Acts of Random Kindness to You

Wow. I can’t believe it has been so long since I last wrote here. I have no good excuse except that I am a slacker sometimes. I admit it. Yes, life has been busy, but not so busy that I couldn’t jot a few lines about kindness. I think it is often times the being busy that keeps us from being kind and noticing kindness in our lives. Enough about that, I have some kindness that I would like to spread to my readers. Below, I am going to list some sites and links that over the past few years have made me some real money. Although they are referral links, feel free to use them without the referral if you would rather. These are legitimate and fun sites. Once that have outlasted the others and a couple of new ones too. Interested? Read on and check out those that interest you!!

1.) Mypoints – An old standby. I can expect without doing any purchasing to get at least (3) $25 gift cards from here a year. They are reliable and the prizes come quick.

2.) Swagbucks – This is an amazing site. You can search and win Swagbucks that turn into gift cards, prizes, and now even paypal. I have earned several hundred dollars since December of 2008 for just searches and participating in contests. If you do ONE site, I would make it this one!!!

3.) Gather – A great Social Networking site. Although the prizes have slowed down somewhat, they are reliable and often have contests that allow you to win more points. Points become gift cards and now even paypal. You will meet some amazing people while winning some great prizes too.

4.) GSN – A fun game show site. This one is fairly new for me, but I cashed out for (2) $10 gift cards and received them almost immediately. So far, so good and a really fun site too. You win OODLES and turn them in for prizes. Great fun!

5.) Redgage - Another new site, but interesting in concept. It too is a social networking site, but you get paid for your content. It can be anything you have done. Blogs, posts on sites, articles…anything you want to share and the bigger your network…the more you make. Interested? If you want to use me as a referral, just type Cyclonewriter where it askes who sent you. If not, that’s fine but look me up so we can be friends!!

These would be my top 5. Got others? I would love to hear about them. Be sure to give me your referral link in case I am interested…Regardless of what you decide, just remember that kindness makes the world a better place !

Television is always one of those topics that can heat up a discussion. Some people love it, some people hate it and others don’t think much about it one way or the other. Today, one has to be a little picky about what they are going to watch on television especially when it comes to children.

However, that is not to say that there are some really good program options out there. Still fighting the good fight are the PBS stations available in most places. From Sesame Street to Masterpiece Theater; if you look long enough there is something for everyone on PBS.

There is lots of family fun to be found on TVLand and other stations as well. Personally, I watch what I want to watch, but I am not looking out for the influence it might have on children either. I know and follow good morals as well as understanding right from wrong, so if I decide to watch a rather slanted sit com one night or a fast paced action show another night, I am not convinced it is hurting me.

I would love to hear what others think about the topic of televison programming as well…so share away and remember no matter what you watch, it is really all about actions. Spread a little kindness before settling down to watch television tonight.

I have decided to add a new category to the blog. I am a book fanatic and forever wanting to share a good book with friends, so I have decided to start doing that here as well. Feel free to discuss the book in question or to make suggestions of your own.

There is nothing in the world like a good book and it seems that sharing them with people is a way to not only help the authors of the books, but to also give back to those of you that have taken the time to come here. So, watch for the reviews in the coming weeks as I highlight some of the books I have read.

I hope that all of you had a wonderful week. My week was busy as usual, but we did have a snow day which gave a much needed sleeping in time on Wednesday morning. It is the one good thing about our weather here in the Northern part of New York State.

The reality of life is that we all have to work. I am lucky as I love my job and that makes getting up in the morning a little easier. However, what I can’t understand is that when opportunities present themselves, why anyone would not want to make a place that they spend so much time a better place to be. After all, if I have to be there than it would be nice to enjoy it as much as I can.

Some people are naturally good at this and no matter what is going on in their lives, they always seem to want to spread kindness. Such is the case of one lady that teaches down the hall from me. For as long as I have worked at this building, her husband has been ill with Alzheimer’s. When she discovered that my family was struggling with the same thing, she offered any and all assistance, information, or even just an ear. Not a week has gone by that she hasn’t inquired about me or my parents whom she has never even met. She is simply by nature a good person with a very large heart.

This lady has lead by example both to her students and to other teachers. She doesn’t gossip and she goes about her day making the best of it. It makes those around her want to do the same. This week, I was concerned when I walked by her door because she looked a little down and out. After a brief discussion, it became apparent that her husband had declined rapidly recently and she was feeling sad. (Such is the case when living with a loved one that has Alzheimer’s)

On top of it, she had recently had a granddaughter born and was so thrilled, but certainly not as much as she could have been if her husband was well and able to share in it with the family. It wasn’t long after talking that things turned to my family as they so often do with her. She isn’t one to focus on herself. As we parted ways, it got me thinking that kindness in the workplace is something that is planted and will grow if we let it.

Today, I had flowers sent to this amazing coworker with a simple congratulations card attached to the new grandma. I know that it thrilled her. Certainly to spread kindness in the workplace, all acts don’t have to be something material, but they do have to be thoughtful and genuine. So, next week….see what you can do to make your job a better place to be. Be sure to come back and tell us how you are making the world better one act of random kindness at a time.

Anybody that takes the time to blog is usually doing it because they want to get a message out. A blogger wants other people to read what they have to say and in the day of the Internet, it has become easier and easier for people to publish their thoughts.

The message of this blog of course is kindness and what a change it can make in the world. That being said, I want to take just a moment and thank those of you that are reading the blog. I see your comments and it makes me smile. If even one person is hearing me, it makes all the difference.

So, I thank you for taking a few minutes out of your busy lives to hear me. It means more than you can ever know. You are the type of people that are making the world a better place. Have a wonderful week !

Valentine’s Day is here again and for many, that means all kinds of material goods. It also means that some people will feel sad or left out of traditional Valentine’s Day couple activities. It doesn’t need to be this way. As a matter of fact, make it another day to spread some extra kindness or cheer.

Take 30 minutes when you head home from work and visit an elderly or disabled person you know. Drop them off a few homemade cookies or even a handmade valentine card. In the same time it takes you to watch one television show, you could e-mail an old friend or call your parents, siblings or other family member just to say hello.

For me, Valentine’s Day isn’t about money or even about being part of a couple which I am fortunate enough to have an amazing husband. Instead, it is about loving everyone and being kind. Imagine actually making someone else’s heart grow on this day. Don’t worry if they aren’t expecting it, that is what makes it even better.

I challenge all my friends, family, and readers to LOVE A LITTLE DEEPER and make the world a kinder place on the 14th. Happy Valentine’s Day !!