Make up your own kind gesture.

Today is the official, for sure last day of the 30-(one?) Days of Kindness Challenge.  Are you not sure what I'm talking about?  Click here to read more.  You're welcome to do this challenge on another month.

Make up your own kind gesture.  My biggest hope is that this challenge will become more than a series of difficult challenges.  It will become a habit.  A lifestyle.  Kindness and chivalry will become things that we're used to performing and seeing in our every day lives.  I want there to be more days made and smiles caused.  I want to see more love.

We've already taken steps to achieve that.

I'd like to ask some questions.  Please feel free to answer any of them in the comments.
1.) What did you think of the 30 Days of Kindness?
2.) Did you participate in all of the days?
3.) Which was your favorite challenge?
4.) Which was your least favorite challenge?
5.) What are some challenge suggestions for next year?
6.) What would you change about the 30 Days of Kindness if you could?
7.) Do you think we should do it again next October?

I don't know about you, but my friends and I had a ton of fun with this.  I loved seeing all of the beautiful smiles that resulted from the daily challenges.

I would love to hear your stories.  If you have pictures, stories, videos, or blog posts, link them to me or share them in the comments below.  I'll even feature them on my blog if you're willing.  The more widespread gestures of kindness, the better.

Keep an eye out to see stories and pictures of what my friends and I chose to do as our last kind gesture of October.

Again, thank you so much for participating this month.  And by the way, Happy Autumn! :)

Over the month of November, my blog posts will consist of tips for writing a novel from a fellow writer (in honor of NaNoWriMo), some modest trend articles, and some of my usual poetry.

Buy someone a thoughtful gift

Haven't heard of the 30 Days of Kindness?  Click here to find out more.  Just starting?  That's okay!  Feel free to start this challenge right in the middle.  You can make up the days you missed through November, if you like.

I can't believe that today is the thirtieth day of our 30 Days of Kindness Challenge.  It's a little sad and a little bit of a relief at the same time.  I hope that the end of this month does not mean the end of our kind gestures.  We can still make little kind gestures wherever we go, even if they aren't on a schedule.

Buy someone a thoughtful gift.  You don't have to go and burn $200 on a giant gift for a loved one.  You could go and purchase a cute singing card from the store.  Get a bracelet for a friend.  A little wooden cross.  A Dr. Pepper.  All this challenge requires is some creativity... and for you to spend a few dollars to show a friend that you were thinking about them.

Show a friend that he or she is appreciated.  Perhaps even buy a thoughtful gift for your mother or brother or grandmother instead.  Make a loved one smile.  Make their day.

I want to hear your stories!  Leave me a comment and share what you did during today's challenge.  If you have a picture or two, feel free to send them to me.  If you're blogging about today, send me the link and I'll feature it on this blog.

I'm currently out of town visiting A&M, so I'll try to post today's story tomorrow or the next day for you to read about.

This was such a fun challenge.  It was a blast, and I'm so glad you participated.  This has been a life-changing month for me.  Kindness is such a beautiful thing.

Since October (this month) is technically not quite finished, tomorrow I'll go ahead and make the topic: Make up your own kind gesture! 

Give away five dollar bills

Haven't heard of the 30 Days of Kindness?  Click here to find out more.  Just starting?  That's okay!  Feel free to start this challenge right in the middle.  You can make up the days you missed through November, if you like.

Give away five dollar bills.  I'll go ahead and give some leniency here.  You can give away a five dollar bill to someone who needs it, but I'd preferably like you to give away five individual bills.  Give them to people or leave them in random locations.

Your dollar bill may find its way into the hands of someone who needs it.

And what makes someone's day more than finding a random dollar bill?  It's fun and a surprise of sorts.  Even though a dollar isn't much... even though five dollars isn't much... it's still a gesture of kindness and something that will make the days of five different people today.

Don't let your greed prevent you from completing this challenge!

I want to hear your stories!  Leave me a comment and share what you did during today's challenge.  If you have a picture or two, feel free to send them to me.  If you're blogging about today, send me the link and I'll feature it on this blog.

I'm currently out of town visiting A&M, so I'll try to post today's story tomorrow or the next day for you to read about.

TOMORROW: Buy someone a thoughtful gift!

Pray over someone you don't know

Haven't heard of the 30 Days of Kindness?  Click here to find out more.  Just starting?  That's okay!  Feel free to start this challenge right in the middle.  You can make up the days you missed through November, if you like.

Pray over someone you don't know.  This challenge probably scares me the most.  Praying over people always makes me feel nervous and hesitant and timid and awkward.  It may make you feel the same way.  If so, don't be afraid to get a friend to pray over a stranger with you.  A friend can be your support and fellowship.

When I say "pray over someone you don't know", this can mean a stranger that you've never met in your life.  This can mean the quiet girl with no friends at school that you've seen a few times.  This could even mean a teacher that you aren't very close to, but you can tell she's having a difficult day.  Let God lead you to the person He wants you to pray for.  Most importantly, don't let your fear keep you from fulfilling this challenge.

For many people- even people who aren't Christians- having someone come up and say, "Can I pray for you?" will definitely make their day.  It's an encouragement.  It's proof that somebody out there cares.

You'll also be a great witness for God.

I want to hear your stories!  Leave me a comment and share what you did during today's challenge.  If you have a picture or two, feel free to send them to me.  If you're blogging about today, send me the link and I'll feature it on this blog.

I'll be gone today on a Senior retreat with my classmates... and then traveling to go look at the A&M campus (possible college choice?).  I'll post today's story tomorrow or the next day for you to read about.

TOMORROW: Give away five dollar bills!

Pray over someone you don't know

Haven't heard of the 30 Days of Kindness?  Click here to find out more.  Just starting?  That's okay!  Feel free to start this challenge right in the middle.  You can make up the days you missed through November, if you like.

Pray over someone you don't know.  This challenge probably scares me the most.  Praying over people always makes me feel nervous and hesitant and timid and awkward.  It may make you feel the same way.  If so, don't be afraid to get a friend to pray over a stranger with you.  A friend can be your support and fellowship.

When I say "pray over someone you don't know", this can mean a stranger that you've never met in your life.  This can mean the quiet girl with no friends at school that you've seen a few times.  This could even mean a teacher that you aren't very close to, but you can tell she's having a difficult day.  Let God lead you to the person He wants you to pray for.  Most importantly, don't let your fear keep you from fulfilling this challenge.

For many people- even people who aren't Christians- having someone come up and say, "Can I pray for you?" will definitely make their day.  It's an encouragement.  It's proof that somebody out there cares.

You'll also be a great witness for God.

I want to hear your stories!  Leave me a comment and share what you did during today's challenge.  If you have a picture or two, feel free to send them to me.  If you're blogging about today, send me the link and I'll feature it on this blog.

I'll be gone today on a Senior retreat with my classmates... and then traveling to go look at the A&M campus (possible college choice?).  I'll post today's story tomorrow or the next day for you to read about.

TOMORROW: Give away five dollar bills!

Pray over someone you know

Haven't heard of the 30 Days of Kindness?  Click here to find out more.  Just starting?  That's okay!  Feel free to start this challenge right in the middle.  You can make up the days you missed through November, if you like.

Pray over someone you know.  When I give this challenge, I don't mean for you to lay in bed at night and pray silently, "God, please help my friend."  When you pray over someone, I want you to go up to them, say, "Can I pray for you?", put a hand on their shoulder if you like, and say a prayer over them.

This can be nerve-wracking, even if it's for a friend.  I'm always terrified before I pray over someone: afraid I'll seem overbearing or offensive, afraid I'll say the wrong thing.  You may feel the same way.

But the truth is, sometimes all you need is a prayer to lift your spirits and take some of the weight of the daily stress off of your shoulders.  Life is hard.  When you're a Christian, sometimes all you need to make things better is a hug and prayer from a fellow believer.  From a friend.

I want to hear your stories!  Leave me a comment and share what you did during today's challenge.  If you have a picture or two, feel free to send them to me.  If you're blogging about today, send me the link and I'll feature it on this blog.

I'll be gone today on a Senior retreat with my classmates.  I'll post today's story tomorrow or the next day for you to read about.

TOMORROW: Pray over someone you don't know!

Write an encouraging note to a service worker

Haven't heard of the 30 Days of Kindness?  Click here to find out more.  Just starting?  That's okay!  Feel free to start this challenge right in the middle.  You can make up the days you missed through November, if you like.

Write an encouraging note to a service worker.  Who counts as a service worker, you might ask?  Firefighters, policemen, garbage men, your school janitor, a teacher, a doctor or nurse... Basically anyone who works to help others will count for this challenge.  You can write a long letter or a sweet note.  You can add a gift or only give the note.  You can stay anonymous or give it away personally.  It's up to you.

The point of today's challenge is to show someone who spends their lives serving others that you acknowledge them.  You appreciate what they're doing.  You admire and respect them.  You think about them sometimes.

Let's make someone's day.

I want to hear your stories!  Leave me a comment and share what you did during today's challenge.  If you have a picture or two, feel free to send them to me.  If you're blogging about today, send me the link and I'll feature it on this blog.

Stay tuned until later today to see what my friends and I did for today's act of kindness.

TOMORROW: Pray over someone you know!

Leave TEN encouraging notes in various places!

Haven't heard of the 30 Days of Kindness?  Click here to find out more.  Just starting?  That's okay!  Feel free to start this challenge right in the middle.  You can make up the days you missed through November, if you like.

Leave ten encouraging notes in various places.  In these notes, you can write whatever you like: inspirational quotes, a personal note, a Bible verse...  Whatever you feel like writing (as long as it is encouraging), put in a note.  You can leave them where your friends and family can find the notes or you can place them in random spots throughout your city.  It's up to you.

I love finding random notes, especially when they're encouraging.  They always make my day.  We've written a note or two in the past few weeks, but let's go ahead and make ten people's days.

A challenge?  Yes.  But that's what this month is all about.

I want to hear your stories!  Leave me a comment and share what you did during today's challenge.  If you have a picture or two, feel free to send them to me.  If you're blogging about today, send me the link and I'll feature it on this blog.

Stay tuned until later today to see what my friends and I did for today's act of kindness.

TOMORROW: Write an encouraging note to a service worker!

Write a letter to someone you admire

Haven't heard of the 30 Days of Kindness?  Click here to find out more.  Just starting?  That's okay!  Feel free to start this challenge right in the middle.  You can make up the days you missed through November, if you like.

Write a letter to someone you admire.  This may be one of the most difficult challenges so far to some of you.  I want you to write a letter- not a note, a letter at least half a page long- to someone you admire or look up to.  It could be an adult role model or it could be a friend of yours who has kept strong through an incredibly hard time.  I want you to tell them how much you look up to them.  Say why you look up to them.  And offer some encouraging words or a bible verse.

After you finish the letter, I want you to send it (or personally give it) to the person.  Terrifying, right?

You will probably make their entire week.  It's scary to you but it will touch this person more than you will ever know.  Imagine if someone wrote you a letter, telling you how much they admired you.

What a way to make someone's day.

I want to hear your stories!  Leave me a comment and share what you did during today's challenge.  If you have a picture or two, feel free to send them to me.  If you're blogging about today, send me the link and I'll feature it on this blog.

Stay tuned until later today to see what my friends and I did for today's act of kindness.

TOMORROW: Leave ten encouraging notes in various places!

Give away a pair of shoes

Haven't heard of the 30 Days of Kindness?  Click here to find out more.  Just starting?  That's okay!  Feel free to start this challenge right in the middle.  You can make up the days you missed through November, if you like.

Give away a pair of shoes.  This can be extremely difficult for you or very easy, depending on how attached you are to those things you wear on your feet.  Now... you don't have to give away your favorite pair of shoes.  A pair that you've grown out of or don't wear as much as you thought you would will work.  You could even go and purchase a pair of shoes.

Once I gave away my favorite pair of shoes.  I was in Africa and I met my sponsored girl, Lavin.  I saw her shoes.  They were tattered and ruined.  We were approximately the same shoe size (yes, I have small feet), so I gave her my colorful, favorite pair of Kangaroo shoes and wore sandals for the rest of the trip.  It was worth it.  A little girl now has shoes that fit right.  She can now run and play without worrying that her shoes will fall apart.

You can give shoes away to a person in need... donate them to a shelter... leave them on a sidewalk.  Do what you feel led to do with your shoes.  All I ask is that you give at least one pair away.  Easy enough, right?

I want to hear your stories!  Leave me a comment and share what you did during today's challenge.  If you have a picture or two, feel free to send them to me.  If you're blogging about today, send me the link and I'll feature it on this blog.

Stay tuned until later today to see what my friends and I did for today's act of kindness.

TOMORROW: Write a letter to someone you admire!

Give away a Bible

Haven't heard of the 30 Days of Kindness?  Click here to find out more.  Just starting?  That's okay!  Feel free to start this challenge right in the middle.  You can make up the days you missed through November, if you like.

Give away a Bible.  I want you to be able to have some fun with this challenge.  You can use a Bible of your own or go and purchase one from a store.  Give away a Bible to someone who has never owned one before.  Send money to purchase a Bible for someone in a third world country to an organization like Voice of the Martyrs or World Vision.  Give a Bible as a gift to a friend.  Give a Bible to someone whose Bible is falling apart.  Leave a Bible somewhere in your city for a stranger to find.  It's up to you.

This has the potential to completely make someone's day... baffle someone... offend someone (yes, of course it has that potential)...  but best of all, this can plant a seed for Jesus Christ in someone's life or encourage someone who needs a friendly boost.

Bibles don't have to be expensive, although you could use some of your money to purchase a nice leather Bible as a gift.  At Mardel or LifeWay, you can easily buy a Bible for two or three dollars, if not less.  If you give away a Bible of your own, you won't have to spend any money at all.  It's up to you.

If you leave the Bible somewhere for a stranger to find, feel free to write an inscription at the front of the Bible.  I'll provide an example:

"To a stranger,
I hope this will help encourage you.  You may feel alone.  You may feel unloved.  The truth is that Someone cherishes you.  You are loved.  Keep reading and see what God has in store for your life.
Love,
A Stranger"

I want to hear your stories!  Leave me a comment and share what you did during today's challenge.  If you have a picture or two, feel free to send them to me.  If you're blogging about today, send me the link and I'll feature it on this blog.

Stay tuned until later today to see what my friends and I did for today's act of kindness.

TOMORROW: Give away a pair of shoes!

Leave an anonymous letter of encouragement on the windshield of someone's car

Haven't heard of the 30 Days of Kindness?  Click here to find out more.  Just starting?  That's okay!  Feel free to start this challenge right in the middle.  You can make up the days you missed through November, if you like.

Leave an anonymous letter of encouragement on the windshield of someone's car.  It's one thing to write an anonymous encouraging note to a stranger.  It's something else altogether to write the note and deliberately leave it for a specific individual to find.  There is also a minute risk that you could be caught.  Yikes!

When you write the note, try not to sound like you know this person, or they may become afraid that they have a stalker.  You may even want to address the note as "From a stranger," or "From someone who cares".  Write things that you wish a stranger would say to you.  Perhaps mention that you're praying for this individual, whoever they are, or that you know Jesus loves them even when they sometimes feel alone.

Make this person feel like someone in the world cares.

What a way to make someone feel special.

If you're attempting this challenge with a friend, be sure to write two separate notes and don't place them on cars right next to each other.  The drivers might notice the similar notes and the challenge will lose some of its specialness.  Drive a few blocks away to leave the next note.

I want to hear your stories!  Leave me a comment and share what you did during today's challenge.  If you have a picture or two, feel free to send them to me.  If you're blogging about today, send me the link and I'll feature it on this blog.

Stay tuned until later today to see what my friends and I did for today's act of kindness.

TOMORROW: Give away a Bible!

Volunteer your time

Haven't heard of the 30 Days of Kindness?  Click here to find out more.  Just starting?  That's okay!  Feel free to start this challenge right in the middle.  You can make up the days you missed through November, if you like.

We've officially been at this challenge for three weeks.  If you have started at the beginning and you're still participating, then great job.  I'm so excited.  A little over a week and we'll be done with our thirty days... but hopefully not with our gestures of kindness!

Volunteer your time.  Today is a day to selflessly give up your own time to serve somebody else.  You could serve soup at a homeless shelter, tutor a struggling student, visit people at a hospital or nursing home...  Whatever you do, I want you to volunteer at least one hour of your day.

This challenge is very important, because not only is it making someone's day and showing them that you're willing to sacrifice part of your day for them because you care, but it also proves to yourself that you're not self-centered.  Your world does not revolve around you.  You're willing to help others.  And that is what the 30 Days of Kindness are all about.

Challenges like today's are great ways to make your own day as well.  Seeing the look of gratitude and joy on someone's face when you make time to serve them is rewarding.  You will make someone feel good and you will end up feeling good in return.

I want to hear your stories!  Leave me a comment and share what you did during today's challenge.  If you have a picture or two, feel free to send them to me.  If you're blogging about today, send me the link and I'll feature it on this blog.

Stay tuned until later today to see what my friends and I did for today's act of kindness.

TOMORROW: Leave an encouraging note on someone's windshield!

Buy someone lunch

Haven't heard of the 30 Days of Kindness?  Click here to find out more.  Just starting?  That's okay!  Feel free to start this challenge right in the middle.  You can make up the days you missed through November, if you like.

Buy someone lunch.  It can be difficult to give up your money for somebody else... and even more difficult to convince a friend that you're actually willing to pay for their lunch.  But both of these things are possible.  And your challenge for today.

If someone came up to you one day and said, "Hey, I really feel like buying you lunch today," wouldn't it make your day?  You might think, "Wow, I have great friends who really care about me and like to see me happy."  It's a compliment that someone would want to spend their money on you.

This could also help start a trend of kindness.  Often, when you buy someone's lunch, they'll feel indebted to you and pay it forward, buying either your lunch another day or someone else's.  What a great way to continue these thirty days of kindness!

I'll let you decide how to pay for someone's lunch.  Tell them ahead of time that you'd like to take them out for lunch... or go with them like normal and as they take out their wallet, say, "No, I'll get it."  It's up to you.

I want to hear your stories!  Leave me a comment and share what you did during today's challenge.  If you have a picture or two, feel free to send them to me.  If you're blogging about today, send me the link and I'll feature it on this blog.

Stay tuned until later today to see what my friends and I did for today's act of kindness.

TOMORROW: Volunteer your time!

Offer to help out around the house

Haven't heard of the 30 Days of Kindness?  Click here to find out more.  Just starting?  That's okay!  Feel free to start this challenge right in the middle.  You can make up the days you missed through November, if you like.

Offer to help out around the house.  You may be a teen still living at home like I am, you could be married with a spouse, you could be in college with a roommate... whoever you are, if you are living with someone, today is the day to become a helpful person to be around.

It is a stressful feeling to look around the house and feel overwhelmed with mess and chores and clutter.  What if you had to do everything by yourself?

A great way to make someone's day, especially your Mom's, is to ask to help her out with some chores.  When you offer to help out around the house, you make the main housekeeper feel both respected and appreciated.  They will not feel like you take advantage of their duties.  Plus, you'll take a burden off of their shoulders.

I know, I know, chores are miserable and boring.  But you don't have to work all day.  Just go into the kitchen today and say, "Mom, do you need help with anything today?"  And it's as easy as that.

I want to hear your stories!  Leave me a comment and share what you did during today's challenge.  If you have a picture or two, feel free to send them to me.  If you're blogging about today, send me the link and I'll feature it on this blog.

Stay tuned until later today to see what my friends and I did for today's act of kindness.

TOMORROW: Pay for someone's lunch!

Give food to a homeless person

Haven't heard of the 30 Days of Kindness?  Click here to find out more.  Just starting?  That's okay!  Feel free to start this challenge right in the middle.  You can make up the days you missed through November, if you like.

Give food to a homeless person.  This challenge may be very difficult for you.  My city has many, many homeless people walking the streets and staying at shelters and asking for food.  You may have very few or no homeless people in your small town.  If that is the case, I'm going to count your participation in the challenge if you honestly try to find a homeless person or you simply give some food to a person who needs it.  For example, a lady just had a baby.  You could give her food and that would count.

Before you go parading the streets, looking for a homeless person, I want you to be very careful.  Get at least one buddy to go with you, preferably an adult.  If possible, be inside of your car and roll down a window to give the homeless person the food.  You want to be safe at all times.  Also, I would very much recommend you to serve the homeless from a shelter or a soup kitchen.  This can ensure that you are safe and secure.

There are many people in the United States who are living without proper food and nutrition.  You may hand out cookies, an apple, or a hamburger... or a meal from a soup kitchen.  It may not seem like much to you, but it means the world to this person.

Always remember to say, "God bless you!"

I want to hear your stories!  Leave me a comment and share what you did during today's challenge.  If you have a picture or two, feel free to send them to me.  If you're blogging about today, send me the link and I'll feature it on this blog.

Stay tuned until later today to see what my friends and I did for today's act of kindness.

TOMORROW: Offer to help out around the house!

Do an odd job for an elderly person

Haven't heard of the 30 Days of Kindness?  Click here to find out more.  Just starting?  That's okay!  Feel free to start this challenge right in the middle.  You can make up the days you missed through November, if you like.

Do an odd job for an elderly person.  I know quite a few seniors who have a difficult time doing things that we may find simple, such as taking the groceries from their car to their pantry, vacuuming their living room, or mowing their lawn.  I'm sure you can think of an elderly person who could use your help with an odd job or two today.

It's your challenge to make an old person's day by helping them out.  What a kind gesture.  You're giving someone the dignity of not having to ask for assistance.  You're also showing respect by offering to help out an older person.

You can perform an odd job for your grandparents, a neighbor, or for some people at a nursing home.  If you see an old lady crossing the street, go ahead and help her across.  It's up to you!

I want to hear your stories!  Leave me a comment and share what you did during today's challenge.  If you have a picture or two, feel free to send them to me.  If you're blogging about today, send me the link and I'll feature it on this blog.

Stay tuned until later today to see what my friends and I did for today's act of kindness.

TOMORROW: Give food to a homeless person!

Take someone out for coffee.

Haven't heard of the 30 Days of Kindness?  Click here to find out more.  Just starting?  That's okay!  Feel free to start this challenge right in the middle.  You can make up the days you missed through November, if you like.

Take someone out for ice cream/coffee.  I want you to invite a friend or casual acquaintance to have coffee or ice cream with you.  This is a great way to show them that you care and that you want to spend time getting to know them as a friend.  Have a sincere conversation with this person.

I'm not going to force you, but I suggest that you buy them their ice cream cone, snow cone, or coffee drink.  This will make your kind gesture so much more meaningful.

I want you to focus on having a listening ear during this challenge.  Don't spend the entire brunch date talking about yourself.  Listen to your friend's problems, worries, struggles, and even day-to-day life.  Ask your friend deliberate questions.  Purposely make your friend feel like you're meeting them because you want to be there for them... because you care about them.  Make this coffee/ice cream date meaningful.

This challenge may help you grow closer to a friend and learn some things that are going on in a friend's life so that you can pray for him or her.

I want to hear your stories!  Leave me a comment and share what you did during today's challenge.  If you have a picture or two, feel free to send them to me.  If you're blogging about today, send me the link and I'll feature it on this blog.

Stay tuned until later today to see what my friends and I did for today's act of kindness.

TOMORROW: Do an odd job for the elderly!
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Today we broke the rules a little.  Ali and I were both busy with jobs, cleaning, and homework, so we stretched the rules and had a friend over instead.  We had dinner together.  It was delicious.  Hamburgers, chips, ice cream, and pumpkin bread.  My parents had some guests over as well and we spent much of the evening talking and laughing together.  I love having fellowship with other people and spending time with them.  I had a great time with my friend.  After dinner, we rented a movie and watched it together.  I know my friend felt special hanging out with me, and I definitely felt special hanging out with her!

Ali: When I spent time with my friend over dinner and a movie, we had tons of fun, and it makes me so happy because we can bond, all three of us and just, um, grow closer.  It's just so nice because throughout our days, we don't have much time to just sit down and talk or spend time with each other.

What did you do with a friend today?

Personally encourage a friend

Haven't heard of the 30 Days of Kindness?  Click here to find out more.  Just starting?  That's okay!  Feel free to start this challenge right in the middle.  You can make up the days you missed through November, if you like.

Today is my birthday, so share another kind gesture and wish me happy birthday!  I turn eighteen years old today, so it's a big'un.

Another big day for us challenge-accepters.  We've been going at this for two weeks now!  We're halfway through!  How has your experience been so far?

Personally encourage a friend.  You may feel a little intimidated by this challenge, but don't let it get you down.  I want you to go to a friend who may be struggling or who needs an encouragement, and encourage them.  You don't need to carry on for an hour, but I want you to give more than a little compliment.

Perhaps you should pull aside your friend and say something to the affect of, "Hey, I know you've been struggling lately.  I just wanted to let you know that I've been praying for you to have courage lately.  I hope life has been getting better for you."  Speak sincerely.  Imagine how much your words will encourage your friend.  This will truly let him or her know that you care and that you've been thinking about them.

I want to hear your stories!  Leave me a comment and share what you did during today's challenge.  If you have a picture or two, feel free to send them to me.  If you're blogging about today, send me the link and I'll feature it on this blog.

Stay tuned until later today to see what my friends and I did for today's act of kindness.

TOMORROW: Take someone out for coffee/ice cream!
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It was fairly easy to personally encourage someone today because it was my birthday.  I thanked a few different friends for their friendship.  They were so sweet to me today, surprising me over and over again.  This has been a great day.  Seeing the look of gratitude and excitement on my friends' faces when I encouraged them brought yet another smile to my face.  I love being encouraged as well, and my friends definitely encouraged me today.

Ali: Oh, goodness.  Well, I encouraged one of my friends before she took a quiz that she was going to do good.  Unfortunately, the quiz was really hard and so even though I really did believe that she was going to do good and really did mean the encouragement, the quiz did not turn out so good, but then the teacher changed the quiz.  So in the end, she didn't get the bad grade!

Me: How did she respond to your encouragement?

Ali: She was nervous, but grateful, I guess.

Me: Did it make you feel good to encourage her?

Ali: Well, I was hoping, you know, that by encouraging her, it would give her something, and then she'd be like, "Yeah, I can do this!" and then she'd do good, but... Well, she did try her hardest.  The quiz was just hard.

How did you encourage a friend today?

Everyone Loves a Compliment

I enjoyed complimenting people today.  There's just something about a compliment that makes someone's face light up.  You can literally see a rising of confidence after you compliment someone.  I complimented clothes, hair, smarts at school... really, just whatever popped into my head.  It felt good making somebody else feel good.  I enjoyed the experience.

Ali: Oh, goodness!  I was out selling poinsettias and pies for my senior trip to the neighbors.  I used this opportunity to give out compliments.  I commented on their houses, pets, the smell of their house on one occasion, and various things like that.  They were really nice and sweet people.  I think when you compliment someone, it makes them more prone to being friendly and nice to you.

Me: Were they sincere compliments or were you just trying to get through the challenge?

Ali: No, they really were sincere!  I liked their doggies, so I would compliment that.  They were really sincere.  I wasn't just trying to sell poinsettias!  Compliments or giving out compliments comes pretty easy to me because I just like giving out compliments.

What did you do for today?

Compliment TEN People!

Haven't heard of the 30 Days of Kindness?  Click here to find out more.  Just starting?  That's okay!  Feel free to start this challenge right in the middle.  You can make up the days you missed through November, if you like.

Compliment 10 people!  I hope that you will find this challenge fun rather than any kind of a burden.  When you compliment someone on their skills, talents, or outward appearance, you can see the visible lift on their faces.  It feels good to be complimented.  When someone walks up to you and says something nice, you feel so much better about yourself, right?

What if someone has gotten no compliments all week and your few words of encouragement alters their perspective of themselves?

Compliments mean so much to everyone.

You may compliment your friends, casual friends, acquaintances, and strangers.  It will probably be best to get a good mixture of all of those groups.

I want to hear your stories!  Leave me a comment and share what you did during today's challenge.  If you have a picture or two, feel free to send them to me.  If you're blogging about today, send me the link and I'll feature it on this blog.

Stay tuned until later today to see what my friends and I did for today's act of kindness.

TOMORROW: Personally encourage a friend!

Write an encouraging note to a friend

Haven't heard of the 30 Days of Kindness?  Click here to find out more.  Just starting?  That's okay!  Feel free to start this challenge right in the middle.  You can make up the days you missed through November, if you like.

Write an encouraging note to a friend.  This challenge may seem nerve-wracking to some and incredibly easy to others.  I want you to choose a good friend of yours who is going through a difficult time or could use an encouragement, and I would like you to write them a little note of encouragement.

Your note could be a sentence long.  It could be "I've just been thinking about you" or "I'm praying for you."  It could be a few paragraphs long.  You could share verses or talk about memories between the two of you.  Whatever you decide to include in the note is up to you.

After you write the note, I want you to stick it in your friend's locker at school, in their mailbox, on their car windshield, under their bedroom door.  You can even hand it to them personally.  You don't have to sign your name, but I would prefer if you did, because in many cases, a friend is most encouraged by another friend.  However, if you believe an anonymous note would be the most encouraging thing in your friend's situation, you do not have to sign your name.

I want to hear your stories!  Leave me a comment and share what you did during today's challenge.  If you have a picture or two, feel free to send them to me.  If you're blogging about today, send me the link and I'll feature it on this blog.

Stay tuned until later today to see what my friends and I did for today's act of kindness.

TOMORROW: Compliment 10 people!
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Today's kindness challenge was to write an encouraging note to a friend.  I chose to write a card and send it through the mail to the lady I got to know at the nursing home, Ms. Bea.  I enjoyed picking out the perfect card and filling it with encouragements and Bible verses.  I honestly hope I made her day.  I just wish I could be there when she receives the letter.

Elderly people in nursing homes love getting mail, we learned when we visited them.  Imagine the disappointment for those who don't have a family to visit them.  They never get mail.  So I hope to truly make Bea's day by allowing her to get an encouraging letter in the mail from someone who cares.

Me: Ali, who did you give your letter?

Ali: I'm going to send my letter to Goldie, the lady I met at the nursing home.  I'm super excited to hear of her reaction.  I can't wait to see her next time and talk to her about it.  Maybe it might become a routine.

Me: Do you think giving encouraging notes is important?

Ali: Oh yes.  Sometimes we don't realize the difference it can make in someone's day or week.  She loves getting mail... actually, that's the only thing she looks forward to every day, so I know it will brighten her day, and I'm excited.

I loooooooooove writing encouraging letters.

To whom did you write your letter?

Make a snack for your friends

Haven't heard of the 30 Days of Kindness?  Click here to find out more.  Just starting?  That's okay!  Feel free to start this challenge right in the middle.  You can make up the days you missed through November, if you like.

Make a snack for your friends.  Tell me that this wouldn't brighten your day if a friend baked a lovely batch of cookies and brought them to share with you for lunch.  It would be an exciting feeling, right?  Sharing a delicious snack is a kind gesture that anyone would appreciate.

I will not limit this gesture, however.  If you would like to make a snack and take it to a nursing home, children's hospital, fire department, or preschool, that will count.  If you want to make a snack for two or more groups, that will also count.  I would love to hear about who you gave your snack, so please comment your story and potential pictures below.

I have a feeling that this may be a favorite kind gesture so far.

I want to hear your stories!  Leave me a comment and share what you did during today's challenge.  If you have a picture or two, feel free to send them to me.  If you're blogging about today, send me the link and I'll feature it on this blog.

Stay tuned until later today to see what my friends and I did for today's act of kindness.

TOMORROW: Leave an encouraging note for a friend
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Today, Ali and I broke the rules a little bit.  Instead of making a snack for someone, we only had time to buy a snack.  My grandma was feeling sick with a bad case of bronchitis, so Ali and I went to Walgreens to buy some cough drops and a huge bucket of peppermints.  If you've never had a pepper mint with a sore throat, try it.  An excellent remedy, in my opinion.

We left a little Post-It note inside the peppermint bucket, basically telling my Nawnie to feel better soon and that we loved her.  We dropped the gift off at her house.  I know our little "snack" completely and totally made my grandma's day.  She lives alone, and I know that being sick is a miserable feeling, especially when your throat hurts and you just can't stop coughing.  I enjoyed helping out my grandma and making her feel special.

What did you do for today's challenge?

I love old people.

I love old people.

For today's challenge, Ali and I hugged a few people at church and at a restaurant, but we decided to visit a nursing home and hug some lonely people.  We went to the nurse and asked her if she would point out some ladies who didn't get many visitors, so she guided Ali to a lady named Goldie and me to a lady named Bea.  Both ladies were adorable and super sweet.  I haven't had such a fun, relaxed afternoon in such a long time.

I had a great experience with Bea.  I brought my nine-week-old Yorkie, Jack, and she held him the entire time.  I loved that Bea told me stories.  She kept thanking me that I came and visited her in her room.  She was so, so, so sweet.  I definitely want to start visiting her more often.  I'd also like to send her a letter to let her know I haven't forgotten her.

Nursing homes can be such sad places, basically where people drop off their elderly family members so they'll die out of sight.  These old people are adorable and wise and loving.  All they want is someone to talk to an for  someone to care about them.  And they deserve it.  I loved today.

Me: Ali, how was your time with Goldie?

Ali: Oh, it was absolutely wonderful.  It was probably the best way I've spent my time in a long time.  Not only do I know that I made her day, but it encouraged me.  Today was definitely not a day wasted.

Me: Any specific stories?

Ali: There are quite a few.  Let's see.  She kept asking me where I wanted to go to college, and I kept telling her A&M- if it accepts me- and then she would go on and on about how in today's world you need to go to college and have a college education, and she would just encourage me so much about college and life.

Me: Does this make you want to visit Goldie again?

Ali: Oh, it makes me want to go tomorrow!

---

We plan to make our Sunday afternoon nursing home trips a tradition from now on, as often as possible.  That's how much we enjoyed ourselves today.

Hug TEN People!

Haven't heard of the 30 Days of Kindness?  Click here to find out more.  Just starting?  That's okay!  Feel free to start this challenge right in the middle.  You can make up the days you missed through November, if you like.

Hug 10 people!  When you hug a person, you make their day.  Now imagine if you hug ten people!  You'll be making ten people's days.  What a great way to end your week.

Preferably, you should be hugging strangers.  But you're allowed to hug people you casually know... and even friends too.  Ten people means a lot of hugging.  You can even beat this challenge if you like.

I also challenge you to take a picture hugging at least one person.  When you're done, send me the picture and I'll feature it on this blog.

I want to hear your stories!  Leave me a comment and share what you did during today's challenge.  If you have a picture already, feel free to send it to me.  If you're blogging about today, send me the link and I'll feature it on this blog.

Stay tuned until later today to see what my friends and I did for today's act of kindness.

TOMORROW: Make a snack for your friends!
Note: If you attend school you may want to go ahead and bake cookies or something today and then bring them to school to share with your friends tomorrow.  That is what I will be doing.

Donate clothes to a shelter.

Haven't heard of the 30 Days of Kindness?  Click here to find out more.  Just starting?  That's okay!  Feel free to start this challenge right in the middle.  You can make up the days you missed through November, if you like.

Donate clothes to a shelter.  It's about time for you to sort through the summer's clothes and take out some shirts or shorts that you've outgrown or are going out of style.  Once you've picked out some clothes that you are willing to give up, put them in a bag and donate them to your local homeless shelter.  I'll give you some leniency on this as well.  If you know someone who wears approximately your size of clothing, you can give the hand-me-downs to them... you can even leave them on this person's doorstep and run away before they know it is you.

This gesture is basically meant to help someone out who can't even afford clothing.  Sacrificing a few shirts is worth it if it means giving someone a shirt that they could not afford otherwise.

Best yet, if you have old coats or long-sleeved shirts from last year, donate them.  Many people are going to be cold this winter and you can help to prevent that.

I want to hear your stories!  Leave me a comment and share what you did during today's challenge.  If you have a picture already, feel free to send it to me.  If you're blogging about today, send me the link and I'll feature it on this blog.

Stay tuned until later today to see what my friends and I did for today's act of kindness.

TOMORROW: Hug ten people!
-----
I spent most of the day cleaning out my closet and drawers.  I ended up gathering three bags of clothes to donate to a shelter.  Around seven o'clock in the evening, I picked up Ali from work and we went to a homeless shelter in my city called Faith City Ministries.  This homeless shelter has a drop off place where you can leave clothes and food and things like that.  They'll use it to help the poor people in my city.

It was a great feeling to donate so many clothes to the homeless and needy.  I love the good feeling that swells up in your chest.  I also felt incredibly blessed as I drove through the poor neighborhoods and saw several homeless people wandering around.  I have so many things.  Even the three bags of clothes that I gave away were more than most of those people had to their name, and those were my discard clothes!  God has blessed me with so much.

Me: Ali, what did you learn from donating clothes today?

Ali: It's just reminded me and Emily about how blessed we are, and just throughout the day, remember to thank God for everything you have.

Leave an encouraging Bible verse

Haven't heard of the 30 Days of Kindness?  Click here to find out more.  Just starting?  That's okay!  Feel free to start this challenge right in the middle.  You can make up the days you missed through November, if you like.

Leave an encouraging Bible verse somewhere.  You have to be careful with this challenge.  I don't want you to go and give out Bible verses that will make Christians sound judgmental out of context, like "The wicked will perish."  You don't want to include Bible verses that talk about repenting or turning from sin.  Yes, those scriptures are important, but they will not encourage someone.  I'm looking for an encouraging Bible verse.  You may not even want to use something as common as John 3:16.  The thing about popular verses is that everyone knows them and they will turn people who hate religion off immediately.  But ultimately, it's up to you.

Here are some example verses that you could use.
- John 16:33
- Psalm 46:1-3
- Isaiah 41:10
- Psalm 55:22
- 1 Peter 5:7
- Matthew 11:28

Leave your encouraging Bible verse on the windshield of someone's car, stuck to a bathroom mirror, on a park bench, in a hotel drawer...  God knows the purpose behind this verse, and He will help bring it to the right person.  Perhaps the verse will even be found by a fellow Christian who is having a difficult day and who simply needs a boost.

I want to hear your stories!  Leave me a comment and share what you did during today's challenge.  If you have a picture already, feel free to send it to me.  If you're blogging about today, send me the link and I'll feature it on this blog.

Stay tuned until later today to see what my friends and I did for today's act of kindness.

TOMORROW: Donate clothes to a shelter
-----
Today, I wrote 1 Peter 5:7 on a note card, along with a little encouraging note and waited.  Ali has her SAT test tomorrow, so I thought the anxiety that is common with those sorts of tests was a perfect excuse to give an encouraging Bible verse.  I was going to leave a verse on a car windshield, but encouraging my friend was more important.

After Ali was asleep, I sneaked downstairs and put the encouraging note right on the doorstep.  Soooooo I hope she finds it.  We'll see!  :)

Ali had to work until late last night, so she'll be fulfilling today's challenge tomorrow.

Donate $5 to a charity.

Haven't heard of the 30 Days of Kindness?  Click here to find out more.  Just starting?  That's okay!  Feel free to start this challenge right in the middle.  You can make up the days you missed through November, if you like.

You've officially been participating in the 30 Days of Kindness Challenge for an entire week!  Great job!  Keep up the stamina, because we still have three weeks left to go.  I hope that you've been able to encourage others, and your kind gestures have ended up encouraging you as well.
Donate $5 to a charity or to someone who needs the money.  This challenge might hurt a little bit, considering that you'll be sacrificing some of your own cash here.  However, sharing with the needy is one of the kindest gestures you can possibly make.  Just think: you're sacrificing a frappuccino from Starbucks to make someone's day, if not their entire week.

I want to leave it up to you when it comes to what you do with the five dollars.  Donate it to a homeless shelter, give it to a friend who ran out of money for their school lunch, donate the money to World Vision.  Do what you think is best with the $5.  The only rule is that it must be given selflessly to someone who truly needs it, organization or not.

I want to hear your stories!  Leave me a comment and share what you did during today's challenge.  If you have a picture already, feel free to send it to me.  If you're blogging about today, send me the link and I'll feature it on this blog.

Stay tuned until later today to see what my friends and I did for today's act of kindness.

TOMORROW: Leave an encouraging Bible verse somewhere

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To be honest, I didn't think that anyone but me would participate in today's challenge since it involved sacrificing money, which is a valuable resource for teens like me, perhaps even more valuable than kindness at times.  However, most of my friends did end up donating five dollars to a charity, which totally made my day.

I donated my five dollars to a mosquito net fund I started after I returned home from Kenya, Africa.  Another friend of mine donated five dollars to that fund as well, so together, we gave enough money to purchase a mosquito net for someone in Africa.  Exciting!

Some people donated to our school's Invisible Children Schools for Schools fund.  I loved seeing my peers step up and sacrifice their own money to help somebody else.  It brings a smile to my face. :)

What charity did you give your $5 to?

Leave an encouraging note on the mirror.

Haven't heard of the 30 Days of Kindness?  Click here to find out more.  Just starting?  That's okay!  Feel free to start this challenge right in the middle.  You can make up the days you missed through November, if you like.

Leave an encouraging note on a mirror.  Have you ever looked into the mirror and thought, "I am so ugly and worthless.  How could anyone like me?"  Chances are, you have.  Self-confidence is a huge issue among young people, so that's what inspired today's challenge.

Write an encouraging note.  It could be simple, like, "You are beautiful," or it could be a poem about beauty or a letter to your inner self.  Use your creativity and writing skills here.  After you've written your note, stick it on the mirror of a public bathroom, at your school, or on a mirror at a cosmetics store.  You could even stick the note on your sister's mirror or a mirror of your friend with low self esteem.  Stick the note wherever you feel that it is needed.

Someone may go up to the mirror today, thinking, "I'm worthless!"  When they see your note, perhaps their confidence will rise.

I want to hear your stories!  Leave me a comment and share what you did during today's challenge.  If you have a picture already, feel free to send it to me.  If you're blogging about today, send me the link and I'll feature it on this blog.

Stay tuned until later today to see what my friends and I did for today's act of kindness.

TOMORROW: Donate five dollars to a charity
-----

I loved today's challenge.  I made my encouraging note during Study Hall while I was at school.  It wasn't super creative- I'm not very good at art, art- but I enjoyed thinking of something encouraging to say.  You can see my note below.
I put my note right beside our bathroom mirror at my high school so that the girls could read it when they looked in the mirror and possibly felt bad about themselves.  I like encouraging people.  It makes me feel good too, to be honest.

Me: Ali, what did you do today?

Ali: I wrote an encouraging note for a younger girl that I know, and I just, I hope that she likes it- I don't know yet!  But, you know, I always love receiving encouraging notes, so it always hopes me and I hope it kinda helps her, and it at least brings a smile to her!

Today's challenge has been one of the most fun so far, in my opinion.

Leave a dollar for someone to find.

Haven't heard of the 30 Days of Kindness?  Click here to find out more.  Just starting?  That's okay!  Feel free to start this challenge right in the middle.  You can make up the days you missed through November, if you like.

Leave a dollar somewhere.  Today's challenge will require all of your creative juices to flow.  You need to find a dollar and leave it somewhere for someone to find.  Now I want your creativity here.  You could separate the dollar into a hundred pennies and place them all face up in various locations in your town.  You could stick the dollar by a vending machine or a phone booth, where someone might need the money.  Place the dollar on a sidewalk and hide in the bushes until someone walks by and picks it up (excellent photo opportunity).  Attach the dollar to the end of a balloon and watch it fly far, far away.

There have always been moments where we have to pay for an item and then realize with horror and embarrassment that we're a dollar short.  Today is our chance to help someone out.

I want to hear your stories!  Leave me a comment and share what you did during today's challenge.  If you have a picture already, feel free to send it to me.  If you're blogging about today, send me the link and I'll feature it on this blog.

Stay tuned until later today to see what my friends and I did for today's act of kindness.

TOMORROW: Leave an encouraging note on a mirror!
----
I was going to go to the bank and exchange a dollar for a hundred pennies, but I simply did not have the time today.  Perhaps I'll do something similar later on in the month.  Today I went ahead and got a dollar bill (the last one I had, actually... lucky me!).  I wrote a little message on the bill that said "Have a great day!"  (Man, I hope that's not illegal.  Ali said it wasn't, so I believe her.)

I looked all around my school for the perfect, obvious place to set a dollar bill for someone to find.  I finally chose a bench that sits right in front of the school.  It has little round holes all across the top, perfect places for someone to stuff a rolled-up dollar bill.  Best yet, those benches are where kids sit when they're waiting for their parents to pick them up.  Many times, the parents are late.  I often see these kids looking down and bored and world-wearied, ready to go home and get away from the hectic school environment.  What a great way to make one of these kids' days, by letting them find a dollar bill with a friendly message written across the front.

I only wish I could have stuck around to watch someone come across the dollar bill.  I wish I could have seen the look on whoever's face that found the dollar.

Another fun aspect to the day.  I'm not the only one at school participating in the 30 Days of Kindness challenge, so a few dollar bills were left around the school.  At one point in the day, a boy ran into the high school building, shouting, "I found a dollar!  I found a dollar!  Yay!"  What a confirmation that we made someone's day better!

Hug a Stranger

Haven't heard of the 30 Days of Kindness?  Click here to find out more.  Just starting?  That's okay!  Feel free to start this challenge right in the middle.  You can make up the days you missed through November, if you like.

Hug a stranger.  I'm not going to be quite as strict with the rules today.  Although it would be best if you hugged someone you had never met, I'll let you off if you hug someone that you don't know well.  But when I say "someone you don't know well", I don't mean a casual friend.  I mean someone you've spoken to maybe once or twice ever.

The reason for my lenience is because at times, you may not come across a good moment to hug a complete stranger off the street.  Maybe the only few strangers you see today are on the phone, toting three kids, or driving in their car.  Obviously not good candidates.  So I'll broaden the spectrum for you. :)

When I'm upset, sometimes all I want is a big hug, no matter who it's from.  Today, let's lighten someone's burden with a single hug.

I want to hear your stories!  Leave me a comment and share what you did during today's challenge.  If you have a picture already, feel free to send it to me.  If you're blogging about today, send me the link and I'll feature it on this blog.

Stay tuned until later today to see what my friends and I did for today's act of kindness.

TOMORROW: Leave a dollar for someone to find!
------

I actually completed Day 4's challenge on Day 5 because I stayed home sick, and I couldn't very well go around hugging strangers when I was contagious.  Probably not the kindest gesture to give.  Coincidentally, Ali was sick too!  So we both decided to complete two challenges on Day 5 instead of risking getting anybody else sick.  Best friends share everything, including colds, right? :)

I had in mind not to hug a complete stranger today.  Instead, I wanted to hug some underclassmen that I didn't know very well. Hugs make everyone's day brighter, and I really need to branch out and meet some of the younger kids in my high school.   However, I was faced with a problem.  My school has recently come up with a rule that nobody is allowed to hug anymore.  I'm not even joking.  So hugging a student during school hours would be breaking a school rule and disobeying authority.  My next plan was to go to a nursing home and hug random people, but my heart was set on hugging underclassmen.

Luckily, today was a National Honor Society meeting at lunch- and I don't think lunch counts as school hours- so I managed to hug some girls there.  It was fun to hug them, and not like I felt obligated to hug those girls because of the challenge.  I love hugging.

Hugging is very important.  Check out this cute quote:

"Hugging is healthy: it helps the body's immun[e] system, it keeps you healthier, it cures depression, it reduces stress, it induces sleep, it's invigorating, it's rejuvenating, it has no unpleasant side effects, and hugging is nothing less than a miracle drug.  Hugging is all natural: it is organic, naturally sweet, it has no pesticides, no preservatives, no artificial ingredients, and it is 100% wholesome.  Hugging is practically perfect: there are no movable parts, no batteries to replace, no periodic check-ups, has low energy consumption, high energy yield, is inflation-proof, non-fattening, has no monthly payments, no insurance requirements, is theft-proof, non-taxable, non-polluting, and is, of course, fully refundable." - Sharon Lindsey

Me: Ali, did you hug anyone today?

Ali: I went up to a girl and said hi to her, and I hugged her.  She wasn't a complete stranger, but she was definitely a girl I'd never talked to.  She looked at me and smiled and said hi back.

Me: Did you learn anything from hugging people you didn't know very well?

Ali: I think it was encouraging to me and it was also encouraging to her.  It was encouraging to me because, like, because I like giving hugs.  And it was encouraging to her- I think- because, I mean, receiving hugs is nice, and when people hug you, it just makes you feel special.

Did you have fun hugging people?  Did you hug a complete stranger or someone you didn't know very well?

Compliment a Stranger

Haven't heard of the 30 Days of Kindness?  Click here to find out more.  Just starting?  That's okay!  Feel free to start this challenge right in the middle.  You can make up the days you missed through November, if you like.

Compliment a stranger.  I know, I know...  You're being forced to come out of your shell and reach out to all of these strangers.  The first four days of this challenge do revolve around communicating with strangers, but there is a purpose to this aspect of the 30 Days of Kindness.  Have you ever heard the story of a man called John Kevin Hines?  He actually jumped off the Golden Gate Bridge in a failed suicide attempt.  He said once in a conference, "If someone had smiled... I would not have jumped.  [A smile] could well save a life."

Have you ever felt completely down while going about your day, but when someone offered you a sincere smile, you felt like a burden had been lifted off your shoulders?  When you smile, greet, or compliment a stranger, you are brightening their day.  What if your smile helped to save a person's life?

When you compliment your stranger today, be sure to speak in a sincere voice and smile.  Compliment their hair, eyes, clothes...  Make them feel like you care.

I want to hear your stories!  If you have a picture already, feel free to send it to me.  If you're blogging about this day, send me the link and I'll feature it on this blog.

Stay tuned until later today to see what my friends and I did for today's act of kindness.

TOMORROW: Hug a stranger!

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Today's challenge was pretty simple, as it was a Sunday and Ali and I were at church.  We both were able to compliment people before the service even started!  I liked this challenge because it encouraged us to go out of our loop of church friends and greet somebody new.

I complimented a lady's necklace.  It made my day to see the look of gratitude come over her face when I let her know that I acknowledged how cute she looked and how I knew she had worked hard on her appearance for church.  I love the visible rise in self-confidence that comes over someone when you compliment their appearance.  I love to be complimented- it makes me feel good- so I know that other ladies like to be complimented as well.

Me: Ali, what happened with you today?

Ali: We went to church and we were getting coffee, and the lady behind us had a cute dress on, and I had never met her.  So I turned around I said hi... with a smile!  I complimented her dress, which was way cute.  She looked grateful that I complimented her dress, and I think it made her feel good.  It makes me feel good when people compliment me.

Me: And what did you learn from this experience?

Ali: I learned that you can make someone smile by complimenting them.  Everyone likes to feel good about something they do or wear, so I will try to compliment more people more often.

What did you learn today?  Do you have any fun stories?  Be sure to check out my YouTube channel to see more personalized stories of each day's experiences.

Greet a Stranger

Haven't heard of the 30 Days of Kindness?  Click here to find out more.  Just starting?  That's okay!  Feel free to start this challenge right in the middle.  You can make up the days you missed through November, if you like.

Greet a stranger.  Say "hi" or "how are you?" or "how has your day been?" to someone you don't know.  A complete stranger.  I want you to be sure to sound sincere and genuine when you greet this person.  Be sure to smile!  Make someone feel like you truly care about how they're doing.

This should still be a fairly easy challenge.  Greet the cashier at a store.  Greet someone when you pass them on the sidewalk.  Waiting in line at the bus stop?  Start up a conversation.  There are billions of people in this world that you do not know.  It should be fairly easy to find one of them.

After you're done, share your stories below!  If you have a picture or video with the stranger you greeted, feel free to comment with the link and I'll share it on this blog for everyone to see.

Tune in later today to see what my friends and I did for today's act of kindness.

TOMORROW: Compliment a stranger!
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Today, we went to the mall in search for strangers to greet.  Ali and I ended up saying hello to twenty people each, which means that we greeted forty people!  It was surprisingly awkward and difficult to come out of our shells and speak to someone we didn't know.  Most people seemed to be taken aback or even uncomfortable... with a mere "hi!"  Several times, my target would look me up and down and walk away without even saying hi in return.

It saddened me that our nation has become so turned off to friendliness that even a mere greeting is taken as offensive or startling.  I plan to make it a habit to greet strangers more often.  This stiffness needs to end.

Me: So Ali, what did you learn from today?

Ali: It was just kind of different.  People aren't used to others saying hi to them, and so sometimes we'd get strange looks, and other times, I would wonder whether someone heard me or not or if they just ignored me!  A few times we got "hi"'s back, but most of the time, people just smiled and walked away.  It makes me want to change that, and I want to start saying hi to strangers more often and be more friendly.  I mean, I consider myself a friendly person already, but this showed me the opposite!

Me: So how do you plan on changing this?

Ali: I plan on smiling and saying hi to people more often and caring for strangers, just by saying hi.

We learned a lot from merely saying hi to strangers.  What were your experiences from today?

Genuine Smiles

Today's challenge was easy.  My best friend, Ali, will also be participating in this thirty day challenge.

We went to a gas station in a rougher side of town, determined to find people to smile at and show kindness.  I turned around and smiled at the lady behind me in line.  She was thin, wrinkled, and wearing worn clothes.  She seemed stressed out and overwhelmed.  When I smiled at her, she looked up at me with weary blue eyes and seemed to hesitate, as if she was unused to friendliness of any kind.  While the lady seemed taken aback by my bright smile, she didn't seem to mind.  I wonder if my friendliness made her day.

Ali: "I smiled at the cashier. She looked like she was having a bad day, so I thought I'd brighten her day, and it brightened mine."

Me: "Could you tell if she seemed happier after you smiled at her?"

Ali: "Mmm-hmm!"

What is your story for today?  I would love to see a picture of your beautiful, genuine smile.  Tell me about today's challenge.  Did you make someone's day?  Did your target smile back at you?  Did they ignore you?  Who did you choose to bestow upon your smile?

Stay tuned to read about tomorrow's challenge!

Smile at a Stranger

Haven't heard of the 30 Days of Kindness?  Click here to find out more.

I wanted to start off the 30 Days of Kindness with an easy challenge.  This will give us a chance to ease into the kind gestures.

Smile at a complete stranger.  Make someone's day with your smile.  Make someone feel like you care about them.

You don't have to take a picture of yourself deliberately smiling at someone, because it should be somewhat spontaneous, but I would love to hear your stories in the comments below.  Answer these questions: Who did you smile at (description, boy or girl, etc.)?  Where were you?  What was their reaction?  Would you do it again?

Tune in later today to see what I did for today's act of kindness.

TOMORROW: Greet a stranger!