Pass it On

Hug harder, laugh louder, smile bigger, love longer.

 

Week #47 LIFE'S simple pleasures - Random Acts of Kindness

 

Practice Random Acts of Kindness and Senseless Acts of Beauty, was written by Anne Herbert back in 1982.  I fit somewhere in between Generation X and Generation Y... so I'm part of the  (older) MTV generation.... and I think it was time that kids in the 1980s took a stand for something other than their neon work out gear and watching the Breakfast Club. 

 

It was time to show some kindness.  We are the world you know?

We are the world, we are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So lets start giving
There's a choice we're making
We're saving our own lives
Its true we'll make a better day
Just you and me

 

I think one of the cool things about a RAK is really not planning on what you are going to do and who you are going to do it for.  Thus the word RANDOM....

 

But for some people who plan (and maybe it's a good thing, so that you have the extra 'stuff' you need to complete the task at hand)  here are some more ideas:

 

Put money in an expired parking meter, pick up trash, give your waitress a huge tip, when grocery shopping pick up extras for a food bank, leave a smiley face post it note on the back of a door, return a shopping cart, leave pennies on the side of a fountain for others to make a wish, take time to really listen when someone has something to say....

 

No act of kindness however small is ever wasted - Aesop

 

 

A little spark of kindness can put a colossal burst of Sunshine into someones day.

One in a Minion

Small acts when multiplied by millions of people can transform the world!

 

Week #47 LIFE'S Simple Pleasures - RAKs

 

Random Acts of Kindness.... have you ever been the recipient of one?  If so, how did it make you feel??? 

 

I've read all over....blogs, magazine/newspaper articles etc.... one feel good random act is paying for someones coffee at Starbucks. 

 

I don't know who actually started that... and of all places where a coffee could cost up to $5... a kind soul will let the barista know that they are paying for the order behind them ... and then drive off with a smile on their face and the car behind them looking confused when the drive through attendee says the car in front of you paid for it already!!!  (Like people who go to Starbucks really need help paying for something.... but I digress.... its the random act we are to admire!)

 

Kindness is a very big thing.

 

Sincerely compliment someone every day, always keep your word, leave kind notes for people, be forgiving, accept others kindness....

 

Leave money in a public place for someone to find.

Don’t just drop a few pennies. Leave a five or ten dollar bill. Don’t think about where the money will be spent, it is about spreading kindness, not controlling how your kindness is used.

 

And shop on Small Business Saturday....  November 30, 2013.... instead of going to Hallmark, support a crafty and whimsical creative greetings card company!!! 

 

No act of kindness however small is ever wasted - Aesop

 

Send some FuN MaiL and Brighten Someone's Day!!!!

FREE Hugs, just because!

Carry out a random act of kindness with no expectations of reward, safe in the knowledge that one day someone might do the same for you.
 ~ Princess Diana

 

Week #47 LIFE'S simple pleasures - RAKs

 

A random act of kindness is a selfless act performed by a person or people wishing to either assist or cheer up an individual person or people.

 

Why do it? just because!!

 

Have you ever received an unexpected compliment from a stranger?  At first you may be shocked, but then after your mind raps around the comment, for the rest of the day you feel great!  That's why receiving a RAK is a wonderful thing .It then can prompt you to Pay it Forward and when the moment is right... you do your own Random Act.

 

People often forget that kindness is FREE.

 

Here are just a few things you can do: hold the door for someone, let someone go in line before you, return a shopping cart, pick up trash, donate blood, send a card to a friend, give out Hugs and donate used clothing.

 

It's all about finding ways to make the world a nicer place, just because!

Don't Act, Do!

A little spark of kindness can put a colossal burst of sunshine into someones day.

 

Week #47 LIFE'S simple pleasures - RAKs

 

Practice random acts of kindness and senseless acts of beauty was first coined by Anne Herbert around 1982. A random act of kindness is  defined as a selfless act performed by a person or people wishing to either assist or cheer up an individual person or people.

 

Last week on November 13 it was World Kindness Day and Random Acts of Kindness week will be celebrated February 10-16, 2014.

 

Become a RAKtivist!!!

 

Hopefully you wont have to perform the act of reverse pick pocketing.... check out this YouTube video above.  These RAK's have a bit of extra work put into them!  It will make you smile.

During this time of year, most people reflect on what they are grateful and thankful for.  And sometimes they want to make the world a nicer place.  Our willingness to help strangers is flexible, and can be shaped in small changes of perception.

One way to do this is to actually go out of your way to make the world a kinder place. Do a RAK.
Brighten Someone's Day.

One small act of kindness may be the positive force that turns someones life around today. Be Kind.

PS: Often while doing research for my blog topics, I look through magazines and newspaper headlines, I reflect on something that may have happened in my own LIFE and I brainstorm, then I just type the subject idea into Googles search engine.  Although I work my topic around 'famous' quotes and sayings from others, by no means do I wish to pass that some of this very clever stuff is my own.  When I see that an author is part of the quote, I include that.  Sometimes there is no author name.  These quotes are normally written in larger italicized bold text.  Artwork that is my own will have my prdesign2013 watermark on it. So.... I'm just sayin'

Music Speaks

Music should either move your feet or move your heart.

 

LIFE is like a piano. The white keys are happy days and the black keys are sad ones. Just remember that you need both to make music.

 

Week #46 LIFE'S simple pleasures - music

 

It is truly amazing all the different types of music we can listen to.  Now with satellite radio and cable television, and easy access to songs on Itunes, you can turn to hundreds of different channels to listen to thousands of different genres of music without ever stepping foot into a record store!!! (what the heck is that??)

 

In almost every walk of LIFE, even if you don't play a musical instrument, or read music .... or even sing.... you can appreciate the feelings and memories music brings to you.

 

I hope that reading my blog posts you've been able to take a few moments and reflect on some of LIFE'S simple pleasures ... it's funny how a melody sounds like a memory.

 

LIFE without music would simply B flat.

 

There are six more weeks left in 2013 .... the Year of LIFE'S Simple Pleasures ... I am so excited that I was able to post every week to my blog with something new!!!

 

Now go Brighten Someone's Day!

Just A Note

The music is not in the notes, but in the silence in between - Mozart

 

Week #46 LIFE'S Simple Pleasures - music

 

It would be very interesting if in 'real' LIFE we had background music!  What would your soundtrack say about you?

 

I think my music during the day would be very quiet and calm, and at night during my dreams... kind of wild and strong!

 

Song lyrics are a great place to find words for sentiments inside a card or a note.

 

A Note: a brief informal letter, a brief record.

 

Words make you think a thought

Music makes you feel a feeling

A song makes you feel a thought

~ E.Y. Harburg

 

When a singer/song writer is asked where they get inspiration for their music and their lyrics, they often point to something that happened in their life ... be it an awful tragedy, a dramatic break up, a joyful experience, an undying love or a great memory.

 

Maybe with LIFE'S simple pleasures, you will write someone a note (** hint** most all the cards you see here on my blog are for sale.... one of kind, unique and ♥artfelt). And take inspiration from a song and music that invoke a good memory with a special person!

 

Brighten Someone's Day

 

 I can't explain it, but I'll find a song that can.

The KEY to LIFE

Sing us a song you're the piano man ... -  Billy Joel

 

Week #46 LIFE'S simple pleasures - music

 

Do you play a musical instrument?  Is your voice your instrument?

 

Music is a huge part of a lot of peoples lives.  It's one of my simple pleasures.

 

Music is what feelings sound like.

 

If you are a movie fan just hearing a song can bring you back in time. 

 

 

The video doesn't quite work when you press play, but turn up the sound.... you'll know....

or, how about this one...

 

 

If you ever want to hear great movie theme songs, go to YouTube and just put that in the search engine.

Music is the sound track to all the good and bad times we have.



LIFE is like a piano.  The white keys are happy days and the black keys are sad ones, just remember that you need both to make music.