the Kindness Chronicles

A tree is known by its fruit; a man by his deeds. A good deed is never lost; he who sows courtesy reaps friendship, and he who plants kindness gathers love.
Saint Basil

It's back to school time here. The kids pack up and head off for the day, sometimes with more enthusiasm than others. And I welcome them home each afternoon, sometimes with more enthusiasm than others. I need to work on that. I need to be the mom that gives each kid a great big smile and hug. The plate of cookies might never happen but I can certainly slow down for a minute and listen do their litany of the day.

Here is a website that will bring a little fun and kindness into the day of your child, spouse, friend, or maybe even a stranger. (I'm going to try that I think.)

Try printing up some cute labels to stick to a soda can. (Except I'm horrifically mean and don't let my kids drink soda unless it's a special occasion.)

http://darlingdoodles.blogspot.com/2012/01/drink-up.html

At Darling Doodles

http://darlingdoodles.blogspot.com/p/just-because.html

http://darlingdoodles.blogspot.com/2011/08/lunch-box-printables.html

What other ideas do you have for adding a little kindness to someone's day?

The Kindness Chronicles

A tree is known by its fruit; a man by his deeds. A good deed is never lost; he who sows courtesy reaps friendship, and he who plants kindness gathers love.
Saint Basil

It's been another crazy month. My extended family is scattered all over the country (WA, ID, MT, IL, KS, PA, NC) and we only get together all in one place once every four years. This time it was at the beach in NC but first many of them came to my house. 

It was amazing to all be together at the same time - the see little cousins meet each other for the first time.

These are the two amazing people who raised us.

They taught us that we are here to make the world a better place, to love and to serve.

We are still a little wacko - but these are some of the best people I know!

 Watching my siblings teach their children the same ideals of love and service is a joy.

There were so many acts of kindness. People volunteering to help with dishes, volunteering to watch little ones so parents could frolic in the waves unencumbered. Spouses putting kids to bed so grown siblings could spend more time together. There was much patience and kindness shown.

It often seems that the people we live with are the ones it is hardest to be kind to. I'm challenging myself along with all of you - let's find ways to be kind to those we love.

The Kindness Chronicles

I almost missed it - we're on the road which means lots and lots and lots of crazy getting ready for the mom.
And with all the kids home I'm almost totally focused on the children and their needs right now. It makes it feel like I'm neglecting the opportunities for outward looking service opportunities.

"Those who bring sunshine into the lives of others, cannot keep it from themselves."

James M. Barrie

But then I realized - what am I doing all day every day if not serving - in my own home. Sometimes it's hardest to be kind to the people in your own family. You are with them every day and it's easy to loose sight of their wonderful and deserving qualities. One of the best ways to regain that view of how much you love them is to mindfully serve them. Do something that will be meaningful to them.

What is it that your loved ones would appreciate?

Before this trip I asked each child what their favorite road food is and went ahead and got it.

Sounds trivial but I avoid buying junk food like the plague so it was a bit of a big deal.

The Kindness Chronicles

"Those who bring sunshine into the lives of others, cannot keep it from themselves."

James M. Barrie

What have you done to make the world a kinder place this month?

I kind of have a hard time thinking of things sometimes.

Maybe it's the littlest things like keeping my cool when my children are misbehaving. Or letting a car pull in front of you or waving pedestrians by while you wait.

It doesn't have to involve planning or work.

I suggested a potluck dinner with neighbors who didn't travel over Memorial Day weekend and made a few calls. We all enjoyed a very pleasant evening together.

I gave a friend a hug.

When I cook something that freezes well I triple the batch. One for us later but one (packed in disposable containers) always goes to someone else who could use it.

I'll give you my current favorite freezable recipe below.

I really want to do this...

Beth Wheeler is doing a little project called "Joy Jam".

She's made hearts to pass out with encouraging words on them.

She'll give a handful to someone and ask them to keep one and pass out others.

You can read about it here 

The word is spreading:

http://fountainvalley.patch.com/blog_posts/the-kindness-chronicles-1

White Chicken Chili

1 lb dry white beans (or 4 cans if you don't have time to crock it)

6c chicken broth (or water and bullion)

1 tbsps cumin

2 or 3 large chicken breasts (cooked if not crocking)

3 med onions, chopped

garlic - lots of it!

(crock it on low most of the day)

add

2 cans green chili peppers

1/2 lb shredded pepper jack cheese

lots of cilantro and sour creme to garnish

The Kindness Chronicles

"Those who bring sunshine into the lives of others, cannot keep it from themselves."

James M. Barrie

If you haven't discovered the TED talks yet - you are in for a treat. Here's one that I enjoyed this month.

A researcher named Michael Norton found that money can by happiness - but only if you don't spend it on yourself.

http://tinyurl.com/78wac5g

The 101 Happy People Project

A young man is gifted anonymously with $100 and chooses to spend it on 100 gifts for others.

The 101th person is himself - it makes him happy to find little ways to help others.

http://101happypeopleproject.blogspot.com/

My friend Lindy Rex battled cancer for 11 years before passing away last week.

She made jewelry and gave it away to patients whenever she went in for treatments. She'd have sales and donate the money for cancer care and research. She loved to teach anyone who stopped by how to create their own beautiful jewelry. She helped me finish a two foot high stack of samples for my book when I was going crazy under a tight deadline. She made a quilt for a retiring school teacher. She always thought of others - and acted on those thoughts.

She brought light and love into this world and I'm sure she is still doing so in the next world.  We will miss her terribly here. I want to carry on her good works. I want to be as unselfish and giving as she was.

The Kindness Chronicles

Ideas to help us make the world a better place!

Guess what? We're born good. We're born with a desire to help. I knew that already, but science is starting to understand it too. Between my daughter's fascination with neuroscience and my favorite podcast, Radiolab, I'm more than a little bit hooked on reading brain studies. Dr. Richard Davidson is doing research that leads him to believe that we are naturally attracted to altruism and that we can train our brains to be happy. If you have a minute, read this post of his, asking us to simply notice the good things more often. 

Little kindnesses:

Some things are so easy that I don't even notice I'm doing them until someone points it out.
I'm on Facebook a lot. I make it a point to only post helpful, positive links.
I try my very best to never whine in public.

When I make a meal that freezes well I always make a triple batch. One gets eaten later and one ends up going to someone who could use it. I freeze things in zip-loc bags so recipients don't have to return dishes.

On a recent teaching trip I was up and down on airplanes all day long. I left at least one, sometimes two, little notes tucked away in magazines in the seat pockets. I hope they make someone smile. It made me smile just to sneak them in and think of someone reading them. I think we get more out of serving others than we realize!

Bigger kindnesses:

I helped a young woman who wanted to alter and combine two different patterns to make a dress for her to wear to the temple. It only took an hour or so (it was a pretty simple pattern) and I think she will do a great job sewing it up. I think many of you could do the same kind of thing - make yourself available to get someone started sewing. Teach them the basics of how to use thier machine.

Check out what these friends are doing:

Linda Kittmer

Lisa's blog "something about nothing"

Linda Teddlie Minton

New Zealand artist Catherine Parkinson
The indomitable Jane LaFazio
Tracie Lyn Huskamp
Hannah Koch
Deborah

Please join me in the Kindness Chronicles. Grab a button here and post it on your blog.
Send me a note and tell me what you are doing and I'll link to your blog next month!

The Kindness Chronicles

Ideas to help us make the world a better place!

Little things:

Hold the door open - especially if they are pushing a stroller or have their hands full.

Leave a post-it note on the bathroom stall saying "smile - you ARE beautiful, smart, and creative!"

(www.operationbeautiful.com)

Give a compliment - a looking in the eyes, specific, compliment.

Put a grocery cart away for a mother with little ones in the car. (did this!)

(I always really hated to leave mine alone even for a second in the car.)

Bigger things:

Babysit for the mother of young children... even if it's just so she can go take a nap.

Bring your favorite book and read stories to kids at your local elementary school.

Wash someone's car windows.

Keep a zip-loc bag in your purse with a toothbrush, toothpaste, a few dollars, and a granola bar for the next time you pass a homeless person. (going to do this!)

Stop by the fire department with a plate of cookies and say thank you.

It's not that hard to make the world a better place!

This month check out

Jane LaFazio

Deborah Stanley
Hannah Koch

and Linda Teddlie Minton

to see what they've done to make the world a better place.

If you'd care to join us please do. Grab the button above for your blog.

Send me your info and I'll link to your blog next month.

Introducing The Kindness Chronicles

Remember back in in December when we were focusing on making the world a better place through simple acts of service and kindness?

Well I'd like to introduce a new, on-going feature on my blog.

When I was interviewed by Rice' Freeman-Zachary about the project for her podcast, she asked if it was going to become an ongoing project. I hadn't thought too much about it. I really do try to keep service in mind all the time so I didn't think of it as a "project" but of course I'd love to keep it going.

Small kindnesses mean a great deal - the last group I taught for left me this lovely flower to brighten my hotel room.

Leave it to a go-getter like Jane LaFazio to push me into getting things done. Or actually, to go ahead and make plans and get things done whether I've got my rear in gear or not. She put together this beautiful button and suggested that we post on the first Sunday of every month, telling about some of the little acts of service we've done. We're not trying to brag - at all - just give you all more ideas that you can try as well. Really - it's fun to do little things that brighten someone's day.

Would you care to join us? If you'd like to add this lovely little button to your blog please go ahead and copy and paste this into a widget for your sidebar. It's got the html embedded to link back to this explanatory post.





If you send me a link to your kindness blog post I'd love to list it in my next Kindness Chronicles post. It's so easy to bring a smile to someone's face. Let's make the world a better place, shall we?