Title: Thanking a worker at the health club/Nice Deed #6
Date: Sunday, February 21
I go to the health club when I feel well enough to ride the Lifecycle to build up my leg strength. I ride for an hour and I try to go 3 times a week. When I go, there are people around me doing cardio on treadmills, bikes, ellipticals, and steppers. I noticed early on that whenever someone gets off the machine they were using, a worker comes over and cleans the machine thoroughly by wiping it down with a cleaning solution. This makes me feel really good because a lot of sweat is lost on these machines and it’s flu season. I think this is awesome as I have worked at many health clubs and worked out at many and most leave it up to the member to clean the machine as they see fit…workers at the health clubs don’t normally do this sort of thing because it is quite a large job….there are a lot of cardio machines!
Event: After I finished my workout on the Lifecycle, I got off, went to my locker and packed up. When I turned around to leave, the worker was wiping down the bike. I went up to her and thanked her for doing this all day long. I had already watched her do this like 15 times in an hour. I explained that I had worked at many clubs and worked out at many and had never seen any of the workers do this. I told her I really appreciated it as it was nice to know the machines were clean when you were using them.
Reaction: She stopped cleaning the bike, smiled, and said “Thanks for noticing. I like doing it cause it gives me something to do during slow times.” She said I was the first person to thank her for doing it and she really appreciated it.
Would I do it again? Yes, I am a big believer in complimenting people for doing a good job.
Cost: Nothing
Effort: Very little as I was at the health club already for my workout.
Time: 2 minutes
Friday, April 9, 2010
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Lori Day 5
Title: Powerball tickets in library books with note about Project Nice/Nice Deed #5
Date: February 20
I went to my neighborhood liquor store and purchased 5 powerball tickets. I had my library books in the car to take back to the library.
Event: I placed 1 powerball ticket in 5 different books with a note that explained Project Nice so that they would not throw the ticket away without checking if they won. I put my email address on the note and asked them to let me know if they got the book with the ticket. Drove to the library and watched as the librarian checked the books in and placed them on the rack.
Reaction: I haven’t heard from anyone yet as I just did it today, but I am hopeful that I will. I think it would be fun to find a lottery ticket in a book with a note, so I hope others find it fun also.
Would I do it again? Yes
Cost: $5.00
Effort: Writing the note about Project Nice, buying the tickets, placing them in each book, and driving to the library.
Time: 5 minutes to write the note, 5 minutes to buy the tickets, 5 minutes to put them in the books, and 10 minutes to drive to the library.
Date: February 20
I went to my neighborhood liquor store and purchased 5 powerball tickets. I had my library books in the car to take back to the library.
Event: I placed 1 powerball ticket in 5 different books with a note that explained Project Nice so that they would not throw the ticket away without checking if they won. I put my email address on the note and asked them to let me know if they got the book with the ticket. Drove to the library and watched as the librarian checked the books in and placed them on the rack.
Reaction: I haven’t heard from anyone yet as I just did it today, but I am hopeful that I will. I think it would be fun to find a lottery ticket in a book with a note, so I hope others find it fun also.
Would I do it again? Yes
Cost: $5.00
Effort: Writing the note about Project Nice, buying the tickets, placing them in each book, and driving to the library.
Time: 5 minutes to write the note, 5 minutes to buy the tickets, 5 minutes to put them in the books, and 10 minutes to drive to the library.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Lori Day 4
Title: Friending people in the Facebook Rheumatoid Arthritis group/Nice Deed #4
Date: Started doing it in mid-January through first week of February, 2010
Sine I have been on disability retirement due to Rheumatoid Arthritis, I have been home a lot and on facebook a lot. I found several groups for people that suffer from Rheumatoid Arthritis and they have been a godsend. You find out that there are many others suffering through the same things you are, meds are discussed and critiqued, and support is given. People from this group seem to need someone to be there for them, listen to them, and just give support. Some of them are newly diagnosed with RA and are angry, confused, scared, and looking for answers about meds, side effects, pain, etc.
Event: I sent 5 of the people in the group an email discussing my own experiences with RA and told them that I would be happy to “friend” them on facebook so that they always had someone to talk to that understood what they were going through.
Reaction: I got a quick response from all 5 people. They all thanked me for my email, friended me, and sent me an email telling me about their latest challenges living with a disease where you look perfectly normal to everyone on the outside, but suffer from terrible pain and inflammation on the inside. I have continued to chat with all of them at least once a week.
Would I do it again? Yes
Cost: Nothing
Effort: Writing the initial emails to each one
Time: About an hour to write to each one and tell them my story
Date: Started doing it in mid-January through first week of February, 2010
Sine I have been on disability retirement due to Rheumatoid Arthritis, I have been home a lot and on facebook a lot. I found several groups for people that suffer from Rheumatoid Arthritis and they have been a godsend. You find out that there are many others suffering through the same things you are, meds are discussed and critiqued, and support is given. People from this group seem to need someone to be there for them, listen to them, and just give support. Some of them are newly diagnosed with RA and are angry, confused, scared, and looking for answers about meds, side effects, pain, etc.
Event: I sent 5 of the people in the group an email discussing my own experiences with RA and told them that I would be happy to “friend” them on facebook so that they always had someone to talk to that understood what they were going through.
Reaction: I got a quick response from all 5 people. They all thanked me for my email, friended me, and sent me an email telling me about their latest challenges living with a disease where you look perfectly normal to everyone on the outside, but suffer from terrible pain and inflammation on the inside. I have continued to chat with all of them at least once a week.
Would I do it again? Yes
Cost: Nothing
Effort: Writing the initial emails to each one
Time: About an hour to write to each one and tell them my story
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Lori Day 3
Title: Big tip to woman who cut my hair at Hair Cuttery/Nice Deed #3
Date: Thursday, February 18
I went to Hair Cuttery to get my haircut as it had been 8 weeks since my last cut. I have really thick hair and it is all different lengths so it can be a challenge to cut. I called ahead to make sure the woman I liked was working and made an appointment for 2 p.m.
When I arrived at Hair Cuttery I waited about 10 minutes for my cutter to finish up her previous client. As she came over to get me and wash my hair she was very pleasant and smiling. As she proceeded to cut my hair after the wash, she told me that today had been really tough because of the schools opening late. She had to come to work 2 hours later than normal and had to cancel several appointments she had booked. She told me the snow had been really hard on her as the Hair Cuttery was closed for 5 days and when they re-opened they didn’t have any customers. She told me it was going to be a tough month for her and her daughter but she was very upbeat and nice.
Event: When it came time to pay, it costs $15 for a haircut and wash at Hair Cuttery and I gave her $20 extra. She thought I had made a mistake, but I told her I wanted her to have it to help her out for the missed appointments.
Reaction: She smiled, thanked me, and told me to have a good day.
Would I do it again? Yes
Cost: $20
Effort: I was going to get my haircut anyways, so very little.
Time: 1 minute extra while I was paying to explain that it wasn’t a mistake.
Date: Thursday, February 18
I went to Hair Cuttery to get my haircut as it had been 8 weeks since my last cut. I have really thick hair and it is all different lengths so it can be a challenge to cut. I called ahead to make sure the woman I liked was working and made an appointment for 2 p.m.
When I arrived at Hair Cuttery I waited about 10 minutes for my cutter to finish up her previous client. As she came over to get me and wash my hair she was very pleasant and smiling. As she proceeded to cut my hair after the wash, she told me that today had been really tough because of the schools opening late. She had to come to work 2 hours later than normal and had to cancel several appointments she had booked. She told me the snow had been really hard on her as the Hair Cuttery was closed for 5 days and when they re-opened they didn’t have any customers. She told me it was going to be a tough month for her and her daughter but she was very upbeat and nice.
Event: When it came time to pay, it costs $15 for a haircut and wash at Hair Cuttery and I gave her $20 extra. She thought I had made a mistake, but I told her I wanted her to have it to help her out for the missed appointments.
Reaction: She smiled, thanked me, and told me to have a good day.
Would I do it again? Yes
Cost: $20
Effort: I was going to get my haircut anyways, so very little.
Time: 1 minute extra while I was paying to explain that it wasn’t a mistake.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Lori Day 2
Title: Donation of tennis shoes to charity/Nice Deed #2
Date: Tuesday, Feb. 16
I recently retired from Howard County Public Schools as a Physical Education teacher. I taught P.E. for 24 years and any one of my students could tell you that I had an awesome collection of tennis shoes. I had shoes from when I first started out all the way to this year’s picks…I was a huge fan of sneakers or kicks as the kids like to call them. I didn’t need all of the shoes that I had collected as now I am wearing different shoes except when I workout…..but I was emotionally attached to all of them if you know what I mean. I can’t tell you how many times one of my students would joke about me giving him or her my shoes cause they liked them so much….my faves were my Jordans with patent leather on them….my weakness.
Event: I donated 26 pairs of my shoes (all in good shape) to Goodwill so that needy people can get enjoyment and use out of them.
Reaction: The person at Goodwill that took my bag of shoes seemed quite happy with the donation, but I didn’t get to see an actual person that got my shoes. I could picture the reaction in my mind, though as awesome shoes can brighten anyone’s day!
Would I do it again? Absolutely.
Cost: Nothing today, but overall probably about $80-$100 for each pair….they were really good shoes.
Effort: Sorting through all of my shoes and making a pile for charity and a pile that I couldn’t/wouldn’t part with. Pairing the shoes together and bagging the ones to give away.
Time: It took about 30 minutes to sort the shoes and pair them up and another 20 minutes to drive to Goodwill and donate my shoes.
Date: Tuesday, Feb. 16
I recently retired from Howard County Public Schools as a Physical Education teacher. I taught P.E. for 24 years and any one of my students could tell you that I had an awesome collection of tennis shoes. I had shoes from when I first started out all the way to this year’s picks…I was a huge fan of sneakers or kicks as the kids like to call them. I didn’t need all of the shoes that I had collected as now I am wearing different shoes except when I workout…..but I was emotionally attached to all of them if you know what I mean. I can’t tell you how many times one of my students would joke about me giving him or her my shoes cause they liked them so much….my faves were my Jordans with patent leather on them….my weakness.
Event: I donated 26 pairs of my shoes (all in good shape) to Goodwill so that needy people can get enjoyment and use out of them.
Reaction: The person at Goodwill that took my bag of shoes seemed quite happy with the donation, but I didn’t get to see an actual person that got my shoes. I could picture the reaction in my mind, though as awesome shoes can brighten anyone’s day!
Would I do it again? Absolutely.
Cost: Nothing today, but overall probably about $80-$100 for each pair….they were really good shoes.
Effort: Sorting through all of my shoes and making a pile for charity and a pile that I couldn’t/wouldn’t part with. Pairing the shoes together and bagging the ones to give away.
Time: It took about 30 minutes to sort the shoes and pair them up and another 20 minutes to drive to Goodwill and donate my shoes.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Lori Day 1
Title: Joined former student’s fan page on facebook/Nice Deed #1
Date: Saturday, Feb 6
Today in Maryland we had 38 inches of snow and I was stuck inside all day. I spent a lot of time on the computer and noticed that one of my former students had joined a fan page of another former student. I clicked on the link and found out that one of my former students is a very good singer, song writer, and plays the guitar as she sings her original songs. I joined her fan page, sent her a friend request, and wrote her an email telling her how much I had enjoyed listening to her songs and telling her I thought she was really, really good.
Event: I clicked on a facebook link, listened to music for about 10 minutes, and sent an email.
Reaction: I got a friend confirmation back in about 5 minutes with an email thanking me for joining the fan page and listening to her music. She couldn’t believe that I would remember her with all of the students I have taught. She told me what she’s studying in college and that she would let me know if she sings anywhere close by. I’m very happy cause I reconnected with a student I really liked and the music is really good!
Would I do it again? Definitely.
Cost: Nothing
Effort: Very little…listening to music, writing an email
Time: 10 minutes of listening to music, 3 minutes to write an email, 2 minutes to read a reply to my email.
Date: Saturday, Feb 6
Today in Maryland we had 38 inches of snow and I was stuck inside all day. I spent a lot of time on the computer and noticed that one of my former students had joined a fan page of another former student. I clicked on the link and found out that one of my former students is a very good singer, song writer, and plays the guitar as she sings her original songs. I joined her fan page, sent her a friend request, and wrote her an email telling her how much I had enjoyed listening to her songs and telling her I thought she was really, really good.
Event: I clicked on a facebook link, listened to music for about 10 minutes, and sent an email.
Reaction: I got a friend confirmation back in about 5 minutes with an email thanking me for joining the fan page and listening to her music. She couldn’t believe that I would remember her with all of the students I have taught. She told me what she’s studying in college and that she would let me know if she sings anywhere close by. I’m very happy cause I reconnected with a student I really liked and the music is really good!
Would I do it again? Definitely.
Cost: Nothing
Effort: Very little…listening to music, writing an email
Time: 10 minutes of listening to music, 3 minutes to write an email, 2 minutes to read a reply to my email.
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Melanie Day 7
Day 7: Left Valentines for floormates.
Left Valentines for floormates, February 14, 2010.
Happy Valentine’s Day! Yay!
As awful as it is to say, I don’t know everyone who lives on my floor in the dormitory building. There are about thirty of us, and counting my roommates I’m good friends with six of my floormates and know eight well enough to wave to. I’m not going to be able to make friends with all of them just by leaving them nice things, but it’s a good start.
Not to mention it was Valentine’s Day. And everyone deserves a Valentine on Valentine’s Day, even if it just means getting a cute little card. It feels good to have that little bit of affection and to feel like part of the group.
Event: Around lunchtime, I snuck out of my room with a bunch of origami swans in a plastic bag. Each of them had notes taped to their wings with the message, “Happy Valentine’s Day! Peace and Love.” I tiptoed all the way around the floor, taping a swan to each of the doors. I taped an extra large swan to my RA’s door.
One of my friends got off the elevator and started walking towards me while I was trying to be sneaky. He didn’t question what I was doing, though. Luckily, he knows me all too well to be suspicious of me doing strange things.
Reactions: The only reaction I’ve gotten was actually from my friend who caught me in the act. He said, “I know it was you who taped that to my door! You sneak!” He laughed as he said it. “But seriously, though, that was really cute,” he continued.
No one else has said anything, but all of the swans are still taped to the door. Most of the time, the jerks on my floor will rip off whatever is taped to people’s doors or graffiti. All of the swans are still intact, though, and that is all I would ever ask for.
Would I do it again? Sure!
Cost: $0. I already had the tape, and I made the swans out of scrap paper that I was going to recycle otherwise.
Effort: Not much. Strangely, it was more effort and stress to sneak around and tape the swans up than it was to actually make them.
Time: Between making the swans and taping them up, about half an hour.
Project Nice was initially very daunting, mainly because a) I was already well aware of the hostility of the average New Yorker, and b) my social skills are as sophisticated as a slug. (At least it's a good thing Project Nice wasn't testing us on our ability to make similies...anyway...) But little by little, it became easier to find ways to help people or make people happy without freaking them out, like leaving notes in books. And not only were those nice on their own, they made great stepping stones to more public events. So later in the project, when I found an opportunity to say something nice to someone, I could say it without feeling intrusive.
Also, I noticed that I did more nice things when I wasn't consciously thinking of Project Nice. After a while, it was the people who sparked my ideas and the events; I was aiming to make them happy instead of aiming for something cool to write about later.
Overall, I feel far more motivated now to spontaneously do nice things for others, whether or not I'm worried about their potential hostility. Even if they do end up thinking I'm a freak, it's better to have tried to help someone and live with the results than wonder what would have happened if I had tried.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
