This is the roundup post for the 14-Day Kindness Challenge held in Nov 2012, where we do different acts of kindness for 14 days. The challenge is now over but you can do the tasks in your own time. Visit the overview page for all the challenge tasks.
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Hello everyone! :D Welcome to the roundup for the 14-Day Kindness Challenge! ;)
14 Days. 14 Acts of Kindness.
It’s been 14 days. 14 acts of kindness. A whooping 810 participants, and probably hundreds more who did the tasks silently without officially signing up.
I thank you for sticking with me throughout the past 14 days and following through on the acts of kindness as you had pledged to do when you signed up for the challenge on November 1st.
Below are the 14 acts of kindness (plus Day 0’s task) in the past two weeks:
- Day 0: Get at least ONE Friend / Family Member to Join the Challenge! | 33 Comments
- Day 1: Give a Hug to Everyone You See | 92 Comments
- Day 2: Give Up Your Seat To Someone | 49 Comments
- Day 3: Write 3 Thank-You Notes to 3 People You Appreciate | 52 Comments
- Day 4: Sign Up For Volunteer Work (On Top of Whatever You Have Been Doing) | 56 Comments
- Day 5: Give a Genuine Compliment to at Least 3 People | 39 Comments
- Day 6: Talk to Someone You Don’t Normally Talk To | 50 Comments
- Day 7: Make a Donation | 48 Comments
- Day 8: Pick Up Litter | 39 Comments
- Day 9: Write a Letter to Someone Who Has Made a Difference in Your Life | 44 Comments
- Day 10: Send Flowers to Someone | 26 Comments
- Day 11: Be Kind to Someone You Dislike | 20 Comments
- Day 12: Forgive Someone | 27 Comments
- Day 13: Give Someone a Treat | 11 Comments
- Day 14: Do Something Unexpectedly Nice For Someone (Plus World Kindness Day Celebration!) | 10 Comments
The comments sections for all Kindness Challenge posts will be closed this Saturday, Nov 17, 11:59pm GMT +8. That’s Singapore time. For those in East Coast, that would be Nov 17, 10:59am.
Use the remaining time over the next two days to share your reflections and mingle with the participants. This is your final chance to be part of the challenge and interact with one another!
Kindness Challenge Continues to Receive Support of Media!
Asia One (Nov 14, ’12)
We got a feature on Asia One yesterday, talking about how our kindness challenge went viral with over 800 participants! :D
It’s definitely a refreshing change to see the local online media cover more positive news like this rather than sex-for-grades, man-pushes-elderly-woman off bus or girl-argues-with-woman-on-train news, which are more negative.
Read the article online here: Singaporean’s kindness challenge goes viral. It’s a pity that they didn’t provide any hyperlinks to PE, though I’m grateful all the same for the coverage. Thanks Asia One for the coverage! :D
938 LIVE, Follow-Up Coverage! (Nov 15, ’12)
Daniel Martin (one of the 938 LIVE deejays) contacted me yesterday to do a follow-up story of the Kindness Challenge, as part of his “Making the Difference” segment. I shared the results of the challenge, the participant responses, and my plans moving forward!
The five-minute interview will be broadcast today (Nov 15), at four different time slots: 6:35am, 11:45am, 1:35pm, and 8:45pm (GMT +8). Tune in to 938 LIVE then (click on the Listen Live widget on the website!).
Update: For those who missed the interview, listen to the podcast on 938 LIVE. :D
My Day 14 Review: Do Something Unexpectedly Nice for Someone
The last act of kindness for the 14-Day Kindness Challenge was to Do Something Unexpectedly Nice For Someone.
As I shared in Day 14, I picked the Kiss92 deejays, whom I host my weekly Monday personal excellence segment with, as the recipients of the task!
From left to right: Maddy Barber, Jason Johnson, myself, and Arnold Gay
The reason why I picked Maddy, Jason, and Arnold is because I’ve been feeling very thankful to Kiss92 for the opportunity to speak to their listeners and (hopefully) touch their lives in the process. I’ve been doing the segment for four weeks and I hope they continue to have me back on an ongoing basis! On my end, it’s important that I give high value advice every week, so that listeners can take away new knowledge each time.
Since Day 14’s task is to do something unexpectedly nice, I wanted it to be extremely personal. I think the most meaningful gifts are the most personal ones. I dislike the idea of getting gifts for the sake of getting gifts—its simply a waste of time and money. You are also giving the person the burden of thinking what he/she has to do with the gift if he/she doesn’t like it or has no use for it.
So I asked myself, “What is the most meaningful thing I can do for them, within my personal capacity?” And I recall that my first episode with them was on bucket list (you can listen to my past Kiss92 episodes in the Podcasts section) and they had shared some of their hearts’ deepest desires during the segment itself!
Maddy said she wanted to be in South of France, learning how to make soap. Rather than buy her soap which I feel wouldn’t fulfill her real desire, I tried to look for soap-making classes in Singapore. I thought it would be a long shot since soap-making is such a niche topic, but I thought I would try my luck anyway. To my surprise (and luck), I found some soap-making workshops! I selected Soap Ministry in the end as they look established and booked a one-hour basic soap-making workshop for Maddy.
Me at the Soap Ministry (Orchard Central (#B2-07/08) to purchase the workshop ticket.
Here, you see one of their soap-making workshops underway!
For Jason, he said he wanted to learn archery. My guess was that he probably hadn’t had time to book his archery classes since the bucket list segment was only three weeks ago. So, I went to book an archery class for him.
This actually took a lot more time than I thought because I had to find a vendor which allowed me to book by proxy. (Many archery schools made it compulsory to fill in your I.C. and other personal details when you register! I wonder why? Maybe they want to have a record of people who want to learn archery, lest we have people going around shooting others in Singapore?!? o_O)
At the archery range at Home Team NS to purchase the archery workshop ticket.
(Address: 2 Bukit Batok Avenue 7, next to Bukit Batok Driving Center)
For Arnold, his bucket list item is to move to Alaska with his family, live in the wilderness, and go fishing!
I had to rack my brains for this one. Since it’s not exactly feasible for me to send him to Alaska (he still needs to be hosting the Kiss92 segment plus his wish is to retire in Alaska, not to visit Alaska), I decided—hey, why not get a photo frame with a picture of someone fishing in Alaska to remind him of his dream, always? This would be the vision board at work!
So I went to Google Images to search for pictures of people fishing in Alaska or at least out in the sea in Alaska. And after much searching, I found the perfect picture of someone who took a picture of himself WHILE fishing!! (See picture above.) This provides an amazing first-person view, which is SO adept for vision board purposes. So I promptly saved the image, got it developed as a photo, and bought a nice photo frame to frame the photo!
My gift for Arnold—A photo frame with a first-person picture of someone fishing who just got his catch of the day!
I then topped off the gifts with cards, where I wrote personalized messages for each of them.
Personalized cards for Maddy, Jason, and Arnold
The end result? I think they were pleasantly surprised and really liked the gifts. :D You can listen to me giving them the gifts on air at the last section of yesterday’s episode, “How to Handle Criticisms” (download in the Podcasts section).
The happy dynamic trio—Maddy, Jason, and Arnold with their gifts! (Taken at Kiss92 studio.)
Today’s Task: Roundup of the 14-Day Kindness Challenge
With the kindness challenge now coming to an end, I’d like you to do a roundup of your experience of the challenge.
Reflect over the following questions today, and share your responses in the comments section when you are ready:
- How has the kindness challenge been for you?
- What has been your favorite task(s)? Why?
- What have you learned from participating in the kindness challenge? What have you learned about kindness? Elaborate.
- How do you plan to integrate kindness into your life moving forward?
- Anything you would like to see at PE moving forward? What is it?
The longer your answers, the better. I look forward to reading your responses. :)
Kindness Challenge in 2013?
Given the huge success of kindness challenge, some journalists have been asking me if I’ll be planning the Kindness Challenge next year!
I say, why not? :D I’m all for what helps others to grow and live their best lives. At the moment I don’t have any concrete plans to run Kindness Challenge again in 2013. It dependent on a lot of factors, such as the projects I’ll be working on, how my discussions with Singapore Kindness Movement go (and what upcoming projects we might be collaborating on), and what’s most relevant to the society then.
For now, let’s continue to enact kindness in our lives everyone! :D
Remember to share your roundup comments in the comments section! Once again, comments sections for all kindness challenge posts will be closed this Saturday, Nov 17, 11:59pm GMT +8. Use the next two days wisely to share your results (for those of you who have not completed all 14 acts of kindness), post your thoughts, and mingle with the participants!
Update: Wait, wait, there’s still more! To help you guys stick with your acts of kindness post challenge, I’ve asked my designer to create a manifesto of all the official acts of kindness we did during challenge. Grab it here: 14-Day Kindness Challenge Manifesto
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I enjoyed the 14 day kindness challenge. I have always been a writer of thank you notes by hand, volunteered, and worked to follow the seven principles outlined in the book The Happiness Advantage. The challenge kept all these things at the front of my daily planning.
One cool thing I have done on a regular basis is to go to the Dollar Store and purchase toiletries (toothbrsuhes, deoderant, floss, toothpaste, hand santizer, soap, shampoo, gum, a candy bar. etc) and make “gift sets” in brown lunch bags. I then take them to the Resuce Mission in town and give them to the staff to distribute.
Sometimes I will have a person stop in the parking lot and ask for a “gift bag” This small act of kindness always makes me smile and helps me understand how something so small to me can make the day or week of someone who needs these items and how the kindness is appreciated.
Thank you for your cool site and the info you provide includingthe 14 Day Kindnesss Challenge. I look forward to more events from you.
Hi everyone! As it’s not humanly possible for me to get to all your comments, I would like to leave an overall big “THANK YOU” to all of you for taking the time to leave your reflections and feedback. I’m so grateful for your time, both in taking part in Kindness Challenge, and in leaving a comment. Thank you. Your words mean the world to me.
Moving forward, I want to conduct such public-scale challenges, just not as regularly as before (when it was nearly monthly). The next one is likely going to be next year. I’m thinking of whether to sync it with Valentine’s Day (so it will be a love-based challenge) or International Happiness Day (which is sometime later in March). I’ll announce it in time.
The private premium challenges, which are the 30DLBL and 30BBM, will continue as per normal. For those of you who have yet to get the 30DLBL and 30BBM programs, do check them out. They are the best high-value programs PE has to offer. Getting each program gives you free life-time access to the live runs plus the materials themselves so you can self-administer the program.
Till the next challenge guys! :hug: In the meantime, continue following the blog posts on PE. Love all of you. :hug:
I’m a little disappointed that I didn’t participate as much as I know I should’ve. I can easily boil it down to procrastination and the fact that i feel like i didn’t commit myself as much as I should’ve. I think this has opened my eyes to what i could do differently and if i could do it again i would and i know what I’d do ;) in the mean time I’m going to use what I learned from this and apply it as well as the acts of kindness. next time I’ll be ready ;)
Thanks Celes for keeping the comments open for a longer time, and hope I have something useful to say, right now I have no idea what I’m going to type ! :)
1.How has the kindness challenge been for you?
It opened my eyes and my heart :heart: It helped me realise the existense of some of my weaknesses (more on that in answer #3) and it gave me food for the soul and the heart that I can feast on for ages. The term “challenge” is perfectly accurate to me because even though most of the tasks are simple, but it’s “challenging” to integrate them into our lives and get over the obstacles, like procrastination for me. It felt sometimes like a race against time or a treasure hunt (where the treasure is something felt by the heart and not the hand) and I enjoyed that aspect too :)
2.What has been your favorite task(s)? Why?
I liked all of the tasks ( even the really challenging ones) but the one which I felt rewarded by the most, was sending the thank-you notes. The responses I received were so heartwarming and it was just amazing!
3.What have you learned from participating in the kindness challenge? What have you learned about kindness? Elaborate.
I have learnt that sometimes it’s hard to actually be kind, for example, I still haven’t done the “forgive someone” task. I can think of three people who I probably would be better off forgiving, but I’m afraid that by forgiving them I would be letting my guard down against any further injury because I still interact with them and will continue to do so probably for a very long time. I want to sort through the feelings though. I’m not sure when.
On the bright side, doing the acts of kindness lifted my mood when I was feeling blue. Even when sometimes I was feeling like a bad person, doing the tasks made me believe that there is kindness in me. And in the end, kindness is the one trait/value that makes all the difference. There was an analogy I heard about before used for a different topic, but I think it applies here too. It goes that if we’re going to “rate” personalities, then kindness gives a “1” and all other good traits add “0”s … so if someone is kind and smart, then they’re a “10” … but if someone is only smart but not kind, then all we have is a “0”.
I have also learnt from the kindness challenge that different tasks touch people’s hearts in different ways. For example, one task may brighten someone’s day while for someone else, it can brighten their whole week.
4.How do you plan to integrate kindness into your life moving forward?
I plan on doing one act of kindness from the list at least once a week. Any act, small or big. And the new eye-catching manifesto is only going to make it easier. I still remember Celes’s description about kindness (which used to give me goose-bumps every single time I read it!) from a past challenge (maybe 30BBM) which was something along the lines of entering a home on a hill then coming out shining with the light kindness. I still find it a very beautiful description and a great way to get into the mood of doing acts of kindness :)
5.Anything you would like to see at PE moving forward? What is it?
Yes I would like to see something. Maybe a new series about the kitten that Celes was thinking about getting a few months ago? :D But seriously speaking … it seems to me that PE has covered a lot and it’s hard to think of anything else. If I think of anything, I’ll find a way to mention it! :)
Thank you again for the opportunity to be in this challenge Celes, and to my fellow participants for sharing your experiences and views :heart:
Hi Celes
I want to start off by saying thank you for creating the kindness challenge. I feel it has helped me to become a better person and have experienced some wonderful feelings of inner peace as a result of this.
My favourite task was day 12- Forgive someone. On the day of the task I was feeling down and forgot about the challenge until mid afternoon. When I read the day’s challenge it was the most amazing inspiration I needed to move forward. I love the forgiveness quotes that you shared with us, very empowering. It didn’t take me long to forgive the guy I was annoyed with and have found many postive outcomes as a result.
My second favourite tasks was day 3- write 3 thankyou notes to people you appreciate. I love my Dad very much and I could tell that the thankyou note I wrote to him brighten up his day which made me very happy :) All the task’s are very good and I plan to utalise all of them into daily life as best as I can.
My favourite task for the future is to treat people :D I think that it is the suprise factor that make’s it so rewarding. When someone is treated out of the blue they have the joy’s of the gift itself but what truly make’s it special is the love and thought that has gone into it.
From participating in this challenge I have learned that no matter where you are, what situation your in, there is always an opportunity to be kind to others. Developing my kindness has helped me overcome adversity as well as helping my relationships with people. I plan to integrade kindness into my life moving forward by making the choice to be more kind everyday and to use the task’s as frequent missions to accomplish.
Thanks again
Jason
Jason, thank you so much for taking time to leave a comment. I really appreciate the kind words you have shared about the challenge. It has been very reaffirming on the place the challenge had/has in our lives and that all the time I had invested into the challenge had not been in vain (not that I ever thought it was).
Thank you for sharing how the forgiveness post changed your day around which in turned help you to forgive a guy you were annoyed with. That was incredibly inspiring for me to read. I’m glad you gained positive outcomes as a result of your forgiveness of the guy. :hug:
I look forward to seeing you hang more regularly in the comments section! Feel free to share your thoughts openly with every new post. I’m always excited to receive feedback from current and new readers of the site. Your feedback keeps me going and lets me know what you guys are interested to see.
Celes
This was such a great idea. One tends to take acts of kindness for granted, especially if you are the recipient. The past 14 days facilitated me to consiously do acts of kindness and every day was adding to my life such greatness: when kind to others, you act kindness to yourself as well.Is that not a great idea. you are not only giving, but also receiving. What better way of living your life?
The kindness challenge made me make a decision to make my life a kindness challenge, because it is good. What better gift can I give myself?
All kindness to all of you who participated and to Celes who guided us with her awesome activities.
Namaste for now.
“One tends to take acts of kindness for granted, especially if you are the recipient.”
Hi celi, isn’t that so true? I find that it takes consciousness to move from being a recipient of kindness to a giver of kindness, and once you do, there is no turning back. You will realize how marvelous it is to render kindness to others, how empowering it is to YOURSELF and YOUR SOUL as the giver, and how when you give kindness to others, you aren’t just “helping” others—you are actually also helping yourself to become a better person.
Namaste celi. :bow:
The Kindness Challenge was very intriguing to me, as I have come to realize over the last few years how many people have had a positive impact on my life by making one nice comment, and how they may not even realize that they did so. For example, several years ago, I had lost my prestigious job as an attorney at a large law firm. The practice area that I worked in was in great decline and it had been difficult for me to find anything similar. I was feeling afraid and discouraged, but at the same time, I was trying to cultivate a different path forward. I was considering going to esthetician school, but was scared because it was such a change. I went to a spa that I did not usually frequent, but only was going to because I had a coupon. I was discussing my situation with the esthetician and mentioned that I was thinking about going to esthetician school. She said, “You should! It is really short and you could be working really quickly.” She was the first person who had encouraged me to follow that path and said something positive about it. I am now an esthetician, love, and work with women in cancer treatment so they can address and cope with the appearance related side effects of their treatment. And I really may not have even considered going had she not said that because it allowed me to start to look at things in a more positive light.
As a result of these sort of realizations, I have a note on my bathroom mirror that reminds me to be nice everyday because you don’t know how you may positively effect someone. So, the Kindness Challenge gave me additional ideas on how to achieve my daily goal of being nice. Thank you for taking the time to put it together!!
You are very welcome Krissy! I’m so glad that you have partaken in the challenge. It has been very exciting on my end, as the host and facilitator, to see all of you blossoming in your own kindness. Thank you for taking time to leave your feedback—that has been a tremendous act of kindness to me. I wish you all the best Krissy and look forward to connecting with you more at PE in the future. :hug:
Do check out the kindness manifesto if you haven’t, which lists all the kindness tasks of the challenge for easy reference.
The Kindness Challenge was amazing and our team loved it. The last week was extra challenging because of a very hectic work schedule but at the same time we were able to work out tasks into our seminar and share them with our guests. Taking the extra time to do the extra kindness tasks made the bonds with our new peers even stronger so worth the effort.
We all learned that life gets busy, pushing yourself, and not making excuses is worth it in the end. This was a great way to remind us to carve out those few extra minutes to acknowledge and thank the people around and just present in the moment.
Thank You Celestine for creating this program to share with the world. I can’t wait for the next one, I think we should make this an annual event!
Lisanne Wilcox
Lisanne, thanks so much for leading your whole team at Alexandria Professional to participate in the challenge. That was really amazing to be honest and I wish I was there to lead the tasks with you guys and see all of you deliver them with perfection! Having it as an organization-wide activity is such a marvelous idea and something which several other high-profile participants did too with their own organizations/community groups.
I wish you guys took pictures (or perhaps you did?) and would love to see photos of all of you in action with the challenge tasks if there are indeed any. You can share with them on my Facebook page or to my business email on my contact page.
Looking forward to meeting you at some point or another, Lisanne! You, the AP organization, and Lina have been so supportive of my work (for example, by way of full-force participation in PE-led initiatives like this) and I really appreciate your constant words of positivity and acts of support to what I’m doing at PE.
1. How has the kindness challenge been for you?
I would just say that am going to miss this :( I didn’t realize how fast these 14 days passed. Every day waiting eagerly for the task to be announced and putting ur mind on how to complete the task. Its been learning and enriching journey for me in various aspects of life. Thank you very much Celes :love: for making this challenge a truly success phenomenon.
2. What has been your favorite task(s)? Why?
My Favorite task was “Day 14: Do Something Unexpectedly Nice For Someone”
I loved this task because the end result was just awesome. Seeing your loved ones happy makes you happy as well :dance: :D . First i racked my brain on how to do something nice and when i got it … it was like a eureka moment for me :D
Only one task I could not complete was “Day 4: Sign Up For Volunteer Work”…. Am still searching where can i volunteer for the purpose i truly feel for. :(
3. What have you learned from participating in the kindness challenge? What have you learned about kindness? Elaborate.
Seeing People from all around the globe working towards a common task inspires you to give ur best.
I really loved your enthusiasm that u have shown through out the challenge and coming with very cool ideas for tasks. :)
I have learned to make people happy and be happy myself :)
I have learned to appreciate people in my life :love:
I have learned to help people who are not as fortunate as we are. :hug:
I have learned origami :mrgreen:
4. How do you plan to integrate kindness into your life moving forward?
Would keep the tasks in my mind and would surely try to add more to it and would continue to do it :)
5. Anything you would like to see at PE moving forward? What is it?
Definitely this kinda challenges :P….if not at such a stretch of 14 days than may be for a day or 2 …. like a mini project to incorporate something new in life.
Celes, Thank you very much :hug: [Don’t want to spoil thanks with my unshaped words of gratitude :cry: ]
Hi Celes:
On behalf of the SBCDG group, we would like to extend our sincerest and huge “Thank you” for the invitation to particilpate in our Personal Excellence’s Kindness Challenge! It was indeed a challenge especially with some directives from you communicating with someone, (you know…) we are uneasy with. We tried and we did it! Now you made a huge difference and life is good and easier as you opened the door for us, for the sake of our health and well-being. Take care and God bless us all. Peace.
Hi Megan and the SBCDG Group, thank you for your kind words. Thank you for doing the Kindness Challenge as a group too. It shows that kindness is becoming more and more ubiquitous in our society today, if communities such as yours are embracing such challenges so openly! :D I’m very happy to know that your group has enjoyed the challenge and hope all of you will continue reading PE and its articles. God bless us all. Many hugs. :hug:
1. How has the kindness challenge been for you?
Loved it! It’s been quite exciting to check my email every day and get ideas on how to add more kindness to life :D The community spirit around PE challenges is really heartwarming as well :)
2. What has been your favorite task(s)? Why?
Hugs and compliments. I think people hold themselves back too much from saying nice things, as if only criticism needed to be said out. In fact, many people probably do not realise when something they did had a positive effect and they’ll be happy to hear it :)
I also liked the forgiveness challenge. It makes you reflect deeply on interpersonal issues and hopefully help you change they way you react to difficult people.
3. What have you learned from participating in the kindness challenge? What have you learned about kindness? Elaborate.
Mostly that it feels AMAZING to be doing even small acts of kindness and not expecting anything in return. Also that people are usually very grateful (and those who don’t show it, probably are inside). And that there are always more ways in which you can be kind – just open your mind and act on it! :)
4. How do you plan to integrate kindness into your life moving forward?
Continue living in this mindset – that any opportunity to show kindness is one worth taking!
5. Anything you would like to see at PE moving forward? What is it?
You probably have your vision of what challenges to do in the future (btw, I’m very glad you chose to do this one despite saying that they take too much time and you would not do any more). So I’ll trust that it will be great as always :D
Thanks for being a part of this challenge, as with all challenges, Jade. I appreciate your participation in every single challenge and the comments you share with each task. Thanks for being a part of PE. :hug:
The challenges do take up quite a bit of my time, but I also see its value in the community. So the solution I have worked out is to have it once in a while, say six months or even a year. This way it also gives me the space to write content and work on other projects in between challenges.
I really enjoyed the challenge and I shared it with my Sister and we had an awesome experience. Thank you so much for sharing
Jayann
West Bloomfield,,Michigan
Thanks Jayann. Thanks so much for sharing it with your sister and doing it together with her. :D :hug:
1.How has the kindness challenge been for you?
I was very excited at the idea of kindness challenge, I immediately felt the difference that it could be brought to my life and how could affect the people to whom I would be kind. It is like a process, you should do all of the tasks without questioning its meaning – you should trust the process. I didnt do all of the tasks :) The power of ego was stronger, although I was aware that doing the tasks would be the best thing for me.
2.What has been your favorite task(s)? Why?
My favourite task was writing thank-you notes: because of the nice response I have got back.
3.What have you learned from participating in the kindness challenge? What have you learned about kindness? Elaborate.
I learned that being kind is not something that should be taken for granted, it is not something that is always spontanious: I have to make at least a little effort to be kind. And its not always easy: being kind helps me coming out from my comfort zone. Before the challenge most of the time I was kind when I felt like it: I hardly ever thougt about being kind because that other person would need that from me. Example: yesterday I almost started writting this comment about my experience with the challenge. But I stopped cause I thought: oh, I dont feel like writting this, I dont have time, everyone already wrote so nice things… I didnt realise that commenting is something that I should do for Celes – being kind to her…
4.How do you plan to integrate kindness into your life moving forward?
First thing is to print the Kindness manifesto and put it in a visible spot :) Voluntary work is something that is now on my bucket list. I will be more concious when being kind, I will decide to be kind and I will make an effort, I will go out of my comfort zone when needed.
5.Anything you would like to see at PE moving forward? What is it?
Sorry, dont have any idea at the moment :) Talk show sounds great. That way you could reach to more people and affetct their life.
Hey everyone, I haven’t been much active towards the latter part of the challenge due to the much hectic Hindu festivities that were on going, its funny that I stay miles away from India yet the warmth of the festivities enchant the local Hindu community here with serene spirituality and of course so much Kindness….am glad this challenge tugged me to enhance my Kind side over the time of celebration
How has the kindness challenge been for you?
Awesome for all the bits I had done….have noted the days I missed and would finish up what I left behind for sure….
Also, this kindness challenge has been very kind to me :)
What has been your favorite task(s)? Why?
The task on writing a letter…..made me re-realize how much my growth’s achievements fall on my son, how great his input has been to me and how much his support keeps me going
What have you learned from participating in the kindness challenge? What have you learned about kindness? Elaborate.
Kindness is mystic….showing kindness onto someone indeed showers kindness unto me……this has been the most amazing thing from the challenge and am sure not to forget
How do you plan to integrate kindness into your life moving forward?
Though am sure its going to take some time, I want to make it a priority to perform at least one act of kindness a day, following the manifesto, which is to be pinned up to my ME-wall….till kindness becomes a way of life…..
Anything you would like to see at PE moving forward? What is it?
Something petty here Celes, whenever I came over to personalexcellence.co on my browser, I had to put a bit of a struggle to locate the challenge’s page(s)….maybe its owing to my BAD computing skills, does the tab for “On-going Challenges” still exist?
“Something petty here Celes, whenever I came over to personalexcellence.co on my browser, I had to put a bit of a struggle to locate the challenge’s page(s)….maybe its owing to my BAD computing skills, does the tab for “On-going Challenges” still exist?”
Hi ASLO!
Hover over “Articles” tab in the navigation bar. In the drop down menu that appears, go all the way to right and click on “Archives”. On the archives page, scroll down all the way to the bottom and you’ll see a list of all past challenges. Hope that helps!
I have removed the challenges tab because there is no point in having it as permanent part of the menu when challenges are no longer a main part/focus of the site.
Thanks so much for being a part of the kindness challenge ASLO. :hug: As always, it’s great to have you aboard. It’s a pity that you took a step back from the challenge in the later half but I’m grateful all the same for the parts where you were with us. I have no doubt that you are already enforcing kindness in your life anyway and you will enforce kindness on an even greater level given the challenge and all.
I’m glad you liked the task on writing a letter! I really liked that one too. I always like it as well when people write letters to me. It always makes me feel warm and fuzzy, receiving a personalized message from someone. :D
Reflecting on things done is key :D
1. How has the kindness challenge been for you?
I thoroughly enjoyed it! I really like that these are positive actions that we can do on the day of the task, or any day after. For example, having picked up litter on day 8, I was much more comfortable doing what I did on day 11. On day 11, I saw a stash of horse-race betting tickets thrown on the ground of a not-too-busy traffic intersection. After making sure it’s safe and hesitating for a moment, I went out and picked up a good portion of it so it won’t be blown out into a bigger mess. I think I will use the manifesto as a weekly or bi-weekly to-do list as I think it spices up life while doing good. :)
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2. What has been your favorite task(s)? Why?
To forgive someone. I think it’s been somewhere deep down inside for a long time, but the task gave me the opportunity to face it. To allocate time and address that I was hurt, and to forgive him .. the timing was right and I felt lighter and better afterwards. It was a process of healing and growing up for me. Thanks Celes~
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3. What have you learned from participating in the kindness challenge? What have you learned about kindness? Elaborate.
There are some tasks that I’ve been doing already like giving up seats to elderly/pregnant people and thanking someone when I see fit. What I liked best was that I stepped out of my usual comfort zone into doing more.
Writing a letter to someone who made a difference in my life and forgiving someone are not things that I would’ve done without this kindness challenge. Giving someone a treat and doing something unexpectedly nice also reminded me of something I’ve seen before that can be done.
I think there are two types of challenges here. Ones that we can do on a day-to-day basis and ones that we can allocate time and do periodically. I like it and I plan to continue with it. Certainly will be more aware of the opportunities to do them!
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4. How do you plan to integrate kindness into your life moving forward?
Yep! Planning to go through the manifesto list every week or 2-weeks and touch on a couple items. :)
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5. Anything you would like to see at PE moving forward? What is it?
I like that people on PE comes from a lot of different countries and backgrounds. The kindness challenge touched on things that we can do wherever we are and it was great. Could there be opportunities for other types of challenges that can be done in different lengths?
Topics: Environmental, up-cycle a waste product for Christmas (http://www.terracycle.ca/en-CA/do-it-yourself-projects.html), visit-somewhere-different-in-town, volunteer, etc.
Timelines: 5-day, 3-weekend, semi-weekly challenges
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Once again, thanks for building this! It was really fun and I feel that everyone here did good to the people around us. I feel it’s been really successful and I hope everyone here will spread the kindness and continue with the challenge at different times~! :D
Michael, thanks again for your thank-you letter and for being a part of the challenge. I hope you got the chance to hear me talk about your story in the 938 LIVE interview. (Direct link here.) I was really quite touched by your sharing regarding your dad and your family and I’m really happy for you that you have forgiven him. It has also inspired me to be more forgiving of people in my life, regardless of how severe I think their wrongdoings may be.
I was also very touched to read about how you enacted the litter task on Day 11. I feel that this Kindness Challenge has helped us to think more about how we can enforce kindness in our lives. I’m glad it has played a part, even if a little, in helping you to bring more kindness to others in your life.
I look forward to seeing you take part in more challenges. I think you add a refreshing new voice to the community! :hug:
I tried to write this last night but my internet died :(
1. How has the kindness challenge been for you?
Beyond incredible. I feel like my eyes have been opened more than ever to life and human potential.
2. What has been your favorite task(s)? Why?
All of them! The last one touched me the most which was why I was so keen to share it, but also the little ones like picking up litter. The being kind to someone you dislike one was also really good because implementing it felt nice and I saw a noticeable improvement in the person’s attitude towards me too – like little smiles! I also loved treating my friend to coffee and cakes and giving her lots of compliments on how pretty she is and how much her English has improved. I’m feeling the love! :love:
3. What have you learned from participating in the kindness challenge? What have you learned about kindness? Elaborate.
That there are infinite possibilities and opportunities to be kind, that kindness is addictive, that kindness is easy and costs nothing and that everyone needs kindness and respect. I think the challenge was wonderful in that it gave us ideas on how to be kind and kind of forced us – or gave us a reason – to hunt down these kindness situations!
4. How do you plan to integrate kindness into your life moving forward?
I’m going to keep the ideas of the kindness challenge in my mind as much as possible and do as much as I can to continue implementing these things on a daily basis. I’m going to start truly listening to people more so I know better what I can do to be kind to them.
5. Anything you would like to see at PE moving forward? What is it?
More challenges! Maybe a “love your fellow human” challenge? More opportunities to do the “be a better me in 30 days” challenge. I can’t wait so long! PE is awesome btw – it’s not lacking anything :)
Hey Helen, thanks for your feedback! :D It’s so lovely to hear that the challenge has brought changes to your life, even in the littlest ways. :D That’s really sweet of you that you have been treating your friend to coffees and cakes and giving her (genuine) compliments! I’m feeling the love on my end too! :D
On challenges, my practice now is just to have the public challenges once every 6 months (if at all; only if time permits on my end). Premium challenges like 30DLBL and 30BBM continue to be conducted at once every 6 months (that’s two times a year for each challenge and four times a year in total, which is quite a bit). Conducting it too often just leads to a wear-out effect, plus there will probably only be handful of people who sign up each time which doesn’t create the momentum enough to run a successful, meaningful challenge.
The next premium run for 30BBM is tentatively scheduled for March, so stay tuned at PE for the announcements.
Even then there is no need for the official challenge to do the tasks. You can always start off yourself, because the program (both 30BBM and 30DLBL) was originally designed as a self-administerable program anyway! More on 30BBM (if you haven’t gotten it): https://personalexcellence.co/30bbm/
I already have in mind the next public challenge for PE anyway (for next year), but at the same time am open to suggestions from you guys. Thanks so much for your suggestion Helen! Feel free to share if you get more ideas too.
How has the kindness challenge been for you?
It was a great experience. I made the commitment and followed through by doing the task every day and blogging about it [http://onmymind.areavoices.com/2012/11/17/14-day-kindness-challenge-reflection/]. By sharing it with others, I held myself more accountable.
By being intentional in doing acts of kindness, I was also living a more intentional life.
The Challenge made me a kinder person, even if just for a little bit more, and improved my own life. I hope I have touched someone’s life in a positive way along the journey.
What has been your favorite task(s)? Why?
My favorite tasks are:
•#1 Day 3 – write thank-you notes
•#2 Day 9 – write a letter to someone who has made a difference in your life
•#3 Day 4 – sign up for volunteer work
•#4 Day 12 – forgive someone
The first three tasks are something I have already enjoyed doing. They are easy for me. Forgiveness is not something I am good at, but I really need it in order to live a better life.
What have you learned from participating in the kindness challenge? What have you learned about kindness?
The challenge gave me a new mindset. It set my mind on a different path. Every day I focused my mind on doing something kind for others, so my thoughts were more positive than negative. Kind thoughts produce kind actions. It reinforced what Mahatma Gandhi said: “Your beliefs become your thoughts, Your thoughts become your words, Your words become your actions, Your actions become your habits, Your habits become your values, Your values become your destiny.”
Kindness begets kindness. When I am kind to others, it’s not only good for others, it’s also good for myself, because I feel better.
A small act of kindness can make a big difference in someone’s life.
How do you plan to integrate kindness into your life moving forward?
Doing something for 14 days can create a new habit. I will definitely be thinking about and doing more acts of kindness moving forward.
Anything you would like to see at PE moving forward? What is it?
I would like to see more people participate in this kind of challenge, more people visit your website and read your articles. Doing radio/TV shows, interviews will definitely increase your readership and audience.
Your energy, dedication and passion are very admirable. I truly appreciate all you do.
:dance: :love: :love: :dance:
Qin Tang, thanks for blogging about the Kindness Challenge on On My Mind. I hope your readers were inspired by your acts of kindness and were spurred to enact more kindness in their lives.
I love the way you went about doing the daily tasks. For example, on Day 9 on writing a letter, you wrote about how one of the letters you wrote was to this primary school teacher who made a difference in your life (but has passed on). I thought that was beautiful that you bothered to write a letter to him even though he is not around anymore.
Thank you for being a part of PE. I look forward to many great moments and experiences with you moving forward. :hug:
Thank you for this challenge Celes, it was more difficult to do and complete that previous challenges because of the commitment and interaction involved. My favourite task is giving my wife flowers, seeing the pleasure she had receiving them! Although I practise a lot of these kindness ideas, they give an ideal I want to move towards – an abundance mentality and to weave these steps into my life.
I would love to see more videos and podcasts as these add a new dimension to learning and developing, for example on your Superstar effect, Anger series. I noted Celes that you want to do more in this line as well and came across this article which may help you move towards this http://www.michaelport.com/blog/small-business-marketing-advice/booked-solid-video-marketing-strategy/.
Look forward to being inspired and inspiring you.
Here’s some of my pointers for 14 days of Kindness Challenge.
1. How has the kindness challenge been for you?
It was relatively natural for myself as I have been done kindness throughout my university and adult life mainly. Yet, I find new profound insights from sharing of the participants and new discovery of my own during the test of the challenge which I have shared in the comment section of the respective days.
2. What has been your favorite task(s)? Why?
Day 3: Write 3 Thank-You Notes to 3 People You Appreciate, I realize that I didn’t do this much, due to my busy schedule at times yet the response from people that I have got from writing this letter and people who chose to write to me makes me feel grateful that my act of kindness display its true value.
Day 4 : Sign Up For Volunteer Work is the easiest for me to do, as I have been volunteering since year 2001 (now around 11 years accumulating) in different areas of life, in fact I have been featured before on my country national newspaper on the title ‘Helping students achieve potential’ on Sunday June 18, 2006 during mid days of my employment lifetime.
http://thestar.com.my/education/story.asp?file=/2006/6/18/education/14529010&sec=education
Day 12: Forgive Someone is most interesting task, and yet creates most emotional insight, as there is constant area of improvement to forgive the person and causing the problems is the hardest to forgive, and looking at other participant sharing realize that my grudge is insignificant compared to what others have experienced and how they have impacted others in their live.
3. What have you learned from participating in the kindness challenge? What have you learned about kindness? Elaborate.
I have learn self affirmation on kindness, as I have done kindness on different levels, yet sometimes when people didn’t reciprocate or take advantage of my kindness, I felt despair and disappointed, however as life goes on.
However, I have also realized and experienced myself that the more kindness you have done, the universe will somehow began to return the affection of kindness. This has been happened in several incidents, which one of them that I thought I did not have any chance to build a relationship with a person I have met 2 years ago which disliked me when we first met, and constant act of kindness change perceptions and new positive connections.
Walking the talk will be constant reminder, as I realized by doing it often in systematic way, my focus has been sharper in a way and its good for my personal development as well.
Thanks to Celes too for allowing me the opportunity to be interviewed by newspaper in Singapore and gave my views on Kindness Challenge.
4. How do you plan to integrate kindness into your life moving forward?
I am moving into different area and platform to integrate kindness, as I would like to impact more lives and realizing that to do so, I need to do things differently.
Year 2013 will be the year to showcase this, as I have been assigned an international role for an organization under umbrella of United Nations and being the 1st representative from South East Asia, there will be opportunity for me to contribute the kindness to a new level,which hope to be shared with fellow audience on PE.
5. Anything you would like to see at PE moving forward? What is it?
I am not sure what I am wanting to see yet, as PE is dynamic platform that constantly evolves around life values and I have to leave it to Celes how she sees the platform to grow, one of my ideas aside from the talk show and walk through guide on how to track personal development changes in oneself and bring a person awareness to new level for change to happen.
1- How has the kindness challenge been for you?
The kindness challenge has been fun and inspiring for me. It has served as the starting point of just what I needed to kick-start in certain areas in my life–such as blogging, change in attitudes, revelations,etc. It has also served in breaking walls as the challenge offered me the chance to taste experiences that are way out of my comfort zone which widens my perspective in life. An example is how now I see donation ,not as an annoyance, but as an opportunity to help others in need. I no longer see money with greedy eyes and I can now clearly notice how ugly the world is when there’s trash in it and the role we play in keeping our environment clean.
2- What has been your favorite task(s)? Why?
My favorite task was day 6 in which we talked to someone we don’t normally talk to because it allowed me to grow tremendously as a person when I, literally, pushed my limits and talked with all sorts of friends I’d normally not talk to–some that weren’t even casual friends. It was a tiring day that started out with fear and ended with 3 new budding friendships.
My 2nd favorite task was day 7 in which we had to make a donation. I loved searching for alternatives until I eventually found FreeRice. I plan to elaborate in world FreeRice week that should take place from February 6-11, 2013 in which the world unites in playing FreeRice for a whole week in hopes of donating as much rice as possible.
My 3rd favorite days were day 4 in which we had to sign up for volunteer work and day 10 in which we had to send flowers to somebody. This were 2 tasks which I wasn’t able to apply well as #1-I have yet to find an official organization and #2-I want to buy flowers for 3 people and give it to them–not just pick them up from the backyard.
*As a side note I aslo enjoyed day 8 in which we had to pick up litter and that helped me gaine consciousness on the cause.
3- What have you learned from participating in the kindness challenge? What have you learned about kindness? Elaborate.
I have learned the habit of staying consistent and punctual with something, such as my blog. It was a habit I was wanting to develop for ages but I didn’t know how yet. I also learned that the universe works in wonderful ways. When you truly want something, the opportunities will appear on it’s own almost like magic. It’s really beautiful and mysterious. About kindness I have learned that being kind is a lifestyle of tiny acts and not necessarily of big acts. As I always say, it’s the little things that matter the most.
4- How do you plan to integrate kindness in your life moving forward?
I’d integrate kindness in my life by donating to organizations when I have the facilities, being more active in volunteer work (and hopefully going on my dream expedition to volunteer in Asia), fixing my bonds with people who I’m not that good in terms with, applying the act of forgiveness and simply applying kindness into my life–as a recurrent lifestyle and not as a goal.
5- Anything you would like to see at PE moving forward? What is it?
I’d like to see more quality articles as usual and more media coverage. I want to see a Celes show and see the community grow and get bigger :)
6- From here on I feel like the big stuff will start. I will start writing official articles for Basked in Sunshine, promoting to widen my readership and starting tomorrow–for the next 15 days I’ll be participating on another challenge which is Nanowrimo (National Novel Writing Month). I have already had an opportunity to understand my inner persona, for the following month I wish to understand my inner artist. Thank you so much Celes for this awesome opportunity in the 14-Day Kindness Challenge. It has been a blast and now with a heartfelt smile I can say that I have completed the 14-Day Kindness Challenge of 2012. Until next time Celes! :D
1. How has the kindness challenge been for you?
It was a good challenge especially since it’s getting closer to the holidays, when people need that extra kindness in this trying economy/environment.
2. What has been your favorite task(s)? Why?
Day 6 for me personally. Since I have been so introverted I find it difficult for me to talk to strangers. especially women. But this task, I got out of my comfort zone. Although it was over IM, a participant did her day 6 task by reaching out to me. In the past I would have been shy and I might not have replied. But this time around I didn’t feel it. I even commented that I might not have talked to her in person, but that was a self limiting talk, and I think I could have talked to her.
3. What have you learned from participating in the kindness challenge? What have you learned about kindness?
I still have an issue with getting upset or angry when my kindness is taken advantage of. I don’t think it bothers me if it’s taken for granted, but for some reason I can’t just tell myself when someone takes advantage of my kindness that I should let it go and think of it as someone who took it for granted.
4. How do you plan to integrate kindness into your life moving forward?
I think I have always been kind, I think for me the answer in number 3 is what I have to work on.
5. Anything you would like to see at PE moving forward? What is it?
You know what would be so cool, you know how all these reality shows are so popular? Well Celes, I think you should approach one of these TV networks and suggest your challange. Then have camera crews follow a handful of participants and record their activities. I think the reality show junkies would love it. And who knows maybe people at home watching will participate?
PS, if you start a TV show, I promise a share of my royalties will go to the local Three Square food bank for the kids in Las Vegas.
Thank you Celes for running this challange and all the other past challenges. I’m looking forward to the next one. And thank you to my best friend Robin and my new friend Georgia for playing along with me. :)
Hi Ken! I would so totally love to have my own show, whether be it of a challenge or on P.D. topics. I’ve actually recently approached a local video production company for a collaboration but have yet to hear from them. It’s not so easy to get picked up for a video show, so one thing I might do is to just hire a video production company and create my show with my own money to start things off (will be very hefty though, so I have to balance costs vs. benefits). Either way, my goal to have my own show (to inspire others) doesn’t change—just a matter of how I make it happen.
I love that you boldly suggested that idea and invited me to go do it. I definitely want to make it happen, and your comments have helped to further solidify my vision. Thank you Ken!!
You’re welcome!
I’m just starting to feel comfortable getting my photo taken. Maybe in a year I’ll be more comfortable in front of a video camera. I may be even brave to be a part of it. Maybe, that’s really pushing me out of my comfort zone. Although on my bucket list, I have be on a TV show……
I started typing this very early in the morning, excited to wrap up and reflect what I learnt from the KC.
This is the wrap up of the sharing and I thank you all for the open sharing from all over the world! We come from many places, and I think the feelings of being touched, impacted is no different . Quite an experience I must say :D
I learnt that creating the Awareness is a ripple effect. More of these acts of kindness in bite size actions can become a good habit. It does not have to be perfect. As long as I do our best. in my line of work as a Parent Coach, acknowledging people is so important, it has helped me to build my mind muscle and that is why I do what I do to keep myself reminded of giving positive feedback to people around me.
These daily actions has also helped me to remember to give up my seat in food court for those who need 3 or 4 seats in a table, whenever I eat alone, I can move to a counter.
It’s good to have reminders like this to bring us back to move our awareness to the next level. I realized that verbally acknowledging people who have helped me is also different from writing them a personal note, it has brought tears to me and my recipients. I realized my heart opened a bit more each time I did it.
I become even more positive about myself and others. .
Arising out of it is a supportive environment that we all need to be surrounded with to connect and empower each other.
It is the first time I hugged a male stranger! That was really out of my comfort zone! Now as I write, I can’t helped laughing. Gosh, did I do it? The situation arised when I made that decision to participate in KC! The universe does not fail to conspire to make things happen isn’t it? Anyways, I remembered my daughter watch in awe, and she was actually happy. The elderly gentleman was v happy that we were wired energetically, Funny :p
Celes, your platform has given people opportunities to grow and become better in many ways, like a safe and warm place to share.
Thank you Celes for the special effort you put in, it is certainly amazing that you have rallied and together with others have so many participants!! Great job! Very well done :clap: Cheers ! to you and to all local and global friends here:) :hug: :heart:
Aww Dolly, thank you so much for being such a wonderful participant of the challenge! You have showed that when you commit yourself to kindness, you only bring warmth to people around you. The stories you have shared throughout the challenge of you, your kids, and the people you rendered your acts of kindness to, have been so heartwarming.
The kindness challenge was featured on Asia One yesterday and I highlighted you as one of the notable participants. You can see your quote in the story: http://www.asiaone.com/News/Latest%2BNews/Singapore/Story/A1Story20121114-383276.html
Thank you very much Celes, I have not stopped sharing your great work and your blog. Very much appreciated :heart: and I am sure it’s not only me singing songs of praise for a young, attractive, value-driven lady like you to have impacted many people beyond our shore and have organized a big project like this successful. Not easy and you did it! :clap: :clap: :clap:
Kindness Challenge Wrap-Up
I LOVE the Kindness Challenge, and would like to see different tasks come to mind every year for this challenge! Or different twists to the tasks we have accomplished. Or we create a task that exemplifies kindness.
I like to do something kind “behind the scenes,” meaning no one really knows who did the kind act, but they notice that the kind act was done. Or sometimes no one will notice, like when I pick up someone else’s litter and no one sees me when I pick it up, and I mention the kind deed to no one. There is something wonderful about that, because then I notice how it’s enough that I know what I have done, and do not need to have any acknowledgment or credit for it.
Kindness to me means leading with my heart and soul as I enter my day and walk through life, and being the best, caring, considerate, generous, loving person I can be. I have learned that being kind is a great service to my whole system/being…for example, forgiveness is really for/about ME, not the other person. And when I do something for someone else or give something to someone else, I feel so good about it, it does MY heart/body/mind good. So being kind is a very respectful, beautiful way to take care of myself that also has benefit to the recipient.
There were many responses/comments to the tasks that had/have great depth, and I enjoy reading/interacting with/commenting upon and contemplating those responses. It is heartwarming to connect with others all over the globe, knowing how similar and connected we are with eachother.
Thank you all Kindness Challengees…I appreciate you and your time and energy so wisely invested here on PE. :hug: :heart: I always learn more about myself and about you when I read your comments. :D I am greatly moved by others who share so deeply their feelings and thoughts and ideas about life and interactions and how life experiences have informed their choices.
All of the tasks have taught me more about the world, people, and myself. Each task has its own importance and its own challenge to see something about myself and others in a new and different way. I appreciate the challenge to stretch and grow and be reminded how I go beyond my own limitations and can go the extra mile when I perform acts of kindness.
As I integrate kindness in my life, I enrich my life experience and grow in ways otherwise not experienced. I enjoy widening my circle of influence as well as expanding my personal growth as I see how more kindness is reflected back to me. “As I give to the world, so the world gives to me.”
Always deep appreciation and gratitude to you, Celes, :heart: :hug: :heart: for creating this space for us to share our thoughts and heartbeats with each other. The programs, topics, and tasks you present for our participation are wonderful vehicles to transport ourselves beyond what is already familiar. Stretching myself beyond what is familiar always has its challenges, and it always has its rewards and benefits in improving myself and my quality of life.
Much Love to anyone reading this (and to those not reading this! ;) ….And may your journey be one that brings you and the world about you profound joy. :hug: :heart:
Hi Bette, thanks for being an active part of the challenge! :D It’s always a great joy to have you on board with every challenge, and this is no exception. I think we missed you for a few days in the middle of the challenge and it was great to have you back with us at the end.
What are your plans moving forward for yourself Bette? What are you going to be busy with for the next 1-2 months?
Yes, that’s right Celes, I was on a beautiful, long, spiritual weekend, and that took me away from writing/reading comments for a few days. So glad I was able to come back in and finish the writing for this lovely Kindness Challenge. :heart:
Next month, Mark and I will be heading over to Puerto Rico where we tend to the house, and explore our options for renting out some space there in the house, so that we will have income for the times we are there, and the times we are not. Also, we will be tending to our veggie garden and land up on the mountain nearby the town. Also, we will be selling some items, (beach glass jewelry, beach glass cabinet knobs and pulls, and lighting that Mark creates) online (through the website as well as etsy) as well as to the locals and the tourists (little art shows and perhaps in a store in Old San Juan and at the house when people visit.)
Also, I am really looking forward to swimming/exercising in the ocean. :D :dance: It’s just been waaay too long! I need a jump start to push me off of this plateau I have been on with my weight. I’m okay with the plateau…I have done really well with my weight loss program…my body is re-grouping and resting and integrating all the changes it has been experiencing. :heart: “Slow and steady wins the race.” I am embracing patience as well as well as the swan I am becoming! :D :heart: I :hug: myself and love myself just the way I am as well as who I am becoming/transforming into. :heart: :D
I look forward to writing creatively as well. And exploring some avenues of expression…i.e. beginning a blog is on my mind. I always enjoy working with my Muse and seeing what emerges! :D There is much to express…I feel it is part of my Soul Mission.
Thank you, Celes, for asking what is ahead for me and the direction in which I am moving forward. I so appreciate you and your interest in me and my progress as I continue my journey. :heart: :hug:
Hey Bette, reading your future plans makes me jealous much ;) …..the one deeply engraved wish which resides in the curves and crevices of my heart is to soak up the beauty and feel of the beach and ocean….from the cold pre-dawn breeze as the sun rises from the majestic grey-blue waters to the 10 a.m. jog on the shoreline, then to the 2 o’clock hot pinch of the sun reflecting from the white sand while you are under the shade of the coconut palm, all the way to the 4 pm swim in the warm water, then the pensive downing of the serene, tranquil sunset….
I’m sure my long-winded, some-what messy descriptive shows how much I love the beach….its like food for the soul :)
Thank you for being in this challenge, sorry for not following you all through, have been much held up by our hindu festivities….but am sure to make an archive of your words as I had done in 2 other challenges where we’ve been together….
Hope to see you in the next challenge….. :D
Your writing inspires me ASLO, as do you!!! :heart: I am luxuriating in your words. :heart: The way you describe everything as a beach lover I share…and partaking of the sea, sand, and surf with you would be a wonderful feast! :D For now, when I am there, unless you can find your way to me on the island, I will carry you in my thoughts and heart as I enjoy those beautiful things we both share! :D :heart:
Until the next time we meet here , do you ever go on the forums somewhere where I can find you and send you a message from time to time? Sometimes I would love to do that! :heart:
Thank you for your warmth, your sharing, and your encouraging word to me…I am uplifted by your sensitivity, full heart, and loving spirit! :hug: :D :heart:
How has the kindness challenge been for you? The kindness challenge has been one of my favorite challenges that I have signed up for so far. It meant a lot to me just to participate and to do things for others.
What has been your favorite task(s)? Why? My favorite task was the last day of surprising someone in a way that touched them. It’s hard to choose from all the task because I enjoyed each one very much. The reason this task was my favorite is because it feels nice to pick out something meaningful and personal to someone and surprise them just for the sake of doing it. I think it makes them feel special and putting a personal touch on it makes it even more important to that person/persons.
What have you learned from participating in the kindness challenge? What have you learned about kindness? Elaborate. I learned a lot of different ways to make other’s feel appreciate and brighten their day. I also like the fact that during the task we could chose someone we know but also chose a random stranger. It’s amazing how a simple act of kindness can change their day as well as make my day brighter. I feel happy inside by sharing kindness with others, so while I know they felt wonderful, I feel amazing inside.
How do you plan to integrate kindness into your life moving forward? I am writing these task down in my journal to use as inspiration and to remind myself to be kind everyday to someone. I feel that during this time of volunteering my services and time as well as taking the time to follow through on each challenge has been beneficial to others but doing kind things for others has been extremely beneficial to me. I feel like a better person and feel as though if I can make a difference in other’s lives, even a small one, then each day I have accomplished something beautiful and worthwhile. Thank you Celes so much for this challenge. :heart:
Anything you would like to see at PE moving forward? What is it? I know you are so busy Celes and I think you inspire and touch others in a wonderful way. I have truly enjoyed all my time spent on personal excellence. If you decide and have time to create challenges again, I would love to see something like this one. Maybe a respect challenge or appreciation challenge. Anything you do touches so many and I feel blessed to have found your page and be able to participate in as much as possible. Thank you so much. :clap:
Hey Netta! :D Definitely no more challenges for the next five months. I already have one topic in mind for next year but that would be six months from now.
Thanks so much for your relentless participation Netta. I have been very touched by your near daily postings and dedication to the daily tasks. I’m very happy that you were able to get so much out of the challenge. Majority is the result of your own undertaking. So you should really give yourself a big pat on your back. :D
Let me kick off the roundup for today, since I’ve been leading the challenge as the host/creator and participating in the challenge as well. :D
1. How has the kindness challenge been for you?
Amazing. Phenomenal. It was an amazing experience leading the challenge and even more amazing to see the wonderful stories shared by the participants every day, for the daily acts of kindness. It just goes to show that when we have the intention to be kind, we can be kind. It’s just a matter of whether we want to or not.
2. What has been your favorite task(s)? Why?
Definitely the last one, doing something unexpectedly nice for someone. I love giving people surprises, especially pleasant, well-thought-out surprises that mean something to them and strike chords in their hearts.
I was really touched by the responses of the Kiss deejays, who were the recipients of my Day 14 task. Even though I haven’t known them for long and we are not close friends in any way, I didn’t feel that that should stop me from doing something nice for them.
I’m glad that they liked the gifts and it has been a reinforcement to me that I should continuously plan such unconditional, “surprise-type” acts of kindness for others. The looks you get on their faces when you unveil the gifts/acts are simply priceless, especially when the gifts/acts are some things that really matter to them. This is when proper thinking and planning is important, rather than just haphazard execution of the task.
3. What have you learned from participating in the kindness challenge? What have you learned about kindness? Elaborate.
a) Kindness isn’t something you put off to the future. Kindness is something that happens now.
b) Kindness doesn’t have to be some gigantic or enormous act. As long as the intention is right and you focus on doing the things that matter, you can make a huge impact in small ways.
c) Kindness shouldn’t be conditional; it should be unconditional.
d) Kindness can, and in fact should, happen even when circumstances don’t seem to justify or warrant it. Doesn’t matter if someone is/has been nasty to you or is an unkind person at heart. These are actually the people who deserve kindness more than anyone. Take the first step. Spread the kindness. Use your kindness to open up his/her heart.
4. How do you plan to integrate kindness into your life moving forward?
I’ll enforce the various acts of kindness (from Kindness Challenge) in my life, such as picking up litter, hugging, giving up your seat, etc. as much as possible.
I’ll also be creating/finding ways to spread kindness to others in my daily life. My comfort zone for kindness has definitely expanded from this challenge, what with doing one different act of kindness every day and all. Things like donating and giving unexpected surprise gifts are things I didn’t normally do before, so actually doing them as a result of KC has made me more comfortable with doing them on a daily basis.
I’ve actually been doing extra acts of kindness (not that anyone is taking count) during KC itself, just that I did not mention them on the blog. For example, offering to share my umbrella with others during the rain (did that twice), donating to handicapped children did this a few days ago), giving up my seat again, and so on and so forth. I’ll continue to adopt the “pay it forward” approach and spread the kindness which others have rendered me onto other people.
5. Anything you would like to see at PE moving forward? What is it?
I don’t know guys! YOU tell me! XD
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