Feeding the Deed

I know some people are annoyed with the whole "Feed the Deed" thing. They argue "why does anyone need to be nominated to do a good deed? We should just do good deeds everyday, all the time." While I agree the point is we don't do good deeds when we can. We walk by the homeless person, we don't help someone cross the street, we don't say Thank You enough to those that deserve it. Why do not do these things anymore? Lots of reasons. Chivalry is dead. We're all consumed in our personal devices. We no longer trust who is truly a homeless person in need and who is faking it for monetary gains. (Well, that's why I personally stopped giving money to people like that.)

I think there are two main, important, things that have come out of this viral sensation:
Josh Stern and Russel Citron were trying to prove that we could make something go viral for the good rather than the mindless drinking game that originally inspired the #feedthedeed.
http://www.samaritanmag.com/features/alcohol-fuelled-neknominations-replaced-feed-deed-kindness

The second, and probably the most important, is that once you go out of your way to do something go for someone else, it opens yours eyes to everyday, small opportunities we are presented with to do selfless acts of kindness.

My own Feed the Deed, which my brother in Israel nominated me, in New York, was when I went out that morning to get my regular Starbucks coffee then a Dunkin Donuts bagel. (Sorry, I think Dunkin's bagels are better but hate their coffee. Sue me!) I bought a box of assorted donuts and gave them to my doorman, the two handymen standing there, and told them to share it with any other staff.

After giving it to them I had this follow up video:

Now one week later I've noticed other small acts of kindness:
On the subway a woman with blue hair interrupted what was a peaceful ride, explaining that she was pregnant, homeless, and trying to get money for some food. The pessimist, New Yorker, jaded 21st century woman that I am partially doesn't believe her. But on the chance that she was being honest I decided to give her a dollar. While I'm a grad student living off a student loan, I have a roof over my head, that loan money in my bank account, and parents who treat me to shopping sprees, so I gave her a dollar.

Just now, a moment ago, after working for many hours at a Starbucks, I took a break to read and finish my People magazine from 2 weeks ago. (I have a subscription from the days when I was working full time.) Instead of throwing it out I saw a girl babysitting mindlessly (or seemingly mindless, no judgement) on her phone. I offered her the magazine and she was shocked and appreciative.

Would I have done this before? I'm a reasonably nice person but probably not. Our worlds have become closer together with globalization, international shipping, and Facebook. We can talk, see, and interact with people all over the world whether we know them or not. Yet at the same time we are further apart than ever; with our headphones on, our eyes glued to devices, and single apartments in large cities where you can go weeks without interacting with another human being.

Feed the Deed has opened my eyes, and hopefully the minds of others, to better see what is going on around us to everyday chances to do random acts of kindness. You don't have to be nominated, but it helps open up 1-4 people's eyes and minds to do good things for the people near and far in our lives.