Random Acts Update

So I've been working on my acts of kindness Lenten challenge for about of a week and a half.  I have to say I think I'm doing pretty well.  It's been fun and rewarding- I like planning out some of the acts and others have just happened naturally. Some of the acts on my list are so simple they really should be done without even thinking about it, but its nice to challenge myself to continue to work on these simple easy acts and put someone else in front of my own worries and stress.

I'm just going to re-cap the acts I have done so far- that way you guys can help make sure I get to 40 by Easter! 

1. Write a Thank you note:  I wrote a Thank You note to our mail man- just thanking him for delivering the mail every day through this very cold and nasty winter!  Hopefully- as much mail as he sees it was a nice surprise to get something for him!

2.  Say "Good Morning" and smile:  I am trying to do this every morning, its so easy and really should be done but sometimes we just walk by someone in the morning without thinking or we are already wrapped up in our work for the day.  I'm trying to make it a point though to say Good Morning to all of my co-workers each morning.  (some people are more morning people then others- haha)

3. Make Dinner for a Friend:  I made dinner for my family and friends on a Sunday evening- We have a set date every Sunday night where we get  together hang out, and then watch a show or movie. I usually make a dessert or snack but this time I made chicken and macaroni and cheese and a salad- it was an easy dinner but I say it still counts! (Look how happy they all are- my husband can't wait to eat it!)

4.  Praise a co-worker for their good work: This happened sort of by accident but I had a co-worker questioning her success and just getting a little overwhelmed.  It was really nice to help reassure her and help her see why she has earned and deserves all the success and opportunities she is receiving. I would have of course said the same things whether I was doing this challenge or not- but like I said some of these acts just happened naturally.

5.  Write a letter to a friend:  I wrote a letter to a friend who was expecting a baby Mid-April - just catching up with her and trying to reassure about becoming a mom and that she is going to be an amazing mom.  I wrote the letter last Thursday but I was waiting to send it because I was sending it with a little package- and on Friday I found out her little guy just couldn't wait to come into this world and he was born the week before!  I just sent the package today- hopefully the letter will still be a nice surprise and provide some encouragement in the first couple challenging weeks!

6. Hold the door for someone: This is another really easy one and it's surprising how it catches people off guard because it does not happen that often anymore.  I have been able to do this one three different times so far and I always get a Thank you in response- which is not needed but nice! 

7. Donate Food to a Food Pantry: I was able to do this last Friday, on Pi Day! I stopped into a local food bank and dropped off a bag of groceries and I didn't even spend any extra money picking up the groceries I just went through our pantry and picked out some items we had extra of. 

8. Buy Someone's lunch: A friend came to visit me on Saturday and we went out to lunch- I picked up the tab- much to her protest!  But it was nice to do and I told her she was helping me with my Lent challenge! :) 

9. Let someone go in front of you in line: I did this today at the post office while I was mailing the package to my friend. 

10. Bring my co-workers a special treat: In honor of St. Patrick's Day I made my co-workers a special treat- Lucky Charm Treats!  There are no more left in the cafeteria- so I assume they were a hit! 

I still have a lot of things to cross off my list- but I think I am off to a good start.  It has been very rewarding so far to make someone smile with such simple little acts!

JS

40 Acts of Kindness- Giving Back instead of Up

Ok so I know I said that my next post would be about actually balancing the mayhem of Mommyhood- but this idea just came to me last night and since Lent is starting today I feel that I need to post this today. 

Lent is beginning today- Lent the 40 day period before Easter Sunday- traditionally Catholics give something up during this period.  It signifies the 40 day fasting period Jesus experienced while in the dessert before beginning his public ministry. (thanks for the summary Wikipedia).

I personally always struggle to find something to give-up and I never really found it rewarding to so this year I am trying something new.  Instead of giving something up I am going to give back- with 40 acts of kindness. For me this is a more positive spin on Lent and hopefully by putting positive energy and goodness into the world it will help make it a little better and make a few people smile along the way.

Now the goal would be to do one act a day- but I know that may not happen so as along as all of them are accomplished before Easter- I say it counts.

I'm writing this entry as a way to make myself accountable to accomplishing this goal and as just a way to track the acts.  Also this is just going to be my list to work off of.

Here my list of acts of kindness- obviously there are only 20- so some of them I'm going to do more than once but I will complete each act at least one time in the next 40 days.

1. Clean up litter
2. Bring flowers to a friend
3. Compliment someone
4. Make dinner for a friend 
5. Donate food to a food drive/pantry
6. Make a donation to a charity
7. Leave a generous tip
8. Let someone go in front of you in line
9. Hold the door for someone
10. Write a letter to a friend
11. Bring Co-workers a special treat
12. Buy someone's lunch
13. Donate used clothing
14. Plant a tree/flowers
15. Be an active listener to someone who needs to talk
16. Give a Thank you note
17. Donate blood
18. Make breakfast for my husband 
19. Say "Good Morning" and smile 
20. Thank and praise a co-worker for their good work

My hope is that by completing this kindness challenge I will be setting and being an example for my son and in the future we can do this together. Wish me luck!  I will be posting updates as I complete each act! 

Back to work....

Ok after this post I'll be more fun... these last couple of posts have been more just my thoughts and story... but I promise the next one I'll talk about useful planning tips, and perhaps I'll feature a Crock Pot recipe! :) 

I've been back to work now for about three weeks. It's been a hard adjustment.

I have been on maternity leave since mid-November and working part-time since January. In this time I have been a little spoiled by making my own schedule- grocery shopping in the middle of the day, sleeping in a little bit a few days a week, and not having to be too strict on my own bed time.  It's been an adjustment becoming a mom but it's also allowed me to refocus my energy and get out of the hustle and bustle of my work life.

However that being said, I like being at work and the projects I am working on.  It's a challenge, it's rewarding to create presentations and deals, and to just be successful at work.  Being around co-workers and other adults is also really nice- just the contact with other people is something I missed on the days I was at home alone while my husband worked. (I'm definitely a people person- and go a little crazy when I spend too much time cooped up at home).  And of course its nice to hear that I was missed at the office while on maternity leave.

But I miss my little man and I miss my time at home.

I know some people have told me "You will be so ready to go back to work and get out of the house"- I am not one of those people.  I didn't mind staying at home- I found plenty to do and found it rewarding to be a homemaker and take care of my family.

Now I find that I am trying to do both and it is challenging; I see that it can be done, I guess the real question is do I want to do it.

I have the utmost respect for stay at home mom's- it really was a challenge some days trying to get it all done especially if my little guy was particularly fussy.  But I also have a lot of respect for women who go back to work- it's hard!  I want to be both places at once but unfortunately I do not have the Harry Potter Time Turner- so I'm stuck trying to balance it all in 24 hours day.

What I am finding is- I want to stay in touch, go out and spend time with my friends but when I am working 5 days a week until 4-5pm- I don't really feel like going out afterwards- I've got to spend that evening getting ready for the next work day.  And my weekends are my time with my little guy, I'm not really willing to give that up and get a babysitter- I know I can bring him along to some places but sometimes I feel it's just easier to stay home. I see now why some people loose touch after having a baby- but I am going to try my hardest to not have that happen to me.

I'm hoping that my family and I get into more of a routine, and I hope my little man doesn't miss me too much (though I'm sure I miss him more than he misses me)- I know he is well cared for with family helping out and so far just daycare once a week.

I guess what it boils down to is I just want to make sure that he sees and spends the most time with me.  As his mom I should be the biggest influence and presence in his life and I don't want to loose that by working full time.

We will see how this all shakes out- I'm a pretty stubborn person and I don't give up on anything too easily so I know somehow we will manage and will create a system that works for our family. We are only three weeks in... we just need to keep moving forward and taking it day by day (but still plan for dinners a week at a time :)

J.S.