Day 29-Kid Kharma

Day 29-Today is day twenty nine in my kindness journey. I am so fortunate to have a lovely family with a sweet little sidekick. When I picked my son up from school today we headed off to run an errand. While at the store he asked me if he could have a small car. The car that he picked out was a typical hotwheel car and I talked to him about an idea for an act of kindness today. We decided to buy an extra car of the kind that he picked out and leave it at the register with the clerk with the request that the clerk pass the car along to the next child who came through that particular line that might enjoy it. Owen was excited as we approached the belt to put the items on and asked if I could pick him up so that he could see the cars journey towards the clerk together. When it was our turn (we had to wait a while) the clerk began to total our items. As she prepared to put all the cars in the bag I stopped her. I explained to her this mission that I am on of completing acts of kindness and "paying it forward." She smiled. She said, "I love that idea!" and "I want to give you something!" while she grinned at my son. She reached behind her register and pulled a sticker off of a sticker sheet and gave it to Owen. She agreed to pass the car along and to share with the parent the reason the child would receive it. I hope the parent will take up the challenge and keep the movement going, but I understand if it is too much for them to do. I love getting Owen in on the action :). As we left the store he looked at me, smiled and asked me to pick him up. He hugged me tightly around my neck and said, "I hope he likes it mommy. That was kind." The lessons Owen is learning through this project are invaluable. 336 more days of kindness are you in?

Day 28-Go Ahead

Day 28-(posted late) On day 28 I was battling a cold and not feeling well. I put my son to bed and curled up with him after reading a bedtime story and fell asleep. As a result, I didn't get a chance to post, so I am posting late. My act of kindness for day 28 was one that happened with a practice in patience for me. I had to go out to the grocery store to pick up a few things. I hadn't been feeling well but was mostly tired and no longer coughing or sneezing. As I shopped I spent much time stopping and waiting for others who were obviously in a hurry. As a rule, I try not to be in a rush in the grocery store because that only results in feelings of frustration and forgotten items. As I approached the checkout lanes with my few little items I was aware of a lady who was in my personal space. As you know from my day 2 post, I am not a fan of people in my personal space with whom I don't have a relationship. When I noticed her I stopped walking. She in turn stopped walking. It was clear she was racing to get ahead of me and I just watched her for a moment. I took a step forward and she tried to race around me again. When I stopped, again, she stopped. I took a step and she took a step. I started to feel frustrated. I was clearly trying to let her go around me to get ahead of me but she wasn't doing it. I took a deep breath and offered to allow her to go ahead of me when I really wanted to make a smarty pants comment about her nearly running over me and being in such a hurry. Instead I controlled my temper, which was difficult since I was so tired, and insisted that she go ahead of me and get in line first. The kicker...she didn't even say thank you! I don't know whether my act of kindness as letting her go ahead of me or refraining from saying something decidedly unkind. Either way...I paid it forward. 337 more days of kindness...are you in?

Day 27-Polar Bears and Husbands

Day 27-Today is the twenty seventh day in this journey of kindness. It has been so interesting to hear the stories of others. A sweet friend of mine named Karen gave a co-worker a coffee apparatus that she no longer uses. Her co-worker couldn't afford the machine herself and it made her day that Karen passed along the one that she had. She could have sold it or thrown it away, and instead chose to give it to someone who would both enjoy and appreciate the gift. What a thoughtful thing to do! Even though there are events that cast a shadow and things seem a little darker these days my faith in the human spirit remains. I still hold on to the hope that human beings are innately empathic and we are wired to be that way. Tonight as I type, I have sent my husband off for a boys' night out with friends. This was an act of kindness itself as I had planned for us to go to dinner and a movie together before he was invited out with friends. I spend more time with my girlfriends than he does with his, and when he received the invitation, I didn't even bat an eye and sent him out with encouragement to enjoy a daddy and spouse free evening. I hope he does enjoy himself :). My second act of kindness for the day is that I adopted a polar bear for the year. I am not quite sure what that means, but I know that I made a donation that will sustain the bear for that amount of time. I think that's kindof a cool thing! I also received a letter today from the hospital where the activity book and crayons were donated and the nurse wrote that it "made a little girls stay much more pleasant." She wrote in the card, "you make a difference." I will take those words as as continued challenge to continue to make a difference. So far this journey has been pretty remarkable. It has been interesting to get to see the results of some of my acts while I will never know how the others turn out, but still have faith that they make a difference. 338 more days of kindness...are you in?

Day 26-Tea and Cleaning Up

Day 26-Because I fell asleep last night with my son before posting day 25, today I am doing two posts. Today was filled with kindness. I took on an extra task for a co-worker, problem solved a little extra on behalf of another co-worker, gave tea to a co-worker who is battling a cold and as a result of spending extra time worked a little longer today. It was worth it though to pay it forward to others. I feel fortunate to work in a place where others have friendships, look after on another and have a culture of a caring community. It is certainly a good place to spend my days. When I picked up my son from his daycare he needed to use the "potty." When we walked into the bathroom I was confronted with another act of kindness. Someone had left papertowels and trash all over the bathroom floor. I explained to my son it would be kind to clean up despite the fact that the mess was not ours. He immediately jumped in to help me and we left the space much nicer than we found it. Some days the acts of kindness are right in front of us but we are so busy we don't think that we have "time to do it." Today I made sure to slow down and complete those tasks that found their way in my path. I am learning to take my time and remember that each time I make a choice, although small it impacts other people. We are all connected in this world and universe of ours and we have a responsibility to one another. At a minimum the task is to do no harm but I challenge we should all work to do good and benefit one another. A life of benevolence is a life well lived. 339 more days of kindness...are you in?

Day 25-Posted Late about a Treat

Day 25-Today is day 26 is this journey of kindness and I am a day late for posting day 25. As a result I will do two posts today. I did my act of kindness and intended to blog on yesterday evening, however I read a story to my son and laid down with him...and if you are a parent of a toddler you probably know what comes next...I fell asleep. I woke up after 1:00 a.m. and realized I was still in his room and got up and went to my bed for the remainder of the night. My act of kindness yesterday was a simple one. I had a long day at work and spent some extra time with two people with whom I work. They also had a long day, and as a result I decided they needed a treat. So I treated them both to some icecream. They both enjoyed it and I know that it made their afternoons a little nicer. When we got back to our office and I got ready to leave I overheard another co-worker telling someone, "You know a little kindness goes a long way." I definitely think she is right :). 340 more days of kindness...are you in?

Day 24-Coffee Cake Take Two

Day 24-So today is day twenty four in this journey. I have been completing acts of kindness for twenty four days. It seems somewhat surreal in some ways that it has been so many days already. I am thinking at day 30 I may do some sort of a recap and total the people touched by kind acts so far...so stay tuned :). If you have been reading this blog all week then you know that I made a coffee cake for my husband to deliver on Monday and when I came downstairs noticed that it was still on the counter. Well, today it got delivered. Today the coffee cake was given to the intended recipient with no particular purpose other than as a gesture of kindness for the family for which it was created. I grew up in a family that good food is a way that we communicated love and togetherness. It was comforting and prompted time together and good memories. Although many of my acts have been random, some of the acts are more targeted. Some have an intended purpose, such as helping through a difficulty situation, while others are just meant to be kind and thoughtful in nature. Today was one of those days. I just wanted the family to know that they are appreciated and cared for and hope that they will enjoy it. Gifts are a language of love, friendship and appreciation. How often do we take for granted those around us. Worse yet, how often do we expect that they will behave a certain way. How often have I gone through my day and due to my own dysregulation or business forgot to smile, ask about someone's day or rush through an interaction. I am working to be present, mindful and appreciative. 341 more days of kindness...are you in?

Day 23-Transformation for Donation

Day 23-Today is the twenty third day in my journey of kindness and I made a real sacrifice today. I scheduled an appointment several weeks ago and decided when I went in for a haircut today that I would donate my hair. My mother-in-law is a two time breast cancer survivor and a close friend of one of my friend's is battling cancer for the second time at a very young age. She recently posted a brave picture of herself with her head shaved on social media and I decided that I would donate my hair when I saw her. I talked it over with my stylist and we came up with a game plan. All in all I dontated six eight inch ponytails of hair and have a haircut that is shorter than I have had in years. Certainly it will be an adjustment and something I will have to get used to, but it feels good. The first cut of hair made me a little teary. There was a security in my long hair in a way (that probably sounds weird). While my stylist cut my hair I talked about this journey, my blog and the acts that I have done so far. She smiled and talked about doing a similar mission after the towers were bombed on 9/11. She talked about doing a random act of kindness and by the end of the day someone had done a random act of kindness for her by buying her meal at a restaurant. She talked about how awesome it was to be a part of that cycle and seeing that others were also in :). While we talked, I saw others in the salon acknowledge our missions and saw lots of smiles. I made a real sacrifice of a part of myself that I know will be used to help another person. My donation may help a woman who has lost her hair to chemotherapy feel hopeful, beautiful and more like herself. Although it was an emotional act today I feel good about my decision today. 342 more days of kindness...are you in?