I can't believe I haven't blogged since June 6, and it's June 19! I have been doing various kind things and staying true to form - once a day at the very least! I can't possibly go back and restate them all, but things have been going well. I can at least tell you what I did today - I donated blood!
I have donated blood before, so it isn't a big deal. I am the universal donor, so the local center calls often and I go as often as I can make it. It's an easy thing to do and quick for the most part. I already know that my blood is on its way to an area hospital. It left the building before I did, along with one other donor's blood!
Considering donating blood in your area, please. It's needed everyday to save lives.
Friday, June 19, 2009
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Dad, you're someone to look up to no matter how tall I've grown.
Today my children and I made special gifts for Father's Day, coming up on June 21. Of course we have to hide them until then, but today was a great day to get outside and make them. There are a lot of great websites to get ideas from:
http://familyfun.go.com/fathersday/
http://crafts.kaboose.com/holidays/fathers-day/
http://www.fathersdaycraftbox.com/
I hope you are able to celebrate either your father or the father of your children. If not, find that special person that is dad to you or to your kids. All men need to know how important they are to the children in their lives.
http://familyfun.go.com/fathersday/
http://crafts.kaboose.com/holidays/fathers-day/
http://www.fathersdaycraftbox.com/
I hope you are able to celebrate either your father or the father of your children. If not, find that special person that is dad to you or to your kids. All men need to know how important they are to the children in their lives.
Sisters are different flowers from the same garden.
Wow. Friday was a shock. I had things planned and then a relative threw our world into confusion, resulting in the first half of Friday being a general blur.
Needless to say I did my fair share of kind acts on Friday morning, although somewhat forced upon me and others not so much. I knew what had to be done and it was done. I spoke to an endless number of people about things that needed to be said and recounted events of days past (unsure of how any of it related to what was happening at the time and still don't understand). I knew I wouldn't recognize myself if I "stayed" in it too long, so a half of a day was enough for my family and I to help out. We passed the torch to other relatives who knew more and could help more (part of helping is knowing when you are no longer helping, right?)...then we went on with cutting the grass, out for a light dinner, and movie night at home.
Friday was exhausting.
Needless to say I did my fair share of kind acts on Friday morning, although somewhat forced upon me and others not so much. I knew what had to be done and it was done. I spoke to an endless number of people about things that needed to be said and recounted events of days past (unsure of how any of it related to what was happening at the time and still don't understand). I knew I wouldn't recognize myself if I "stayed" in it too long, so a half of a day was enough for my family and I to help out. We passed the torch to other relatives who knew more and could help more (part of helping is knowing when you are no longer helping, right?)...then we went on with cutting the grass, out for a light dinner, and movie night at home.
Friday was exhausting.
Frederick Douglass once said "It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men."
Thursday was a great day for volunteering. I had the opportunity to assist at an organization that provides school supplies free of charge to underprivileged children. They provide quality supplies that enable children to focus on learning.
You can ask why I would serve AFTER school is out...but it's simple, the free store is closed right now but they have product to get on shelves, organize, and so forth. August will be here before we know it!
Check out: http://crayons2computers.org/
You can ask why I would serve AFTER school is out...but it's simple, the free store is closed right now but they have product to get on shelves, organize, and so forth. August will be here before we know it!
Check out: http://crayons2computers.org/
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Plato once said "Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle."
Today I babysat for a friend who had a doctor's appointment. Her regular sitter canceled on her the night before, so despite a possible conflict, I watched the kids (two under age 3) for a couple of hours. No big deal, no problem. I consider this an act of kindness because I had other things that I needed to accomplish today during that time. However, I recognized that my friend needed me more and chose to do good in the world today. My things can wait another day. And it was a bit of a drive, but again, my friend needed me. I am happy to help her anytime.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Being good is commendable, but only when it is combined with doing good is it useful.
I know yesterday was a tough day for me. I am not sure how useful I was to the world. I was being good, I think, well, for the most part...I am not sure how well I did at doing good (for others). I was useful to my family and even some friend and acquaintances. It may be that for yesterday that type of usefulness had to be enough.
It was a Monday; the last day of the school year for my children. I find that odd to end on a Monday without any necessary make up days. Nevertheless, we also had a lot packed into it with last day of school festivities and then I had an evening board meeting for a non-profit that I serve. It is my obligation to attend those meetings, so my attendance doesn't count for doing good or committing an act of kindness. I had some neighborhood kids over to run through the sprinkler and play in the pool between those events, but I am not convinced that was an act of kindness in as much as an unconscious act of self inflicted punishment for something I must have done in another life. So yesterday might have been a bust - no act of kindness...
I have recounted the day over and over in my head. I have nothing to report regarding kindness on my part, other than normal everyday pleasantries. Have I ruined my own experiment? I think not. I said "consecutive days preferably," not absolutely.
Today, Tuesday, I am back on track with a huge donation of clothes to a local free store. Yes, I know technically this helps me out too because it opens up space in my house, but I could have sold the clothes to a resale shop and tried to make a dime. Instead I gave them away (and I will answer you now, no I don't take a tax deduction for those types of donations). So game on, I am back - let kindness reign! Back to useful in this world - uniting "doing good" with "being good."
It was a Monday; the last day of the school year for my children. I find that odd to end on a Monday without any necessary make up days. Nevertheless, we also had a lot packed into it with last day of school festivities and then I had an evening board meeting for a non-profit that I serve. It is my obligation to attend those meetings, so my attendance doesn't count for doing good or committing an act of kindness. I had some neighborhood kids over to run through the sprinkler and play in the pool between those events, but I am not convinced that was an act of kindness in as much as an unconscious act of self inflicted punishment for something I must have done in another life. So yesterday might have been a bust - no act of kindness...
I have recounted the day over and over in my head. I have nothing to report regarding kindness on my part, other than normal everyday pleasantries. Have I ruined my own experiment? I think not. I said "consecutive days preferably," not absolutely.
Today, Tuesday, I am back on track with a huge donation of clothes to a local free store. Yes, I know technically this helps me out too because it opens up space in my house, but I could have sold the clothes to a resale shop and tried to make a dime. Instead I gave them away (and I will answer you now, no I don't take a tax deduction for those types of donations). So game on, I am back - let kindness reign! Back to useful in this world - uniting "doing good" with "being good."
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.
On Saturday, May 30, I attended a picnic to honor foster families. After all, May is Foster Family month! and while I am not a foster parent myself, I think the world of people that are foster parents. It's an amazing thing to take care of a child, your own or not, but there seems to be something extra special about those people that choose to welcome a child(ren) that isn't theirs into their home(s). I honor them.
I attended the picnic on a wonderful, sunny Saturday and took along my contribution of chewy, frosted brownies. I met a lot of interesting, fun, bright, responsible people - both those that are foster families and those that place the children with those families. Amazing work being done by all of them. If you get the chance, thank a foster family for all that they do for love.
Today, and believe me when I say this is an act of pure kindness (although maybe not so random), I took my mother in law to the grocery store. I know, I know, I have taken other people to the store before and even shopped with them, but it's not the same. And I love my mother in law, please don't misunderstand...but she tries my patience when she won't give me a straight answer - "What store do you need to go to?" I ask, "whichever one you want to shop at, dear..." she responds. I say "X", she says "oh, I think Y has better sales this week..." Okay, then just say "let's go to Y." And if she says she only needs a few things, it means she needs at least 30 minutes. If she says she needs several things, I drop her off and come back when she calls me on the telephone (often 2 hours later). And again, don't get me wrong, I love her. I want to help her, I just want honest responses. Because I don't get those types of responses, I believe this constitutes an act of kindness from me. I could easily shuffle this responsibility off on my husband or another relative. I am taking my mother in law to shop because it's the right thing to do. She needs someone to take her and I am available. I will learn to do it with love.
I attended the picnic on a wonderful, sunny Saturday and took along my contribution of chewy, frosted brownies. I met a lot of interesting, fun, bright, responsible people - both those that are foster families and those that place the children with those families. Amazing work being done by all of them. If you get the chance, thank a foster family for all that they do for love.
Today, and believe me when I say this is an act of pure kindness (although maybe not so random), I took my mother in law to the grocery store. I know, I know, I have taken other people to the store before and even shopped with them, but it's not the same. And I love my mother in law, please don't misunderstand...but she tries my patience when she won't give me a straight answer - "What store do you need to go to?" I ask, "whichever one you want to shop at, dear..." she responds. I say "X", she says "oh, I think Y has better sales this week..." Okay, then just say "let's go to Y." And if she says she only needs a few things, it means she needs at least 30 minutes. If she says she needs several things, I drop her off and come back when she calls me on the telephone (often 2 hours later). And again, don't get me wrong, I love her. I want to help her, I just want honest responses. Because I don't get those types of responses, I believe this constitutes an act of kindness from me. I could easily shuffle this responsibility off on my husband or another relative. I am taking my mother in law to shop because it's the right thing to do. She needs someone to take her and I am available. I will learn to do it with love.
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