I believe that our world would be a better place should we all take more time in our lives to perform random acts of kindness.
Finding a parking spot in Vancouver is like trying to find Waldo. Finding a FREE parking spot is akin to winning the lottery. What few free spots exist on the street are inevitably always taken. The rest of the streets are saved for permit holders only. What are left are parking lots. Pay parking lots. Want to park at the park? Please ensure you show your paid ticket stub on your dash. Want to park at the grocery store? Please pay. Want to park at the movie theatre? Don’t forget your stall number before going to the machine to pay. Want to park pretty much anywhere for any purpose for that matter? Feel free to park in the lots of all such places – just don’t forget to pay!
Okay, so you park and pay a ridiculous amount of money, usually for some ridiculous minimum amount of time that you will not use up. You go about your business and return to your car, ready to leave, still in possession of a paid spot or parking stub that’s good for a few more hours, maybe even the rest of the day. Before you drive off, take a moment to look around. Someone will be driving into that lot and a great opportunity for a random act of kindness presents itself. Pass on that parking stub. Or, in the case of the numbered parking spot/no dashboard ticket situation, have the person follow you to your spot.
This idea is not something I’ve just made up. This happens to Dave and I all the time! And it has become my most favourite random act of kindness. We have been both the recipient and contributor of the “parking pass-pass on” and every time it happens – whether someone gives us a free parking spot, or we give our paid spot to someone –I am totally struck by how great such a simple thing can make me feel. I just simply think this is one of the coolest ways to do something kind and selfless for a complete stranger. Especially because parking is such a bloody rip off!
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ange, the city of moose jaw has a great "pass it on". For out of province visitors to the city, they get to park anywhere, even at a parking meter, for free. This promots a williness to stay some extra time, rather than worry about "we have to leave before the meter runs out. Now, going to moose jaw just for free parking is rather a stretch but another great
"pass it on" is; next time your going through a drive thru, or, standing in a line waitinf to buy a coffee, how but saying to the cashier when you pay for your coffee" I'm buying the person behind me their coffee. This act would probably cost a dollar ot two but how cool is that. Pass it on, like the movie, random acts of kindness, a great idea and a rather inexpensive way to feel good about yourself.
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