Hello and happy Monday lovelies! If any of you follow me on social media you probably noticed that I celebrated my birthday last Wednesday. I still can't believe that I turned 21......I feel like its one of those ages where you feel so old, but also so young and completely unready and unprepared for what the future holds (ahhhhh)! With that being said however, I wanted to do something a little different this year for my birthday.
I couple of months ago I saw something on facebook from a girls who did 21 random acts of kindness for her 21st birthday and I thought that was such a brilliant and inspiring idea; thus I adopted it for my recent birthday and wanted to share it with you all today.
I feel like in the world of the 21st century we often become so selfish and self absorbed that we don't take the time to appreciate others around us, or even simply just to show someone (even a stranger) that we care. Kindness has in some respects diminished in the world, but even in its rarity it is a true gem and light amidst a dark world. To be honest, the whole idea of doing some of the things on my list completely scares me (like buying someone lunch or coffee) but I believe that it is in those moments of dying to our own comforts and stepping outside of our comfort zone that we have the ability to make the GREATEST impact on people!
"Kindness is a language that the deaf can hear and the blind can see."
- MARK TWAIN
- Buy someone coffee on campus (I actually just bought a lady coffee at starbucks today...she was completely surprised.....but I might also do it on campus)
- Buy someone's lunch.
- Brind DONUTS to the office on a Friday morning.
- Handout flowers with encouraging phrases to girls on campus.
- Create encouraging mirror art in the bathroom of a building on campus (yes, that sounds like vandalism, but I promise it won't be)
- Leave sticky note encouragement in random places around campus.
- Write and leave encouraging comments on blogs and or social media posts :)
- Text my college friends who live out of state or far away!
- Thank all of the maintenance crew and Janitors who keep my house clean and all the buildings on campus tidy.
- Help someone with groceries (we shall see if this opportunity presents itself)
- Leave a BIG tip for a server at a restaurant! (I actually completed this one on Saturday)
- Let someone go ahead of me in line.....
- Put a tip in the tip jar at a coffee shop!
- Ask if someone needs anything when I run to the store.
- Pick up trash and litter that I see when walking and throw it away.
- Complement a stranger.
- Send "Thank You" notes to people who have helped me or do so much for others!
- Hold the door open for someone.
- Bring cookies or a treat to a staff meeting.
- Write letters to my family:)
- Smile at people that I pass / Strike up a conversation with the cashier at the grocery store (this means I can't go to self checkout).
How do you feel about random acts of kindness?
Have you ever done something like this?
Has someone ever done something like this for you?
-Madison
What an awesome idea! I have found that if you smile you might turn someone's day into a happy one:) Hope you have a lot of success in accomplishing your 21 acts of kindness. Much happiness to you,happy belated birthday! Stephanie
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Stephanie! Also, thank you for always leaving the sweetest comments..you are a treasure:)
Delete-Madison
I love doing random acts of kindness for others! I have bought coffee for someone but I did it when I was in the drive thru, so I don't know their reaction. I have also left random notes of encouragement for others. Once I actually found my own note a year later! I left it at our small town drug store and I guess I hid it too well!
ReplyDeleteAlso, 21 is a great age! I agree with everything you said about that age too. Even at 23 I still feel unprepared for the future at times!
I have always wanted to do the drive through one too! Also I love that you found your own note...how cool! Glad I am not the only one who feels this way about being 21...lol.
Delete-Madison
Like you, doing some of these would scare me half to death, to get out of my comfort zone, but I do think that little things like these can make the world of difference to a person's day.
ReplyDeleteI am not 21 yet, but I am quite afraid that I will feel extremely ungrown-up and childish for the rest of my life. Not that I think a twenty year old should know everything, but I could at least be a little more confident. :) I sometimes wonder if I look as non-confident as I feel.
Sarah
I couldn't agree more with you Sarah on the whole CONFIDENCE part!!!
Delete-Madison
What a thoughtful post. Thanks for sharing. Hope you had a nice birthday. Happy Belated Birthday.
ReplyDeleteMarilyn
Thank you Marilyn!
Delete-Madison
I absolutely adore this idea! I'd like to do it:)
ReplyDeleteI think this is the best idea! Maybe I should do something like this for my birthday next year ;)
ReplyDeleteyou totally should!
Delete-Madison