If you ask me our society lacks empathy and kindness. So the two biggest things I am trying to instill into my three children is exactly that, empathy and kindness.
When my oldest daughter was born there was this spark that shined across the world. Even as a baby she showed empathy towards people. I believe that empaths are natural born humans and it is highly possibly that one out of three could follow in my footsteps and discover they too are an empath. Maybe we have already discovered one. Hell, maybe all three will be. Whoever they are, I will always love them.
I wanted to show her that kindness can go a long way, so we came up with a name- Our Mighty Change and have been performing random acts of kindness as much as possible. It is now to the point the kids ask me if we can do something for someone!
When people think of random acts of kindness they think paying for someone's meal or donating to a cause or organization. They may think of giving back as literally giving something to someone else, but it is not always a physical act. It is not often people think of the small things, such as offering a mailman or delivery driver water, leaving a quarter in a gumball machine and even complimenting someone's outfit or hair. Sometimes all another human needs to get through the day is to hear, "you are doing great." "you are kicking butt at this mom thing!" "you look beautiful." "it's okay to not be okay." I am raising mine to be this kind. This aware of other people and their emotions. To validate their emotions and their feelings. And to remind them that there are kind people here, empathetic people who truly care to see you succeed. To see you happy and healthy.
Rounding up your total to donate towards an on-going cause is an act of kindness. Holding the door open or offering an umbrella to a stranger in the rain is kind too. Parking at farther spot when you see a place is busy is kind when you are capable of walking the distance. Returning your shopping cart. Tipping your server, who yes chose the job paying 2.83, but for goodness sake they filled your drink 2-3 times and got you seven ranch dressings for the salad that already came dressed. Be appreciative. Be grateful. Be kind.
We never know what someone's day was like. What emotions they are feeling or why. But we do know that choosing kindness is what makes the world a better place. A happier place. A more comforting and positive place. So be kind and raise yours to be kind too. #ourmightychange
A SIMPLE NOTE
One of our favorite ways to "give back" is by leaving little messages at places! You can find our messages at local parks, grocery stores, retail stores and parking lots. (don't be alarmed if you happen to see "return carts here") lol! I know it is hard some days, but just because there is designated employee to collect carts does not mean they should spend their entire 8 hour shift gathering carts we did not return. Anyways, this is so easy and anyone can do it! All you need is chalk. We carry some in the car and I leave a few pieces in the diaper bag because it comes every where with us! Definitely recommend!
June is Pride Month, so we were sure to celebrate!
Another thing we like to do is leave little message cards all around town! These we take inside places in drop off in various spots for someone to find. Like I mentioned earlier, an affirmation can go a long way! Some times all we really need as humans is someone to remind us that we are doing this life thing great!
Yep, the top one is in a bathroom near a sink (but far enough away to not get wet lol) while the other we placed on a car. Hope they were not mad, but we promise we did zero damage!
These are simple and we just printed some affirmations out from google. Good humans empower all humans.
ROCK PAINTING!
Do you like paint? Do your kids like painting? What about rocks? Make it a two birds with one stone deal and gather some rocks on an adventure hunt. Then go home and paint the rocks. Adventure back out again and hide the rocks for other humans to discover! This is such a fun way to engage with others while still being distanced. Plus, painted rocks just look pretty. You would be sprucing up the Earth doing this!
The kids and I have so much fun decorating rocks! Here are some of the ones we have done, but we do these frequently! The kids do most of the painting while I do any writing. Then we take them out on an adventure and hide them around town. There is a Facebook group. Pittsburgh Rocks where people post rocks they have found. It is so cool!
Be the Change, Leave the Change
This can mean so many things, but what I mean by be the change, leave the change. is share it! Literally your change! If you are out getting ice cream and your total is $19.17 and you give them a $20, tell them to keep the change. Sure, it's not the most and some people may actually get offended in this day in age, but it's the thought, and if everyone says to keep the change the tips will add up and they may leave with a few more bucks. (please do not tip your servers or bartenders like this, tip them accordingly, recommended 20%) A few bucks does not mean much to everyone, but some people rely on every single penny that comes in. They bank on it for food and shelter. But it also can put a smile on someone's face. And the happier people are the more positive the world is.
Another awesome way to leave the change is physically leaving change in places. For example, tape a dollar to a soda machine or leave a quarter in a gumball machine. (LEAVE YOUR ALDIS QUARTER IN THE CART) *smiles*
This is something so small that could mean something so large to someone who comes across it. This goes back to being kind and empathetic. Understand that not everyone has it like you may have it. That free soda may be their only soda for the next year. Your change will likely end up at the bottom of your purse, dryer or car somewhere, so if you can spare, please do share.
Arcades are a fun place to leave a special treat for someone too!
Thanking someone is kind. Thanking your mailman, delivery drivers and garbage men is even more kind. When my children see our mailman they are quick to offer a popsicle on hot days. Usually, he accepts a water. I am waiting for the day he takes one though. I would.
Every now and then we like to thank him and I never knew how, so we put these little lunch kits together for him or leave a little note with a treat.
It is a simple gesture, but we hope he knows we appreciate him.
The garbage industry is rough, so we like to thank our garbage men from time to time as well. (even if they may have lost my lid) I am sure this job is tiresome and you dread some days. We try our best to keep our garbage as clean as possible for garbage. I am sorry I do not always break the boxes down though. Thank you :)
I do not know if they apprieciated the children's drawings, but hey it was nice of them to do. I usually just attach a free pizza certificate to it. Figure they can stop if and when they get a break? (tell me what you do for your garbage workers?)
Dropping off donuts (can be anything really) to the following places is sure to brighten their day:
Fire stations
School Employees(don't forget the cafeteria workers & custodians)
Police Station
Your favorite store or shop
Post Office
Hospitals
In the winter, the kids and I like to create blessing bags. We make a similar blessing bag in the summer, but winter blessing bag provides socks and gloves. We leave these around town when we are out for anyone who may come across it that may need it. We have also done NICU bags similar to these for parents who may have a child in the NICU where our 2nd and 3rd children were at.
These bags are waterproof so the insides will not be ruined. We have socks, gloves, tissues, Chapstick, journal with pen, granola bars, peanut butter packets and leave a bottle of water.
I was a very excited first time mom, merely for the fact that it took years and fertility medication to get pregnant with my first born. I decided every birthday of hers we would go on to Amazon and choose one Wishlist and pick a gift off it to send to the child's who Wishlist it was. It has been so awesome to do this because they never know who sent it. We can only hope the recipients are overjoyed!
These are just some of our favorite kindness acts. We strive our best to choose kindness and spread empathy every where we go to everyone we meet.
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