A few weeks ago, I shared a post with all of you about my desire to share a stack of cards with random acts of kindness printed on each of them. I asked for some of you to volunteer to receive a card from me, and follow through with the assigned guerilla goodness. The response for volunteers was overwhelming and the cards were quickly spoken for. In return, I asked for you to share your stories of kindness. This is what happens when a little good is spread around.

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I was intrigued by MommyCoddle’s call for folks to join her in her Guerrilla Goodness project, so I promptly responded with a quick email to jump on board. The premise: those participating will receive a card in the mail with a prompt to initiate some kind of random act of kindness and report back on the results. What I haven’t done promptly is distill the results into type form. Ruminating is what I’ve been doing instead.

Ruminating and healing.

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I answered the call of civic duty in the most interest-appropriate way I could think of, by becoming a trustee on our local library board. That library was instrumental to settling into this new town five years ago. It’s a critical part of my parenting; working through a stack of fresh library books with the Boy and Girl on my lap is about the only time I feel like I’m hitting it out of the park as a Momma. Indeed, getting a library card has become a right of passage in this small family. Serving on the board that advises and to a very limited extent, governs it, seemed like a natural extension of that love and appreciation. And it was an exciting time to do so, I realized, as plans to move and expand the library into a sparkly-new space were in the infant stages. That I could be an instrumental part of this process was an exhilarating prospect.

But the wheels fell off. Plans were unveiled amidst secrecy and unknowns and big dollar signs, with the trustees of the library board among those completely in the dark. I chalk it up to the noxious cloud of POLARIZATION that’s been hovering over the entire state of Wisconsin for the last year and a half, pitting otherwise-cordial neighbors against each other. (my phone is ringing at this very moment with a call originating in Washington D.C. to instruct me how to vote in our upcoming Recall election) Our air is filthy with this hostility. It’s no real surprise, then, that this mentality of all-or-nothing and black-or-white dug its claws into this project to redevelop our downtown. Those who claimed undying love for the library were adamantly against the project, despite its goal of a bigger, new library facility. Those who were promoting the plan, come hell or high water, were using the library as the linchpin to sell it. Meetings were held, voices were raised, blood pressures ran amok. Resignations were tendered; those still in position were undeniably exhausted.

I received my Guerrilla Goodness card in the mail from MommyCoddle amidst all of this. Were you present in the room when I tore open the envelope, you would have seen my face fall as I read the instructions to “pay the toll of the car behind you” or “pay a stranger’s parking meter.” We are blessedly short of tollways in Wisconsin. And parking’s pretty darn cheap too – the vast majority of it is free. This was the card I absolutely did not want to get. (they were dispersed randomly, so I have only Chance to thank) I grumbled for a few days until the notion of modifying it came to mind.

I walked into the library soon after and struck up a conversation with the librarian. “I have this project I’m participating in…” and wondered aloud if it might be feasible to pay someone’s library fines. Why yes, she said, so-and-so just came in earlier today and was heartbroken that the outstanding fines on his card prevented him from checking anything out. (those overdue dvds add up quickly – caution!) Perfect, I said, and wrote out a check on the spot. I wanted it to be anonymous; (cough…as anonymous as performing a good deed and then BLOGGING about it will allow) I didn’t want to gain any recognition for this, but if I look deep within, I see that this act wasn’t nearly as unselfish as I thought.

I did this purely for me. I had lost the wonder and the warmth of the library and needed it back. I needed to remember what I was fighting for, in this ideological nonsense battle that was dragging me down. I needed to shift my perspective and to find a way to get a breath of fresh air amidst all of the pollution. It’s about books, folks. About new ideas, different ways of seeing the world, the opening up of one’s self that inherently comes with turning the pages of a book. It’s about community – this is the physical space in our village where the heartbeat lives, the how-do-you-do and what’s-new-with-you and how-are-you-coming-along-since-that-happened conversations that take place here in the library more frequently than any other place in town.

Can a simple act of random kindness begin to purify the toxic atmosphere we’ve created here? I’d guess not, but it can’t hurt. A few deep breaths never hurt anyone.

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From the lovely Mary Jo of Five Green Acres

We often hear a lot of disappointing facts and stats about today's teens. But then you hear a story or meet someone who completely changes your perspective. 

Last week, my father was host to Rae, the daughter of one of his rowing friends. Rae is a 17 year old girl who has taken on the unbelievable feat of running from Boston Mass to Huntington Beach, California. Barefoot.

Yes. She's 17.

Yes. Coast to coast.

Yes. Barefoot. Not in barefoot runing shoes, but completely barefoot.

She is running for herself and the thrill of the challenge but also and just as importantly, she is running for Soles for Souls. An organization that will turn every dollar Rae earns into a pair of shoes for a person or child in need around the world. There are 300 million children in the world who live without owning a single pair of shoes. And Soles for Souls works to facilitate and distribute donations both big and small into the hands (or onto the feet) of those truly in need. 

My family and I had the chance to hang out with Rae several times while my Dad housed her on this leg of her trip. She is easy-going and humble and goes out each day to tick off her miles, and move her way across the country with determination and strength. It was admirable and hard to fathom. Hard to fathom that when my family sits down to Thanksgiving dinner next November, Rae will just be finishing up her trip. And that almost every day between now and then, Rae will be running and raising money for a cause she believes in. 

I write this post today both to share her story, in hopes that you'll pass it on, share it with your children (it is SO inspiring!) and family, and also to put out a small call for help. I suppose this is kind of strange, but perhaps, if you've been reading my blog long enough, you'll understand--Rae is in need of some hosts during the Ohio (and it looks like a few other midwest) legs of her trip. You can read all about it, and contact me or her family via her website. 

As always, thank you, friends!

A few weeks ago, I shared a post with all of you about my desire to share a stack of cards with random acts of kindness printed on each of them. I asked for some of you to volunteer to receive a card from me, and follow through with the assigned guerilla goodness. The response for volunteers was overwhelming and the cards were quickly spoken for. In return, I asked for you to share your stories of kindness. This is what happens when a little good is spread around.

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Molly,

My children and I were eager for your envelope to arrive in the mail with our random act of kindness.

We live in a small town with a population of about 250 people year round. I thought for sure we would end up with a task such as "pay someone's toll" but we received the task of writing a letter to someone (and actually mailing it).

I had recently made some postcards and notecards from some of my photographs. So, this random act of kindness was perfect.

My daughter decided to "write" a letter to her a friend who lives in town. She drew hearts, x and o's for hugs and kisses and signed her name.

My son wrote to his cousins. He asked about their new cat and when they are coming to visit. I have a feeling he will even get a letter in return.

I decided to write a letter to a friend's parents.

A few days after we received your envelope and our letter writing assignment, I learned that a friend had passed away.

This friend lived here, in our little town, as an Innkeeper for a few years.

We became friends. Over the course of our friendship, we had dinners togethers at the Inn when all was quiet, we watched movies, had bonfires, attended his wedding and met his family on several occasions. Our friend had his troubles (don't we all is some way).

My husband and I were kind to him and loved him anyway.

He had since moved away and we lost touch.

That happens.

It was with a heavy heart that I wrote a letter to his parents.

I heard of his passing the day of his service and we weren't able to attend. My husband and I decided we wanted to honor him in some way.

During his calling hours, while his family and friends gathered in a town seven hours from here. We walked to the lake as a family.

We talked to our children and told them about our friend:

We talked about how he lived here for a short time and how we would remember him always.

We talked about making good decisions and that sometimes even with all the love and support some people don't.

We talked about how much he loved it here, living in his natural element. He loved to fish on the lake in the summer and winter. It was his passion.

We talked about how much he loved the lake. He loved it so much it made him smile.

We talked about friendship and the importance of kindness. We talked about his family and how incredibly sad they must be.

Once on the frozen lake, just slushy from the beginning of spring, we released a bright orange lantern and said a prayer for our friend.

"May this light rise to the heavens to shine with you for all eternity".

In my letter, I told his parents all of this. I included a few pictures to share how we honored their son, our friend.

Our random act of kindness was to write a letter.

But, it turned into so much more.

It was a reminder of the sacred places we keep in our hearts, a lesson in the value of kindness and a special way to honor a friend and his family.

Amy Germain (and family).