so awhile ago..I got wind of the birthday project.
I don’t know about you…but I hate my birthday. I dunno why. but I do.
and thirty is one of those that hits hard…(for me)
So i thought on my birthday i could either
a. lay in bed all day and think about how crappy 30 is and then get mad at my husband for not catering to my every unpractical whim that i have. (like having an entire bowl of marshmallows maties (minus maties) for breakfast…it’s a dream of mine)
or b.
I could go around and spend my day doing 30 acts of service.
a was tempting…but i choose b.
I have actually been planning it out for months…MONTHS! i got my kids involved and we made numerous list of things to do (they really got into it)
(you should know something about me…i’m super shy in real life. okay. not shy..let’s try..socially awkward. i don’t do good in settings with people i don’t know. in involves a lot of awkward silences–so this whole idea is really going out of my comfort zone)
so the two weeks prior to my birthday we are really cracking down and trying to get all 30 things to do (we came up with 20 pretty easy..the last ten were difficult)
and i would pull up to the taco bell drive through and the girl that took my money was so stinking polite….and i would think, oh..if only this was my birthday I could tell her manager what a fantastic job she is doing. which is dumb. i totally should still do it. birthday or not. it’s kinda an eye opener. so many simple opportunities to spread some love.
so without further ado…my 30 acts of niceties:
1. Hand out candy (stranger danger)
I bought a bag of suckers (and made them cute…) then we took them around walmart (my kids were soo shy and wouldn’t give any out) so i had to be the weird lady that was handing out suckers. basically if we saw a kid we asked them if they wanted a sucker (and no one turned us down!) my kids hate walmart (and joanns) so we thought the moms would appreciate a little treat for their kids!
bought some cute notecards to
2. Write a few (way overdue) notes of thanks
and 3. i gave a package to a lady that always gives the sweetest thank you cards (she even mails them old school way)
6. Left little candles around town
hope your day doesn’t stink (these candles where only a dollar at walmart)
7. Left treats around town
I got a pile of these ready and left them in shopping carts…(luckily we went all over town so we just left one everywhere we went…..)
8. Took a treat/drink to an outside worker
9. Take someone dinner
luckily someone at church just had a baby so i was able to make them dinner ….
10. Leave a love note for you significant other
I made these i love you note cards and snuck one in my husbands lunch bag for work..
18. Wish someone a Lucky Day
19. Donate things to a thrift store or family in need.
I took a pile of stuff to the thrift store (and if you know me…this was hard as i’m a hoarder!)
Psst…i’ve got all the printables available to you HERE!!!!
and if you want an easy way to do RAOK check out this book....
It even had tear out printables in the back!
Make sure grab this book! And throw kindness around like confetti!
you can also head HERE for kindness quote roundup
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Jen B. says
You're awesome 🙂
Nat says
Wow Kim! That was amazing, seriously tears in my eyes…I was so selfish for my 30th! I was thrilled and threw a super duper party…never even considered service! Maybe for my 40th…
Thanks for sharing!
Nat
doodlecraft.blogspot
angela says
Love this… I do this around Christmas but will be doing it more now!!!
~PJ says
Thats awesome. I turn thirty next year and I saw something like this on pinterest that I wanted to do. Hopefully its going to help me forget the dread I know Im going to feel as it gets closer
Donna @ Snowbound says
This is so amazing Kim!! Good for you for doing something so great on your birthday! It must have felt good!
Kristy says
Love this idea. So many great things to do to help other people! Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Megan says
That's an awesome idea! Thanks for the inspiration.
Melissa says
This was so fun to read and to get the wheels turning. I think it was probably as important for you to do this as your kids. Those little eyes are watching and learning and I know that this is one of those things that they will always remember… a little birthday tradition in the making for everyone? Not on this scale, but maybe leaving the dollars at the dollar store? I sure like the idea. Thanks.
Heather says
wow, I love all of these Kim! I would have loved to see the looks on every single person's face! You are pretty awesome!
Briep says
A lady in my ward just did this. It is an amzing idea. she tried to take balloons to the hospital but she bought ones that had latex and was unable to deliver them. I will try to do this on my next birthday.
Mandi@TidbitsfromtheTremaynes says
I cannot believe you did this. I love LOVE this. So doing this. brainstorming. . .now.
hurley thurston says
Great idea & great examples. I turn 40 in 35 days. Perfect amount of time to prep for this. I am more excited now. Thank you for being awesome.
4bd21e04-f37f-11e1-be7c-000bcdca4d7a says
YOU are amazing, Kim! Great day, fun pix, awesome ideas! I'm going to share this 10,700+ people who I know will love it and be inspired by it too! Happy Belated Birthday…I hope you have changed your mind about birthdays altogether now. 😉
Warmly,
Robyn @The Birthday Project
facebook.com/thebirthdayproject
Sharlyn says
YOU are amazing! What a great idea! I'll be 40 in 18 months ( gag) this is a perfect thing to do 😉
Kandice says
Good heck, you are my freaking hero for the day! This was insanely awesome. I'm like you…I suck around people I don't know (which the people I do know would never believe because when I'm comfortable I never shut up!) so this is something I need to do. And my big 3-0 is coming in a few months, so I may just have to play copycat! Thanks for sharing…YOU are awesome!
Welcome says
Adore ALL of these-especially the dressing room and gas pump one! So doing a few of them! Sharing too!
Janet says
What an amazing day you had! I loved reading through your post and hearing about all of your good deeds. What a great example you are setting for your kids to take them on this serving adventure with you. Thanks for the inspiration!!!
Karen says
That was awesome, it made me really stop and think….we are all on busy scedules and life does not have a pause button but with a little effort we can do nice things and make someones day!!! Your post was a really GREAT reminder.
Karen
Saskia says
Amazing!
Christina says
This is so great. I love this idea, It's always nice to give service. There's always someone who needs to know that somebody out there cares.
Tedi Palmer says
You are awesome for doing this. Plus you make me happy when I read your posts. 🙂 I think I wanna do something like this for my birthday. Good idea!
criminerlay1989.page.tl says
An outstanding share! I’ve just forwarded this onto a colleague who had been doing a little homework on this. And he actually bought me lunch due to the fact that I discovered it for him… lol. So allow me to reword this…. Thanks for the meal!! But yeah, thanks for spending the time to discuss this subject here on your site.