Stories by ali.gray56 (6 matches)

A Kindness That Has Become A Habit

I go to the local grocery store and Dollar Tree once a week for my weekly shopping. Each time, in each store, I somehow end up with a very full shopping cart.

About a year ago I made a personal choice after being part of a 30 Day Gratitude challenge here on KindSpring that whomever was behind me in line, I would offer to allow them to go ahead of me - no matter how full their basket was.

What I have discovered is that younger people, under the age of 40, immediately take my offer up, people my age, 55+, need to have the offer given 2-3X and people over the age of 70, it is very difficult for them to accept my offer.

But every week, in each store, I offer and my offer is accepted - eventually This started as a conscious Act of Kindness that is now a habit. Which I feel is the idea of KindSpring, practice a kindness 'til it becomes a habit, then move on to another kindness.

8536 Reads

Serendipity

This past week I was able to go off on a little domestic tourism trip. Took my neighbors who have been so wonderful to me throughout my move to Belize & COVID-19 for a trip north to Lamanai Mayan Ruins.

It was a great trip. We ended up on a small tour up the river with a young German couple who have been traveling Mexico & Central America for a few months. They were leaving the next day, as were we, for the town across the river from our village, so of course I offered them a ride.

The back of a truck versus a 4-5 hour ride on a local bus? No contest. We took them thru Spanish Lookout & across the river on the 3-car hand-cranked wooden ferry, with a stop for handmade ice cream. The next day I went to the PO & I had a beautiful letter from Germany 💕 Such a kindness.

383 Reads

I Have Such Wonderful neighbor

I have such wonderful neighbors. Got stung by a 4” scorpion 🦂 on Saturday night, did the anti-inflammatory & ice bit as suggested by Google, but of course I had a severe reaction to the sting. Think tingling/numbness in mouth tongue, face, hands, arms, feet, calves, thighs and difficulty walking. I got stung mid-left thigh. On Sunday morning a neighbor was heading to the City - 70 miles away where there is a chance of a pharmacy being open, everything is closed here on Sundays, he offered to get me Benadryl, but that would be about 4-5 hours, I accept cuz I don’t have any. About 32 hours later another neighbor is at my door, he has a packet of 8 Benadryl for me, expired 3/23, but that’s fine. I take the amount it says & go to sleep in about 30 minutes. For 4 hours! The effects of the ... Read Full Story >>

362 Reads

Feel Loved

Today I got a mail in my mailbox from the United States. I am grateful. Mail comes to my town once a week, temperatures have been 101-105*F for the past week so I didn’t go on Monday like I usually do. Went this morning early. I feel loved.

309 Reads

School & Books

School has started here in Belize & the high schools are all fee-based, tuition, books, uniforms are the responsibility of the family. High school is not required & many children leave school at age 16 after completing the equivalent of USA 8th grade. As a former teacher I encourage the continuation and completion of high school. The past 2 years I have sponsored books for a neighbor & she continues to do well. She has chosen to share those books with a young man in the neighborhood which the school has encouraged students to do the past couple years. Yesterday a young man who worked on remodeling my house came to me to ask for a loan to buy books for his 2 kids in high school, I was happy to give him the money & share it was a gift. Their family is struggling with 2 children now in high school ... Read Full Story >>

238 Reads

Late Crop Of Avocados!

Late crop of avocados this year. I have 2 trees, 2 types. The Rainy Season started 6 weeks late and has not been as much as usual. Avocados are a little smaller,, little less flavorful, and the pear shaped ones have a little “curly” on the top. They fall from the tree and Max eats one a day, I get the rest this year!  I have si many that the neighbors are seeing a lot of me! I show up with 2 avocados in hand each day at a different neighbor each morning and at a different neighbor or in the evening. I can only eat 1 avocado a day and I've chopped and frozen enough for winter guacamole already!


80 Reads



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