I recently received a message from a friend asking if I would be interested in a challenge. It wasn’t your typical weight loss challenge or a social media-fueled challenge; it was a 365 day kindness challenge. I was in! I love a good challenge, but was worried about being able to stick to it. This challenge has been a bit different. In the last couple weeks of doing it, I realize I am doing kind things without even trying. Does this mean it’s serving its purpose?
The whole point of the challenge is to get out there and be kind to one another. Seems so simple, yet everyday there are such bad things going on in the news or in our neighborhoods. We, as individuals can change that. The first couple of days I had to think of things to do to go out of my way to be kind. It took some effort, but as the weeks progress, it’s starting to become second nature. The best thing is that my daughter is catching on and soon hopefully that will spread too.
My friend has been meticulous about this kindness challenge. She has an 8 year old son who does this challenge with her. Most days she documents what they do on her social media to help spread the word about doing the acts of kindness. The best thing about it is that she is helping her young son, who is already a great kid, to be greater!
You don’t have to go out and spend a ton of money to be kind. Some of the things they have done include picking up garbage on their walks, complimenting 5 people a day, shoveling for neighbors and moving neighbors garbage cans back up to their garages on their way to the bus stop in the morning. They have bought flowers for his teacher, donated food to their neighborhood food library, hid money in needed items at the store and dropped off treats for first responders.
Not only is it the best feeling to help others, but you put a smile on their face. My friend told me that the other great thing to see if the trickle effect. She has shared her acts of kindness on her social media and friends have shared her posts, even in different states! She has inspired others to do similar acts around their neighborhoods. She even formed a group of friends to get together monthly to deliver their collected donations to a local charity in need. This month was the animal shelter, next month, a woman’s shelter.
I may not be as great at the challenge as she is, but the point is I am trying. I may miss a day here or there but like exercising, I just jump back in and overdo it the next day (ha ha!). One simple act of kindness can make someone’s day. They will do the same for someone else and so on and so on. Seeing how much my friend has inspired others around her to be kind has inspired me, and now I am writing this in hope of inspiring you.
I had a lot of fun collecting items to donate to the animal shelter and I felt good about myself for doing it, too. I love complimenting people and seeing the smile on their faces, and my kiddo is also great at it now! I challenge you to try the 365 challenge. If you can’t commit to that, or have a hard time sticking to it like me, commit to a 7-day challenge or a monthly donation drive… ANYTHING!
Let’s turn around the negative energy and put some positive out there. Change starts with you.
