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.

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!

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!

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.  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!

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!

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!

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:


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.

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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?

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!

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?

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!

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?

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!

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?