The Missed Connections section on Craigslist never fails to fascinate, entertain, or amaze (let’s just say some lack, um, subtlety). For the uninitiated, Missed Connections is a portion of Craigslist where people post messages to memorable strangers they have no other way of getting in contact with.These Missed Connections are especially fun when they hit close to home, so to speak, and you realize they’re happening in places you recognize and even frequent. Suddenly, there’s the chance that someone has taken notice of you. A friend and frequent browser of the MC section was completing her usual morning Coffee Bean run when she spilled her entire soy latte all over the coffee bar. Tiny but full of fury, this friend unleashed a few expletives. She drew enough attention to find a reference to herself on the LA Missed Connections page that afternoon: “M4W: You are a small, angry, brunette…”For some, these little notes conjure more than just images of familiar haunts. Check out the artist Sophie Blackall’s lovely illustrations, inspired by some of her favorite Missed Connections posts.We here at AOK often refer back to this idea of “missed connections,” not only because the AOK concept involves reaching out in small ways to people you don’t know, but also because we want to turn those missed connections into made connections. When a moment to help someone out presents itself, even if its just offering a few pleasant words, that AOK encouragement enters your mind. The AOK community will be there to celebrate you when you succeed, and it will be there to encourage you when you fail. Because there’s always more chances to connect.
2 April, 2011
Missed Connections
Written By: AOKate27 March, 2011
An AOK, Foiled by City of LA
Written By: AOKate
From AOK team member Lynn, an attempted AOK (Editorial Note: Inspired by this act of leaving extra time in the meter for the next person, I added an hour to my meter on San Vicente before I drove off. AOK relay?)I pull up to the parking meter, and with kindness overflowing, I don’t just take a nickel out to put in the meter while I run for coffee, I take a WHOLE QUARTER!!! I snap a picture, to document my overwhelmingly kind act, and lo and behold, the damn meter is BROKEN. Mission NOT accomplished, this was an AOK No-Go.
13 March, 2011
Heard Through the Grapevine…
Written By: AOKate
I noticed recently that Acts of Kindness come up naturally in the course of conversation with friends. These little bright spots in our day are worth sharing with each other, and provide that little extra bit of inspiration to smile at the cashier after the long line at the grocery store, or graciously allow that person desperate to merge into your lane during rush hour.I started thinking about this when a friend told me about a young guy she knows who works a second job at Noah’s bagels that he really dislikes, where he sweeps the floors and cleans up after the patrons. However, he gets through it because he knows he can bag all the extra bagels at the end of each day for a homeless shelter down the road.What could be better motivation for getting through the day, especially at a job where I’m sure his patience is challenged a lot more frequently than his intellect. A great example to keep in mind when I think the only thing that can motivate me through the day is that third cup of coffee…
Tag your "Acts" and "Observations" of Kindness using AOK's new mobile app (available on iTunes ), and, while you're at it, you can tune in to other players' AOKs happening all around you! Mobile demo
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