In a fast-paced city like New York, one can spend a lot of time thinking about doing big things to spread smiles in the city. But often, it is the spontaneous, simple and small ideas that do the job.
Take our lemonade stand, in the heart of New York City. Spontaneously decided over coffee one day, and six days later, five of us were at Central Park at 5PM, handing out "free lemonade" to all passerby's who wanted it! "Why are you doing this?" "Just because." "Is it really free?" "Yes. Spread the joy, pay it forward." "Can I take some more smile cards?" "Absolutely." "I'd like to help you give out lemonade." "Sure thing."
We collected 250 smiles and were out of lemonade in all but ONE hour! The box of 1000 Smile Cards that we started with was down to 200, thanks to everyone. =)
About 5 minutes after we started, 2 people just started helping us out of the blue saying, ‘If we take one, we must help with at least 10’. So, we had new friends in no time!
There was a family that came from Australia 2 days ago (the son had his face painted as an American flag). After they got their lemonade, the entire family sat about 10 feet away from us for half an hour while the 3 kids sat there explaining to each other how to use smile cards.
This one dude could not understand how it was free. He kept asking, ‘How much it cost?’ And then when he finally got it, he said, 'You are my brother!' Then he had a taste and said ‘this tastes bad' and walked away. :)
On one side of the walkway was our booth, and on the other was Gandhi’s quote -- You must be the change you wish to see in the world -- which MANY people read and pondered. We decided to leave the sign up as we left the park.
One of the first people to come by asked if we had heard about a recent kindness outbreak in Japan where people are randomly finding $80 envelopes public bathrooms!
A woman -- who seemed to be on drugs -- came by, borrowed on of the volunteers cell phones, called up various friends to tell 'em about it. :)
Kids brought parents because they wanted the lemonade, the parents were interested because of the smile card poster and practically everyone LOVED the idea. Many people took extra smile cards.
LOTS of people wanted to take pictures of us. A couple people waited 20 minutes for the right shot!
About 20ft away from a street magician was doing his act; he took time out for a lemonade break in between performances. :)
We met people from all over the world, folks left and came back with others. We needed to explain the concept a lot because apparently, it was SOOOO foreign! Some folks had a hard time believing it.
Majority of passerby's LOVED the kindness idea and didn't even bother with the lemonade. People just lit up, you could see it on their faces, like we showed them a new way to be.
We're going to do it again next Saturday too! :)
Take our lemonade stand, in the heart of New York City. Spontaneously decided over coffee one day, and six days later, five of us were at Central Park at 5PM, handing out "free lemonade" to all passerby's who wanted it! "Why are you doing this?" "Just because." "Is it really free?" "Yes. Spread the joy, pay it forward." "Can I take some more smile cards?" "Absolutely." "I'd like to help you give out lemonade." "Sure thing."
We collected 250 smiles and were out of lemonade in all but ONE hour! The box of 1000 Smile Cards that we started with was down to 200, thanks to everyone. =)
About 5 minutes after we started, 2 people just started helping us out of the blue saying, ‘If we take one, we must help with at least 10’. So, we had new friends in no time!
There was a family that came from Australia 2 days ago (the son had his face painted as an American flag). After they got their lemonade, the entire family sat about 10 feet away from us for half an hour while the 3 kids sat there explaining to each other how to use smile cards.
This one dude could not understand how it was free. He kept asking, ‘How much it cost?’ And then when he finally got it, he said, 'You are my brother!' Then he had a taste and said ‘this tastes bad' and walked away. :)
On one side of the walkway was our booth, and on the other was Gandhi’s quote -- You must be the change you wish to see in the world -- which MANY people read and pondered. We decided to leave the sign up as we left the park.
One of the first people to come by asked if we had heard about a recent kindness outbreak in Japan where people are randomly finding $80 envelopes public bathrooms!
A woman -- who seemed to be on drugs -- came by, borrowed on of the volunteers cell phones, called up various friends to tell 'em about it. :)
Kids brought parents because they wanted the lemonade, the parents were interested because of the smile card poster and practically everyone LOVED the idea. Many people took extra smile cards.
LOTS of people wanted to take pictures of us. A couple people waited 20 minutes for the right shot!
About 20ft away from a street magician was doing his act; he took time out for a lemonade break in between performances. :)
We met people from all over the world, folks left and came back with others. We needed to explain the concept a lot because apparently, it was SOOOO foreign! Some folks had a hard time believing it.
Majority of passerby's LOVED the kindness idea and didn't even bother with the lemonade. People just lit up, you could see it on their faces, like we showed them a new way to be.
We're going to do it again next Saturday too! :)
31.6K Reads
- Posted by beastly
- Jul 16, 2007
- Comments (51)
Readers Comments
lovebug wrote: There a lot of unsung hero's in this world, Gandhi, Mother Teresa, Martin Luther King, all have been quoted, books written, TV and motion pictures made about their good works. I was blessed enough to have all of the above living in my life time, but I never got up front and personal with them. However I do meet people like you and your group every day. Unsung hero's or are they angels in disguise. God Bless you for your smiles and happy hearts.
brighteyes wrote: Beastly.....you had me not only smiling but beaming....just so high on YOUR experience and how many people you and your friends were able to touch and how much kindness is going to be a result of this sponateous lemonade stand.
YOU & YOUR FRIENDS ARE MY KINDNESS HERO'S OF THE DAY!!
KEEP THOSE IDEAS FLOWING, KIND ACTS SOWING AND SMILE CARDS A'GOING!!
We should set up stands in all major cities on same day and time and watch the results of kindness, good will, smiling and light rippling out!
MEGA SMILES from Brighteyes ;)
YOU & YOUR FRIENDS ARE MY KINDNESS HERO'S OF THE DAY!!
KEEP THOSE IDEAS FLOWING, KIND ACTS SOWING AND SMILE CARDS A'GOING!!
We should set up stands in all major cities on same day and time and watch the results of kindness, good will, smiling and light rippling out!
MEGA SMILES from Brighteyes ;)
zidlore wrote: A very amazing act!!! I really liked the idea! From now on, I will save my allowance as much as I can, and spend it all in good works! (I think what I just said is hard to do... but I know that once I see smiles because of my action, I will be happier. Happier than when I spent it with some material things for myself.) ^____^
Vanessa Lau wrote: Wow. That's really cool! You guys did a great job!!
JoJoMcB wrote: I AGREE WITH BRIGHTEYES WE SHOULD ALL CHOOSE ONE DAY AND WATCH THE RESULTS
THAT RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS AND SMILES
WILL BRING TO THE COMMUNITIES IN WHICH WE LIVE.
HOW AWESOME FOR THE PEOPLE WHOSE HEARTS YOU TOUCHED THAT DAY. . . . . .
THAT RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS AND SMILES
WILL BRING TO THE COMMUNITIES IN WHICH WE LIVE.
HOW AWESOME FOR THE PEOPLE WHOSE HEARTS YOU TOUCHED THAT DAY. . . . . .
Happyj wrote: What are the smile cards. Interested in your story. Do you have an email to reach you about this story?
Theema wrote: Amazing story! Good going! Good luck for next Saturday... be sure and double up on the lemonade, 'cause I'm sure word has gotten around! :)
hizzay wrote: thats an awesome thing to do!
i would be soooo glad to recieve a free cup of lemonade from a long day in new york.
it's really cool how u guys can make peoples days while having so much fun at the same time!
i would be soooo glad to recieve a free cup of lemonade from a long day in new york.
it's really cool how u guys can make peoples days while having so much fun at the same time!
Miluska wrote: Hi guys, I wanted to thank you not for the refreshiing lemonade, but becasue of the great opportunity you 've giving me to pass a "smile" My fiance and I are trying to come up with an idea to do something and see people smile, just the way you did to us on a very hot day! Thanks, thanks, gracias!!
Grace wrote: Awww, that is so cool! I want to do it toooo!
