Random Acts of Kindness

Happy Friday!! If you are out shopping today, I hope you are being kind to the retail workers! Many of them have been up since the wee hours of the morning, and they really do not get paid enough to deal with rude customers for 8+ hours. With that being said, I think it’s time I introduce my story of random acts of kindness to you all!

I love the TV show Supernatural with Misha Collins (he plays Castiel). Misha started an organization called Random Acts, and it focuses on inspiring random acts of kindness around the world. On Valentine’s Day, I was sad knowing that some people would not be told how special they were to someone else, so I bought 60 Valentines and handed them out to random students on campus. I focused on people that were alone and seemed a little down. Almost every single person had a huge smile on their face when they realized what it was, and it inspired me to take this to the next level. So, I started a Facebook page called SU Random Acts of Kindness, and I post positive quotes, pictures, videos and random act ideas all the time. I love what I do, and I hope I am inspiring other people to be kind as well. Sometimes, I feel like what I do doesn’t matter, but it’s videos like the one below that really make me happy that I’ve decided to live a random acts life.

This video was originally posted on ViddSee, a website dedicated to Asian short films. It is about one man’s random act of kindness and how that act rippled throughout the rest of his life. It is a beautiful tear-jerker, and I hope you enjoy it! Go create your own ripple today!

Things I’m Thankful for Part 3

I got home from college on Monday night, and I must say, I love, love, LOVE being home! I haven’t been back since August, so it is nice to sleep in my own bed and cuddle with my puppy and kitty. My cat has not left my bed since I got home, so that’s always nice to see. I was also able to go into work with my mom yesterday. I didn’t make any money, but I really needed to work on that integrated unit I mentioned before. No wifi at her work=no distractions. It was so nice to eat lunch with her too! My brother and I went out to dinner, so hopefully sometime this week my dad and I can do something with just the two of us. I am also looking forward to seeing my grandparents at some point before I go back to school on Sunday. Can you tell what I’m thankful for yet? If you guessed FAMILY, you are correct!!!! I realize that I am very fortunate to come home to a loving family that has supported me throughout the years because not everyone shares this experience. If you do not have a safe environment to go home to, please know that you are in my thoughts this holiday season. Family does not always have to be blood…there are friends I’ve made that I would consider my family in a heartbeat. So, whatever your family situation is, I hope you get to spend time with people that love and support you on Thanksgiving.

This magnificent video comes from SoulPancake, the awesomeness that catapulted Kid President to monster fame. They challenged people to write letters of gratitude to someone influential in their life. Enjoy!

Things I’m Thankful For Part 2

Happy Tuesday friends! I am currently working on an integrated unit for my Science Methods class, and I do not feel very kind or compassionate right now. I am quite convinced that this unit is going to be the death of me. If I’m honest with myself, I know that it will get done and I will do just fine. My unit is on geology, and I am happy with most of the lessons I’ve created/adapted. Do you ever have a lesson or two that you’re not sure if it will work or not? I have one or two of those lessons in this unit. I think they have a lot of potential, but I don’t know if my professor will see it that way. Well, it’s due next Monday, so it’ll get done soon enough.

So how does this relate to being thankful? Well, I am going to graduate in mere months, and I even though I am struggling with this unit, I am GRADUATING SOON!!! I survived my education, and I am on my way to big and awesome experiences. So, I am thankful for all of my education. I am thankful for the awesome teachers I’ve had, and I’m even thankful for the bad teachers because I know what kind of teacher I don’t want to be. So, this video is all about being thankful for education. I also found this on Upworthy, and I really think foreign commercials are just full of awesomeness.

Things I’m Thankful For Part 1

With Thanksgiving quickly approaching, I know I have a lot to be thankful for. I am taking this week to make a list of the people/things I am blessed to have. One of the most important things that gets overlooked in our lives is our ability to read. Reading is the foundation for just about everything we do in our lives. If we can’t read, we can’t communicate well, do jobs, or let our family and friends know how much we love them (if you still write letters, that is). I came across this video on Upworthy last year, and it is one of those awesome videos that gives me goosebumps (and makes me tear up a little). I am so thankful that I can read and enjoy the words in a book. I am thankful that books allow me to explore unknown worlds where I am only limited by how big my dreams are. I am thankful for the teachers that helped me read and put books in my hands. I am thankful for literacy!