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My Quest To See How Giving People Were On Generosity Day

Posted: 02/14/2012 6:14 pm

Though I love all things hot pink (have you seen our page?), I don't do well with the girly gifts. I lose jewelry, kill flowers and will take M & Ms over fancy chocolates oozing gooey stuff any day.

But when I learned that Valentine's Day also doubles as Generosity Day, a day of offering up acts of kindness, I started to reconsider my feelings about February 14. I left an office full of frosted cupcakes and red bouquets behind to find out if people really are, in fact, a little more giving on the holiday of roses and sweets.

I turned to a homeless lady in Union Square, a Berkeley educated violinist playing on a subway platform and a group of guys eating dinner at the New York City Rescue Mission in Chinatown. No one knew about Generosity Day, but each was attune to the ways in which people are (and aren't) willing to extend themselves for others on Valentine's Day.

This is what I learned.

Helping The Homeless
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When I met Gladys Rodriguez, who's been living in New York for about 25 years, she was sitting on a bench in the Union Square subway station, waiting for someone to help her with her bags. She says that people are most generous around Christmas and New Years, but that she's always willing to lend a hand. "If I see somebody is down," Gladys said, "I will help them." (Photo: Damon Dahlen, AOL)

 
Though I love all things hot pink (have you seen our page?), I don't do well with the girly gifts. I lose jewelry, kill flowers and will take M & Ms over fancy chocolates oozing gooey stuff any day. ...
Though I love all things hot pink (have you seen our page?), I don't do well with the girly gifts. I lose jewelry, kill flowers and will take M & Ms over fancy chocolates oozing gooey stuff any day. ...
 
 
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Soldier79
Blood and honor. 28!
06:10 PM on 02/17/2012
Now if only everyone would do this everyday.
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08:16 AM on 02/16/2012
Never heard of "Generosity Day". You spent yours in an inspiring way. In fact, I'm now looking forward to Feb 14 for the first time, and I have a whole year to create a plan for it. THANKS!
12:19 PM on 02/15/2012
Hello! we had a wonderful generosity day at the Hub Westminster yesterday. Everyone chose to do something generous which was brilliant! Here is a little video of it: http://bit.ly/Au6zQP
xx Natasha