Since its inception, the premise of “Kindness Activist” is that being aware of kindness spreads MORE kindness. When you are willing to talk OPENLY about kindness, willing to share about it without embarrassment, it will inspire MORE kindness. And when you keep your eyes and ears open to it – you will see kindness all around.
And that is why I share stories of kindness. I know that they will be a ripple, inspiring others to be kind, then others, then others, and the ripple will become a wave.
Today’s story is about a woman who is beautiful both inside and out: STACIA. She is a neighbor and a friend. And Stacia has a huge heart.
Stacia put the word out in a local Facebook group that they could use a bit of help. Her original ask was a small one – bendy straws. Her son couldn’t sit up to drink while in the cast, and bendy straws were needed. Well, just like with so many other requests for assistance, that little Facebook group rallied around the family. Meals, a furniture dolly to use as a tummy scooter, lawn mowing, toys delivered, cookies for the kids, shrubs planted, meal gift cards, and of course, bendy straws were given to the family during that difficult time.
That kindness inspired Stacia, so at Christmas time, she paid it back ten-fold. She posted this message in the Facebook group: “Moms of Buy Nothing, were you an exhausted gift deprived mom on Christmas morning? Did you get perhaps a robe that you picked out yourself and nothing else? I have a special gift for you, gift deprived mom. It’s a Surprise that I will bring to YOU. Please comment below and I’ll choose tonight!”
If you haven’t seen the Saturday Night Live sketch about the mom getting the robe, you must. It is hilarious and spot on. You can see it here .
Anyway, Stacia’s message resonated with the moms of the group, and replies poured in. People said:
·
My daughter wrapped up something I already
owned then gave it to me as my gift.
·
To which another mom replied: Mine wrapped up something I gave her and gave
it back to me (to which the original poster above replied, “You win.”)
·
LOL.
This post is so spot on because I’m wearing a robe I “received” from a
past Christmas that I pick out and wrapped myself right now. It was the only thing I got that year and I remember
when I opened it, I acted a little surprised.
It was still the best Christmas because the youngest had not yet gone to
hospice. I no longer spend Christmas
waking up early to cook or bake or wait interminable hours while other people
play video games. I’ve got it easy now
with no kids at home. But I do feel for
all of those mothers and mother figures who are sleep and gift deprived.
·
I would like a surprise! I was and am alone with my daughter. I bought a trunk full of gifts for her and
wrapped it all up last minute. I made a
good dinner just for her and me.
·
LOL. I ordered
myself a couple things that I handed off to my 7 year old to wrap, so I am
good. Thanks for your thoughtfulness.
·
I didn’t even get anything. ☹ But I was
able to get gifts for everyone all thanks to this Buy Nothing group.
·
My husband bought me an external hard drive… and then was like, “Did you open the other
box?!” all excited. I was thinking, “Oh,
here comes the good gift….”. It was a
case for the external hard drive.
·
I want to add my name to this. I call myself the “little gift giver”, so
maybe I can finally receive a gift for myself.
·
I wish the Saturday Night Live skit wasn’t so
on the mark for me.
Stacia hit a bullseye – so many mothers deserved gifts and surprises!! So, she went to work!! She had felt the love, kindness and generosity of the group supporting her family when her son was injured, and she paid it back in spades.
She wrapped and hand delivered items to the neglected moms. She gave some of them nice bath bombs, dark chocolate Justin’s peanut butter cups, and scented lip balms. Some got perfume. One got a $50 spa gift card! Some got earrings, bracelets, home spa items like masks and bath salts and scrubs. One deserving mom got a box of Godiva chocolate.
One mother told me that Stacia got her the perfect gift: “Stacia’s gift made me feel very special. She picked out gifts that were suitable for the person, which to me meant that she really knows people personally – what their likes and hobbies are. Since I am in the beauty field I got pampered with a calming face mask and a brush cleaning soap! At the same time, she probably knew I needed something to take care of myself, too, and pamper myself.”
Another recipient of Stacia’s kindness told me: “Stacia gave me Burberry perfume!! I would never have bought such an indulgence, and I was flabbergasted. It restored my faith in the tenderness of humanity. I literally received NO gifts. I could afford anything I would ever want to buy, and yet it is so much sweet to have someone think of you.“
Yet another lucky mom told me, "I commented on the post not expecting a gift, but to say how funny that skit was, because of how much mothers stress about shopping for everybody but nobody is stressing about getting gifts for mom. I felt so special because I was not expecting to be a recipient, so when she messaged me that there was a gift at my door I was really surprised! Stacia gave me a robe, just like in the SNL sketch! Every time I wear it I smile because it reminds me of that sketch, and of how good and funny people are."
And guess what? Stacia had a great time being the DELIVERY PERSON of kindness! She said, “It was so fun for me to be an elf! I truly believe we mammas gotta stick together and lift each other up”.
She wanted to do something special, and the special factor was off the charts. In the year of Covid, acts of kindness like this go even further. We all feel so isolated these days. Stacia went out of her way to bring joy (and gifts!) to women in the community.
I hope that her kindness can inspire YOU to do something kind today. Big, small, any act of kindness makes the world a better place.
