The Joy of Starting Your Week with a Random Act of Kindness

The world has changed dramatically in the almost ten years since my last blog post - and not necessarily for the better. It's time for us to remind each other of the good in this world. I have been pondering on the good things that have occurred in some really difficult times, and one blessing really stood out 

It was a particularly challenging week after my dad passed away. I was grocery shopping for my and another's household when a folded piece of paper fell from a can of soup I grabbed off the shelf. I unfolded the paper, and inside were the words, "You have a beautiful heart!" My exhaustion and sadness turned to gratitude in a split second. It was a perfectly timed act of kindness that made a world of difference during a time of having to balance multiple spinning plates like a circus performer. One person who spent a couple of minutes thinking about someone else truly changed the trajectory of my day and week. We need more of this. Lots more of this.

As this new week begins, it's easy to fall back into a cycle of stress and anticipation for what lies ahead. But what if you could transform your Monday morning dread into something uplifting? The transformative power of kindness can do just that. By incorporating random acts of kindness into your weekly routine, you can start your week on a hopeful and optimistic note. 

Kindness is the universal language that transcends the many different native tongues in our world. Whether it’s a smile exchanged with a stranger or a thoughtful gesture towards a friend, acts of kindness can brighten someone’s day and create a powerful ripple effect. Research continues to show that kindness improves our mental health and overall well-being, and by spreading kindness, you can empower yourself to make a significant impact on the world around you. 

Starting your week with kindness sets the tone not only for your own mindset but also for those around you. When you give, you receive. You receive a boost through seeing or feeling the joy of helping others.

While there are many ways you can bring joy to others, here are some ideas I found for simple ways to kick off your week with kindness: 

1. **Compliment a Colleague**: A heartfelt compliment can go a long way. Take a moment to appreciate a colleague's hard work or talents. It may brighten their day and strengthen your connection. 

2. **Leave a Note**: Write a positive note and leave it for a stranger to find - just like someone did for me. Something as simple as “You are amazing!”, “Have a great day!” or even "You matter!" can change someone’s day. 

3. **Buy a Coffee for the Person Behind You**: While this has become popular in recent years, it's still greatly appreciated and can inspire others to pay it forward. 

4. **Volunteer Your Time**: Dedicate a few hours to a local charity or community service. Whether helping at a food bank, your local school or library, or even assisting in a park cleanup, your time can have a significant impact.

5. **Check on a Friend**: Reach out to a friend you haven’t spoken to. A card with a heartfelt note or a simple "I'm thinking about you" can change someone's day. Even a simple text or call to see how they’re doing can mean the world to them. 

6. **Share Your Talents**: If you have a talent or hobby you love, consider sharing it with others. Host a workshop at your local library or community college, or volunteer as a mentor. Your passion could inspire or even be transformative for others! 

The joy of initiating a random act of kindness also brings immense pleasure to you as the giver. Kindness releases endorphins, creating an effect referred to as the "helper's high." By starting your week with kindness, you not only set a positive precedent for yourself in the days to come, but you also experience the fulfilling joy of giving, which can bring happiness and contentment. 

As you begin the week ahead, take a moment to think about ways you can look for opportunities. Let’s create a wave of positivity that spreads through our workplaces, relationships, neighborhoods, and beyond. After all, a world filled with kindness is a world we all want to live in. I would love to hear about your experiences with kindness in the comments below. Let's inspire each other!

Shooting Cupid

Are you a man-made, store-created-holiday hater?  Do you despise Valentine's Day and wish you could shoot Cupid in the derriere' with his little bow and "love" arrows?  I know many people who really don't care for this holiday.  While I wouldn't go so far as to say I hate these holidays, they do get me to thinking..... which is almost always dangerous.  The more I have thought about it, the more I think these for-profit store-created holidays could be used to do a lot of good.

What if  we turned the tables on this greeting card industry marketing ploy and took this day to not only show some love to our family and friends, but to neighbors and strangers as well?  What if we all did one thing out of the ordinary for a stranger on this one day?  Would this then still be day to enrich the coffers of industry, or a day to enrich the hearts of people who would cherish and remember that one kind act for a lifetime?

What if we all did something on this day which didn't involve whipping out our credit cards?  What if you scraped the ice off of a stranger's (or even a neighbor's) windshield?  What if you helped out at your child's school?  What if you brought a plate of cookies to share with co-workers or neighbors (FYI:  I like peanut-free chocolate chip)?  What if you made a bouquet out of holly and other evergreens you clip from your own yard and gave it to a stranger?  What if you took some note paper and handed out handcrafted cards to strangers wishing them a happy day?

WHAT IF we all took a moment to do this for someone outside of our inner circle?  What if we made Valentine's Day a for-profit venture of the heart and soul?  What could you do for someone else? Please share some of your ideas of ways to show others some kindness on Valentine's Day and let's see if we can truly spread some love on this day.

Christie Bielss

Looking for the Helpers

"When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.”  To this day, especially in times of “disaster,” I remember my mother’s words and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers – so many caring people in this world." A quote by Fred Rogers, aka Mister Rogers.

When I was growing up, my parents always told us something similar: "There is good in every situation.  Sometimes you have to dig a bit deeper and look a bit harder for it, but there will be good."

The events of this week have been mind-boggling.  Every day has had an event occur which is so horrific, it has knocked me off-kilter and made me question where mankind is headed.  And then I see or hear about "the helpers" and my faith is restored.  I think we all could use some "helper" stories.

Monday I sat and watched the Boston Marathon bombing as it unfolded on the news.  The chaos and horror before my eyes was surreal.  I watched as the news camera was showing people running away from the bombed areas to safety and saw the look of panic and fear on their faces...... and I felt helpless.  I live across the country from Boston, so there was nothing I could do to help at that moment.  

Within seconds of seeing people fleeing the area, I then saw people running toward the injured.  They were like fish trying to swim upstream as they negotiated their way through the crowds of people running away.  But, by the looks on their faces, they were determined to help those who needed it so desperately.  A lump developed in my throat and my heart jumped as I shouted "THERE THEY ARE!  There are "The Helpers"!  These "helpers" started grabbing the temporary fencing that had been used to block off the sidewalk from the runners and were flinging it aside to get to the injured people trapped underneath it.  Men were taking off their shirts to use as gauze and whipping off their belts to use as tourniquets.  Others were quickly carrying, or racing wheelchairs loaded with injured people to ambulances and a triage area.  With little thought to their own safety, these people went back time after time to the affected area.

And just when you think the horror is over, a fertilizer plant in West, Texas explodes with enough force to register as a 2.1 magnitude earthquake and level part of a community.  Scores were injured and an unknown number were killed.  As my mind tried to wrap itself around this latest event, my heart leapt when I saw scores of communities from all over the state immediately send fire, police, EMT's, Careflight helicopters, and many others to assist this community.  There are "the helpers"!  A call went out that everyday items were needed to assist these families who had lost everything.  Within a few short hours, West was inundated with every item they'd requested from people around the state who had dropped everything they were doing, hopped in their vehicles, and immediately delivered it to this devastated community.  These are "the helpers".

As I sat down last night to watch the evening news, they showed a clip of the Boston Bruin's game as they were performing their opening ceremony for the first time since the bombing.  The National Anthem was being performed and all of the fans, players, and coaches were singing their hearts out.  It was one of the most powerful and patriotic versions I have ever heard.  If you haven't heard it, or you've only heard a small clip, then here is a link to the posting on youtube:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzMsagY7oRs.  They too are "the helpers".

If you know of more "Helper" stories, share them.  Help others find the good.  We all need help sometimes finding "the good" and "the helpers".  By sharing more of the good, you then become one of "the helpers", and we can all use some good.

by: Christie Bielss