Day 66 - Spread the Word to End the Word

Yesterday was the annual day of awareness for the organization The R-Word-Spread the Word to End the Word.

The R-word is the word 'retard(ed)'. Why does it hurt? The R-word hurts because it is exclusive. It's offensive. It's derogatory.  I've seen it hurt families and individuals I am close to and would love to do anything I can to help raise awareness. 

The organization's campaign asks people to pledge to stop saying the R-word as a starting point toward creating more accepting attitudes and communities for all people.  Language affects attitudes and attitudes affect actions.

For today's random act of kindness I made an online pledge to use respectful, people-first language.

Day 66 - Spread the Word to End the Word!!

Day 65 - Sent Supplies for Survival Kits

One of my buddies from college founded a wonderful organization, to honor his father, in our home state of Ohio called The 411 Foundation.  The 411 Foundation "helps build and sustain healthy communities by providing young adults the tools to enhance their quality of life and empowering them to achieve lifelong success". 

One of their on-going projects are these wonderful survival kits for those in need.  They include everything from sleeping bags and clothing to toiletries and medicine.

For today's random act of kindness the girls and I headed to my second home (I'm not going to say where...hehe) and stocked up on supplies from The 411 Foundation's online list to fill survival kits.  We packed the box this morning and after school we'll head to the post office and it will be on it's way to you Sean!!  You're an inspiration to those kids you help and all those around you!!

Day 65 - Supplies for Survival Kits

  

Day 64 - Cancelled Internet on My Phone

I've always had an addictive personality.  High school and college definitely had their activities (and people).  In grad school when I officially gave my life to Christ I probably read every single book written by Max Lucado and a handful of other authors, bought every Christian CD at the time, and purchased every Christian t-shirt and bracelet I could find.  After grad school picked up running but it wasn't enough to just run 5ks, I needed to run marathons.  And of course couldn't just do a week of random acts of kindness...I had to do a year.

These stories of 100% passion (aka obsession, aka addiction) are sprinkled all throughout my life and will continue I'm sure because it is just a part of my wiring.  They define me in a way and lead to sometimes sporadic and whimsical decisions in their wake.  So not only do I get something on my mind and am unable to let it go, I also have a tendency to make decisions without a lot of contemplation behind them.  A reason Chris is great for me.  He acts as my voice of reason on most of these in-the-moment acts and decisions.  Today though he is out of town so I am left to my own devices.

Along these same lines if I have something I'm trying to refrain from I go into it with the best intentions in the world but always fail miserably.  For example the frozen credit card idea would never work for me.  I had to physically cut my credit cards up and throw them away before honestly starting to paying off debt.  Tried to avoid Facebook last year during Lent...it last 3 days.  So knowing it's available is always my security blanket and I typically resort back after a short period.

So for today's random act of kindness the recipients (my family primarily) are not so anonymous but the act is definitely random in that it is being made purely on a whim inspired by an article read yesterday.  It's something I've been trying to work on but failing at miserably.  Dear Mom on the iPhone

So for today's random act of kindness I have decided to remove my entire internet data plan from my cell phone.  No more Facebook, constant access to emails, music, internet access, etc.  As soon as I arrived home this morning after dropping the girls off at school, before any families arrived, I called and made the change.  Calls and texts only.  I didn't want to put too much thought into it because I knew I would probably change my mind.  It'll be like a Band-aid.  It will definitely sting at first but once it's off...it will be liberating.

It will leave me with more time to dedicate to my family (more time than I even realize or would be willing to admit).  Actually spending time with them while listening to them...instead of partially listening with my face in my phone.  I  will definitely miss some things but this is so worth the sacrifice (as inappropriate as that word really is in this context).  I feel good about this one and it will be effective March 23rd so I have a few weeks to prepare myself.

Day 64 - Removed cell phone internet

**UPDATE:  I chickened out on this one and went about a week before getting the service back.  I'm definitely replacing this act with another and have made a concerted effort to be more aware of my cell phone use when spending time with the family. 

Day 63 - Passed Out Notes to Encourage at the Park

The weather today was gorgeous!!  Sunny, low 80's so I knew we had to take advantage!  Kailey suggested we head out after the daycare children were gone to write encouraging notes on the sidewalk like we did a while back.  I thought it was a great idea but thought we could go one step further.

I asked the girls if they wanted to write notes on the sidewalk but maybe also make little notes of encouragement (with candy) to pass out to random people.  They thought it was a great idea so we then decided to enlist the help of the Little Acorns to pass out these little baggies of sweetness and cheer.  The girls and Acorns made all the notes with only a little assistance from me on spelling and then I attached them to the baggies of chocolate.

After nap we all headed out to the park.  We passed the baggies out on our walk there and then to people we saw at the park.  The kids had so much fun doing it and people really loved it!

This past weekend I saw two wonderful and inspiring movies on Netflix.  The Letter Writer and a documentary called Happy.  I highly recommend both.  There were some wonderful quotes and messages on giving and caring for others but here were two of my favorites.

"If you want good and helping people around you, be good and helping."   - Stanley, Letter Writer

"I see my life as a loan from God.  I want to pay him back in full...plus interest." - Happy

I think modeling these attitudes, especially for children, is so important.  The more we all step out of our comfort zone to model an attitude of compassion and giving the more we are going to attract people with similar attitudes.  At the same time you'll be able to influence all those around you in a positive way and leave the world a better place then when you got here.  I truly believe the harder we search to live out our purpose in life full-force the more fulfilling our lives will become.   

We are all divinely designed and perfectly made for the work of mankind and to do that with all your heart and soul...I can't think of anything more rewarding.


Day 63 - Candy and encouragement for the neighborhood

Day 62 - Bought Girl Scout Cookies

When the girls grows up, I want them to be strong, independent women. I want them to always be leaders rather than followers. I want them to be able to build strong friendships like the ones I have been able to develop over my life. I want them to always have high self esteem and the confidence that if they always strive to be the best person they can be, great things will come to them.

You may have read the title for this day and thought, "Buying cookies? How is that an act of kindness?" Before knowing exactly the impact the Girl Scout Cookie program had, I probably would have asked the same questions. Not only does the program generate about $700 million for the Girl Scouts (money that is then utilized for expansion of programs for the girls and different charities), but even the act of selling the cookies teaches the girls goal setting and interpersonal skills.

 So although it may be unkind to my waist line, today's random act of kindness is buying some cookies. If you have someone in your neighborhood selling these treats, maybe buy a box. It is a delicious way to have a real impact.

Day 62 - Bought Girl Scout cookies

Day 61 - Played with Balloons

Kailey had a soccer game this morning but before heading there we needed to stop at Dollar Tree for a few items (one of my favorite stores).  I went inside while Chris and the girls waited in the car.  I was checking out behind a super nice women who had purchased 3 bundles of helium birthday balloons.  She checked out and then went outside with the balloons in her cart.

After I checked out I noticed that she was right outside the door with her cart.  I ask her if I could help her carry everything to her car and she said she would love that.  I then realized that all 3 bundles of balloons had become tangled.  So I began the untangling process and anyone that knows me knows I'm pretty horrible with puzzles or anything similar to untangling anything :).

We finally got it all settled and I helped her carry everything to her car and place them in 3 different areas of the car so they wouldn't tangle again.

I wished her a good day and she thanked me immensely and we were off to soccer.

Chris was nice enough to snap a picture while I was struggling to untangle all those crazy balloons :).  It was so nice to be able to help her.

Day 61 - Played with balloons

Day 60 - Chick-Fila for a Homeless Woman

We live in a pretty stereotypically suburban area and physically coming across those in need, in our immediate area, is very rare.  I really now believe God is placing people in my path to help.  Either that or I'm just more in tune with the need since starting this personal challenge.  Today after we bought the girls both kids meals at Chick Fil A we were driving home and saw a homeless women on a corner near our local Target.  This is the 2nd homeless individual we have encountered in less than a week.  In other areas of the country I know this would be common place but up here we just don't visually see the need as much as other places.  Even though we know the need is there.

Her sign said they she has lost her job, was homeless and had 2 children.  After passing her the girls asked what her sign said and if she was homeless.  We asked them if they would like to give her their Chick fil A meals for her children.  Once they were assured that they would still be eating dinner tonight they absolutely agreed to give her their food.

We pulled into a parking lot next to where she was and Ryan and I walked over to her to speak with her and give her the food.  Kailey decided to stay in the car with Chris.  She was very appreciative and after 5 minutes and another run to Chick fila to get them more food we came back around and the women was gone!  We saw a police car so assumed that someone may have called about her standing there and the police may have asked her to leave.

We're so glad we were able to help, even if just with a small bit of food, before she was gone.

Day 60 - Food for a homeless woman