I like to read about meditations. In fact, I like to read about them far more than I like to do them. I’ve tried (and I will keep trying), but I have to admit that so far, I’ve yet to experience anything I could truthfully call a success. Rather than getting quiet and centered, I have a tendency to get fidgety and irritated. Truth be told, I have been known to exercise in order to workout the tension that builds up when I meditate.
That said, I do love the idea of it, and I believe in its benefits. So while I await my spiritual transformation (it’s coming, I’m sure of it), I read. Recently I read about a Buddhist meditation in which you cast your memory back across your whole life and bring to mind two good deeds that you have done. Apparently almost everyone who is able to do this remembers deeds that are remarkably simple, small acts of kindness, moments of honest, heartfelt connection. These are the moments that make up a life, one worthy of being remembered.
You know how when you buy a car, you suddenly notice all the people who are driving the same car as you? Well, ever since I read about that meditation, I’ve been stumbling upon articles and blog posts and more blog posts talking about kindness. I’d think the universe was beating me over the head with a message if I was inclined to believe that sort of thing.
And maybe I am, because I’ve decided that for the rest of May, I’m going to do a good deed every day. Every day! I am secretly hoping that this won’t be as hard as it sounds – that I do good deeds all the time without thinking about it and this will simply be a matter of paying attention enough to write them down. That’s what I’m hoping. What I’m fearing is that I get caught up in the day-to-day stresses of my life and I forget to be kind.
Either way, May’s my chance to shine. My experiment in kindness starts today.
Who’s in?
I’m in. My first act of kindness is to say that I love your writing, but that really goes without saying.
Awww! Thank you! That definitely takes care of your first good deed. (And yay! You’re in!)
I AM SO IN to reading about your acts of kindness. Go!
Very commendable! I’m sure you do it everyday without even thinking about it!
That Zen meditation post was one of my favorites when I went back and read it a month or so ago.
I am definitely in on the kindness project…wait, does that mean I’m the recipient of your act of kindness or I have to DO an act of kindness? Hmmm, this could be more difficult than I first thought.
You show me an act of kindness everyday by having yourself here at Zebra Sounds for me to read — and I’ve read them all!
Ok — I’m in, one act of kindness a day (something out of the ordinary right? Not something you do everyday.)
Thank you for being so kind! Really, I mean that!
Sooo, since I completed TWO acts of kindness today, does that mean I get tomorrow off? :-)
I fetched my daughter’s robe this morning when she said she was cold, instead of my usual “getityoself”
Then I made enough green tea, flax seed, wheat germ, organic oatmeal to feed an army. This means my husband gets breakfast this morning. Does all this count? I’m feeling less a sourpuss already. Thanks for the motivation.
“deeds that are remarkably simply, small acts of kindness, moments of honest, heartfelt connection.” Love it. The movie ‘Pay It Forward’ deals with this very well. I thank my mom for teaching me the importance & some of the ways of small acts of kindness. Supposedly contentment in marriage increases significantly if this is a frequent part of it. My quest this month will be finding new ones in all areas. I wish us all good luck in this important task.
Terre, Okay. Maybe I’ll try to do two a day. One for you! ;-)
Jennifer, I hope you’re right. Then I just get to be full of myself. (It is this attitude that will keep me ever being a Zen master.)
Becky, No rules. You decide what constitutes a good deed. (Thank you for saying that about my blog, though!)
Tricia, Sounds pretty damn saintly to me, baby. Take the rest of the day off. Tomorrow you have do something nice again, though. So you might want to pace yourself.
Sue, Yay, you’re in! I’ve never seen Pay It Forward, but I thoroughly believe in the concept.
J – Thanks. I got Saturday covered. I think that could bleed into Sunday because that is when the mom was going to receive the present I helped her son buy. And today . . . . its just a wash. :-]
I saw this RIGHT after your post and it made me think of you, but then I was thinking “good” instead of kindness, but I guess they COULD be the same, anyway: “There are no random acts of kindness, only intentional acts given the opportunity to happen. We have thought about kindnesses we can do. We have committed ourselves to acting in ways that are kind and beneficial. We have prayed for an opportunity to be kind.
Then the opportunity presents itself and bingo! We act with kindness. Nothing random about that! This is true not just in deeds, but in words as well. “
I’m making the call. An act of kindness and a good deed are the same thing. (Whew! Saved me for today, when I really felt I might be stretching the definition of “good deed.”) ;-)
“Practice random acts of kindness and senseless acts of beauty.” -Anne Herbert
I remember being similarly inspired when Pay it Forward hit theaters many moons ago, and still find myself practicing the above tenet, though without the deliberate commitment and dedication your proposal invites.
Being a firm believer in the importance of acts of kindness, both small and grand, and understanding there is no way for us to predict the domino effect one simple act may have, there is, of course, no way I can resist your call to action. Count me in.
As Emerson said: “You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late. ”
Thanks, as always, for the inspiration.
I found this blog post via a link on Twitter.
Love it!
I’m in. *thumbsup*
I will also add that I’m one that needs to remind myself to do a kind deed for myself as well!
To the ripple effect…. Yes!
Okay, I racked up good deeds this morning without breathing hard and before I got out of my pj’s. So, one little addition to my experiment. At least one good deed every day has to be for someone who doesn’t live with me.
Amy, Love the Emerson quote! My hypothesis is that I will feel more positive, strengthen my existing connections and spark all kinds of new ones, big and small. No downside. Let’s do this thing!
Carol, Yay! I saw your retweet and as soon as Twitter stops being crazy, I will follow you back. So glad you’re in. I’ll do an update on this every Monday (at least), so come back and share.
Thanks Judy…
Yah. That Twitter thingee is kinda funny. It’s like the world is crashing! *chuckle*
I’ll try to get back some and update, but I’m actually headed on a 120-mile trek on the Appalachian Trail and will be unplugged. My once-a-day-kindness acts will be to the wilderness and those I meet along the way. :-)
I hope your blog entry goes viral. It’d be a great one!!!
OOOhhhh i really hope that you blog about your good deeds so we can follow your mission. I anticipate your little things will increasingly grow as the days go by.. thank you for your posts, i LOVE reading them…. xoxoxoxo ~corey
Meditation can be so tough at first. For me, the biggest problem is wandering thoughts distracting me while meditating. I love to engage in what’s called “mindfulness meditation,” which is essentially about trying to “screen out the background chatter that’s going on in our brains.” This kind of meditation is my favorite to practice, especially during high peaks of stress. I, too, love stumbling across articles on meditation and all its benefits; it just makes me want to practice more!
And you can count me in on the kindness project! Participating in even small acts of kindness not only brings a smile to those you enact it on, but also makes you feel good too. It’s a win-win!
Just in case you ever do a “lets be evil” post, I’ve got a couple of stories for you ;).
Carol, I like you despite my jealousy right now! Wow!!! Can’t wait to hear how that went! Have a great time, and I hope your trip is full of discoveries for you – inside and out.
Corey, I will. I’m very determined. I agree with you. I think this might have a snowball effect on my life. Fingers crossed!
Eman, Clearly, you’re better at meditation than I am. I like the mindfulness meditations best too because you don’t have to empty your mind so much as focus it. Still… it’s the sitting still and not physically/mentally wandering off that is hard for me. I’ll get it though. I know I will. (And yay, you’re in!)
John, that is an irresistible blog topic. I think we absolutely, definitely need a “lets be evil” j-list, don’t you?
I love this. As you already know, I have been practicing “pay it forward” for quite some time now. As a matter of fact, just this morning, I bought coffee for the woman in line behind me.
So, I am in. No question.
Can’t wait to hear about your adventures. Yay!
I so love your posts, probably cause each one comes from the heart and it shows!
Lovely idea to do an acts of kindness.
I’m sure you are kind each and every day, but the stresses which are ever present keep you from noticing some of your acts of kindness (and writing them down).
I’ve been wondering this myself, so I’m in too :)
Let’s see if all of us together can change the world :P
Hippiechick, I knew you’d join me! BIG smile!
Estrella, Even just one day down, I think my own personal world is changing. When you do nice things to people, they do nice things back. Funny how it works! :-)
The number of days it take to form a habit varies, but I’m guessing that you are already inclined to continue this well beyond the end of the month. I think you are one of those people who do simple acts of kindness without even noticing.
John, That’s sweet. One interesting thing I’ve learned. As a writer, I spend a lot of time by myself. It means sometimes, like today, when I actually managed to focus on my work for a change, I felt a sense of urgency to get out and find someone to be nice to! (And I’m not at all sure that poor little old lady wanted to cross the street.)
I’m in! I love the look on some people’s faces when they receive random acts of kindness. It’s really a stress reliever for both the giver and recipient. Thank you so much for the gentle reminder — a kindness all your own.
J-ster
The cool thing about kindness is that studies show that an act of kindness raises seratonin levels – for the person receiving the act, the person performing the act and…
anyone who witnesses the act. Amazing, no?
Anxious to hear how the experiment goes…
G
Louise, Oh! I didn’t count this post. *hurries back to update Good Deed list.* So glad you’re in!
G-ster, Oh you will be hearing how the experiment goes, baby. I can be oh-so-chatty. (I didn’t know that about witnessing the act, but it makes sense. And that is very cool!)
The same day this posted, I was rushing around doing post-preschool errands with my exhausted 5 year-old. An older woman (clearly a Zebra Sounds reader) stopped and compliment me on the “pretty highlights in my hair” that “sparkled in the sunlight.” I was stunned, but managed to smile and say (what I hope was a gracious) thank you.
Her comment had such a positive affect on me! I felt pretty and energized, instead of frumpy and frazzled; I’m sure I was beaming. A few minutes later, I caught my reflection in a store window and realized that my “sparkling highlights” were actually a salon-enviable combination of glue, glitter and sand, since I’d just spent the last 4 hours caring for 24 preschoolers.
But of all the same, I appreciated her compliment (even if I am concerned about her eyesight). And I love your idea. Thanks for making my May better already. :-D
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