My first day trying to purposefully do something good. But what should I do? I really had no idea.
It shouldn't be that hard for a normal human being to think of something nice to do, but it wasn't easy for me.
I settled on buying a random person in line behind me at Target something. There were a few details worth mentioning about this decision. I was going to Target anyway to return a video game I had been given for Christmas. I was going to exchange it for the exact same game on a different system so I figured it would be the same price. There turned out to be a $20 difference in my favor. This extra $20 was given to me on a gift card. So really the money was actually a bonus from the person who gave me the gift. The gift card money was technically mine but not really. This made giving it away a little easier. I decided I wanted to do it anonymously. People like to refuse help but if I just gave it to the cashier and told them to put it on the next person's purchase they wouldn't have a choice but to accept. Then I ran into my own trust issues. How did I know the cashier wouldn't just pocket my gift card as I walked away? If I wanted to keep this whole thing anonymous I wouldn't be sticking around to watch the transaction happen. So how would I know the transaction actually happened? This was enough to keep my from using the gift card. I just bought fabric softener and light bulbs and stuff I needed for the house with it.
Walking out of Target I felt pretty freaking dumb. I still liked the idea though so I thought the McDonald's drive thru would be the perfect solution. That way I could have a receipt and the person behind me in the drive thru wouldn't know I'd done it until I was gone. I got a pop and paid for the person behind me. My total was a 1.49, theirs was 3.87. I drove away. I did it! Something nice. Big let down. I think the problem is that I don't eat McDonald's anymore and I think they have shitty food that isn't good for you. I just helped somebody eat it for free. Maybe that was the problem. Or maybe I'm just new at this.
It was super windy today and as I was driving downtown I noticed in the Walgreen's parking lot a bicycle laid out in the middle of their entry way. I pulled into the parking lot thinking "Bonus good deed! On the first day! Nice!" As I got closer to the bike I noticed it was covered in stuff, like lights, bells and whistles, and decorations. A huge antenna rose from the back of the bike adorned with an American flag. There was a basket on the back and all the stuff inside of it was strewn across the sidewalk and parking lot. It looked like a homeless person had upgraded from a shopping cart to a bicycle. I picked everything up and put it back on the kickstand next to the Walgreen's entry way. The wind very easily could have blown it down again. I tried to prop it up as best I could. The people inside Walgreen's could see me but I felt like they were more just watching me to see if was going to try to steal the bike. After I knew the bike was going to remain in it's position and before I drew anymore attention from the Walgreen's staff I got out of there.
Pretty good first day.
Money spent so far: $3.87
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