Showing posts with label Operation NICE. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Operation NICE. Show all posts

Monday, January 3, 2011

I Pledge to be NICER!



I will hold the door for people behind me. I will say "please" and "thank you." I will smile at strangers. I will compliment people. If I'm not sure whether I should greet someone with a handshake or hug, I will opt for the hug. If I see someone having trouble, I will offer help. I will try to perform at least one Random Act of Kindness a week. I will be grateful. I will not hold grudges. I will always do my best to be humble, empathetic, and honest. I will be mindful and considerate of the people around me. I will be kind to people, animals, and nature. All in all, I promise to be nicer!

Won't you join me and Operation NICE in pledging to be a little nicer this year?

Sunday, November 7, 2010

Thanksgiving Thankfuls...Random Acts of Kindness


Driving to pick up the boys the other day, I watched a man crossing the street when suddenly he stopped, pulled a plastic bag out of his pocket and bent down to pick up some garbage from the street.  He placed it in the grocery bag and went about his business.  It was a random sighting but it made me feel good inside to know there are still people out there who will stop what they're doing and do for others.  Most people are lazy, or self involved, or too busy to even bother with something like this, that many simply feel is "not our job".  I've been guilty of this.  I'm sure you have, too.

My beloved friend, Tiffany's, daughter is a promising view of our future.  Brie is what I would call a litterbug, but not the bad kind.  She sees litter, waste, and other trash strewn about and instinctively picks it up and places it in the closest garbage receptacle.  Every time.  She understands the great things recycling can accomplish, and sees beauty all around her.  It's amazing to watch.  Did I mention she's die hard about it?  She has a true earth loving spirit.  Oh, and she's 4.  I know, right!  If only we could teach more 4-year-olds to be selfless and think about their impact on each other and the world around them.  At least she gives me hope.  She's a bright spot in our future and I am glad to have her impact, not only on me, but on my boys!

In a world where it's easy to turn the other way than to help someone.  Where people ignore what they see and hope it will go away.  Or assume they can't make a difference anyway...Let's look out for each other and act in thoughtful ways.


Don't wait for people to be friendly, show them how. ~Author Unknown

Random acts of kindness are an easy way to spread joy and hope and cheer.  So today, I am thankful for a glimpse of these in our increasingly mean and evil world.  It's easy to think they don't exist but then you meet someone like Brie, or see a stranger on the street, stopping to pick up someone else's garbage, and you realize kindness is alive and well.  It's just not as widely practiced.  So let's do our best to practice it more.  Do one kind thing for someone else, every day.  You'd be surprised how quickly it spreads!

Remember there's no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end. ~Scott Adams

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Operation NICE

I don't generally double post but I stumbled upon this just now and am so enamored with the concept that I am sharing...It's a website called Operation NICE and it encourages us to be proactively nice to people every day.  I think it's a little sad that as a society we need an OPERATION to encourage behavior that I believe should just be natural and automatic, but for most people it's not so I'll support whatever works. I am a firm believer of treating people the way  you want to be treated so I hope I do this a little in my every day life already, but we all need reminders and this is a perfect one! 

So do me a favor and stop over to the Operation NICE website, check it out, participate in a challenge, find some inspiration, and then pay it forward.  Do something NICE for someone you know, someone you just met, or a complete stranger.  It might just make their day and who knows...maybe you'll feel a little happier having been nice today.  Either way, the world just may be one step closer to being a more pleasant place to be.