Just because...

"Why are you guys giving away free jewelry?"

Just because..  

I've been away for a long time, I haven't had much to write about, I've been dealing with the fibromyalgia and my crazy emotions under stress. The cold weather has activated more joint pain than I was expecting. Despite my struggles I'm still focusing on living the kind life.

Over the past few weeks I've been spending my free time making bracelets for my friend's gifting. (gifting is exactly what it sounds like, he gives away free stuff, with no strings attached, just because! Who doesn't love free?) I used to make jewelry all the time, but lost interest because I wanted everything to be perfect, and most of the time it never came out perfect, despite the imperfections I still had joy in the craft.When my friend mentioned his latest gifting endeavor, I knew I wanted to help. Naturally the first bracelet I made didn't come out perfect, but it was still cool, and I kind of liked it. The next bracelet wasn't perfect either, nor the next. They weren't perfect but they were still cool. I kept making bracelets.  As I made them my mind was occupied, I forgot about all the stress. I also realized that not perfect is my thing. (just like crying;)) I'm not perfect, nothing I do is perfect. My imperfections are my greatest strengths. I'm cool, I'm funky, I'm free and I'm me. I'm awkward and funny, creative and sensitive. I can be a little too hard on myself but I really love who I am. So I knew the bracelets were not perfect but they were me and I knew I would be contributing to something that helps spread joy and kindness.

Today we went to Carytown and gave out the free jewelry. With every one's combined contributions there were about eighty pieces.

My favorite thing about today was watching people process the thought of free jewelry with no catch. Many were wary, and ignored our attempts. Others were overjoyed. So many people walked away happy, with smiles on their faces.

I like to believe that kindness can save lives. From all the smiles I saw today I know it can. We made so many people's day! strangers could be going through the worst thing ever, but our bracelet made their day! Were all in this together, lets gift the gift of joy and remember it's not always a bad idea to take candy from strangers! :)

Thanks to my dear friend who always keeps kindness in his heart and is an inspiration to others. Check out his gifting project. Candy from Strangers

Exhausted...

I'm  so tired lately... I've have two drafts waiting to be finished and published, but I am so tired. Maybe I'll have time this weekend.

Car ride discos and kindness between the pickle jars...

Ok  I admit it.... I am stressed out! I'm so stressed out that I've become rather fragile. One wrong word and im in the bathroom crying at work, or in my car.

It's not that I don't think I can't handles the stress, because I can. I just think that something in the cosmos lately has made me hypersensitive to everything.

It could be the fibromyalgia, it could be the new medicine for the fibromyalgia, it could be the forces of womanly nature descending upon me, or it could just be that I have a lot going on.

Thankfully I have a cure, dancing the disco in my car.

Yesterday, I spent the afternoon hanging with my kid brother for his 20th birthday. As he has gotten older we have grown to not only be closer siblings but great friends. My brother is probably the funniest person I know.we communicate in funny accents, weird facial expressions and sarcasm.

Yesterday, for his birthday we decided to go check out the Halloween stuff at Target, it's one of our favorite things to do around this time of year. (On a side note: they already have Christmas stuff out. Bananas!!) On our way home a disco song came on and we started car dancing.

At first  we were dancing just because, but then other cars started noticing. We were making people laugh.no one could hear the music but us, but they could see we were having fun. We were creating or own joy.

One guy had the biggest grin on his face, and I could tell we made his day.

In that moment I forgot all the stress on my mind and body and I just moved with the music. I found my cure and it was as simple as just dancing a little.

P.S. There have been no new kindness dare emails. There are cards out there floating around, but maybe all I needed was one response.

Since the one response I've been able to see more kindness in general. For example my coworker just told me the other day she left a kindness dare in between the pickle jars at the grocery store. I'm happy knowing that I've made a difference somewhere, and I'll keep faith knowing that I'll get another email when I need it the most.

The power of a hug..

Sometimes we all just need a hug.

To ask for a hug can often times be a difficult thing. I know that seems weird to say because hugs just tend  to happen. However, Sometimes when we need that hug the most, no one knows.

Someone hugged me the other day just because, and it reminded me of the significance of human touch.

As I dare myself and  others to be more kind, I've been thinking a lot about the power of human touch. To be connected to another human is magical. A simple gesture such as lightly tapping someones arm, grabbing someone's hand in excitement and a gentle hug, can snap us back into presence and remind us that we should focus on sharing a moment with someone instead of sharing it with our thoughts.

 I've become aware that personally  I need some extra hugs these days. There has been a lot going on in my life.  I've also become aware that the best way to get more hugs is to give them.

So I'm daring myself to hug more, to reach out more, to be present in moments. If you know me and you catch me getting stuck in my head, snap me back in to reality. Remind me to live in the moment. Not only am I daring myself, I'm daring you. I triple dog dare you, to hug more, cuddle more, love more.

Some people get so wrapped up in thoughts and emotions that they never let anyone close. Never let any one hug them,never let any one console them,never let anyone love them.  I can't live like that. We can't live in a world were our whole existence is based on touch and nobody connects. It would just be unnatural, but I feel like more and more each day people are disconnecting from others more than they are connecting.

 If we ignore the basic need of being connected to others it eliminates the need for empathy, kindness, love and hope.

No one wants to live in a hopeless world.

Again, I dare you.. REACH OUT AND TOUCH SOMEBODY( just not in a creepy way!)

Also, I leave you with this wonderful video I came across 2 weeks ago, all about a kind soul who believes in the power of hugs and love.

It takes a little courage.. and little time.. but we have our first story!

Someone responded!

I must admit I was starting to wonder if all my efforts were really worth it and if anyone out there would really be brave enough to actually do something.

Then three things happened:

1. My mom has been very sick lately and spending a lot of time in and out of the hospital. She's part of the reason I started this mission in kindness, because even on her hardest days she still thinks about others. She makes sure I am adjusting to my new apartment well and that no matter what I have all the encouragement and love I need to be a successful woman. Thinking about her makes me want to always be compassionate, always make others understand their importance and never pass judgement on anyone.

So I went to visit my mother on Saturday in the cancer hospital, and because I was afraid and I knew others were probably feeling the same emotions I was, I placed a post-it note in the elevator that said "Never give up hope."

2. Yesterday I went to visit her again and found my note still placed in the elevator. Still there. I was so moved by this,because even though I left the note for others to find, it was there when I needed it. I shared this with my friends and family on Facebook.

My dad commented later that evening and said that someone left a note in the other elevator that said "Have faith."  Even though I don't know who left the note, we are now connected by our small acts of kindness.

3. Today I thought about not checking on my blog, but something inside me said " You check it everyday, you have to check it today, why would you not check it today?"

When I check on the blog I first go to the stats page, this shows me when someone has viewed the page. I was expecting to see the number 89. It's been 89 for 2 weeks now. It wasn't 89, It was 90. 90! Wait 90! Someone looked! I then immediately checked the email... Holy crap balls! Someone left a message!

I read it, and then I cried. Crying is kind of my thing, if you haven't figured that out already. It is worth it, everything I am doing, is worth every thought, every smile, every gift, every phone call, every joke, every hug. Everything is worth it.

It's always amazing to me how when you need something the most, when you're tired, scared,lonely or in pain from an ailment, it just pops up. Whatever you need just shows up and reminds you that we are all connected and we all need kindness, love and hope.

Without further ado, I share with you our first story!

I sent someone an encouraging note on Facebook.  I've met the fellow a couple of times in passing.  He's a pretty amazing character.  He walks on stilts with costumes and does things like visiting nursing homes and riding handicapped people around on a special bike he has.  They call him Stilted Saint and it's a fitting title.  Anyway I sent him a message letting him know that he's practically a super hero and that his work inspires others.  I also ask what motivated him.  He was kind enough to share his thoughts and invited me to hang out with him this fall when we'll be at the same event. 

:)

Who ever you are, Thank you for your bravery!

Talk about it, talk about it, talk about it...

I've been talking a lot. A lot about my project. I'm finding that talking about it is an amazing adventure in its self. Each person I share the project with ask to take a card. I'm finding that giving cards away is  almost more exciting than leaving them in random places.

Sharing my idea with people has stimulated some amazing conversations. I'm so excited to hear people's thoughts and views on kindness. Those who take a card have all asked:  once I complete my dare what do you want me to write about?

If you have a card or find a card you can write anything about your kindness dare. How did it make you feel? What challenges did you face? How did the other person react? Did you learn anything from the experience?

I want to hear and share your stories. We are all connnected, we just need to be rinsed every on e in a while.

How will "Dare to be kind" work?

I plan for dare to be kind to be an experiment in kindness and bravery.

I've written out 20 cards with dares on them. All of the dares are related to kindness. For example, "I dare you to compliment a stranger" or " I dare you to bring someone flowers."

I'll then place the cards in random places around the Richmond, VA area. The cards have instructions to share the results of the kindness dare at the following email address and blog:

• Email: kindnessdares@gmail.com
• Blog: daretobekind.blogspot.com

Once I begin to receive stories, I'll start posting them on the blog to spread the word and acknowledge the bravery of complete strangers.

I've never been more excited about something in my whole life. All the cards have been written and will be released in to the world this week.