NON-random acts of kindness

Most of us have read about, or perhaps been involved in, a "random act of kindness."  We hear of someone paying the bill for the car behind them in the drive-thru, or putting coins in expired parking meters.  Many people contribute to overseas efforts to feed the poor, or provide health care to the sick.  All of these are great acts of charity, and certainly contribute to helping improve others' lives.
Sometime in the effort to do the charitable acts for "random strangers," we miss great opportunities to assist someone closer to home.  In fact, there are things you could do today, right now, that would make a difference, and will inspire others as well.  AND it will only take you about 10 minutes!  How is that for a chance to change the world?

Don't you have something better to do?

All it takes is a few minutes listening to talk radio, watching the news, reading the paper, or even having a conversation with coworkers -- the conclusion is inevitable.  The world is going to hell in a hand basket, and seems to be in a big hurry to get there!  Wars and economic crises, abuse and crime, lousy jobs, inconsiderate "friends", lazy husbands, undisciplined children, nit-picking wives, noisy neighbors -- everyone has something or someone to complain about.  It is no wonder half of the US population will suffer from anxiety, depression, or other mental illness during their lives (according to NIMH).  And it is no surprise that half of US adults consider themselves "regular" drinkers (from CDC).  (No report seems to study the correlation between those two sets of people.)  Our world is really a mess, right?

Nobody that knows me has every confused me with an orphaned Hayley Mills playing the "glad game". But...