Random acts !!

Edition 167  Monday 3rd December 2012

Hi,I never used to like getting a haircut as a kid, mainly because Dad fancied himself as a bit of  a barber. He even went to the expense of kitting himself out with some clippers! Knowing Dad they were picked up second hand and probably ex a South Island sheep station!! They certainly cut (or pulled) like they had been well used in a previous life. Needless to say my brother and I were not keen on getting herded into the kitchen on a Sunday night to be experimented on by Dad who seemed to get an inordinate amount of pleasure from the ritual. I am unsure if it was the fear in our eyes and the pitch of our voices or the finished styley result(not) that gave him the most pleasure!!

I am pleased to say those days are over and after plenty of therapy I have my hair cut with a modern set of clippers designed specifically for humans by Christine every Sunday! There is something about starting every week with a fresh haircut that gives me an extra spring in my step !!

A couple of random acts of kindness got me thinking this week about how much pleasure is generated by both the giving and receiving of such simple things. A guy pulling out of a city pay and display car park gave me his ticket that still had 40 minutes on it. We gave a friend a small gift recently on the spur of the moment and left it for her to discover as a surprise. Both were random simple acts of kindness that didn’t have to happen for any reason but both generated an amazing amount of pleasure and goodwill for givers and receivers.  Simple small random acts can and do often have more impact than stuff that is elaborate, expensive and planned to the last detail. The moral of this little story folks is Christmas couldnt be a better time for you to see for yourself how much impact a simple, thoughtful act of kindness can have….knock yourself out,have a great week.

 Cheers Jonesey!

Harry and the Hendersons steered clear of the lounge while the ruggers was on Sundee!

Love the smell of the Chrissy tree Dad hmmmmm pine forest !Scooby Dooby Doo!!

We think too much and feel too little. More than machinery, we need humanity.More than cleverness,we need kindness and gentleness.”Charlie Chaplin Comedic Actor, Filmmaker,Writer.

Continuing with the theme of random acts of kindness,they are simple small things that can and do also benefit us hugely in business and private. Some examples I have observed lately are hearing complete strangers compliment each other on clothing they are wearing and hairstyles in a lift. Guys letting ladies get into and out of the the same lift first! Guys opening office and car doors for ladies, even just the simple act of saying please and thank you can have an impact in a world today where these words are used less and less.

I often make a habit of picking up rubbish I see on the beach or blowing around a work premises. This has a noticeable effect on people you are with at the time. I was walking up our driveway last week with our Managing Director and key shareholder and picked up a number of pieces of loose rubbish that were blowing around. Here is a guy who has just invested $millions in a new venture, how do you think he would have felt about that. He appreciated it and said so, small things make a BIG impact.

I reckon the exciting part about these random acts is you can do them anytime to anyone it is so totally up to you. The other cool thing is that they are infectious and one kind thing you do can cause others to do the same for someone else because your act motivated them so positively to do so.

Your mission should you decide to accept it is to perform a random act of kindness daily,carpe diem!

 “Carry out a random act of kindness, with no expectation of reward, safe in the knowledge that one day someone might do the same for you.” Diana Spencer,Princess Of Wales.