#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.