The Ripple Effect

The other day I was out on a walk, picking up trash, per usual. However, on this particular day there was A LOT of trash. I was stuffing loose papers in my pockets; I had bottles and cans tucked under my arms and loose cardboard in stacks in my hands. I was getting towards the end of my walk when a car pulled over right next to me. The man in the passenger seat held something out of the window for me. At first glance it looked like a wadded up napkin. I thought, “Oh come on... is this guy seriously handing me more trash?!” As I walked closer I saw that it was a wadded up plastic bag, the kind in a grocery store. This perfect stranger held it out and said, “Will this help? Thank you for picking up the trash.”

I almost cried. I was shocked, pleased and so grateful. I took the bag, filled it and I gave him a hug through the window. I thanked him and waved goodbye and told him to have a glorious day!

That simple kindness and brief encounter has stuck with me. Truth is, if you asked me to pick these guys out of a line-up I wouldn’t be able to point them out AND they made my day! I am so grateful for them and their generous spirit.

As I walked back to the house with a huge smile on my face I thought about what I learned in #101DaysofConnection.

I learned that there are invisible lines of connection that bind our hearts together so whenever we can share joy it’s doubled! Whenever we share sorrow it’s divided. We can accomplish great things when we come together.

Think about every major tragedy, the aftermath is always so inspiring to me. We band together and create volunteer organizations, outreach programs, fundraisers, etc. I have to say I am grateful for what follows a tragedy because of the love and support that we share with perfect strangers. In fact, usually my efforts are sent to an area I have never been before and are to the benefit of people I will never meet.

So why do I do it? Because I care and ultimately putting that energy out in the world makes me feel good about me. It makes me feel like I am doing the work of something greater. My very conscious girlfriend Kari says, “My God is one of restoration. One who dives in, gets dirty, and heals…I feel my faith is strongest and most real when I see his work in the aftermath. Where people come together, crying in each other’s arms, shining hope and love even in the darkest of times.”

I think she is right AND I also think it doesn’t take a tragedy to come together in that way. I am now experiencing love and hope for someone who handed me a plastic bag. These feelings and this ability to support my neighbor is not relegated to when times are tough… I mean let's face it… when are times NOT tough for someone? Sometimes our struggles are public, along with others in the community but who hasn’t experienced some kind of struggle on their own in their life in the last day? We all have our own private battles every day. We are all in this together. I am in to double joy and divide sorrow whenever possible.  

As I walk in the house it becomes very clear to me: I want to perform random acts of kindness every day! I want to love and support the people around me. ALL of them! They are in my life for a reason and I wish to leave them better then when they found me.

Introducing my next project: #101DaysofKindness

The intention of this project is to take time every day to be deliberately and overtly kind to everyone from total strangers to the ones I hold most dear. My intention is to spread love and kindness to all I come in contact with and I look forward to the creativity that comes with looking for a special way to brighten someone else’s day.

I already open doors for people, say hello, smile, etc. So I want to do something above and beyond the normal. Here is a list of ideas I have come up with so far:

-       Stopping someone and telling them what I like about them (I often think about it but never say it)

-       Write letters of appreciation for the server when I go out to lunch or dinner

-       Volunteer at a nursing home, sing songs, hold hands

-       Leave a generous donation for my Yoga instructor

-       Buy coffee for the person behind me in line at the coffee shop

-       Look for a need and fill it

-       Bring cookies to my neighbors

-       Send flowers to the people in the office next to us

-       Organize a coat drive

-       Organize a food drive

-       Send a care package to a soldier over seas

-       Ask how the people at the check out line in the grocery store are doing

-       Leave surprises for my co-workers in their desks

Who knows what the day will bring and what else I can create in the moment. I am open to seeing what the day presents and then using that as an opportunity to respond with kindness.

In order to support myself in the project I will commit to the following for myself:

ONCE A DAY:

- As many overt random acts of kindness I can create

- 45 minutes quiet morning time of walking, writing, or meditating

- Daily instagram post on my random act of kindness

- TV and computer off at 9:30pm

- Gratitude journal

ONCE A WEEK:

-       2 Hour Artist Date (time alone to explore other possibilities for kindness)

-       Blog Post

-       2 yoga sessions

-       3 cardio sessions (If I don’t have my health what do I have to give?)

I am SO excited about this! I can’t wait to share my stories! However, there is one thing I ask: Will you join me? You certainly don’t have to do 101 random acts of kindness. Just do one deliberately, consciously and tell me about it. In fact if you would like to be featured on my blog nothing would thrill me more than to share your story of kindness.

We are all connected and that makes me feel an awesome sense of responsibility. If you share the same values and want to play I would love to play with you! Let’s create a ripple effect of love and joy that reaches farther than we can imagine and leaves an impact that lasts forever.

So I'm in... are you?