The Daily Kindness Digest #173
Kindness Quote
“Do something wonderful, people may imitate it.”
Albert Schweitzer
Act of Kindness
Love yourself each and everyday. To love others, loving yourself must come first.
Positive Affirmation
I believe in my ability to change the world on a small scale with the work that I do!
Kindness Media
The Daily Kindness Digest #172
Kindness Quote
“A warm smile is the universal language of kindness.”
William Arthur Ward
Act of Kindness
I show APPRECIATION to those close to me! We tend to forget that happiness doesn’t come as a result of getting what we don’t have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have!
Positive Affirmation
I show APPRECIATION to those close to me! We tend to forget that happiness doesn’t come as a result of getting what we don’t have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have!
Kindness Media
The Daily Kindness Digest #171
Kindness Quote
“Carry out a random act of kindness, with no expectation of reward, safe in the knowledge that one day someone might do the same for you.”
Princess Diana
Act of Kindness
Try to add happiness to every conversation you have today. Make an impact to someone else’s day!
Positive Affirmation
I decide how my day will be by changing the way I look at things!
Kindness Media
The Daily Kindness Digest #170
Kindness Quote
“No matter what happens in life, be good to people. Being good to people is a wonderful legacy to leave behind.”
Taylor Swift
Act of Kindness
Buy lunch for someone you know to let them know that you are there for them. Show them that you are honored to be a part of their life!
Positive Affirmation
I don’t let negativity from others change the person that I am and want to be!
Kindness Media
The Daily Kindness Digest #169
Kindness Quote
“Life is not a problem to be solved, but a reality to be experienced.”
Soren Kierkegaard
Act of Kindness
Give a cup of coffee to a bus driver or delivery man working late. It will help them stay energized on the road.
Positive Affirmation
I am DEDICATED I reach for my goals and perservere through tough times!
Kindness Media
The Daily Kindness Digest #168
Kindness Quote
“To be happy, it takes being comfortable in your own shoes. The rest can work from there.”
Sophia Bush
Act of Kindness
Become a big brother or sister to someone. Big or small we are all in need of a friend sometimes.
Positive Affirmation
I am HONEST! If something is wrong I do my best to work things out
Kindness Media
The Daily Kindness Digest #167
Kindness Quote
“What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.”
Jane Goodall
Act of Kindness
Volunteer to help out around the house instead of making everyone else do all the hard house work.
Positive Affirmation
I am STRONG! Nothing can stop me from achieving my goals!
Kindness Media
The Daily Kindness Digest #166
Kindness Quote
“Your positivity can become a castle around you which will protect you from the arrow of negativity.”
Gurudev Shree Chitrabhanu
Act of Kindness
Schedule a check up at the doctor or dentist! You have to stay healthy in order to be able to help others!
Positive Affirmation
I appreciate my life and tell my loved ones how much they mean to me ?
Kindness Media
The Daily Kindness Digest #165
Kindness Quote
“My joy may be diminished now, but I am still alive to be more joyful ahead.”
Ankam Nithin Kumar
Act of Kindness
Donate some of your clothes to a homeless shelter. If you have more than you need or no longer need it, give it to someone who could use it most! ?
Positive Affirmation
Instead of looking at the negative side of things I focus on the good things in my life!
Kindness Media
The Daily Kindness Digest #164
Kindness Quote
“A car can’t operate without the mechanical systems working, but it can operate with a few dents and scratches… you are the same.”
Mike Dolan
Act of Kindness
Offer to take a friend out for coffee. Its a great way to get updates on their life.
Positive Affirmation
When I see someone who looks sad, I ask if they want to talk about it and offer my support.
Kindness Media
The Daily Kindness Digest #163
Kindness Quote
“Keep your spirits up. Good things will come to you and you will come to good things.”
Terri Guillemets
Act of Kindness
Show someone you care by writing them a hand written note telling them how much they mean to you!
Positive Affirmation
I smile with my heart at every person I meet.
Kindness Media
The Kindness Flash #08
The Kindness Flash #08
This month's theme: COMMUNITY - a group of people united through a common goal.
Everyday Kindness: Tough City, Kind Neighbor
When Lisa first moved into the neighborhood in 1994, her neighbor James was very friendly. So much so that he was always helping her around the house, mowing the lawn, shoveling snow, and more! Sounds great, right? But something seemed a bit off for Lisa. Why was this man being kind to a stranger? What did he want in return?
Edited By David Beltran • Read More >>
Everyday Kindness: Four Teens, Four Elders, One Heart
When an intergenerational kindness class, made up of teenagers and elderly in Seattle, decided to surprise a stranger one afternoon, they didn’t realize the joy they would all receive just from committing one random act of kindness together.
Edited By David Beltran • Read More >>
Kind Connection: Megan Rose Taylor
At just 15-years-old, Megan discovered the importance of kindness first-hand when she fainted, fracturing her skull in three places. If it hadn’t been for the strangers who called an ambulance and cared for her until it arrived, Megan knows the result may have been even more devastating. Learn more about Megan and find out how you can make her Kindness Wish become a reality!
Read the full interview on the blog >>
Good News
If you’ve seen the news lately, you’ve most likely seen the stories about the presidential race in the U.S. and how more than any other previous election, it’s causing a lot of divisiveness.
But in a time when people are being divided by political beliefs, we sometimes forget to see the real life truths. We forget that the same people who we may now fiercely oppose are the same people who we grew up with. They’re the neighbor who made us feel welcome when we had just moved to the neighborhood. They’re the kids we played with at the playground. They’re the person we celebrated with when our favorite team scored the game winning goal. They’re the best friend of our parents who we consider a family member.
While many issues continue to come up and split opinions, we should remember that what has gotten us through the tough times in our lives, and also the great times, is each other - our community. So let us not forget that each and every one of us are leaders. Whether it’s in our home, at school, at our job, or any place else. Where others have the power to divide, we have the power to unite.
Kindness Quote
~ Anthony J. D'Angelo
Act of Kindness
The essence of a strong community is based on the close ties and relationships that form between people of that community. But strong roots don’t grow overnight, they’re nurtured.
Kindness Media
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Community: The Structure of Belonging by Peter Block
Whether it’s a company, a school, or one’s own neighborhood, we all know what a strong community looks like. But how do we go from being strong individuals to bringing people together? Peter Block shows us that in a world often full of divisiveness, it’s possible to create a united community and explains how all of us can help build it.
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The Giving Tree
If you need it, take it; if you don’t, leave it. This phrase is the premise behind The Giving Tree located in downtown Fort Collins, Colorado outside of the FoCo Cafe. The Giving Tree is a place where community members can give and receive freely. These items are free for the public to take as they wish. No judgement, just community-level support.
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The Giving Tree: Rooted in Community Support
The Giving Tree: Rooted in Community Support
By: Catharine Koroulis
If you need it, take it; if you don’t, leave it. This phrase is the premise behind The Giving Tree located in downtown Fort Collins, Colorado outside of the FoCo Cafe. The Giving Tree is a place where community members can give and receive freely. Each branch is stocked full of items from toiletries and baby wipes to bug spray and snacks. These items are free for the public to take as they wish. No judgement, just community-level support.
As a hybrid of sorts, inspiration for The Giving Tree comes from the Iranian ‘Wall of Kindness’. Like The Giving Tree, the Wall of Kindness was created to facilitate sharing within the community. The idea is simple; individuals are given a place to leave items for others who might be in need. Kelly Cann and Nicole Sizemore of The Mighty Notch Farm and Friendly Critters Farm knew they could make the same impact in the Fort Collins community. Cann’s response to their motivation is simple, “We’re farmers and mothers. We like to feed people.”
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Sign outside of The Giving Tree from Friendly Critters Farm and The Mighty Notch Farm. Credit: Zachary Donahoe
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In the spring of 2016 both women, their families, and several volunteers set out to build The Giving Tree. By most standards, the effort has been a huge success. The Giving Tree was constructed in just one day, with mostly repurposed material. Since its inception in February, The Giving Tree has fostered the simple act of reciprocity for many. According to Sizemore, “People go to The Giving Tree who have very little, yet they leave what they can for someone else.”
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Although The Giving Tree offers many items, writing journals are the hardest to keep in stock. Cann and Sizemore believe that underserved community members usually have much to say, but no one with whom to share their thoughts. “We love the idea that you don’t have to be a part of the system to help. We just want people to feel welcomed and loved,” said Sizemore.
Housing the Giving Tree at the FoCo Café makes sense. The FoCo Café is based on the pay-it-forward system where restaurant patrons are asked to pay what they can afford, pay for someone else’s meal, or simply pay with their time and talent. Both foster a sense of community and prove that concentrated individual effort can make a huge impact.
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Sponsoring a branch on The Giving Tree is easy. To make a donation, please visit Colorado Gives, and specify that you would like to support The Giving Tree. Items that commonly need stocked include wet wipes, baby powder, journals and pens, individually wrapped snacks, hand sanitizer, bug spray, sunscreen, pocket-sized flash lights, toiletries, and hygiene products.
For more information on the FoCo Café, visit their website. Information on the Giving Tree can be found at http://fococafe.org/the-giving-tree/.
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Words of inspiration located near The Giving Tree. Credit: Zachary Donahoe.
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The Daily Kindness Digest #162
Kindness Quote
“You’re not going to make me have a bad day. If there’s oxygen on earth and I’m breathing, it’s going to be a good day.”
Cotton Fitzsimmons
Act of Kindness
Next time you see garbage on the ground, instead of walking past it, throw it out. Be kind to the world you live in by keeping it clean!
Positive Affirmation
I don’t underestimate my gestures towards others throughout the day. They can make or ruin a someone’s day
Kindness Media
The Daily Kindness Digest #161
Kindness Quote
“You can’t stop the waves, but you can learn how to surf.”
Jon Kabat-Zinn
Act of Kindness
Take time to acknowledge and be grateful for everyone and everything in your life.
Positive Affirmation
I strive for nothing but the best! I deserve nothing less!
Kindness Media
Everyday Kindness: Tough City, Kind Neighbor
Lisa Durden
Newark, NJ, USA
Reflective
Tough City, Kind Neighbor
“But Lisa stepped back and learned to accept this newfound notion of kindness being given to her and came to expect it. It was a great feeling and she began working on giving back to others.”
When Lisa first moved into the neighborhood in 1994, her neighbor James was very friendly. So much so that he was always helping her around the house, mowing the lawn, shoveling snow, and more! Sounds great, right? But something seemed a bit off for Lisa. Why was this man being kind to a stranger? What did he want in return?
Whenever James would do something kind for Lisa, she would return the favor by buying him a thank you gift to show her appreciation. But James’ kindness was so fast and constant that Lisa couldn’t keep up and had a meltdown. One day, Lisa came home and just let it all out. She yelled out loud asking her mother what James’ problem was and why he keeps helping. She wondered, “What does he want from me?” and “Why is he always helping me?”
After taking a few moments to calm down, Lisa’s mother looked at her and simply said, “Lisa, James doesn’t want anything from you. Some people do nice things because that’s who they are.” For Lisa, the notion of being kind just to be kind had never crossed her mind. While her mother had grown up in the South in a neighborhood where kindness was common, Lisa grew up in a big city and said she learned from birth, “you don’t get something, for nothing!”
But Lisa stepped back and learned to accept this newfound notion of kindness being given to her and came to expect it. It was a great feeling and she began working on giving back to others.
James has since passed away, but for Lisa, the lasting memories of his kindness continue to live on through her own acts of kindness.