A Kindness Revolution?

I read this article the other day about giving 29 gifts in 29 days.  The concept began when Cami Walker was diagnosed with MS at 31.  Two years later, addicted to pain medications and bitter, she received a prescription from an African Healer:  give 29 gifts in 29 days.  Cami documented her experience of a month of gift giving in the book 29 Gifts.  It is now, evidently, a global initiative.  Here's a link to a CNN story about it.

Since the gifts can be as simple as a prayer, my assumption is that it is the consciousness of intending the gift that is important.  Goodness knows, we do things all the time that would fit  the category of "gift" by those standards--cooking a special meal, my husband buying organic fruit for Bryce Eleanor, a kind word here, my daughter bringing papers for me to sign rather than asking me to come to the office, my cousin packing his uniform when he came for Laddie's funeral so he could present the flag, Chris reading books so he can send the DVD to Bryce Eleanor; simple things, but heart-felt.

So...it must be the awareness of the kindness you intend--that old axiom "the thought that counts"--that benefits the giver.  Intending to make life happier, easier, better in some way for someone and recognizing the intent....

Perhaps the act of giving makes us aware of our capacity for kindness.   That is a tremendous reward, feeling the capacity and the potential for kindness.  The feeling would be a positive aspect of self-love, the ability to empathize with another person's distress and to share in another person's joy.

I know I've wandered around on this one, but what I've been getting at has to do with doing ordinary things with love, rather than the thoughtless way we often do as a result of hectic lives.  Thinking with your heart as you give the "gift."  Since we simply cannot do this all the time, our lives are so busy, doing it once a day for 29 days is a great start to becoming more aware of our connection to others--family, friends, or strangers.

The idea of the movement is to document each gift in a journal to see what, if any changes, occur in your own life.  Right now, I'm beginning to think of thoughtful gifts to give with love and awareness.  Shifting focus away from myself and thinking about what might make someone else happy elevates my mood already.  How strange the workings of our hearts and minds.

Again, I'm reminded of this video I've posted several times by Mipham--less of "what about me" and more of "what about you".... 

I Want a Renaissance Mind

TLC Book Tours sent me a copy of The Vigorous Mind: Cross-train Your Brain to Break Through Mental, Emotional, and Professional Boundaries by Ingrid E. Cummings, and they've asked me to schedule my review for Jan. 20th. It will be posted on my book blog. Or maybe, even here, as I'm enjoying the book so much.

The idea behind the book is to embark on a journey to broaden your mind, to learn new things or learn more about areas you are already interested in. Cummings, the author, looks on generalists and dilettantes with glee. Learning more about more seems to be her mantra.

Too busy? Cummings recommends the Japanese concept of kaizen, taking baby steps, making reasonable, not too strenuous commitments. A lot can be learned or accomplished in 20 minutes, two or three times a week--so design your own curriculum and make a commitment for 3 weeks or 3 months or whatever seems reasonable.

I'm almost through with the book now, and I've already begun a journal dedicated to the book and my journey toward a Renaissance (and Vigorous) Mind. Originally, I planned to use the handmade journal Megan gave me for my birthday as a "destination" journal--where I recorded places I'd like to visit and made notes, etc.

Now, I'm so glad I waited because the journal is perfect for my thoughts about The Vigorous Mind, my plans, my lists, my evaluations. The pages are smooth and creamy, a pleasure to write on.
The lovely handmade journal Iliana sent me was already where I recorded thoughts on yoga and meditation, so it is perfect for continuing my study of yoga.

Here are some of the courses in the "curriculum" I'm designing for myself:

• learn more about yoga; learn more about the background,terms, and about the asanas and their purposes (20 min., 2-3 times a week, for 3 months) This is just expanding on something I'm already interested in.

• include walking and weights as part of my fitness program (10-20 min., 2-3 times a week, for 3 weeks--then evaluate and decide whether or not to continue)

• read more nonfiction, especially biographies (at least one nonfiction book a month--which won't be difficult if I choose well, for a year)

• watch 2 documentaries a month on a wide variety of topics

• order some magazine subscriptions to Smithsonian and Mental Floss

• something relating to textile arts--I'm still thinking about this one, something that would broaden my knowledge or my give me a goal of some sort...

I've ordered books, checked out books from the library, and ordered documentaries from Netflix. The documentaries are on wide-ranging topics, but I tried to keep Fee in mind when I chose many of them.

The whole process is right up my alley--I'm a dabble here, read a little there, learn a little about a lot of things kind of gal. The last few years, however, I've slacked off. After retiring from teaching, I've reveled in bon-bon reading and an intellectually relaxed atmosphere.

Yet I've always loved learning (not necessarily the same thing as school) and admired autodidacts, and the timing seems just right to pursue things in a slightly more organized , yet still in a desultory, relaxed manner. Time to expand a little, mentally and physically; time to explore things that have always interested me and things that have never really been on my chart.

What else is on my long list of things I want to do or learn -- studying Italian again after about 10 years, taking a cooking class (it is never too late to learn, right?), reading my camera manual (duh!), learning about classical music, learning more about reiki, go hiking and maybe eventually make a little of the Appalachian trail in the future, go on a retreat (quilting, yoga, or just spiritual)....

Over at Kim's blog, SkybelleArts, I discovered this challenge--Creative Every Day. It will fit in perfectly with my self-challenge because a vigorous mind, a Renaissance mind, is a creative mind, and creativity runs the gamut, the entire range of human activity...

I have a book recommendation for you. If you have time, do get a copy of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society! I reviewed it here on my book blog, and I want to share my enthusiasm on this blog as well. An absolutely charming book that is witty, funny, serious, and altogether worth your time. If you love books, a little romance, history, humor, and human drama, this book will definitely fill the bill.


I've just cut out the little dress that has been on my "to do" list for quite a while. I made the pattern about 2 weeks ago, but have not been in the studio much lately. Also want to work on the doll quilt. And make a little art quilt - nothing in that area for a long, long time.

Niece Maggie called last night to ask a sewing question. She couldn't remember how to make a quilter's knot. I assured her that it was not a big deal - any knot would do, but I was, of course, delighted that she is still interested in embroidery-- especially since with pep squad practice and school starting, she is quite busy. She promised to show me the results of the penguin she has drawn and is working on. Here she is a few weeks ago hard at work transforming a drawing into stitch.
A Note from the Universe that I really want to keep in mind! Laddie always told me that a sincere smile can make anyone, even a stranger feel better. (I think this comment was made during my early adolescent angst-ridden years when I must have been committing a lot of what my husband now calls "face crimes.")

Laddie was right, though, because when a stranger gives me a great smile, I instantly feel an uplift.

This Note is also common sense, but we often need reminders of how such simple acts can have complex and positive benefits:

When you understand, Jen, that what most people really, really want is simply to feel good about themselves, and when you realize that with just a few well-chosen words you can help virtually anyone on the planet instantly achieve this, you begin to realize just how simple life is, how powerful you are, and that love is the key.

Fly little bird,
The Universe

Rain, Yoga, Happiness

Rain! What a blessing. We had rain Friday morning and again last night! Certainly needed and appreciated.


I decided to try the 8:00 AM yoga class this morning with Barry. It was fun and is a great way to begin the day. Every teacher is so different and the variety of work outs and areas of concentration are so different, but each teacher and each class provides something unique to the experience.

One thing that has surprised me is how quickly everyone (who has stuck with it) has improved. Most of us can do crow (or crane now) -- although we don't look like this.

My favorites are the twists because they make my back feel so good. Yoga Journal is a great resource and has loads of pictures like these of various poses.

Kim at Mouse Medicine had an interesting post on giving and reminded me of this article that I may (or may not) have mentioned on an earlier post. Here are some quotes from the article:

Can money buy you happiness? Yes—so long as you spend the money on someone else. According to new research, giving other people even as little as $5 can lead to increased well-being for the giver.

and

Although people believe that having money leads to happiness, our research suggests that this is only the case if at least some of that money is given to others.

I find these results fascinating. Buying someone a small gift provides greater happiness than buying yourself an expensive item. We may have believed something to this effect from our own experiences or from anecdotal evidence, but research supports it.

Hearts and Gifts and Positive Attitudes

Kay (Out of the Basement) suggested having a contest for ideas about what to do with the hearts I made. I think it is a great idea, so please give me your suggestions. I'll put all the names in a pot and send the winner a gift. Kay suggested a key chain, and I'm going to make one today! I think I'm going to make some more hearts, too.And on the topic of gifts, I'm almost finished with the PIF gifts! I've changed my mind several times after making one or two, but now they are all decided on and will be going out in a week or so. For some reason, I've really struggled with the PIF challenge this year, so I'm making a list of possibilities for next year so I don't have to repeat this years indecision.

I know I've mentioned Christine Kane's blog many times, but I keep finding useful, concise, apt information there. One of her entries from last year is titled Begin Your Day; in the post, she comments (I know, I know - it really is common sense, but I need constant reminders) about how important unconscious emotions and thoughts are to the formation of your day. To make a long story short, she reminds us that beginning your day with negative thoughts has an effect. Conversely, beginning the day with a positive attitude can also have an effect. One that we would all be happier with.

Sometimes, my first thoughts are about all of the things that I have to do, but don't want to do. And yeah, that can be a downer. On the days I wake up thinking about all of the things that I want to do and have the opportunity to do, my entire body responds in anticipation. There will always be things we have to do or don't want to do, but those things don't have to be our first thoughts or set the tone for our day.

Kane suggests several ways to begin the day:

Morning Pages (a la Julia Cameron)
Prayer and Meditation
create a Vision Journal
remind yourself of your Dreams and Goals
Yoga
Visualization
(you can read Christine Kane's entry here if you want more detail)

Current Project & Complaint Free?

Here is a detail from one of my current projects (I'm losing count of all of the things I've started, all of those PIP's (projects in progress). Love that needle punch!


Christine Kane has issued a challenge: Go 5 weeks (it takes 21 days to form a new habit; I don't think I'll ever get there) without complaining, whining, criticizing, or gossiping.

Well, who could question that this is a worthy endeavor? And who could possibly manage to go 21 days without complaining (or criticizing, whining, gossiping--much less 5 weeks)? The trick, of course, is that when you forget, you just start over. If you have managed one complaint-free day, and then complain on day two, you just start over. If you are five days, ten days into it and forget, you just start over.

Soooo-----I imagine that I will remain on DAY ONE for the rest of my life. At least if you count my silent whines, the ones that are in my head, but never make it to my lips. I will have to work on a complaint-free morning or a complaint-free afternoon. Or a complaint-free hour.

Nevertheless, I'm gonna try--knowing full well that I will fail. And fail again. And again. I AM going to try this challenge for a while. It will be interesting to actually track my behavior.

Kane posted this list: 9 Irresistible Reasons to Go Complaint-Free Starting Today:

1 - When you’re complaint-free, you learn to find solutions rather than staying mucked in the problem.

If you don’t offer yourself the option of complaining, then you might start training your brain to actually find solutions and get ideas. As Maya Angelou says, “If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude. Don’t complain.” (note: I love that quote!)

2 - When you’re complaint-free, you shrink your ego.

Complaining builds your ego. It makes your ego stronger because it makes someone or something else wrong. And it makes you right. You become inflated and puffed up. Well, actually you don’t, but your ego does. Ceasing the complaining/criticizing/gossiping habit tells your ego that you are in charge, and that you want to create new habits. (note: I never thought of this, but complaining is a way of laying blame elsewhere)

3 - When you’re complaint free for 21-Days, you’ve started a new habit and created a new you.

4 - When you’re complaint-free, it’s a conversation starter.

Imaginary scenario: Someone rushes into your office to gossip or whine. You get to simply smile and say, “Gosh, you know, I’d love to join in, but I’m in the middle of a Complaint-free Contract. Would you like to look at it?” And the person says, “Huh? What’s that?” Then you get to propel the conversation in a different direction.

5 - When you’re complaint-free, it’s a conversation deepener.

That same person who rushes into your office will listen for a while and then say, “Wow, that’s a really great idea. I always notice how easy it is to complain, and I want to be more self-responsible…” You’ll then share a deeper connection when you each admit that you want to live more happy and focused lives. (note: I some how doubt this, but who knows? I suspect they might look at me, nod, and back out slowly)

6 - When you’re complaint-free, it becomes viral.

You start attracting more positive people to you. The negative people will walk away and just think you’re a complete moron. But then, you’ll start noticing positive curious people coming into your life because you are so much fun to be around.

7 - When you’re complaint-free, you banish lazy thinking.

Think about it - you can’t get much lazier than complaining and gossiping. It’s the same well-worn neural pathway you’ve trudged down day after day, along with 85% of the population. When you’re complaint-free, you find other things on which to focus. With alertness and alacrity, you find new ways of seeing things. (And you get to use words like “alacrity.”)

8 - When you’re complaint-free, you create happiness.

9 - When you’re complaint free with a group, you get to soar on the updraft of the great group energy.

11:24 -- Just started over at hour one!