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Sunday, August 29, 2010

Rocking the RAKs

A little over a week ago, I invited you all to help me celebrate my 40th birthday by doing a random act of kindness for someone else. Let me just say that you did not disappoint! More than a dozen people wrote to tell me what they had done in honor of my birthday.

Now, let me say that I'm sure that some (probably most) of you would have done these nice things anyway. But if my "invitation" encouraged you a little bit, then I am happy. As I promised, I won't tell who did what -- this celebration was not about recognition. But I do want to let you know all the wonderful ways you helped me recognize this milestone birthday:
  • Made cupcakes with her daughter and delivered them, along with a balloon, to single women who live in their building
  • Made several phone calls/e-mails to connect someone caring for her father with assisted living resources when the caregiver indicated she was struggling to find the right situation
  • Anonymously delivered a cold drink to a loved one who was getting her hair done at a salon
  • Allowed 2 people to go in front of her at the store because she had a return and didn't want them to have to wait
  • Donated $40 to the Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Mary in honor of my 40th birthday
  • Fixed an extra serving of the family dinner and took it to the single guy living next door
  • Gave an extra $1 to the shuttle attendant so someone could ride the State Fair shuttle for free
  • Helped the maintenance/cleaning woman clean out the apartment building's garbage chute
  • Sent a birthday card to a soldier
  • Donated $40 worth of food and supplies to the local humane society (she even got a thank you note for me. Check it out below.)
  • Sent a necklace with a message of hope to a friend's young niece who is battling leukemia
  • Invited two people to dinner at the last minute when their previous dinner invitation was canceled
  • Gave someone a free coffee at Dunkin Donuts
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How wonderful is that?! Thanks to everyone who joined in to make this a fabulous birthday celebration. And thanks to Joy for Your Journey for the inspiration.

5 comments:

Beth Zimmerman said...

I have been entirely too disconnected from my favorite blogs lately! I missed this! But I did do some random kindnesses ... I just didn't know I did them for YOU! Happy Belated Birthday, dear Amy! Love you!

Claudya Martinez said...

Wonderful acts of random kindness!

Deb Reale said...

Sorry I'm late in replying. Tuesday I treated someone who's been working really hard on a major work project to a Starbucks frap.

Isa said...

What a great way to celebrate a birthday. People certainly got creative.

Shelley said...

I tried to do an RAK in honor of your birthday by paying for the McDonald's order of the person behind me in the drive-thru, but everything got super busy by the time I got to the window and so I chickened out, afraid that I'd hold up the line while trying to explain what I wanted to do. So I did another act of kindness instead, allowing a harassed and tired-looking woman to go in front of me in the line at Aldi. All for you, Amy, because of your birthday!