Weekly Challenge

Kindness and Mindful Gifts

For some reason this year it feels as if Christmas is a long time coming and we still have a number of weeks to go.   The shops are already really busy and the constant advertising to buy the latest gadget or must have gift is well underway.

In the midst of all of this madness I have also come across many wonderful acts of kindness and generosity and one particular I want to share with you.   It was a kindness advent calendar.   The basic idea is to carry out one act of kindness every single day.   Now I have already been doing it for a couple of days and I would say that when you add in carrying out this act in a really mindful way the effect is powerful and really restores a sense of calm and joy.

Here are just a few of the ideas that are included on the calendar:

• Let a car out in front of you
• Let someone go ahead of you at the check out
• Pay for a cup of coffee for the person behind you
• Give someone a super solid hug
• Take the time to pick up the phone and talk to someone you have been out of contact with
• Put an inspirational message on a colleagues desk
• Spend time with a resident of a local nursing home/care centre
• Send a thank you to the local fire crews/ambulance crews
• Sweep away some wet leaves from a neighbours drive

As you can see there are lots of possibilities.  I have written previously about the ripple effect of random acts of kindness but what has particularly surprised me in the past few days is that when I engage in such acts in a very intentional and mindful way , I have actually gifted myself a great sense of calm.

And so my challenge to you this week is to take the time to create your own list of kindnesses that you could complete between now and Christmas.   Make the time each day to consciously engage in an act of kindness.   You will not only be creating a ripple of kindness around you but the effect on you will be really positive, calming and destressing.

Warm wishes

Mary