If you missed it, on CBS Sunday Morning, they did a profile on Mark Cuban, who seems to think having more money is not the be-all and end-all of his existence. The video (here) breaks down how his new pharmacy works to keep prescription costs low for patients.
Planting the seeds of happiness. Illustration: Marcos Montiel at Synergy/The Guardian
Whether fostering kittens, donating blood or delivering boxes of biscuits to striking workers, there has never been a better time to help out. And it will improve your life too
But there is another way to be better: by doing something kind. This doesn’t mean giving money (welcome though that always is), it’s about giving your time, empathy, support and thought – finding ways to help the people around you.
To make this list of suggestions, I explored acts of kindness given and received, acutely needed and fondly remembered, with Guardian readers, charities, friends and family, marvelling at how much quietly industrious kindness goes on around us. I hope there is something for everyone: some require commitment; others need nothing more than the ability to boil a kettle. But what all these acts have in common is that they will make you feel good: research shows that being kind make us happier. So you can help others and feel better yourself all at once. You won’t get that kind of win-win from a gym membership.
1. Give blood
Each donation can save up to three lives and you get free biscuits. Everyone eligible is welcome, but “we urgently need more blood donors of black heritage”, says Rob Knowles of NHS Blood and Transplant (they are more likely to be able to help the increasing number of patients with sickle cell disease). Sign up at blood.co.uk, call 0300 1232323 or use the NHS Blood app. If you can’t get an appointment immediately, don’t worry: your donation will be vital whenever it’s given. To donate quickly, the best appointment availability is at the 25 permanent donor centres across the UK.
2. Walk a dog
The Cinnamon Trust provides support for elderly and terminally ill people who need urgent help to walk their pets so they can keep them. Check the map at cinnamon.org.uk, register as a volunteer and you will be ready when help is needed in your area.
3. Buy a Big Issue when you can – but also talk to your seller
Generally, having a chat with someone on the streets is a nice thing to do and often appreciated. It needn’t be anything heavy: ask how their day is going and if there is anything they would like or need help with. Some people want to chat, some don’t – just be respectful. If a homeless person tells you they are having difficulty accessing medical facilities or with other practical issues, the Big Issue suggests alerting StreetLink, which connects rough sleepers with services they need.
4. Target your support for food banks
On top of the obvious non-perishable foods, the Trussell Trust says donations of toiletries, laundry and washing-up stuff, baby supplies and sanitary towels and tampons are always welcome. The best way to support food banks, though, is to find out what they need from day to day. I follow my local, the Collective Sharehouse, on Instagram, where it posts requests for urgent help. Remember, you can donate time as well as goods: “Food banks are busier than ever and very grateful to anyone who can spare a few hours on a regular basis,” says Ellie Lambert of the Trussell Trust. Help can include picking up or unpacking corporate donations, delivering to most in-need clients and even assistance with social media.
Sugar water can work wonders for tired bees. Illustration: Marcos Montiel at Synergy/The Guardian
5. Bee prepared
Learn to revive a tired or struggling bee. If it’s wet, put it in the sun; otherwise deposit it on a high-nectar flower such as buddleia or sunflower, wait a while and if that hasn’t helped, offer a little sugar water (two tablespoons of white granulated sugar to one tablespoon of water, left on a spoon or in an eggcup).
6. Go guerrilla gardening
Inspired by the Incredible Edibles movement, create a “propaganda bed” – an easily accessible pot or bed planted with herbs and vegetables for people to help themselves. Label it so passersby know what’s what, and that it’s all free.
Marc sent me this, which really started the week off on the right foot:
Berkeley teacher who sent 15,000 letters to students gets a ‘love letter’ of her own
A new documentary chronicles Berkeley High teacher Nancy Rubin’s decades-long project delivering letters written to students’ future selves.
In 1979, Berkeley High teacher Nancy Rubin began assigning students to write letters to their future selves. She gave the same assignment the next year, and the next — every year until she left in 1996.
The letters stayed with her for decades. Storing them in shoeboxes and, when she ran out of room, pizza boxes, Rubin religiously mailed the letters on the “send by” dates scrawled on the envelopes. As the number of letters dwindled, she started keeping them in her emergency earthquake go-bag, just in case.
Continuing to drop the letters in mailboxes in her retirement, she’s sent a total of about 15,000 letters. Only a handful — inscribed “send as late as possible” — now remain.
I want to share the experience that my husband, 7 year old autistic sister and I had today at the Chili’s location in Midvale, UT. Arianna, my little sister, didn’t waste any time when our waitress, Lauren, greeted us at our table. Arianna promptly ordered her cheeseburger with pickles, french fries, and chocolate milk before Lauren could even take our drink order.
Lauren smiled and told Arianna, “Okay! I’ll be right back with your chocolate milk!”. When we got our food I was wondering why Arianna wouldn’t touch her cheeseburger, but was going to town on her french fries. I asked her, “Arianna are you going to eat your cheeseburger?” She calmly said, “No, I don’t want it.” Cheeseburgers, or ‘Krabby Patties’ as we sometimes call them, are her FAVORITE! So this behavior was VERY strange. So I asked her, “Why don’t you want it?”. She replied, “It’s broken. I need another one thats fixed.” Then it dawned on me why she wasn’t eating it. It’s because it was cut in half. Being a child with autism, she has to have certain things in a particular order at all times.
One slight change in her routine can change the course of the day instantly. When Lauren came back to check on us, I asked if we could order another cheeseburger and just add it to our check. She had a concerned look on her face so I explained that Arianna has autism, and that in her mind, because the cheeseburger was cut in half, she thinks its broken and can’t eat it. I told Lauren I knew it sounded silly, but if we could just order an additional one we will gladly pay for it because there was nothing wrong with the one that was originally brought out.
Lauren was so sweet and just smiled and went along with Arianna, telling her “I brought you a broken cheeseburger?! You know what, I’ll have them cook you a new one!” I loved this because rather than just taking it from the table, she actually TOLD Arianna what she was doing. While this seems insignificant, by her telling Arianna what she was doing, we avoided a melt down. The manager, Bradley Cottermole, then came to our table, kneeled down, and said to Arianna, “I heard we gave you a broken cheeseburger! I am so sorry about that! We are making you a brand new one that isn’t broken, with pickles! I’ll bring you some french fries to munch on while you’re waiting, ok?” A couple of minutes later, Lauren arrived back at our table with cheeseburger #2. Arianna said, “OH FANK YOU! You fixded my cheeseburger!” When Lauren walked away, Arianna just sat there for a second and looked at her new burger.
She looked like so deep in thought….just staring at it….then she let out a big ”OH I missed you!!” and started kissing the burger over and over again. I showed Lauren this picture and said, “I think we glorified the cheeseburger too much!” She busted up laughing, and asked if she could go show her manager. She came back a minute later and said she showed everyone in the back kitchen area too, and that it made them all laugh and smile.
I was so touched by this experience. Especially since I know people who have been asked to leave restaurants when their child with autism is being disruptive. I expected a few different things with this scenario based on past experiences, but I did NOT expect such kind and compassionate mannerisms from Lauren and Bradley. Everyone, from the hostess to the chef, played a role in what most people would think isn’t a big deal. But this entirely shaped how the rest of our day would go. I know…a cheeseburger cut in half literally could make or break our day. In this case thanks to the professionalism of the crew in Midvale, it made our day. And I’m sure Arianna brightened up at least one of the employees days with her silly little personality. Thank you.
Credit: Anna Kaye MacLean
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And finally, some ducks for you. Somehow, though not a surprise if you spend any time at all with ducks, Nick and Nora managed to find mud, again, in a yard full of snow:
And for reasons only they know, they have begun lining up with the dogs to come in the house. It’s adorable.
That’s it for this installment. Share some kindness in the comments. I’m sure we could use all we good vibes we can get.
TaMara, I’m not sure what others are seeing, but I see a spinning thing that flashes, and my eyes can’t deal with stuff that flashes repeatedly. Not suggesting you remove it just for me, but maybe consider moving it below the fold so the flashing won’t be on the front page?
The pharmacy that has my current Rx for Singulair notified me it was ready, and the cost would be $331 (without my insurance, which they didn’t factor in). Cuban’s Costplus Pharmacy has a 60 day supply of the generic for just under $6.00. So I’m getting a written Rx to send them.
@satby: Similar, 90 days of Montelukast is $4.46. The pharmacy does not give a Singulair equivalent cost, but that is a very large number you have there!
Barely on topic but they fiddled with my allergy shot mix this fall, and my usual winter misery from molds and mildew is notably reduced, so yay, I’m not gobbling Montelukast daily like before. (Get to do that when spring rolls in.)
That cheeseburger story is just the absolute best. What a wonderful, kind thing those restaurant workers did.
As for Mark Cuban, I don’t care what anyone says about him. He’s a good guy. He is always quietly coming into town here in the ‘Burgh and doing good things. Whether it’s helping local entrepreneurs or providing resources for schools and charities or producing wonderful documentaries (the latest, along with Michael Keaton and Billy Porter, about the community and congregations of the Tree of Life Synagogue post-mass shooting), he has never forgotten where he came from. I keep praying to the FSM that he’ll buy the Pirates so we’ll finally get an MLB owner here who gives a shit about the city and the fans and not just how to extract dollars from both in exchange for the shoddiest product possible. I’m a Mark Cuban fan.
@TaMara: I am not the person in question, but for me the video from the News Station (ie the first video) autoplays and has a couple of circles that rotate as it loads. That may be the issue
He’s always seemed to come across as very down to Earth. The few times I’ve watched Shark Tank, I’ve always appreciated his anti-crank, healthy skeptical approach on the show. He’s not a woo-promoter by any means
@trollhattan: Check local grocery stores too. CVS wanted $80 for 90 days of pravastatin with insurance and $75 without. Got it at my local Weis Market for $12.80 for 90 days no insurance.
A very good friend of mine is a Chili’s manager here in Atlanta. I just sent her the cheeseburger story. If I know Becky, she’ll make sure that this is seen by everyone from corporate management to line cooks and trainee bartenders in every Chili’s in the country. Just a lovely, human story of connecting and being kind.
@SiubhanDuinne: Chili’s? Isn’t that where you used to hang out at the bar and talk to the bartender? Did you make a good friend from that? Or total coincidence?
*All these questions first thing in the morning, and you will likely never see them! :-)
WaterGirl
TaMara, I’m not sure what others are seeing, but I see a spinning thing that flashes, and my eyes can’t deal with stuff that flashes repeatedly. Not suggesting you remove it just for me, but maybe consider moving it below the fold so the flashing won’t be on the front page?
zhena gogolia
My husband walked by and exclaimed upon seeing the ducks lining up. “Little ducks, so sweet!”
WaterGirl
So sweet that the ducks line up with the dogs! Did they get used to being in the house during the cold snap?
I 💕 Nick and Nora.
WaterGirl
Reading from the bottom up, the hamburger story made me cry.
satby
The pharmacy that has my current Rx for Singulair notified me it was ready, and the cost would be $331 (without my insurance, which they didn’t factor in). Cuban’s Costplus Pharmacy has a 60 day supply of the generic for just under $6.00. So I’m getting a written Rx to send them.
Much appreciation to Mr. Cuban.
TaMara
@WaterGirl: What are you seeing that’s flashing? I have nothing on my desktop or my phone
TaMara
@WaterGirl: They’re not thrilled with being stuck in the house, but I think they are lining up in case there are treats. LOL
trollhattan
@satby: Similar, 90 days of Montelukast is $4.46. The pharmacy does not give a Singulair equivalent cost, but that is a very large number you have there!
Barely on topic but they fiddled with my allergy shot mix this fall, and my usual winter misery from molds and mildew is notably reduced, so yay, I’m not gobbling Montelukast daily like before. (Get to do that when spring rolls in.)
geg6
That cheeseburger story is just the absolute best. What a wonderful, kind thing those restaurant workers did.
As for Mark Cuban, I don’t care what anyone says about him. He’s a good guy. He is always quietly coming into town here in the ‘Burgh and doing good things. Whether it’s helping local entrepreneurs or providing resources for schools and charities or producing wonderful documentaries (the latest, along with Michael Keaton and Billy Porter, about the community and congregations of the Tree of Life Synagogue post-mass shooting), he has never forgotten where he came from. I keep praying to the FSM that he’ll buy the Pirates so we’ll finally get an MLB owner here who gives a shit about the city and the fans and not just how to extract dollars from both in exchange for the shoddiest product possible. I’m a Mark Cuban fan.
billcinsd
@TaMara: I am not the person in question, but for me the video from the News Station (ie the first video) autoplays and has a couple of circles that rotate as it loads. That may be the issue
zhena gogolia
@TaMara: right now it’s fine but a minute ago on my phone it was a flashing pinwheel
WaterGirl
@TaMara: hahaha
Treats, that’s so sweet.
TaMara
@geg6: That makes me so happy. I’ve always liked him and worry it might be misplaced.
WaterGirl
@billcinsd: Mine perpetually spins and flashes. It doesn’t load anything.
TaMara
ETA: Fixed hopefully. :-)
@zhena gogolia:
@billcinsd:
Got it, so it stops after it loads. I knew it autoplayed, but it did it on silent, so I wasn’t too worried. I’ll just add the link and a photo.
Goku (aka Amerikan Baka)
@geg6:
He’s always seemed to come across as very down to Earth. The few times I’ve watched Shark Tank, I’ve always appreciated his anti-crank, healthy skeptical approach on the show. He’s not a woo-promoter by any means
eclare
@WaterGirl: I just read about the broken cheeseburger. All of a sudden it’s very dusty in here.
It’s amazing how the smallest act of kindness can have such an impact.
Goku (aka Amerikan Baka)
Thanks for sharing the cute story and photos about the ducks, TaMara!
eclare
@satby: That is wonderful.
SpaceUnit
The top video crashed my computer.
I’d like to speak with the manager.
eclare
TaMara, do you have a link for the cheeseburger story?
WaterGirl
@SpaceUnit: I’m sorry Dave, you can’t do that.
TaMara
@eclare: I don’t, it was just a shared FB story. Maybe google the woman’s name?
eclare
@TaMara: Will do!
PaulB
The cheeseburger story is from 2013. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/waitress-fixes-broken-cheeseburger-video_n_2957019
Goku (aka Amerikan Baka)
@PaulB:
That kid’s old enough to drive now. Time really flies. Still, it was a very sweet story : )
TaMara
@PaulB: Did you need your kindness to current? 😁
Thanks for the link, since eclare was looking for more info on it.
TaMara
@WaterGirl: They have developed a love for peaches – I threw some past-their-prime fresh peaches out this past summer, and they went nuts.
So now I buy them a can of unsweetened peaches each week. They are spoiled.
eclare
@TaMara: Awwww…so cute!
And I think only one can of peaches per week shows remarkable restraint on your part. Spoiling pets is so fun.
Goku (aka Amerikan Baka)
@TaMara:
Out of curiosity, what kind of ducks are they? They’re cuties
Freemark
@trollhattan: Check local grocery stores too. CVS wanted $80 for 90 days of pravastatin with insurance and $75 without. Got it at my local Weis Market for $12.80 for 90 days no insurance.
TaMara
@Goku (aka Amerikan Baka): They are Pekin ducks.
TaMara
Jackie
@TaMara: Sweet story, but how did Nala get in their house??? The entirety of the video, I was thinking that question!
Goku (aka Amerikan Baka)
@TaMara:
Thanks!
SiubhanDuinne
@WaterGirl:
A very good friend of mine is a Chili’s manager here in Atlanta. I just sent her the cheeseburger story. If I know Becky, she’ll make sure that this is seen by everyone from corporate management to line cooks and trainee bartenders in every Chili’s in the country. Just a lovely, human story of connecting and being kind.
rikyrah
Nick and Nora🤗🤗🤗
WaterGirl
@TaMara:
As they should be!
WaterGirl
@SiubhanDuinne: Chili’s? Isn’t that where you used to hang out at the bar and talk to the bartender? Did you make a good friend from that? Or total coincidence?
*All these questions first thing in the morning, and you will likely never see them! :-)