#71 Do Something Nice without Being Asked

Now, I had to remind myself here that this is a children's book. And this is because I've realised adults, or at least the adults I hang out with, are all very nice already. I decided to make yesterday the day I did nice things without being asked. And I have to say, I found it quite difficult. In our office we are always pleasant and considerate to each other. The main way I could do nice things for others today was to basically become the tea girl for the day and cater for everyone's hot drinks demands. I also did a trip to the bins, which no-one ever feels like doing. And no-one asked me to do it. Other than that I couldn't really find ways to be nice without simply getting on people's nerves.

I think I'm generally pretty good at being nice when the occasion calls for it. If someone drops something, I'll stop and pick it up for them, if I see someone struggling up stairs with a buggy I'll offer to help and so on, I'm sure you're just the same so I won't bother going on with all the many ways there are to be nice. I'm actually not sure if it isn't a bit of a shame that the book even has to include 'Do Something Nice without Being Asked' as a thing to do? What does it say about the authors' expectations of their juvenile readers if they think they need to direct them to public spirited acts? Surely children and teenagers are capable of being nice without being told to be? Still, I suppose we can all benefit from a gentle reminder to look out for our fellow man and I will endeavour to continue to take advantage of opportunities to help others because it's just the decent thing to do!