Wednesday, December 08, 2010


Yesterday on Yahoo's front page was an icon about starting a Ripple of kindness and I thought that was a very neat idea . I think in the holiday season and all year through that we should all try to create ripples of kindness because one tiny ripple can create a change in someones day.
I was working on a pediatric unit many years ago on Christmas Eve and a man came to the desk and asked if there was a family that could use some money to help provide Christmas for their family and we gave him a room number . He went to that patients room and gave them an envelope and walked out it had $250.OO in it and provided that family with the means to have Christmas that year. I know that most people can't afford to do that but there are so many things we can do that cost little or no money.
Here are some things I try to do:
*When I know a friend is having a hard time I try to send a pick me up card, text message or comment on their Facebook page.
*I go out of my way to welcome visitors to church and invite them to sit with me.
*I try to buy anything kids come to the door selling because I remember how hard this was.
*In the neighborhood when I know someone is new I try and make cookies or a casserole.
*In line at the checkout when someone has only a few items and I have a whole basket full I let them go ahead of me. .
*I leave text messages and voice mails letting my sister and her family and friends know that I love them.
* When I hear an ambulance,fire truck or police car I say a prayer for the person they are going to help and for the first responders .
*I try to take our cans that we have and donate them to organizations that collect them for the schools.
*I like to do guerrilla art like takingsidewalk chalk and writing messages like the one above or "You are beautiful" that make people smile and don't destroy anything (positive graffiti).
*I plan on participating in a Love Drop this year.
Here is a website I love Kind Over Matter.
I would love to hear what you do to create ripples of kindness. Please share your ideas with me!
Book Review coming up Friday!


Never look down on anybody unless you're helping them up.
The Reverend Jesse Jackson


photo above is by Emily on a sunday on flickr

27 comments:

Tiffanee said...

You are such a great example and are changing the world. Thanks for the inspiration and great ideas. You are amazing.

Paige said...

What an inspiring post, Yolanda - the kids and I like to make cookies and breads with my mom and then deliver them to our neighbors a few days before Christmas.

Brenda @ Its A Beautiful Life said...

Beautiful thoughts... enjoyed the list.... inspiring! Good reminder.

Cloudberry said...

Love this post!
I guess that we here in Norway is not used to so much charity as you do in US... But we have the salvation army, and we drop some money in their kettle now before Christmas.

Sherri said...

Hi Yolanda, thanks for stopping by my blog yesterday! Hope to see you again!

Catherine said...

Love it! Sometimes even the smallest things can make the biggest difference in a person's life. We never know how our actions can effect others. Positive or negative. Fantastic post!
xo Catherine

stitching under oaks said...

this is such a timely post...I'm going to be watching and looking for things I can do to start a ripple of kindness this week. thanks for sharing. Have a great end to your week.

GardenOfDaisies said...

Lovely thoughts. I like the sidewalk chalk idea. :-)

Stacey said...

Great post! Thanks so much for stopping by my blog the other day :)

Gloria said...

Very inspiring post (& blog)! I love your ideas on how to start that ripple of kindness. :)

I am a card gal myself. I love sending people cards (& messages too like you do) to uplift someone's day for the better. A little bit of encouragement can go a long way to a hurting soul.

I am thanking God for encouragers like you today! May God bless you for that...:)

Thank you for visiting my blog and leaving a thoughtful comment. I appreciate it very much!
xoxo Gloria

~ The Jolly Bee ~ said...

Oh my gosh....These are great ideas. So simple to do, yet can really make a difference. Thanks for sharing them.

(Diane) Bibliophile By the Sea said...

This was a wonderful post. Everyone should follow your example.

Anonymous said...

you are an inspiration!

nicole said...

I love that photo...and the idea of kindness...of course!

Cloudia said...

I love how you are thinking!




Aloha from Waikiki

Comfort Spiral

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Anonymous said...

Thank you for stopping by my blog earlier and leaving such a nice comment. I thought I would stop by here and read quite a few of your posts. What a lovely, uplifting blog you have with so many positive yet simple actions one can take to make the world a little nicer. Best.

Anonymous said...

Those are some really brilliant ideas. Lovely post.

cristie said...

thank you for this important reminder. great post. xox

Lifelong Learner said...

OK...must follow you! I love the thought of being perfectly imperfect. Perfection is overrated anyway, right? :)

Nice to meet you, Yolanda. Your ripple of kindness now extends to Texas.

Cindy said...

Love this post Yolanda! I haven't been very good with my blog lately!! Thanks for the comment and NO I haven't received the book yet! Hopefully today.....Have a great Friday!! Smiles!

tea time and roses said...

Lovely post Yolanda. It truly is the little things that count. If each of us did just one small thing daily, oh what a difference it would make...a beautiful difference.

Happy weekend to you.

Smiles♥

Beverly

Unknown said...

This is a wonderful post!!!
I try to make peoples lives better & make them feel good about themselves. That's why I like my job in the long term care center. I feel as though I can make a differance in peoples lives. The residents also make a differance in my life.

Tanna said...

Awesome ideas and suggestions, Yolanda. I love the inspiration!!

Unknown said...

wonderful.
I think the ripples are bigger than we know.

I love kind over matter, btw and did a little notecard drop last year.

( here via Sandy and I see cristie who I love :))

Tipper said...

Wonderful post! I taught my girls to always pray when they see/hear an ambulance or fire truck too-and I say a quick prayer for the planes I see fly over our house : ) Your post is a wondeful inspiration for me to look more at the little things I can do to ease someone's pain. I hope you have a very Merry Christmas!!

rayfamily said...

Great post! I find more and more that there are so many little things we can do to make a difference to someone. So much good can come from "paying it forward."

Relyn Lawson said...

Yay! I love that you are saving Elizabeth for the quiet time of the year. Maybe you'll start with Year of Pleasures and then give yourself a year of pleasures. Wouldn't that be marvelous?