I'm taking a break from the kitchen today; so that I can share my birthday project with you. In lieuof gifts this year, my birthday wish was to complete one Random Act of Kindnessfor every year of my life. The idea was not my own, it was inspired by this post and this movement that is growingexponentially.
I did not photograph our acts of kindness,because I did not want my birthday project to become all about blogging it. I had a great time blessing my family, friends and complete strangersthroughout my birthday celebration.
I made a list and planned some activities ahead of time, but I also enjoyed being spontaneous as we ran into people that we could bless with these things.My kids and I started about a week before my birthday and last Saturday, myhusband joined us to finish the list. I'm sharing my list today, at the request of several friends. I hope that it inspires others to share a bit of kindness with someone else today.
1. Gave flowers away to theresidents at a hospice and nursing care facility2. Invited our next door neighborto dinner3. Brought in the neighbors'trashcans4. Gave a flower tothe door greeter at Costco5. Printed my birthday email fromRedbox and taped the free movie code along with a note and some tootsie pops tothe front of the machine6. Snuggled on the couch andwatched a kid’s movie with my boys all morning instead of working around thehouse7. Set up the kid’s wading pool andlet them play for an hour before we left the house to run errands8. Took a flower to the girlworking at the hair salon next to the grocery store9. Took a flower to our cashier at theproduce store10. Walked around the produce storegiving away candy and telling the shoppers to have a great day11. Gave granola bars and water to ahomeless man12. Anonymously paid for a stranger’smeal at a restaurant13. Gave treat bagsto the employees working in customer service at the grocery store14. Gave miniature chocolate barsto shoppers at the grocery store15. Gave a bag full of candy to ourcashier at the grocery store, so that she could share with the other cashiers16. Bought a gift certificate and thengave it to the person behind me in line at the grocery store17. Sent cookies to a friend’soffice for her to share with co-workers18. Delivered treat bags and thankyou notes to the librarians19. Handed out lollipops to the rest of the people at the library20. My kids and I hung out for awhile in the doorway at the grocery store, telling everyone to havea great day21. Made a big birthday breakfastfor my kids and my husband – traditionally this is one of my husband’s gifts to me onmy birthday22. Delivered a carton of ice cream,cookies and homemade chocolate and caramel sauces to the fire station23. Bought and then deliveredtoiletries to donate to the Phoenix Rescue Mission24. Delivered cartons of ice creamand homemade chocolate or caramel sauce to the neighbors in our cul-de-sac25. Took a bouquet of flowers to aneighbor living alone26. Delivered flowers to somefriends27. Ran into a Jiffy Lube to delivera bag of tootsie pops to the employees28. Delivered a meal to my sisterand her family when they were sick29. Left candy and a thank you notefor the mail carrier30. Taped quarters to toy machinesat the grocery store31. Gave food to a homelesswoman32. Traded my fancy birthday dinnerdate night for taking my kids to see a movie on Saturday afternoon33. Ran into a restaurant togive a free birthday dessert coupon to a table of strangers34. Ran into another restaurant togive a free birthday appetizer coupon to a group of strangers35. Gave jars of homemade saladdressings to the women in my small group
FAVORITE MOMENTS:
My 8 year old: “This is so much fun! I’m so happy. I can’tstop laughing and I feel like I’m going to burst.” Three days into this project–“ I still can’t believe how much fun this is. I never knew it was more fun togive things away than it is to get things!”
My 6 year old: “This is awesome! I want to give away a bunchof my toys now and make more people happy.” “I wish we had more bags of stuffto give away to strangers!”
My 2 year old: Telling every person he handed a treat bagto, “Have a good day!!” Sitting through his very first movie in a theater andlooking over at us every 20 minutes or so and saying “Thank you much, thank youvery much!”
Thank you for letting me share my joy with you. Hearing back from friends and family memberswith stories of how they blessed other friends and strangers on my birthday wasquite possibly the most fun of all.
ONE YEAR AGO TODAY: White Beans and Cabbage
Hiç yorum yok:
Yorum Gönder