So I have long realized my family and I have been truly blessed in life. One thing I have come to learn is that the more you do for others, the more you get in return. There is no better feeling than doing something nice for one another with no strings attached. This is one lesson I am continuously reminding my children. They actually do really well with showing kindness to others, I only wish they would show the same to each other! That's a project for another day.
There are so many posts out there with lists of ideas on Random Acts of Kindnesses. It doesn't matter how big or small the act is, nor if it cost money or not. All that matters is a simple act that makes another person smile. Opening a door for a stranger, taking someone's shopping cart to the cart return, buying someone's dinner, visiting strangers in a nursing home. There is such a variety of things we can all do to make this world a happier place. Look here for more ideas and jump on this friendly bandwagon, the more is definitely the merrier!
Our family is pretty bad with checking our mail these days. Sometimes it gets piled up so bad, I'm not sure how the mailman gets more in there. I know it has to frustrate him, so to make up for it today the kids and I made some red, white and blue chocolate covered pretzels for our mail-carrier.
They decked them out with red and blue sprinkles and after it was done they had even more fun licking the bowl. We tied a pretty bow (with a ribbon that I didn't even know I had that matched perfectly- see how things just fall into place when you do for others?) around the Tupperware bowl, printed out a Random Act of Kindness tag and put it all in the (empty) mailbox with the flag up. The kids stayed on lookout, and when he stopped at our mailbox the kids got to run out and wave at "Ronnie" (Ky-Bug asked him his name).
I may be a major dork, but I can't help but imagine their hearts growing just a smidgen more every time we do something like this. I sure feel like mine does.
Smile at a stranger today, open a door for a mother with full hands, hand out bottles of water to maintenance men working on the side of the road, your heart will feel just a little bit lighter I promise! I'd love to hear from you!