I participated with Giveroo on Day One of the 7 Days of Giving in St. Louis, MO. Day One was pretty tough. We were turned away from Dierbergs and Target by management and had a number of givers pass on helping out the first day. Now I'm not trying to harp on our difficulties. If anything, the results of Day One show just how important random acts of kindness are.
We heard a lot of discomfort and uncertainty regarding our random acts of kindness.
Dierbergs Manager: "We don't want our customers to feel pressured and uncomfortable."
Target Employee: "[Management] doesn't even let the Salvation Army stand out front with the bell. They have a strict policy against anyone being outside the store."
Potential Giver: "I don't know if I feel comfortable going out there. I don't want to make other people feel uncomfortable."
The quotes above demonstrate how rare random acts of kindness are today. I would say people don't feel negatively about random kindness, but they definitely are unfamiliar with it. One of our own givers said he didn't want to make people feel uncomfortable. I agree, it's never good to make others feel uncomfortable. Sometimes though, it's important to show people that whats going on isn't bad at all. In fact, it's actually pretty good. Here's my logic:
People feel uncomfortable about receiving random kindness (they think we're soliciting, they think we expect something in return) >> We decide not to do random acts of kindness because they feel uncomfortable >> No one ever does random acts of kindness >> People continue to feel uncomfortable about being kind to strangers
That could be the result or it could be:
People feel uncomfortable about receiving random kindness (they think we're soliciting, they think we expect something in return) >> We do random acts of kindness anyway >> People have a positive experience >> They realize they not only don't mind a free hug or a sticker, but they actually really like it >> They then turn around and tell someone about the kindness they received and they give hugs and kindness to people they know >> Kindness trickles, the world is a better place
Obivously, this is an optimistic view, or at least I thought it was until we interacted with people yesterday. Here were some quotes from yesterday:
Lloyd (Dierbergs Employee): "You're being so nice to help me, can I get you a drink or something? It's hot out here (with smile and laughing)."
Danielle at Dierbergs: "I had to stop and get my free hug (she actually backed up her truck and got out for her hug)."
Woman in Park: "There should be more people out here doing things like this."
I say if people feel uncomfortable it's only because they haven't experienced random acts of kindness. If we stop now nothing changes. If we keep going, maybe just one person will see how great kindness can be. And just maybe they'll be a little bit kinder that day. 6 Days of kindness left. I say we keep going.
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