Quite a Quandary

Just a little over a week ago I was writing about the wealth of choices with regards to acts of kindness that start with P. At the time, I didn't even consider the dearth of possibilities with Q. Quiz? Quick? Quality? Quote? None of these choices were inspiring and the week went by without an original idea. I was in a.......quandary.

The word that kept floating to the top of the list as I pondered was “quintuple.” But I couldn't think of a correlating act of kindness. For a few days I just hoped I would run into a set of quintuplets on whom that I could bestow some fascinating act of kindness. Alas, by the end of today when it still hadn't happened, I knew I needed to be proactive. I placed a donation of five jars of peanut butter in the collection box at the grocery store for the local food pantry. I considered donating five bags of quinoa, but I know that not every one loves that type thing and I thought leaving food people hate just to fulfill my blog duties would be a little....unkind.

I'm relieved to have Q week behind me. Good riddance and onward to R......

Positivity

First, I must say, my co-blogger's "P" entry has me quaking (oh, that could be included in next week's blog) in my boots.  She turned so many clever phrases as she exclaimed her ultimate act of "P" kindness!  Well done, blogging pal!

Now it is my turn.  Actually I think it was my turn when Betsy took her turn.  I'm rather glad she went first as it has taken some effort for me to actually get to my act this week.

I've had to work hard at work to present with positivity.  Today I chose to honor the very powerful, strong efforts of my co-workers by making the extra effort to notice and express positive work noticed.  I also practiced what I often preach to parents with whom I met -- catch people doing well as opposed to focusing on that which is not going well.  I tried to proclaim the proofs of thoughtfulness, compassion, cooperation, helpfulness as often as I noted them in the adolescents and families with whom I work.

Positivity is intangible.  It's not always measurable.  Yet somehow, when conversation is infused with it, smiles come more readily and communication flows more easily.  When there is a group of folk exposed to such optimism, the ripple effects are experienced.

Here's to taking note of the positive, you know, like the song says: Accentuate the positive.  Eliminate the negative...

It can't always be done but by golly it was worth the effort today.

The Pressures of P

Initially I was pleased that P week was approaching.  Pondering possible of  acts that could start with P was pleasant as they seemed plentiful.   Peonies, pinatas, pandas, and pets. Popcorn, pizza, planet and poodle.  Each pointed to a possibility that could be poignant, playful or pleasant.

I patiently reviewed possible plans.  But then I started feeling pressure… The plethora of options was problematic. I wanted to perform the perfectly planned act of P kindness.  Panic permeated.. P week was passing by and I had yet to publish a post.

Today I could postpone it no more. I punted, repeating a previous plan (A Is For A Lot of Things). Snacks were purchased for my place of employment. Peaches, plums and peanuts  placed on the the kitchen table made me popular with my peers, even if it wasn't the perfectly planned  act that I had pondered.

Oceanside with Olivia

Today was a spectacular New England summer day.  It was also the day of committing an act of kindness conceived when the blog first began and the letter "O" was being considered.  I recall "Ocean" came to mind.  This lead to today's trash collection on a relatively narrow but long stretch of sandy, seaweedy beach in town.  I spontaneously phoned a friend and asked if she and her sweet daughter would like to join me during this oceanside hour of trash collection/disposal.

Join me they did at a park they've never experienced though it is only a few miles from their home as well. We donned our garden gloves.  One of us carried the recycle bag, another carried the trash bag and the third used her young, eagle eyes to spot refuse dirtying the shoreline.  I now must mention that this day of oceanside trash collection was made even more perfect because Eagle Eyes has a name fit for this very entry because, you guessed it, her name begins with "O."  OLIVIA gave me permission to shout out her good deed done and use her name since it fits so perfectly into the ABC's of Kindness.  We accomplished a lot in our hour of collection.  Styrofoam galore and glass, glass and more glass.  Our recycle bag was filled as was our heavily laden trash bag.  There was a family and their little seagull chasing dog, Bubba, who took time to thank us for picking up.  There was a gentleman who requested we figure out a way to clear the bugs as well as the trash.  Olivia explored the many different kinds of seaweed ashore and held her nose due to that unique, salty, low tide odor.  A tug boat worked hard to push a barge into the harbor.  Sailboats tilted and spotted the horizon.  The sky was blue with white, puffy clouds and bright sun.  A breeze blew lightly.

At the end of our endeavors ice cream treats were purchased.  Olivia had Cake Batter ice cream.  Carolyn had Maine Blueberry, and I had Black Raspberry yogurt.  Umm umm good.  Then Olivia was the recipient of an act of kindness at the carousel we were planning to ride.  She was given a ticket for a ride by a thoughtful older woman.  Just like on the carousel, what goes around comes around.  It sure did on this perfect summer day!

Thanks for joining me OLIVIA and Carolyn!  It was a great day of "O" kindnesses.

Ouch!

" I need a band-aid!" is a phrase often heard in my house. Thankfully, my sons, 11 and 12,  are finally starting to outgrow the phase when a band-aid is required for every single scratch that produces a spot of blood that is barely visible.

Being raised in the baby boom era as the youngest of seven children, I was used to the rule that a band-aid is NOT required unless an artery was severed. So I have turned out to be the kind of mother who is usually not  able to locate a band-aid when my kids think one is necessary. It hasn't been a problem since I can usually find a mother with a well equipped purse. The kind of mom who would never dream of leaving the house without a small selection of first aid items easily accessible. The kind who doesn't do it on purpose, but always makes me feel a little inadequate.

Today, in honor of “O” which obviously stands for ouch, I left a brand new box of band-aids on the table outside of a store near my house with a note that read “If you find this, it is yours. You never know when you might need one.” I'm hoping it will be found by a person like myself, who can never readily put her hands one when a spot of blood appears. But it's OK if one of those well prepared moms finds it. I may need to ask her for one in the future.

Kindly Notice This

When I was getting my morning coffee today and pondering what “N” act of kindness I could blog about, I noticed that the woman who waited on me had gotten a new hairstyle since the last time I was in the shop. I commented how nice it looked.

It was one of those things that I very possibly could have missed by being stuck in my own thoughts and not even noticed. That was it! Notice starts with “N” and it can be kind to notice things--- like someone's lovely new hairdo. So I committed right then and there (in my head, not out loud, that would have been weird) to make a point of noticing things today.

I noticed that a young woman I met, the sister-in-law of a friend, had a beautiful smile and I told her so. I noticed that the woman in the store was very helpful when I was trying to find a specific item and I told her so too. I noticed that the man in the big SUV was trying to merge into traffic ahead of me so I let him(extra notice points here, because I think I subconsciously am biased against people in big SUVs). I noticed a piece of trash on the ground near my car at work and I picked it up and threw it in the dumpster. I could go on with a few more things I noticed, but I suspect by now you've got the point.

I'm also aware that it can be unkind to notice things. Do you tell someone you notice their shirt doesn't match their pants? That you DON'T like their new hairdo? That they have spinach in their teeth? OK, that one can go either way. Perhaps this can be explored more fully in the ABC's of Unkindness. But for today, I noticed with kind intent.

Nice

The letter N brings to mind a number of words which relate to kindness, strangers, and my experiences of the last several days.  "Nice" is the words which encapsulates the others which include NEADS (National Education for Assistance Dog Services), nods, neighbors (of my parents whom I did not know until this past week), and navigating, to name a few.

My road trip has concluded.  I am taking a bit of time to compose this brief entry before returning to work.  As I reflect on the important time I had with family and friends I also recognize that Rowdy, trained by the fine folks affiliated with NEADS, had his ongoing impact on people throughout our time away, namely the neighbors up the street and across the street from my parents.  I had very pleasant conversations with all, initially about Rowdy but then about various other things like gardening, fond memories of one's college days back East, deer, birds, ground cover (native versus invasive), one of the neighbor's beloved dogs.  I'm not sure I would have learned as much about these others if not for the ever present, fluffy ice breaker.  Also, while driving and stopping along the way, I made it a point to nod, to make eye contact more than I generally have, when running in for a pit stop, getting a drink, and, of course, walking and watering the pup.  Yesterday I actually had a number of exchanges with a young family including their dog and young baby which concluded with mutual wishes for a safe journey to one another.  As navigation on a long throughway continued, I was left with a strong feeling of just how nice it can be to really notice the little, genuine ways exchanges between people can impact moods.  

The way the word NICE is resonating in my mind is difficult to describe but I imagine many of you, at least in this country, have heard it said when one experiences something as really, really nice.  It's sounds something like this:  Naaahhhiiiicccceee - with a little sort of hiccup in there for added emphasis.

I am grateful for that sort of NICE vacation that included many fine times with strangers, friends and family!  Wishing you readers nice moments in the days and weeks ahead!