Kindness Challenge Day 3: Write 3 Thank-You Notes to 3 People You Appreciate

Saturday, November 3, 2012

"We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give."

Winston Churchill

Today's task can vary from writing 3 short thank-you notes to writing 3 long and detailed thank-you note's. Whatever applies for each person who you choose to give the thank you notes it's ok, though truthfully, the more heartfelt and sincere the thank-you note is, the better. ;) For a more detailed description on the 14-Day Kindness Challenge go directly to the website at PersonalExcellence.co

By the way, have you signed up for the 14-Days Kindness Challenge yet? If not then what are you waiting for? Register RIGHT NOW and join me and hundreds more in this wonderful journey of kindness before registrations close! Invite your friends and family members. Join NOW and become a kinder person today!

Update: Registrations for the 14-Day Kindness Challenge at PE have closed but you are still free to do the challenge at your own pace, any time. You can always share your results in the comments section in Basked in Sunshine. Thank you so much for reading my experience. I hope it will serve as an inspiration for you guys/gals in the near future. Let's make the world a kinder place - together. :)

Fill everyone in on who you picked, how you chose to express your appreciation, why and their responses when they received the thank-you notes (where applicable)

I decided to give thank-you notes to my dad, my mom and life coach Celestine Chua. It wasn't a requisite for today's task but I had an idea to add a special touch to my thank-you notes by doing something for each person that meant something for them, even if it was something small.

Dad:

 I decided to express my appreciation via e-mail because he works hard to make a living for us almost each day and because I am honored to have a dad with the same hobbies as me and who loves me.

Response: He almost cried and said he loved the e-mail and that it was really beautiful.

Special Touch: I watched some videos that he had wanted me to see for some days now and then we talked about it and exchanged ideas.

Mom:

I decided to express my appreciation via sending her a text message because I feel thankful for all the sacrifices she does for us.

Response: She was touched and called me sweet.

Special Touch:  I asked her “In what can I help you today?” and she said to  fold the clothes in my room and I did exactly that.

Celestine Chua:

I left her a note on the comments section of today's task because I feel appreciated for all the time she's put on her blog and how it's impacted my life.

Response: She replied and thanked me for it.

Special Touch: I shared one of her blog's Personal Excellence's articles to a friend of mine that could benefit from it.

Little brother:

I didn't write him a note because of the age but I did whisper into his ear 'Thank you for being my brother".

Response: He hugged me

 Special Touch: I let him borrow my chef hat and cooked brownies with him.

Older brother:

My older brother is very hard to reach so instead of giving him a thank-you note I decided to watch a show he had wanted me to watch for some days now, and just like my dad, I talked with him about it and exchanged ideas. I'm more than sure he was happy by the act.

 Lessons 

 My lesson today is that while I was the one doing the kind acts I realized that sometimes we take what people do for us for granted and don't realize the extra effort and special thoughts they go through to do kind acts towards us. What for them was maybe a random act from my part; in my eyes was an act of making their lives better even if it was for a split second. It's like the saying goes "It's the little things that matter the most".

Kindness Challenge Day 2: Give Up Your Seat To Someone

Friday, November 2, 2012

“Courtesy is as much a mark of a gentleman as courage.” - Theodore Roosevelt

Day 2 of the Kindness Challenge, the task is simple: Give up your seat to somebody else. If you can't realize the task for today (in the scenario that you don't find an opportunity to offer your sit to somebody else) then keep your eyes out for the following days till you are able to realize the assigned task. For a more detailed description go directly to the kindness challenge at Personal Excellence.co, leave a comment and share with the world how you accomplished your task today and if you haven't signed up for the 14-Day Kindness Challenge yet, then what are you waiting for? Register NOW! :)

Update: Registrations for the 14-Day Kindness Challenge at PE have closed but you are still free to do the challenge at your own pace, any time. You can always share your results in the comments section in Basked in Sunshine. Thank you so much for reading my experience. I hope it will serve as an inspiration for you guys/gals in the near future. Let's make the world a kinder place - together. :)

When I heard of today's task I was wondering how I'd get the opportunity to give up my seat to somebody else since I'm a skinny, short and 99% of the times surrounded by guys (most of my friends are guys) and in my culture it's considered rude for guys to not offer their seats to girls with my physical traits. Another situation that happened is that I didn't go to school today(though now I realize I should had) and well..where I am leading with this..is that even with this 'limitations'..I was surprised at how the universe did brought to me an opportunity in which I could give up my seat for somebody else and to get a hug from a close friend who I had wanted a hug from since yesterday.

A text from a friend:

 Yesterday, I had contacted a friend from another school to hang out (And to get a hug for the challenge as well haha). Well we agreed to meet up but he cancelled at the last minute because the weather got bad. He did go to school, contrary to me, and text me around 3 pm that he happened to be in my neighborhood. I thought "Wow! Even though the idea to contact him so we could hang out originated from wanting a hug for the challenge, it's wonderful how the universe works!"

I got dressed and we went to the park. At the park there were 2 swings. One of them was more comfortable than the other and I at first sat at the uncomfortable swing. At this point I had entirely forgotten about the challenge and the irony was that he offered his swing to me and I accepted since I totally forgot about the challenge! The irony..but the good thing is that I got 2 hugs, yay! :D

My point is that yesterday I was sad I did not got my hug from this friend (since he was in my priority list for hugs) and with this experience I realized that when you want something..somehow..the universe will bring it to you! :D It was really wonderful and we spent a great time together! :) It made me feel like I had finally finished the hugging task from day 1.

Who did I give up my seat to today? Where did I give up my seat? How did I feel when doing this act of kindness?

I wasn't able to give up my seat to anybody but, in the living room of my home, I was able give up the sofa I was in to my little brother who was napping in the same sofa as my older sister and this was causing her discomfort. I felt happy because I was able to allow my brother and sister to nap better. It felt great because I honestly thought I wouldn't be getting 2 hugs and less have a chance to offer my sofa (chair?) to somebody else when I hadn't even gone to school! (In which there are higher chances to get a chance like giving up my seat to somebody.)

Lessons

I learned that the universe is wonderful and very mysterious. I think it's wonderful how things just fall into place. With today I proved my personal theory that if it's meant to be, in time it will happen. It's a beautiful feeling and I love it. With all honesty, the kindness challenge is making a big difference in my life with just 2 days!! So what you waiting for? Join me and 770 780 790 800 810 more and COUNTING in the Kindness Challenge at Personal Excellence.co!! Invite your family and friends and be a kinder person today!! :)

Kindness Challenge Day 1: Give a Hug to Everyone You See!

Thursday, November 1, 2012

-"A silent hug means a thousand words to an unhappy heart." unknown author
- "Hugging closes the door to hate." Tony Davis

Day 1 of Kindness Challenge, the task is to hug, hug and hug!! Go, go, go! Hug your mom, hug your dad, hug your siblings, hug your neighbors, hug your friends, heck - hug your dog/cat! Now let me clarify. If you're the shy type - like me - and at the current moment are not comfortable to hugging others or have some form of belief against hugging then you can always just hug 3 people. There are 2 levels on this task.

Level 1: Hug 3 people

Level 2: Hug everybody you see

For this post I'll just share my experience on Day 1 and if you wish to read a detailed explanation on the day's task, go directly to Celestine Chua's post here at: Personal Excellence.co and leave comments directly at the Kindness Challenge and share with other participants as well! If you haven't signed up for the challenge - What are you waiting for? Go and sign up NOW! 730 770 780 790 800 810 participants and counting!


Registrations will close soon so NOW'S your only chance! Go, go, go!! Invite your friends and family members to join! Prepare for Thanksgiving and the New Year, be a part of this movement and be a kinder person today!! :)

Update: Registrations for the 14-Day Kindness Challenge at PE have closed but you are still free to do the challenge at your own pace, any time. You can always share your results in the comments section in Basked in Sunshine. Thank you so much for reading my experience. I hope it will serve as an inspiration for you guys/gals in the near future. Let's make the world a kinder place - together. :)

Who did I hug today and how did I feel when hugging them?

Me and the sweater I used for school! :)

I hugged 6 people and 2 dogs:

1) My mom - I felt like I was thanking her for all she does for me and my siblings.

2-3) My pregnant sister - I felt happy & nurturing towards her and the baby.

4) My little brother - I felt like a nurturing and loving big sister.

5) My dog 'Papi' - Happy, loving and playful.

6) My dog 'Michi' - Happy, loving and playful.

7) Friend at school - I felt comfortable and like hugging a teddy bear.

8) Friend at school - I felt like if I was leaving differences and problems aside and moving on.

To be honest, when I first heard of the first task I was bit shocked since I'm not a "hug person" - but even so - I found it very interesting. I used to be a person who did not like hugging due to a personal false belief that hugging was considered rude and something only people that are dating should do. I'm a person who as a child was raised in an environment in which men were portrayed as violent, sneaky or even liars (While it's not necessarily like that since I've long learned that there are tons of men in the world that are nice and loving). I lacked accurate belief on what romantic love was.

Nowadays, I don't consider hugging as something strictly reserved for couples in romantic relationships and am at peace with viewing it as an act that close friends do but I'm still long from being comfortable hugging strangers out of my own will - unless I'm asked to. -

What I've learned from Day 1:

Hugging isn't something to be afraid of. Hugs are the start of love,the start of friendship, the start of companionship, the spark of light that has permitted innumerable people to move on from a past grievance or wrong. I've been one of this people that has experienced her life change with a simple hug, and even though I expressed my slight feelings against hugging strangers (Due to my childhood beliefs), I would never exchange the hugs I've received in life for anything. A hug isn't just a hug - it can be but the start of many beautiful things in life. <3 :)

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