Random Acts of Kindness

Before I get myself in hot water, I should define what power is. Power is not a way to take advantage of those you see as weaker or below you. Power is the ability to live your life to the fullest and make the most of every opportunity that unfolds before you. It is using all your resources in the best way possible and making the world around you a better place. It is the power to lift someone out of the quicksand and set them back on their own feet.

First we have to bring into balance four areas: Spiritual, physical, emotional, and financial. For more about that see my self-care Hub.

http://hubpages.com/_l6f64eotqm13/hub/Self_Care_

We are all flawed. So the goal is never to be perfect, but to be better. Define your weaknesses and work on those first. Then define your strengths and make sure you are using them.

Most of us are blessed in so many ways. So one of the ways to achieve balance is by giving back to the community, or to humanity, or to the world or to the universe.

So I've decided to start this random acts of kindness Hub. It's not so I can brag on myself. It's so I can keep track, make a difference in some small way, and encourage others to take up the baton and carry on in their own way.

People often asked Mother Theresa how they could help the poor. Her answer boiled down to this: You don't have to help them all, just start with the one closest to you.

Every time you give, you improve the balance of all that's been given to you. Pay it forward, as they say.

Day 1 Sunday Nov. 5, 2006

I was eating at McDonald's and I saw what seemed to be a street person. It broke my heart. She was elderly and nursing a cup of coffee. All I could think of was how horrible I would feel if my own grandmother had to live on the streets like that. So I gave her my last $3 and suggested she buy some breakfast or lunch. She seemed very happy I stepped forward, even though I was a little afraid I would offend her. After all, for all I know she could be an eccentric billionaire. You never know.

Day 2 Mon. Nov. 6

Today I took some of the cupcakes I made last night over to some construction workers. I don't know if they spoke English, and they looked a little shocked. But surprising people is half of the fun of it.

Day 3 Tues. Nov.7

Today's attempt was kind of muffed. I tried to give the maintenance man one of my paintings, and he said he'd see if his son wanted one, and let me know later.

Day 4 Wed. Nov. 8

In crochet class I helped 3 students with their own personal projects, instead of the beginning class they paid for.

Day 5 Thurs. Nov.9

Today I gave up my table at a restaurant so a big family could sit down. Otherwise they would have had to sit at seperate smaller tables

Day 6 Friday Nov. 10

I gave out new holographic pencils to the kids playing out on the street.

Day 8 Sat. Nov. 11

Helped customers solve some of their art problems.

Day 9 Sun. Nov. 12

Made balloon animals for the kids at an event that didn't have any children's activities.

Day 10 Mon. Nov. 13

Threw away big avocado branch that had fallen into the alley down the street from me.

Day 11 Tues. Nov. 14 Gave a homeless man in the street $1.00 from the car window.

Day 12 Wed. Nov. 15 Offered to give dinner to some people at the mall.

Day 13 Thur. Nov. 16 Shared drawing tips with a teenager

Day 14 Fri. Nov. 17 Kept a woman from going into the men's room at a coffee shop.

Day 15. Sat. Nov. 18 Helped a man on a bus find his missing button.

Day 16. Sun. Nov. 19 Emailed another writer some encouraging words.

Day 17. Mon. Nov. 20 Stayed home and didn't share my cold with the world. (Sometimes kind acts required not doing instead of doing).

Day 18. Tues. Nov. 21 I didn't shake a pregnant woman's hand yesterday. I have a cold and didn't want to pass it on to the mom-to-be.

Day 19. Wed. Nov. 22 I taught a boy at the mall to juggle. Hopefully he was inspired enough to come back next week.

Day 20 Thurs. Nov. 23 Thanksgiving I got someone a raincheck at the grocery store.

Day 21 Fri. Nov. 24 I helped some people at the store with their shopping carts.

Day 22 Sat. Nov. 25 I let someone go ahead of me at the cash register.

Day 23 Sun. Nov. 26 I talked with my neighbor about her dog. I hadn't seen it in awhile and it turned out she had to find it a new home because it kept biting her daughter.

Day 24 Mon. Nov. 27 I gave the girl who lives across from me a knitting kit.

Day 25 Tues. Nov. 28 I wrote a troubled teen a postcard encouraging her to keep up her drawing hobby.

Day 26 Wed. Nov. 29 I checked on my neighbor to make sure she was safe after a man just walked right into her house.

Day 27 Thurs. Nov. 30 I gave $10. to nanowrimo.org to help them build libraries in Viet Nam.

The month has ended, and there is enough here to make my point I think. I plan to continue on, and I hope the rest of you are having your own successful journey of leaving the world better than you found it.

Peace Out