A quick trip to the grocery store led to a major revelation: everything happens for a reason. I have suspected this to be true for a long time but what happened today verified it. I was actually really angry and a road trip was the LAST thing I wanted to do today. I was tired, it was freezing outside, and to top it off I had a migraine that wouldn't end. A ridiculous fight about a bag a frozen nuggets led me to take the kids to the store to replace them with another brand. On our way out of the store, I saw this sign on the candy machines. It was a small poster with a bunch of quarters duct taped to it that read: " 26 Random Acts of Kindness. In honor of the lives lost at Sandy Hook Elementary. ♥Pay It Forward♥" The boys happily got their prizes and we got back in the car. They beamed all the way home because we rarely "waste" money on the machines. It really was a treat. I felt so bad about being cranky about something so trivial as chicken and letting my sour mood affect everyone around me. My mood completely changed. Over a quarter. It sounds ridiculous but how could I not be happy seeing their faces light up over something so small. And I couldn't believe someone in our small town of Hartville had done that. I read a lot of stories online about people committing "random acts of kindness" but I don't really know many people that have personally received a gift like that. It made me happy and sad at the same time. So I decided that we were going to dedicate the whole year to giving back. Twenty six acts a month, no matter how small will remind us to be thankful for what we have and to share it with others. I made a small donation to the Newtown community when we got home. I had wanted to make a contribution when I first heard about the tragedy but didn't think my small donation would even make a difference. And now I know every penny counts. I invite you to take this journey with me and commit 26 random acts of kindness yourself. And if you do, please share your stories with me. I would love to hear any ideas or suggestions you have. Spread the joy!
A random act of kindness taught me a valuable lesson about generosity--sometimes something as simple as a quarter can spread joy. This sign was hung in honor of the lives lost at Sandy Hook Elementary and I was inspired to do the same. Even if we are not in a financial position to be charitable, there are many other ways we can be a blessing to others. So I have dedicated 2013 to be a year of giving back: 26 Random Acts of kindness, every month, in hopes of inspiring others to do the same.
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
One Random Act of Kindness
A quick trip to the grocery store led to a major revelation: everything happens for a reason. I have suspected this to be true for a long time but what happened today verified it. I was actually really angry and a road trip was the LAST thing I wanted to do today. I was tired, it was freezing outside, and to top it off I had a migraine that wouldn't end. A ridiculous fight about a bag a frozen nuggets led me to take the kids to the store to replace them with another brand. On our way out of the store, I saw this sign on the candy machines. It was a small poster with a bunch of quarters duct taped to it that read: " 26 Random Acts of Kindness. In honor of the lives lost at Sandy Hook Elementary. ♥Pay It Forward♥" The boys happily got their prizes and we got back in the car. They beamed all the way home because we rarely "waste" money on the machines. It really was a treat. I felt so bad about being cranky about something so trivial as chicken and letting my sour mood affect everyone around me. My mood completely changed. Over a quarter. It sounds ridiculous but how could I not be happy seeing their faces light up over something so small. And I couldn't believe someone in our small town of Hartville had done that. I read a lot of stories online about people committing "random acts of kindness" but I don't really know many people that have personally received a gift like that. It made me happy and sad at the same time. So I decided that we were going to dedicate the whole year to giving back. Twenty six acts a month, no matter how small will remind us to be thankful for what we have and to share it with others. I made a small donation to the Newtown community when we got home. I had wanted to make a contribution when I first heard about the tragedy but didn't think my small donation would even make a difference. And now I know every penny counts. I invite you to take this journey with me and commit 26 random acts of kindness yourself. And if you do, please share your stories with me. I would love to hear any ideas or suggestions you have. Spread the joy!
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Pennie, I love this! How wonderful that something so profound nationwide has come from heartbreaking tragedy. Personally, I have found a greater patience with my own children, less laundry and chores to do during their waking time and a greater willingness to let those little things go. One week following this tragedy, as I was privileged enough to be able to complete shopping for my own children, and thankful to do so with each purchase, I spent that day finding little ways of being kind to others. I purchased the paper for an elderly gentleman behind my while buying coffee, went back down a hallway to open the door for a worker carrying a large load of carpets and took the extra five minutes to talk to a cashier about her upcoming family trip that she was anxious about.
ReplyDeleteThanks Susan, I've been thinking about your comments, especially about talking to the cashier. That's a good reminder for me about taking extra time to listen to people. I think too often I'm in such a rush to get things done that I miss a lot of opportunities to think of others.
ReplyDeleteLove it gals!
ReplyDeleteI've been trying to be more positive this year. I seem to have lost myself somewhere along the way, I'm not the fun-loving person I used to be, so I'm trying to "find" myself. I think this RAK thing may be a good place to start, its actually encouraged in the company I work for, and that was before the Newtown incident occurred. I've actually witnessed a 26 RAK when a server I worked with received a $100 tip with a note attached stating that's what it was and to please pay it forward. I think I will start today, positive thoughts and positive acts, what a difference it could make!
ReplyDeleteThat's awesome, it would be fun to do anonymous things at work. Would definitely increase morale. I'm going to do that, thanks Mae!! And I agree, my karma can definitely use some help!!
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