieve it!
My husband is on his way to pick it up from this kind person (after dropping our oldest grandbaby at her preschool) but not before grabbing a gift card as a thank you for their being a solid human. 🥹