My year of living kindly ended on April 3rd (at least the daily blogging about it part, the kind living continues undocumented). It's all here, 365 days worth hanging out in cyberspace if you would like to read about it.
I've started a new blog project with my friend Kim, The ABC's of Kindness. Come on over and take a look!
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Sunday, April 3, 2011
One Year of Kindness
Day 365
I made it! Three hundred and sixty five days of kindness, three hundred and sixty five days of blogging about it. One thing is for sure, I could not have completed this adventure without the support and encouragement I received from friends and family. I'm not going to name names for fear of leaving someone out, but please know this; if you left comments on the website, Facebook, or sent me an email, it was very much appreciated. If you told me in person that you liked a particular entry or that you were reading this blog regularly, it was hugely encouraging. Thank you all for keeping me going, start to finish.
And thank you to the folks I have never met but who have followed this adventure in kindness and left comments of support and encouragement. It has been incredibly powerful to know that you were reading.
The biggest thank you of all goes to my husband. I could not have completed this without his support each and every day. Thank you for all the times you washed the dishes after dinner, even when you cooked too, so I that I could write. And for all the nights you made sure the kids were in bed and packed and ready for school the next day so that my job simply consisted of the easy part, coming in for the good night hug and kiss. And for the many, many times I insisted you read before I posted, even though you were just about to fall asleep. And for the one or two times I actually woke you up to do this. You know it is true when I say I couldn't have done it without you.
So what did I do today? The last day was the same as my first; picking up trash. My husband, the boys and I went out with our gloves and spent a half an hour filling two garbage bags of debris left exposed by the recently melted snow. It served to remind me of what I learned this year. Most of the time being kind isn't about doing the big things, it's about doing the right things.
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The Kindness of Strangers is done, but The ABC's of Kindness is just starting, It is a new adventure in kindness. As this year ended I realized that I liked being kind and I liked writing. And while doing it every day was an accomplishment I was proud of, documenting it daily was not necessarily a challenge I wanted to continue. However, writing about it once or twice a week was appealing. And doing it with a friend seemed even better.
A new challenge was born, The ABC's of Kindness. A kind act for a stranger, twice a week, starting with “a” and ending with, of course “z.” My friend Kim kindly agreed to be my partner in kindness for this new adventure. We'll start on April 5th at www.abcofkindness.blogspot.com.
I made it! Three hundred and sixty five days of kindness, three hundred and sixty five days of blogging about it. One thing is for sure, I could not have completed this adventure without the support and encouragement I received from friends and family. I'm not going to name names for fear of leaving someone out, but please know this; if you left comments on the website, Facebook, or sent me an email, it was very much appreciated. If you told me in person that you liked a particular entry or that you were reading this blog regularly, it was hugely encouraging. Thank you all for keeping me going, start to finish.
And thank you to the folks I have never met but who have followed this adventure in kindness and left comments of support and encouragement. It has been incredibly powerful to know that you were reading.
The biggest thank you of all goes to my husband. I could not have completed this without his support each and every day. Thank you for all the times you washed the dishes after dinner, even when you cooked too, so I that I could write. And for all the nights you made sure the kids were in bed and packed and ready for school the next day so that my job simply consisted of the easy part, coming in for the good night hug and kiss. And for the many, many times I insisted you read before I posted, even though you were just about to fall asleep. And for the one or two times I actually woke you up to do this. You know it is true when I say I couldn't have done it without you.
So what did I do today? The last day was the same as my first; picking up trash. My husband, the boys and I went out with our gloves and spent a half an hour filling two garbage bags of debris left exposed by the recently melted snow. It served to remind me of what I learned this year. Most of the time being kind isn't about doing the big things, it's about doing the right things.
******************************************************************************
The Kindness of Strangers is done, but The ABC's of Kindness is just starting, It is a new adventure in kindness. As this year ended I realized that I liked being kind and I liked writing. And while doing it every day was an accomplishment I was proud of, documenting it daily was not necessarily a challenge I wanted to continue. However, writing about it once or twice a week was appealing. And doing it with a friend seemed even better.
A new challenge was born, The ABC's of Kindness. A kind act for a stranger, twice a week, starting with “a” and ending with, of course “z.” My friend Kim kindly agreed to be my partner in kindness for this new adventure. We'll start on April 5th at www.abcofkindness.blogspot.com.
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Going With The Favorite
Day 364
My next to the last day and I put a lot of thought into doing something different. But alas, my thoughts did not translate into action. Instead I decided to go with one of my favorites, buying a stranger a cup of coffee because it is usually the most fun. And today was no different. The cashier smiled with surprise and commented what a nice idea it was when I gave him money and asked him to use it for coffee for the next customer.
Kind and fun. Mission accomplished.
***********
Continuing with the top 10 reasons I am glad I did this blog, in no particular order, Number 1:
Even though my reasons for the project were about creating change in my and my families attitudes and behaviors, I really got a kick every time I heard about someone doing something kind because of this blog.
My next to the last day and I put a lot of thought into doing something different. But alas, my thoughts did not translate into action. Instead I decided to go with one of my favorites, buying a stranger a cup of coffee because it is usually the most fun. And today was no different. The cashier smiled with surprise and commented what a nice idea it was when I gave him money and asked him to use it for coffee for the next customer.
Kind and fun. Mission accomplished.
***********
Continuing with the top 10 reasons I am glad I did this blog, in no particular order, Number 1:
Even though my reasons for the project were about creating change in my and my families attitudes and behaviors, I really got a kick every time I heard about someone doing something kind because of this blog.
Friday, April 1, 2011
Pancakes This Weekend. Don't Miss It!
Day 363
Driving to meet a friend for coffee today I passed a sign advertising a fundraising pancake breakfast for a local church. Except it had blown over and was side ways. Still readable but probably not the effect whoever put it up was going for. I stopped the car and propped it back up and continued on my way. Extra kindness points for me because it was raining/sleeting at the time.
I'll be completely honest here, I'm pretty sure I would not have done it if I weren't on the lookout for something to blog about. But I suppose that's the whole point of this project isn't it!
***************
Continuing with the top 10 reasons I am glad I did this blog, in no particular order, Number 2:
I'm a much more conscientious local shopper and recycler.
Driving to meet a friend for coffee today I passed a sign advertising a fundraising pancake breakfast for a local church. Except it had blown over and was side ways. Still readable but probably not the effect whoever put it up was going for. I stopped the car and propped it back up and continued on my way. Extra kindness points for me because it was raining/sleeting at the time.
I'll be completely honest here, I'm pretty sure I would not have done it if I weren't on the lookout for something to blog about. But I suppose that's the whole point of this project isn't it!
***************
Continuing with the top 10 reasons I am glad I did this blog, in no particular order, Number 2:
I'm a much more conscientious local shopper and recycler.
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