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A Teenage Daughter's Good Deed Made Me Proud

My daughter Lizzie called all excited to share her experience with me.  "Mom, I did a good deed today and you'd be so proud of me!"   and of course I am.

Here's what happened....

After wok, Lizzie had to stop for gas.  She was at the station waiting in line to pay. It seems the lady in front of her was from out of town and really lost. The person behind the counter was trying to help her with directions, but the lady was so confused and afraid.

Lizzie knew exactly where the lady wanted to go and she offered to go there and let the lady Follow her.  The lost lady was soooo appreciative.  Lizzie said it felt good to help a stranger.

So when your teens seem to be nothing but sassy and selfish...remember,  they are watching you and learning. In a few years they'll be out in the world with memories of what they've seen you do.  I feel so blessed to see this happening.

A Small Act - But A Big Impact

I am the mother of three little ones all under the age of five. One of my children has Celiac Disease, I have Multiple Sclerosis, and other members of our family have various food intolerances. None of these titles or limitations has ever stopped us from finding a balance and being creative in our thoughts towards happiness. We help out bodies to be their strongest, and happiest, through the foods we eat. This means getting creative in the kitchen to make all bellies happy but I have to be especially creative because our food budget is very stretched. My hubby took a brave journey and switched careers about five years back and went to medical school. He graduated this past spring and when he finished the finances, or lack there of, really began to be felt. We have kept on smiling because we know in the end it will all be worth it ... Read Full Story >>

Band-Aid Smiles

This idea is so simple, and I've been doing it for SO many years that I never even gavea thought to posting it here before.

I carry "children's bandages" - you know those fancy printed or brightly colored ones that kids love - in my purse, tucked into an old, small plastic "raincap holder". Over the years, I have seen quite a few parents dealing with a crying child who has fallen and scraped a knee. I immediately reach into my purse and bring out one of those bandages, hand it to the parent and move on. Of course, it won't always make the scrape feel better, but it does usually ease the crying of the child and tension of the parent. I ALWAYS get a smile.

12 Days of Kindness

For my third day of the Twelve Days of Valentines Kindness, in honor of my wife, I decided to share a story about how kindness boomerangs back to us, after a request by deepula. As perhaps another example of this, the kindness I'm doing for my wife may just be having an effect on her.  Her boomerang hit me hard and with lots of love!  She posted four post-its with song lyrics peppered with little hearts on the bathroom mirror yesterday.  One was a Hindi song called “Kabhi Kabhi” with lyrics that translate as follows: "Every so often my heart feels as though you were made for me.  You used to live somewhere in the heavens.  And you were called to earth for me..." The other song was “My Song” from Moulin Rouge: "It's a little bit funny...this feeling inside.  I'm not one of those...who can easily hide.  I don't have much money  :-(  ... Read Full Story >>

Who got more out of the gift- the giver or the receiver?

A young woman with a toddler by her side was standing by her rusted-out old car, in the Safeway lot, with a sign saying that they were homeless and hungry.

Normally I don't do this, but I felt compelled to give her a 20. I rolled down my window, greeted her and handed her the bill. She burst into tears, and so did I. She was so incredibly grateful, but I think I felt even more rewarded than she did. It made my day.

Spending Time With A Friend

I invited one of my Japanese guests to stay a weekend in the country as there was a special event. She was such good company, so appreciative and kind. Everything was a surprise, she was in awe of everything, constantly saying 'wow' :-)))
Met neighbours, friends, market stall people, she'd try to talk to everyone practising her English. We had meals together in the garden, did a little shopping, walked, had the traditional English tea (which she loved, ate all of her bits and some of mine!) Unforgettable memories for both of us!
A super fun weekend full of kindness

The Insight of Children

I took my children into the city last night to meet up with my husband to celebrate my daughter's 6th birthday.  We walked through the downtown area while we waited for him to get out of owrk.  In front of one of the subway stops was a woman sitting with a can.  As we walked by, my daughter asked what she was doing and I told her that she was probably homeless and was trying to get some money.  My daughter  looked back and asked if on the way back she could give the woman some money.  I told her that she absolutely could do that, and we continued exploring.   Later on during our walk, we  found a bed of cardboard and blankets.  My daughter knew what it was and wanted to know who it belonged to so she could give them a dollar or two.  We moved on, and she played ... Read Full Story >>

The Patient Patient

I had been waiting in the doctor's reception area for more than an hour and was getting little restless! 

I saw this frail lady trying to open the door to leave. I got up right away, opened the door, and took her out to the bus stop. As I was helping her climb the steps onto the bus the driver asked for a dollar. She was ready with the money in her hand but, before he could take it, I handed him a dollar of mine! 

The lady looked puzzled at first but then her eyes showed her gratitude. She thanked me several times. I just gave her a big hug and big smile! 

The driver just looked at me - and then smiled too. 

I returned to my seat in the reception area, smiling, and waited for my turn like a good patient ... patiently!

Kindness Inspired By A Car

As I was parking last weekend in the Los Angeles area, I experienced one of those "I know I'm in the right place at the right time" moments.  I happened to find a space next to a car which had the most inspirational back window I've ever seen.

It said "The fruit of the Spirit is" and then listed all these qualities (but not as a bullet point list; it was quite artistic and fun!)

• Love
• Joy
• Peace
• Patience
• Kindness
• Generosity
• Faithfulness
• Gentleness
• Self-Control

The best part of it was that they were not promoting a business or any particular religion -- it was just the message.

I just happened to have a SmileDeck on me, so I wrote a note saying how inspired I was and then put the note and the SmileDeck under their windshield wiper.

Finding My First Smile (Card) This Week

It was a Wednesday night, four days after my grandfathers birthday which he was not able to celebrate since he had died five days before. I was struggling with his death and was acting like he wasn't even gone. In addition to that, I was having a hard time because I was missing my sister who had been living with me until a month ago, before she decided to move in with her father. At first I was okay with the decision because she was a pain but soon after I missed her. This wednesday happened to be the Wednesday when I started a new job and I had been texting my sister about it. She called me a little bit before work and sounded really upset, she said she had gotten off the phone with our grandma and that I needed to call her. I had been avoiding it. I hadn't called my grandma ... Read Full Story >>

A Kind Local Gardener

A few weeks ago the local gardener came to help me with the hedge as it is so difficult for me to do on my own. He's a lovely man and I always enjoy talking to him. We talked about the flowers we liked and I mentioned that I would like to get lupines some days because they look gorgeous at the garden centre. Today he was due to do the lawn, which only takes 45 mins so I didn't get to see him. When I got to my garden he'd left. I checked my phone to call and thank him and he'd left me a message saying that he'd left some lupine seeds for me in the post. How sweet and kind is that?!

Giving A Family The Gift Of Christmas

Leading The Blind

  I work in a major department store as a cashier. My area has four cash registers grouped in a square and I am not supposed to leave the immediate area unless it is to straighten clothing on the tables right next to my work station.   Yesterday, I was the only one working on the registers. I was straightening clothes up when these two ladies approached me. One had a walking frame with wheels and the other was holding her arm. When they got close to me, I could see that the lady with the walker was totally blind.    They asked me how to get back to the Mall from my store. I pointed and said, "Just go that way."    The next thing I knew they were headed in a totally wrong direction. I called to them and said, "Hello, you are going the wrong way!" They turned around and came back towards me. ... Read Full Story >>

Being Alive and Well Fed

This morning I asked myself a question: ‘What does being alive mean to me?’. The question eventually led me to this moment now. Well, isn’t it only to be in the now to be alive, anyways? Well, at this particular moment-right now - being alive means sharing the abundance of kindness in a story. Two years ago, I was hitchhiking and a friendly man in his mid-sixties pulled over. Curt was brimming over with stories spiced with his joy for living. My journey to the chiropractor didn’t take it’s usual 3 or so rides.  Curt altered his route to drop me off directly in front of the office 45 minutes later. During the ride, I learned that Curt was just dropping off a van-load of free food for people in my small town.  He did this weekly just because "It is so fun to bring people food which otherwise would have gone ... Read Full Story >>

When My Daughter Was Born

Exactly 10 years ago I gave birth to a little girl, now turning a big girl.

The day my daughter was born I was blessed with the company of my husband and 3 friends who kept me company from 16.30 in to 23.00 at night.  Due to the shortage of personel, I had to stay with my baby daughter in the corridor of the hospital just outside the bunch of the rooms where women give birth.

I can't forget the endless patience and efforts of my friends and family to keep me in good spirits for all those hours. To me,  this day is a celebration of my daughter's birthday and a celebration of the most beautiful friendship in times of need. They must have done a fantastic job because I don't remember being bored or annoyed while we waited all those hours!

This year I am going to write a thank you letter to each of them for being there for me.

You Know What I ...

You know what I find so amazing is how these simple words can brighten another's day. I have been out all day and morning and at every exchange of service I had today, I said as I farewelled the person "Have a wonderful day". Each and every time the whole person's face lit up. I thought about this more as I walked away, wondering why it was so. Surely I wasn't the only person to wish them a sweet or beautiful day? Then I had the thought ... 'brindlegirl, but you meant it'. And I did. Each and every time I thank someone I do so from deep within. I feel it in my heart and speak from that place. That way when it's received by the other person, that is exactly where it is felt. I learnt this technique a year or two ago - speaking from your heart. It's simple too. All ... Read Full Story >>

Lovely Quote and Words

Lovely quote and words to live by. I'm getting there, but still working on it, especially under times of stress.

"When you go out into the woods, and you look at trees, you see all these different trees. And some of them are bent, and some of them are straight, and some of them are evergreens, and some of them are whatever. And you look at the tree and you allow it. You see why it is the way it is. You sort of understand that it didn't get enough light, and so it turned that way. And you don't get all emotional about it. You just allow it. You appreciate the tree.

The minute you get near humans, you lose all that. And you are constantly saying 'You are too this, or I'm too this.' That judgment mind comes in. And so I practice turning people into trees. Which means appreciating them just the way they are." - Ram Dass. 

What a beautiful reminder!

Taking the Extra Step to 'Pay-it-Forward'

I wanted to do a random act of kindness for my friend’s birthday, so on Friday I went to Walmart to carry out my gift to her because I think people who shop there do so to save money and could use a gift. My gift in honor of her birthday is a birthday cake!  I selected a cupcake birthday cake for which the recipient of the gift can pick any design they wish. My plan is for the next person who walks up to the bakery counter to purchase a cake to be told that someone has anonymously paid for their cake, and for them to then receive the receipt along with my handwritten message explaining the gift along with a Smile Card attached. It took some doing/convincing!  I had to speak to 2 members of the management and make 2 trips to the store.  I was turned down the first time ... Read Full Story >>

Kindness Cookies From A Conference

I'm attending a conference at a hotel this week. The hotel provides a continental breakfast as well as an afternoon snack selection.  When our session ended today I noticed there were still some cookies left. Knowing that the way home would take me through an area where there are homeless people I was inspired to pack up some of the extra cookies in napkins and take them with me to give away.     Granted, cookies are not the healthiest food but they are an indulgence I imagine few homeless people get to enjoy. And these cookies were really good!   I gave two to a homeless gentlemen, left two neatly wrapped on top of a container in another public place where I often see homeless people, and have two more with me to give away on the way back in tomorrow.   It's an idea you might consider if you happen to be staying at a ... Read Full Story >>

Kindness Is The Medicine

One of my co-workers was recently stressed because his wife is struggling through a period of severe depression triggered by a rebounding of bodily pain from fibromyalgia.  She's also been on furlough from work for a number of years, and doesn't get much opportunity to maintain social ties and a sense of purpose which are often so essential and deeply nourishing.  After listening to him unload his burdens, I decided to do something small to support him and his wife. I don't know his wife very well at all, but wanted to express some warmth and kindness to her, since it so often feels like the universal balm to soothe every ailment. I found out that, like most people, she loves receiving handwritten mail.  So I purchased a card and wrote the following message to her: Dear Nxxxx, I want you to know that you have something very unique and beautiful to offer the ... Read Full Story >>