Initiative #3: Paying for a Random Stranger’s Coffee

Who doesn’t like getting free coffee or their meal paid for? I like it even better when it comes unexpected.

So my initiative for today is to get a complete stranger’s coffee, tea, whatever they wanted. This doesn’t sound so nerve wrecking until you actually start to think about it. There are so many ‘fear’ factors that come into play; working up the courage to actually do so, not knowing what the stranger’s reaction would be, making a fool/scene at the said coffee shop…There is also a good chance of your plan backfiring and them paying for your coffee instead.

Plus how would I actually do this? Who should I choose? Should this even be a conscious decision or should I simply trust intuition to get me through? Did I mention that finding the window of opportunity to do this is also FREAKING hard? Everyone seems so pressed for time and occupied on their Iphones/Ipods/kids/classes that I’m a little ashen by the time it’s my turn to order. Baristas are also not always the nicest of people during rush hour..

What happened to leisurely mornings and genteel conversation while waiting in line? I literally couldn’t find one person, just ONE person to engage in small talk with.

Bleh.

In the end I decided on Saxy’s Cafe because the people there seemed really chill when I met the Scottish chap Josh yesterday. Plus everyone there seemed to be busy devising ways to conquer the world typing away noisily on their computers; any commotion would bypass them, that’s one nice thing about uber focused people.

My ‘victim’ walked in right after me; she had a friendly face and looked pretty occupied. Judging from her agitated walk I deduced that she was in a hurry. “Perfect, she’ll leave right after me and I don’t have to be TOO embarrassed if this goes wrong.”  The barista was a surprisingly willing participant; he took my card despite my sneaky side glances and casually put her order on my tab.

* PUMPS FIST! * Yay, 2/3 of the mission was over, now I could sneak off and hide. * Forgets to sign the receipt and runs off..starts busying herself with setting up the Macbook *

What I was expecting:

1) Confused looks

2) ” You’re weird” looks

3) ” Are you trying to pick me up ” looks (this is probably partly why I choose a person of the same sex)

4) ” Why did you do that? I can totally pay for my own shit, thank you “. * Slap*

What I was NOT expecting :

1) A really appreciative thank you and gorgeous smile. She’s so much prettier when she smiles, isn’t this true for all of us though?

2) Her comment ” You’re beyond generous ” warmed my heart so much that I was in Giddy Land for a while and knocked my own drink over. Tea – spilt. Shirt – stained. Steph – back from Cloud 9.

3) The barista ( who was looking cuter by the minute ) taking a greater interest in me. Score!

4) Having my body so pumped up with Earl Grey/English Breakfasts/Bhakti Chai that I’m all hyper and jittery now. * Curses self for getting so much caffeine and ‘teh kosong’ ( tea without milk or sugar to temper it ).

A great resource for other fun things to brighten up someone’s day is The Generosity Game. The peeps behind it are trying to start a string of good deeds and I think this is a brilliant cause.

What I’ve learnt? The giver is infinitely more blessed. Even if the act of generosity takes a concentrated 2 hours of time in  4 different coffee shops. Man, there’s something that has to be said for a society that cannot even take the time to RECEIVE an act of generosity. What do you think?