Today’s Act of Kindness: Walk in your neighbourhood tonight and ‘award’ the homes with the best seasonal decorating by leaving a small note of thanks for their efforts (and maybe a lotto/scratch ticket) in their mailbox.
I did this with my family last night. It was so much fun.
Who did you surprise yesterday? What did you do? If you haven’t created a surprise yet, here is a compilation of inspirational surprises. If you don’t want to watch the whole thing, I particularly like the very first one when a marines’ parents are surprised, another one at 4:12 when an older woman is helped to her car and then the very last one at 10:28 because that hug is full of genuine emotion (so beautiful).
Todays Act of Kindness: Support a local business and purchase a small gift, make one, or write a thoughtful note and then hide it in a place you know it will be found. Notice how you feel to randomly surprise someone.
During the first lockdown I joined an online writing group. Around the same time my daughter and I made inspiration stones and placed them along trails we often hike. It was our way of reaching out to people we didn’t know. It was something we had done prior to the pandemic but during the very first lockdown it somehow felt more important. This is how I felt about the writing group too. I have been part of lots of writing groups but this one felt significant.
The woman* leading the writing group also wanted to reach out to others through an online version of her writing workshops. She could feel the need to collectively capture and share this unique time and experience. She sent out an email very soon after my daughter and I had put out the stones with a picture of one my daughter had painted. She explained that the rock’s message made her feel that it was speaking directly to her, that she felt cared for and less alone during a time of uncertainty. I wish I’d kept the exact email message from her because I’d love to include it here.
Little things make a difference.
Our small gesture made another person’s heart a little lighter and her sharing that experience with a group made ours set sail that day.
My sincerest hope is that today you will take the time to surprise someone (anyone) and provide for yourself the opportunity to enjoy the process.
*If you know the beautiful human I am speaking about, shhhhhh about the rock. I think it might have been more special that ‘someone out there’ placed it on her path 😉
Welcome to day 6 of the Kindness Challenge. Today we direct kindness to ourselves through a movement practice that I have shown from a standing position. My hope is that the same series can be accessed in various ways so that you have a truly flexible home practice that we can continue to build upon 🙂
Today’s act(s) of kindness: Water your house plants with conscious care. Spend time with a pet and pour all your attention into the interaction. Pick up garbage in a naturalized area near your house.
In part one of the book, Vitamin ‘N’: The Essential Guide to a Nature-Rich Life by Richard Louv, suggestions are given on how to give gifts of nature. Here are three of my favourites:
When I was homeschooling my daughter, I used the Handbook of Nature Study to create our nature study program (along with some connections to literature and poetry…lots of Mary Oliver and Wendell Berry). It is a huge book, packed with incredible content, but still really heavy so we didn’t bring it along with us on hikes. My daughter was also quite young at the time so on the trail we used Fun with Nature Take-Along Guide along with Ontario guides to birds, trees and flowers.
Fiction is also an effective way to whisper to and nurture your heart’s longing to feel more connected to the natural world. Here is a short list of books that come to mind. Note that the YA fiction is so incredible it shouldn’t be listed separately (really) but I will anyway. I have linked to Amazon.ca so you can check out these titles but consider supporting an independent bookshop. Having the option of walking into a bookstore sometimes seems to me like an underrated luxury and privilege.
Christmas 2020, before we knew what was around the corner with the pandemic, my parents gave us a Grand River Parks Membership. During the first lockdown of course we couldn’t use it but we have used it again and again ever since. The Grand River Parks membership card allows entry to 10 parks and the Luther Marsh Wildlife Management Area, every day of the operating season, for up to 6 people in one vehicle (or walking in). If you live outside this area, have a look at what is available locally for you.
As quoted in the Vitamin ‘N’: The Essential Guide to a Nature-Rich Life,
“The great teacher Abraham Joshua Heschel once wrote that our goal should be to live life in radical amazement…[and] take nothing for granted: ‘Everything is phenomenal; everything is incredible; never treat life casually. To be spiritual is to be amazed.’ Along with sharing time, radical amazement is the best present you can offer, best delivered by example. And you don’t even have to wrap it.”
How did yesterday go? Did you complete a task for someone in your life? Did you give them a break? I did some less than glamorous tasks around our house but this morning, upon reflection, I’m not sure anyone else was ever going to do them, lol. I don’t think they really count for the challenge. It is a great big check mark for cleaning before the holidays but today I’ll have to think of an act that is a big sigh of relief for someone else.
Today we are back to directing kindness to ourselves with a practice that will build slowly. Once you are on your mat though you might want to keep exploring on your own 🙂
Here is the link for today.
Today’s act of kindness: Complete a task for someone who would be relieved to have a break. Do it regardless if the task appeals to you or if you think of it as ‘someone else’s job’, do it because it is kind to offer a reprieve for another person.
What will you do?
In an article published by Greater Good Magazine: Science-Based Insights for a Meaningful Life, a new analysis of decades of research asked this question amongst others: When we witness good, how does it affect us?
One of the conclusions shared was this:
“…people resonate with the underlying reason for doing good and become motivated themselves to spread the goodness. This suggests people are prosocial by nature, waiting for inspiration to act.”
So let’s share our acts of kindness but not to receive accolades or to appear good. The feelings associated with acting kindly toward yourself and others are their own reward. Share your experiences during this challenge with the purposeful intention of inspiring others. Let’s create a ripple effect of kindness all month long.
Happy Thursday! Today is the second day of the Kindness Challenge and the first day of directing kindness toward yourself through a practice. I will post (and build upon) a simple series every even numbered day of the month. Practice everyday until the next post if possible so that you will gradually become familiar with a mindful home movement practice that you can do anytime, anywhere. Here is the first link. Enjoy 🙂
Tomorrow we direct kindness into the world!
Are you in? Are you ready to commit to a month of kindness together so the universe conspires along with us? Your kind act today is to say a great big ‘YES’!
Here’s how it will work this year…
On odd numbered days there will be a quote and an act of kindness to share with others. If the suggestion that day is a ‘gift’…focus on the kindness aspect and consider that a gift doesn’t have to be purchased. It can be made, repurposed, it can be your time, an act, your thoughtfulness. Be creative. On even numbered days, you will be invited to build a short home practice as an act of kindness to yourself. I will post one part of the practice on even numbered days so at the end of the month you will have built a short and simple series you can do anytime, anywhere.
Does that make sense? Each day will alternate between an act of kindness for the world, with an act of kindness for yourself the next day.
In previous years, I have enjoyed hearing your kindness stories so much. Share them all with me. If you come up with alternate ideas I want to hear them! If a particular kindness invitation moves you or takes an unexpected turn or twist, I want to hear that too! If you are exhausted by my exhaustive use of exclamation marks (ha ha) just know I am sending you lots of love and energy with my thoughts for a super-charged month of kindness. I will also be taking part in the prompts right alongside you.
Good luck and be kind 🙂
I just returned home from leading some yoga classes followed by a meditation class. I feel so lucky to have people in my life who choose to move, breath and practice presence alongside me every single week. It is amazing. Thank you with my whole heart.
During meditation tonight I saw some people struggling to get comfortable so here is the link to an old post that might be helpful. There is a preamble in the post and then a short video showing props for a seated practice.
Have a look, comment or send me an email if you have any questions 🙂
