Kindness # 5 & # 6

It always seems that the shortest month of the year tends to feel like the longest. I acknowledge that i have not been following my weekly goal of posting on my blog. No excuses - just life getting in the way. This however, has not stopped me from remaining conscious of my levels of kindness or my random acts that i have performed. I would love to say that i was able to give hours of my time this month to volunteering, or donate a significant about financially to a charity, but this is not the case. I do however find pleasure in the smaller, less elaborate acts that have the same level of worth in my eyes.

Kindness # 5 This is somewhat of a funny story. A month back my oldest daughter was eating an apple. She wasn't wanting to share with her sister (which we are working on) and decided to take the apple and dispose of it in one of the toilets. Well suffice to say, after flushing the toilet it became plugged and a plummer needed to be called. The plumbing company was awesome (a little mom & pop business) and instead of collecting payment at the time of arrival, they chose to send me a bill in the mail. I promptly wrote out a cheque for the service provide and had an idea about delivering it personally to their business rather than send it back in the mail. I had appreciated their promptness and understanding in coming out and fixing my toilet, that when i delivered the payment to them, i decided to put together a fruit basket for them. I wrote a little note expressing my appreciation. When i dropped it off, the "lady" that runs the business laughed and laughed when she saw the basket. She called me the "apple lady" and remarked by saying "none of these have been in the toilet have they". We both had a chuckle and she was thankful for me generosity. Sometimes a small act can be just as fulfilling.

Kindness # 6 In the 21st century it seems that the majority of us live a technology based existence, whether that be facebook, blogging, twitter etc... Social networking has become the norm and has established online friendships that in the past might not have existed without technology. My intentional act this week was to take an hour out of my day and write a letter to a friend the old fashioned way (with pen and paper). In my letter, i expressed how much i missed her and her family. I reminised about old memories, and touched on new things in my life (which she likely has read on facebook). I ended my letter, expressing why i chose to write to her in this form rather than send a message. I asked her to write back the same way, that way when i go to the mailbox i have something to look forward to rather than opening the endless cycle of bills. I wanted her to know that i care and love our friendship. I just hope that my letter puts a smile on her face when she opens up her mailbox.

“Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier. Be the living expression of God's kindness: kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile.” ~Mother Teresa.