July 31, 2013 5K Run#fundraising

Fund Raising Run, New York

I have had a great deal of experience in organizing community events from skating shows to hockey tournaments and spaghetti dinners. So, when I was asked to help a grieving mother put together a 5K run in memory of her daughter who was recently killed while jogging, I knew that I needed to do this. I met with the woman and her daughter's friend for an hour and a half today discussing all the practical decisions that must be made- date, shirts, awards, PR, etc., and behind the entire conversation was the sorrow that a young woman was taken too soon from her family. I admire the determination of this mother to make sure that her daughter's memory will live on, both in the well-being of the husband and three children who survive, and in the playground that the collected funds will help build. This was the first of many meetings we will have to plan this event. I hope my organizational experience will make it a success for many years to come.

July 30, 2013 Pedestrians#Safety

Pedestrians, New Orleans

My goal today was to let pedestrians cross the street safely. It seems a simple and courteous action to stop your car when people are waiting to cross the street or let them pass before turning into a parking lot. I must say that after my walk this afternoon, I thought I must be invisible. Few drivers stopped to allow me to cross in marked crosswalks and two drivers, both in big trucks, nearly hit me by turning in front of me. I survived; I didn't shout out them, but it furthered my resolve to pay more attention to those on foot. I took the time to let all the walkers, slow and fast, arrive safely at the other side of the street. Most of them smiled and waved, appreciating a driver who is willing to stop.I hope you will join my efforts in looking out for those who are walking.

July 29, 2013 A Story For The Birds

Louisiana

It was late in the afternoon when I went for a walk. I had a couple of books to give to a friend, so I threw them in a bag which also contained a bell shaped bird feeder that I had purchased a few weeks ago. I was stymied by the lack of opportunity for an act of kindness today. As I strolled down the street, I wondered if I would be able to complete an RAK. That uncertainty was soon gone when I came upon a woman,whom I had never seen before, in her front yard talking to a bird flying overhead. I noticed that she had an empty feeder in a tree. Deducing that she must enjoy watching birds, I approached her and asked if she would like another bird feeder. After I finally convinced her that I wanted to give it to her, not sell it, she happily took it, and we discussed where she might place it. She was very grateful with words of thanks and blessing me for this gift. I was simply amazed at the coincidence of the situation. What an unusual RAK for today!

July 28, 2013 Parents Day#Grateful

Mother and Daughter

Many may not know this, but today is Parents Day. It was signed into law in 1994 by President Clinton and has been celebrated since that time. So to all parents biological and adoptive I say Happy Parents Day! There is no other job quite like that of being a parent- exciting, worrisome, hectic, but most of all rewarding. I sent an e
card with a video to my mother today to thank her for all she has done for me. Don't forget to reach out to your parents to let them know you appreciate their presence in your lives. I bet that your message will brighten their day immensely.

July 27, 2013 Giving Them Wings

Be like the bird who, pausing in her flight awhile on boughs too slight, feels them give way beneath her, and yet sings, knowing she hath wings.
Victor Hugo

Plattsburgh, NY

The most rewarding part of working with children is that you are able to watch them mature and often become caring, honest, and open-minded individuals. One of my former students has recently been posting some very insightful comments about life and its challenges. She wrote " Learn how to overcome obstacles and better yourself. No one said life was easy, no one said it'd be perfect either." I admire the progress she is making into becoming a responsible adult who is respectful of others. I bought a journal last week and intended to give it to this young woman for her to capture these contemplative messages. I happened to see her mother this morning in front of the post office and ran to the car to get it. I think she will enjoy writing her thoughts in this beautiful book. We give children wings, so they may soar.

July 26, 2013 Carved Animals#carousel

The Adirondack Carousel

I visited a merry-go-round today; although, I prefer to call it a carousel. The French word seems to add a little panache to this timeless ride. This carousel is particularly unique because all the hand carved animal are ones found in the Adirondack Park and furthermore, they are decorated with items found there. Also, a ladybug can be found somewhere on each one. From turtle to red squirrel to porcupine and moose, it is a veritable rotating forest . The cost is minimal and I paid two admissions forward. What great entertainment for young and old alike. Yes, I did go for a ride; I chose the brook trout!

RAK#rejection

Empty Chairs in the Adirondacks

I am disappointed to admit that my acts of kindness did not go well today. I was in a tourist town, so perhaps visitors to an area are less receptive to gestures of goodwill. First, I offered to help a woman who was struggling to carry her kayak up an incline. She smiled and said no. Next, I saw a young mother holding an infant and trying to push her older child on the swing, so I asked if I could help by pushing the swing. She politely replied no. Finally, I witnessed a bicyclist descending the hill when the tire popped. He worked on replacing it for at least twenty minutes without success. I walked over to ask if he wanted to wait on our porch until his friend arrived, but he said no. I guess there are days when actions of kindness are rejected. The desire was certainly there, and a willing hand was offered, but, alas, the intended recipients declined.

July 24, 2013 Stocking the Library

Assorted Books

The Little Free Library in front of my house has had a number of visitors already. Several books have been borrowed and others donated to the collection. I can see that there is a need for a wide variety of reading levels as well as subjects, so today I went to the local used book store. For a lover of books, walking into this shop is like allowing a child to run freely
 in a candy store. The odor of musty pages and old print combined with shelf after shelf of faded paperbacks next to rows of dusty hardcovers brought a smile to my face. Where to start? Imagine trying to select books for people that you don't know. After perusing the stacks for an hour, I finally purchased several. I hope I chose well and my neighbors will appreciate my collection. Happy Reading!

July 23,2013 Apron#Gift

A Unique Apron Sewn with Care

An apron is an unlikely graduation gift, I suppose, especially for an eighteen year old who is headed off to college. I usually offer monetary gifts because I know how costly this next phase will be. But, today I made an apron to give to a special young woman who is a baker extraordinaire and an experienced barista. I think she appreciated it, and I am positive she loved the color. However, if this practical article of clothing is put away for a number of years, at some future point she will pull it out and remember the teacher who stitched it together.

July 22, 2013 Post Cards

Lake Champlain

I was anticipating a kayak outing this morning as I stopped by a nearby store to pick up a couple items. The carousel of postcards drew my attention. Do people still send these old-fashioned glossy images with scarcely enough room for a brief message, I wondered. I suppose a photo message sent via a smart phone is more common, but there is excitement in receiving mail that has traveled from one place to another and been delivered by a real human. I bought four of those quaint cards depicting my neck of the woods, put stamps on them, and decided to distribute them today. One went to my kayak buddy, a dear friend, who makes me smile. I gave the second one to a friend in the grocery store and got a hug in return. The third card was placed under the wiper of a car from Iowa, and the last one, I handed to a couple from Colorado. They all seemed enthusiastic about choosing a friend to write to. I bet the recipients will think our region is lovely. What a gorgeous view we had of the lake and the distant mountains from our kayaks. Sometimes one doesn't have to travel far to find beauty.

July 21, 2013 RAK of Books#LittleFreeLibrary

Our Little Free Library

After weeks of construction and painting, our sidewalk library is completed! Resembling an old fashioned school house, this box stands proudly next to the sidewalk filled with books for all ages. The idea is to offer passers by  an opportunity to borrow a book or contribute a book for someone else to enjoy. In the spirit of promoting reading and sharing this love with my community, I look forward to watching people stop to check out the collection. The Little Free Library organization has great information on their website if you are interesting in becoming a steward in your neighborhood. If you live near me, please come borrow a book!

July 20, 2013 Father and Son

Father and Sons

I paid it forward this morning when I went to the local coffee shop for a cup of special brew that only this café can prepare. I left a few dollars with the employee requesting that it go for the next breakfast order. A man and his son soon approached the counter, and I believe they were the recipients of my RAK. There is something so endearing about a father and his young boy going out for an early treat. As they were leaving, the man said hello, as everyone does in this friendly establishment, and the boy smiled at me shyly. It made my day, and I hope I brightened theirs as well.

July 18 -19, 2013 Heroes#NelsonMandela

A good head and a good heart are always a formidable combination.
Nelson Mandela

Child, Africa

Nelson Mandela is a living hero. After spending twenty-seven years imprisoned unjustly, upon his release he sought to lead South Africa into a multiracial country with a strong economy. His perseverance and leadership are unparalleled. He is a role model for integrity and justice for every human on this planet. Yesterday was his 95th birthday, and I posted two Mandela quotes citing his belief in the power of education and intelligence with compassion for my Facebook friends. Today I made a small donation to the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund USA which is planning on building a children's hospital in South Africa. Currently there are only four pediatric hospitals in Africa. Mandela's vision is that this facility will serve all children regardless of race or ability to pay. I think we owe it to Madiba to support his dream and legacy.

July 17,2013 Parking Meters#Change

The parking meters in the little Olympic village of Lake Placid are confusing, and to make matters worse they usually do not take bills.I came upon a small group of people trying to decipher the instructions with the glare of the sun on the screen making it nearly impossible to read the tiny letters. The first man was successful, but the next young couple was stuck because they had no coins. My pocket was filled with quarters for the meter,so I gave half of the change to them. Coincidentally, as we were making small talk about where we lived, they informed me that they reside in the village five miles to the west of mine, and attended the school where I taught. They wanted to pay me in dollars for my change, but I refused saying "have a great stay in Lake Placid". It is nice to be in the right place at the right time to make a visitor feel welcome.

July 16, 2013 Hot Summer Day#Pizza

It was another hot, humid day, and the thought of cooking was unpalatable. Appetites are suppressed by the heat; no one wants to spent time in the kitchen near a stove, and even the idea of grilling is not appealing. The closest restaurant to us is a pizza joint owned and run by a local family. The decision to order this take-out meal was made easily. A former student was working when I arrived to pick up my pizza, and it was pleasant to chat for a few minutes. He had a quizzical look on his face when I ask him if he had another order waiting to be picked up. Yes, there was a pizza ready for a hungry family, so I broke a large bill, paid for our food, left some to help pay for the order of the man who was arriving imminently, and put the rest in the tip jar. As I climbed in my van, I could hear the employee explaining that a portion of the bill had been paid by a stranger. Double RAK this evening- sweet.

July 15, 2013 The Local Priest

Church, Massachusetts

Religion is such a personal affair. It can bring joy and solace or cause anger and misunderstanding when beliefs conflict. Most of the inhabitants of this area are of the same faith. They attend the church down the street from me, hold dinners, host the annual parade and festival, as well as raise money for many local causes. Although this religion is not the one I was raised in, they have welcomed us into the community without pressure to convert to this faith. Last week their beloved priest passed away after a long illness. I had interacted with him several times, and always found him to be friendly, hospitable, and genuine. His loss will leave a hole for many. I contributed to a collection in his memory today to help pay for some of his expenses. Father will be missed, but the community will slowly heal and carry on his spirit of helping others.

July 12-14, 2013 Camping#TechnologyFree

Ice Cream Van at Campsite

Going camping certainly requires a fair amount of organization to make sure one has everything that is needed-food, gear, clothes, toys, more food, etc., etc.. But, it is also unusual in today's world for what you don't take- cellphones, I Pads, or any other device needing Wi-Fi or cell service. Never fear, there is plenty to keep you busy, and it is refreshing to relax without being constantly on call for some invisible signal to descend upon you causing distractions. Camping pulls people who love nature and activity together. It is rewarding to spread some acts of kindness among such easygoing individuals, for helping others is second nature to them, and they appreciate any gesture of goodwill. I was fortunate to spend the past three days with a lively, funny, caring family who have welcomed us as true members of their brood. I brought them a pan of my special brownies which aren't really a secret recipe, but they were devoured in about twenty minutes. The following day, I waylaid the ice cream lady in her van and prepaid for all the youngsters to have a frozen treat. Today as we were driving home in our slow, but steady 1984 VW camper van, I pulled over for many cars to pass us. They were in a hurry; we were not. One is never in a rush to get back to the hustle and bustle of the modern world after days in the quiet woods beside a mountain lake.

July 11, 2013 Four Legged Friends

Soleil

Acts of kindness should not be limited to humans; our four legged companions are nearly always deserving of benevolence. Regardless of the weather, the stock market, the petty drama, and all the other issues that people can complain about, our pets are at the door wiggling wildly and overjoyed to welcome our arrival. I look forward every day to the greeting our two dogs give us. Our younger golden retriever has been out of sorts recently. We have been gone frequently, but the major problem is that her older "sister" is in failing health. They can no longer romp in the yard, and, in fact, the older one can barely walk. My act of kindness today was centered on this beautiful, spontaneous six year old golden. We played ball next to the house, went for a long walk, and finished by devouring a treat - dog biscuit for her and cookie for me. Meanwhile, the old golden is content to have me sit next to her on the floor and gently rub her head. The unconditional love from a dog is powerful.

July 10, 2013 American Flag#Respect

You're a grand old flag,
You're a high flying flag
And forever in peace may you wave.
~George M. Cohan

Early American Flag  Cambridge,MA

A friend and I took a walk today near the shoreline of beautiful Lake Champlain. It was a humid morning with a strong breeze which kept us cool as we chatted about all kinds of things as we always love to do. Something colorful caught my eye in the grass in front of one of the houses. It was an American flag which upon further inspection was attached to a broken pole. No one was home, but it seemed important to remove it from the ground. I placed it carefully on the porch where it would be safe until the residents returned. They will be happy that it wasn't blown across the street in to the lake, I'm sure.

July 9, 2013 Friendly Receptionist#Recognition

Restaurant Chef, New York City

I have much admiration for individuals who work in offices where many of the clients are people with varying degrees of disabilities. It must be difficult to see these people month after month struggle with many daily functions. The health care center I visited today has a receptionist who is professional, personable, and compassionate. She puts the patients at ease with a smile and a quick joke as she checks them in and completes their paperwork. I noticed the office had a form that could be completed recognizing employees who deserve to be applauded for their demeanor and work. I took the time to write a description of this woman and how she makes me feel less stressed about being there. I placed it in the box hoping that she will enjoy the kudos. It only takes a minute to let a manager or a store owner know what a great job their employees are doing, but it can make a huge difference in how these workers feel about their positions.

July 8, 2013 Mowing the Lawn

The Challenge of Mowing with Young Children

As much as one looks forward to leaf covered trees, blooming flowers, and bright green grass when  summer arrives, with that renaissance of nature comes hours of yard work. Many people enjoy time passed removing weeds, planting gardens, and mowing the lawn. For others, however, these tasks are pure drudgery due to time constraints or simply a lack of interest. Lawn care services are expensive, so most of us do what we can to keep up with the daily demands of a yard especially during a rainy period when the grass seems to grow an inch a minute! My neighbors have young children which renders it particularly difficult to mow the lawn. If the youngsters are awake, it is dangerous to operate a machine near them, and if they are napping, the lawn mower is noisy which may wake them. Today, I took some time to mow part of their yard. I am sure they will be appreciative of this gesture. I remember those days when mowing was a job that I found difficult to accomplish.

July 5 - 7, 2013 Road Trip#Boston

National Historic Park, Longfellow's House, Cambridge

Some trips simply fall into place as one combines responsibilities with pleasure. It is important to remember that acts of kindness should not always be directed toward strangers, but must also include those dear to us - family and friends. The past few days involved an excursion to bring furniture to our son and his friend. The humidity was high and the temperature in the nineties, but we arrived safely, unloaded the U Haul, and lugged it in to the building. Their gratitude was apparent. The random acts of kindness were also appreciated. The toll on the interstate was paid for the driver behind us much to the surprise of the collector. We visited two National Historic Parks in the Boston area and left additional donations for their upkeep. I had a wonderful conversation with our server one evening about the beautiful glasses she was wearing. And finally, on our trip home, we gave a couple of dollars to a man who was down on his luck. I will return for more RAKs in the friendly city of Boston.

July 4, 2013 RAK on Independence Day

Vermont

It seemed like a great idea to attend the parade taking place this afternoon in the city to south. Celebrating the birth of the United States would be a wonderful experience to share with fellow citizens even if the weather was questionable. It was raining when I departed, but I knew I would drive out of it, which I did. As I parked in front of a house where a woman had arranged a small garage sale, it began to sprinkle, so I asked her if she wanted help moving her items to the porch. It took us about ten minutes to relocate the objects. I found an open spot on the parade route quickly, and then the rain began. I had brought an extra umbrella which I offered to a family nearby. They gave up waiting after twenty minutes, and I insisted they take the umbrella with them. Sheltering a lively three year old whom I had never met before under my umbrella, I visited with those around me while Mother Nature put on an electrical show in the sky above us. Despite my love of rain and with no parade in sight, I, too, decided to leave. It was a perfect opportunity for random acts of kindness, but difficult conditions for viewing a parade. Happy Fourth of July, everyone!

July 3, 2013 Pre Fourth of July Greetings#ecards

Colonial House, New York

Snail mail takes a bum rap for being slow and out of style. However, many of us continue to send notes of thanks or congratulations via the US Postal Service. I believe these messages are still appreciated; however, in keeping with technology, e cards have become popular and exceptionally creative with music and animation. Today I used a website which is called www.care2.com to transmit early Independence Day wishes to several of my friends and family members. The website is easy to navigate, the cards are free, and the articles  promoting green energy and social awareness are informative. I hope my recipients enjoyed their cards. I took pleasure in selecting them. Happy Early 4th of July!

July 2, 2013 Believe in Zero

Child, Tanzania

Today I took some time to better understand the plight of thousands of children around the world by studying the UNICEF website. This organization works in over 190 countries to fight for the survival of vulnerable children providing education, nutrition, immunizations, and water. I registered to be a UNICEF volunteer and plan to organize some events in my region as well as present classroom lessons to local students advocating for the well being of these youngsters. I also signed the Believe in Zero pledge which states that "even one preventable child death is too many." I encourage all of you to sign this pact, support these programs that will make a difference, and hug the little ones who dear to you. All children deserve a safe and healthy start to life.

July 1, 2013 Carts in the Parking Lot

Crowded Parking Lot, Worcester, MA

We have all been at that point when, after a long, tiring day, we wheel the shopping cart to our vehicle and then look for an convenient place to stash it. It can seem like such a long trek to push it back to the store  where it belongs. One might even feel a little guilty for not returning it, and after glancing around to see if anyone is watching,  just  wedge it between a couple of cars. Today I had to go to a shopping plaza with many of the major stores, and the parking lot looked like a cart graveyard; these rolling metal baskets had been abandoned in the shrubbery, on the sidewalks, among the cars, and in the driving lanes. I was walking by so many that I began to take them one by one back to their businesses. I imagine that I looked funny traipsing back and forth, but I sure got some exercise!