Small Reflections: de-lurking

Methinks MPJ is right after all! Not as many people "blog" on weekends as during the week. I hadn't noticed until she "Ku-d" about it yesterday at A Room of Mama's Own. So ... I might be wise to wait and post this on Monday rather than today, but perhaps I'll do it today and Monday? Time will tell.

My post from yesterday, "De-lurking and Kindness" has but two comments since I posted yesterday at 11:14 am ... and the similar (yet different) post at Sacred Ruminations on these two topics (posted yesterday at 6:51pm and amended earlier this morning) has only one comment. I'll not take the time to check other weekend posts now (but may do so later) because I have other things to share today.

First ... while drifting off to sleep last night, I remembered adding another "kindness" reminder to my sidebar at Sacred Ruminations a couple of months ago when I first started my blogs. It's way down near the bottom and looks like this, and when you click on the purple button ... it takes you to a brief video clip worth watching. Maybe you have time today?

Next ... this morning I searched Google for references to Practice Random Kindness and found this in Wikipedia. Apparently there is a Random Acts of Kindness Foundation (founded in 1995) that exists today, and others have taken up this idea promoting a variety of activities. I quote from Wikipedia here:

Join Me is a group created in 2002 by humorist Danny Wallace; the group's purpose is to encourage members to perform random acts of kindness, particularly on "Good Fridays".
In 2004, a Free Hugs Campaign was made popular by a music video on YouTube.
Scott Mills is a British DJ on BBC Radio 1 who used the term as the name of a regular feature of his programme.
Talk Radio Host David Stein of The Celebration of Life Through Sports has also declared every Monday "Random Act of Kindness Day".
Radio program Kfm Breakfast ran a Random Act of Kindness Day on the June winter solstice in 2007, collecting ±50,000kgs of tinned food for Cape Town's homeless shelters.
In the movie Evan Almighty (2007), God tells the main character that the way to change the world is through "one act of random kindness at a time".

Finally ... I found a variety of people and organizations actively pursuing kindness in the world. One I explored briefly is HelpOthers.org with links to Smile Cards, Stories, Groups, and Kindness Ideas, but others are listed if you're seeking ideas for yourself.

So ... BEGIN TODAY with a little kindness for me and LEAVE A COMMENT PLEASE!!!

This request may be
late, but it is most sincere ...
Won't you share your thoughts?

Comments make us smile
when we find them on our blogs.
We care what you think.

Please don't hesitate
typing a few words below ...
You might find it's fun!

While meandering through the Blogosphere visiting T-13ers on Thursday, I happened upon this Everyday Kindness logo near the end of a excellent illustrated list entitled 13 Rules for Living. After leaving a comment about the post, I clicked on the logo itself and discovered an invitation to join Claudia in making kindness a commitment during 2008. I was sipping coffee from a favorite mug at the time inscribed with the words, "Practice Random Kindness and Senseless Acts of Beauty" ... a campaign of a few years back that shifted my awareness at the time. The basic idea was to smile (and perhaps even say hello) to people you encountered, do an unexpected (and perhaps anonymous) thing for someone (whether or not you knew them) like put a quarter in the parking meter when you notice it's expired (especially if you see someone writing tickets approaching). What I remember most about adopting the practice myself at the time was how happy I felt after taking such action.

Since I subscribe to the belief that "coincidence is God's way of remaining anonymous," I left a comment indicating my interest ... saved the image on my computer to add to my sidebar later ... and made a note to post about it when time permitted, all the while smiling to myself and thinking what an excellent idea this is to share. So ... I'm offering a bit of link-love and some encouragement to anyone who might want to adopt the practice and spread the word.

Thought or today

"We make a living by what we get,
but we make a life by what we give."
Sir Winston Churchill (1874 - 1965)