Hi everyone! I’m excited to share that my guest post “A Random Acts of Kindness Challenge” is being featured on one of my favorite blogs, AndreaDekker.com! In the post I share five easy, inexpensive kind acts that you can do today to brighten the lives of others.
Read it here: http://andreadekker.com/random-acts-of-kindness-challenge/
Happy Friday! Hope you have a lovely day and enjoy the long weekend!
Happy Monday, friends! Hope you are doing well and had a great weekend! I had one of those wonderful but lightning-quick weekends — I don’t know how the time flew by so quickly! I ran a bunch of errands with my mom, visited my Gramps, went for a beautiful run in the sunshine, baked more apple cinnamon muffins {I am addicted!} and enjoyed a lovely sermon at church. I also saw my cousin Amanda who was in town working out some final details for her wedding in June — I’m a bridesmaid and am SO excited and happy for her!
Over the weekend I also started planning some details relating to my upcoming birthday — I have an idea that I’m really excited about, which I’ll be sharing in a blog post next week on May 29th. Stay tuned! In the meantime, make sure to enter my summer beauty giveaway — here’s the direct link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/df32660/
The kindness challenge this past week was to leave a big tip. I went out for a chai tea at my favorite local coffee shop and left a $5 bill in the tip jar. It gave me a great feeling that lasted the whole day! I definitely will continue leaving large tips whenever I can afford it.
Speaking of generous tips, check out this story of kindness I came across the other day: a $500 tip a woman left for a $5 check! http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2325248/Waitress-gets-500-tip-5-check-breakfast-customer.html
A photo of me and Erica enjoying a visit at our favorite local coffee shop!
The Week 20 Kindness Challenge comes from Lindsay, amazing blogger at The Lean Green Bean, and is to donate blood. She writes, “It’s one of the easiest ways to save lives and help people in need and one of my favorite things to do!” If you are unable to donate blood for whatever reason — or if you want an extra challenge this week! — register online to be a bone marrow donor: http://marrow.org/Join/Join_the_Registry.aspx
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
Last week’s kindness challenge, in honor of Mother’s Day this Sunday, was to write a note to a mother of one of your friends who has had an influence in your life. I wrote a note to my friend Holly‘s mom Susan and my friend Erica‘s mom Darai. Both of them have always been very sweet and supportive of me. I also wrote a letter to my mom’s childhood friend Nanette, who is like an aunt to me. I feel grateful to have so many amazing women to look up to!
I had a wonderful week! One of the highlights was going to a reception for a local writing contest, where three of my former writing campers won awards! I was like a proud Mama bear beaming with pride! Such talented, poised and beautiful young ladies.
I also baked lemon bars for my Gramps, went to an amazing yoga class, and had some wonderful family and friend time.
And I came across and loved this video about kids doing random acts of kindness in schools: http://www.nbcnews.com/id/40153870/vp/51795308#51795308
The Week 19 Kindness Challenge is to leave double the tip you normally would if you go out to eat, and/or leave a $5 tip in a tip jar at a coffee shop or cafe.
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
Lindsay at The Lean Green Bean is hosting a Pin It Party inviting bloggers to share their top five images that they would love to receive more Pinterest loving! Here are mine:
1. my year of kindness challenge
2. apple-banana oatmeal muffins
4. three-ingredient banana cookies
5. creamy blended cauliflower & potato soup
Happy pinning! {You can follow me on Pinterest here!}
I’ll be back tomorrow with the next year of kindness challenge!
Hello from California! I have moved back to my home state after finishing up my last semester of grad school, and it feels so nice to be back home in the sunshine with my family!
Last week flew by as I tried to get all my stuff packed up, my furniture sold on Craigslist, my apartment cleaned out … not to mention saying goodbye to the wonderful friends I made at Purdue! I was glad that the kindness challenge this past week was to focus on smiling at everyone you meet, because I was sad about having to say goodbye to people I love, and the extra smiles were a big boost that got me through an emotional week.
Saying goodbye to some friends at one of our favorite restaurants, an Irish pub
Saying goodbye to MFA friends Natalie and Tiffany.
My mom was so sweet and took off work the whole week to stay with me and help me get ready to move. We worked hard all day and in the evenings had a great time cooking dinner to use up the food left in my pantry, drinking wine and watching marathons of Friday Night Lights. I am a lucky daughter!
Here are some other kind acts I am grateful for that happened this past week:
The Week 17 Kindness Challenge is to fight back against the litterbugs! Go on a walk at one of your favorite spots, bring along a plastic grocery bag, and pick up every piece of trash you see. Another option would be to challenge yourself to pick up at least one piece of litter every day this week. Or do both! 🙂
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
Happy Wednesday, everyone! Sorry I’m a little late posting this — hope your week is going fabulously. Mine has been fantastic and busy! My family and best friend Holly were in town for my thesis reading — a special night that celebrates the graduating class of the MFA program, where all the graduates get a chance to read from their thesis in front of a supportive audience of friends and family. I felt so blessed to have my family there with me — it was amazing of them all to come out to Indiana to celebrate. I loved introducing them to my friends and professors in the program!
Holly was so sweet to drive out from Nashville for my thesis reading!
Here I am with my thesis advisor, Porter.
Perhaps the most treasured part of the night for me was actually not when I read from my thesis, but right before I got up to read. Every graduate asks one person from the program to introduce them before their turn to read, and I asked my close friend Terrance, who I have worked on the literary journal with as fiction editors the past two years. Terrance is one of the funniest people I know, and I expected his introduction to be filled with jokes and friendly teasing. There were definitely some laughs, but I was surprised when his introduction was mostly serious and heartfelt. He told a story about an incident two years ago that I had nearly forgotten, when he was printing out copies of a big 15-page report for class and forgot to click on the button to collate them. He was on a time crunch and said he was close to tears as he spread the various pages out on a table and began to gather them up in the right order and staple them together.
I remember walking into the grad lab that day and seeing Terrance surrounded by papers, furiously shuffling and gathering and stapling. At that point, we were not fiction editors together and didn’t yet know each other very well. Still, I could tell he was stressed out, and of course I offered to help. I have a fond memory of us stapling and gathering and shuffling the papers of his report, talking about school and writing and teaching, and in just a few minutes the task was done and he made it in time to his class. In the ensuing months, there have been many times he helped me in similar ways — it’s just part of being friends.
But Terrance remembered that day. For me, it was a small, simple act, but to him it meant a whole lot — so much that he shared the story in my thesis introduction. It brought tears to my eyes, and it also was a powerful reminder of the profound effects of kindness. Even small, everyday acts of kindness can touch others greatly and create ripple effects of kindness that spread out further and further.
Last week’s kindness challenge was to simply spend meaningful time with someone else you otherwise might not see. I had a wonderful time with this challenge! I went for a long walk with one friend I had lost touch with, had coffee with another acquaintance, and spent an evening playing board games with two friends from my program who I will miss when we all leave soon.
Here I am with friends Tiffany and Shavonne at the thesis reading night.
The Week 16 Kindness Challenge is to smile. Smile at everyone you meet. Smile at strangers you pass in the hallway, smile at cashiers when you purchase things from a store, smile at your waiter in a restaurant. I think it is easy to forget the power of a smile to brighten the days of others. {And I’m willing to bet the world will smile back at you many times over!}
I’ll leave you with this thought from Heather Waxman, inspiring blogger at For the Love of Kale:
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 filled with smiles!
🙂 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
It has taken me a while to write this post because I am just heartsick over the terrible tragedy that happened in Boston. When acts of hatred and violence happen, the impulse can be to sink into fear and despair. What good do small acts of kindness really serve? What are flowers and thank you notes and cookies and free cups of hot chocolate in the face of bombs and guns?
But I think, in moments like this, kindness matters more than ever.
It was difficult watching the footage from the Boston Marathon today — the blood, the smoke, the confusion and fear, all those innocent people who had come together to celebrate and support one another. But then my brother pointed something out to me — he said, “Did you notice all the people who ran TOWARDS the explosion, going into the fray to help?” And once I noticed that, a scene of intense despair became an incredibly moving portrayal of heroes.
Then I came across this on Twitter:
And these two articles about the amazing acts of kindness and love committed by everyday heroes in Boston:
http://www.usatoday.com/story/gameon/2013/04/15/boston-marathon-blast-help/2086273/
http://www.businessinsider.com/inspiring-images-from-boston-2013-4
In the midst of so much sadness and horror, my heart swells with gratitude and wonder at human compassion.
One of my friends on Facebook posted a note that really struck a chord with me — and touched on the whole purpose of this year of kindness challenge — so I wanted to share it with you, too:
I was thinking how the most precious thing we can give to others is our time. So the kindness challenge this week is to simply spend meaningful time with someone else you otherwise might not see. Call up an old friend and make a lunch date. Invite your neighbor to go on a walk. Ask that shy coworker if they’d like to grab coffee. Spend some time this week reaching out and connecting with someone else.
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.
In love, hope & kindness,
-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
Hi everyone! Sorry I’m a day late posting this — yesterday’s Foodie Pen Pals reveal bumped things back a day. Hope your week is off to a good start!
Last week was very exciting around here, as the Year of Kindness Challenge was featured on the amazing blog Money-Saving Mom! What a true honor! Welcome and thank you to all our new subscribers! 🙂
The Week 12 Kindness Challenge was to deliver something sweet — coffee, cookies, baked goods, etc. — to your local fire station. I baked a pumpkin pie from scratch and delivered it to the local fire station with a handwritten thank-you note:
My dad sent me this note about his act of kindness for the week:
“Instead of the fire station I gave some yummy Limonera gourmet lemon candy chews to a policeman and thanked him for his service. (I did it at my running park as they tend to come in and circle around now and then and I was ready!) I could tell the gesture made his day…”
And here are some wonderful kindness posts by my new blogger friend Pam:
Some good things happened in my world this week:
Now, on to this week’s kindness challenge: give someone flowers. This could be a friend, sibling, child, parent, neighbor, coworker, or even a stranger. They could be flowers from the store or from your own garden. You could give them in person or leave them for someone as an anonymous surprise. Spread the springtime AND the kindness this week!
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 great 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
Hi, everyone! Hope your week is off to a good start.
Last week’s kindness challenge was to thank someone in a genuine and meaningful way. I wrote three thank-you notes to friends, and I also tried to be extra-aware of the many small kindnesses and smiles that people give me in everyday life. For every “Thank you!” I said, I tried to fill my words with genuine warmth and gratitude. And, whaddaya know? Just that simple awareness made me feel more grateful.
This past week’s challenge also got me thinking about the various people in the community who are there, keeping me safe in the event of an emergency … which inspired this week’s act of kindness: The Week 12 Kindness Challenge is to deliver something sweet — coffee, cookies, baked goods, etc. — to your local fire station.
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.
-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
Last week’s kindness challenge was to do something kind for a child. I bought extra tickets at Chuck E. Cheese and gave them to a very sweet little girl who was just beaming with excitement to receive them.
My dad sent me this email about what he did for last week’s kindness challenge:
I bought an extra box of Girl Scout cookies (Peanut butter & chocolate Tagalongs) in front of Albertson’s and gave them to a young boy, maybe 8 years old, who was leaving the store with his mom (she said it was OK) 🙂
The Week 11 Kindness Challenge is to thank someone in a genuine and meaningful way. It might be anyone from your mail delivery person to your neighbor to a colleague to a family member. Write a note, make a phone call, mail a letter, bake cookies — anything that feels to you like a worthy expression of thanks!
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.
-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
Day-By-Day Masterpiece 