My family began practicing Random Acts of Kindness way back when my kids were teens. Now they have teens. This year, I decided to make RAKs my focus. With a twist.
CoCo received a beautiful Act of Kindness this year. The train conductor on her short commute Surprised her with a generous Christmas Gift. She’s still smiled for weeks with wonderment and told everyone she knew about the conductor’s kindness. However, I initially responded with suspicion. After a bit of reflection, I remembered an observation I got from a friend.
You are a much better giver than a receiver. It takes some humbleness to receive without the intention of paying back.
My dear friend, Nancy S (circa, 1980)
So with that in mind, I am devoting 2022 to recognizing kindness given. I admit it; I feel vulnerable. I do feel reluctant to share. On the other hand, I like taking the time to recognize kindnesses of all sorts that come my way.
If you’re looking for Week #3, I skipped that week in favor of remembering Martin Luther King, Jr.
Here’s some ways that people were kinds to me this week.
Kind Corrections
A reader of Growing North sent me a list of corrections, along with page numbers. Not that many in the grand scheme of things. Still, that took some time and effort. Jim and John both found a few more. I almost always find a mistake or two in the books I read. Still, I appreciate eagle eyes keeping me informed so I can correct and republish. Of course, I kick myself for not finding the errors the first time around. Aghhgh!
As if, he read my mind, the friend I call Mr. Dictionary, tweeted this:
Oh Steve, you were kinder than you know.
Kind Acknowledgments
Sending email reminders, collecting suggestions, sending book ideas, and scheduling Zoom meetings for Rez Reads Book Club is not all that time-consuming, or difficult. Yes, I do occasionally get in a hurry and let auto-correct get away from me. (Sending reminders to Book Daddy instead of Book Club. Whoops!). Everyone is gentle with their reminders and generous with their acknowledgments.
Kind Prayers
Sometimes a friend’s loss is so intense that it shakes me to my core. So it is with my friend Pat. She is on my mind every day. So, what a kindness that people from across the Lake offer prayers and words of condolence to her and to me. Yes, I know these people, but they don’t know Pat. My heart is lighter to know that strangers continue to be kind in small ways.
The official Random Act of Kindness Day is February 17. Visit the Website here. “The work to create a kinder world never ends. There is no limit on the amount of goodness we can put into the world..”
Use the hashtags #MakeKindnessTheNorm #RAKday #RandomActsofKindnessDay. Most importantly, “In a world where you can be anything…Be kind.” (And be willing to receive the kindness offered.)
I’ll be watching through my rose-colored glasses for opportunities to give a RAK. And I’ll have my antennae up ready to recognize when I get a RAK or see one.