#40 - Coming Full Circle

Friends, we made it!  Today is the last day of the year and also saw my last random act of kindness on the #AmandaDoes40 journey.  This year was meant to focus my life in two very intentional ways - be as kind as possible and have as much fun as possible.  Through this year I've learned that those often go hand in hand.  This has been one of the best years of my life, and I owe it to the constant search for ways to be kind.

I also wanted to raise $14,600 this year for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.  My tremendous friends Mandy and Ally Griffith walked in San Diego and a large group of remarkable women participated with Amy and me in DC.  Amy also headed up the community walk in Austin and I contributed to that as well.  Through all of these efforts the village I am so blessed to be a part of met and exceeded that goal.  Today, for my 40th act of kindness, I made one more donation to the AFSP in honor and memory of those lost to suicide this year.  Suicide and mental illness continue to be an issue we must address every single day.  We have to continue having the conversations and fighting for those who can't yet see the light at the end of the tunnel. 

As this year draws to an end and I reflect on the year that saw me turning 40 I am nothing but grateful and joyous.  I have chosen kindness over and over again, and I have been blessed a million times over.  As I move into 2018 I will continue to choose kindness.  I will always love louder.

#39 - Hamilton Lessons

As I was driving home from my sister Amy's house last night she called to check on me and thank me for spending the holiday with them and specifically for entertaining my nephew Keaton while she and Matthew (BIL) got things done around the house.  Amy said my "babysitting" should count as one of my act of kindness.  I laughed and told her it doesn't count because it can't be kindness if you expect something in return, and I expect Keaton to visit me in the retirement home someday.  As I continued my drive I listened to some of my favorite songs from Hamilton and a few things struck me...

1.  Eliza and Alexander have a special relationship that touches me.  After their first son is killed in a duel they move uptown and "It's Quiet Uptown".  This song brings on ugly crying every single time I listen to it.  Alexander tells her that if he could trade his life for their son's he would.  Their son would stand there in his place and his wife would smile, and that would be enough.  The idea of what is "enough" has stuck with me.  Maybe entertaining Keaton is an act of kindness, because I don't expect anything at all in return - just being near him for that moment is enough.  I was happy to do it and it was my favorite part of the entire holiday, so it seems silly to count it as an act of kindness, but if it made life easier for my sister even for a minute, I'll take it.  In my eyes, Keaton is always enough.

2.  In that same song, we deal with the fact that Alexander has had an affair and written a brochure to explain himself to the world thereby saving himself but sinking his marriage.  Eliza is understandably devastated by all this and it only gets worse when her son dies.  By the end of the song she takes Alexander's hand and we get "forgiveness... can you imagine?"  A love that deep and sincere is the stuff of Hallmark movies, but it happened.  Eliza loved Alexander so much that she forgave him and then later told his story (more on that to come).  Forgiveness is such a gift to Eliza.  It allowed her to move forward.  There has been a handful of people in my life who hurt me in a way that has made it hard for me to truly forgive.  I'm still working on it, but I'm committed to forgiving all as a kindness to myself.

3.  Hamilton ends with "Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story" and I'm not sure any show has ever ended so well.  So much greatness packed into it and we finally really recognize that Eliza is the hero of the show.  She loves so deeply and solidifies the legacy her husband spent his entire life trying to make for himself.  We find out what Eliza does for the 50 years after Alexander dies and it is absolutely heart clenching goodness that, again, has me balling every time.  There's a line in the song about her sister Angelica that hit me last night - "when I needed her most, she was right on time."  Doesn't that epitomize a sisters' relationship?  When everything falls apart and you're in desperate need a sister will show up every time - right on time.  This is more of a promise than an act of kindness, but I will forever strive to be what Amy needs when she needs it. 

So I'm counting the combined lessons of Hamilton as my 39th act of kindness for the year.  One of the most challenging parts of this has been deciding which ones to "count" and which ones go by without a blog entry.  I'm not sure these should have made the list, but they were all on my heart and that seemed like reason enough to give them a space on the countdown.  If you haven't listened all the way through Hamilton, give yourself that gift.  It's changed the way I think about a lot of things in my world.

#38 - Help When Needed

At the beginning of this year long kindnesses journey I committed to being spontaneous and taking advantage of opportunities to be kind wherever they may arise. A friend recently told me about a family in need this holiday season, so I helped. It really is that simple... someone needed help so I did what I could. It’s a good reminder to be open to what shows up in my life and embracing every opportunity I can to make life easier for those around me.

#36 and #37 - Feeding Frosty

My 36th and 37th acts of kindness are separate instances of feeding my Uncle Frosty (John, but family calls him Frosty).  Frosty is a fan of barbecue brisket and believes some of the best in the world is at... wait for it... Dickey’s in Keller. I know, I know. He’s mistaken a I’ve even taken him to hard Eight, but he likes what he likes. On Monday I went to Dickey’s and bought him 2 pounds of brisket and enough barbecue sauce to float a goat. He was happy with his sandwich for lunch today, and I call that success.

The next act of kindness was sugar cookies. He doesn’t feel like it’s chrismtas unless there are sugar cookies with what was historically really crappy buttercream. My Papa was the cookie master and when he died Amy and I picked up the torch. We did insist on using really butter rather than Country crock, but otherwise the tradition remained alive. I’m not the baker in the family - Amy does a magnificent job at it and I gladly salute her in this arena. I went it alone this year and managed to pull together a couple dozen passable sugar cookies that he seems to appreciate. As my gym bag says “I did my best.”

My uncle is a picky soul. He is very particular and set in his ways. He loves me deeply and appreciates me, but he has a hard time vocalizing any of that. Tradition is important to Uncle Frosty, and I’m happy to do what I can to keep the spirit of Christmas alive in mediocre baked goods.

P.S. Don’t tell him I cheated this year and used a pre-made refrigerated dough. The buttercream was legit... that’s something, right?!

#35 - Mentoring

I've been torn about whether or not to "count" this as an act of kindness...  I mentor a sweet girl in middle school.  I've been in her life since 3rd grade.  Our time started with casual talks about school and have transitioned to discussions about course selections, strategies to get homework in, extra-curriculur activies, and even navigation of social issues.  In short, I try to be a big sister - a supporting adult in her life that will listen and help her navigate school.  In the four years with her I've seen her grow into a sweet young lady who cares about her grades, has a fun level of sass, and still yells "I love you" to me as she leaves our lunches.  I absolutely get more from her than she gets from me, and I am humbed and honored to spend time with her.  I'll count it as an act of kindness for one reason, and one reason only.  My awesome mentee has been oddly fond of an oversized black hoodie that didn't seem like her personality to me.  I got her a new hoodie for Chrismas and she claims to love it.  She loved it so much she even agreed to a picture in the hoodie with Ellile the Elf!

#34 - Helping with Lunches

My 34th act of kindness is one close to my heart.  A couple of weeks ago I asked the sweet girl I mentor if she had enough money in her lunch account.  She said she had $5 and that was plenty.  I told her $5 didn't seem like much, and she said it was better than not having $5.  First, she's a smart girl.  Second, that perspective was important for me.  I came back to the office and that thought stuck with me.  I decided that it would be awesome to pay off overdue lunch accounts for students at some of our low-income elementary schools.  For families who know that having $5 is a good day, breaking even on a lunch account before Christmas can make a big difference. 

Once I found out what it was going to cost to cover one campus I decided to recruit friends to the effort.  It started with donations from caring colleagues and turned into selling candy-grams to get some more money.  At the end of the adventure we'd collected just over $900 and was able to pay off all accounts for 4 campuses.  Today I had the absolute delight of delivering those checks with a friend.  We asked that they let the families know that a group of anonymous donors wanted to help them and wish them a happy holiday.  If that money helps even one of those families, we've done a good thing.  If one kid can come to school in January and not have to worry about whether they are behind on their lunch balance, well...  I'll just say it's worth it. 

P.S.  Ellie the Elf helped with the check delivery!

#33 - Drink Cart

Every year at work the Angel Committee (a moral boosting group I'm a part of) try to make the week before the holiday break a week of fun surprises.  Part of the festivities this year was a drink cart that one of the Angels pushed around the building to offer our colleagues hot cocoa, hot cider, or peppermint tea.  You'd be amazed how appreciative people are of a surprise warm beverage.  I donated the drinks for the adventure as my 33rd act of kindness, and it warmed my heart and my tummy!

#32 - Donated Candy

I donated about 2,000 candy canes and soft peppermints for the students of TSMS in Project Ssss referenced in #31 below.  Money well spent when I saw the smile on the kids' faces knowing they were ready to give them away!

#31 - Planning a big surprise!

At the beginning of the school year a wonderful teacher at Trinity Springs Middle School, Mr. Cornelius, contacted me about pairing up on an act of kindness with his PALS class.  Mr. Cornelius has a class of middle school students who work to make people happy, show leadership, demonstrate kindness, and generally make the world a better place.  This is a dream come true!  So most every Thursday this semester I have gone to the school for about 45 minutes every Thursday morning to plan an act of kindness with these awesome kids.  We analyzed what a successful act of kindness looks like, set up a metric to gauge our act of kindness, brainstormed ideas, then developed a plan.  The students did an awesome job planning and executing what we called Project Ssss, which was a week of No Stressmas for students and staff at the school.  This week the students and their fearless leader Mr. Cornelius decorated the building, greeted everyone with candy canes, played music at lunch, sang carols in the hall, set up a drink station for teachers, and even got permission to use phones at lunch one day.  It was universally held that the week made people happy, and that was the goal.  I gave some time this semester, but I definitely got more than I gave in this adventure.  These kids fueled my spirit, made me feel special, and reaffirmed to me that kids are incredible people who will change the world if we let them.  Heart is full thanks to the PALS of TSMS.  Go Titans!

#30 - Fill 'er Up!

My sister, brother-in-law, and nephew spent a day with me last week before they flew to Ohio to visit family.  I offered to drive them tot he airport and store their car in my garage while they were away.  They flew back home this evening, and I knew that the three hour car ride home after the flight from Ohio was going to make for a very long day.  Kindness came in making that trip home as easy as possible.  I stopped and filled the tank up so they wouldn't have to stop to do that on the way home.  I then stopped at Sonic and got all three of them their favorite drinks - even a lemonade for sweet Keaton!  I also had a feeling 4 year old Keaton might be a bit hungry when they landed, so I got him a corn dog.  All were thrilled with the drinks and snack and appreciative of the fuel.  I was happy to help and happier to get to spend a few precious minutes with them.  Making life easier for others is a pretty soul-filling act of kindness.

#28 and #29 - Through the Woods to Grandmother's House I Go

My 28th and 29th acts of kindness took place over the Thanksgiving holiday.  My grandmother, Wanda, lives in Roswell, NM.  Getting to Roswell by car takes about 7.5 hours of pretty boring driving (see photo below).  I generally go see her every Christmas, but it's been several years since I've seen her for Thanksgiving.  This year I made the trip to spend a couple days with her.  When we spoke about me coming she said she was just not up for cooking (she's 83 - who can blame her?!) so we'd go out to eat.  I know how much tradition means to her, so I decided to take the matter into my own hands.  My 7.5 hour trip was done with two coolers in the back seat full of Thanksgiving meal necessities from the catering department of Central Market.  We had turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, green beans, brussel sprouts, rolls, and two pies.  No pressure to cook or guilt if I cooked, because all we had to do is heat it up!  Mama was moved to tears and thanked me profusely.  Thanks aren't necessary, as I'd have done it all again to see her smile when I walked in the front door.  I was also rewarded with an incredible sunrise Friday morning when I started my drive home.  I count this as two acts because going was an act of kindness and bringing dinner was another that surprised and thrilled her.

#27 - Chic Fil A Aggression

This morning I treated myself to Chic-Fil-A for breakfast. We have two lanes at the drivethru. The pickup next to me was being weird and almost seemed to be trying hard to get in front of me. Rather than getting hacked off I decided maybe he was having a hard morning. So when I ended up in front of him I decided to buy his breakfast. Maybe it changed his trajectory!  Sometimes the people acting the least kind need kindness the most.

#26 Choosing Not to Rage

I drive from my office in Keller, TX to Texas Christian University in Fort Worth every Tuesday during afternoon rush hour. I'm amazed at how many cars are on the road and how many of those cars are driven by asshats. People cut in line, tailgate, and drive otherwise aggressively. Something about being in a car makes people lose civility. 

This last Tuesday I got in my car and decided today's commute was going to be different. I decided I would drive kindly every chance I got. I let people over, I slowed down to make space when I saw a blinker, I even waved over a gigantic 18 wheeler. Everyone else kept driving like asshats, but I chose not to. Know what?  It made an awesome difference!  By looking for ways to be kind instead of ways to be pissed off was an incredible lift in my spirits!  It was awesome to focus on something positive. That commute was an act of kindness that filled my spirit immensely!  Focusing on the right thing can make all the difference. 

#25 - "Good Day!"

I went to Starbucks with a friend at lunch today.  We were racing about town and went through the drive-thru to grab a quick caffeine boost.  The woman who greeted us through the intercom did so with a cheery "good day!" and it made me smile.  She also had the best laugh - I mean truly an awesome laugh.  After she'd delivered my PSL (I'm an addict, I know), I gave her $5.  She was confused and told me I'd payed with my card.  When I told her it was for her because she made me smile with her awesome attitude she quite literally squealed and did a kind of vibrating dance thing.  She turned around and showed her co-workers and looked like she might actually cry.  She thanked me profusely and told me how special it was.  It was $5...  Wouldn't you give $5 to someone if you knew it would mean that much to them?  Sometimes you just need to reward awesomeness when you see it.  This woman could have just slugged through the day and taken my order like everyone else, but she was doing her job in a way that made my day better.  If anyone deserves kindness it's the person who's working so hard at being awesome for others.  So lady at the Starbucks drive-thru on 1709, I salute you!  Thanks for the incredible coffee drink and the cheery disposition.

#24 - Danger Zone

Last week I took 5 incredible women to the movies.  We went completely old-school and saw Top Gun.  I even snuck some pictures during the volleyball scene <squeal!>.  Tickets were cheap and I created a little coalition of women who could forget our stresses and laugh together for a couple of hours.  Creating the space to relax and laugh is an act of kindness, and it's an awfully fun one!

#23 - Tweet a Little

A few weeks ago I had a friend putting together a gift basket for a teacher. She asked what teachers would most want as a gift. While I thought I had some good ideas, I've learned that it's always wise to go to the source. I asked the Twitterverse, and Tweeting teachers specifically, what they most want as a gift. I was thrilled when answers started rolling in!  I passed on the information and an awesome gift basket was created... but that's when I realized that this was a pretty easy random act of kindness in the making. I picked an awesome teacher who had Tweeted my way and decided to gift him the suggestion he made. So a couple weeks ago Mr Hardy's room got several boxes of Kleenex and a whole mess of Expo markers!  Best yet, Amazon delivered them directly to the campus so I managed this whole act of kindness from my desk. How's that for an awesome and efficient kindness moment? Mr Hardy - thank you for your awesome spirit and your heart for kids. We're a better school community because of you!

#22 - Best Gift

I received the best gift of my life on September 15, 2013. On that day my sister brought my nephew, Keaton, into the world. It wasn't an easy delivery - he made her push for three grueling hours - but at the end of that day I held a miracle and cried my first aunt tears. On that night they were soft rolling tears of gratitude and love. I was lucky to spend an entire week with them as they acclimated into their new life, and when I left seven days after his birth I ugly cry sobbed most of the way home and convinced myself I had to move to Austin because three hours was just too far.  Keaton is my little buddy, my sunshine, and a tangible reason to fight to make the world better. 

So what's this got to do with kindness?  I send Amy flowers on Keaton's birthday, because I'm forever  grateful she made me an aunt that day. I send Amy flowers because on that day she showed bravery, strength, and love in ways that make me so proud of her. When you're this proud of and thankful for another person, you should let them know. You should tell them in whatever way you can, because sharing those feelings is an act of kindness. 

Amy and Matthew, thank you for sweet K. He's the most awesome kid in the world, and he makes me a better person. 

#21 - In the House of Shine

Many of my acts of kindness revolve around giving things of value to others. While those acts of kindness are awesome, it's also important to remember that giving of time is also a worthy - sometimes even more valuable - act of kindness. Yesterday I had my first meeting as a member of the advisory board for the House of Shine. This incredible organization is a nonprofit that aims to help children and women find their Shine and use it to make a contribution to their community and world. How awesome is that?  Everyone has gifts to share, and this organization takes effective steps to make that happen. I'm honored and humbled to give my time to this noble cause!

Do you want to learn more about finding your Shine?  Check this out!:
https://www.houseofshine.com/

#20 - Feeling Helpless with Harvey

I have many friends struggling with the devestation unleashed upon southeast Texas by Harvey. I continue to tease some of my Houston friends about getting a boat to come get them, and I would if I could. When disasters like this strike and there's not much we can do to help, it starts feeling rather helpless. So rather than buying a boat and traveling to Houston where I would surely end up needing saving myself, I donated to the Red Cross this morning. They are in the thick of things providing relief to those who need it most. I'd love it if you'd do the same... https://www.redcross.org/donate/ You can select Harvey specifically from that page if you're so inclined. To my friends and to strangers who may see this, you're in my prayers. I wish I could do more, but know that we're here ready to help in any way we can whenever we can.

#19 - Book Blessings

This 19th act of kindness is my favorite so far.  Months ago I went to an event benefitting the school district.  They showed a video of a young lady who'd received a scholarship and talked about how much every dollar meant to her as she started college.  It made me think about some of our students who are first generation college-goers and how difficult it must be to get started on a campus with modest financial backing and blazing a trail in your family.  The AVID program does incredible work with first generation college-bound students, and Keller ISD is lucky to have an incredible AVID program, especially at Fossil Ridge High School.  Knowing that every dollar means the world to new college kids, I decided this was a great place for kindness.

I spoke with the AVID teacher at FRHS (shout out to Hillary White!) and asked if she had some college-bound students who would be starting at a university this fall and could use a little help with textbooks.  I then recruited assistance from one of the most generous men I know (Joe Griffin).  We decided we could buy the books for 4 students' first semester!  I got to notify those young people on Tuesday, and the outpouring of love and gratitude has been overwhelming and inspiring.

Sometimes I forget how hard it was to start college and be overwhelmed with the astronomical cost of everything.  I do remember going to the grocery store and being shocked that cereal cost $4.  I cried at the bookstore when I saw my biology book was over $100.  It just seems like a lot when you're 18 and new to the world.  Heck, it seems like a lot when you're 40 and have been around the block.  If a few hundred dollars can make those first few months a little easier on a first-generation college student, it's money well spent.  This is my favorite act of kindness so far because I feel like it has the potential to make the most long term impact.  My heart is full today.

#18 - Let's Start Blooming

School starts next week! I always love the first part of a new school year when everything is fresh and full of new possibilities.  It seems like the perfect time to throw around some kindness to try and help start the year off well for people.  Last week during an incredible fine arts PD day I was lucky enough to sit next to an art teacher I had never met before.  We had about a minute to chat and get to know each other.  As I left that day I contemplated ways to make an impact on her and the work she does.  As the lawyer it's not often that I can have a direct impact on the work of a teacher (yes, I have an impact, but it's generally a bit removed).  Inspired by words from the awesome Kim Blann, I decided to try and make her happy.  This week she'll get flowers delivered to her classroom just to remind her that someone is hoping she has an awesome school year.  Few things shout happiness more than fresh flowers, in my humble opinion!

As you go through your next week or two, give a teacher some words of encouragement.  Starting the year right makes all the difference, and they can use the love!

#17 - Watch Out!

It's back to school time!  I vividly remember my childhood's August being a time of anxious excitement, the smell of freshly sharpened pencils, and new outfits.  One summer in my painful tween years included a glorious trip to the store where I opted for several pairs of knock-off Keds in various colors instead of a more expensive pair of practical shoes.  I remember this because I recall how excited I was to have a pair of yellow shoes.  Brand new sunshine-y shoes for my middle school entrance.  I've become more and more cognizant of the fact that many of our students come back to school without the supplies they need much less new sneakers.  We have families that simply cannot afford all of the back-to-school hoopla.

So for my 17th act of kindness for the year I decided the girls I mentor deserved a little something special.  They both got a brand new super fun white Timex watch with multi-color numbers.  "Watch" out world!  My special young ladies are ready to tackle middle school like the wonder women they are!  One of them has already told me she does not like it... she LOVES it!  As you buy your kiddos their supplies and new clothes, try to remember that it's a luxury many cannot afford.  It's great to provide for your kids in the best way you can, but it's even better to make sure your kids have perspective and realize they're fortunate.  I'm 40 and I think I might finally be really getting it.

Now let's have the most awesome school year ever! Watch out world!

40 is the new 40

My 40th birthday is just 10 short days away!  I was discussing this with a friend recently and she commented that we can call it my 30th.  I smiled and told her I'm fine with owning all 40 of the years I've lived, but it did get me thinking.

Why are we so ashamed to admit milestone birthdays or advancing age?  Why would I want to lie about being 40?  If I fib and knock off 10 years from my age, which 10 am I discounting? Which years am I telling the world didn't count?  Was it the year I got honorable mention at the middle school art show?  The year I went to the state debate tournament with my sister?  Or maybe it was the year my mom died, I started my senior year of college, and got into law school - that was a doozy.  I wouldn't want to give up the year I met Bill the ex-boyfriend or even the year I ended that relationship, nor would I skip the one where I got the job with Keller ISD.  I certainly am not giving up the year Matthew made me a sister-in-law or Keaton made me an aunt.  Every single year has mattered to me, and I carry them with me with pride.  Those years come with some wrinkles, gray hairs, and knees that pop occasionally, but they also come with precious memories, dear friends, and additional loved ones.

In 10 days I will be 40, and I couldn't be happier about it.

#16 - Wonder Women

To say that I'm a Wonder Woman fan is like saying I'm an ice cream fan.  There's a deep rooted love of both that resonates all the way to my soul.  I grew up in Wonder Woman UndeRoos.  I've enjoyed comic book hero movies my entire life - even enduring Green Lantern and The Flash.  Thor is the love of my life, but Wonder Woman... she's my hero.  She believes in love and protecting people weaker than her.  She believes in being honest and fighting for what you believe in.  She's not just a superhero, she's my superhero.

Needless to say, news of the Wonder Woman movie sent me into fits of delight!  I've been looking forward to this time for decades.  I started watching my local theater's web page carefully a couple months ago - just waiting for tickets to go on sale.  I pounced the morning the show was listed and decided I wanted to go the evening of Friday, June 2, which also happened to be the last day of school. And I decided I was going to bring some wonderful women along with me.  I purchased an entire row of seats.  That's right... row H at the Keller Moviehouse at 7:00 on Friday was 10 awesome public school employees who came together to celebrate a fantastic school year and a remarkable superhero.  We laughed, we cheered, and we loved every second of it.  So this random act of kindness was as close to my heart as any before it.  I shared my hero with my friends on a magical day when the whole world stopped to talk about how strong a mystical magnificent made up woman can be.  I loved it so much I went again on Sunday.  Celebrate the strong women in your life - it's an act of kindness.

#15 - Bake Up Some Kindness

One of our middle schools (shout out to Hillwood Middle School!) is using this last week of school to plan, organize, and execute service projects around the area.  There are over 20 teams of kids engaged in project management and community engagement, and I could not love this whole idea more!  So when a group of young people showed up yesterday selling baked goods to raise money to donate to our local food pantry, I was more than happy to purchase everyone in the hall a treat.  When I told the young lady to keep the change from the $100, she didn't quite know what to say.  Random acts of kindness can sure be sweet!

#14 - Kindness Shared

My 14th act of kindness is a group effort  act of kindness. As most of you know, I work for a public school district. Not just any school district - one of the most academically successful, financially efficient school systems in the state and country. I'm incredibly proud of the work our teachers do each and every day. I'm also in awe of the work the campus principals do. In that spirit, my teammates at work and I decided the principals could use a little pick me up. We purchased a Starbucks gift card for every principal (all 41 of them!) and made cards to put them in. Sometimes a surprise note from people in another building with a little caffeine is just what you need to get through the last three weeks of school. So this act of kindness wasn't just mine - it was from a team of people who believe in the work done by a lot of talented and selfless people. Giving can be even more rewarding when it's a group effort!  It doesn't take much to let people know I (we) appreciate them. 

#13 - Erasable Kindness

I had an "in the moment" act of kindness on Friday last week. I was at the airport sitting at a charging area. There was a young lady working on high school math homework across from me. She asked her father for a pencil, but he didn't have one. I reached into my purse and handed her an erasable ink pen. She was surprised but took it and thanked me. As it was nearing time to board she tried to give it back and told me how cool it was. I told her to keep it. It was just a pen, but the way she beamed was priceless. I saw her using it to continue her studies on the plane. Sometimes it doesn't take much kindness to make someone's day easier. Sometimes you just have to be present in the moment and offer to give someone a hand.

#12 - Great Wolf Getaway

My twelfth random act of kindness was for Keaton (nephew) with side benefit to Keaton's mom (Amy, my sister). This was the last weekend of lacrosse season. As Amy's husband Matthew is a lacrosse coach, Amy is a part-time single parent during the season. To give Amy an option for things to do this weekend, I invited Amy and Keaton to join me for two nights at Great Wolf Lodge.

I didn't set out on this adventure thinking it would count as an act of kindness - it's time with family and that's a gift to me. After about 36 hours at GWL, though, I decided it counts. Kids outnumber adults by something like 12 to 1. Kids, in large part, lose their minds when they see water slides. It is something hard wired in their little brains. All sense of safety, rules, etc is lost once they get a whiff of that 85 degree chlorinated air.

After a kid puked in the little kid play pool area we went to the wave pool. This adventure was all worth it when I witnessed the utter delight on Keaton's face as he felt the rise and fall of the waves and giggled as we chased each other around the water. He had the same excitement at the "big" slide. I'll deal with the screaming and chlorine and crowds and jerk parents and overpriced mediocre pizza if it means seeing Keaton smile like that. I sure love that kid, and he makes being kind easy.

#11 - Lunch Crack Fix

One of my best friends is an exceptionally hard working mom who would do anything for me or, frankly, anyone else. She gives from her heart all the time, and she has a hard time accepting help. I certainly understand that tendency - as women we tend to feel like we have to be everything to everyone and allowing someone to help would indicate failure of some sort.  I'm beginning to learn that we are all stronger when we allow ourselves to lean on each other now and again.

So for lunch today I adversely possessed this friend's phone, which has been rather smashed up for the past several weeks. Poor dear hasn't had the chance to get it fixed, so I decided I could tackle that errand. Half an hour later her phone was fixed and we both learned that sometimes letting someone help isn't all bad.  

In today's society we tend to run about in our own little worlds and not see other people's needs or allow others to see ours. I'm going to try and be vulnerable and ask for help when I need it, and this acts of kindness challenge has helped me be more cognizant of the needs of others. 

#10 - Helping Bag

My tenth random act of kindness is in the form of bags full of basics. I've created several bags full of nonperishable food, hand sanitizer, and toiletries. I'll keep these in my car to provide to the homeless as the opportunities present themselves. I'm sure they appreciate change or random dollars I have, but maybe having some food or shampoo will show them that someone cared enough to think about them ahead of time. It took just a little time and a few dollars to be prepared to provide someone with a helping hand, or bag, as the case may be. In this day and time it seems more important than ever to give a little to help those struggling.

#9 - Kindness to Self

One of the many awesome things about working for a school is spring break. It's fantastic to get a week off just as flowers are blooming, daylight savings time is making waking up harder, and (frankly) I'm just tired. I often travel over spring break but decided not to this year. Instead I opted for about 40 hours of kindness to myself. I checked into the Ritz in Dallas Sunday afternoon and didn't walk out until Tuesday.  Let's be honest - it's exorbetently priced, ridiculously fancy, and completely self indulgent. But at the end of the day, just a tiny bit of indulgence now and again isn't a bad thing. This week I chose to purposefully be kind to myself for a bit. It was so awesome and relaxing and special. I feel rested. So this random act of kindness is all mine - I appreciate your grace indulging this one.

#8 - When the going gets busy, the busy deserve flowers

It's been a couple weeks since I was intentional with doing and blogging acts of kindness.  Life, as it inevitably does, got busy.  My sister, Amy Grosso, knows a few things about busy.  Full time job, near full time board member and volunteer for the AFSP, full time mom of a three year old, and full time wife of a husband who is a coach and currently in the depths of lacrosse season.  Amy is whipped this time of year, but she continues to go full blast and give every aspect of her life her all.  Sometimes the busiest of us needs just a tiny reminder that someone notices that things are tough but they keep kicking.  Amy, I notice.  I am amazed by your endurance and passion for everything in your life.  If that doesn't deserve flowers on a random Tuesday, I don't know what does.

#7 - Mailed It In

My 7th random act of kindness was for the love of mail!  Way too often I open my mailbox and have nothing but bills and junk mail. It's so nice when something else shows up!  Keaton, my nephew, is three. He is growing up in a world full of technology and instant gratification. He can operate the iPad and has a tv screen in the car. This kiddo is growing up as a digital boy, and I love that, but every once in a while he may need to know what it feels like to rip open an envelope with a stamp that his aunt sent just for him. So, sweet Keaton, happy Valentine's Day!  You're the bees knees, and I love you bunches!

#6 - Virtual Valentines From My Mentee

I have had the distinct pleasure of mentoring two tremendous young ladies for the past 3 years.  They've grown a lot since third grade and I'm so fortunate that they trust me enough to let me be part of their journey.  I visit them every couple of weeks and we talk (mostly... sometimes we do homework or work through something or talk about college, but usually we just talk about important fifth grade stuff).  I know about their pets and their fears and their accomplishments.  I know who their friends are and know how to motivate them.  Both of them did exceptionally well last grading period and showed great growth, so we celebrated today with Chick-Fil-A nuggets, which I've learned is pretty close to the best reward ever for a fifth grader.  I don't count that as a random act of kindness, because I get so much out of my time with them.  Any kindness I give there is returned 10 fold every time one of them yells she loves me as she runs back to class.  I'll buy nuggets every day for those happy moments.  Today's act of kindness, though, came by recommendation from my dear friend Amanda Cloud who enlightened me to an opportunity to send virtual valentines to sick children at Texas Children's Hospital.  (Check it out at texaschildrens.org/valentine)  How awesome is that?!  It's very easy and completely free, so I decided my mentees needed to see how it works and give back a little.  This is one of my girls picking out her valentine to send to a kiddo who needs a smile this Valentine's Day.  It was a win-win...  she knew it was a nice thing to do and felt good that she spent a couple minutes thinking about someone else.  Thanks, Amanda Cloud for the heads up on a great project!

#5 - Signed, sealed, delivered

My grandmother is one of the most important people in my life. I adore her. She's an incredible 82 year old woman who still works as a nurse 12 hour shifts, 3 days a week. She cares about the patients in her care deeply. She has a heart of gold. My world is so digitized that I often fail to keep up with her life or keep her updated on mine.  Mama Frost doesn't Facebook or Tweet or even email or text. She keeps it old school, which often means we miss each other's day to day happenings. I should do a better job at reaching out in ways she's accustomed. In that spirit, today I used the Touchnote app (allows you to send real postcards from an app on your phone) to send Mama a postcard that just reminds her that I love and miss her. It's important to communicate with those we love in the ways they will get the message and hear us. I think putting a stamp on a love note is an act of kindness. And in the event Mama ever finds her way to the Internet, I love you very much.

#4 - Kindness is bigger than Fear

My fourth random act of kindness came by complete happenstance. I worked well past sunset tonight and was the only person in my half of the building. My office has windows next to a parking lot and sidewalk. I heard talking outside and kept working at my desk--assuming it was people leaving the office or picking up their kiddos. Suddenly there was a knock on my window and a face peering in. The woman had someone behind her and loudly asked if I could help. I'll be honest, it probably wasn't safe to meet them at the side door. It was probably unwise to open the door to a stranger. At the end if the day, I'd rather be a person who assumes the best in people. I'd rather open doors than build walls based on fear.  I'll take the risk and hope in the goodness of mankind. And as it turns out, a nice lady with her disabled child just needed to get to a seminar on the other side of the building. Directions were given with a smile and wish for a great evening. The woman apologized for knocking on my window and was so appreciative that I was willing to help. She thanked me for my kindness. Sometimes opening a door is a random act of kindness. In this day and time, having faith that people are decent is an act of kindness.  Some may call it naive, and I'm ok with that. I call it hope.

#3 - Honoring Mrs. Pierce

A week ago today Keller ISD lost one of its elementary school librarians.  Mrs. Pierce (Camille) was a beloved member of the Parkview Elementary family and her death has impacted that campus and the District.  She was just 33 when cancer took her, and she leaves behind a husband and two sons, ages 5 and 3.  I never got to meet Camille, and I am saddened by that because of the love that I've seen over the last week.  She was an incredible woman I wish I could have known.  Losses like this are so hard, in part, because there just doesn't seem to be anything that can be done to stop the hurt.  There is nothing I can do to stop the hurt of Mr. Pierce or those young boys.  I can't stop the hurt her parents are feeling this very second.  I can't even stop the hurt her colleagues at school feel.  But I can try to show some kindness from afar.  A memorial fund has been set up to help fund her children's educations.  My third random act of kindness is a donation to that fund.  It won't stop the hurt, but it will honor her memory and legacy as a beloved educator, and that's something.

If you, too, would like to contribute, you can do so at the Camille Pierce Memorial Fund, EECU, PO Box 1777, Fort Worth, Texas 76101.

Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/obituaries/current-obituaries/article126882354.html#storylink=cpy

#2 - When you have a Star(buck) in your life

I've noticed that it's easy to rely on those who are consistently reliable.  When you can depend on someone to always be there, always get the work done, always do things just the way you want them...  well, it's easy to forget what life was like before them.  Taking a trusted friend, colleague, or life-saver for granted is way too easy.  My assistant is all of those things; she's a gem, and I'm lucky to have her.  Catherine makes both me and the school district better day in and day out.  I can trust her with the work that comes in, and I know she's going to do it quickly and well.  I am so lucky she's in my world, and today I wanted her to know that I appreciate her.  Nothing says love and kindness like a peppermint mocha.  I've got a Star in my world, and today she got a Starbucks!  I'm trying to remember that random acts of kindness don't have to be directed at random strangers.  Those people closest to me need acts of kindness just as much and maybe more.  Cheers to an awesome assistant who makes my life better!

#1 - It's the Nugget Size Things That Matter

It's the little things, isn't it?  I'll be honest, I tried hard to do a big ol' awesome random act of kindness for my first one, but I got a bit thwarted with logistics and am still waiting on a response email from a kind but busy soul at a nursing home (details to come).  I was disappointed it wasn't going smoothly and lamenting that fact in line at ChickFilA while waiting for breakfast.  Things work out as they should, because I realized that the lesson to be learned is that acts of kindness don't have to be big gestures.  I think too often we have big ideas and big desires and end up not doing anything at all when the big stuff seems too difficult.  If everybody did the little stuff it would add up to really incredible world-altering awesome stuff!  So I decided right then and there that I was going to do a little something to make someone happier than they would have been without me being on this planet. Right then.  No waiting.  Nice (I give her the benefit of the doubt) lady behind me in the drive through line, I hope you enjoyed your breakfast just a little more because it was free to you.  I had a better day after spending the $5 to buy your breakfast, so it was a definite win-win.  Little acts of love and kindness matter, so throw those around like confetti!  I'm embracing the fact that my first of 40 random acts of kindness was a humble one.