LOVE should be for every season and every reason in what we say and do. Right?
At least that is something to strive for on a more regular basis.
So….I cannot emphasize this enough. I just started doing conversations and love letters to myself after hearing Tim Ferris and Elizabeth Gilbert talking about her morning ritual.
Take some time and simply write a love letter to yourself. In reality, you are starting a conversation with God…the Universe…the source of all things…whatever makes your heart sing. You are trying to understand and see what would be said to YOU. This has been a truly inspiring exercise for me and I would highly suggest it. Take the time, begin the practice. It doesn’t have to be every day. I usually write when I FEEL like I am in a better head space to listen and tune in.
I begin the love letter to myself with various things…Oh darling, My love, Love, Beautiful…[this in and of itself is interesting to see what you hear and feel on even a basic level…what do you hear yourself being called?] Then, I just sit with myself for a few minutes and type any thoughts that come to me…questions, advice, conversation…anything. I often feel like its a two-sided conversation and so I type out both sides. It is humbling and interesting to hear words come up that I never use or ideas and thoughts that don’t seem like me. It definitely helps me connect even deeper. I close my eyes, listen and type whatever comes up.
It has been a beautiful gift to myself. It makes me feel even more deeply connected to the greater life we all live. There is such a vast beyond, a timeless space that awaits a conversation with us. Don’t miss it. Don’t take it for granted or question every little thing to look beyond the possibilities of such treasured conversations and love. We all need it. WE NEED AND CRAVE THE GREATER LOVE.
So, with the holiday season upon us, I would gift you this…give this beautiful gift to YOURSELF. Gift it to your families, friends and loved ones. Open the door of deeper conversations and love to those YOU LOVE.
We ALL NEED MORE LOVE.
Simply try it. BUT, I would suggest in all fairness of any process….you TRY it more than one time. You need to allow and believe in something greater than yourself and the greater LOVE you deserve.
Every day we have an opportunity to be kind, to show up, to notice and appreciate, to be a little better than we were yesterday, BUT TODAY….IS THE DAY!!! For all those other days you had best intentions, should have, would have, could have…YOU CAN INTENTIONALLY do RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS…even ONE.
Just ONE little thing you can do can make a shift in someone’s day—make that automatically someone AND YOU. We always benefit from doing something kind for someone. We all know this, but why do we always have too many things on our daily to do list that often leaves out making a small, tiny difference in someone’s day!! Don’t think–just DO.
Here is a list of ideas…go do something small. Go make a difference. BE KIND.
Begin with a SMILE AND BEING AWARE OF THE ENERGY YOU ARE SHARING. We all bring something to the world—make sure you are being and sharing kindness. PEACE. LOVE and LIGHT to you.
Here are some ideas I posted another year…SPREAD THE KINDNESS
SMILE . Write a thank you note to someone you are thankful for . Leave random love notes . Celebrate someone you admire by taking them out to breakfast or dinner & share with them things you appreciate about them . Take some of your left over change & make people smile as you drop it in tip jars . Write fun messages in chalk on local paths or park areas . Leave change at a laundromat . Leave a Happy Day note on random cars . Buy flowers for a friend or teacher . Organize a local activity to pick up trash & fishing line (doesn’t break down for hundreds of years) in your local park . Make cards for Meals on Wheels . Do a sock drive for your local United Way (most needed item at shelters) . Leave a kind note in library books you have checked out . Genuinely listen to people when they talk to you . Turn off lights you are not using . Say kind compliments to others . Share something positive . Hand out some $1 bills to kids at a dollar store . Buy a huge bag of bird food & feed the feathered, little ones . Offer to walk an elderly person’s dog . Deliver positive notes to an elderly home . Put your phone down and invest in the people around you . A little way to say Thank you–give little baked goods or candy bars to those who give you great service at a drive-thru, nail salon, grocery store, delivery driver, mailman, etc . Write encouraging notes for strangers to find . Share something yummy with your coworkers . Give an unexpected hug to someone . Say hello . Walk a path, smile & say hello to every person you see . Start a family gratitude text chain (daily text of five things you are each grateful for) or family gratitude journal . Take a vase of flowers in to an elderly person who doesn’t get visitors . Plant a tree . Make a meal for someone . Give movie passes or tix for an event to someone who would enjoy them . Share a favorite book with someone . Make pinecone bird feeders . Thank local heroes (police, fire) by dropping off a fun bbq kit or baked goods . Ignore your phone when you are with someone for an entire day–try it! . Reach out to someone you have not connected with in awhile . For one day make sure you say ‘Please’ and ‘Thank you’ . Write a letter to a teacher or mentor (someone who has inspired you) & thank them for the influence they have had in your life . Clean up a hiking trail near your home . Connect with someone who seems alone . Send a great joke to someone . Ask someone a highlight from their day . Be happy . Use a reusable grocery bag . Take some time for yourself . High five a stranger . Be present with people . Give longer hugs . Always remember the ‘golden rule’ . Check your personal attitude–is it positive or negative . Get grateful . Do your best to spread some kindness & love . More ideas…
Here are some additional ideas from the RAK website and other sources: Get someone’s door . Be polite & treat people with kindness . Clean up graffiti . Donate used books to a library . Give care packs to the homeless (or a blanket) . Share your talent of music with the elderly . Help someone with yard work or snow removal . Let someone go in line in front of you . Write a note of appreciation to a teacher . Mentor a child who needs a friend . Pay for a coffee for the person behind you at Starbucks . Return shopping carts . Thank your police or fire department with a fun note or treat . Write a letter or email to someone who made a difference in your life . Visit an animal shelter . Take a bag of dog or cat food to your local shelter . Pick up trash at the beach or nearby nature trail or neighborhood . Send a nice note thanking a soldier . Be a designated driver . Give someone flowers . Visit someone who is sick . Collect canned food and give it to your local food bank . Donate $1 to your child’s favorite charity . Start a charity day at your work & give the money to a good cause . Help someone with their groceries . Give hugs . Leave a nice note for your local mail carrier . Thank your child’s bus driver or crossing guard . Plant a tree . Give compliments . Send something inspiring to those you have on your email list . Be a nice driver on the road . Take shorter showers this week . SMILE . Start a piggy bank for a cause . Share something yummy with coworkers . Say thank you to your school principal and office help . Tell your parents (or send a letter or email) how much you appreciate them & everything they’ve done for you . Let your staff leave a little early from work & thank them for all they do . Give flowers to be delivered with meal delivery programs . Make valentine hearts for the elderly home . Give someone a “heart attack” on their door (bunch of paper hearts that say nice things) . Invite someone new in the neighborhood over for dinner . Have your child take a bunch of fun stickers or suckers and hand them out when the final bell rings . Genuinely thank your waitress or customer service agent or barista or car driver for doing such a good job . Make and share kindness bookmarks or give them to the school library to give away . Leave a $20 in an envelope and leave it for someone in need . leave random notes of kindness on a public mirror or bulletin board . give freely . spread LOVE AND KINDNESS everywhere you can…
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