Hi, friends! Hope your week is off to a great start! I’m feeling a bit sluggish after my busy writing-camp-filled weekend, but am slowly getting up to speed. I cleaned out some old papers in my room — always feels good to purge old clutter! — and went out to lunch with Greg and my Gramps. I’m trying to soak up as much time with my brother before he moves down to L.A. on Thursday to start business school. I’m so proud of him, but I’m going to miss him like crazy.

Here’s a quote I came across in one of my mom’s old issues of O Magazine that I’m taking by the library to donate this week. I really liked the sentiment of this quote, and I thought you might, too:

“I recognize that what brings me the greatest confidence is a willingness to be vulnerable. It’s knowing for sure that anything I’ve been through or felt, someone else has, too, and probably more so. It’s knowing that all our mistakes have meaning. And that being open to learning from those mistakes makes the difference between succeeding and getting stuck.” – Oprah

Now, on to the kindness! Last week’s kindness challenge was to compliment a stranger or acquaintance at least once every day, and/or give out ten compliments by the end of the week. I found that the more compliments I gave to others, the more cheerful and confident I felt myself. The world seemed like a friendlier place. It’s such a great feeling to make someone smile, especially for as simple a thing as saying a few kind words.

The Week 29 Kindness Challenge is to do a favor for someone without being asked. This might mean going out of your way to do a chore for someone else, calling a sick friend or family member to ask if you can pick up anything for them at the store, offering to babysit for someone who needs it, or maybe driving an elderly neighbor to an errand or doctor’s appointment.

As always, blog about your experiences and include your links in the comments section below, or feel free to send me an email at dallaswoodburn <AT> gmail <DOT> com.

Have a wonderful week!
Dallas

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year of kindness archives:
– week 1 challenge: donate items to those in need
– week 2 challenge: leave quarters & note at laundry machine
– week 3 challenge: write & send a kind handwritten note
– week 4 challenge: give hot chocolate to someone outside in the cold
– week 5 challenge: do something kind for a neighbor
– week 6 challenge: deliver valentines to a nursing home
– week 7 challenge: donate to a food pantry
– week 8 challenge: donate toiletries to a shelter
– week 9 challenge: post a kind note in a public place
– week 10 challenge: do something kind for a child
– week 11 challenge: thank someone in a genuine & meaningful way
– week 12 challenge: deliver baked goods to a fire station
– week 13 challenge: give someone flowers
– week 14 challenge: donate books
– week 15 challenge: reach out and spend time with people
– week 16 challenge: smile at everyone you meet
– week 17 challenge: pick up litter/trash
– week 18 challenge: write a kind note to a mom figure in your life
– week 19 challenge: leave an extra-generous tip
– week 20 challenge: donate blood/join bone marrow registry
– week 21 challenge: visit a cemetery and pay respect
– week 22 challenge: practice a little patience
– week 23 challenge: call 3 loved ones on the phone
– week 24 challenge: do something kind for a senior citizen
– week 25 challenge: pay for someone’s public transportation
– week 26 challenge: volunteer at a food pantry or soup kitchen
– week 27 challenge: send a care package to someone in the military
– week 28 challenge: give at least one compliment every day