My 26 Random Acts Of Kindness

"The best antidote I know for worry is work. The best cure for weariness is the challenge of helping someone who is even more tired. One of the great ironies of life is this: He or She who serves almost always benefits more than he or she is served." Gordon B. Hinckley
 

A while back, I came across a blog where a woman did 35 random acts of kindness for her 35th birthday. She spent her entire birthday serving other people! At first, I thought it sounded like a lot of work, but after reading how she felt afterwards, it changed my attitude.  A few days ago, while I was visiting teaching I was reminded of a quote about how the best thing we can do for ourselves is to serve others; to put our own worries and concerns aside, and lose ourselves in service.

"To find real happiness, we must seek for it in a focus outside ourselves." Thomas S. Monson
 

Remembering that quote reminded me of the woman's "acts of kindness," and I decided that was something I wanted to do. I wanted to share my gifts, and talents, and service to those around me- and my birthday was just days away!

I decided to do "26 random acts of kindness" for my 26th birthday. At first I thought it would be hard to think of 26 "acts" to do, but the ideas came flooding in. Infact, I really could easily think of 26 more... When you allow yourself to put your worries or problems aside and really focus on others, your eyes are opened to how many people you can reach out to.

"Our opportunities to give of ourselves are indeed limitless... there are hearts to gladden. There are kind words to say. There are gifts to be given. There are deeds to be done. There are souls to save." Thomas S. Monson
 

Acts 1-4: Gifts and notes to the boys' teachers.

Acts 5-11: Plates of cookies for a friend, for a boy who is having surgery this week, for my visiting teaching companion's family, for our neighbors, for one of my visiting teaching families, and for our cousins Brooklyn and Aubrey,

Act 12- I purchased a ticket to this years, "Time Out For Woman" for a lady in our ward.

Act 13- a note to our neighbor across the street, who lives alone and has always been so sweet to our boys.

Act 14- wrote a letter to a woman in our ward, who has become like an "adopted" mom to me.

Act 15- wrote a note to a woman in our ward.

Act 16- wrote a note to my VT companion.

Act 17- made dinner for a family in our ward.

Act 18- surprised my sister with flowers and chocolate!

Act 19- purchased a massage for my hubby!

Act 20- wrote a letter to our "Nana and Papa" who are currently serving a mission in Hawaii.

Acts 21- 23: I gathered all the laundry hampers, washed, folded, and put the clothes away. I tidied up each room and made each bed. (I know that that is something I do normally, but it felt especially good to do it, because of the mindset I was in- I was serving those I love the most.)

Acts 24- 26: wrote a love note in Aiden's lunch box, in Logan's lunch box, and placed a love note in my hubby's car.

 

"Even the smallest act of caring for another person is like a drop of water- it will make ripples throughout the entire pond."

I have been on the "receiving" end of service and random acts of kindness a lot, infact probably more often than I've been on the "giving" end. I just hope that these "26" acts can help even out the score! :)

 

"Those who are happiest are those who do the most for others."