A true story…
This site exists because of the kindness of one man, Alun Hill. When I asked the price for setting it up he responded: “Just pass on the love; help someone else out.”
I nearly choked on my Diet Coke. “Are you sure Alun? But you’ve spent your time helping me out. I don’t understand?!”
He chuckled and went on to explain that he’s learnt so much technical stuff about the internet and made money from it that it’s only right he should pass that on for free. “Besides,” he said, “people have helped me out in the past so now it’s time to repay the favour - but to someone else.”
Well! You could have knocked me down with a feather. “Alun!” I exclaimed, “I do believe there’s an Alun-shaped hole in heaven waiting for you to fill it.”
“Hey don’t wish me dead too early Natasha!” Alun said. I responded: “Of course not! I need a caricature of myself for the site, know anyone who’ll do it for free?”
The last part was a joke. Alun went on to say that passing on kindness for nothing is an actual phenomena happening all over the world. And each time it happens the receiver usually feels so touched that he or she naturally passes it on; creating a kind of kindness chain.
It got me pondering… in a city as fast-paced as London, where people run down the streets and jog along the corridors of the Tube not necessarily because they’re late for something but because they’ve just got used to it - was there still time for random acts of kindness?! And who was I going to “pass on the love” to?
When was the last time someone did something for you… for n o t h i n g? I’ve decided to write a feature on the subject. Contact me: nat@natashasnotebook.com
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