CHALLENGE ACCOMPLISHMENT SUMMARY
THE RESOLUTION: Random Kindness
Opportunities are everywhere!
Without a doubt, it has been faster, easier, more fun and definitely more rewarding to complete ThirteenSquared’s Random Kindnesses resolution than the ever more effortful volunteering campaign. I even find myself continuing to look for these altruistic chances beyond my ThirteenSquared goals. The true goal of every resolution is to ignite great future life changes.
My summary list:
1. One of my most honest and vulnerable entries. http://thirteensquared13.blogspot.com.es/2013/03/the-weight-of-issue.html#more
2. Simple beginnings start with tea time. http://thirteensquared13.blogspot.com.es/2013/02/january-in-review-part-i.html
3. What’s more Canadian than stopping to help others push their car out of the snow?
5. You don’t need a degree in geriatric care to improve the health of neglected elderly people. An hour of simple conversation and a lot of laughter flushed the colour back into Fernando and Horace.
-> This one made a surprising and lasting impact for me. Taking the time to visit with them took no particular effort and no expense. In fact, I enjoyed the time with them, Fernando was a particularly “filthy old fart” who soon had my belly aching with laughter. He had been saving a lifetime of jokes for anyone who would just listen to him. But before I could leave, both Fernando and Horace turned serious and emotional. They thanked so profusely for having taken the time to share and laugh with them that I often think back to them, hopeful,that there will always be someone else willing to listen to their jokes.
6. This cupcake story even got its’ own 2 part double feature.
- Story: http://thirteensquared13.blogspot.com.es/2013/05/st-patricks-day.html
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aI5MbW1l77I&feature=player_embedded
7. There aren’t too many people who would place doing laundry very high on their list of favourite activities. But this month, a few lucky people will find themselves the lucky recipients of my latest random kindness: prepaid washing machines! Good luck :)
8. Some kindnesses present as learning opportunities. For me, it involved one badass motorcycle and its gentle rider get out of a jam. Thankfully, my trustee truck came equipped with jumper cables. Not so helpful, my lack of instruction on how to operate said cables. No worries, as long as I could provide the materials, the Harley man was more than willing to show me how to properly bring the roaring engine back to life.
9. An oldie but goodie. Stopped by my local Tim Hortons for a coffee... and treated the following customer, a disheveled looking lady clearly in need of a pick me up. Enjoy stranger :)
10. More a of a volunteer situation than a random kindness due to its more organized nature (if I am to follow my own criteria), but couch hosting Nishant on a last minute request makes #10. http://thirteensquared13.blogspot.com.es/2013/05/hosting-nishant.html
11. It was a particularly festive day, nevertheless, fireworks rang out from the parking lot beneath us. Minutes later a scary old doggy pawed its way past the back trailing what was left of stinky, rotted leash behind. Spooked by the loud noises, he made a break for it snapping the leash tying to a pole outside the shop while his owner was inside buying coffee. With major trafficked on all four sides, waiting around for his master to notice was much to risky. I sprang into action catching up with the pup half a block away. This is when the realization this anxious mutt may not be feeling to keen to make a new friend. No fret though, I let him sniff me a bit before taking hold of him and guiding him back to the man who was now calling for his dog from the parking lot.
12. Writing a simple message can be a great way to turn someones day/week around. People who feel good spread that energy with others. It’s a bit harder to know what to say when you are writing to strangers and leaving the notes on their windshield. It is even harder to say something great to a person who is notoriously rude, mean and without compassion. I hope my note makes her a little nicer.
13. Finally, the story of Justin, the not so wandering hungry person I shared a pizza with. http://thirteensquared13.blogspot.ca/2013/10/hungry-hungry-hippo.html
The first fully fulfilled and documented list for ThirteenSquared is now complete. Only one month to go and 12 more lists to present! Yikes!
One woman. One year. 169 Resolutions.
