Stories of Kindness from Around the World

 Today, March 6th, is my birthday.  Two days ago, I got the idea to do 46 acts of kindness in honor of my 46th birthday.  I’ve read many posts on the internet about people doing this.  I had planned to do all 46 acts on my birthday, but the forecasters began early predictions of a foot of snow for today.  So Monday night, I started planning – typed up the acts of kindness I wanted to do and started writing out some of the Thank You cards, Thinking of You cards and Get Well cards.

When I woke up Tuesday, the weathermen were certain the big storm was coming. I thought it would be hard to do my acts of kindness stuck inside all day, so I decided to do as much as I could on Tuesday and spread it out over a few days.  Tuesday night is my daughters’ softball practice, so after school, we started spreading kindness on our way to practice.  They loved sharing this experience with me and always enjoy watching the reactions of those we involved.

After practice, the announcement had been made that school was closed for today, even though not one flake had fallen.  Since I wasn’t in a rush to get the kids to bed, we were able to do a few more acts of kindness.

Around 11pm Tuesday night, I began adding acts of kindness to my list below and got to 36.  I debated saving the final 10 for my actual birthday, but pushed myself to reach 46.  The final 10 on the list are those acts I remembered doing when I looked back on the day – those that were more random.  It was midnight when I finished the list – but what better way than to gift my last 500 in Karma Bucks? :) I sent 50 Karma Bucks to 10 different people.

Waking up today, another year older, I feel blessed to know that I could pull together 46 acts of kindness so quickly and hopefully put a lot of smiles on many faces.  As kids, we tend to be greedy and self-centered on our birthdays. – all about me.  As an adult, it’s nice to be able to think of others on your birthday.

I suppose today is a gift to me – lots of sledding time with the kids once the winds settle down.  

46 Not-So-Random Acts of Kindness:
1 – Wrote a note to a podiatrist I saw one time.   I had been working with a dermatologist for nearly a year, going through unneeded painful treatments for a misdiagnosis. The podiatrist helped me recover, and I haven’t had any pain since.
2 – Dropped off a card and heart-shaped Peppermint Patty chocolates to a neighborhood teenager suffering from colitis complications.
3 – Sent a card to my childhood best friend’s mom.  She was like a second mom to me and I haven’t seen or talked to her in over five years.  I sent a note to thank her for her time and attention when I was younger.
4 – Sent a card to my college roommate whom I haven’t seen or talked to in over five years.  Let her know I think of her and how she helped me in college.
5 – Sent a card to my cousin who made the choice to stay home with her toddler, and who is now pregnant with her second.  She misses her teaching job, but I reminded her to enjoy every bit of time home with her kids.
6 – Put ‘Take what you need’ tear off sheet in the library bathroom.
7 – Left a bag of microwave popcorn with a note (Have a ‘poppin’ good day!) near the videos in the library.
8 – Gave the clerk at CVS a note (Enjoy this random act of kindness) with two mini Peppermint Patties.
9 – Took four mini bags of Lindor chocolates with notes (Enjoy this random act of kindness) to the hospital.  Asked them to give them to patients who could use a smile.
10 – Put a ‘Take what you need’ tear off sheet in the hospital bathroom. 
11 – Left a bag of microwave popcorn with a note (Enjoy this random act of kindness) on the Redbox machine.
12 – Sent a card to a good friend who watched my daughter when I had to go back to work five years ago.  She was amazing!
13 – Donated money for my son’s basketball coach’s gift.  You’ve got to love those volunteers!
14 – Put 15 homemade smile cards in books at the library.
15 – Left 20 homemade smile cards at the hospital desk and asked them to give to patients who could use an uplifting message.
16 – Taped 75 cents to the soda machine at work so someone could enjoy a soda on me. 
17 – Left a small bag of Lindor chocolate with a note (Enjoy this random act of kindness) on each of the copiers at work.
18 – Gave a card to the staff member who does all of our laminating at school.  She’s awesome!
19 – Left $1 at the reference desk in the library with a note (Enjoy this random act of kindness) to pay for the next person’s fine. 
20 – Left a mini bag of Lindor chocolate on the library table with a note (Enjoy this random act of kindness).
21 – Left a note (Enjoy this random act of kindness) with a Peppermint Patty chocolate at the gas pump.
22 – Taped six homemade smile cards to the mirrors in the girls’ bathroom at the middle school where my daughters were having softball practice.
23 – Sent a card to my daughter’s Tech Ed teacher who she misses from the fall.  Never thought she’d love woodworking so much!
24 – Sent a card to a teacher at school who stepped up to be the sponsor of the 24 Math Challenge competition.  My 3rd grader is participating in it, and I’m thankful someone stepped in to help after our Math Specialist changed schools.
25 – Put a “Take what you need” tear off sheet in the WalMart bathroom.
26 – Sent a thank you card to my optometrist.  She and her staff were so kind and professional during our visit last month. 
27 – Sent an e-card to cheer up a friend who is a bit down right now.
28 – Left a bag of microwave popcorn with a note (Have a ‘poppin’ good day!) in a neighbor’s mailbox – will come in handy for the snow day tomorrow.
29 - Gave thank you cards and ice cream gift cards to my older daughter’s softball coaches to say thank you for letter my younger daughter participate in the winter skills clinic.
30 – Gave the librarian at the reference desk a bag of microwave popcorn with a note (Have a ‘poppin’ good day!) to thank her for helping me spread kindness.
31 – Left a homemade smile card on the sign-in kiosk at the Minute Clinic in at the pharmacy.
32 – Left a homemade smile card on the doctor’s door at the Minute Clinic at the pharmacy.
33 – Went through the pharmacy drive thru and handed the clerk two cards (Enjoy this random acts of kindness) with Peppermint Patty chocolates and asked him to please pass them along to the next two customers filling prescriptions. 
34 – Gave Peppermint Patties and note (Enjoy this random act of kindness) to the two softball moms who ask about my kindness acts at the end of my daughters’ weekly practice.
35 – Sent an e-card to a co-worker to congratulate her for passing her National Board Certification.
36 – Sent an e-card to a VDOT employee who helps me with our Adopt-A-Highway program.  Sending her happy thoughts to get through the big storm.
37 – Complimented my students again and again for their excellent line manners.
38 – Went to the store to get my son some antacid for a stomachache.  As I was driving home, he called to say he was worse and vomiting.  Went back into the store because he asked for gingerale.
39 – Took my cart back into WalMart even though it was cold and I had a list of things to do.
40 – A co-worker was selling farm fresh eggs, so I bought two dozen to help out.  For dinner, I made my daughters fried eggs inside toast with heart shapes cut out – a twist on a ‘bird’s nest’.  They loved the surprise! :)
41 – My colleague had to rearrange a doctor’s appointment because of an impending storm.  I agreed to have her class join mine for the last hour of the day so she could leave early. 
42 – Helped a friend’s daughter at the library find a book for a school project.
43 – Gathered old bath towels to donate to the local SPCA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals)
44 – A former student celebrated her birthday with cupcakes and brought one to me.  I gave it to my daughter when she asked for it. 
45 – My daughters helped me complete many of these acts of kindness and kept asking if they could eat a Peppermint Patty.  I kept saying no.  J  At the end of the night, I let them each have one and thanked them for their support. 
46 - Gifted 500 Karma Bucks to friends of kindness.  J