Little Kindnesses

Sunday: Nathan, Bryan (my 17 year old cousin who lives with us), and I were all under the weather, but I made brownies for the family even though I really wanted to be in bed.

Monday (Christmas Eve): I had to finish some last minute Christmas shopping, so I headed into town to go to Walmart and the Dollar Tree.  At the Dollar Tree, I put three dollar bills (all the cash I had) in various places in the toy aisle.  I hope either an eager child found them or a needy parent.

Tuesday (Christmas): My act of kindness seems silly, but the three of us wore our new pajamas all day, even to the movie theater.  We made a lot of people smile, and I really hope that next year, more people will do the same!

Wednesday: Nathan and I started our day out with plans to drive to California to pick up our three younger boys, but the weather (huge snow storm) kept us from doing that.  Still, on our way out, I made sure that Nathan had a Mt.Dew in the car to start his morning of driving.

Thursday: Today my act of kindness was supposed to be gifting the boys Grandparents with some homemade gifts (Sugar scrub and Vanilla extract), but that will have to be postponed until Saturday when we pick up the boys.  I have to say that today I have been receiving more kindness than anything.  I've spent the day in bed watching Downton Abbey with Nathan, eating crackers and cheese, drinking milk, and napping with the cats while Nathan took care of finding Sasha a new home today.  Letting her go has been a difficult decision for me, and I knew that if I even saw her today I wouldn't be able to let her go.  And she needs to go.  She needs a family that has more time and space for her.  She needs a job (she's a sheepdog), and she needs a place to run around.  We can't give her that.  So today, I am giving her a chance at a better life even though it saddens me to do so.  I suppose that is my act of kindness.  Putting my silly, beautiful dog first.  And Nathan's act of kindness is to shield me from the hurt that results from it as much as possible.

D.I. and Doggie Doodie

On Friday, my act of service was to drop off a box of Tupperware and a bag of stoneware dishes to Deseret Industries (D.I.).  Last weekend, I redid my pantry with mason jars and similar containers, which meant I no longer had a need for the Tupperware my mother bought me during grad school.  Instead of selling it, I dropped it off along with my old dishes.  

D.I. is like Goodwill or Salvation Army.  They sell used items, and they also do job training.  It's a great organization, and I know that someone is going to be super excited to find Tupperware there!

My next act of service began last night and continued into today.  Nathan and I are somewhat obsessive about cleaning up after Sasha outside.  Early on, our boys were not being very responsible about picking up after her, which resulted in a notice from the HOA.  Ever since, we have been extremely conscientious.  In the process, we have noticed "gifts" from other dogs in the neighborhood that are not being picked up (which are being left in Sasha's usual spots).  We make sure to take care of those every time we see them lest one of the neighbors think it us.  

Well, last night and today as I walked Sasha a little further than her usual spots, I noticed other piles and as my act of service, I picked them up and threw them away.  With the snow on the ground in many places it was often difficult to see but have no fear, Sasha helped me out.  I was tempted to leave one snow-covered pile (it was probably the sixth pile I have picked up), but I resisted temptation and took care of it.   

This was by far the grossest act of service I think I will ever do, but I don't doubt I'll do it again.  Ick.

Snooze Buttons and Sasha

Every morning at 6 am our alarm goes off.  Nathan typically hits the snooze a couple of times before getting out of bed, getting dressed, and taking our puppy, Sasha, out.  Then he wakes up our 5th grader, and he feeds the animals (we have four cats as well).  He does this everyday, including the weekends (he doesn't wake up our kid(s) on the weekend).

This morning when the alarm went off, he hit snooze.  I lay in bed struggling to stay awake so that I could get up instead.  And I did!  I turned on the closet light to get my Uggs at the same time that the alarm went off again, at which point Nathan realized that he didn't have to get up!  I let Sasha out of her kennel and took her downstairs to get her leash.  We then proceeded to go out into the 18 degree weather and snow covered ground for her to relieve herself.  Then I fed her and the cats (they were meowing very loudly to let me know that they were starving), after which I took Sasha back out.

For ten minutes.

In the freezing cold.

While she searched for the perfect spot.

Which she never found.

Finally, I gave up and took her back in.  I watched her as she terrorized the cats (she would say she was simply trying to play with them but they don't see it that way) and tried to eat their food, all the while keeping a close eye on her to make sure she didn't find the perfect spot on my living room floor or stair landing (it's happened).

She didn't.  Phew!

When we went upstairs, Nathan was awake in bed playing on his laptop.

That made it worth it.  He's had such a long week already, and it's not even close to over.  A couple of the neighboring bank branches are understaffed, and he agreed to work overtime this week in order to help them out (it helps us out too because he gets time and a half for those hours).  Of course, that means he is putting in six days in a row of open to close hours (8:30-7:15), usually without a lunch break, plus drive time for the other two branches (both half an hour away).  There is not much I can do to help him out, but letting him sleep in a little was definitely something I could do!

The Emilie Parker Fund/Sandy Hook School Support Fund

Today's act of kindness was to donate to the Sandy Hook School Support Fund, via the Emilie Parker Fund.

Emilie was one of the victims of the shooting, and she was originally from Utah, so it hit a little closer to home.  Her parents have been lauded for their lack of anger towards the man who killed their daughter.  As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints they have a unique understanding of the situation.   They know that Emilie is okay, they know that she is perfect, and they know that feeling anger isn't going to make the situation better.  Her mother, in an interview on Katie, basically said that she couldn't imagine what it must be like for the shooter because he was in such a dark and evil place.  She felt bad for him.

That is a true act of kindness.

Hot Chocolate and Some Change

My first act of kindness was pretty simple.  My husband, Nathan, works at a bank branch located inside of a grocery store, and I often stop by after work to say hi or to pick up something.  Over the past couple of weeks, every time I come by, I am greeted enthusiastically by the Salvation Army Bell Ringer.  

Tonight I decided that since it was insanely cold outside, I would buy him a hot chocolate and donate some change.  So I went to the local coffee shop and then headed to the grocery store.  Alas, it was not the same Bell Ringer.  It's funny...when I drove by the store and saw that it was a different Bell Ringer, I almost didn't go through with it.  But I sucked it up and tucked my anxiety away.  I put my change in the bucket and handed him the hot chocolate.

"This is for you," I said, "because it's so cold outside."

"Are you sure?" he asked.

Are you sure? I thought to myself.  "Yeah, I'm sure."

"Oh, okay.  Um, thanks."  

He took the hot chocolate and I headed inside to do some quick shopping.  Within ten minutes I was on my way out the door and hesitant Bell Ringer was switching out with my Bell Ringer.  I was ten minutes too late!

I didn't see the hot chocolate anywhere.  

I'm going to believe that he drank it....as opposed to throwing it away.  

Acts of Kindness

It's several days after the Sandy Hook Massacre, and people are responding to the violence by doing 20 (or 26 or 27 or 28) Acts of Kindness in honor of the victims.  The numbers vary; 20 kids were murdered, 26 people were murdered at the school, 27 people were murdered that day, and 28 people died as a result of this disaster.  The number doesn't matter; the sentiment does.

I've been reading what people are doing, and it varies from small things (holding open a door for someone) to extremely large things ($2000 worth of toys donated).  Some people are doing 20/26/27/28 things all at once while others are doing it over several days or weeks.  I've decided to do it over a year.  And I'm going to do more than 28.  I'm going to find one way to MINDFULLY serve someone each day.  It may be big, it may be small, it may be in between; but it will require thought.

These are my rules:

1. Service must be mindful...there must be thought before doing it (mindlessly holding open the door for someone doesn't count, but holding open the door for someone in order to make their day better does).
2. At least one act of service must happen each day.
3. Serving my immediate family can only be counted twice a week.
4. Once a month I will serve in a big way (money, time, etc).
5. I cannot consciously benefit from these acts of service other than by the joy I get from doing it and the peace it will bring into my life (If I purchase something to help underprivileged groups, then I must give the item to someone else, etc.)
6. I will document my acts of kindness on this blog in order to hold myself accountable for doing them.

These are my goals:

1. I will gain a love of service and a love of others.
2. I will have more joy and peace in my life as a result of serving.
3. I will improve/create relationships with my family, my neighbors, my ward, my coworkers, and strangers.
4. I will change for the better, and hopefully, I'll make a small difference in the world.

I invite you to take this journey with me.  Maybe not every day, maybe not every week, but I invite you to mindfully serve those around you, and when you do, let me know!