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.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Very Special Delivery
Day 362
I got an email yesterday from my niece K with a kindness request. She has a friend from Japan whom she shared an apartment with at college for a year several years ago. They were in contact this week and K received the good news that her friend and her family are safe and well. The friend mentioned in her email that one thing she really misses about being in this country is my chocolate chip cookies. I used to send them fairly regularly as part of college care packages.
Well first of all, anyone who holds my cookies in such high regard immediately owns a special place in my heart. International cookie acclaim is even better. And much more importantly, I feel grateful for the opportunity to do SOMETHING for someone in Japan. There is such a pervasive feeling of helplessness reading the news about the crisis day after day and not being able to offer any assistance other than money.
Today I stopped by the post office to begin the investigative work regarding what is involved in sending cookies to Japan. I learned that it is OK to send food through the mail and that regular post it will take 7 to 10 days to arrive. Priority delivery is faster but prohibitively expensive. The conclusion after a discussion during dinner tonight with three of my biggest cookie fans was that, after ten days in the mail they might not be as good as they were remembered, but the cookies would be greatly appreciated none the less. Next week they will be on their way.
****************
Continuing with the top 10 reasons I am glad I did this blog, in no particular order, Number 3:
It was fun to feel like I had a secret identity.
I got an email yesterday from my niece K with a kindness request. She has a friend from Japan whom she shared an apartment with at college for a year several years ago. They were in contact this week and K received the good news that her friend and her family are safe and well. The friend mentioned in her email that one thing she really misses about being in this country is my chocolate chip cookies. I used to send them fairly regularly as part of college care packages.
Well first of all, anyone who holds my cookies in such high regard immediately owns a special place in my heart. International cookie acclaim is even better. And much more importantly, I feel grateful for the opportunity to do SOMETHING for someone in Japan. There is such a pervasive feeling of helplessness reading the news about the crisis day after day and not being able to offer any assistance other than money.
Today I stopped by the post office to begin the investigative work regarding what is involved in sending cookies to Japan. I learned that it is OK to send food through the mail and that regular post it will take 7 to 10 days to arrive. Priority delivery is faster but prohibitively expensive. The conclusion after a discussion during dinner tonight with three of my biggest cookie fans was that, after ten days in the mail they might not be as good as they were remembered, but the cookies would be greatly appreciated none the less. Next week they will be on their way.
****************
Continuing with the top 10 reasons I am glad I did this blog, in no particular order, Number 3:
It was fun to feel like I had a secret identity.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Kind of Cool or Kind of Creepy
Day 361
There is a house about a mile from me that always puts up interesting decorations for most holidays. Currently there is a mannequin dressed green in honor I think, of St. Patrick's Day. They are off beat type of things, not your average everyday holiday decor. The truth is that my kids find most of them a bit creepy. I however, love them. Every time I pass the house I smile, even when they are in between displays. Today I put a note in the mailbox to tell the owners of the house how much I enjoy driving by their house and thanking them for that bit of joy.
Continuing with the top 10 reasons I am glad I did this blog, in no particular order, Number 4 (If anyone noticed yesterday was number 6 and this should be number 4, I had two number 8s. I may be kind but apparently I can't count):
I have remembered that way back when, I used to like to write.
****************
I have been asked frequently if I am going to keep up with this blog after the year is over, which is four days for those of you not paying a lick of attention to my count down. The answer to that question is a resounding NO. I've enjoyed being kind and will try to continue daily acts, but the commitment to write every day is only good for a year. HOWEVER, I am planing a new, slightly less labor intensive kindness project with my friend Kim starting on April 5th.
Coming soon! The ABC's of Kindness.
There is a house about a mile from me that always puts up interesting decorations for most holidays. Currently there is a mannequin dressed green in honor I think, of St. Patrick's Day. They are off beat type of things, not your average everyday holiday decor. The truth is that my kids find most of them a bit creepy. I however, love them. Every time I pass the house I smile, even when they are in between displays. Today I put a note in the mailbox to tell the owners of the house how much I enjoy driving by their house and thanking them for that bit of joy.
Continuing with the top 10 reasons I am glad I did this blog, in no particular order, Number 4 (If anyone noticed yesterday was number 6 and this should be number 4, I had two number 8s. I may be kind but apparently I can't count):
I have remembered that way back when, I used to like to write.
****************
I have been asked frequently if I am going to keep up with this blog after the year is over, which is four days for those of you not paying a lick of attention to my count down. The answer to that question is a resounding NO. I've enjoyed being kind and will try to continue daily acts, but the commitment to write every day is only good for a year. HOWEVER, I am planing a new, slightly less labor intensive kindness project with my friend Kim starting on April 5th.
Coming soon! The ABC's of Kindness.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Kindness For Me Too
Day 360
I dropped off a bag of clothes in the collection bin near our house today. It feels a bit like cheating by counting this as an act of kindness since every bag of stuff I get out of the house is always an act of kindness for ME.
***********
Continuing with the top 10 reasons I am glad I did this blog, in no particular order, Number 6:
I'm not 100 percent sure on this one, but I think my kids were impressed and I suspect it will make them at least a little kinder in life.
I dropped off a bag of clothes in the collection bin near our house today. It feels a bit like cheating by counting this as an act of kindness since every bag of stuff I get out of the house is always an act of kindness for ME.
***********
Continuing with the top 10 reasons I am glad I did this blog, in no particular order, Number 6:
I'm not 100 percent sure on this one, but I think my kids were impressed and I suspect it will make them at least a little kinder in life.
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