Ripples of kindness ….

Since posting about my 50th Birthday Kindness Inspires Kindness Day …. something has changed.  I feel like my joy set point has raised even higher. The surge of happiness I felt that day hasn’t diminished. It’s a natural high. It’s the purpose of my soul that doesn’t want to be buried any more. Such joy I feel when friends tell me they have been inspired to do an act of kindness where previously they would not have even seen the opportunity. These are the beginnings of the ripples of kindness. These are the first steps of multiplying, expanding, and exploding of the kindness.

I am overwhelmed by desire to do more. I am overcome by the feeling that change really is possible and each of us can create a splash and more and more ripples.

I am filled with joy.

TELL ME! … what ripples of kindness do you see in your life?

Be blessed!

50 Acts of Kindness – 41-50

Here’s the final list from my Kindness Inspires Kindness birthday celebration. I hope you have all enjoyed the journey!

#41 Babies & Kids – I went to the day care center by my work and I read “The Night You Were Born” to the preschoolers there and donated it so they could read it to the kids when they have a birthday in the future. They were such a delight! I loved every minute and got a little misty when they all sang and wanted to give me birthday presents. They did make me a birthday card – aren’t they sweet? One little girl was having a birthday that week as well so I gave her my birthday boa. She was thrilled! I can’t show the kids for privacy reasons but here a couple of me.

#42 Babies & Kids – We all know that teen-aged girls can be the hardest on themselves. So I wrote 200 notes of affirmation and love and had them put on the cars of the girls at the high school I attended. Actually, it’s the all-girl school that every girl in my family has attended. My sister is a teacher there and she said they were all talking about it the next day so I guess they appreciated a little love in their day.

#43 Sick & Needy – I donated a pile of items to Goodwill. I like to do that several times a year.

#44 – Created an angel painting with a special message included. Love when the angels come out to play! (NOTE – picture not delivered yet so putting these angel wings as a placeholder so as not to spoil the surprise!)

#45 Just Because – I gave a copy of my book, MIGHTY INSPIRATION, Love Letters from God to someone. I love when I can spread the inspiration this way.

#46 Sick & Needy – I gave blood. It’s been a few years and now I remember why. They said I’m a “slow” bleeder and I got just enough, just in time to meet the requirement. Whew!

#47, #48, #49 – These three go together – These are my sweet “Giving Crew” – I bought them breakfast, lunch, and supper, respectively as they spent the day with me running around town and doing acts of kindness. They are precious and supportive and just the loveliest people! They helped make my birthday wish come true. Can’t thank them enough and couldn’t think of a better group to spend my birthday day with!

          

#50 – Babies & Kids – I saved my favorite one for last. My daughter and I went to University Hospital, which is where I was born. I had a gift for a baby girl born 50 years after I was born. Hmmm I’ve learned it’s harder to give a gift to a stranger than I thought, but I was patient and God worked it out. Anyway, I met the loveliest couple. They had identical twins and about halfway through the pregnancy found out they had a very rare condition where all the amniotic fluid transfers from one baby to another. So one baby was really swimming in it and the other had almost none. The doctors gave the 2nd baby almost no chance to live and the mom almost no chance of taking the babies safely to term. There was nothing medically that could be done and there was no way to correct the situation. Those are dire words to say to a young couple waiting for their sweet babies. So the parents and family did the only thing they could …. they prayed. And within a short 2 week period the fluid had evened out (impossible huh?) and the babies were born at about week 36 or 37 weeks – that’s awesome for twins! Both are miracle babies. One (Truette Lynn) was in the NICU so I didn’t get to see her but I got to see Larkyn Ellen. And the parents graciously told me to go ahead and hold her. Yes, it was a present for me in return. And oh yeah, I cried.  I will forever pray for those birthday twins, Larkyn and Truette.

 

There you have it – the BEST BIRTHDAY EVER, in pictures!!! Thanks for being witness to my journey of kindness and thanks to all who blessed me for my 50th Birthday. Dreams really do come true!!

Be blessed!

50 Acts of Kindness – 31-40

Here’s the next batch of the 50 Acts of Kindness ….

#31 – Those Who Serve – Bought pizza’s for dinner and delivered them to the Colerain Township Fire Department. Gotta make sure our heroes are fed!

 

#32 – Just Because – gave a gift card to the movies. My giving crew member, Pam said that when she entered the theater there were 2 older women who were having some difficulties with one of the people who work at the movies. She gave them the gift card and made their day.

#33 – Sick & Needy – Donated school supplies to St. Joseph’s Orphanage. This is the orphanage I grew up in and I have tried to give back to whenever I can over the years. It was the first time my daughter had been there with me. Next time we’ll leave time for tour.

#34 – Just Because – Placed 3 big bottles of laundry detergent in the laundromat for people to find and use.

#35 – Just Because – Paid for a birthday order at the NCH (North College Hill) Bakery. This bakery has been a part of family events my whole life. They have some really good pastries – definitely a family tradition with the Miller clan!

   

#36 – Sick & Needy – Gave a gift card to a family at the grocery store. This mom was reluctant at first. But once she opened the envelope she was relieved to find the gift card to help with her food purchase.  She only had some pork and beans in her cart until then. At least I could help with a meal or two.

#37 – Those Who Serve – I left a gift card for my mail carrier. And the next day he left me a sweet thank you note.  Yep, this is how kindness inspires kindness!!

#38- Just  Because – I gifted angels to my giving crew and others who have been angels in my life. some chose an ornament to represent the day and others chose a key chain so that they could have an angel with them wherever they go.

     

#39 – Sick & Needy – bought a couple of uniform shirts for a student at the high school my son graduated from. I remember those days of uniforms and tuition. These will go to help a young family struggling to make ends meet.

#40 – Just Because – One of my giving crew walked my dogs while I was out all day doing these 50 acts of kindness. It totally counts, because my dogs (not me) were the real recipients of this kindness. Here’s my dogs feeling happy. 🙂

 

 

50 Acts of Kindness – 21-30

Here’s the next set of 50 Acts of Kindness ….

#21 – Babies & Kids – Donated 69 hand knitted baby hats to the Neo-natal ICU at Good Sam. Thanks to my dear friend Mar and her knitting crew, these sweet hats will be a soft and warm gift for many babies. This NICU unit is where my niece spent the first part of her life because she was born about 6 weeks too early. And here she is 11 years later as she dropped off the sweet little hats.

#22 – Those Who Serve – I wrote handwritten appreciation letters to wounded soldiers and dropped them off at the VA hospital. This is especially meaningful because many of the significant men in my life have served in the military. As a young girl, my Grandmother volunteered at the VA hospital every week. On my summers off she would take me along to volunteer as well. I am always touched by the service of our men and women.

#23 – Sick & Needy – Donated puzzles to the Ronald McDonald house here in town. It’s my hope that the families will be able to spend a bit of time doing something simple, and fun together. A few moments of normalcy can be a gift as well.

#24 – Just Because – Gave a gift card for dinner to a young man that I saw volunteering. My family shared the joy of volunteering time since I was a very young girl. I felt like reinforcing the wonderful giving spirit this young man already had.

#25 – Babies & Kids – We all took some stickers to hand out to little kids that we would meet throughout the day. This was a big hit. You know how kids think stickers are just the best!

#26 – Those Who Serve – Gave flowers to the retired nuns at the Mercy Convent. Nuns have played a significant role in my life. They cared for me when I was little in the orphanage, and they were teachers at both my grade school and high school. I love the devotion and spiritual life they lead. And it was an extra treat to see Sr. Amadeus, my former high school principal who happened to be in the dining room. That was a cherry on top for me.

#27 – Sick & Needy – Donated canned goods to Matthew 25 Ministries to distribute in the community. Here’s a couple of the young men who were volunteering that day and able to receive the donations.

#28 – Just Because – Paid for 10 coffees at the Dunkin Donut by my house. This is of course the second home for my daughter who just lovesssssss coffee!

#29 – Babies & Kids – Donated crayons and coloring books to Children’s Hospital and Shriners Hospital. My helping crew said at one of the places they were ripping out pages so each child could have just one. Now they had plenty more to let the kids color!

#30 – Just Because – Gave a gift to a random woman who was helping her elderly mother in the parking lot of the dollar store. She was awe struck that a stranger would do such a thing. Well that just made me smile even more.

 

50 Acts of Kindness – 11-20

Here’s some more of the 50 Acts of Kindness from my 50th birthday ….

#11 – Babies & Kids –  I stashed $5.00 in these mini-purses to be given to some little girls we found along the way. My friend Lisa saw these cuties while delivering the diaper bags to a McDonalds. They were excited to pick the cute little purses and find the treat inside.

     

#12 Sick & Needy:  Gave a gift card to a needy person to help toward their prescriptions.

#13 Those Who Serve:  I visited a veteran and spent some time talking to her about her service. Her name is Gerry and she is a quiet-spoken woman who has served in the Army. She was happy for the company, although she had issues with her eyes and the lights so that’s why she has her eyes shut. She was hoping to go home soon. I hope so too!

     

#14 Just Because:  Babysat my niece so my sister and her husband could have a date night. Gotta support the parents out there! Although… she was such a help in preparing for the Kindness Inspires Kindness day that I think we both received a kindness from this. Here she is with my girl Maria who was also a big help in preparing for the day!

#15 Babies & Kids – Donated books to preschool and the library. We had quite a few good books to share with little minds. I remember reading to my kids every day of their lives until they could read to me. How fun to share the joy of stories with other children.

#16 Sick & Needy – donated blankets to the women’s shelter/homeless. This reminded me of a project I did with my daughter when she was in high school where we made “quillows”, which are quilts that fold up into themselves to become pillows. We donated those to the women’s shelter and I thought this would be a good reminder of that earlier project.

#17 Those Who Serve – Gave some sweet treats to some teachers for the first day of school. Goodness knows they need a little boost as they head into the craziness of another school year.

#18 Just Because – We taped money for the vending machines around emergency rooms and other random vending machines so those without enough change could still get a treat. I remember a time taking one of my kids to the ER and forgot my wallet in the rush. I figured this was a good way to do a small thing at a time of crisis.

#19 For Those Who Serve:  Gave a gift card to a teacher to help out with the supplies she buys for her students. It’s so easy to forget how little teachers are paid and how much they give of their own money to help out their students.

#20 Babies & Kids – Gave newborn diapers and some wipes to parents of newborns at Christ Hospital and Good Samaritan Hospital in Cincinnati – these are the 2 hospitals where my own children were born. This is Scott, a proud Daddy of a newborn girl who was thrilled by the gift. He promised to pay it forward. Isn’t that a cute “proud papa” smile? He was heading to get his wife and baby girl and take them home.

 

Stay tuned tomorrow for the next set of Acts of Kindness. Be kind in your corner of the world and be blessed!

 

50 – Acts of Kindness that is

It finally arrived – my 50th birthday, which means, August 13, 2013 was KINDNESS INSPIRES KINDNESS DAY!!! Woot woot! Nope, this story is really not about me at all – it’s just the day and the way I chose to celebrate a life sprinkled with the kindness of loved ones and strangers. I am dedicating that special day to 2 special couples – Mabel and Juel Bernard, my grandparents, and Jim and Jacque Miller, my parents. Because of how deeply they love, they chose to shower kindness into my life when I was a little ragamuffin girl in the orphanage, and still to this day. They changed my life. I cannot possibly repay them for the literal rescue they made of me, and so I choose to turn and pay it forward. They taught me how to love the unlovable, to give to those in need, and to never stop striving to be and do my best. I am forever in their debt. I love them with all my heart! Thank you Grandma, Grandpa, Mommy & Daddy!!

And, this day was also about the beautiful souls who continue to pour love and kindness into my life – my “Giving Crew”. I am overwhelmed by the generosity of hearts and hands who, when asked to help me with the Kindness day, generously said yes!  Love and hugs to all these loving souls – that includes those who were with me that day, those who contributed, and those who cheered me on. So many – too many to list them all but you know who you are! Thank you!!

For my readers, over the next several days I will be chronicling in pictures the 50 acts of kindness that we shared in the Cincinnati area. I started with 4 categories: 1) Babies/Children, 2) Sick/Elderly, 3) Those Who Serve, and 4) Just Because.  In as many acts as I could I included people and places that related to my life since it was, after all, a celebration of 50 years of blessings I’ve received. What a fabulous day – THE BEST BIRTHDAY EVER!! There really are not enough of the right words to describe the blessings I received during the day but I will attempt to at least share the stories and pictures.

Enjoy the journey with me in the next several days so you can see the whole story. Remember to be a blessing, and be blessed in return! ~ Barbara Miller

Kindness Inspires Kindness Day – almost here

Well, my 50th birthday is fast approaching. I am receiving help and donations from friends and family. Plans are taking shape and the pile in my garage is mounting. I cannot wait for my Kindness Inspires Kindness birthday bash. We will be running all over town sharing blessings and spreading kindness. It’s the best birthday celebration I can think of for my big 5-0. 

If you want to help me celebrate – step out and do a kindness in your sphere of the world on August 13. 

As the day approaches and the festivities occur I’ll be taking pictures and sharing on this blog. 

Woot Woot – best birthday plans ever!

Join me and be blessed!

~ Barb 

Kindness Inspires Kindness – It’s coming!

I simply can’t wait! I’m like a child at Christmas that suddenly hears the jingle of Santa’s bells or the hoofs upon the rooftop. The excitement is intoxicating!

What am I anxiously waiting for, you ask? Well, it’s my 50th Birthday KINDNESS INSPIRES KINDNESS Day!

What started all this was a simple inspiration that jumped to me via my dear friend Anita. She had read a blog that inspired her. See how this is going? Here’s the link to Making Life Whimsical. Amy from MLW had blogged about her 40th birthday and celebrating with a KINDNESS INSPIRES KINDNESS Day. As Anita was reading Amy’s blog she said “I can do that.” And as soon as she shared the idea with me I knew I would do this too. I had been pondering what I could do to make my 50th special. The best way I can think of to make my day special is to make it meaningful. I can use that day to help change the world in small ways here in my community. I try to spread kindness every day and this will be a concentrated day full of gift giving – from me, not to me!

Anita’s good news is that she had a KINDNESS INSPIRES KINDNESS day last week. Here’s a link to Anita’s blog about her day. I’m so blown away by the positive outcome she had. My excitement is growing even more!!

Now the plans are coming together for me. I have my list of kindnesses almost complete. I’ll be meeting with my friend Barb H. to create a plan and a schedule to make it possible. I’ll be calling on friends, family, fans, and my peeps of all sorts to join me in planning, gathering donations, and hoofing it around Cincinnati spreading our kindness gifts. I’ll be taking pictures and blogging here as the plans come together and as the day materializes.

I invite you to join in too. Either on my birthday (Aug 13, 2013) or on yours, do an act of kindness that makes your heart sing and makes your soul celebrate. Then take some pictures and sent me a note describing it. I’ll share your kindnesses on my blog as well.

My desires are big but very doable. I want to make my KINDNESS INSPIRES KINDNESS day a huge success. I want to light the eyes and brighten the smiles of many, many people. And I want to inspire more acts, gifts, and day that are even grander than mine. Are you in?

Tell me what you plan to do …. and be blessed!

Cozy Introspection

Today is the last day of my 3 week vacation. I’ve never splurged with this much time off at once before but with vacation time that I would lose if I didn’t use it, well I HAD to use it. And I’m glad I did. The first week was busy prepping for Christmas. The second week was slow and casual with time visiting with friends and family with whom I seldom get to enjoy in an unhurried and quality way. And this week has been preparing to move my daughter to her apartment for her co-op semester and me setting intentions for my 2013 year ahead. I’ve been busy in a lovely way and I don’t regret one minute of taking the time off.

Today, as I wrap up my time off, I’ve had the pleasure of sleeping in, enjoying an at-home massage, and some day dreaming of the year ahead. I have much to be thankful for and more to look forward to. Here’s a few:

> I start a new job (same Company) on Feb 1.

> My son will be getting married in July to a lovely girl and that will be a wonderful celebration.

> This will be the big year of birthdays in my family – Grandma turns 90, Mom turns 65 (yes, I am adopted lol) , I turn 50, my sister and her husband turn 40, my other sister and her husband turn 30, my son turns 25, and my cousin turns 20. We will have a wonderful celebration for all those milestones.

> My 50th birthday will bring an opportunity for me to give back with plans for my “Great Giving Day of 2013” where I will perform 50 acts of kindness on my birthday 8-13-13.
> And during my daughter’s final co-oping semester I will meet up with one of my dear friends for some rest and relaxation in Cape May, NJ. I have such a love for Victorian era homes and decor and this little town has long been calling my name to come for a visit.

I’m sure God has other delightful surprises in store as well. As I sit by my cozy fire with my cup of tea and sweet dogs by my side, I can say with great appreciation that life is good. Vacation was wonderful and I have much to be thankful for.

Count your blessings too, and be blessed.

I’m changing the world

One of the topics in my book MIGHTY INSPIRATION, Love Letters from God, is the concept of changing the world. Do you believe that you can change the world? I do. Every action and word we use creates a ripple effect. We don’t just put  ideas and energy out into the world – we move them along as well. We expand them when we focus on them or talk about them.

It is my firm desire to change this world. I believe that I have a purpose. It’s not to gather the most possessions or attain the highest of titles. It’s way, way more important than that. I believe my purpose is to help others see their own light and empower them to embrace it. No I’m not perfect at it but I do deliberately work on it. I have a spiritual practice that involves gratitude as well as intercession prayers. Science is even backing up the idea that prayer and faith can change things. This is not new news to the believer but it is important confirmation that is starting to build.

I also work to use my talent for words to inspire – not just on my blog or in my social networking platforms, but also in my work. Planting seeds of positivity seems to be producing many fruitful changes. I enjoy seeing the faces of people when my words seem to strike a cord in their hearts. I enjoy it more when they share the words or even suggest some more. I see a bit of encouragement growing in the work place and I hope that my small efforts are a part of the cause.

And next I want to move from words of inspiration to actions of change. I have long been a “sponsor” for children outside of my country. And yes, I can help them with my modest financial donations. That enables others to use my gift by putting it into action. Lately, that hasn’t seemed like enough.

Next year I’m turning 50. Yep, it’s just a number but in my head it’s a number that represents the middle of my life. I’ve graduated from the daily needs of my children – they are adults and creating their own lives now. And I’m not at the end of my life where I reflect on the journey complete. I’m in the middle. I’m in a position of flexibility that I want to put to use. So I’m exploring where to go and what to do to make my mark on lives I don’t ordinarily have the opportunity to affect. I can go into the world, not once, but over and over. I can combine my love of travel and appreciation for different cultures to spur me into action – I can see the world and change the world and we shall all be the better for it.

I’m wrestling with new questions – Where do I go? What gifts do I give? What talents do I share? Who do I take by my side? The answers to these questions may not stir the world, but they will change the lives of some human beings I don’t yet know. I want to dream big. I want to reach as far as my hands can go. I want to change the world and leave it better for my journey. I want to let strangers know the love of God because they met a woman – this woman.

I’m open to suggestions and inspirations – help me answer my questions … and be blessed!