Nice by Nature: “31 Random Acts of Kindness.”
Last week I posted about a truly inspiring friend performing 31 Random Acts of Kindness to mark her 31st birthday and just when you think you know-ish someone, you interview them and realise you don’t know the half of it! So without further ado….Leggo!
What inspired you to perform your “31 Random Acts of Kindness?”
I’ve always been inspired by people who do good for others & try to make a difference in another person’s life. I subscribe to channels/blogs that are positive; people who create movements that’ll benefit others, like Sean Oshinaike from London giving back to the community and movements like ‘Refresh Your Soul’ by Coca Cola Girl from Texas.
I share the same vision with these people, which creates a domino effect of good! Upon discovering Sean, I came across an 83-year-old lady in America who celebrated her birthday doing Random Acts of Kindness, giving $83.00 (split into $5 notes) to people on the streets and thus inspiring me to perform 31 Random Acts of Kindness for my 31st birthday.
How did you choose your acts and how did you narrow them down to 31?
I’ve always had a soft spot for Homeless people and a big supporter of The Children’s Tumour Foundation, so they were both going to be on my list.
One of my uncles who passed away earlier this year stayed at David Lange Rest Home in Mangere and would cry each time he told us about someone passing away. He said it was like they’re all in there, some of them forgotten about, just sitting around waiting for their time to be up.
That really upset me, so I made sure to dedicate an Act to them by visiting his friends who still live there and to thank the staff, as they do an amazing job.
I wanted to make my ‘Random Acts of Kindness’ a little different from what I’d already seen on YouTube. I wanted to include my friends, family, everyone! I wanted support. That’s when I set up the event on FB & asked them to contribute an Act they would do, something they wish they should’ve done but missed the chance and what they wish they saw more of.
Did you have any reservations about performing some of the acts?
Yes definitely! I’m quite shy and found it hard to approach people, especially when we got rejections but throughout the day it became easier and the responses we received got better.
Which, if any, did you find to be a little out of your comfort zone and how did it feel to complete them?
‘Helping a can collector in your neighbourhood’ was a challenging one because he seemed so reserved so I shared how my grandfather used to collect cans too and allowed him to talk. I can now address him by name and put aside cans for him to collect.
I also felt the ‘Free Hugs’ Act (recommended on the Events page) was going to be a real challenge! It was a little out of my comfort zone, because I thought it wouldn’t work! But to our surprise within a minute of holding up our sign, the first guy to see the sign, stopped & looked puzzled. I asked him if he wanted a hug! He asked why and I said because they’re free and they’re nice! He laughed and gave us a hug! It felt good to complete that one because it made all of us laugh!
What were people’s reactions to your Random Acts?
The best thing about doing the acts was the surprised reactions of people. They had that look like it was too good to be true, that there had to be a catch or it was crazy for random old me to offer to do or give something to them! It just goes to show how odd it is to see things like that in our world today. Of course you’d get the odd person who takes offence when offered help, but that’s totally understandable too.
People are “busy” and daunted by the idea of making a difference on a huge scale. I understand you chose to MAKE time; can you elaborate on that please?
Well I admit, one of the reasons why I (and many others) don’t get out in our communities and do our bit as much as we should/want is because of commitments like work, families, sports, etc and that’s totally fine:)
I remember one time I saw a homeless lady sitting outside the dairy on busy Queen Street (Auckland), people would just walk past, in and out the shops, wouldn’t even look at her, not one single person acknowledged her.
I ended up walking towards the shop, didn’t want to make it obvious that I was only going into the shop because I saw her, but I said hello to her and asked if she would like anything from the shop. She replied ‘Ohhh yes please! A sandwich, oooh and a hot chocolate, oooh and some smokes(lol) please. I got all her items and she said Thank You!
I’m not trying to change the world or anything like that, but that lady is human! She’s just like us!
How can we “make” time to give back?
‘Don’t have time’ is one of the common reasons I’ve heard that stop people from helping out in the community and that’s why I believe everyone should celebrate at least ONE birthday giving back:) And it’s someone’s birthday everyday so we should be covered. You can choose any birthday, any amount of acts, and actually plan towards it, the same way you would plan your own birthday party in advance, only you’re planning to do something nice for someone else less fortunate than you. Maybe we should have a “National Kind Act Day”. (Lol)
What can we do to help or show our support?
Share what kind Act you did on our FB Page at Nice by Nature! (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Nice-by-Nature/142418082609331) We need more positive uplifting pages that people can refer to when they’re feeling down! Or maybe you can take up the Birthday Challenge and share it with us!
You recently completed the undie run, tell me about your experience!
In 2011, living in Brisbane at the time, I was diagnosed with Neurofibromatosis (NF1) a rare condition that affects 1 in every 3,000 births. The nerve tissue grows tumours all over the body and causes serious damage by compressing nerves and other tissues. Only then did things finally start to make sense for me! Why I struggled in school and the cause of total loss of vision in my left eye! So it had a huge impact on my life because the majority of my life I was told something else. I felt lost as there was hardly any support available for NF as the doctors knew little about it and was left to educate myself using the internet.
There is currently no cure for NF and the Cupid’s Undie Run is an event that raises awareness & funds for The Children’s Tumour Foundation. It started over in America where 6 cities took part by stripping down to their undies & running a mile.
I’ve been supporting them ever since and because I couldn’t afford to get there to participate, all I could do was donate.
I was so excited when my friend Janet called to tell me Sydney Australia jumped on board for the first time this year and were holding the run in Darling Harbour. I immediately put a Team together called ‘Rare Aware’ made up of four of my awesome friends (Janet, Mafa, Steve, & Sivia) who are all based in Sydney plus myself.
We raised $885 AUD & I was recognised by the Race Director in Sydney for flying over just to be there. We got interviewed and everything! It was definitely worth the trip over and it was finally good to meet people just like me! Seeing all their friends and family there to support them just like mine.
When I returned home from the race I contacted the Cupid’s Run Organizers in America and nominated Auckland City to be the next city to jump on board. We’re currently going through interviews with them about bringing Cupid here, so fingers crossed! I’m thinking Kiwis in their undies down by Mission Bay?? Mean!!! (ha)
You’re probably sick of hearing the words inspiring, uplifting and a goddamn blessing lol, so where does one so inspiring draw her inspiration?
I don’t feel like I’ve done enough to be all that yet LOL but I’m inspired by the man upstairs as well as my parents! They’re naturally kind-hearted & I’m blessed to have grown up in a home where we appreciated everything we had, to give and not accept anything in return, always taught to respect and be thankful and honest.
I remember back in primary when my mum would always give my sister and I a bunch of fresh flowers every Monday from her garden to give to our teachers, or the Principal, or the Secretary. Thinking back, I think she had her own roster of whose turn it was to get flowers HA. The teachers loved it! And everyone knew my mum loved her garden.
I’m also blessed to have good friends who are supportive & motivating – My sister Dereny and friend Candice who completed the Acts with me! Candice flew all the way from Wellington just to join me, & my friends Janet, & Stevan who despite living in Australia continue to support everything I do.
What is some of the best advice/guidance anyone has given you?
My Dad gives the best advice! He always seems to say the right thing at the right time! “Your life is what YOU make of it! No-one else is going to do it for you, and whatever you decide to do in life, be the best at it.”
One thing that I’ll always remember was something he said to me as a kid. Every Sunday after church we’d stop at the good ol’ Taro Shop to get food for our toanai and there was always the same old homeless man standing outside the shop. Every time we saw him he’d ask my dad for money, and without fail my dad would always give him what he could, but each time he gave it, he would say ‘What did I tell you before? This is the last time!’ and the guy would say ‘Yes I know, okay.’ This carried on Sunday after Sunday, until I finally asked ‘Dad, why do you keep giving that man money? I thought you said last week was the last time!’ my dad replied ‘Because you never know, they could be Jesus’ (Matthew 25: 35-40). People may argue that they need to help themselves and giving them change or food isn’t helping them at all, but if we all thought like that then what a mean world we live in:(
Can you share a challenging experience from your youth and what would you tell the younger version of yourself?
When I learnt about having NF! I don’t take life too seriously now. I’d tell the younger version of myself to smile, laugh, and respect! Like good old Tofiga from Laughing Samoans, “Fa’a aloalo. Respect yourself, respect others!” The same people you respect on your way up will be the same people to help you when you’ve fallen down (something like that lol).
What’s next on the list? I know we share a love for travel, will your itchy feet be taking you anywhere in the near future?
I’m actually planning a trip to Thailand this October with some friends from Sydney! It’s for a friend’s birthday & yes she has planned to dedicate a few Kind Acts to complete over there. We plan to visit a Children’s Daycare, but it isn’t just any old daycare. Basically it’s one for children who’s parents are both in jail and they have no one else to look after them so they spend the day in the daycare and at night they go sleep with their parents in the cell.
Whoazers! Sounds like an awesome trip and looking forward to following your next adventure:) Thanks a millie for sharing your story with us and all the best with your future endeavours!!!
How’s that for inspiration and putting our #firstworldproblems into perspective??? Thanks again Seniar and your Nice by Nature girls for giving back and reaffirming our belief in community and humanity! See, nice people DO exist:) Hope you enjoyed this first of many in the new Series of Fortunate Events!
Check out their video here —-> Nice by Nature
Happy Sunday and have a brilliant week xx