Act of Kindness – Week #1-#30 Outline!!

“How beautiful a day when kindness touches it!”

Hello!

   A year ago today, I wrote and published my first blog post that led me into a great journey of intentionally partaking in 30 act of kindness ideas! I blogged about each new act of kindness to encourage other people to intentionally carry it out as well! I am thankful that God placed the desire on my heart to find new ways to intentionally show kindness and love to strangers and those around me! Over the past year, I have been continually humbled by partaking in these acts of kindness since they help me focus more on other people and not myself or my current circumstances.

   I am currently 20 weeks pregnant with my first child, and I am aware that life is about to get a lot more sweet but also hold a lot more responsibility! I have decided to put this “Let Love Overflow” blog on hold for a little while because of this. It has been a beautiful past season of life of having time to blog about 30 acts of kindness! I am now moving on to another beautiful season of life where my relationship with God, being the best wife I can for my husband and taking care of our soon to be newborn baby…along with working 40 hours a week…will be my normal routine!

   It is my hope to repeat the 30 intentional acts of kindness and carry out new ones too, but I will not be spending the time writing blog entries about them. I hope to return to this blog in the future and when my baby (or babies) have grown some, it is my goal to show them these blogs and intentionally partake in them again with them!

   This week, I would like to recap the thirty acts of kindness to help remind us that we can make these part of our lives and not just a one-time thing. I have included the link to each blog as well in case you want to read the whole post!

1) The act of kindness this week…the next time you go grocery shopping, show kindness by starting and encouraging a meaningful conversation with the cashier the whole time you are there!! http://letloveoverflow.blogspot.com/2014/05/act-of-kindness-week-1.html

2) The act of kindness this week…show kindness by personally expressing gratitude to one of our everyday heroes (military, police, fire, emergency service workers etc)!! http://letloveoverflow.blogspot.com/2014/05/act-of-kindness-week-2.html

3) The act of kindness this week…show kindness by helping animals find their forever home which could bring countless years of happiness and love to the adopted animal and to someone else!! http://letloveoverflow.blogspot.com/2014/05/act-of-kindness-week-3.html

4) The act of kindness this week…show kindness by helping someone make memories that can last a lifetime (and possibly even longer through photos)!! http://letloveoverflow.blogspot.com/2014/06/act-of-kindness-week-4.html

5) The act of kindness this week…while paying for your food order at a restaurant’s drive thru, show kindness by paying for the person’s order in the vehicle behind you!! http://letloveoverflow.blogspot.com/2014/06/act-of-kindness-week-5.html

6) The act of kindness this week…show kindness by finding a food item that has been in your pantry for a while and use it to brighten a stranger’s day!! http://letloveoverflow.blogspot.com/2014/06/act-of-kindness-week-6.html

7) The act of kindness this week…show kindness by placing coupons around a store in front of the item the coupon is for so that the next customer looking for that item will find the coupon and use it!!  http://letloveoverflow.blogspot.com/2014/06/act-of-kindness-week-7.html 

8) The act of kindness this week…show kindness by sending a “thank you” in the mail to someone currently serving and protecting our country in the armed forces!! http://letloveoverflow.blogspot.com/2014/07/act-of-kindness-week-8.html

9) The act of kindness this week…show kindness by stopping what  you are doing, asking someone “how are you?” and then giving them your full attention as you listen to their response!! http://letloveoverflow.blogspot.com/2014/07/act-of-kindness-week-9.html

10) The act of kindness this week…show kindness by anonymously leaving encouraging notes in a public place for a stranger to find!! http://letloveoverflow.blogspot.com/2014/07/act-of-kindness-week-10.html

11) The act of kindness this week…show kindness to a server at a restaurant by putting your plates and trash etc. in one neat pile on the table after you finish eating!! http://letloveoverflow.blogspot.com/2014/08/act-of-kindness-week-11.html

12) The act of kindness this week…show kindness to a stranger by leaving an uplifting note in the Bible in a hotel room as you check out and leave a hotel!! http://letloveoverflow.blogspot.com/2014/08/act-of-kindness-week-12.html

13) The act of kindness…show kindness by helping a community during/after a devastating situation. If you live away: pray, intentionally find the helpers and share the good being done to uplift and encourage other people!!http://letloveoverflow.blogspot.com/2014/08/act-of-kindness-week-13_19.html

14) The act of kindness this week…show kindness to someone you know who has entered a new stage in life or is overwhelmed by communicating to them that you honestly want to be there for them and be specific in suggesting ways that you can help!! http://letloveoverflow.blogspot.com/2014/08/act-of-kindness-week-14.html

15) The act of kindness this week…show kindness by complimenting people and be specific on why you are giving the compliment!! http://letloveoverflow.blogspot.com/2014/09/act-of-kindness-week-15.html

16) The act of kindness this week...show kindness by finding an organization that you agree with their mission/work and then support them (financial support, volunteering your time, telling others about it and encouraging them to support it as well etc)!! http://letloveoverflow.blogspot.com/2014/09/act-of-kindness-week-16.html

17) The act of kindness this week…show kindness by writing a heartfelt handwritten note to someone that you know could use some encouragement!! http://letloveoverflow.blogspot.com/2014/09/act-of-kindness-week-17.html 

18) The act of kindness this week…show kindness by pushing a grocery chart inside to use during shopping inside of using a grocery chart that is already inside the store!! http://letloveoverflow.blogspot.com/2014/10/act-of-kindness-week-18.html

19) The act of kindness this week…show kindness by paying for a stranger’s meal at a restaurant!! http://letloveoverflow.blogspot.com/2014/10/act-of-kindness-week-19.html

20) The act of kindness this week...show kindness by being an intentional courteous driver!!http://letloveoverflow.blogspot.com/2014/10/act-of-kindness-week-20.html

21) The act of kindness this week...show kindness by supporting a food drive to help feed the hungry!! http://letloveoverflow.blogspot.com/2014/11/act-of-kindness-week-21.html

22) The act of kindness this week...show kindness by continuously going out of your way to express thanks to the people around you or to someone who you have not talked to in a while so that you can live a life of thanksgiving!! http://letloveoverflow.blogspot.com/2014/11/act-of-kindness-week-22.html

23) The act of kindness this week...show kindness by giving to a child in need or to a child that is not expecting a gift from you this Christmas!! http://letloveoverflow.blogspot.com/2014/12/act-of-kindness-week-23.html

24) The act of kindness this week...show kindness by giving to someone who is not on your gift giving list to help spread the good news of the greatest gift we have ever received, Jesus!http://letloveoverflow.blogspot.com/2014/12/act-of-kindness-week-24.html

25) The act of kindness this week...show kindness by finding unused or lightly used items in your home (or purchased at a low price) that can be donated to an organization to help other people!!http://letloveoverflow.blogspot.com/2015/01/act-of-kindness-week-25.html

26) The act of kindness this week…show kindness in a store by putting items back in their proper spot or re-stacking items that are messed up etc!! http://letloveoverflow.blogspot.com/2015/01/act-of-kindness-week-26.html

27) The act of kindness this week…show kindness by intentionally leaving stamps at the post office for other people to find and use!! http://letloveoverflow.blogspot.com/2015/02/act-of-kindness-week-27.html

28) The act of kindness this week…show kindness by calling and talking to someone who you have not talked to in a while!! http://letloveoverflow.blogspot.com/2015/02/act-of-kindness-week-28.html

29) The act of kindness this week…show kindness by intentionally leaving quarters in a 25 cent gumball/candy machine!! http://letloveoverflow.blogspot.com/2015/03/act-of-kindness-week-29.html

30) The act of kindness this week…show kindness by intentionally leaving diapers or baby wipes on a changing table in a public restroom with a note! http://letloveoverflow.blogspot.com/2015/03/act-of-kindness-week-30.html

   A special “thank you” to those of you who have read my blogs, shared in carrying out the acts of kindness and encouraged me along the way as well! Your kindness and support has meant so much to me!

~Ang Nicole

As always…please comment below with your own experiences with these acts of kindness! I would really enjoy hearing about it!!

Act of Kindness – Week #30!!

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” James 1:17

  My husband, Blake, and I are happily expecting our first child in September! We are overjoyed and so thankful for the countless people who are sharing in our excitement! What a blessing from God our child is already!

  My first trimester brought about a significant decrease in energy and required a lot more sleep, but that is normal, and I praise God for Him continuing to create our baby inside of me! Our baby is so worth the wait, lack of energy and tiredness!

  At my 11 week appointment, I heard baby’s heartbeat on a Doppler stethoscope, and Blake and I saw our baby for the first time on the ultrasound! Amazed, excited and in so in awe of God was how I left my appointment!

  I am currently 16 weeks (in my second trimester) and have had a pretty easy pregnancy so far with no morning sickness or nausea! What a blessing! Another huge blessing is that my sister is also pregnant and due with her first child two days before me! As you can imagine, the past couple months for me and those closest to me have been a lot of talk about pregnancy and babies…and this brings us to the next intentional act of kindness idea!

*The act of kindness this week…show kindness by intentionally leaving diapers or baby wipes on a changing table in a public restroom with a note!

*My experience with the act of kindness…I have started noticing all the changing tables in women’s restrooms since becoming pregnant. I am sure that is convenient for mothers with small children who need to be changed…so I intentionally bought a package of baby wipes and made an act of kindness card with my stamp! I then left the items in my car or purse for the next time I would go out to eat or into a store where a bathroom would have a changing table. I found myself at Petco on Saturday running errands since my border collie, Jack, was in need of more food. I was not sure if Petco was going to have a changing table or not, but I was happy to open the bathroom door and see it mounted on the wall! I left the baby wipes and note and then smiled on my way out! As a mommy-to-be, I could imagine that finding a free package of baby wipes in a random public bathroom would brighten my day! I hope it did for the person who found it and that they might also be moved to pass along kindness!

P.s. Please comment below with your own experience with this act of kindness! I would really enjoy hearing about it!!

Act of Kindness – Week #29!!

“When you carry out acts of kindness you get a wonderful feeling inside. It is as though something inside your body responds and says, “Yes, this is how I ought to feel!” Harold Kushner

   When I was in high school, my group of friends liked to eat at Steak n Shake! It would not be my first choice when eating out, but I do like their food and milkshakes! At the end of every meal though, I would put a quarter into a gumball machine at the front of the store and enjoy a Seedling gumball! Seedling gumballs come in assorted fruit shapes and flavors such as apple, orange, lemon, strawberry, grape and watermelon! My favorite was strawberry and watermelon! Inside each seedling gumball was candy seeds which reminded me of nerds candy! I still remember that I would chew off half of the gumball then dump the candy seeds into my mouth before eating the other half of the gumball! They were delicious until they lost their flavor...which was not long! 

   Years later, can you believe that one of my husband’s favorite restaurants is Steak n Shake?! The first time we ate at the Steak n Shake in our city, I looked at the gumball machines while my husband was paying. I was saddened to see no Seedling gumballs! I still put a quarter in a machine and had a gumball though...it is basically tradition!

*The act of kindness this week…show kindness by intentionally leaving quarters in a 25 cent gumball/candy machine!!

*My experience with the act of kindness… I thought about Seedling gumballs recently and so I told my husband that we needed to go to Steak n Shake soon so that I could intentionally do my next act of kindness! He gladly accepted! We enjoyed our dinner and then as he was paying, I used a quarter to get some candy. I then left quarters in the machines that were 25 cents.

   I hope something was small as finding a quarter brightened someone's day! I know there had been several times when I did not have a quarter at the end of my meal at Steak n Shake, and I would have been so excited to find a quarter already sitting in the machine waiting to be turned!

P.s. Please comment below with your own experience with this act of kindness! I would really enjoy hearing about it!!

Act of Kindness – Week #28!!

“I truly believe that the little things can make life so much more beautiful!”

   My two year phone contract is almost up which means next month I will be getting a new phone! Yeah! I always get excited to upgrade my phone and learn the new features etc! Now that I have had a smart phone for the past couple years, I cannot imagine going back because of all that it is able to do and that I use it for!

   However, my biggest problem with cell phones, especially smart phones, is that they make it too convenient to communicate with people in a way that you will never hear their voice.  Do not get me wrong, texting is one of my favorite things because it is so quick, convenient and can put an instant smile on someone’s face. Access to my email and Facebook are also a wonderful feature on my phone since it allows me to access my social life anywhere I go!

   I want to encourage us all, though, to not get wrapped up in a culture that is communicating more and more only through electronics. The picture below helps explain this.

*The act of kindness this week…show kindness by calling and talking to someone who you have not talked to in a while!!

*My experience with the act of kindness…This week, I called a family friend that I have not spoken to in a while! It was great to catch up real quick, and she mentioned a couple times how nice it was to hear from me! I am really glad I made the call! 

  I have always enjoyed talking on the phone and catching up with loved ones! I am not saying that I have this all down perfectly though. I know I still need to work on this too! There are several people that I want to start calling or call more often! My act of kindness blogs are just as much an encouragement to you all as they are to me!

   If you do not like to talk on the phone, which is understandable, but please consider making a quick phone call to your Mom/Dad/Brother/Sister/Grandparent/Cousin/Friend and simply say, “I love you” or “I miss you!” There is just something more personable and special about hearing a loved one’s voice! I guarantee it will make their day, and maybe their week!

   God has blessed many of us with a voice! Let us intentionally show kindness to someone in our life by verbal communication!

P.s. Please comment below with your own experience with this act of kindness! I would really enjoy hearing about it!!

Act of Kindness – Week #27!!

“Remember there is no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end.”

   When I was growing up in the 90's, I remember having handwriting and cursive classes in school! We also learned how to write, address and send letters through the mail. I did not have my first typing class until 6^th grade. I hear now that grade schools do not have handwriting classes any longer and even have each student take a laptop home each night to do their homework. It is a good thing for schools to be trying to get away from using so much paper…but how times have surely changed just in the short 27 years of my life!

   The United States Post Office seems to be getting less and less business as my generation gets older and younger generations emerge. It is most likely because people are starting to prefer to communicate through social media, email or by sending e-cards. It might just be rumors, but I have heard that the post office could start being closed on Saturdays or even eventually close altogether. That is sad! I am a fan of the post office and snail mail! I like to send cards in the mail for birthdays and special occasions, and I send a majority of my annual Christmas cards out through the post office each December. With all that being said, there are always stamps at our home ready to be used!

*The act of kindness this week…show kindness by intentionally leaving stamps at the post office for other people to find and use!!

*My experience with the act of kindness…I used my “Acts of Kindness” stamp, wrote out a little note and took some stamps to work with me one day. After work, I intentionally went to the post office to partake in this act of kindness! The post office was already closed for the day, but people are still able to go inside to use the postage machine or drop their mail in a slot to be mailed out the next morning. I left the three items on the table in the post office that is designated for addressing envelopes!

   It is enjoyable and rewarding when we see someone’s reaction when we show love and kindness to them! It is also exciting, though, to show kindness to strangers whom we will never meet and will not see their reaction to an act of kindness! I hope that this act of kindness brightened someone’s day at the post office and that they passed on kindness as well!!

P.s. Please comment below with your own experience with this act of kindness! I would really enjoy hearing about it!!

Act of Kindness – Week #26!!

“Love and kindness are never wasted. They always make a difference!”

  My last three blog entries shared new ideas for acts of kindness that involved spending some money. It is a great to spend money helping other people, but showing kindness does not always involve money! I have written several blog posts already with act of kindness ideas that are completely free but could be life changing to the people you intentionally show love and kindness too! This week’s act of kindness will only involve your time and intentional actions…no money!

  January is a very full month for my accounting department and I at work! I am a senior accountant and in January I am working on December month end, year end and preparing for auditors. A couple years ago, we had a change in employees which resulted in me having to do two people’s jobs in our department during the month of January…I am very thankful for my co-workers help during our “busy season” this year!   

  I assume that a lot of people’s jobs, like mine, have days or months that are more hectic than others. I also assume that a lot people are very thankful when other people help, especially during those more hectic days! What if during our normal weekly shopping trips, we could do little acts of kindness while in a store that would help the workers and make their day a little easier?!

*The act of kindness this week…show kindness in a store by putting items back in their proper spot or re-stacking items that are messed up etc!!

*My experience with the act of kindness…There were a couple different ways in the past couple weeks that I intentionally showed kindness while in a store! Let me give you two examples! A couple weeks ago I was clothes shopping and only a couple items worked after trying them on in the dressing room. Most people take the time to re-hang the clothes on the hangers, carry them out to the front of the dressing rooms and put the clothes on a rack. This is great but then someone still has to put all the clothes back in the proper spot. To intentionally show kindness, I took it all a step further. I carried the clothes back out into the women’s department and placed them back on the original rack. After all, where I got the clothes from was still fresh in my mind and most likely the worker might have had to spend a little time figuring out where each piece of clothing went.

  Another example of intentionally carrying out this act of kindness was when I was recently grocery shopping, and I had picked up an item early in my shopping. When I got towards the end of the store though, I found a better item. Instead of taking the original item out of my cart and placing it randomly somewhere in the store, I walked back to the original spot in the grocery store and placed the item back! No one had to “clean up” after me this way!

  Another way that I have thought about is when you are shopping at the mall and looking for the right size through shirts that are folded and laying on a table, make sure to refold them and nicely stack the pile once you are done. I have seen several employees over the years fold a pile of shirts and the next minute someone messes them up and then the employee is right back to folding the same pile. 

Intentional acts of kindness that are completely free can make a difference in someone’s life!!

P.s. Please comment below with your own experience with this act of kindness! I would really enjoy hearing about it!!

Act of Kindness - Week #25!!

A new year...start it out with intentionally showing kindness!

  Happy 2015, may it be a blessed one for all! My week of Christmas and New Years was spent with family at home, family up north and family down south! It was a lot of traveling but full of such good times! Family time is one of my favorite things about holidays!

  In my last blog post, I added a “p.s.” that informed you to look for discounted Christmas cards when after Christmas shopping! Did you do so?! Read below to see how greeting cards of any occasion are part of the next intentional act of kindness!

*The act of kindness this week...show kindness by finding unused or lightly used items in your home (or purchased at a low price) that can be donated to an organization to help other people!!

  I accidentally found the “St. Jude’s Ranch for Children” website while looking for ways I could donate to St. Jude’s Hospital, and I am so happy I did! Here is a little about the organization (find more out at https://stjudesranch.org/):

“For more than 45 years, St. Jude’s Ranch for Children has provided a safe, nurturing home and therapeutic residential treatment services to thousands of children in Nevada and Texas. St. Jude’s Ranch is making a difference by creating new lives with new hope for abused, abandoned and neglected children...” Their mission statement is, “Transforming the lives of abused and at-risk children, young adults and families by empowering them to create new chances, new choices and new hope in a caring community.”

St. Jude’s Ranch for Children does a “Recycled Card Program”: “One of the most successful fundraisers at St. Jude’s Ranch is the recycled greeting card program. People from all over the United States send us their used greeting cards so they can be repurposed and resold. The kids on the Ranch run the program, and they earn an income from the cards they resell. This process of following through with a project gives them a sense of accomplishment and also establishes a solid work ethic.” https://stjudesranch.org/about-us/recycled-card-program/

*My experience with the act of kindness…I received a Walgreens gift card around Christmas. A couple days after Christmas, my Husband was leaving the house so I handed him the gift card and asked him to pick up some discounted Christmas cards! I was thankful for his help since I was busy packing for us to travel to Texas the next morning! I used these cards plus other occasion cards that were lying around the house that I had not used yet! The organization takes used cards as well, but I keep the cards I receive from other people! Below is a little information about donating cards to the program:

“To Donate Cards:

Year-round, we happily accept used all-occasion greeting cards. Please review the following tips before sending in your donation.

-Only the card front can be used (please check to be sure the backside of the front of the card is clear of any writing, etc.)

-We can not accept Hallmark, Disney or American Greeting cards

-5″ x 7″ size or smaller is preferred

-To mail large quantities in the least expensive way, use a USPS (United States Post Office) Flat Rate Box (available at your local Post Office), which holds up to 70 pounds

Mail donations to:
St. Jude’s Ranch for Children
Recycled Card Program
100 St. Jude’s Street
Boulder City, NV 89005”

  This intentional act of kindness is simple: buy/find cards, cut off the front of the card and mail them in! The awesome thing about it is you have no idea how many children you are helping by doing this!!

P.s. Please comment below with your own experience with this act of kindness! I would really enjoy hearing about it!!