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Posts Tagged ‘kindness’

  1. A Year of Thanks

    December 30, 2013 by admin

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    Our latest project for the ThriftyRambler Kindness Project

    There are so many people in our lives that do the right by us:  they help when we are in need, they offer understanding in times of trouble, they make us laugh on a cloudy day.

    We thank a lot of these folks regularly and profusely.  But some of them have slipped through the cracks.  Maybe we were too young to understand the importance of a thank you.  Perhaps we were too wrapped up in our own problems to take the time.  Or maybe we only noticed their kindness and thoughtfulness in retrospect, long after they had drifted from our life.

    So our TR challenge for everyone in 2014 is to go back and thank the people from your past.  Begin each month with a Thank You to someone who at some point in your life deserved a simple, “thanks,” but never got it.

    You could offer this thanks up on Facebook or on Twitter.  You might send an email or a card.  Or post a note on a community bulletin board.  But find a way this year to thank 12 people who’ve given to you over the course of your life.

    See whose day you can brighten with an unexpected note of appreciation.


  2. Norad Tracks Santa?

    December 16, 2013 by admin

    norad-7Ever wonder why NORAD tracks Santa Claus?  The story involves a man who could have just told a bunch of kids that they called the wrong number back in 1955.  Instead, he decided to do a small thing to make them happy, and started a new tradition in the process.

    Colonel Harry Shoup was on duty December 24, 1955 when children started calling the CONAD Center in Colorado, asking to talk to Santa.  Why were kids calling a top secret command center on Christmas Eve?  Well, a local Sears store in Colorado Springs had placed an ad in the local newspaper telling kids they could call a particular number and talk to Santa himself.

    Instead, the children were connected to the pre-eminent command center for the United States military in the middle of the Cold War!  After a few confusing phone calls from little kids, Col. Shoup decided it wasn’t right to tell them that they had the wrong number.  With the most sophisticated tracking system of the day at his disposal, he ordered his soldiers to use the vast array of radar stations available to track Santa’s progress, and relay that info to the kids who called.

    The next year, CONAD offered the same type of information to kids calling in, and soon enough a tradition was established.  When CONAD was reconfigured into NORAD, the operation went on as before with regular reports of Santa’s activities across North America.

    The tradition grew from phone calls, to radio broadcasts, to an internet website.  So if you remember hearing of Santa’s progress on the radio or TV news, or if your kiddoes check the web on December 24th to see how he’s doing, you have Colonel Harry Shoup to thank for it.  So thank you Col. Shoup, a true Christmas hero.  Your decision that night in 1955 helps make the holidays all the more real and special for millions of kids around the world.shoup_image334-300x179

     


  3. Perspective

    November 3, 2013 by admin

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    Yes, we’re a month out from Thanksgiving.  But you don’t need a traditional holiday to take a moment to sit back and reflect on why you are grateful for the life that you live.

    If we’re honest, we can probably all say that we have dreams we know won’t actualize, places we long to visit, time we wished we had more of, disappointments that still taste bitter.

    That is life.  Please don’t linger in the muck or judge yourself by your worst moments.  There is so much in the simple day-to-day that is worth celebrating.

    Here are some teensy and some huge things for which we are grateful:

    • Coffee – The smell!  And knowing that warm mug will soon be craddled in your hands.
    • Children’s laughter – It is contagious, true, and pure.
    • Frozen pizza – Seriously!  It is cheap and indulgent.
    • A paycheck – Sure, we live paycheck to paycheck.  But with a tight budget, we have just enough money to support our family.
    • A home – ‘Nough said.  Many don’t have a place to settle.
    • Playgrounds – Free access to fun, exercise, and the outdoors.
    • Libraries – Free access to education and fun.
    • Gardens – Cheap way to feed your family and support farm-to-table.
    • Love – Right?  It makes the world go ‘round.
    • Music – Inspiring, often free, and entirely enjoyable.
    • Critters – Unconditional love and mostly entertaining.
    • Health – Not to ever be taken for granted!

     

    Taking a moment to remember these things, no matter how minor they might be, helps us to focus on life worth living!  And to acknowledge that we are indeed, very lucky to be here.


  4. The Kindness Project #4: Share The Bounty

    August 14, 2013 by admin

    IMG_1453We are happy to report that our garden is quite successful this season.  We have an abundance of tomatoes and a good crop of hot peppers.  Our melons, cukes, and squash are finally starting to spill out over our garden trellis.  We are harvesting more than we can eat.

    We have plans to dive into canning in 2014.  But for this current crop, we have to come up with an action plan so that our pickings don’t go to waste.IMG_1293

    As TR Mom recently pulled into the garage after work, she noticed one set of neighbors playing with their young kids in their front yard.  And it all suddenly became clear for this TR Household.

    We stuffed two paper lunch bags with our excess produce and walked it over to the neighbors.  It was a lovely icebreaker that helped move us beyond the friendly nod of our typical encounters.

    As this growing season continues to provide, we’ll knock on neighborhood doors to meet who we can and to deliver fresh produce for all to enjoy.

    Perhaps we’ll see you?


  5. The Kindness Project #3: Every Little Bit Counts

    June 3, 2013 by admin

    The power of Kindness is immense and hard to stop.  And why would you want to stop it?  Being thoughtful of others should be the goal of all humans everywhere.  Once you start taking the time to reflect on how you can help your fellow human beings (and animals), the opportunities appear all over the place.

    For instance: the penny bowl.IMG_2060

    We admit that we didn’t give much thought to the penny bowl until we started focusing towards Kindness.   Now it has become a regular, instinctive act of kindness for the TR  family.

    Bluey and TR Dad regularly bicycle to a local small grocer, Jenifer Street Market.  Its distance from our house makes it a great destination for us.   When we arrive, Bluey usually gets a small candy treat.   It costs less than a dollar, so there’s always a little bit of change.

    This grocer is on the walk home for many students at the middle school a few blocks away, so many of them stop in to pick up an afterschool treat.  A casual comment from the cashier helped TR Dad put two-and-two together.  Some students from the school can’t always afford a 25¢ candy.  But if there’s enough spare change in the Market’s penny bowl, the cashier will let them use it for a purchase.  So now TR Dad puts our change into the bowl each time he shops there.

    It’s a simple way to make a kid happy.  You’ll probably never get to see them smile about it, but you will know that you have helped someone out in a small, simple way.  Next time you see the penny bowl- be a giver.  You just might make someone’s day a little brighter.


  6. Breathe

    May 12, 2013 by admin

    IMG_1818One Spring evening, our entire family decided to take a walk down to a local café, Victory.  TR Mom and Dad were well aware that bedtimes were quickly approaching.  But you have to know when to bend the rules.

    Victory is Plum’s favorite spot to pick up a small treat with her own spending money.  Bluey triked, Plum scootered, and TR Mom and Dad walked with our pup, Molly.

    As we made our way, Plum offered to treat her brother, Bluey, to something from the café.  He readily accepted, while thanking Plum over and over again.  The crisp Spring air was encouraging much love and generosity between these siblings!

    Snacks in hand, we randomly decided to take a different route home.  When we were ½ way down the block from the café, TR Dad spotted an elderly woman struggling on her front steps with her trash and recyclables.  TR Dad was quick to her rescue!  We chatted briefly with this new friend before Bluey discovered that he had lost a little accent item from his trike.

    Bluey was upset, so we decided to retrace our steps and soon found the toy!  As we continued toward home, Bluey and Plum paused to sample each other’s tasty treats from Victory.  TR Mom and Dad loved the displays of sibling friendship during this walk, as it doesn’t surface every day.

    All of a sudden, we spotted a well dressed man, sporting a pirate hat, walking toward us.  As he approached, we gave an “Aaargh” greeting, which this stranger happily returned with his own throaty, “Aaargh!”  Then TR Dad saw our dear squirrel friend, Stumpy, scurry up a tree.  We hadn’t seen Stumpy since last Spring !  And yes, we’re certain it is Stumpy as he is incredibly easy to identify, what with the missing tail.

    A simple Spring walk strengthened our family bond, allowed us to spread some TR Kindness, provided us a comical encounter with a pirate, and afforded us some exercise in the fresh air.  We would have missed out on all of these great experiences if we had just stayed indoors.  And we didn’t have to spend any money.

    Get outside!


  7. Kindness Project #2

    May 10, 2013 by admin

    Our latest activity for the ThriftyRambler Kindness Project

    We are happy to report that Kindness is taking off in our home.  Our kiddoes are actively thinking about new ways to spread kindness in the neighborhood.  We find it truly contagious to be kind.  Our family is increasingly aware of all the little opportunities to help people out.  Whether it is carrying a bag for someone, or holding the door, the more you default to helping people, the more you see the many opportunities in your day-to-day.IMG_0144

    For our second experience participating in the Kindness Project, we wanted to focus on other members of our community– dogs.  We love animals and we are fortunate to live in a neighborhood filled with critters.  We wanted to thank our little four-legged neighbors for being so cute, and so helpful, and so doggish.

    IMG_0142We purchased an economy-sized box of medium dog biscuits.  We loaded them into our handy paper sacks, tagged them with our TR Kindness cards, and set out to distribute them to the neighbors.

    We enjoyed this chance to let our neighbors know that they live in a community that appreciates them and their pets.  We wanted to wish them a great day, in our own way.

    So once again, we encourage you to find an opportunity to spread kindness and happiness in your part of the world.


  8. Kindness Project #1

    April 5, 2013 by admin

    IMG_0072We are so very excited to officially commence the ThriftyRambler Kindness Project and to share with you, the first of our sure-to-be numerous experiences!

    This particular effort was spearheaded by TR Dad and Bluey.  They picked up a large bag of birdseed at our local Menards and some brown paper lunch sacks from our favorite Hyvee#1IMG_0065Then, TR Dad and Bluey portioned out birdseed into each sack and affixed the top with our TR Kindness Project calling card.IMG_0076

    TR Dad and Bluey walked through our neighborhood, on the hunt for homes that had noticeable birdfeeders.  TR Dad allowed Bluey to select the houses that received a bag of birdseed, and they dropped them off on a front step or open porch.

    Hopefully, the homeowner or renter will be thrilled to discover TR’s little gesture of kindness.  And perhaps they will be inspired to join us for IMG_0069this journey!

    Our kiddoes are already talking about future kindness projects.  Bluey has been reading, Special Deliveries, which nicely complements this experience.  The whole family is engaged, excited, and eager to see how this all turns out.

    Please remember to update us on your own Kindness Project experiences!

     


  9. Kindness Is Contagious

    March 28, 2013 by admin

    Check out our Kindness Project.

    We are super excited about this and look forward to updating you about its progress.  Come join us and share how you are adding kindness to your world.