May 29 : Random Act of Kindness

Overwhelming kindness has been  filling my cup lately. Since my second cancer diagnosis , I have been blessed my many random and planned acts of kindness.


Week Five of radiation is almost completed ; time is flying by incredibly fast or not !

Wonderful things have filled my cup - not just gifts but also good conversations, a relaxing run in the park and being cheered on by spectators , a fabulous warm 'shrug' find at the Op shop thanks to the Volunteer and more !

• Denyse's friend , who lives locally - gifted us a massage - a well timed , incredible RAK for my husband too! She read my story which Denyse shared.

I want to share the beautiful wise words of Maya Angelou - who passed away today- she wanted all people to believe we had the power of change within us.


"My wish for you is that you continue. Continue to be who and how you are, to astonish a mean world with your acts of kindness" ~ Maya Angelou

Blanket of care from a lovely friend and a cake !

A Warm Hug from another friend and she send me regular cards too

Box of sunshine

• Two cakes , one from my SIL and the other my friend who gave me the purple & pink blanket... they got gobbled before a photo.

• A lovely prize won with a huge stash of goodies.

Daily, I am astonished by the kind words, [mentions of] prayers, cards and messages , from friends and even acquaintances ;  there is no time for sadness when I feel cared for and comforted by bith friends and people who barely know me.

Remember there's no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end.

Scott Adams (1957)
Creator Of Dilbert Comic Strip 

(credit )

It is never too late to make kindness a habit...{ignore the date below I just liked the list }

download it here

Though we have little practical family support at home , others have stepped up during a really difficult time for my family and I. Our church friends have provided two meals per week while I am away and I am so very grateful.

I posted five cards two weeks ago and it felt heartwarming as I posted them thinking about the recipients .

Hopefully, I've got a few RAKS up my sleeve too for some of my fellow lodge residents next week.

Have you felt the touch of kindness recently ?
Do you pay it forward ?

 ♥

Irrevocable Hands of kindness

This week has been one of my best ever .
I've been overwhelmed, in a good way, by messages of love and support, flowers and chocolates as well as a huge parcel of very thoughtful gifts from dear friends in the blogging community.
I will get around to thanking you properly soon , I am so grateful.

There aren't enough words to thank you all personally.
I've had emails from strangers, or rather - friends I haven't met yet , women who are breast cancer survivors or currently undergoing treatment, offering to answer questions or just have a chat.
Kind, gentle messages across social media.

Countless messages assuring me of prayers, friends offering practical support and of course our families giving us TLC the last 2 weeks.
My husband has been my rock and so caring, under immense stress.
I've been embraced from Dublin to NZ and everywhere in between.
I wish everyone the same measure of support and kindness when they go through difficult periods.


I know it has made me feel stronger , evoking piece of mind and filling my hope tank to the brim.

I have some great quotes and images for my vision board too.
I'm banking on laughter too because have you noticed that when you laugh really hard, you stop thinking about pain, your worries and ... I am sure you can think of more.
People have shared funny images and inspiration on Facebook too.


I feel good in myself. I feel strong , fit and healthy.
I still have one drain in situ, beneath my left axilla (armpit) giving me pain , though the Endone is covering the pain relief well. It's there for a reason probably till Tuesday when I see my surgeon.
My short hair is growing on me - such a difference after 17-18 yrs of longish hair.
Now, I feel daring but can't decide what colour ?

This weekend my littliest miracles will celebrate another trip around the sun. I can't believe - SIX !
They had so many BIG plans to celebrate with their school friends and have been writing invitations for months.
I feel a little disappointment for them. We shall celebrate no less- with cake , fairy bread, chocolate crackles and lollies with their cousins and maybe a few friends . The school party might wait till term 3 commences.

So tell me how kindness touched you this week or share how you lightened the load for someone else ?

 ♥

Kindness

So I signed up to the  Million Acts of Kindness this morning after I read Jo's from Country Life experiment's post last night on giving and saw the button again on How I spend my Dash blog today.

I've been feeling down after watching friends struggling this week - one with her mother-in-law undergoing chemo and her own child ill in hospital again. On the way to hospital her vehicle broke down at a busy freeway exit and NO ONE stopped to help - cars just hurtled by , she was all alone with her sick daughter , though twitter offered their help.

Another internet friend's mother is gravely ill in ICU where they are preparing to say goodbye. A kind friend of hers was trying to organise something to help her and keeping her URL friends updated.

It brings back intense memories of being called to ICU to say goodbye to my own Dad 6.5 years ago.

My own life is not without it's dramas too.

It is times like this that acts of kindness are so important , though any time is perfect to start making a difference.

Countless times I've been gifted  Acts of random kindness . So many good and kind people have crossed my path, I feel blessed.

I loved what Jeanette wrote ...{the blog it was posted on originally no longer exists} -

The Simplest Acts of Random Kindness (A.R.K)

Build one! :)

Smile

Laugh

Say hello

Help for no reason

Embrace with a look

Hug with your words

Listen and actually hear

Make eye contact (but do not stare)

Don't argue even when you are right

Leave encouraging, anonymous notes

Wave at a total stranger just because

Laugh for no reason at all (it's contagious)

Turn the texting off and make an actual call

Pay for the coffee for the person behind you in line

Look at yourself in the mirror and say Thank you

Buy a bag of groceries and give it to a family in need

Hold on to your opinion and encourage another person's

Let a child teach you something (even if you already know)

Share your umbrella... even if it means you are left in the rain.

Tell your spouse at least one thing that makes you fall in love with them all over again

Say please and thank you as you tell the Deli person what you want on your sandwich

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I feel motivated today to keep the kindness moving .

50 acts of kindness a day for 55 yrs - one bus stop at a time. That's a commitment!

.. what can you do ?

Check the website ~ find daily ideas, hints and suggestions for what you can do to make life happier for the people around you ...not to mention YOU !!

I took the pledge even if I am late to the party.

1. Remember there's no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end." ~ Scott Adams
2. Make the world a better place by practicing acts of kindness - one A.R.K. at a time ...soon we will all be sailing.
3. Loving will never empty your heart and giving A.R.K. will never empty your pockets.
4. Ask yourself: Have you been kind today ? Make kindness your daily modus opernadi and change your world ~ annie lennox.
5. I still can't imagine what 1,000, 000 acts of kindness would do ...

What are your thoughts on random acts of kindness do they make a difference ?

How have you been RAK' ed or ARK'ed   ? 

♥

Lazy Sunday

It's been quite a grey and dreary day here . Therefore ...

Insert Me !

Source: tumblr.com via Trish on Pinterest

I discovered I can waste hours on Pinterest and You tube...getting inspired :)

Source: etsy.com Pinterest

I really want to make this blackboard !

I discovered I need to practice my A B C's .

Source: beautifulyoubyjulie.com Pinterest

So I am going to print this out and frame it .

 

Source: Uploaded by user via Trish on Pinterest

 This I love this whimsical poster too !

I've also been listening to lots of old favourites and making new discoveries . This song - Can you stand the rain ? speaks volumes !



This I can't embed but over 9 million people have watched it . The message is Hold onto your dreams - when you least expect it be surprised and don't judge anyone !

Be kind to every one you meet this week and go dance in the rain.

Linking up with Thea's

♥

Moving on - Good news

I am always a little hesitant announcing good news, it is just the way I am.

However I know that there are so many whose prayers and kind thoughts I have appreciated.
Small comments from a far that bring immeasurable comfort.It’s been such a mammoth 10 months.

The PET scan DH had last week was all clear. We got GOOD news when we saw the Oncologist at Westmead today - except for showing he really did fracture a rib in December when he came off the motorbike at the farm when Dubbo flooded and the farm was inundated with rain and water run off.

No wonder he was so sore. We couldn't get out that night anyway and the next day he had other concerns and soldiered on.I can't believe he struggled through that pain digging and getting vehicle unbogged. 

I never want to come off as comment or attention seeking in the face of DH's cancer journey. We still have miles to go before we can feel reassured .They keep telling us what a rare cancer it is. So I feel many more emotions than I can express here.

credit

I don't portray that my life is perfect, because I promise you – it’s not. I so thankful I finally have a little good news to share…it means we can move on with plans to finalise closure of our business, sell our house, have a holiday road trip and take the long road 'home' to a shack in the country.

Ps : We'll celebrate our 21st Wedding anniversary on Thursday so what better gift.
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What's your battle sign ?

Yesterday was World Kindness Day ...it should be something we practice everyday.


Perhaps it could also read ...

Everyone you know or don't know is facing some kind of battle in their lives.

What if we all wore a sign to describe our battle. What would your sign read ? What is your battle ?

I saw this post tweeted first by Kim@allconsuming and RT'ed by others. It really made me stop, think & listen.

I know we are all busy but you should read this.
So if you please can you all just take three minutes to go and read this post Seeing past what it seems at Brave Girls Club:

How empathic are you to the post...care to share
Or you just adhere to the attitude of "I'm glad it's not me" when you read such stories.

Lastly... even if I never know what your battle is - I hope you win, or at least enjoy the fight.

It is also definitely something to think about before getting annoyed at someone too. :)
I have to think about my sign *sigh*.

Sunday Citar! Tabitha @ FreshMommy.

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Ps here are some kindness activities for kids

Gift of giving

I joined the 30 days of giving challenge ...just haven't had time to blog much about it. It is also hard to talk about simple things I have been doing ...tooting my own horn and all.

I love to give gifts but I don't have a lot of money right now.
Instilling in my children the idea that gifts don't have to be just monetary ones is important to me.
Teaching them the art of kindness in doing things for no reason for people you love and random acts of kindness in general is a practical life skill.

My top 10 ways to give of myself

1. Donate blood
2. Smile or say hello to a stranger who needs it , hold a door open, let people queue jump at the supermarket and on the road.
3. Pick up rubbish ...on Clean up Australia day or anywhere that you see.
4. Mind a single mum's children for a day/afternoon.
   
5. Donate good quality unused clothing to friends or other organisations where money goes to your favourite charity.
   
6. Cook extra meal servings for a struggling mum or sick friend.
7. Feed the neighbours or a friend's chickens our vegie food scraps.
   
8. Donate by simply clicking or doing free online actions: Free Rice (Play Trivia),The Breast Cancer , or on others requests I see tweeted to help them further their chances in voting competitions.
9. Clean the house for my spouse or do something special for him spontaneously .Spend quality time with my family by giving up something for one day that normally takes free me time…and use the time for something more valuable. (For me, it would be giving up blogging to spend time with my husband or play Duplo or paint with boys).
10. RT tweets and linky love in my blog posts.
    

Ways to Give financially:

• Give pocket/purse change to charity money boxes at home or when out.
  
• Paying for a friend’s meal or coffee or bring a slice to share when out.
• Donate money or sponsor children through World Vision, buy Christmas smiles gifts and other gifts from other missions catalogues or Ozfam ~ chickens, school supplies, clean water etc ...$5 -$20 gifts of love.
  
• Send money anonymously to a friend, acquaintance, who you know needs financial help of some sort.
• Provide money for a takeaway meal for somebody (a lovely blogger did this for us after my husband finished his radiation therapy).
• Buy grocery items for a friend/family in need or who has special dietary concerns.
• Organise a group of people to participate in a group random act of kindness...spreads the love further.
  

I have been the recipient of many random acts of kindness and gifts.

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Are you wondering what to buy your children for Christmas ?
I am or was ...

Today I came upon this brilliant post about a parents' philosophy on simple gift giving @ Simple kids website .It is simple enough to follow for anyone ...

• something they WANT
• something they NEED
• something to WEAR
• something to READ

then they added over time

• something to WATCH
• something for DRESS UP
• something to LISTEN TO
• something to EAT
• something to CREATE

Though they stress the children don't always receive something from each category.
Please read the whole post for more detailed explanations. I think it is the best article I've read in a long time. They also have a homemade/handmade gift guide for kids.

My 4 yrs old don't ask for much - we have so many toys fortunately a legacy of their elder brothers hand me down toys & their cousins.
This year there is less to spend.
I don't want Christmas to be just about 'them' and a bundle of presents , nor do I want them disappointed ...the Simple kids site has given me some simple and inexpensive ideas.

PS :I found the link via Adventures with Kids, an awesome site sure to inspire 'dozens' of ideas to have fun and cool adventures with your kids.
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Random A ...

Brought to you today by the letter

1. A - finger acrobatics, 2. a plate 20, 3. a005, 4. "A" come altalena

A is for Apple slinky ...cut neatly in a spiral .This slinky doesn't do stairs LOL.
My boys call them curly wirly apples and they eat more apples than they did before so I can't complain about the extra 3 mins it takes.
It saves on half eaten apples too.

A is for

a community for blogging parents. I joined but being time 'tight' -virtually bankrupt I haven't fully participated as much as I would like. They have groups for everything & everyone. Blogging tips, advice and they list heaps of giveaways.
They have a conference coming up in 2011. I'd like to go more than anything but due to traffic jams & detours on my life's (& hubby's) roundabout I can't commit to anything.

A is for ARKS ~ Acts of Random kindness. I'n November I'm hoping to participate in 30 day giving challenge ... in a small way without using too much $$$. I love some of the creative ideas. I'm not sure how I'll go but anything is ok if it makes a difference.

Nobody can do everything, but everyone can do something. ~Author Unknown

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A shoebox that could change a life ...

My boys love to play with empty boxes.

They especially love shoe boxes.They fill them with their treasures (cars, teddy bears, farm animals) or stack them and knock them down ...

Today we packed them.

It is just a humble empty, discarded shoebox ...

But

when a child opens a shoe box, they’re opening more than a present lovingly prepared just for them. They’re opening up their community to a world of life-changing opportunities.

Filled with treasures beyond their wildest imaginations it brings hope & a message of love from afar.

Today we started collecting things...gifts we chose and wrapping our boxes . We chose gifts for boys in 2-4 yrs age.

I am planning on making this a yearly tradition.Last year we did it too.

It is such a great and easy way to bring smiles to the many children out there that are not as privileged as our own. It also teaches are children about the joy of giving and bringing happiness to others.

My boys enjoy packing and selecting treasures (gifts). It was heartwarming to hear them want to give away their own toys telling me they don't play with them ... and to give their treasures (a much loved Buzz Lightyear figure) to the other little boys ... but Operation Christmas child needs new toys and practical items.

There is just under a week until the boxes need to be handed in...

The instructions are simple

• SOMETHING TO LOVE
  Teddy bear, doll, soft toy, etc.
• SOMETHING FOR SCHOOL
  Exercise book, pencil case, pens, pencils, colouring pencils, sharpener, eraser, chalk, etc.
• SOMETHING TO WEAR
  T-shirt, shorts, underwear, cap, beanie, sandals, thongs, etc.
• SOMETHING TO PLAY WITH
  Tennis ball, cars, skipping rope, marbles, musical instrument, yo-yo, slinky, finger puppets, wind up torch, etc. (No battery operated items)*
• SOMETHING FOR PERSONAL HYGIENE
  Soap and face washer, toothbrush, hairbrush, comb, hair-clips, scrunchies, etc.(No toothpaste)*
• SOMETHING SPECIAL
  Carry bag, sunglasses, bangles, necklaces, craft kits, stickers, note or photo of yourself.

In 2009, teams in Australia and New Zealand delivered over 300,000 gift-filled shoe boxes to South East Asia and the South Pacific. Globally, Samaritan’s Purse distributed an estimated 8.5 million shoe boxes to children in 105 countries.

The target this year is 346,000 smiles.

Whose life will your shoe box change this year?

PS We still a have a few spaces we can fill with a comb, soap, toothbrush,pencils and a notebook.
Full details are here.
Visit The Operation Christmas Child website to find out more and to find out where to drop your shoeboxes call 1800 684 300. There are drop off points all over Australia.
Hurry the last day for Australia is 25th October.
It also operates in many other countries.

Join in over at Childhood 101 for more fun play ideas and inspiration.

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