WTF..(ORTY???): My Bday Gift Request

40.  Hmmm…?  Since today is December, in just a few short weeks (though I swear I just celebrated 30) …here she is!

As cliches go, this should be some sort of a monumental milestone of a bday..  Yet..it really does not feel that way to me.  I have no ‘old age’ feeling or need to hit Vegas for some half-a**ed attempt at mid-life hurrah.  I am just really quite…content.
This past year has been a good one in that I am finally able to work in a profession I am really enjoying and can get out of bed feeling lucky to do what I do for a living.  I have both a ‘nice guy’ and a ‘nice house’ (don;t forget the awesome mutts and crazy family) and most of the other things folks seem to gravitate towards in seeking to be “happy.”
So in reflecting on what I may like from this ‘big’ bday forward I will first let you know how I  would rather not spend my bday:
 
 
 
*  I pray for no surprise parties (though certainly appreciated the one-and-onlyI have had a few years back..)
* I ask for no  ‘Lordy, Lordy!  Look Whose 40’ anything
* No black balloons, no ‘over the hill cards’ (by the way…why do people give those ANYWAY!?!)
* Def no cake like this:
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Or shirts like this:

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Instead, I ask for this:
the chance to deliver 40 ‘Random’ Acts of Kindness in the month of December
 
I can not recall exactly where I first saw this idea….but I loved it.  A woman decided to grant  Random Acts of Kindness for each year of her life.  (she did them all in 1 day but knowing ME (procrastinate much?)  and my crazy schedule…lets’ be real here:-)
So for the next 30 days I will be finding fun ways to randomly (or, perhaps, not-so-randomly…) grant acts of kindness in celebration of my 40 years on this planet.  I have some ideas (posted below) but would welcome any additional suggestions you may have to be posted  in the comments below.
And instead of any ‘tangible’ gifts…I am asking  the gift of others playing along too:-)   Even if its is one act of kindness..
–Do something to make someone else’s day a bit brighter and let me know what you did …jot it below…and make my ‘big’ 40 awesome!

 
So..Whose in???
Just a few Acts of Kindness I like the thought of:
 
Write a note of appreciation to your mailman
 
Write a thank you note to someone
 
Look for something around you that can be fixed up, picked up, or attended ie, put shopping carts up, pick up some trash laying around, pick up something that has fallen over
 
Write a note to management or someone themself who has treated you nice while doing their job (waiter, clerk, sales person…ect)
 
Put change in a row of vending machines
 
Leave a book you have already finished somewhere for someone else to read.
 
Drop off a toy or game at a hospital
 
Take some cake, chocolates, flowers etc. to the neighbors, or a senior citizen nearby
 
Write a thank-you note to a person from your past who has made a difference in your life.
 
Donate clothes to goodwill
 
Collect goods for a food bank.
 
Give a huge tip to someone when they least expect it.
 
 
Offer a couple of hours of baby-sitting to parents.
 
Give coffee to people on their way to work in the morning.
 
Renew an old friendship by sending a letter or small gift to someone you haven’t talked with in a long time.
 
Invite someone new over for dinner.
 
When your child does something annoying, let it go instead of correcting or lecturing
 
Do one of the chores your partner usually does
 
Buy something to make life nicer (a new pair of slippers,a body pillow, an audio CD, etc.)
 
More ideas here!
 

Comments

  1. Kari says:

    Inspirational & amazing!!! I hope you post your progress so we can follow along! Happy (early) Birthday!!!!

  2. Angie says:

    What a awesome way to celebrate life, and not just what’s left of it:) Cheers to your Birthday! You are an inspiration for us all:)

  3. Today I ran to Starbucks to celebrate the season with a caramel brulee latte’ and left behind 4 gift cards and asked the cashier to just pass them out to the next for 4 people. Let me say this…the woman is NEVER nice in all of the times I have been in there and she was so sweet and very excited to deliver the cards. Happy bday to me! This is so much fun….

  4. martina patrick says:

    Ok- so I have a bit of catching up to do!!!! Though I did bake again this weekend for the 2nd time in a month to benefit pediatric cancer research!!! I am trying to come up with something really clever after having that nice thing happen to me on friday! I have several fleece pullovers and a raincoat or two- do you want those? I made a HUGE donation to goodwill about a week ago but held the coats back since alot of people collect them this time of year!!! Let me know!!

  5. Lori says:

    Inspired by your bday wish, I left a very large tip for our sweet waiter at Vivace last night who had told us all about his wife and kids. Hope it made him smile!!

  6. Lisa says:

    I love what you’re doing! Idea: volunteer your time at homeless shelter or soup kitchen. Hunter and I have talked about doing that ourselves this Christmas season! Xoxo

  7. BlueSky says:

    You all are fabulous! Martina–just let us know how to coordinate with you on getting the coats. Wait until you see what I am up to for tomorrow:-) So fun!

  8. Allison says:

    This is a terrific idea! If/when I do something post-worthy, I’ll let you know. Otherwise, I’m going to just follow what you’re doing and be inspired!

  9. courtney says:

    I brought my neighbor’s paper to her doorstep for a few days in a row, thinking I had fulfilled my karmic obligation. However, Max has caught on to the idea and we now bring in Ms Geraldine’s paper every morning. Your pay-it-forward idea is now engrained in the next generation! ♥

  10. Caitlin O'Rourke says:

    I got one of your 40 cupcakes! Thank you! My boyfriend and I went in because I have a terrible craving for anything sweet all the time and we were plesantly surprised to get two! We ended up going back a couple days later too 😀

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