Random Act of Kindness

My Random Act of Kindness

I chose to carry out a random act of kindness in Downtown Toronto by offering to purchase lunch for a random homeless person on the streets. The first person I saw was an old man, in his late 50s, who was holding up a sign that read “Donate a smile”. My initial reaction after reading the sign was in fact a smile so I decided to ask him if he would like me to purchase him lunch.

1. After asking the man, Greg, if I can treat him to any lunch place of his choice and seeing his reaction, there was a sudden positive increase in my mood. I felt extremely proud and satisfied, as if I had accomplished a goal. I finished my day off feeling happy, stress free, and full of life. The best part was seeing Greg’s facial expressions change from lonely to hopeful, as if he had once again regained faith in humanity and life. This act of kindness was a reality check for myself because it made me realize how unfortunate some people are in this world, and how easy it is for fortunate people to take life for granted.
2. Prior to approaching the man, I was nervous to ask him if he would like to have lunch because I did not know how he would react. However, his response nearly put me in tears. He was very overwhelmed and had no words to express his emotions. He thanked me continuously. I could see a glow in his face with a genuine smile, and watery eyes. He told me that no one has ever offered him water, let alone an entire lunch date. He chose to eat at Tim Hortans and asked me to eat with him as well, where I had the opportunity to listen to his emotional stories. When it was time for me to say bye, he thanked me one final time and ended it with a “God bless you, my child”. This made me realize how powerful my small act of kindness was, how much it positively affected Greg, and how important it was to deliver these acts more often.
3. It is extremely important to deliver acts of kindnesses to make positive changes in the community.  A few of these acts include paying for someone’s groceries, donating at a charity, complimenting people, sending postcards to sick kids, thanking someone, and offering a ride. These acts would contribute to personal growth, foster kindness, and encourage others to do the same.