Flowers of Kindness

Whenever I give talks about Kindness Activist, people ask how it all started.

Well, it started as a bit of an experiment.  I was at a low point in my life, and decided to purposefully look for kindness.  I guess I wanted to make sure it still existed in the world, I don’t know.

I looked.  I saw it.  It made me happy.  I was hooked.

Fast forward years later. 

I still look for it.  And I still have periods where I am too sad, too busy, too inattentive to find it.

But now I know.  I know that if I stop.  Take a deep breath.  Open not only my eyes, but my heart, I will see it.  Because it is everywhere.  This I believe.

And I also now know the value of SPREADING the kindness.  And I am continually grateful that Kindness Activist allows me the joy of doing just that.

So here is a quick story of one of today’s kindnesses.  I was in Trader Joe’s, ironically ordering some things for another act of kindness that is happening next week.  I was standing at the customer service counter placing my order when two women rushed up, obviously very upset.

“A woman just stole my wallet right out of my purse!!  Do you have video cameras in your aisles???” they asked loudly and angrily.

The Trader Joe’s employee assured them that there were cameras, but they would need to file a police report and have a case number to access the footage.  The women, shaken, left the store.

I finished my order.  Bought a few things.  Shopped in the store next door.  But I kept thinking about the woman whose wallet was stolen.  What a horrible thing to have happen.

I took another stroll around the aisles of Trader Joe’s to see if the women were still there but I didn’t see them.  I headed to my car just as a police cruiser pulled up.  “Ah ha,” I thought, “Maybe the women are still here and have been waiting on the cops so they can file a report.”

Sure enough that was the case.  The officers started filling out the paperwork as the women stood by their car.

So, I went back into the grocery store and picked out the brightest, prettiest bouquet I could find.  I purchased it, then went outside to where the officer was finishing up the report. 

 

“Excuse me,” I said as I approached.  “I was at customer service and heard what happened to you.  I am really sorry – how awful.  I wanted to get you these to brighten your day.  I hope the rest of your weekend is better,” and I handed her the flowers.

Her whole demeanor changed.  The tension in her face melted.  She looked me in the eyes and thanked me.  “May I hug you??” she asked.  Of course!

So, two women stood in the parking lot of a grocery store and hugged, as a police officer in a bulletproof vest looked on.

“Thank you.  Oh, thank you,” she said.  “It could have been so much worse.  At least no one was hurt”. 

 

And just like that, she was reminded that even when things are really bleak, there is kindness. 

And it was nothing fancy, nothing expensive.  More than the flowers, it was the fact that someone noticed and cared.

Kindness is all around you, I promise.  So are opportunities for YOU to be kind. 

You just have to keep your eyes (and your heart) open to see them.

Kindness Activist funds spent:  $10.59

From Soldiers to Snow

It has been a while since I have written an accounting update that contains more than one act of kindness, so I shall sit down this evening to do just that!  Here we go.

This first act of kindness was very moving.  If you recall, Kindness Activist sent a big box of treats not too long ago to American soldiers stationed overseas.  Well, this time it was Ukrainian soldiers turn.

I saw that one of my friends, a Ukrainian woman who is living in our community while her country is ravaged by war, was making food for soldiers that were brought to the US for treatment.  I had no idea that occurring, but as soon as I found out, I hoped we could do something – any small gesture – to show them that they are welcome here and that they are appreciated.  So, I contacted my friend and she explained that the men being sent to the US for treatment were and those in need of very difficult prosthetics.  I asked it would be possible for me to bring them gifts.  She confirmed it would be fine, let me know where they would be, and set up a time for me to go.

My partner David and I spent about an hour roaming up and down the Target aisles trying to figure out what would be good to give the soldiers.  We wanted the gifts to be things they would use while they were here (not have to lug them back to Ukraine) and things that would help them be comfortable and/or happy.  We settled on a wide variety of snacks, drinks, decks of cards, and a nice greeting card for each of them.  I packaged everything in blue bags tied with yellow ribbons – the colors of their homeland.  I wrote a message in English to put in the cards, then sent it off to my friend to translate into Ukrainian.  We wrote:

Thank you for working to make the world a safer place.  Thinking of you and your family, and wishing you a future full of peace and love.

Then off I drove – not sure if I would hand the bags to a receptionist, meet the soldiers, or what.

I was very honored that I actually got to see the men in person and thank them.  They were happy to get the gifts.  A translator interpreted a short conversation for us, and I turned to go.  “Don’t you want a picture??” the woman working with them asked.  I didn’t want to make the event seem like a photo opportunity, but she seemed to want a picture for their organization too, so I went back and stood with the soldiers for this lovely photo.

The soldiers

The gift bags

Total Kindness Activist funds spent:  $176.38

Number of wishes that these soldiers will someday be able to live in a country free of war: Infinite

 

Sometimes when we are out shopping, we use that time to do something kind for other people.  I mean, we are already there at the store, why not treat someone??  Because getting out to the store can be difficult for people, what with kids, transportation, work, gas…

So, one evening when I was at Dollar Tree, I posted in a local online group to say where I was and ask if anyone needed anything.  I said I would treat a couple of people - $10 budget each ($10 goes quite a long way at Dollar Tree!) and I would deliver the items. Responses popped in right away.  One person needed some basic supplies for their home – toothpaste, toothbrushes, garbage bags, tape, toilet paper, dish soap, paper towels.  That was easy enough to collect.  During another shopping trip to Dollar Tree, someone requested snacks – easy peasy.  And one person asked for supplies for an altar for the Day of the Dead – 4 glass candles and multi-colored tissue paper. 

Completed altar for Day of the Dead

These acts of kindness are not expensive.  They are really more about the gift of time and availability than the cost.  They are simple and fun to do.

Household supplies

 

Total Kindness Activist funds spent: $29.22

 

This January our area had predictions of a BIG SNOW.  This had everyone very excited!!  And because we have so many immigrants in our area, some of people have never seen snow.  So, those people were even MORE EXCITED!!

Everyone was asking around for sleds and snowsuits and mittens and shovels…  That’s when I saw a request – did anyone have a sled for some children to use who were experiencing their FIRST SNOW???

We hurried to the store to see if there were any left.  We hunted and hunted, but there were none to be found.  The shelves were picked clean of winter play gear.  But then we saw it – the last sled!  It was not a traditional one, it was a blow up one.  We grabbed it.  We hunted more and found a snow brick maker hidden on a shelf – we will take it!!  And we scored 3 “snow painters”, too.  And of course, we HAD to add hot cocoa and marshmallows...  I rushed home to fill the sled with air and then delivered it all to one happy parent.  I can only imagine how loud the squeals of delight were when the kids whooshed down a snowy hill.

 

Total Kindness Activist funds spent:  $40.86