Make your little world a kinder place

I've really enjoyed reading all your posts about feeding the birds. I just wanted to share my expereinces of that.

I go to the lake or the river almost every day to feed the ducks, geese and swans. It's like medicine for my mind, it keeps me sane. I can look at the ducks swimming peacefully on the lake and forget all the craziness of this modern world humans have created

They are very tame, they even come up to me and eat out of my hand sometimes

TheCatWoman said:

I want the world to be a better place, if it's not to be empty words then it has to start with me

That is one of the wisest sentences I have ever read 

Cloud44 said:

No matter what the rules are, there is no need for someone to be spoken to in such a way that makes them cry. Well done for comforting her.

Thank you. 

I'm glad you see it that way.

Any rules weren't clearly displayed and she was in an old burial area.

He spoke to her like she was something he had trodden in whilst dressed in his clerical finery.

A timely reminder to me, as if I needed one, of why I generally prefer animals to humans.

Aww that's awful. No matter what the rules are, there is no need for someone to be spoken to in such a way that makes them cry. Well done for comforting her.

Councils, these days, will fine you for ANYTHING that they think they can get away with.......because many of them are functionally bankrupt.  We are living in strange, strange times!

I think you do have to be careful also as some councils will fine you for doing that!

Billy87 said:

throwing some seeds to the birds

Sadly that can backfire.

I've had a couple of instances fairly recently.

I was feeding seagulls and crows on the top of Portsdown Hill with left over chips.

A man in a van started shouting at me about how they were vermin and I shouldn't be encouraging them.

Also, a woman was feeding birds in the cemetery and a cleric of some sort really laid into her.

She ended up crying and I comforted her.

She said that it brought a real meaning into her day doing so but I suspect after that, the birds and the woman lost out on something important.

Three stars for four letters... the forum works in mysterious ways :-)

Its so annoying when you can't mention perfectly normal and correct words, for things like, male birds and species of birds without getting redactions, these AI monitors take no account of context and lable everything bad. If AI is supposed to be taking over the world then I hope it learns about contexts of word usage and looks for more than a blanket removal of certain words and phrases or we'll be in even deeper doo-doo than we are now

Count your blessings! - you were awarded 3 stars, rather than being thrown into solitary confinement!

Oh dear, I suppose I should have seen that redaction coming!

I live in quite a friendly little community, we talk to each other, help each other out, without living in each others pockets. I'm helping my neighbour through the process of housebuying as he has never done it before.

I feed the birds, both in the garden and in the park, I find it so amazing and humbling that theses wild creatures come to recognise me, it's an honour to share the world with them.

I want the world to be a better place, if it's not to be empty words then it has to start with me, I helped look after my friends mum during her final illness, even though she was difficult. I shopped for people during covid, I spent a lot of time with my young friends at uni, being "aunty" to them, helping them navigate their way into adulthood.

I reduce, reuse and recycle where ever possible, I don't collect consumer cargo, for the sake of it, although I do have quite a bad plant habit, I often rescue plants, I feel sorry for them because they've been neglected and dying, I manage to bring quite a few back from the brink. I've planted 20 trees and various shrubs in my garden, I've created a dead hedge for wild life to shelter and over winter in, last year I saw an increase in the number and variety of insects. I try and plant for them too..

Funny you should mention feedling the birds, as I have now been doing that every day for months. Winter was hard for them, and it's just a little thing I can do. It's also rewarding, as I see a few familiar wee friends every day now - two collared doves, a few robins, some tiny wee things I don't know the name of - *** or finches I'm guessing? 

I get really freaked out when strangers say "good morning" at me. I'm not expecting it and I sometimes don't react in time, or get the smiling bit wrong (eg a big beaming smile, or smiling for too long/not long enough, instead of the small, brief "acknowledge stranger" smile you're meant to use). It used to worry me, but now I've decided not to care, because they're a stranger so it doesn't matter if they think I'm a bit weird.

I do rehearse a few remarks about the weather and questions about plans for the weekend or compliments about clothing/hair etc if I'm going out. I can then use them on any shop assistant/bar staff/stranger-at-bus-stop who wants to do the small talk thing. Indulging the normies (NTs) in their quaint little rituals is being kind, right??

Today, a neighbour needs help preparing to move house. 

They have a large, awkward, heavy piece of furniture to relocate ready for the arrival another day of the removal firm (long story ...skipped the details). 

Several households of neighbours are gathering to help. 

I have a pair of 1 ton (2 metre) Draper cargo sling straps from Toolstation - which are going to be really helpful. 

Each sling has a sturdy handle at both ends and they are going to make all the difference marshalling my neighbour's furniture item.

The number 1 thing I've been working on, is making my own nature less driven by anger and annoyance. 

It's been a surprisingly difficult and absorbing task.

Nearly 2 weeks ago, I saw a social media post saying it was random acts of kindness day but then I realised the post was a day old and I'd missed it. I was initially annoyed as it's the kind of thing I would flag at work, but then I realised that every day should be a random act of kindness day and we don't need a special day, so I told people about it anyway.  There were some suggestions on a site but they were a bit American. 

Today, as its St David's day and my husband is welsh I made him a bara brith and a cheesy leek tart :).

What a lovely thread! You are obviously very thoughtful and kind. I try to remember to smile when I go out and see others, someimes if I feel ok enough I say hello, but that's once in a blue moon. Something I do (other than smiling) is giving to charity, I can't give lots but just a couple of pence is still something and it goes to a good cause. It helps (hopefully) make the world a kinder, better place.

Today however, my kind thing I did was donating a nearly new pair of trainers to a donations market. Someone less fortunate will get those for free if they want them. Can't deny, that thought makes me feel very happy.

Unrelated: I hope you are feeling better now Billy.