Dear Reader:

The other day as I was scrolling through Facebook I saw a wooden plaque on a friend’s house that I loved… along with the owner…but then of course, a few hours later when I went to retrieve it and make a copy it had disappeared! Isn’t that a really frustrating aspect of Facebook-it’s just the luck of the draw.

It was Shelly and Danny Baker’s home ( I taught both of them in 8th grade– boyfriend and girlfriend even back then and today one of the most enduring sweetest couples you will ever meet.) As fate would have it-Shelly turned out to be my secretary when I went to the district office, as well as, close friend!

The wooden plaque they had put up was their mantra for 2022-they wanted a return to kindness above all else! It speaks volumes about both of them dealing with imminent health problems and unknowns-still focusing on a kinder world.

That same day a picture of this plaque outside the White House by one of the most respected First Ladies also spoke volumes-choosing love over all our fractured political system ugliness.

I am going to get a plaque made too for my front porch-Kindness in 2022-Let’s Create Ripples of Kindness that Turn Into Rivers of Love.”

I am starting the first ripples today. Yesterday I went to my ATM and withdrew two twenties which I promptly changed into four ten’s. I put one ten into each envelope-no message.

( I got this idea from a Kindness Website- today I will drop off the envelopes at four different stores or diners.) I will go to the cashier checking customers out and ask them if they would assist me with an act of random kindness by selecting one customer that day of their choice who looks like they could use a little ” pick me up” or God Wink.

By involving a third party to the traditional giver-receiver relationship-you are giving someone else an opportunity to feel good about themselves in the process. It’s not enough money for it to be an incentive to keep it themselves but just enough to make the receiver feel special-like the Universe stopped to wave and acknowledge them. A great way to start the New Year. Will let you know tomorrow the cashiers’ reaction to my kindness request of assistance.

So until tomorrow -let’s all stay open to new ways to make the world a little kinder and let’s not make the mistake of trading happy for happier. As children didn’t we think we would be happier when we grew up, then happier meeting our great love, happier having a family, happier getting a promotion or new career… only to discover that we weren’t content after getting all we thought would bring us happiness.

Happiness can only be found within us-nobody else should be accountable for our happiness-that is an unfair burden to put on anyone. Never under-rate contentment-the peaceful happiness that lasts a lifetime!

Today is my favorite day-Winnie the Pooh

And don’t forget kindness includes all living creatures !

Happy New Year Post Readers/ Friends!