How about we start posting ways we lift others up while we're out and about for the holidays, or even at home, for that matter?

I'm heading out to food shop for Dad tonight so I'll be on the look out for ways to do something nice for someone else while I'm out.

Anyone have anything to report?

Well, a very little thing, but hubby and I went grocery shopping, and on our way out, instead of taking the cart back to collect our quarter, we gave the cart to a very weary-looking woman trudging through the doors. Her eyes lit up and she gave us such a lovely smile.

yep people are so laden in one way or another and few years ago a frend and i looked around at misrable people and shop assitants getting hassled all the time we decided to be extra nice polite and smilie to shop assistants and other shoppers too. it brightens them and us when we doing it.
So it spreading the niseness about with smiles and cheer and holding doors, just not giving in to the drudge and being mangled by the croud lol.

And the interesting thing about that, Celtic, is that smiles are contagious,...and usually get passed on to the next person, and on and on....

I need to do that more often. Thanks for the reminder.

Eagle, none of our stores have carts for a quarter. BUt waht a nice gesture.

celtic, I enjoy trying to make miserable looking people smile. So many times, at our food store, the checkers (and these are people I see a couple times a week) act like they've never seen me before. I've been going there for years. Sometimes they act like they know me and others, they act like they've never seen me before. I don't get it. They are in their own little worlds so I always strike up a conversation and try to get them to smile.

I experience the opposite Dotsie.People at checkouts know me..in the library what books I like.even phoning to update books the ladies know me.
I wear bras made by silhouete who went out of manufacturing for a time.I was in the store and Alice(yes we are on first name terms)called over that "5522 paysanne was being made again "my daughter was in hoots of laughter that Alice remembered my size etc...

I have recently had to visit a dear one in hospital further afield..not that far and there was a new expereince..being brand new in a place.
Then the patient was transfered to ten miles away and we were back on home ground..
within five minutes of seeing me there the Chaplain visited the bedside of the patient later the night nurse was a long standing friend..a former GP saw me asked who was there and visited at the end of her shift.. the porter one of my girl guides grown up..I realsise this is my territory..my region is my life time locality.
Networking exists and it is then I experience the gift that "What we sow so shall we reap"
Most times this is wonderful..it taught me respect and how to set privicy bounderies..by that I mean what I keep private within the home and accept this need applies to friends too .
Small countries like Scotland are very different from the US.
I believe Wales is similar..Lola mentioned to me that her daughter has similar experiences there.

Mountain, I have to say that when someone in a store recognizes me, it makes me feel so good and warm. We've lived in this area for 12 years now, and do 99% of our shopping in this neighbourhood. Despite going into the same stores every week for 12 years, we're rarely greeted or acknowledge. Except in the Hallmark store. When I go in there, several of the ladies make a point of coming up just to greet me and if they have time, engage in a bit of chit chat. I love that.

I can sort of understand me not being recognized...I'm a really wonderful person, but it just doesn't come across easily in social settings. But hubby's very outgoing and friendly and people really enjoy his company. But even he doesn't get greeted or acknowledged.

Interesting, when we go to his brother's small town outside of Quebec, people in the stores there recognize and greet me, moreso than here...and we're only there 2-3 times a year!

Dotsie, I think we only have one grocery store that has the quarter-carts. And you get your quarter back when you return the cart. It's located in an area where many people don't own cars, and take the carts home with them. The quarter is probably an incentive to return them.

Thats why I have also preferred small towns where people know one another and stop to say hello. Vegas is so cold, mostly transits and no one say anything, they keep their heads down mostly going about their business, grumble, grumble!

I smile alot and some even smile back but most just turn away or look down or at me like I'm nuts!!! Now how did they know? I keep that nut thingy such a secret, hah!!!

Giving anonymously works well, too. Especially if you're shy like myself.

I mostly shop at Wal-Mart for groceries and prefer to check out in the garden center where there are less lines. They work hard and often deal with grouchy folks, so I find myself chatting with those gals.