Would You Be Willing to Spend 25 Cents to Buy a Stranger 10 Minutes?
As we go through our busy days we are usually so wrapped up in our next appointment; what we will cook for dinner; what time the kids have to be picked up.... the list goes on.....that we can forget that there are others around us. 
This morning as Larry and I were at the end of our morning walk at Delray Beach, we saw a young man going along the sidewalk and feeding the meters with the red “Expired” sign flashing in the window. He stopped at each meter, checked the status, then dropped in a quarter.
It was such an unexpected and kind gesture it made me wonder how many of us would have spent a quarter to buy a stranger 10 minutes of time. (In Delray, beach parking is 25 cents for 10 minutes.)
Larry and I have made this “mad dash” on more than a few mornings. You set your watch and know when you must “feed the meter” only to be stopped by a friend for a quick hello and chat. Or on those occasions when we saw the flashing red on meters near our car, we were always so busy talking or wrapped up in our thoughts, that it never occurred to either one of us to buy that person an extra 10 minutes.
I hope that next time I’ll step out of my own little world and be better prepared to perform a Random Act of Kindness.
Random Acts of Kindness are out there.... we just have to learn to look for them.
GreatNorfolkHomes.com (757) 560-0881 - Chesapeake, VA
Serving Chesapeake, Norfolk, VA Beach
What a lovely simple gesture. This post lifted my spirits! Thank you for that.
Apr 26, 2012 01:08 AM
Karen Parsons-Fiddler, Broker 949-510-2395 - Mission Viejo, CA
Orange County & Lake Arrowhead, CA (949)510-2395
Nice, I've done this once or twice....in the old days. Especially when I lived in Laguna. Locals have decals, so once in awhile I'd see a meter turn red with the metermaid down the street and would drop in a dime. Now....those are credit card meters, not as easy.
Apr 26, 2012 01:14 AM
Helping people in transition - Cary, NC
Raleigh, Cary, Apex area Realtor
You just have to love random acts of kindness. Seems like Larry gets it! Great job Larry!
Apr 26, 2012 01:55 AM
Albuquerque Homes Realty - Albuquerque, NM
Honesty, Integrity, Results, Experienced. HIRE Me!
Random acts of kindness always come back to us..... I know from experience.
Apr 26, 2012 02:02 AM
Specializing in all types of Manhattan apts & townhouses - Manhattan, NY
Real Estate Broker - NYC
What a really kind gesture! When you see random acts of kindness like this, it renews my faith in humanity. I can't remember where I read this, but there was this guy that was doing this and the cop gave him a ticket for doing this random act of kindness!
Apr 26, 2012 02:43 AM
NeNet - Tulsa, OK
Great SEO Services that you can afford!
Kathy, Very AWESOME post!.. It reflects the heart and mind of Christ.. Paying a debt for others.. suggested... Have a WONDERFUL day my friend!
Apr 26, 2012 03:15 AM
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign
Gabe- I know..I think in “gentler” times we would have but everything you do can be scrutinized these days that many probably are afraid to.
Sally & David- I’d never seen this person before but who knows. We’re getting more and more of the meters in downtown Delray.
Michael- Getting a parking ticket just starts the day off the wrong way!
Dorie- I know that I probably have a lot more opportunities to do such a kind act but often just don’t think about it.
BARFF- he was cute too!!!
BarbaraT-we’re either on the phone or staring down at our iPhone texting!
Gita- we usually don’t have extra quarters on us when we walk but it’s something to think about.
Mark- absolutely. There have been times when we just made it! The meter person was just a few cars away.
Janis- that is just cruel!!! But I guess this puts a little sadism in their day!
BLiz- I remember that!!!!! Bad move.
Gary- true but then I guess we’re supposed to do this not for the recognition, right! Still we all want to have some kind of acknowledgment of our act.
Kristine- I think that to give something like that and not expect anything in return is a true form of giving.
Kathryn- Glad I was able to do the lifting!! It is nice to hear stories like that isn’t it.
Karen- I knew you would do something like that, just from your blogs. I know.... the new meters don’t make it that easy.
Craig- I think there was a lot of encouragement for Random Acts of Kindness after 9/11. I’d like to see more of it.
John (QMan) - they always say what goes around comes around, right!
Jennifer-I wonder what the law is that you can’t put a quarter or dime in a meter for someone else!
Joe- thank you! If you think about how good it feels to do something nice for someone, then you’d think we’d do it more often!
Apr 26, 2012 03:56 AM
HomeSmart Realty Group - Parker, CO
Metro Denver Real Estate Assistant
Thanks for sharing Kathy. It's something that's so simple and really inexpensive to do.
Apr 26, 2012 06:26 AM
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy
Kathy,
When we lived in Los Angeles, there were a couple of people who did that. It is fun to be kind. It reminds me of the Dalai Lama's saying (our favorite), Be kind whenever possible, it is always possible! A
Apr 26, 2012 07:23 AM
Fresh Eyes For Your Home - Chappaqua, NY
Designing, Decorating & Staging Westchester Homes
What a fabulous thing for this person to do-he must have gotten a ticket recently and wanted to help other people out-whatever the motivaiton, it was a great random act of kindness!
Apr 26, 2012 07:28 AM
Add Value Home Staging LLC, 281-704-6607 - The Woodlands, TX
Home Staging -The Woodlands, TX
Kathy, that is such a nice thing to do. It adds whole new meaning to his morning walks. Thanks for sharing.
Apr 26, 2012 07:49 AM
Charles Rutenberg Realty Inc. 516-575-7500 - Long Beach, NY
LI South Shore Real Estate - Broker Associate
Nice gesture. Reminds me of an incident many years ago when the famous tennis matches played in August were held at the Forest Hills Stadium and one of the high-ranking tennis players parked at a meter right outside the boutique where I was working on Austin St. When his time ran out, we fed the meter so he wouldn't be ticketed. We did it for a while until we realized he didn't really care and had no intention of getting back anytime soon.
Apr 26, 2012 09:48 AM
Raleigh Cary Realty - Raleigh, NC
Realtor/Broker
What a great feeling Larry must get from leaving a stranger a "secret surprise." You know, I bet if we were only looking for opportunities to do a Random Act of Kindness, we would find plenty of them!
Apr 26, 2012 10:22 AM
Shaken...with a Twist 216.633.2092 - Euclid, OH
Lets shake things up at your home today!
Lewisburg, WV
Lewisburg WV, the go to agent for all real estate
Kathy, a great gesture indeed and a great random act of kindness. Seems most of us are just too busy talking to others, day dreaming, etc to sometimes just to help others in an act of kindness.
Apr 26, 2012 12:35 PM
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign
Donna- it really is. You spend 25cents and look what you can do for someone.
Ron & Alexandra- I love that saying! Ok... I've got to go and read more of the Dalai Lama.
Joanna- yes, whatever the reason, it was very thoughtful.
Anna- you're absolutely right... besides his health benefit, he did a very good deed.
Jill- that's just awful! Not what you did, because that was very kind.
Dianne- I agree and I've not been the best lately. I've had my moments though. I'll tell you what is really fun though is just one day make a point of seeing how many random acts of kindness you can do!
BARFF- would have but he was too busy feeding meters.
Rebecca- oh I believe we are. Half the people walk around texting or talking on the phone.
Apr 26, 2012 01:05 PM
Rooms With Style - Minneapolis, MN
Home Staging and Redesign Minneapolis/ St. Paul, M
Love this! There is a gentleman that walks every morning in our neighborhood and he always carries a bag with him so he can pick up litter if he sees it. What a way to get your exercise and do a great service for your community at the same time.
Apr 27, 2012 07:56 AM
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign
Shar- That is so nice! Not many would do that these days. Larry will during our walks but I draw the line at somone's Kleenex!!!
Apr 27, 2012 10:05 AM
RE/MAX Properties - Rockwall, TX
Homes for Sale in Rockwall County, Texas
Kathy - I love random acts of kindness and, sadly, we all get so busy that we fail to do this on a regular basis. I love this story! One of the things I miss most in ActiveRain are the great Pay It Forward stories we used to see.
Apr 27, 2012 10:58 PM
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign
Barbara- I remember those. What happened to them? I liked them because they were a reminder to us of what we could do if we just gave it some thought.
Apr 29, 2012 11:38 AM
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