The tragedy in Newtown is a week behind us, but will be seared in our memories for a lifetime. There’s been a lot of talk around the reasons and causes of such a horrific act. Talk is cheap. Talk is negative, divisive and sometimes downright crazy. My big ears pick up on all the chatter.
We will never forget these sweet souls
Rather than listening to the cacophony of voices and opinions, this furry angel has decided to align with Ann Curry’s proposal of 26 acts of kindness (#26acts, #26actsofkindness) in remembrance of the Sandy Hook victims.
Happily, herds of humans are joining in and sharing goodness. Just google 26 acts of kindness or look on twitter (#26acts, #26actsofkindness, @anncurry) — the stories you’ll find are guaranteed to warm your heart. And may inspire you to pass it on.
Big or small, random acts of kindness restore our faith in humanity. They open a place in our hearts that may have been closed, stuck or hardened. To honor the sweet souls of 20 children (babies, really) and 6 of their educators, this pup (and the Big Dog) encourage you to try it. #26actsofkindess will help heal your heart and help others remember that people are inherently good and kind.
The acts of kindness we’ve read about run the gamut from shoveling snow for an elderly neighbor to bringing cookies to the local firehouse to paying off thousands of dollars worth of layaway gifts. People are paying heating bills for families who need a little help, they’re leaving cards with money on random windshields, they’re paying for the car behind them on a toll bridge, folks behind them in line at Starbuck’s or at the drive-thru. 
My earthbound family has been participating in 26 acts of kindness. They’re not quite to 26 yet, but working on it. Mama bought 8 $25 Toys R Us gift cards and put them in beautiful dove covered cards. Her message was simple: Dear friend, you are a special soul. Let love and kindness rule your world and pass it on. In honor of the Newtown children.
She went to Toys R Us and wandered around, randomly handing cards to strangers. The reactions were a bit comical. Some were thankful, some confused and a couple of them were even suspicious. But through these acts, mama felt close to the souls of the innocent and the angels were smiling upon her.
Timmy Elijah dreaming of his next random act of kindness
Two checks were also mailed this week; another donation to the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence and the other to a teacher friend of ours who’s collecting money to pay for an apartment for a homeless student and her single mother.
Will you join us in honoring the victims of the Newtown shootings with a random act of kindness? Please post what you are doing in the comments section. Let’s all spread a little kindness and love…
I am on day two of my Random Acts of Kindness. So far I have made a second donation to a friends family whose baby girl is undergoing chemo for a rare condition and the medical bills are killing them, the second was sharing one of my favorite causes, the Happy House in Kenya and helping them to get more visibility online, today I donated to the Food Bank here. I am trying to alternate between money acts and free acts. I love the idea of doing it in honor of the kids. I have to say, when you do this the universe responds. I have already received back which will enable me to do even more. Thanks for the extra ideas and I have shared your blog on my Facebook page http://facebook.com/fabulousandfearless.
Louise Edington recently posted..It’s The End of The World As We Know It!
That’s fabulous, Louise!! Sharing important causes is a great way to spread kindness & love — we’ll have to get on that as well. We put aside some money that we’re using specifically for ROA, honoring the sweet little babies of Sandy Hook Elementary. I hope we can all inspire more folks to add to the avalanche of kindness
Today I donated to a friend who is raising money to send 700 childrens books on dealing with grief to the school students. Her site is http://socialgoodproject.com/causes/
I have also decided to switch my general 30 days of Random kindness on my page to a campaign to get peeps to join this specific campaign. I will post that after Christmas.
Louise Edington recently posted..It’s The End of The World As We Know It!
You and your Mama are two of the most special souls I have ever been lucky enough to know!!
Bless you my sweet Heidster Meidster… Thanks for giving me back just a tiny bit of hope!!!
We love you, Amster!! and feel privileged to send you a spark of hope (pass it on…). Wags & sloppy doggie kisses to you & your precious little ones
I had seen a headline about this but hadn’t read about it until now. This is beautiful campaign, especially because the people in Newtown were evidently so overwhelmed with gifts they didn’t need more at present. I just started a day ago to buy a can of food every time I went to the store, to put into the food donation container. I will do this for at least 26 days! I can buy more, of course, but my hope was that by modeling a single can more people might be interested. Who can argue with one can of green beans?
Beautiful to imagine your Mama in Toy R Us with those gift cards! Thanks for sending out your message of hope and caring, Atticus.
Judy Stone-Goldman
Where the Personal and Professional Meet
http://JudyStoneGoldman.com
Judy Stone-Goldman recently posted..No Posts Were Found!
That’s Pawtastic, Judy! A donation to your local food bank for 26 days is a wonderful way to honor those precious souls. How can we encourage others to participate in their communities? Perhaps in a couple of weeks, we can post new blogs around these efforts and keep it going & alive.
We had so much fun with our Toys R Us cards, that we wrote more cards and put $10 in them. So far we have given them to 2 panhandlers and to a family with a single dad (we overheard them talking in line at the store, turned around and handed the little girls each a card). Christmas Eve night, mama stopped to get gas and went into the gas station mini mart to wish the clerk Merry Christmas. He said he had to work Christmas Eve, Christmas day, New Year’s Eve & New Year’s day. Mama reached into her purse and gave him one of the cards — he was so grateful and promised to pass on kindness to a stranger
This post is a welcome reminder to pay attention to others and seek ways to make their lives better. I am fascinated by how often we equate kindness with money in our society. Do you have any thoughts as to why this is?
Donald J. Decker recently posted..Belief
Thanks for your comment, Donald. We certainly don’t equate kindness with money. These acts were highlighted because not only are they kind, but also involve sacrifice. We personally give time & effort to people & causes (we help a non-profit w/their social media dally, for example) and know many others who give of their time.
Whether we give money, time or effort, it’s all equally valuable. We just hope that more peeps will take the time to think about how they can contribute kindness to their communities.