Acts of Random Kindness to You

Well, I may not be getting a pedicure, but I sure made my nephew, his parents, and my mother very happy this week. I had set aside a bit of money for a very rare “Back to School” pedicure. However, while deciding when and where to schedule it, an opportunity came through that I simply had to do.

There is a “POLAR EXPRESS” train ride on Thanksgiving weekend that I just knew my 4 year old nephew would LOVE. His parents can’t afford it right now and kids are only that perfect age once where they still believe and are excited by everything Christmas. So, I booked the ride as well as a hotel stay for them near the ride.

To say they were thrilled might be an understatement. All 4 of them are so excited and the little guy, well, he simply can’t wait to ride the train with Santa. I will get a pedicure another time because for now, I am just thankful that my kindness paid off for some of my loved ones. Remember we can make the world a better place one act of kindness at a time! What have you done lately to be kind?

Anne LaBastille will always be remembered as The Woodswoman. I wrote an earlier post about how very much I enjoyed her books and many people have commented with similar feelings and memories about their reading of her books. Sadly, one of my most recent comments was in regards to Anne’s death. I have confirmed that Anne LaBastille died in July in a nursing home in Plattsburgh, NY.

Anne changed the way I looked at the environment and more particular because I am surrounded by it, how I look at the Adirondack Park and what decisions are made about it. Her books made me laugh, cringe, get angry, and cry, but most importantly they made me think. Although she has not written in quite some time, it is funny where I run into Anne LaBastille fans. My sister-in-law recently had one of her books sitting by her which started a great discussion about this amazing author. I was at a friend of my mothers and there on her bookcase were Anne’s Woodswoman books.  The best part of finding other fans is that it always brings about a great discussion that ends with the wistfulness of living ourselves at Black Bear Lake.

There will never be another Anne LaBastille, but her memories, teachings, and ideals will be preserved forever in her writings. She will be missed by many and it is my personal hope that her kindness for creatures of all species will be spread in generations to come because KINDNESS MATTERS!

I am fortunate for the most part. I have a great family, an amazing job, and some great friends. However, in the past 2 years, I have found friendships that truly have changed my life. I found friendship in people that weren’t my age; as a matter of fact, both of the ladies I am referring to could be my mothers.

These two ladies weren’t likely friends. I mean they were always kind and compassionate people, but I never imagined our paths would cross and our bonds would become so strong. One of the ladies was my boss and not just my immediate boss, but an upper level boss whom I respected and admired. I even turned to her for advice on things that were business related. Then, she retired and we spent a few dinners together which has turned into a great friendship. The other lady of our trio could not be more different than I am about things. She has coordinating everything, cooks like a television show host, and knows anyone that is anyone in our community.

Recently, I was talking about what on earth has made (3) so unlikely people become such good friends. The response from one of the ladies was simple, but so true. She stated, “We have the important things in common such as kindness, humor, and honesty.” You know what? I think she is right!
Remember not to rule out friendship in the most unlikely places. I am sure glad that I didn’t because it has been very rewarding.
Be KIND to others and to yourself!

I think I would be remiss to not mention Haiti on this blog. Those poor people and what they must be going through after the earthquake as if they didn’t have it hard enough already. However, the last thing the Haitians probably need from me or anyone else is pity. They are a proud nation and although they want our help, I am sure they want it with the dignity that they deserve.

If at this time, you feel inclined to give something to help put Haiti back together again, then I would recommend visiting the site sponsored by Bill Clinton and George W. Bush at http://www.clintonbushhaitifund.org/

This will at least give you a starting place to give where the funds are most needed. Make God bless you all and especially the Hatian people as they struggle through these challenges.

I am a Special Educator and I love it. I love the kids and I love what I do. My kids have so many amazing capabilities. Once in awhile, they struggle with their behavior or a writing assignment, but otherwise they are typical high school age kids. I decided to do “ONE MORE YEAR” of summer school with them, so I am currently in the middle of that and although they are there for a variety of reasons, my reason for being there is the success of the kids.

Once we hit summer school, it is a new start. I don’t care that they failed during the regular school year or that they didn’t do a thing I asked them to all year. They get another chance now and that’s what we are there for; to do it together!

So, today a wonderful co-worker brought them a homemade treat. They loved it. It made me chuckle though that her children had wondered why she was bringing something to kids that had failed. I loved her explanation to them and I think it speaks volumes.
She told her children, “Have you ever failed at anything? When you fail is when I try the hardest to let you know that it’s o-kay to fail and that I will be there to help you get back up. We all fail! We all need someone to pick us back up and today that pick up for these students is this treat!”

We do all need people to pick us up when we fail. Failure is a part of life and often a time that I personally learn more than I learn from success. So, remember the next time you see someone fail that it may be you that gets them back on track. One act of kindness at a time, we can all change the world.

I am not overtly religious. Oh, I was raised in a church and I do believe in God and Heaven, but when it comes to organized religion, I am a bit remiss in taking part. Sometimes, I feel bad about that and other times I think my reasons are legitimate. So, I go about my merry way simply trying to be a good person and to do what I think is right. I own up to things that I do wrong and try to fix them and I always give thanks to whomever deserves it.

So, today, I will indeed Thank God. This weekend, we traveled for “Girls Weekend” in Syracuse, NY. It was my sister-in-law, my mom, and my 6 year old niece. About halfway through the day, it happened. It all seemed like slow motion and yet it happened so fast. We were in a head on collision. I remember thinking that there was nothing more we could do and watching the other vehicle slam into us. I never screamed or panicked and I immediately checked to be sure everyone was okay. Then I saw the other man’s windshield, it was shattered and I was concerned. Somehow, some way, he was fine too.

It didn’t make the weekend great, but it could have been much worse. I could have been bitter that our weekend was ruined, but instead I was so grateful that it was only the vehicles that were hurt. Once we got our wits about us, the cops were called and came. We were able to get back on our way once a mechanic looked at the truck.

So, I am home now and still amazed that even though we are all sore and even a little bit shaken, we are all physically fine. Someone was looking over us this past Saturday and I believe that for each person, it may have been whomever or whatever they believe in, but as for me, I will indeed, “THANK GOD!”

Who knew that making a call could make such an incredible difference in someone’s day? Yesterday, I was in Wal-mart and when I came out with my cart loaded, the wind was blowing in gusts of 40 mph or better. It was terrible.

A young man in his teens approached me and said that Wal-mart had put extra help on to assist in the parking lot due to the wind. I told him I was fine, but he insisted on helping. He was such a polite young man and absolutely refused a tip. As he walked away in the wind I heard him say, “Have a great night.” I chuckled. I mean he was going to be the one standing in the wind and rain for the next several hours and yet he smiled and said this to me.  After a long day, I left Wal-mart with a smile.

On my way home, I decided to call management and let them know about this experience. The manager was so pleased that she was heading out to the parking lot to let the young man know. On top of that, his parents had both been laid off and he had been asking for extra hours a lot lately. She stated to me, “He is going to get some of those extra hours because of this call.”  Apparently she had taken a lot of guff from other employees about this not so fun job, but he had just been pleased for the hours.

If you are ever in doubt, make that call and let people know when they have done something well. It could make the difference and it never hurts to spread a little extra kindness.

The economy is a mess and I don’t know that I would find anyone who would dispute that is true. I see the articles about food pantries being down on donations and more people needing to use them. It makes me sad.

However, today one of my students brought something to my attention. She is in a club that looks out for Animal Welfare.  Her question posed to me was “What about the pets?”  She began to explain that her group is about to start a food drive and she wants to put a box in my classroom. The food collected will be pet food.

They aren’t trying to encourage anyone to get new pets that can’t afford them, but they want those that use the food pantry already to be able to feed those pets they already own. The SPCA here is full and if people can’t afford to take care of their pets, it is scary what they might choose to do with their pets instead.

I will admit that I had never thought of things from this perspective. It makes sense and I am glad she has found something that means a lot to her. She is a good girl and she has taught the teacher something all new today.

Another way of spreading kindness and making the world a better place.

So, this is it, the end of 2008. I can’t say that 2008 was the best year in my life. We struggled with my dad’s Alzheimers before finally having to place him in the nursing home in August. As daddy’s little girl, I found it all a little traumatic, but in many ways I was fortunate. I had a husband to lean on and my mother was stronger than I could have ever imagined during such a difficult time. I still get to see my dad and other than the Alzheimer’s, he does not seem to be suffering. Things could be much worse and for many people in the world, they are much worse.

So, I wanted to take a minute and wish everyone a Happy New Year and remind people that each of us has something to be thankful for even when things get us down. It might be children or grandchildren, it might be a great career, or it might simply be a strong faith in God. Whatever it is, remember to use it to strengthen you in 2009.

My final thought of 2008 is the same as my first thought of 2008 and that is that we can all make the world a better place with just one act of random kindness at a time. Happy New Year and welcome to 2009!!

Tonight I came across a really neat post on another website that I frequent. I requested the author’s permission to use the post here and she had no problem with me doing that, so thanks Gail M. for such a great post about such a great topic and for the permission to share it with others here on ARK2U. It takes one act of kindness at a time to make the world a better place. Here is her post:

Hmm… wondering what’s up?   Don’t you love and appreciate when someone does something nice for you, especially when it is totally unexpected?  And doesn’t it feel good to do good things for others, as well, especially those who are really in need?   Well, that’s kinda what this is about!

Have you seen “PAY IT FORWARD”? (great movie, go rent it if you haven’t seen it!)   Have you read The Kingdom Assignment, by Denny and Leesa Bellesi?

I just finished it, and would love to share it with you. The book is about a pastor who asks for 100 volunteers in his church , and this is what he says. “I have an assignment for you that will change your life.  A Kingdom Assignment.

Before you say no, before you tell me that you are too busy, too untrained, or too ill-equipped to handle one more assignment – especially one for the Kingdom of God, think about this: If you accept the assignment, you will take a small amount of money and increase it up to a hundredfold or more.  You will have the means to help countless people- some with food and clothing, others with medicine or the gospel message-and  in the process, no matter how much money your investment turns into, no matter how many people you will help, you will walk away with more than what your investment will ever make and more than those you’ve invested in.

Interested?”   -and then he gave each of the 100 volunteers a hundred dollars each.    He also have them three rules: -the money belongs to God -invest it in God’s work -report back in 90 days   The people in the church were nervous and uneasy, but then they got excited!  Even those who were not in the original 100 did the assignment, or helped those who were.

This little assignment got the church buzzing, then the town, and even reporters for newspapers and tv were there when the 90 days were up and they all reported back to give their reports.   What had they done?  Whatever God led them to do!

Here are just some examples (if you want some full stories, read the book, they will really move you!) -books for the lonely -blankets for the homeless -Bibles for the spiritually hungry -food for the physically hungry -gifts for those with no means -care packages -oversees help -assistance for the JESUS film project -hours of ministry service -clothing and greeting cards to the sick -homes for homeless families in Mexico -grief packages for those who  have miscarried or lost an infant -assistance to unwed mothers -medical equipment to those without -camp scholarships for needy children -a table for a family that had no where to sit at mealtime -a bone marrow drive -and many, many more!

there are some INCREDIBLE stories! -the story about Steve.  He lost his precious little girl  to a tragedy, and in the midst of his loneliness and depression, found this church and accepted Christ.   What did he do?  He got together with other’s in his neighborhood, and planned a wishing tree in the honor of his daughter, Alex.

The goal: to fulfill the Christmas wishes of needy families in the community who otherwise would have no gifts that year.  After taking a paper ornament with a child’s name and gift wish on it, the $100 that Steve started out with turned into over $8,000 in gifts and touched hundreds of people.  Steve didn’t have his daughter, but he had a new found happiness for the children that he helped, and he wrote “Perhaps the most profound impact from this project was that a man, after spending most of his adult life in darkness, stepped a bit further into the light”.

-Terry ended up using the money to help a woman who had left (with her two children) an abusive relationship.  Lisa  was then living in a safe house when she was assaulted and stabbed.  All of this woman’s dignity was gone, but she was still trying to make a better life for her children, and Terry helped.  Terry also became friends with Lisa, because Terry, too, had long ago been in an abusive relationship.

-Kim was talking to her friend who was taking a literature class and was reading to sick kids in the hospital.  She remarked that for many, it was all they had to look forward to.  Kim had her idea!  She used the money (and received donations) to buy books to make a library for the kids, and then kept it going by donating books to a teen shelter, as well!

-Brooke used the money for boys that could not join the boy scouts because they could not afford the cost of the uniforms or the book.

-Julie used the money (and the donations of others) to throw a baby shower for a young, unwed mother whose family had rejected her because of the pregnancy, and who had no real friends.  She got everything she needed, and most importantly, knew that she and her unborn baby were loved.

And what were the things that the volunteers said after it was all said and done?    “We received more than we ever gave” “God answered prayer” “A little can go a long way” “Opportunities are all around us every day. “I discovered what’s really important”

After three months, the facts were unbelievable.  $10,000 had become more than $100,000 and thousands of people had been clothed or fed or brought into a relationship with God.  Whole communities were changed in the process, and now, everyone wanted to know about the Kingdom Assignment.

Pretty interesting and exciting, huh?  I thought so! At the end of the book, it challenges the reader to do their own Kingdom Assignment.   I have really been thinking and praying about what I will do.  At first, I didn’t know what I could do, but now I realize, there are SO MANY ways that $100 can be used to help others, it’s so hard to choose.

So, here it is for you to read and ponder.  Would any of you like to take on the Kingdom Assignment with me? Can’t do the $100?  How about $50? $25?  Even five dollars can buy a homeless person lunch, even one dollar can buy someone a card to cheer their day. (the amount is NOT what matters!) Or how about your time (much more valuable to many than money!)  Instead of a hundred dollars, how about a hundred minutes?   Are you reading this, thinking, “Kingdom Assignment, I DON’T EVEN  BELIEVE IN GOD!” You can still do this assignment in your own way, you can still “PAY IT FORWARD”!  I’m sure there are many worthy causes you can think of that you would like to help!