The Kindness Contagion

Another World Kindness Day this week; how will you celebrate?

Today I'm thinking about all of the ways that people make kindness contagious, spreading like a dreaded disease, only in a good way. 

Click the picture to download the coloring sheet.

I've been on a bit of a crusade, to spread kindness like jam,

and, in a fun twist, the kindness always comes back to me.

Funny how that works: Give kind, get kind.

Let's start with this idea. So there's a group of young men across town

who've gathered to represent their school playing football. It's not their

forte, but they show up every week, to give it a go. When they played us,

we skunked them 80 - 0. The next week, they lost 90 to zero.

They showed up for 10 games this season, and lost every one.

So I got the idea to go cheer them on for their last game.

My friend Vera said if I was driving, then she'd like to ride along.

Not just ride along, but she suggested making goodie bags, 

an idea that grew into matching Viking Ts and a GRIT banner.

We got to meet a few of the players' moms as well as the Principal, who said he'd take our sign and hang it in their hallways. Their gratitude for our presence made our efforts more than worth it, because it filled our hearts with so much joy. Leaving those treats on the player bus for the boys made us feel like secret agents of kindness! 

Such a fun opportunity to support and show love,

just because we noticed a need that we could fill.

We couldn't fix the scoreboard, but we could let them know

that winning isn't about keeping score, but it's about

what you do with the lessons learned. 

On and off the field.

Back home in the kitchen, I've been making Pumpkin bread to share.

With every loaf I gave away, I got some love in return.

A bouquet of flowers. A heart-shaped Hoya plant.

A note reminding me that you really can

bake someone happy.

And, in this week's mail, I sent out two cards,

then received two care packages

Some stickers, a necklace, some Autumn leaves from WI.

And this book, perfect for a Grammy like me, from MT.

Give kind, get kind. Just like that.

The kindness boomerang.

More ideas for knitting kindness.

Make that phone call; who needs to hear your voice today?

Offer a talent for free; I offer author-visit sessions pro bono.

Help someone learn a new skill; baking lessons anyone?

Invite a friend to drop their kids by so they can run errands, hands free.

Bring back a treasure from a trip to share with someone special.

Volunteer at a school to read a book or share a story.

Text a song to someone who needs some soul soothing.

Share a new product that you love with someone special.

I've been buying these nasal diffusers and giving them away

to friends, to waitresses, in the airport, at schools I visit.

So grateful to my friend Tanya for sending me the first one

and turning me on to this calm-on-the-go. Pure relaxation.

Oh, it may tickle a bit at first, but it's worth it.

I recently bought the seasonal scents of 

pumpkin spice and then candy cane vanilla.

November is such a fun month of Thanks and Giving;

drop your boomerang below; I love hearing about kind acts.