random (small) acts of altruism?

First, a definition:

al·tru·ism: Unselfish concern for the welfare of others; selflessness.

Now, maybe my internal content that comes from placing the Weekly Word News back in its rightful place (instead of in front of the one stack of Vogue) while standing in the grocery queue isn't atruistic, in the purest and grandest sense of the word. But in a very small way, I think it is.

And so is picking up that stray bit of paper in the office hallway. And so is filling up the holders for coffee sweetener and cream when they're low (even though I don't even use sweetener at all, and I am enough of a snob to refuse to use powdered 'creamer' in my coffee...but I digress). And so is putting out a fresh roll of paper towels when I've used the last one. And so is filling up the copy machine with all the paper it can hold when I notice it needs to be done.

These things may not seem very 'unselfish', but they take time...and time is a limited resource...and time is money. So (stretching the metaphor just a bit more), I'm giving away money every time I do these things. But I'm happy to do them. It gives me joy to do them. Now I'm reminded of that Friends episode where Phoebe is trying to find a truly selfless act and ends up making a donation to Sesame Street even though she hates it...but I digress, again.

These activities might be perceived as just a bit overly concerned with order and give a nod to neurotic tendencies...but aren't they just as selfless as letting the pedestrian cross the street in front of me when he's out in the rain and i'm in my nice, warm, dry car? (Or is that just common courtesy?)

Anyway, I believe in the broken window theory, and view my magazine sorting (and label facing and general product reshelving) and self-appointed trash duty to be my personal fight against the broken window phenomenon taking over my immediate environment. I mean, I really do want that girl I'll never meet but am sure is coming along behind me to easily find that stack of Vogue, because I know how sweet it is to make the odd impulse-magazine-buy and enjoy a long and quiet evening browsing the latest fashion trends and dreaming of shoes I'll never be able to buy.

I'm happy to make the bigger gestures...but on an average day, it's only the small ones that I have opporutnity to provide.

Don't get me wrong...I'm not looking for any crowns or anything (although a tiara would be kinda cool). I'm just sayin'...I'M NOT NEUROTIC!