The Twelve Days of Kindness – Day 1, Act 127

During the Christmas season we are all so extremely busy running around, going to holiday parties, shopping, and eating; that it is so easy to forget the little things.  This year for Christmas and as part of my blog to spread kindness, I am calling on you to join me in the “Twelve Days of Kindness.”

That’s right, remember the famous Christmas carol about the Twelve Days of Christmas; well let’s change it a bit and this year it’s the “Twelve Days of Kindness.” We are going to document each act per day leading up to Christmas.  Please leave comments with your own kind acts – we want to hear from you and know that kindness is spreading, one simple act at a time.

Monday, December 14, Day 1, Act 127:

I had the privilege of helping out a coworker’s department with delivering Christmas poinsettias. We picked up an entire van load and delivered them to businesses, individuals, and churches.  It was a great feeling to be able to brighten someone’s day with an unexpected arrival of some Christmas cheer. The holiday flower delivery is becoming a very merry tradition on my part!

Yahoo! launches social site to encourge acts of kindness

Sunnyvale, CA -based Yahoo! has launched a new site to rally its audience of some 600 million people into random acts of kindness.  Timed to coincide with December holidays, the site encourages users to post activities, such as volunteering at a homeless shelter or helping an elderly neighbor.  Once an activity is posted, the user asks, “You in?” to inspire others to do likewise.

“We believe that one small act of kindness can ignite a ripple of generosity and we hope to inspire the Yahoo! community to create a wave of goodwill around the world,” said Meg Garlinghouse, senior director of Yahoo! for Good. “Update your status to share what you’re doing to spread holiday joy and inspire others to also pay it forward.”

Just launched, the site already has a fair amount of content with people posting text and images. You can find the site at kindness.yahoo.com pictues can be uploaded to Yahoo! owned Flickr, or users may visit Yodel Anecdotal.

Kindness to all – even kids

I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday with your friends and family. The following is a guest post from Sherri who writes at Zen Family Habits.

Selflessness. Doing something for someone else without expecting anything in return.

It’s a lovely sentiment and one I’m sure we’d all like to do a bit more often. It’s pretty easy to get caught up in our own little bubble. We can end up walking around with blinders on completely unaware of what’s going on around us.

When we do think about a random act of kindness we tend to think about doing a nice little thing for a complete stranger. What if I asked you to think within your family, who immediately comes to mind? Your husband? Your wife? Siblings or parents perhaps?

What about our kids? They aren’t the first people that usually come to mind. After all, they do get so much of our attention as it is. But they are little people, with little personalities that enjoy feeling special and being fussed over occasionally, just as you or I do. To some people doing special things for their own kids out of the blue is an alien concept.

If this sounds like you, don’t worry it doesn’t make you a bad person or parent. It means there is room for growth, relationship development and a whole lot of fun. Here are some nice things you can do for your kids to make them feel extra special from time to time.

1. Take on a chore.

This is something we can all relate to. Think of that one chore you really dread doing each and every week. Now imagine how nice it would be if someone jumped up and did it for you, right out of the blue – no questions asked!

Your kids are no different. Choose a chore or two that they aren’t particularly fond of and do it for them. You don’t have to tell them ahead of time or make a big deal about doing it. In fact it would be better if you didn’t.

2. Cook their favorite meal … together.

If your kids are anything like mine, there is a direct connection to their heart through their stomach (I think they get this from their dad). Spend the afternoon teaching your kid to make their favorite meal. Explain what you’re doing and what all the ingredients are.

Be positive, encouraging and make it fun. Make this even more special by going all out by having special drinks and snacks while you cook. Get your child their own apron and make sure they have a stool or a chair so they don’t miss out on any of the action.

3. Prince or Princess for a day.

This can be fun so long as you bring a fantastic sense of humor and an air of positivity to the day. As the king or queen  for the day, relinquish your kids of all that is normally expected of them. Be at their beck and call. Give them a bell so they can get your attention.

Sure, this will get old in about ten seconds, but take a minute and listen to the giggles and look at the smiles on their little faces each time you come back after hearing that bell. It’ll be something to remember!

4. Let them be the boss.

Allow your child to make all the decisions for the day. What time they get up, what everyone will eat for the day, family activities and special snacks. Help them out when you feel they need it; odds are they’ve never been given this level of responsibility before. Be supportive and encouraging.

Expect mistakes and delays. This is not only fun for your special little person, but it’s making them aware of what goes into planning most days. I’m all for learning disguised as fun!

5. Lazy day.

Set up a bed or big comfy spot on the living room floor complete with pillows, blankets, remotes and anything else you’ll need for the next few hours. Pop in their favorite movie and just take it all in.

This one is really nice to do when the little ones are sick. Nothing beats the cold or flu like a day under the covers watching movies. Stay in your pajamas all day and eat simple, light meals when you feel like it. Relaxing like this is a great way to reconnect with your family.

6. Mystery day.

Wake them up and ask them to get dressed but don’t tell them why or where you’re going. Tell them you have a great day planned but it’s all a mystery. They’ll certainly have fun pestering begging you to tell them where you’re going. Think shopping, lunch, and a movie followed by a snack after. Or breakfast, a trip to the museum, a snack, and go-kart racing. The possibilities are endless. Just keep in mind that this is their mystery day and activities should be geared towards them.

7. Breakfast in bed.

Let your kids sleep in a bit and wake them with their favorite meal. Sit in bed with them and talk about what you’ll do that day. Take this opportunity to reconnect with your child.

Find out how they are doing in school, if they have any new friends, or what sports they may be interested in this year. Be sure you approach it in a way that shows your genuine interest in them, not in a way that looks like you’re digging for information.

As with anything, the best way to teach your children to be kind is by setting a good example yourself. By doing something unexpected for your child, you’re showing them first hand what it feels like to have something nice done for them.

After you’ve had your fun, talk a bit about what you did. Ask them to think of ways they could pay it forward. Who could they do something nice for this week? What could they do?

Holiday Kindness is near

Acts of Kindness

As Thanksgiving nears and family gatherings are planned, making the guest list for the big turkey dinner; think about those who have few or no families. Open your homes and your hearts and invite just one acquaintance who would otherwise be celebrating alone. By doing this one act of kindness, you may make this Thanksgiving a special memory for another and bring joy to your own family.

Especially during this time of year many charities need donations of food, volunteers, coats, warm clothing and toys more than ever. Go through your closets and select your older garments to give to those in need. While you are out purchasing holiday presents for your loved ones, buy a few extra for those children who would otherwise have none.

Another simple act of kindness to consider is to go through your home’s food pantries and fill up a shopping bag with some of those extra groceries – non-perishables – you acquired during the year.  Just about any city fire station will collect your food supplies. You might also consider becoming a volunteer and delivering food to the needy or serving the homeless at shelters.

At the very least, do a random act of kindness this holiday season. Hold the door for someone, yield for pedestrians, think twice before blowing your horn or buy a hot cup of coffee for an outdoor worker. Random acts of kindness will make you feel better about yourself, your life, and the lives of others.

Kindness makes world go round: World Kindness Day 2009

KINDNESS. The word itself seems to have been forgotten these days, as we go about our busy lives without a care about anyone else.

 

 

 

But with World Kindness Day today November 13, 2009; it’s not too late to take action.

The date for World Kindness Day is November 13th. This was the opening day of the first World Kindness Movement^® conference held at Tokyo in 1998.

The purpose of World Kindness Day is to look beyond ourselves, beyond the boundaries of our country, beyond our culture, our race, our religion; and realize we are citizens of the world. As world citizens we have a commonality, and must realize that if progress is to be made in human relations we must focus on what we have in common and put our differences aside.

Make it a point today to do something nice for someone – a friend, a stranger, a family member, anyone. Do something random and not expected. Open the door for the person behind you. Buy a coffee or drink for the person behind you in line at the restaurant. Or just ask someone how they are doing and actually stay and listen to their response and what they have to say.

Take this day to start being kind; and don’t wait for a national day to do it again. Make a change in your life and you will be able to change the lives of others for the better.

 

excerpts from article by Victoria Barker

Act 126

Friday, November 6, 2009.

Kindness needs no limelight

Today’s act is simple. A coworker had been off from work for a few days sick from the flu. I noticed that they were back today and made it a special point to ask them how they were doing.  Nothing special, just general concern for their health, and asking them if they were feeling better. I hope it made them feel a little bit better and to know that their presence was missed around work.

Acts of Kindness don’t have to be huge and momentous. As long as it helps someone and makes them feel better, you to, the kindness giver will get a good feeling. Just the simple act of asking someone how they are doing today and genuinely listening to their answer might be all that it takes to change their day from bad to glad!

Act 125 WVU fans show their true colors

Saturday, October 24, 2009.

This act of kindness was not actually performed by me, but it is an act that was done by a group of 50,000 football fans at this weekend’s WVU vs UCONN game. And since it was by the faithful mountaineer fans, and I am a lifelong West Virginian, this will be Act 125.

Yes, you read that right, the rowdy, belligerent, couch burning, Mountaineer fans are owners of Kind Act 125.They truly shined. ON an emotional day, a day where Connecticut played its first game after the death of Huskies cornerback jasper Howard, the Mountaineer fans kindness shined. When UCONN wide receiver came out onto the field, he carried Howard’s no.6 jersey on a hanger, and then tailback Andre Dixon had the former player’s helmet.

WVU and UCONN fans together cheered. They cheered the pair and they cheered the UCONN team. Outside of the stadium pins, cut in the shape of hearts, were given out with no. 6, Howard’s number. The two teams lined up on the field for a moment of silence throughout the whole stadium. Heads were bowed, prayers went up, then the teams came together again in the middle of the field to cheers. Hundreds of WVU students wrote words of sympathy and encouragement on a huge banner that hung in the tunnel where the UConn players could read it as they passed to and from the field.

Many WVU fans wore armbands bearing Howard’s number “6”.  After the game, WVU fans offered another standing ovation as the Huskies left the field with several UConn players acknowledging the crowd.

It was a moment for the ages. A moment that UCONN coach Edsall won’t forget. “I thought the WV fans were just very gracious,” he said with tears in his eyes. “The sportsmanship and the love and concern they showed for our team….I don’t know if we’ve ever seen that in sports. So my hat is off to them. They’re a bunch of class fans and it’s a class coaching staff and athletic administration. I’d just like to say thank you to them.”

It was a proud moment in WVU’s athletic history. Forget the WVU win, it was a Hall of Fame moment for the fans. Kindness truly knows no bounds!

Habitat for Humanity begins a Brush with Kindness

Habitat for Humanity of Oshkosh, Wisconsin is starting a new housing rehab program to begin in the Fall 09, called ‘A Brush with Kindness’. This nationwide program strives to further Habitat’s mission by serving low-income homeowners who struggle to maintain the exterior of their homes. ABWK focuses on exterior home repair services such as lawn care and exterior repairs. Groups of volunteers work to revitalize a home’s exterior. This program uses donated materials and funds to make repairs on homes, helping low-income homeowners continue to live independently and securely.

Visit your local Habitat for Humanity in WV to volunteer, help out, or donate money to provide a family with a safe place to call home!

Students act out in “thinking kindness”

MANITOWOC — Kids sometimes act in uncharacteristic ways because of Brian Williams. One day, an entire class of fifth-graders came to school with newly shaved heads, boys and girls alike.

Don’t worry — it was parent-approved.

One of the students’ classmates was going through chemotherapy and was afraid to come back to school after losing his hair. The students shaved their heads in an act of solidarity, to make their classmate feel welcome back at school.

This act of kindness is one of more than 125,000, large and small, that have stemmed from Williams’ “Think Kindness” program, which is in the middle of its run among nine Manitowoc-area elementary schools.

Williams, a 27-year-old martial arts black belt from Nevada, does a combination martial arts demonstration and motivational speech to kick off each school’s two-week mission: to do and document 5,000 acts of kindness and to donate 10,000 pairs of shoes to people around the world.

Students record their kind acts in journals. The target is to eventually generate one million acts of kindness, which can be as simple as holding open the door for someone.

Williams partnered with Soles4Souls, a nonprofit organization that collects and distributes shoes around the world, after two competing Think Kindness high schools came up with the idea to collect shoes, he said. Now, each elementary student is encouraged to get one person they know to send a text message, which will automatically donate $5 — enough for two pairs of new shoes — to the cause.

Act 124

Thursday, October 15, 2009.

Today a couple of coworkers and I traveled to Webster Springs for a grand opening event. It was a wonderful event to help local entrepreneurs with business ideas. After the grand opening we went to a local diner for lunch. It was a small quaint little local diner with great food. Only one problem, they didn’t take debit cards, only cash. In today’s age of debit cards and credit card usage who would have thought, but it was true. Everyone had some cash on them except one of the coworkers I was with.

Without a second thought, I hurriedly offered to take care of it for the person. It wasn’t like they didn’t have the money, unexpectedly they just didn’t have any cash. But it felt good to be able to step up and help a coworker out with no expectation in return. I’m sure they will return the money to me, but it’s okay if they don’t – I just wanted to help a friend out!