I’ve really been grappling with the concept of ‘random acts of kindness’ lately. Don’t get me wrong, I think that it’s the most beautiful thing in the world to be able to affect or change someone’s world just a little (or a lot) through one small act of kindness or even just generosity of spirit…

but what has been bothering me a little is the whole ‘random’ part. It just doesn’t seem to sit quite right with me. What’s so random about doing a good deed anyway? When someone chooses to do something good for someone else – whether it’s donating money for a good cause or participating physically to create a positive change – well, I see those as conscious decisions. Those are intentional act of kindness right there. Sure, the opportunity to help someone may have been arisen unexpectedly, spontaneously or even serendipitously, but when the choice is made to participate or to contribute – in whichever way – that action then becomes purposeful. It’s a choice  that we make. And when we are faced with a choice to turn away or help, and we choose the latter, I like to think that our action then becomes an intentional commitment – a purposeful act of kindness as opposed to a random one.

And just to throw another thought into the mix: regarding the frequency of helping others and committing to acts of kindness, why are we so okay with just random attempts anyway? We’re all prone to upping our goodness factor around Christmas, Easter, Ramadaan and other religious holidays/periods when the feel-good vibrations (or even guilt-trips) are making their rounds, but why not help out regularly or more often? Or even more often than not? It just seems to make more sense to me to adopt an attitude of kindness (in general) or to make a habit out of helping more often – like smoking or nail-biting, except that committing to more regular acts of kindness is far less icky and that collectively we could actually achieve something incredible – maybe even change the world.

And that, good people of the world, is my two-cents on the subject.

“Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.” Buddha

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the song – All I Have To Do is Dream by Everly Brothers:

I consider myself lucky for the simple reason that I dream a lot. As in like every night. What’s really amazing too, is that I get to remember most of them. The best part about my dreams though, is that I get to see some of my favourite people – even the ones who aren’t around anymore. It’s kind of bittersweet, particularly when a dream is based on an actual memory. There’s that split-second when your body wakes but your mind is still catching up and the dream still feels so very real and you can still vividly remember sounds, smells, a laugh, a touch or even a kiss. And then you wake. But sometimes – if I’m really lucky – I get to carry that moment or that special person around with me for a few extra hours or even for the entire day. Those are good days.

People think dreams aren’t real just because they aren’t made of matter, of particles. Dreams are real. But they are made of viewpoints, of images, of memories and puns and lost hopes.             ~Neil Gaiman~

Image source: flickr user – into warmer air

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Pop over to Haas (at 67 Rose Street, Bo-kaap) and #startcaring. Order yourself a delicious coffee and then just ’cause you’re so nice, order an additional one as a suspended/pending coffee. That means that you pay for a coffee that a cold or hungry stranger will receive. You may never know who receives it, but isn’t that the best part about giving like this? That you’re putting a smile on the face of someone you may never meet or ever know. I think that is exactly what makes this movement so special: giving without the expectation of ever receiving anything in return. When you order a pending/suspended coffee, it is not a random act of kindness, it is very intentional. Each time someone now purchases a pending coffee, it will be an intentional commitment to making the world a better place. It’s purposeful actions like these – however small – that restore our faith in man and the ability of each individual to make a positive change.

Haas has the coolest and friendliest staff!

Thank you so very much to Haas for being the very first establishment to make suspended coffees available to all of our kind-hearted and eager-to-share Capetonians. You’re setting a fantastic example and I can’t wait to see more cafe’s and local eateries offering suspended coffees and even meals.

So if you’re reading this (and you live in Cape Town), get your butt over to Haas and start supporting the #suspendedcoffee initiative. I’ll see you there

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the song: I’m Coming Home – J. Cole ft. Skylar Grey

I’m coming home

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the song: Landslide by Fleetwood Mac

I think I first heard this song (written by Stevie Nicks) when I was around 16 or 17 and I remember quite vividly how it gave me goosebumps. Years on, it still has that effect on me but now I feel like it holds more meaning for me somehow… maybe the lyrics make a little more sense to me now that I have a little more life experience. Either way, it’s still a song I hold dear.

I took my love and I took it down 
I climbed a mountain and I turned around…

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the song – I’d like by Freshlyground:

I adore this song. And the fact that it’s a local gem thrills me to no end.

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I won’t say much else since the photos are pretty much all that’s required to really appreciate the beauty of some of the beaches on the False Bay Coast of the Cape Peninsula. I took these photos yesterday (on Easter Sunday) while ambling along the walkway between Muizenberg and St James beaches. The sky was deliciously moody and streaked with too many shades of grey to count – a promise of impending rain – and the fresh sea-scented air, gloriously crisp and nippy. I also got hit (and consequently soaked through) by a rogue wave. I loved it, though, and my sister was in hysterics, having seen the whole thing coming – of course, she gave me no warning! The cold, salty water left my teeth chattering and my cheeks stinging… all in good fun!

Moving along, here are those pictures I mentioned…

And this is me, jumping around just before I got drenched!

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Shadows of the Past by Lubomir Bukov

the song: Sh Boom Sh Boom ( Life Could Be A Dream ) by The Crew Cuts

…life could be a dream, sweetheart

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This story will warm you better than a coffee on a cold winter’s day:

“We enter a little coffeehouse with a friend of mine and give our order. While we’re approaching our table, two people come in and they go to the counter -
‘Five coffees, please. Two of them for us and three suspended’
They pay for their order, take the two and leave. I ask my friend:
‘What are those ‘suspended’ coffees ?’
‘Wait for it and you will see’
Some more people enter. Two girls ask for one coffee each, pay and go. The next order was for seven coffees and it was made by three lawyers – three for them and four ‘suspended’. While I still wonder what’s the deal with those ‘suspended’ coffees, I enjoy the sunny weather and the beautiful view towards the square in front of the café. Suddenly a man dressed in shabby clothes who looks like a beggar comes in through the door and kindly asks:
‘Do you have a suspended coffee?’
It’s simple – people pay in advance for a coffee meant for someone who cannot afford a warm beverage. The tradition with the suspended coffees started in Naples, but it has spread all over the world and in some places you can order not only a suspended coffee, but also a sandwich or a whole meal.”

It would be absolutely incredible if even a handful of local eateries actioned this, particularly since there are so many hungry mouths that need feeding (and hearts that need warming) during these upcoming, cold winter months. And it doesn’t have to be just about coffee… it could be anything, really, even soups and sandwiches. Heck, it would be just as fantastic if our local supermarkets would let us pay for a loaf of bread for someone hungry hanging around outside the store. Or if our local department stores let us pay for an extra blanket for someone who needs it – distributing these blankets could become part of their corporate social investment initiatives.

I know that many eatery owners will have concerns about people traipsing in and out of their establishments all day but I’m a firm believer in the old adage of: “if there’s a will, there’s a way”. If you really want to help, you will. One rough idea or solution I can think of is tallying up the suspended items paid for on a daily basis, and then handing out the paid-for goodies at designated (and quieter) intervals of your choice, perhaps in the morning for about an hour or so or in the evenings just before closing. Run out of suspended goodies and don’t want to be bothered? Simple. Put a sign on the door or the cafe window asking people to come again tomorrow.

What the world needs now is love sweet love,
no not just for some but for everyone.

C’mon, people, let’s do this! Spread the message and share the story. #startcaring

Here’s the link to the Suspended Coffees facebook page.

I believe that the story was originally posted here.

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The worst effect of Palestine’s catastrophe is that young people express no hope – Adnan Abu Sharrar

 Belief is a beautiful armor
But makes for the heaviest sword
Like punching under water
You never can hit who you’re trying for…

the song:

What puts a hundred thousand children in the sand?
Belief can
Belief can
What puts the folded flag inside his mother’s hand?
Belief can
Belief can

photo source

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