The 12 Days of Kindness

[Sati]

Day 1 / May 13 : Share
   
“Our best things come from others.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson

Before announcing the kindness theme for the day, the first in the 12 Days of Kindness, I’m thrilled to say that it’s Melinda’s 50th birthday today. Happy birthday to you, my best friend. Here’s to 50 more (and several of these in France, ok??)!!

Now as we get started on 12 consecutive days of kindness themes, I ask you to employ one of the all-time basic kindness concepts and one of the major themes of childhood, sharing.

Typically, in childhood, this has to do with toys or supplies or food, all of which are fine things to share in the spirit of this theme. But also consider things you can share that may not be physical items, like your wisdom or knowledge.

Do not feel like you have to share anything “big”. An important part of these themes is to become familiar with doing what is sincere to YOU, not as a show for others.

Also, please consider posting what you do to complete this theme below. In doing this, we ALL get to learn from and benefit from each others’ actions. Heck, it’s even another form of sharing, right? Thanks!!

Bonus: Try using this theme to see how true sharing actually increases the amount we all have.

 

[Sati]

Day 2 / May 14 : Play Fair


“Do the right thing. It will gratify some people and astonish the rest.” — Mark Twain

Here on Day 2, I ask you to consider who you are consistently. Do you play fair?

Such is the encouragement I offer you today, to practice building your character. Start by considering the theme and what it means to you.

Does playing fair have to do with your actions, attitudes, something else?

Does it have to do with things like putting your dishes in the dishwasher? With how you use natural resources? Money?

Whatever it is, play fair today. All day long.

 

[Sati]

Day 3 / May 15 : Clean Up

“The best time for planning a book is while you’re doing the dishes.” — Agatha Christie

Today, pay attention to how cleaning up your own mess is one of the kindest things you can do, especially for those people closest to you.

For instance, clean up the kitchen after each meal or snack, put your clothes away, make your bed, change the toilet paper roll, and whatever else you need to do to clean up after yourself.

Bonus Work: Expand the concept by thinking about the metaphorical messes you make and how you can clean those up, too.

[Sati]

Day 4 / May 16 : Surprise Someone

"Love withers with predictability; its very essence is surprise and amazement." - Leo Buscaglia

Today's theme is the classic concept summarized in the phrase a “random act of kindness.” In its randomness, these actions come as surprises to the recipients.

In choosing, select someone you think would really benefit from being the recipient of a positive surprise and provide it. Enlist others in support of this if you want to increase the scope of the kindness.

For inspiration, be sure to visit this link.
Mukhtars Fødselsdag - Flash Mob - Bedre Bustur

After having done so, take some time to think about all the things that public employees do to make your life easier.

Perhaps your surprise will be for one of them.

 

[Sati]

Day 5 / May 17 : Do Something Kind in Your Neighborhood

“So many people say they want to save the world. Just try your block, will you?” – Rev. Cecil Williams

Step outside your residence and do a quick tour of whatever you consider to be your neighborhood. As you conduct your tour, look for opportunities to do something kind.

Try not to plan your outing on the kindness action, but let it appear to you. Be open to it. Let it find you. Is it for a person, a group, a particular age? Is it for another species? Is it for the environment? Some combination?

Once you have defined the kind action, complete it in the way it is meant to be done. Consider the act as having its own integrity and your job is to honor that integrity.

Share what you do to complete this theme on the 12 Days of Kindness website.

http://12daysofkindness.wordpress.com/

[Sati]

Day 6 / May 18 : Do Something Kind For an Acquaintance

“I look upon every day to be lost in which I do not make a new acquaintance.” – Samuel Johnson

Somewhere between friend and stranger are those people we call acquaintances. They might be friends of friends, or people who provide us a regular service, or even certain neighbors. We know of these people. We just don’t KNOW them. Our relationship with them is “neutral.”

Today, complete an act of kindness for one of your acquaintances. In celebrating one acquaintance, we celebrate all of our acquaintances. In celebrating all of our acquaintances, we celebrate everyone.
Do you see how completing acts of kindness creates a positive wave of human synergy, that it harnesses something greater than what first may be apparent?

 

[Sati]

Day 7 / May 19 : Do Something Kind For a Stranger

“Wherever there is a human being, there is an opportunity for kindness.” – Seneca

We all begin as strangers. Our closest friends were once unknown to us. With that in mind, I present today's theme.

Today, please extend a kindness action to a stranger, someone you do not know on a personal level. Typically, these are the people you pass by or hear about as you go on with your day.

This theme is intended to help you experience how it feels to do something kind when reciprocation is not likely. But who knows, maybe you'll discover a new good friend.

For a little inspiration, check out the Year of Giving.

http://yearofgiving.org/about/

[Sati]

Day 8 / May 20 : Provide Something Wonderful for Someone to Find

"Life is positively great and wonderful and exciting, and I can't wait to see what's behind the next corner and all the corners after that." --Anonymous

Today's theme is intended to help you experience the idea of each of us being vehicles of kindness in a user-friendly universe.

By providing something wonderful for someone to find, I am encouraging you to think creatively. In doing so as part of a greater whole, I am hoping you will think holistically.

Note, the word "wonderful" is being used purposefully but it needs to be defined by you.

Quietly emptying the dishwasher at night after your partner has gone to bed so she enters the kitchen the next morning with that chore done is one way to meet the intention of this theme.

[Sati]

Day 9 / May 21 : What You Wish to Experience, Provide For Another

“Kindness is a language which the deaf can hear and the and the blind can see.” — Mark Twain

Take time today to consider some things you wish to experience in your own life. Then find another for whom you can be the source of one of those things, someone you think would really appreciate having it, and be that source.

Provide for another something you want to experience.

In principle, this isn’t a material thing but something more experiential in nature.

Some Ideas: If you wish to experience peace, provide peace for another. If you wish to know that you are safe, cause another to know that they are safe. If you wish to better understand seemingly incomprehensible things, help another to better understand. If you wish to heal your own sadness or anger, seek to heal the sadness or anger of another.

[Sati]

Day 10 / May 22 : Reach Out to Someone With Whom You've Lost Touch

“Life is partly what we make it, and partly what it is made by the friends we choose.” -Tennessee Williams

Start by making a list of people you haven’t seen for some time or those whom you miss. Is it an old classmate, a distant friend, someone who has moved away, a relative? Choose one of these people and take steps to reach her/him.

If it helps, think what it would be like for you to hear from someone who has lost touch with you, specifically someone you’d really like to hear from.

Note, any style of communication is fine but you will get more from the exercise if it extends beyond an email or voice mail message to some kind of exchange.