23. Ask someone how their day went and be a good listener.
24. Pick up trash or litter and put it in the garbage.
25.Play something with a sibling that they like to do without complaining.
Don't forget to tag #AKindElf and send a picture of your elf or kind deed!
Missed my previous posts? Pre-planning? For a complete list click here.
22. Tell a story or read a book to someone.
Don't forget to tag #AKindElf and send a picture of your elf or kind deed!
Missed my previous posts? Pre-planning? For a complete list click here.
21. Make something at home, take lunch, cookies or cupcakes ot yor local fire or police departments.
Don't forget to tag #AKindElf and send a picture of your elf or kind deed!
Missed my previous posts? Pre-planning? For a complete list click here.
20. Clean out your room and donate gently used stuffed animals to a police or fire station to use during emergencies to help calm scared kids.
Don't forget to tag #AKindElf and send a picture of your elf or kind deed!
Missed my previous posts? Pre-planning? For a complete list click here.
My friend posted a few photos of her son with Santa this morning from years ago. It reminded me of a photo of Paxton with my nieces the very first time he sat on Santa's lap. He was definitely not having it and no matter how hard we tried, he cried harder. She made a comment that the lady who did the photos asked her if she wanted to try again, and she declined saying that "imperfect"photo was perfect.
We used to rely on film that had to be developed before we could see the results. Now many of us are consumed with these digital images that can be browsed, deleted and taken over and over until we end up with the results that we WANT, not the natural way that things turn out- whether good or bad. Some even elude to special filters to make them crystal clear and "perfect" before we post them. Media images, social media and all these tools have led us to a world of picture perfect images that don't necessarily paint an accurate picture of ourselves, our mood and even our personalities sometimes.
Many desire the positive comments, the compliments and the uplifting satisfaction of the nice things people say about us. My family recently had our family photos taken. When we received them back, my first instinct was to pick myself apart! I am not in the best shape of my life, my hair was out of place in some, my smile has always been a little crooked, I only really like one side of my profile... as I was doing this internal self talk, I looked deeper at my smile, my family and my happiness and decided that many of these photos showed my love for my family, my blessings and my happiness in most categories of my life! I decided that this is what makes a photo a great photo, not our size, our shape or the position of our stance.
These family photos portrayed myself where I am at in this point of my life, not 10+ lbs from now, hair that lays perfectly or a smile that would be chosen for a magazine ad. That is me being critical of myself! There were photos I posted that were just ok, and some of those had more comments than the ones I thought I looked a lot better in. It made me realize that others are not as critical of us as we are of ourselves. This means that we need to look deeper into who we are, what we stand for and love ourself a little more, giving ourself grace and acceptance, just as others do and most importantly God sees us.
So yes, this photo isn't the picture perfect result that some of us parents would have liked to put in that Santa Christmas frame, but it is how things played out and it is the memory that we will cherish over the photo that will have us talking about for years to come. Watch out Paxton, this one might make your graduation photo board or slide show in the near future, but for now, stop growing up so fast. -Love Mom
"But the Grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I , but the grace of God that is with me." Corinthians 15:10
19. Look through your pantry and donate items to a local food bank.
Don't forget to tag #AKindElf and send a picture of your elf or kind deed!
Missed my previous posts? Pre-planning? For a complete list click here.
18. Take coffee or hot chocolate to a Salvation Army bell ringer.
Don't forget to tag #AKindElf and send a picture of your elf or kind deed!
Missed my previous posts? Pre-planning? For a complete list click here.
17. Make someone laugh!
Don't forget to tag #AKindElf and send a picture of your elf or kind deed!
Missed my previous posts? Pre-planning? For a complete list click here.
16. Donate a toy to your local Toys for Tots drive, adopt a child from an Angel Tree, or buy a new pair of pajamas for a foster child.
Don't forget to tag #AKindElf and send a picture of your elf or kind deed!
Missed my previous posts? Pre-planning? For a complete list click here.
15. Write a Christmas card to a solider and thank them for their service and your freedom.
Don't forget to tag #AKindElf and send a picture of your elf or kind deed!
Missed my previous posts? Pre-planning? For a complete list click here.
14. Put sticky notes with positive messages in random place.
Don't forget to tag #AKindElf and send a picture of your elf or kind deed!
Missed my previous posts? Pre-planning? For a complete list click here.
13. Give someone a hug and tell them you love and appreciate them.
Don't forget to tag #AKindElf and send a picture of your elf or kind deed!
Missed my previous posts? Pre-planning? For a complete list click here.
So oops! Yesterday kind of slipped by me! Here are two posts in one!
11. Call a grandparent or family member you haven't talked to in awhile and see how they are doing.
12. Put a package of essentials together and give it to a homeless person.
Don't forget to tag #AKindElf and send a picture of your elf or kind deed!
Missed my previous posts? Pre-planning? For a complete list click here.
When you are in the middle of trying to right a wrong and get struck with about 3-5 others things that just aren't quite going "right" in your mind of what should be happening, it is easy to get discouraged and go deeper down the everything is going wrong today, what could possibly go right you might be asking yourself... and ultimately you need to stop what you are doing, flip your switch, adjust your mindset and re-start your day, even if you are in the middle of it!
It is doing no one any good especially you to spiral down that negative path it can be destructive to you, your family or anyone that meets your path that day. Think of all the positive things you can accomplish when you stop and take a few moments to reset your attitude, think of what you are truly grateful for, pray for patience, strength or comfort and focus on all the good things that could happen if you were not focused on the bad things that have happened, I guarantee there are more things good than bad in any given day if you took the time to recall them.
I had that morning! Up early, mind racing, figuring out how to "fix something" I didn't do, or make up for it... and my negativity spiraled into quite a few more negative things. Wallowing in a little bit of poor me self pity wasn't really the best thing to do... however, I am human definitely not perfect and it happens to the best of us! Before taking Paxton to school I read my woman's daily devotion at the exact time I needed to and on the way to school, we stopped, thanked God for our blessings and readjusted our mindsets to spring toward a positive day verses spiraling down a negative one. We can't always control other peoples reactions we are only responsible for our own. And I will tell you mid-morning, the day is definitely heading more in the right direction.
Pessimism is an investment in nothing. Optimism is an investment in hope. - Author Unknown
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10. Do an EXTRA chore around your house without being asked.
Don't forget to tag #AKindElf and send a picture of your elf or kind deed!
Missed my previous posts? Pre-planning? For a complete list click here.
9. Give someone a compliment- a friend, classmate, teacher, sibling... etc.
Don't forget to tag #AKindElf and send a picture of your elf or kind deed!
Pre-planning? For a complete list click here.
8. Buy a box of candy canes at the dollar store and put them on random cars in a parking lot, if you want to add a note that just says "spread cheer"
Don't forget to tag #AKindElf and send a picture of your elf or kind deed!
Pre-planning? For a complete list click here.
I know in the last week or so I wrote about how I just have to come to terms with not being able to be everyone's cup of tea... not everyone has to like me and I am ok with that, took me awhile but I think I am warming up to the idea.
Talking with a client last week she was honest but disappointed in her family's ability to help other family members out like they should. I remember she said it was like pulling teeth. My advice to her was that it is OK, it isn't everyone's strong point and that I was sure they excelled at other things in life. When I said that to her it reminded me that I am not meant to be good at everything, none of us are. We need to find what we are good at and give it 100%! Give yourself and others around you grace for the things that you and they are not good at. They may be good at what you are not and vice versa!
The next time you are quick to judge yourself or someone else for your faults, point out the things that you or they are good at and concentrate on those, it could make all the difference.
Choose, everyday to forgive yourself. You are human, flawed and most of all worthy of love.
-Alison Malee
7. Help make dinner and take extra to an elderly neighbor or someone who lives alone.
Don't forget to tag #AKindElf and send a picture of your elf or kind deed!
Pre-planning? For a complete list click here.
6. Make a card or sign for your mail carrier, trash person or UPS driver, thanking them.
Don't forget to tag #AKindElf and send a picture of your elf or kind deed!
Pre-planning? For a complete list click here.
3. Surprise your teacher with a donut/muffin/apple, small gift, handmade note or some classroom supplies.
Don't forget to tag #AKindElf and send a picture of your elf or kind deed!
If you missed day 1 click here
If you missed day 2 click here
If you are a planner and want access to the full list click here.
Day 2
Hold a door open for someone at school or anywhere, let someone cut in front of you in line, exercise your politeness skills.
Don't forget to tag #AKindElf and send a picture of your elf or kind deed!
If you missed day 1 click here
If you are a planner and want access to the full list click here.
DAY 1
Feel free to make this a family affair and please post and share your photos or acts of kindness and tag #AKindElf
Feel free to use a few or all of them this Season. Maybe your Elf brings a note on the days he/she wants you to be kind, maybe you give the list at the beginning and your kids chose which things they want to do, maybe the elf says chose 5! Feel free to tweak them to fit your family and your kids! Remember that kindness can become a habit and doesn't need to just come out at this Wonderful Time of Year, but should be displayed throughout the year to bring smiles, love and happiness to others.
1.Hold a door open for someone, or offer to return a grocery cart to the cart return or store for someone who is unloading their groceries in their car.
If you are a planner here is the list to all 25 kindness suggestions.
Make this fun!
