After a long and tiring day, heading home on a cold night and still needing to stop at the grocery store for a few things, I was cranky and not really in the mood to cook when I got home. I wheeled my cart around the grocery store a few times, trying to decide what I wanted and realizing I didn't even want to make any effort to microwave anything. Really, I was that lazy.
I went through the self-checkout, stopped by the food donation bin to drop off the crackers I'd added to my cart for that purpose (which I was figuring would be my RAOK for the day) and then pointed my car to the local fast food drive-thru. It was quick, hot, didn't require any effort, and was on the way home anyway. Yeah, I was truly that lazy.
As I was pulling into the drive-thru, I noticed a man in a puffy jacket digging through a trash can standing on a strip of sidewalk between the restaurant and the hotel next door. I thought at first, seeing the shopping cart next to him, that he was a recycler looking for discarded bottles and cans. We have quite a few of those folks who travel around my neighboorhoods since we have a lot of businesses and apartment buildings in the area. When I passed by, though, I saw that his bags weren't full of cans and bottles, but clothing and other items. It was a really chilly night, too, and his breath puffed in cold wisps as he worked his way through the garbage can for whatever it was he was hoping to find.
I could still see him across the parking lot as I placed my order. On impulse, I added two tacos from the cheap-o dollar menu on the board to my order. I had them place the tacos in a separate bag, drove back around to his location and said "Sir, would you like some tacos?", and he replied, "I'm not asking for anything but if you're willing to give them, I'm willing to take them." I passed them over, he said "Thank you very much." I said, "You're welcome, enjoy!" and drove off.
It was short and simple and not very inspirational, I'm sure. But it was proof that even in the laziest and easiest of circumstances, there are opportunities to be kind to others. Hope he liked the tacos.
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
On the 24th day of...
I volunteer weekly for the Humane Society Silicon Valley (or try to, as scheduling and health permit) so since it's scheduled, it's not really a "Random" Act of Kindness. But being present to help someone find their purrfect new friend makes a regular shift extra special. On this day, I got to experience it twice!
The first to be selected was a tiny tuxedo kitten named Elf who, despite being half the size of the other kittens in the room, wasn't afraid to wade in and play with the big boys. Just like the couple in Winter Wonderland, he frolicked and played, and quickly won the hearts of the couple looking to adopt. Well he won more than their hearts because, as that couple was filling out their paperwork, a family with two young girls came in looking for a new kitten companion for one they already had at home, and they also fell in love with Elf. They were sad to learn he'd already been claimed, but they set their minds to meeting the other kittens.
Pretty soon, Smudge, a black kitty with undertones of silvery fur, captured their attention. As I left my shift that evening, they were settled at the desk, filling out the paperwork to bring Smudge home.
With a little patience, and with talking to people and giving them time to learn and play and exchange happy kitty thoughts, two more purrbabies have homes for the holidays. Job well done!
The first to be selected was a tiny tuxedo kitten named Elf who, despite being half the size of the other kittens in the room, wasn't afraid to wade in and play with the big boys. Just like the couple in Winter Wonderland, he frolicked and played, and quickly won the hearts of the couple looking to adopt. Well he won more than their hearts because, as that couple was filling out their paperwork, a family with two young girls came in looking for a new kitten companion for one they already had at home, and they also fell in love with Elf. They were sad to learn he'd already been claimed, but they set their minds to meeting the other kittens.
Pretty soon, Smudge, a black kitty with undertones of silvery fur, captured their attention. As I left my shift that evening, they were settled at the desk, filling out the paperwork to bring Smudge home.
With a little patience, and with talking to people and giving them time to learn and play and exchange happy kitty thoughts, two more purrbabies have homes for the holidays. Job well done!
Monday, December 17, 2012
On the 17th - 23rd days of...
Last week was a bit chaotic. Due to a heavy cold that morphed for a day or two into flu-like symptoms, and then the aftermath of the CT school shooting, I found it difficult to summon the energy to blog online. But that didn't stop my commitment to the Random Acts of Kindness for December; they continued to be done, even though I wasn't reporting them daily. So here's a little catch up on how things went:
Monday 12/10: I signed up to "feed the elves". The staff members of The Family Giving Tree are really hard at work right now, putting in long hours coordinating the seasonal volunteers, pick up/drop off of donated gifts, all of the agencies involved, and the other office logistics aside. During the two weeks they are at their busiest, an opportunity is provided to the public to help provide lunch/dinner for these dozen or so "super elves" so that they can grab an hour to rest tired feet and angry bellies without having to scramble for it on their own.
Tuesday 12/11: This was definitely the worst of my sick days. Conveniently, I had already planned it as a vacation day, thinking it would be ideal for running around to do last minute holiday errands and mailings. When the day came, though, and I realized how horrible I felt, I realized that the best Random Act of Kindness I could do on this day was to take care of myself and keep my germy self out of the public face. While it ended up setting back my plans a bit, it was the smartest decision.
Wednesday 12/12: This ended up being another "repeat a previous act" day, but it's still a good one. Having come across several more non-fiction books that would be ideal for the Women's Prison Book Project that had ended on Nov. 30, I contacted the organization and they said "Please send them!" So on this day, I did!
Thursday 12/13: And yet another book-related act of kindness! I had read an article posted on FB courtesy of one of our local used bookstores regarding an annual reading program in our community that provides new and gently used books to underprivileged children, and how significantly low donations had been running this year (previous years they had near 80,000 donations at times, but this year they were barely at 2,000). I had just recently finished reading both the first Percy Jackson book, and the first book of The Hunger Games trilogy, and since both still looked brand new, I dropped them off in the collection box for this effort. Hey, older kids/teens need something to read too, right?
Friday 12/14: This was, of course, the day of that heartbreaking attack in CT (and a similar one involving a knife at a school in China). Much of the day was spent in confusion as the news reports came out, and in prayers for everyone involved. However, this was also the day that I had signed up for to "feed the elves", so for a little while at least, it was about best face forward! I delivered piping hot pizzas, chicken wings, a couple dozen sodas and some mini-cupcakes to the big warehouse. While there, I was able to see a bit of the ebb and flow of toys being dropped off by companies, and picked up by the agencies for distribution to their kids. It was a much needed balance for the violence being described on the news, a reminder that people are good in this world, too.
Saturday 12/15: After being mostly cooped up the previous week due to illness, and having to deal with the sadness of the night before, I was ready to get out of the house with a friend and enjoy the holiday festivities--it would have been far too easy to wallow in depression otherwise. Despite weather reports calling for occasional showers, the day was pretty blustery and rainy. So while we didn't do anything specifically act related, the day was taken with a lot more patience, care, and caution than may have otherwise been displayed: letting drivers in, giving pedestrians plenty of room, and generally being aware of the people around me to help keep me, my passenger, and those around me as safe as possible in a world that isn't often so.
Sunday 12/16: A quiet Sunday spent at home with my kitties, but I was finally able to work on a task I'd been meaning to do for the last couple of weeks: going through some of my craft supplies to fetch beading items to give to a friend of mine who has been enjoying a rekindling of jewelry-making inspiration. I didn't unearth them all, but I was able to find quite a few things to pass on to her at work the next day. Much as I'd love to make something myself, I haven't been inspired to that task of late, and I'd rather someone who is find use for them than have them sit around unused in the house, even though beads don't take up a whole lot of room.
So that's how my week went. A new week is starting today and hopefully, now that I'm back up and functional, a return to the daily updates as I'd originally committed to. We'll see how it goes!
Monday 12/10: I signed up to "feed the elves". The staff members of The Family Giving Tree are really hard at work right now, putting in long hours coordinating the seasonal volunteers, pick up/drop off of donated gifts, all of the agencies involved, and the other office logistics aside. During the two weeks they are at their busiest, an opportunity is provided to the public to help provide lunch/dinner for these dozen or so "super elves" so that they can grab an hour to rest tired feet and angry bellies without having to scramble for it on their own.
Tuesday 12/11: This was definitely the worst of my sick days. Conveniently, I had already planned it as a vacation day, thinking it would be ideal for running around to do last minute holiday errands and mailings. When the day came, though, and I realized how horrible I felt, I realized that the best Random Act of Kindness I could do on this day was to take care of myself and keep my germy self out of the public face. While it ended up setting back my plans a bit, it was the smartest decision.
Wednesday 12/12: This ended up being another "repeat a previous act" day, but it's still a good one. Having come across several more non-fiction books that would be ideal for the Women's Prison Book Project that had ended on Nov. 30, I contacted the organization and they said "Please send them!" So on this day, I did!
Thursday 12/13: And yet another book-related act of kindness! I had read an article posted on FB courtesy of one of our local used bookstores regarding an annual reading program in our community that provides new and gently used books to underprivileged children, and how significantly low donations had been running this year (previous years they had near 80,000 donations at times, but this year they were barely at 2,000). I had just recently finished reading both the first Percy Jackson book, and the first book of The Hunger Games trilogy, and since both still looked brand new, I dropped them off in the collection box for this effort. Hey, older kids/teens need something to read too, right?
Friday 12/14: This was, of course, the day of that heartbreaking attack in CT (and a similar one involving a knife at a school in China). Much of the day was spent in confusion as the news reports came out, and in prayers for everyone involved. However, this was also the day that I had signed up for to "feed the elves", so for a little while at least, it was about best face forward! I delivered piping hot pizzas, chicken wings, a couple dozen sodas and some mini-cupcakes to the big warehouse. While there, I was able to see a bit of the ebb and flow of toys being dropped off by companies, and picked up by the agencies for distribution to their kids. It was a much needed balance for the violence being described on the news, a reminder that people are good in this world, too.
Saturday 12/15: After being mostly cooped up the previous week due to illness, and having to deal with the sadness of the night before, I was ready to get out of the house with a friend and enjoy the holiday festivities--it would have been far too easy to wallow in depression otherwise. Despite weather reports calling for occasional showers, the day was pretty blustery and rainy. So while we didn't do anything specifically act related, the day was taken with a lot more patience, care, and caution than may have otherwise been displayed: letting drivers in, giving pedestrians plenty of room, and generally being aware of the people around me to help keep me, my passenger, and those around me as safe as possible in a world that isn't often so.
Sunday 12/16: A quiet Sunday spent at home with my kitties, but I was finally able to work on a task I'd been meaning to do for the last couple of weeks: going through some of my craft supplies to fetch beading items to give to a friend of mine who has been enjoying a rekindling of jewelry-making inspiration. I didn't unearth them all, but I was able to find quite a few things to pass on to her at work the next day. Much as I'd love to make something myself, I haven't been inspired to that task of late, and I'd rather someone who is find use for them than have them sit around unused in the house, even though beads don't take up a whole lot of room.
So that's how my week went. A new week is starting today and hopefully, now that I'm back up and functional, a return to the daily updates as I'd originally committed to. We'll see how it goes!
Sunday, December 9, 2012
On the sixteenth day of...
This morning I decided I really wanted to do some heavy-duty cleaning around the house, but I needed to make a quick trip to the store to pick up a few things for the week ahead. Because I also wanted to indulge in that Sunday American tradition known as watching football, my trip was a bit hurried so I could get back home and settled.
As I came through the doors, I passed the Second Harvest Food Bank donation barrels. No big deal, they are always there. Plus, they have donation barrels at my local library, and I always drop off donations any time I go pick up a hold book. Those barrels are something I pass by regularly.
Today the sight of them stayed with me for some reason. I don't know if it was the whole awareness of it being the "big holiday food drive" push, or the thought that I was there casually picking up "whatever" and didn't have to really worry about where my next meal was coming from. Maybe it was just the early morning combined with PMS making me extra sentimental. But for some reason, after being done with my shopping and in the process of heading toward the self check-out at the front of the store, the image of those two barrels standing guard at the exit door, silently waiting for someone to notice them, came to mind and would not leave.
Turning around and heading back into the heart of the store, I was reminded that for only $10 more on my bill, I could buy four bags of rice, two cans of beans, and two large cans of soup. For an elderly man, or a small family, or someone who has been looking for work and hasn't found anything they can live off of yet, those four bags of rice, two cans of beans, and two large cans of soup could mean the difference between something to eat, and nothing to eat. What a sobering thought, and what a simple solution.
I don't expect that I'll always have $10 extra to buy things like this, but it is entirely possible to add one extra can of tuna, or one more box of crackers when I go shopping. Knowing that the barrels stand so patiently waiting will help remind me that people aren't hungry only at Christmas.
As I came through the doors, I passed the Second Harvest Food Bank donation barrels. No big deal, they are always there. Plus, they have donation barrels at my local library, and I always drop off donations any time I go pick up a hold book. Those barrels are something I pass by regularly.
Today the sight of them stayed with me for some reason. I don't know if it was the whole awareness of it being the "big holiday food drive" push, or the thought that I was there casually picking up "whatever" and didn't have to really worry about where my next meal was coming from. Maybe it was just the early morning combined with PMS making me extra sentimental. But for some reason, after being done with my shopping and in the process of heading toward the self check-out at the front of the store, the image of those two barrels standing guard at the exit door, silently waiting for someone to notice them, came to mind and would not leave.
Turning around and heading back into the heart of the store, I was reminded that for only $10 more on my bill, I could buy four bags of rice, two cans of beans, and two large cans of soup. For an elderly man, or a small family, or someone who has been looking for work and hasn't found anything they can live off of yet, those four bags of rice, two cans of beans, and two large cans of soup could mean the difference between something to eat, and nothing to eat. What a sobering thought, and what a simple solution.
I don't expect that I'll always have $10 extra to buy things like this, but it is entirely possible to add one extra can of tuna, or one more box of crackers when I go shopping. Knowing that the barrels stand so patiently waiting will help remind me that people aren't hungry only at Christmas.
On the fifteenth day of...
There are lots of organizations that collect toys, clothing, and food for families in need during the holidays, so it's not hard to find someone to help, and it's not easy choosing where to spread the gifts you might have to offer.
One event that I really wanted to participate in this year, though, was the annual Toys for Tots "Stuff the Bus" campaign, sponsored in part by one of the Bay Area radio stations I listen to. In exchange for bringing by a new, unwrapped toy, the radio station will give you a holiday-themed CD. From what I understand, there is a whole group of people that attend every year, and have built up quite a collection of holiday CDs.
Even without the gift, though, I really wanted to participate in the event. I had gone to a local hobby shop and picked up a few arts n' craft kits, and because I had plans for the rest of the afternoon, I made sure to be there bright and early for the start of the event. I knew it would be a relatively quick exchange - they handing me the CD as I hand over the toys. What I didn't expect, though, was the fanfare.
Fully uniformed Marines in their dress blues stood at attention and helped direct my car down the special lane in the street that was blocked off for this purpose. And at the end of the line stood a complete army of yelling, jumping, cheering Girl Scouts and their parents (a lot of them fathers, I was so happy to see), and as we did the exchange of items, what touched me more was the exchange of words: "Thank you for helping kids like me!" "Happy holidays!" "Thank you for changing lives!!"
It's what stayed with me later when I was telling about the event to a friend of mine: "...and there were all these kids and they were running to keep pace with my car, and waving hello, and clapping. And behind them were a bunch of adults yelling just as loudly over their heads and waving with just as much enthusiasm."
And then, as an afterthought, "Oh ya, and I got this CD."
One event that I really wanted to participate in this year, though, was the annual Toys for Tots "Stuff the Bus" campaign, sponsored in part by one of the Bay Area radio stations I listen to. In exchange for bringing by a new, unwrapped toy, the radio station will give you a holiday-themed CD. From what I understand, there is a whole group of people that attend every year, and have built up quite a collection of holiday CDs.
Even without the gift, though, I really wanted to participate in the event. I had gone to a local hobby shop and picked up a few arts n' craft kits, and because I had plans for the rest of the afternoon, I made sure to be there bright and early for the start of the event. I knew it would be a relatively quick exchange - they handing me the CD as I hand over the toys. What I didn't expect, though, was the fanfare.
Fully uniformed Marines in their dress blues stood at attention and helped direct my car down the special lane in the street that was blocked off for this purpose. And at the end of the line stood a complete army of yelling, jumping, cheering Girl Scouts and their parents (a lot of them fathers, I was so happy to see), and as we did the exchange of items, what touched me more was the exchange of words: "Thank you for helping kids like me!" "Happy holidays!" "Thank you for changing lives!!"
It's what stayed with me later when I was telling about the event to a friend of mine: "...and there were all these kids and they were running to keep pace with my car, and waving hello, and clapping. And behind them were a bunch of adults yelling just as loudly over their heads and waving with just as much enthusiasm."
And then, as an afterthought, "Oh ya, and I got this CD."
Saturday, December 8, 2012
On the fourteenth day of...
I was still feeling under the weather yesterday, and knowing that I had big plans the next day (today) that I did NOT want to cancel out on meant that all I wanted yesterday after work was home and sleep. I decided that it would be a good time to rinse off and repeat one of my previous RAOK and dropped off more books at the library donation bin.
I must admit to feeling like I was cheating a little as I headed in and toward the donation bin. But then I noticed two library patrons perusing the sales shelf stationed nearby, already with one or two books in hand each, and I was reminded of the importance of receiving donated books to help keep those sales shelves filled and enticing. I left those books behind without another guilty thought and headed home with gratitude for my lighter spirit, and the warm bed waiting for me at the other end.
I must admit to feeling like I was cheating a little as I headed in and toward the donation bin. But then I noticed two library patrons perusing the sales shelf stationed nearby, already with one or two books in hand each, and I was reminded of the importance of receiving donated books to help keep those sales shelves filled and enticing. I left those books behind without another guilty thought and headed home with gratitude for my lighter spirit, and the warm bed waiting for me at the other end.
Friday, December 7, 2012
On the thirteenth day of...
I've been battling a cold that's been circulating around work, and yesterday I was just physically and mentally wiped. After taking care of a couple errands, my intention was to head home and to my pillow. Do not pass Go, etc, etc.
"But what do I do about my RAOK?" my do-gooder brain voice asked.
"Getting your germs out of everyone else's air should be considered a kindness itself." came the stuffy-achy reply.
After making a quick (ish, for this time of year) stop at the post office to begin mailing out the holiday packages, I spotted my RAOK salvation in the form of a bell ringer in front of a red bucket. Grabbing my change purse as I walked out the door, I emptied it into the bucket while chatting briefly with the lady of the bell. She admired my coin purse (made from a red baby's sock), commented on me getting some tea for my throat, and made much more fuss over the 80-someodd cents I dropped in than I am sure was warranted. "No no," she said, when I tried to wave it off. "All those cents add up to something wonderful, so every little bit helps."
As I stepped to the curb to head back to my car, she called out "Merry Christmas! And gosh, I sure hope you feel better soon."
Little bits, indeed.
"But what do I do about my RAOK?" my do-gooder brain voice asked.
"Getting your germs out of everyone else's air should be considered a kindness itself." came the stuffy-achy reply.
After making a quick (ish, for this time of year) stop at the post office to begin mailing out the holiday packages, I spotted my RAOK salvation in the form of a bell ringer in front of a red bucket. Grabbing my change purse as I walked out the door, I emptied it into the bucket while chatting briefly with the lady of the bell. She admired my coin purse (made from a red baby's sock), commented on me getting some tea for my throat, and made much more fuss over the 80-someodd cents I dropped in than I am sure was warranted. "No no," she said, when I tried to wave it off. "All those cents add up to something wonderful, so every little bit helps."
As I stepped to the curb to head back to my car, she called out "Merry Christmas! And gosh, I sure hope you feel better soon."
Little bits, indeed.
On the twelfth day of...
I'm a couple days behind in blogging but I have been doing the daily RAOK...or trying to, anyway.
On Wednesday, a friend who lives on the other side of the country told me about a job interview that had been scheduled for this morning (Friday). Though it was for a job she wasn't sure she'd even be qualified for, we were excited for the interview itself...any kind of open door in this economy is a great opportunity.
Knowing money had been tight, and knowing too that if I were to offer, I'd be obstinately declined, I tried to be sneaky and order an online gift certificate that she could print out and take shopping with her to get a new outfit for the interview. I knew that if it was already in her inbox and purchased, she'd have a much harder time declining it. Before I left work for the day, I sent her a cryptic message about being sure to check her spam filters.
When I trundled into my house late that evening, having run some errands and such, I had a message on my machine that there had been a problem with my GC order and I needed to call them. And of course, they had Eastern business hours and had been closed for a while. Looking over the order confirmation in email, I realized that I had used a CC that expired this same month, and was likely the problem.
Of course, the next day, the jig was up: I had to explain to my friend why I'd had her checking her spam filter all night and why the message never arrived. As expected, she protested she already had something picked out and ready to go, and didn't need to buy anything more. We eventually agreed that the universe had clearly decided in her favor by stopping the order from going through, so she won that round. But I did try (and would/will again if opportunity presents itself).
On Wednesday, a friend who lives on the other side of the country told me about a job interview that had been scheduled for this morning (Friday). Though it was for a job she wasn't sure she'd even be qualified for, we were excited for the interview itself...any kind of open door in this economy is a great opportunity.
Knowing money had been tight, and knowing too that if I were to offer, I'd be obstinately declined, I tried to be sneaky and order an online gift certificate that she could print out and take shopping with her to get a new outfit for the interview. I knew that if it was already in her inbox and purchased, she'd have a much harder time declining it. Before I left work for the day, I sent her a cryptic message about being sure to check her spam filters.
When I trundled into my house late that evening, having run some errands and such, I had a message on my machine that there had been a problem with my GC order and I needed to call them. And of course, they had Eastern business hours and had been closed for a while. Looking over the order confirmation in email, I realized that I had used a CC that expired this same month, and was likely the problem.
Of course, the next day, the jig was up: I had to explain to my friend why I'd had her checking her spam filter all night and why the message never arrived. As expected, she protested she already had something picked out and ready to go, and didn't need to buy anything more. We eventually agreed that the universe had clearly decided in her favor by stopping the order from going through, so she won that round. But I did try (and would/will again if opportunity presents itself).
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
On the eleventh day of...
A couple of years ago, three smaller branches of the same grocery store in my neighborhood vicinity closed down to make room for one giant version of the same store. It's large, it's modern, it offers a lot of fun additions (self checkout options and the deli olive bar being two of my personal favorites). It's not that far from the store I used to frequent so it's not even much extra effort to get there. They introduced an "in between" size shopping cart that holds more than a handbasket but isn't going to ram into anyone like those mammoth Cadillacs so often do (and usually on at least one wonky wheel).
However, the one thing they didn't seem to plan very well was the positioning of the Return Cart Here corrals. They offer two or three fairly large ones in the center parking aisle area, but for everyone who has to park anywhere other than those 2-3 main aisles, it means a hike back to return the shopping cart. In bad weather, or for moms with kids and a now full car of groceries, or let's face it, for anyone just not feeling motivated to return something when they've gotten what they needed and can now get out of there, this results in shopping carts positioned willy-nilly across the lot.
Most of the time people at least try to park them somewhat out of the way: in planter boxes, along the inside lines of the parking spaces (which can make parking a bit dangerous and obstacle-course-worthy when the carts start lining up) but it's still an inconvenience to have to navigate around them.
This evening, parked on one of the outskirt aisles and having unloaded the groceries into my car, with a cold wind picking up and rain clouds gathering, I must admit I was tempted. Really tempted. And then I took a look around me at the cars parked crooked around the stray shopping carts, at the carts that had rolled off into some distant corner, spurred on by open space and a building wind to make a run for it. And I looked at the clock which told me it was just 5 pm and the evening busy rush was only getting started. I sighed, locked the car, and started trundling my hybrid-sized cart back to the front of the store. Then, for good Karma measure, I picked up one more along the way.
Sure, it was only two carts out of the couple dozen scattered around the area but I felt mighty for my small achievement. That was two someone else didn't have to fetch in the coming darkness. And as I struggled with sometimes keeping just my two in line and on course, I found a new respect for the shopping cart wrestlers who wrangle 5 or 10 or more at a time, getting them back into line, over and over, all day long.
However, the one thing they didn't seem to plan very well was the positioning of the Return Cart Here corrals. They offer two or three fairly large ones in the center parking aisle area, but for everyone who has to park anywhere other than those 2-3 main aisles, it means a hike back to return the shopping cart. In bad weather, or for moms with kids and a now full car of groceries, or let's face it, for anyone just not feeling motivated to return something when they've gotten what they needed and can now get out of there, this results in shopping carts positioned willy-nilly across the lot.
Most of the time people at least try to park them somewhat out of the way: in planter boxes, along the inside lines of the parking spaces (which can make parking a bit dangerous and obstacle-course-worthy when the carts start lining up) but it's still an inconvenience to have to navigate around them.
This evening, parked on one of the outskirt aisles and having unloaded the groceries into my car, with a cold wind picking up and rain clouds gathering, I must admit I was tempted. Really tempted. And then I took a look around me at the cars parked crooked around the stray shopping carts, at the carts that had rolled off into some distant corner, spurred on by open space and a building wind to make a run for it. And I looked at the clock which told me it was just 5 pm and the evening busy rush was only getting started. I sighed, locked the car, and started trundling my hybrid-sized cart back to the front of the store. Then, for good Karma measure, I picked up one more along the way.
Sure, it was only two carts out of the couple dozen scattered around the area but I felt mighty for my small achievement. That was two someone else didn't have to fetch in the coming darkness. And as I struggled with sometimes keeping just my two in line and on course, I found a new respect for the shopping cart wrestlers who wrangle 5 or 10 or more at a time, getting them back into line, over and over, all day long.
On the tenth day of...
I tend to be drawn to those that love animals as much as I do, so it's no surprise that one of my BFFs responds to her pets as her children, and that they are included on my annual Christmas gift list. The gifts are typically the same thing each year: a small toy for Pixie-kitty, and a new bully stick for the Doberman, affectionately referred to by me as "puppyface".
This year, the gifts for the four-footed children were the last I needed to get before packing everything into a mailing box. Rather than going to a "regular" pet store, I stopped in at the store located inside our shelter (the same shelter I volunteer at, conveniently). While prices can sometimes be a little higher because they deal only with the highest quality products, the purchases send funds directly back into the functioning of the shelter, helping to pay bills, medical care, food, educational programs...all the things that make adopting more preferable to shopping when it comes to bringing a new member into the family. This alone would make a nice RAOK, thought I.
My effort at this RAOK paid off in spades because I found something that puppyface has needed even more than a bully stick: a rain jacket. Because of his size, standard "pullover" type clothing doesn't work well with him, but his age and his short hair are making keeping him dry and warm more important as time passes. Machine washable, slick on the outside and warm and fleecy on the inside, and secured by two heavy-duty Velcro straps around his body which will make it possible to help keep him more dry, warmer, and without the added pain of trying to stuff arthritic joints through the standard dog clothing. And the extra comfort and care, though it may mean nothing much to puppyface in terms of understanding, will pay off tremendously in terms of his human mother's peace of mind.
That's definitely an act of kindness I'll appreciate passing along.
This year, the gifts for the four-footed children were the last I needed to get before packing everything into a mailing box. Rather than going to a "regular" pet store, I stopped in at the store located inside our shelter (the same shelter I volunteer at, conveniently). While prices can sometimes be a little higher because they deal only with the highest quality products, the purchases send funds directly back into the functioning of the shelter, helping to pay bills, medical care, food, educational programs...all the things that make adopting more preferable to shopping when it comes to bringing a new member into the family. This alone would make a nice RAOK, thought I.
My effort at this RAOK paid off in spades because I found something that puppyface has needed even more than a bully stick: a rain jacket. Because of his size, standard "pullover" type clothing doesn't work well with him, but his age and his short hair are making keeping him dry and warm more important as time passes. Machine washable, slick on the outside and warm and fleecy on the inside, and secured by two heavy-duty Velcro straps around his body which will make it possible to help keep him more dry, warmer, and without the added pain of trying to stuff arthritic joints through the standard dog clothing. And the extra comfort and care, though it may mean nothing much to puppyface in terms of understanding, will pay off tremendously in terms of his human mother's peace of mind.
That's definitely an act of kindness I'll appreciate passing along.
Monday, December 3, 2012
On the eighth and ninth days...
This past weekend we received our first big winter storm (and let's face it, in this part of California, it's entirely possible that this might have been our only big winter storm). It poured heavy rain all weekend long, making it a nice time to snuggle indoors and watch movies, but perhaps not particularly conducive to Random Acts of Kindness since by intent, I isolated myself from the world. Still, small things were possible even when facing Noah's flood, pt. 1.
Saturday's was the easier of the two. A friend of mine celebrated a birthday. She lives in Canada, and together we share common interests like reading and volunteering for animal welfare. For her birthday, she was asking people to consider donating to either her animal welfare cause, or if we preferred, something local to us for animal welfare. I knew that she was already familiar (vicariously, via my FB posts) with one of the local shelters I've helped in the past, so for her birthday, I visited the Amazon wishlist for that shelter (Nine Lives Foundation) and purchased 24 jars of Gerber baby food for delivery directly to them. Gerber baby food is used by the shelter for very young kittens, and for the extremely ill cats that can't eat or digest anything more solid. They should be receiving the delivery later this week. Happy birthday, Cindy, and happy eating for the kittehs!
Sunday proved to be a bit more challenging since the rainstorm and general weekend ennui that seemed to grow from the unhappiness of the week before had settled in. I turned on football and started wrapping gifts in preparation to start mailing them, and only slightly thought about what I might do for a RAOK. Given my lack of interaction with the outside world, I thought the day may pass by with nothing to show for it. I was even so lazy that I decided to order pizza so someone else had to cook.
When the knock came (about 20 minutes late so I was a little annoyed), I opened the door to see the smiling face of the deliveryman...the same guy who has been delivering my pizzas (mostly) for 5 years. Maybe more by now. Though occasionally I see someone else, it's usually the same guy, an older guy who speaks English with an accent and knows me well enough to comment "hey it's been a while since I saw you last!" Despite my grumpy mood, despite feeling disgruntled that he was late, I was suddenly faced with a familiar smile extended by someone who I recognized because of years of the familiarity of a regular stranger. What's more, he was dripping wet from the weather that I was choosing to hide from, probably chilled because it's winter and it gets cold (even in California). And still he smiled with genuine pleasure at seeing me.
The bill was $17 for my pizza and soda and the delivery fee. On impulse, I gave him a $5 tip--it's not over the top generous, I know, but it's certainly more than I normally would do for a $17 bill. Since it was on a charge slip, I'm not even sure he knew as he walked away, but I hope it helps. Merry Christmas, Pizza Delivery Guy. See you next time.
Saturday's was the easier of the two. A friend of mine celebrated a birthday. She lives in Canada, and together we share common interests like reading and volunteering for animal welfare. For her birthday, she was asking people to consider donating to either her animal welfare cause, or if we preferred, something local to us for animal welfare. I knew that she was already familiar (vicariously, via my FB posts) with one of the local shelters I've helped in the past, so for her birthday, I visited the Amazon wishlist for that shelter (Nine Lives Foundation) and purchased 24 jars of Gerber baby food for delivery directly to them. Gerber baby food is used by the shelter for very young kittens, and for the extremely ill cats that can't eat or digest anything more solid. They should be receiving the delivery later this week. Happy birthday, Cindy, and happy eating for the kittehs!
Sunday proved to be a bit more challenging since the rainstorm and general weekend ennui that seemed to grow from the unhappiness of the week before had settled in. I turned on football and started wrapping gifts in preparation to start mailing them, and only slightly thought about what I might do for a RAOK. Given my lack of interaction with the outside world, I thought the day may pass by with nothing to show for it. I was even so lazy that I decided to order pizza so someone else had to cook.
When the knock came (about 20 minutes late so I was a little annoyed), I opened the door to see the smiling face of the deliveryman...the same guy who has been delivering my pizzas (mostly) for 5 years. Maybe more by now. Though occasionally I see someone else, it's usually the same guy, an older guy who speaks English with an accent and knows me well enough to comment "hey it's been a while since I saw you last!" Despite my grumpy mood, despite feeling disgruntled that he was late, I was suddenly faced with a familiar smile extended by someone who I recognized because of years of the familiarity of a regular stranger. What's more, he was dripping wet from the weather that I was choosing to hide from, probably chilled because it's winter and it gets cold (even in California). And still he smiled with genuine pleasure at seeing me.
The bill was $17 for my pizza and soda and the delivery fee. On impulse, I gave him a $5 tip--it's not over the top generous, I know, but it's certainly more than I normally would do for a $17 bill. Since it was on a charge slip, I'm not even sure he knew as he walked away, but I hope it helps. Merry Christmas, Pizza Delivery Guy. See you next time.
Friday, November 30, 2012
On the seventh day of...
Today was a challenging day. A reorganization of my company announced a couple weeks ago resulted in the laying off of a large amount of workers, many of whom worked in my department and I've known for 5 years, 10 years, more. Today was the last day they were required to work, and though they will continue to get pay and assistance from the company for a bit, for all intents, today they were done. It was a hard day for both those leaving, and those staying.
Combining these emotions with a heavy rainstorm pounding our area made the idea of doing a Random Act today difficult. I just didn't have the heart, or the energy. I just wanted to go home after the long day, relax, escape in a movie.
But I couldn't seem to let the idea of doing a RAOK go; I suppose once you've gotten used to the habit, it feels a little odd when you don't do one, like forgetting your watch at home or going to bed without brushing your teeth.
So while sitting and watching my movie (The Dark Knight, if you're curious) and sipping on some red wine, I took a little bit of time to browse through some LinkedIn profiles, doing a few endorsements and a couple of written recommendations for colleagues I consider friends, and friends that were once colleagues. It may not be a huge thing, but it suddenly seemed really important to make sure their talents/skills were recognized.
My energy petered out again not long after, with my eyes crossing a bit from fatigue (even now this blog post is getting fuzzy), but the few that I managed to do felt not only good, but really right. It's something I plan to work more on this weekend, after I've given my eyes, my mind, and my emotions a bit of a rest.
Combining these emotions with a heavy rainstorm pounding our area made the idea of doing a Random Act today difficult. I just didn't have the heart, or the energy. I just wanted to go home after the long day, relax, escape in a movie.
But I couldn't seem to let the idea of doing a RAOK go; I suppose once you've gotten used to the habit, it feels a little odd when you don't do one, like forgetting your watch at home or going to bed without brushing your teeth.
So while sitting and watching my movie (The Dark Knight, if you're curious) and sipping on some red wine, I took a little bit of time to browse through some LinkedIn profiles, doing a few endorsements and a couple of written recommendations for colleagues I consider friends, and friends that were once colleagues. It may not be a huge thing, but it suddenly seemed really important to make sure their talents/skills were recognized.
My energy petered out again not long after, with my eyes crossing a bit from fatigue (even now this blog post is getting fuzzy), but the few that I managed to do felt not only good, but really right. It's something I plan to work more on this weekend, after I've given my eyes, my mind, and my emotions a bit of a rest.
Thursday, November 29, 2012
On the sixth day of...
Continuing the literacy theme started yesterday...
Knowing that the project I mailed to yesterday wasn't able to accept hardcover books, I decided to use today to drop off a few of the hardcovers I was ready to get rid of at a location I knew could and would use them: my local library.
As city/county/state budgets become increasingly slashed, hindering many of the public services offered, libraries are struggling to compete for a piece of the pie. The gap continues to widen between those that have ready access to the latest tools and information via electronic devices and the Internet, and those that don't. As these budgets are cut, libraries often have to fight to maintain some kind of funding to enable them to continue providing services and materials.
One method that many libraries use to help supplement their cash flow is the Friends of the Library book sale (or some variation of). Some libraries do it quarterly, or on weekends. Some libraries are lucky enough to have the space for a shelf or a bookcase they can keep up year-round, where patrons can browse donated books for purchase, often at just a few cents a piece. But they can't sell them if they don't have them.
Well now they have another dozen to add to the selection options. And I've placed an empty bag in my closet to place additional hardcovers into after I've read them because this will be an ongoing RAOK, performed whenever I have them to donate.
Knowing that the project I mailed to yesterday wasn't able to accept hardcover books, I decided to use today to drop off a few of the hardcovers I was ready to get rid of at a location I knew could and would use them: my local library.
As city/county/state budgets become increasingly slashed, hindering many of the public services offered, libraries are struggling to compete for a piece of the pie. The gap continues to widen between those that have ready access to the latest tools and information via electronic devices and the Internet, and those that don't. As these budgets are cut, libraries often have to fight to maintain some kind of funding to enable them to continue providing services and materials.
One method that many libraries use to help supplement their cash flow is the Friends of the Library book sale (or some variation of). Some libraries do it quarterly, or on weekends. Some libraries are lucky enough to have the space for a shelf or a bookcase they can keep up year-round, where patrons can browse donated books for purchase, often at just a few cents a piece. But they can't sell them if they don't have them.
Well now they have another dozen to add to the selection options. And I've placed an empty bag in my closet to place additional hardcovers into after I've read them because this will be an ongoing RAOK, performed whenever I have them to donate.
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
On the fifth day of...
I've been out of college for a number of years, and most of my textbooks were sold back or given away a long time ago. But as an English major and Religious Studies minor in love with both subjects, there were a lot of texts I kept as reference, in case there was a time at some point when I wanted to pull them off the shelf to look something up, or re-read something. Realistically, though? The only time they really get moved is when I dust.
Last night I read on Tumblr about a book project being orchestrated by a group trying to collect and build (or re-build) libraries for women incarcerated (primarily for non-violent crimes like shoplifting or prostitution). While fiction books were greatly appreciated and accepted, the post said, what they were truly hoping to receive were non-fiction books: text books, workbooks, books in different languages, books about different cultures, about parenting, about self-improvement and self-employment. Books that could be used as study aids so that the women could use the jail time to study for and pass their high school equivalency exams. Books that could teach them about being single mothers, or about exercise and diet, or simply about improving literacy skills so that, when they are released, they have better opportunities for breaking the jail cycle.
The books needed to be softcover, with no spiral bindings. Even with simple books, in jail there is danger of them becoming weapons. Outdated books were ok; they could be catalysts for sparking a desire to learn more about the subjects discussed. But they needed to be postmarked by November 30 in order to meet the project goal deadline.
This morning I took a good look at just one of the 10 bookshelves I keep in my house (not even counting the stacks of books in my closet and in boxes in the bedroom....not even thinking about the 4 boxes in my car, or the 20 in my storage unit). While a few of my texts kept were thick, heavy anthologies of literature and, therefore, not suitable to send, a lot more weren't. I've held onto them for years, a few of them for a couple of decades, and yet suddenly, this morning, I found it very easy to pull 5 off the shelf and prepare them for mailing. I might have done more if I'd had time, but I was limited in terms of mailing materials and needing to dash off to work, especially knowing I'd need to mail it today in order to meet that deadline.
Just five books...about diabetes, about religious diversity, about contraception, about non-violent protest. Five books that may now pass through dozens of hands, and may spark something that changes the path someone has stepped on but no longer wants to travel.
Just five. Imagine what a whole library could do.
Last night I read on Tumblr about a book project being orchestrated by a group trying to collect and build (or re-build) libraries for women incarcerated (primarily for non-violent crimes like shoplifting or prostitution). While fiction books were greatly appreciated and accepted, the post said, what they were truly hoping to receive were non-fiction books: text books, workbooks, books in different languages, books about different cultures, about parenting, about self-improvement and self-employment. Books that could be used as study aids so that the women could use the jail time to study for and pass their high school equivalency exams. Books that could teach them about being single mothers, or about exercise and diet, or simply about improving literacy skills so that, when they are released, they have better opportunities for breaking the jail cycle.
The books needed to be softcover, with no spiral bindings. Even with simple books, in jail there is danger of them becoming weapons. Outdated books were ok; they could be catalysts for sparking a desire to learn more about the subjects discussed. But they needed to be postmarked by November 30 in order to meet the project goal deadline.
This morning I took a good look at just one of the 10 bookshelves I keep in my house (not even counting the stacks of books in my closet and in boxes in the bedroom....not even thinking about the 4 boxes in my car, or the 20 in my storage unit). While a few of my texts kept were thick, heavy anthologies of literature and, therefore, not suitable to send, a lot more weren't. I've held onto them for years, a few of them for a couple of decades, and yet suddenly, this morning, I found it very easy to pull 5 off the shelf and prepare them for mailing. I might have done more if I'd had time, but I was limited in terms of mailing materials and needing to dash off to work, especially knowing I'd need to mail it today in order to meet that deadline.
Just five books...about diabetes, about religious diversity, about contraception, about non-violent protest. Five books that may now pass through dozens of hands, and may spark something that changes the path someone has stepped on but no longer wants to travel.
Just five. Imagine what a whole library could do.
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
On the fourth day of...
So that shelter that my friend volunteers at, the one that I gave the lip balm to? Well, in addition to accepting and re-circulating clothes in good condition, they separate out the "bad" clothing donations (the stuff too worn, stained, or hole-y to be of use) and sell them by the pound to a recycler who re-purposes them into other things. They don't advertise this because of the fear of getting inundated with things people are trying to dump, but for those that already volunteer or who have donated before, it is brought up as a way of helping clean out additional household clutter.
So while putting away laundry yesterday, I pulled out a few things that have been hanging out in my closet a while: jeans with holes too worn to repair, sweaters that have certainly seen better days. Just 3-4 things for now since I didn't have time to dig through the closet and I was busy with another task. Rather than wait until I can "finish that project" by going through everything, I decided to proceed with getting rid of what I'd already set aside, and brought it to my friend today at work. For now, at least, those things will add to the pound weight that the shelter gets money back for, a recycler gets a few more items for their projects, and I have a few less things taking up room in my closet.
This was a RAOK on multiple levels (even one back to myself!) and one I hope to do again before the month is over, so you may see a repeat of it soon. I want very much to be less cluttered and more organized, but I despise throwing things out if they seem even slightly useful still. Anything I can do to re-purpose things and keep them out of landfills where they slowly rot is a plus for me, and this definitely checks that box on my list!
So while putting away laundry yesterday, I pulled out a few things that have been hanging out in my closet a while: jeans with holes too worn to repair, sweaters that have certainly seen better days. Just 3-4 things for now since I didn't have time to dig through the closet and I was busy with another task. Rather than wait until I can "finish that project" by going through everything, I decided to proceed with getting rid of what I'd already set aside, and brought it to my friend today at work. For now, at least, those things will add to the pound weight that the shelter gets money back for, a recycler gets a few more items for their projects, and I have a few less things taking up room in my closet.
This was a RAOK on multiple levels (even one back to myself!) and one I hope to do again before the month is over, so you may see a repeat of it soon. I want very much to be less cluttered and more organized, but I despise throwing things out if they seem even slightly useful still. Anything I can do to re-purpose things and keep them out of landfills where they slowly rot is a plus for me, and this definitely checks that box on my list!
Monday, November 26, 2012
On the third day of...
I knew I was going to the pharmacy today, so I told a friend I'd keep an eye out for discounts. While standing in line to get my prescription at the pharmacy, I spied some lip balms on sale. A two-pack for $1.85. I bought two of them.
That friend of mine volunteers at a local shelter that primarily offers services to women with children. However, they also, when they can, provide items to homeless men that pass through their doors seeking assistance. Because the shelter is known for its assistance to women and children, most of the donations are geared for (and needed for) this population. However, also because of this, any assistance they can provide to the homeless men is limited to what they have on hand, and they don't often have things on hand for men.
I can't even imagine the simple dignity that must be set aside to ask for just a spare bar of soap, or how it must feel on both ends when the volunteer has to look at the asker and say, "I'm so sorry. I don't have one to give you."
For under $5, something I would spend on a cup of specialty coffee, I can offer four men relief from chapped winter lips, at least for a little while. And at least four times, a volunteer will be able to tell someone, "Yes...I have something you can have."
That friend of mine volunteers at a local shelter that primarily offers services to women with children. However, they also, when they can, provide items to homeless men that pass through their doors seeking assistance. Because the shelter is known for its assistance to women and children, most of the donations are geared for (and needed for) this population. However, also because of this, any assistance they can provide to the homeless men is limited to what they have on hand, and they don't often have things on hand for men.
I can't even imagine the simple dignity that must be set aside to ask for just a spare bar of soap, or how it must feel on both ends when the volunteer has to look at the asker and say, "I'm so sorry. I don't have one to give you."
For under $5, something I would spend on a cup of specialty coffee, I can offer four men relief from chapped winter lips, at least for a little while. And at least four times, a volunteer will be able to tell someone, "Yes...I have something you can have."
Sunday, November 25, 2012
On the second day of...
The second day for the Random Acts For Misha is kind of a multi-day project that is being "wrapped up" (so to speak) today. Every year, The Family Giving Tree brings a stack of wish cards that have been filled out by the under privileged in our community---mostly kids, but some special needs and homeless or homebound adults as well. Choosing a tag or two to shop for is an annual tradition for me, but was especially poignant this year. In late April, my mother passed unexpectedly, and though (because of other circumstances) it has not been an occasion of horrific grief, it has made this holiday season a bit surreal. Reminding myself, for example, that I did not need to buy the annual Christmas slippers for mom this year felt really odd.
Having also made the decision that, this year, all gift purchases would be made through local stores and none through the big box chains presented a challenge. Most of the children's wishes involved things that you generally tend to only find at those big chain stores. The smaller ones no longer carry them because they can't afford to compete. I was determined, though, to find a solution and stick to my plan.
Being a believer that mom is still with me, I decided that I wanted to make "mom's gift" the donation wishlist item this year. And she helped find the right wish! My mom always loved doing arts and crafts types of things, and we found a wishlist tag from an 11 year old boy who wanted art supplies.
So from the choosing of the tag, to the shopping, to the assembly of it, it's been a few days, but today I've put together the gift that I will give to the drop off location in the morning:
Having also made the decision that, this year, all gift purchases would be made through local stores and none through the big box chains presented a challenge. Most of the children's wishes involved things that you generally tend to only find at those big chain stores. The smaller ones no longer carry them because they can't afford to compete. I was determined, though, to find a solution and stick to my plan.
Being a believer that mom is still with me, I decided that I wanted to make "mom's gift" the donation wishlist item this year. And she helped find the right wish! My mom always loved doing arts and crafts types of things, and we found a wishlist tag from an 11 year old boy who wanted art supplies.
So from the choosing of the tag, to the shopping, to the assembly of it, it's been a few days, but today I've put together the gift that I will give to the drop off location in the morning:
I hope he'll love it. It's from me, and my mom.
Saturday, November 24, 2012
On the first day of...
Inspired by several folks in the fandom of Misha Collins and Supernatural, I'm launching my December giving a few days early. #RandomActsforMisha is a hashtag being used on Twitter for fans to help share their Random Acts during the month of December, to help motivate that holiday spirit in each other that seems to get sucked away by the crazy madhouse that is the "holi-daze" season.
My first random act isn't so random this time around since it's something I do every year anyway, but perhaps by writing about it/blogging it/Tweeting it, it'll spark an interest in someone else to do the same and that can also be a random act.
Today is Small Business Saturday. As soon as I'm done posting this, I am heading out to support local businesses and craftspeople with my money rather than spending it at the large corporation stores. Sure, it means thing might be a little more expensive, or I might have to make a few more stops to get what I need. But it also means that the money goes back into the economy through the spending by these small store owners, rather than sitting in a big bank account collecting dust. It means that my family and friends will receive gifts made by the hard working hands and imaginations of men and women crafting in their garages, their kitchens, or at the sewing machine after the kids have gone to bed. It means helping one more family stay in business instead of seeing one more empty storefront.
And after I've done my shopping, I'll head downtown for some lunch at a local restaurant, and a cupcake at the local sweets place (which was broken into on Thanksgiving Day...boo, Grinch, boo!) Not that I need an excuse to go get a cupcake...
From replacement bulbs for your tree to gift wrap for under the tree, consider supporting your local businesses this year. They need us!
My first random act isn't so random this time around since it's something I do every year anyway, but perhaps by writing about it/blogging it/Tweeting it, it'll spark an interest in someone else to do the same and that can also be a random act.
Today is Small Business Saturday. As soon as I'm done posting this, I am heading out to support local businesses and craftspeople with my money rather than spending it at the large corporation stores. Sure, it means thing might be a little more expensive, or I might have to make a few more stops to get what I need. But it also means that the money goes back into the economy through the spending by these small store owners, rather than sitting in a big bank account collecting dust. It means that my family and friends will receive gifts made by the hard working hands and imaginations of men and women crafting in their garages, their kitchens, or at the sewing machine after the kids have gone to bed. It means helping one more family stay in business instead of seeing one more empty storefront.
And after I've done my shopping, I'll head downtown for some lunch at a local restaurant, and a cupcake at the local sweets place (which was broken into on Thanksgiving Day...boo, Grinch, boo!) Not that I need an excuse to go get a cupcake...
From replacement bulbs for your tree to gift wrap for under the tree, consider supporting your local businesses this year. They need us!
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
GISHWHES 2012: The Aftermath
Even before the submission deadline loomed, I knew that I was going to blog about the experience, that I'd want to share the accomplishments and frustrations that came from participating in GISHWHES. Now that the time has come, though, I find myself somewhat at a loss for words. Not entirely, of course, but I find that, nearly 12 hours after the final submissions and closure of the challenge, there is a feeling inside that I can't fully articulate. It's composed of elements of wonder and sadness, exhilaration and awareness, and some other things that I can't name, I can only feel. I can tell already that blogging will never come anywhere near to living; it's a pale reflection of the experience.
So why blog about this here on my December giving related blogspace? While it's not related to my annual December giving, it is connected to my choice for this year's December focus so here we are.
For those who haven't been in the loop on this weird artsy charitable thing, GISHWHES is an acronym for (the) Greatest International Scavenger Hunt (the) World Has Ever Seen. Hosted by actor Misha Collins and a tribe of minions representing his non-profit, TheRandomAct.org, GISHWHES is not a typical scavenger hunt where teams run down a list and find miscellaneous items. Instead, it takes that basic concept and then flambes it on the backyard barbecue. GISHWHES is about imagination, breaking routine, creating random out of ordinary, letting go of regimentation and trying to make yourself and those around you see something different in their day.
We've been asked not to share our entries until scoring and a winner has been determined, though many teams seem to already be doing so on their blogs and across social media platforms. My team doesn't want to risk being deducted points for sharing before we're supposed to, so I'll save those revelations for a second post once the contest is officially called. In the meantime, though, on the "day after", I'm feeling a bit bereft and decided that doing a write-up of some thoughts and experiences will help the separation anxiety, provide some information for the curious, perhaps resonate with others who participated and who are feeling a little lost on this first day without GISHWHES. And also, it's helping to keep me awake at my desk so that I can get through this workday because my brain is at a level of tired it hasn't experienced in years.
I first heard about GISHWHES in early September, when someone posted about it in a local online forum. She was soliciting members for her team, and after reading about it (and despite being an introvert by nature and nervous because I had no idea who this girl was), I sent her a note asking how I can join up. I love games and puzzles and crafting, and I can be competitive with those kinds of things. Plus, the prize was a trip to stay in a haunted castle in Scotland, which is also entirely up my alley. The girl never responded but I wanted to play badly enough that I decided to register anyway; I signed up as an individual participant. A sliding scale registration fee funds the prize, with the remainder going to projects sponsored by TheRandomAct.org, and while participants had the option of finding and registering as a team of 15, teams absent members were to be combined and then filled in with the individual registrants so that, when the list was released and the game began, all teams would have 15 members. I was really worried about this. What if I got put into a team that had, say, 12 members that all knew each other already? Would I feel alienated, excluded? Would they think I, at age 38, am too old to do anything helpful when so many of the people who had been talking about it were in their teens and twenties? My desire to participate was greater than my fear, but I was still concerned. It brought up a lot of schoolyard feelings.
I was really lucky, though. The team I was added to was a small one, three gals from Sweden who dubbed themselves Teenage Superhero Werewolf Marble Hunters in an attempt to squeeze in nods to all their various fandom participation and who called themselves TSWMH to make things a bit easier. I found myself mentally referring to us as "Team Marble" for the rest of the competition. Along with these three ladies, we were joined by other individual participants: two from Australia, one from India, four more from the United States (including a later substitution to replace someone who had mistakenly been placed on two different teams), one from Finland, two from the United Kingdom, and one from France who remained forever unknown to us. She never replied to any of our messages, so we're not sure what happened. We hope she's ok. But the 13 of us (and eventually 14 when the replacement was established), along with a few unregistered but willing minions, quickly formed a private Facebook group, chattered about skills and connections that we might have that would be useful for the as-yet-unknown list, and hovered expectantly around the GISHWHES log in page, waiting for the countdown clock to reach zero.
What happened when it did, up until this morning, is a bit of a blur. A mad rush of excitement and crushing disappointment and pats on the back and virtual high fives and weird mistakes and funny looks and global laughs and the experience of cementing 13 friendships with people I most likely would never have had an opportunity to meet otherwise. Every one of them younger than me. And none of them making me feel, even once, that I wasn't where I was meant to be.
So what have I gained from this experience? What have I learned? Again, I'm not sure I could articulate everything, but perhaps a short list is a start:
* Not having someone participating with me locally was a bit of a challenge, especially given that most of my local friends who would be able to help were away for the weekend at another event. However, having a team with members all over the world was a HUGE plus; people were working on things 24 hours a day and had access to all kinds of connections.
* The importance of having team members who are really invested in getting things accomplished cannot be undervalued.
* There's only so long one can go with limited sleep and food before crashing, so it's probably a good thing that GISHWHES as an event is only for a certain time frame. However, GISHWHES as an experience lingers even when the dash is over. I feel internally changed.
* It's not just about finding what you're passionate about. It's about investing passion into what you find.
As the adrenaline is fading, my quiet self finds that I'm actually looking forward to returning to a bit of normal this afternoon. I'll begin working on the house chores that were completely neglected during this past week, tidying up that place we call a sanctuary from the world. I'll return to my nighttime habit of reading an hour or so before bed, and writing/blogging book reviews. I'll finally have a real dinner, one I make instead of buy ready-made or cobble together from whatever I can eat raw and one-handed from the fridge (I'm thinking baked lemon-pepper chicken and some roasted potatoes and zucchini in garlic and herbs). I'll probably settle in on the couch with my kitties who have been putting up with my crazy for a week; maybe we'll turn on the news and watch a bit of the election results come in as I slowly tune myself back into reality.
But within my quiet self, creativity has been rekindled. It was never a fire that fizzled entirely, but over the years of routine and taking care of "the business at hand", it became one of those things occasionally tapped into but mostly relegated into that "someday" pile that seems to do nothing but collect dust as time passes. So tonight, while I'm snuggling with the kitties and watching normal TV in my normal living room, I suspect that keeping me company will be the coloring book and colored pencils I pull off the dusty bookshelf. And I think some gardening is in order this weekend. And perhaps, just perhaps, I'll bedazzle a flowerpot or two while I'm out there.
A lot can change in a year's passing; it's not known yet if there will be a GISHWHES 2013, and who knows what life circumstances may come along between now and then? But if you've seen all this discussion about this thing called GISHWHES and wondered, if you've heard people talking and find yourself wanting to do it yourself, don't wait for an official event: make something, bake something, take something to someone who needs it more than you. Offer to help a neighbor instead of waiting to be asked. Approach the inevitable with more patience. Give yourself permission to blur the lines between childhood and adulthood. Better yet, contribute to exploding the myth that being a grown-up requires that you become boring and/or a lemming. The world, the people in it, and the possibilities are so much more, so much larger, than any one person can explain.
And if you find yourself bubbling internally with the thought of participating in the actual scavenger hunt come 2013, start opening your eyes and your brain to the universe around you now, take it all in, let the anticipation grow. When registration time returns, Team Marble may have a slot or two available.
Coming Soon: The visual evidence that is the Team TSWMH - GISHWHES 2012 experience.
So why blog about this here on my December giving related blogspace? While it's not related to my annual December giving, it is connected to my choice for this year's December focus so here we are.
For those who haven't been in the loop on this weird artsy charitable thing, GISHWHES is an acronym for (the) Greatest International Scavenger Hunt (the) World Has Ever Seen. Hosted by actor Misha Collins and a tribe of minions representing his non-profit, TheRandomAct.org, GISHWHES is not a typical scavenger hunt where teams run down a list and find miscellaneous items. Instead, it takes that basic concept and then flambes it on the backyard barbecue. GISHWHES is about imagination, breaking routine, creating random out of ordinary, letting go of regimentation and trying to make yourself and those around you see something different in their day.
We've been asked not to share our entries until scoring and a winner has been determined, though many teams seem to already be doing so on their blogs and across social media platforms. My team doesn't want to risk being deducted points for sharing before we're supposed to, so I'll save those revelations for a second post once the contest is officially called. In the meantime, though, on the "day after", I'm feeling a bit bereft and decided that doing a write-up of some thoughts and experiences will help the separation anxiety, provide some information for the curious, perhaps resonate with others who participated and who are feeling a little lost on this first day without GISHWHES. And also, it's helping to keep me awake at my desk so that I can get through this workday because my brain is at a level of tired it hasn't experienced in years.
I first heard about GISHWHES in early September, when someone posted about it in a local online forum. She was soliciting members for her team, and after reading about it (and despite being an introvert by nature and nervous because I had no idea who this girl was), I sent her a note asking how I can join up. I love games and puzzles and crafting, and I can be competitive with those kinds of things. Plus, the prize was a trip to stay in a haunted castle in Scotland, which is also entirely up my alley. The girl never responded but I wanted to play badly enough that I decided to register anyway; I signed up as an individual participant. A sliding scale registration fee funds the prize, with the remainder going to projects sponsored by TheRandomAct.org, and while participants had the option of finding and registering as a team of 15, teams absent members were to be combined and then filled in with the individual registrants so that, when the list was released and the game began, all teams would have 15 members. I was really worried about this. What if I got put into a team that had, say, 12 members that all knew each other already? Would I feel alienated, excluded? Would they think I, at age 38, am too old to do anything helpful when so many of the people who had been talking about it were in their teens and twenties? My desire to participate was greater than my fear, but I was still concerned. It brought up a lot of schoolyard feelings.
I was really lucky, though. The team I was added to was a small one, three gals from Sweden who dubbed themselves Teenage Superhero Werewolf Marble Hunters in an attempt to squeeze in nods to all their various fandom participation and who called themselves TSWMH to make things a bit easier. I found myself mentally referring to us as "Team Marble" for the rest of the competition. Along with these three ladies, we were joined by other individual participants: two from Australia, one from India, four more from the United States (including a later substitution to replace someone who had mistakenly been placed on two different teams), one from Finland, two from the United Kingdom, and one from France who remained forever unknown to us. She never replied to any of our messages, so we're not sure what happened. We hope she's ok. But the 13 of us (and eventually 14 when the replacement was established), along with a few unregistered but willing minions, quickly formed a private Facebook group, chattered about skills and connections that we might have that would be useful for the as-yet-unknown list, and hovered expectantly around the GISHWHES log in page, waiting for the countdown clock to reach zero.
What happened when it did, up until this morning, is a bit of a blur. A mad rush of excitement and crushing disappointment and pats on the back and virtual high fives and weird mistakes and funny looks and global laughs and the experience of cementing 13 friendships with people I most likely would never have had an opportunity to meet otherwise. Every one of them younger than me. And none of them making me feel, even once, that I wasn't where I was meant to be.
So what have I gained from this experience? What have I learned? Again, I'm not sure I could articulate everything, but perhaps a short list is a start:
* Not having someone participating with me locally was a bit of a challenge, especially given that most of my local friends who would be able to help were away for the weekend at another event. However, having a team with members all over the world was a HUGE plus; people were working on things 24 hours a day and had access to all kinds of connections.
* The importance of having team members who are really invested in getting things accomplished cannot be undervalued.
* There's only so long one can go with limited sleep and food before crashing, so it's probably a good thing that GISHWHES as an event is only for a certain time frame. However, GISHWHES as an experience lingers even when the dash is over. I feel internally changed.
* It's not just about finding what you're passionate about. It's about investing passion into what you find.
As the adrenaline is fading, my quiet self finds that I'm actually looking forward to returning to a bit of normal this afternoon. I'll begin working on the house chores that were completely neglected during this past week, tidying up that place we call a sanctuary from the world. I'll return to my nighttime habit of reading an hour or so before bed, and writing/blogging book reviews. I'll finally have a real dinner, one I make instead of buy ready-made or cobble together from whatever I can eat raw and one-handed from the fridge (I'm thinking baked lemon-pepper chicken and some roasted potatoes and zucchini in garlic and herbs). I'll probably settle in on the couch with my kitties who have been putting up with my crazy for a week; maybe we'll turn on the news and watch a bit of the election results come in as I slowly tune myself back into reality.
But within my quiet self, creativity has been rekindled. It was never a fire that fizzled entirely, but over the years of routine and taking care of "the business at hand", it became one of those things occasionally tapped into but mostly relegated into that "someday" pile that seems to do nothing but collect dust as time passes. So tonight, while I'm snuggling with the kitties and watching normal TV in my normal living room, I suspect that keeping me company will be the coloring book and colored pencils I pull off the dusty bookshelf. And I think some gardening is in order this weekend. And perhaps, just perhaps, I'll bedazzle a flowerpot or two while I'm out there.
A lot can change in a year's passing; it's not known yet if there will be a GISHWHES 2013, and who knows what life circumstances may come along between now and then? But if you've seen all this discussion about this thing called GISHWHES and wondered, if you've heard people talking and find yourself wanting to do it yourself, don't wait for an official event: make something, bake something, take something to someone who needs it more than you. Offer to help a neighbor instead of waiting to be asked. Approach the inevitable with more patience. Give yourself permission to blur the lines between childhood and adulthood. Better yet, contribute to exploding the myth that being a grown-up requires that you become boring and/or a lemming. The world, the people in it, and the possibilities are so much more, so much larger, than any one person can explain.
And if you find yourself bubbling internally with the thought of participating in the actual scavenger hunt come 2013, start opening your eyes and your brain to the universe around you now, take it all in, let the anticipation grow. When registration time returns, Team Marble may have a slot or two available.
Coming Soon: The visual evidence that is the Team TSWMH - GISHWHES 2012 experience.
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
How it started
Ask most of my friends and family and they'd tell you that I've always had a "thing" for spontaneous giving: making things for people, leaving random, anonymous gifts behind, etc. It was partly this nature of mine that inspired a friend of mine to nominate me for a makeover and photography session, which I ended up winning. It was an awesome feeling to know that I inspired someone.
But in Dec 2010, actress Kellie Martin challenged the Twitterverse to join her in a month of Extreme Giving (#extremegiving), during which participants were to find one thing to do, every day, to take care of someone or something else. Had I been smarter back then, I might have started the blog already, but hindsight is always the smarter part of me.
At least I was able to go back and capture images of my Tweets during that month:
I really enjoyed the challenge of finding something every day to do, figuring out ahead of time what I could imagine next.
When Dec 2011 rolled around, I knew I wanted to do something like it but not exactly the same, and thus The Friendly Beasts project was launched (inspired by one of my favorite holiday carols!)
Now, Dec 2012 approaches and I'm challenged yet again. I'm taking the RAOK inspiration from author Erin McHugh and actor Misha Collins, but what can I do with it? Will it be too similar to the Extreme Giving challenge? Do I jot down ideas as they come to me and put them in a Kindness jar, and then draw them "randomly" come December? Do I follow Erin's steps and wait to see what each day brings, looking for opportunities that present themselves? What if the "only" thing that presents itself on a given day is opening the door for someone? Is that enough to count??
Oh the dilemma. At least I have time to think about it. How delightful is the imagining!
But in Dec 2010, actress Kellie Martin challenged the Twitterverse to join her in a month of Extreme Giving (#extremegiving), during which participants were to find one thing to do, every day, to take care of someone or something else. Had I been smarter back then, I might have started the blog already, but hindsight is always the smarter part of me.
At least I was able to go back and capture images of my Tweets during that month:
I really enjoyed the challenge of finding something every day to do, figuring out ahead of time what I could imagine next.
When Dec 2011 rolled around, I knew I wanted to do something like it but not exactly the same, and thus The Friendly Beasts project was launched (inspired by one of my favorite holiday carols!)
Now, Dec 2012 approaches and I'm challenged yet again. I'm taking the RAOK inspiration from author Erin McHugh and actor Misha Collins, but what can I do with it? Will it be too similar to the Extreme Giving challenge? Do I jot down ideas as they come to me and put them in a Kindness jar, and then draw them "randomly" come December? Do I follow Erin's steps and wait to see what each day brings, looking for opportunities that present themselves? What if the "only" thing that presents itself on a given day is opening the door for someone? Is that enough to count??
Oh the dilemma. At least I have time to think about it. How delightful is the imagining!
Friendly Beasts: The Post-2011 post
I had great ambitions to complete the full 31 days of blog posts about animal organizations, but sadly ended up very ill in early 2012. Just as I recovered myself, my mother passed unexpectedly. Life certainly has a way of intruding on life sometimes, doesn't it?
While I did not have the chance to finish off this 2011 project, I'm looking forward to doing something special again this December (it'll be my third in a row!), using this traditional month of love and generosity as an opportunity to share both with my community.
This year will be focused on RAOK (Random Acts of Kindness), borrowing pages from both Erin McHugh (author of One Good Deed and the website/blog by the same name) and Misha Collins, co-founder of TheRandomAct.org.
Stay tuned!
While I did not have the chance to finish off this 2011 project, I'm looking forward to doing something special again this December (it'll be my third in a row!), using this traditional month of love and generosity as an opportunity to share both with my community.
This year will be focused on RAOK (Random Acts of Kindness), borrowing pages from both Erin McHugh (author of One Good Deed and the website/blog by the same name) and Misha Collins, co-founder of TheRandomAct.org.
Stay tuned!
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