Lent gifting day 13

I got to talk to my best friend today who has recently moved interstate. It was so lovely spending some time catching up via Skype. 

One of the things I found in my recent dejunk Session was about 200 postcards from around the world that I've bought and never used. I think I've mentioned them before. I've started sending them to my best friend. Every couple days I've written one to send which is fun and I hope makes her feel special. 

I love the way that receiving snail mail makes me feel better. It is a pretty simple kindness to do too. Sending an encouraging letter or postcard to someone makes them know you have been thinking of them. Plus in my case, it used postcards that would other wise go to waste. In Australia it costs $1 to send a postcard anywhere inside Australia. Of course it cost more to send stuff internationally but I often like to send nice bits and pieces to my friends overseas. 

Kindness doesn't have to be expensive. A one off postcard (you can make your own) to a friend or family member and the cost of postage can mean the world to someone. Getting a card to know you care can be something that lightens a day. 

Back to the Lent challenge. 

 

I recently wore this dress out as part of a Tinkerbell costume. To a Disney themed night at a city nightclub... it was so much fun!!!! I danced for hours and hours. So good. And I'm so glad I had flat shoes not heels like my friend in the picture next to the green legs (which happened to be my green legs). 

 

My friend, who is the other set of legs in this picture, went as the fantastically Mad Hatter! We also had Megara from Hercules, Esmeralda from the Hunchback Of Notre Dame, The Little Mermaid (dressed as Ariel when she was voiceless and on two feet) and her prince, Eric! So much fun to sing loudly and dance to Disney Music. We also danced to other 90s music, a fun reminder of my childhood! :) 

Anyway... the dress. A friend had given me the dress a few months ago as part of a group of things to be gone through and then donated to charity. I pulled this out to keep in our costume box. Then I decided to do the Lent giving and I knew I was going to be donating this dress because I really didn't need to dress up as Tinkerbell any time soon... or so I thought. 

Then the Disney themed night club night happened so I decided to actually get one wear out of this before I would pass it on to someone who needs it. This one isn't actually going to go in the charity bag today but be given to a friend who needs it for another fairy themed event. I'm going to give it to her to keep if she wants or donate on to someone else who needs it in the future. It's a pretty good quality dress that was once longer and had been a bridesmaids dress. It makes a fantastic Tinkerbell costume. 

It was awesome giving this dress a last hurrah, for me at least. I will also have lots of fond memories to pass along with the dress. I won't forget the memories but I don't need to worry about keeping the dress. Plus someone gets something they need FOR FREE! Winning on all fronts! :) 

Here are some words on my favourite subject kindness... "My wish for you is that you continue. Continue to be who you are, to astonish a mean world with your kindness!" Maya Angelou. 

I hope you think of a whole range of simple kindness ideas you can do to astonish this world with Kindness. 

Love to you all, 

Daena x

So many things to say... (but maybe I need a better title)

Hey everyone,
So I've been a busy little bunny.

This year so far has been filled with weddings, anniversaries, funerals, birthdays, catching up with friends, and continuing to get healthy.

I got my contract renewed for all of this year, so I am back working for the Social Justice Unit. Which as you all know, is a passion for me. Doing things for others, and creating kindness in everything. Plus its nice to get paid! heheheh.


I am still working on my kindnesses. This year I was introduced to a "Charity" that I hadn't heard of before. I was introduced to Days for Girls. Days for Girls is groups of people all over the world (there is a group right here in Perth, Western Australia), who are committed to providing girls in third world countries access to feminine hygiene products, so that they don't miss school. I ripped this next bit straight from the international webpage...

What is Days for Girls?

Every girl in the world deserves education, safety, and dignity. We help girls gain access to quality sustainable feminine hygiene and awareness, by direct distribution of sustainable feminine hygiene kits, by partnering with nonprofits, groups and organizations, by raising awareness, and by helping  communities around the world start their own programs. Thanks to a global grassroot network of thousands of volunteers and supporters on 6 continents, we have reached women and girls in 76 countries on 6 continents.  It's working. You can help us reach the rest.

Imagine…

What if not having sanitary supplies meant DAYS without school, DAYS without income, DAYS without leaving the house? Girls use leaves, mattress stuffing, newspaper, corn husks, rocks, anything they can find...but still miss up to 2 months of school every year. It turns out this issue is a surprising but instrumental key to social change for women all over the world. The poverty cycle can be broken when girls stay in school. Learn more 

Mission:

Creating a more dignified, free and educated world through access to lasting feminine hygiene solutions. 

Days for Girls International is a grassroots 501(c)3 non-profit. Women, and girls discover their potential and self-value, are equal participants and agents of social change and are given opportunities to thrive, grow and contribute to their community's betterment while ensuring quality sustainable feminine hygiene.

Vision:

Every girl and woman in the world with ready feasible access to quality sustainable hygiene & health education by 2022.​ 

If you want to know more about the international organisation you can read more here. 

I met one of the Perth Days for Girls representatives at a talk she gave a group of CWA ladies, including my mum, sister and I. She told us all about what Days for Girls needed and what we could do to help. So some of my kindnesses over this last month has been providing some of the things she, and her fellow workers, need to send to girls. This in turn means that the girls go to school, instead of missing out because they are bleeding which is completely normal and healthy (gentlemen... it happens!)

The Perth Chapter are available on Facebook here and are always looking for supplies and donations (if you find a chapter of Days for Girls in your area, I suggest contacting them and finding out what they need most). 

What they do need (stuff for a pack): 
100% Cotton for the liners and Shields
Flannels/ Face Washers (bright coloured preferred over white)
Zip Lock Bags (28cm to 36cm)
Plastic Snap Fasteners (not metal)
Knickers (girls sizes 14-16 and womens sizes 8-10)
Small soaps (Hotel sized ones are perfect)
PUL - the only waterproof lining for shields that Days for Girls uses (It has limited sources so Chapters are happy to receive money for the purchase of this stuff). 
Bright Coloured fabric (100% cotton not required) to make drawstring bags to hold it all.

You can also check the website if you are inspired and start your own group or chapter. 

Apart from that, I have been doing my kind deeds everyday, sometimes more than one. It has been so busy.

Yesterday I went to my nieces 7th birthday party and helped a whole bunch of kids Ice Skate for the first or second time. I'm pretty confident on skates (years of Rollerblade as a young'en) so I could help kids, parents and toddlers alike (oh yes... the toddlers seemed the most adventurous). Happy Birthday AV! :)

I've been cleaning out my bookcases (a miracle for me) and donating books to charity and to libraries.

I've been cleaning out my clothing and donating all the stuff I don't use any more to charities and op-shops! Not to mention I have been going op-shopping and buying clothes from there. Reusing and recycling are kindnesses to the planet.

I helped a friend, who lives out of town get her musical instrument back from a group she lent it too a while ago. Because she lives out of town, I went a picked it up and stored it at my house until she was back in town. 

I helped create decorations for my sisters "Love Boat themed" valentines day birthday party.Happy Birthday V! :)

That beautiful life preserver I made from a $2 swim ring and a whole roll of Masking tape and a roll of red Gaffa tape

I spent time and money sourcing and buying knickers, flannels, cloth, soaps and other things for Days for Girls. I know I mentioned Days for Girls already but my sister, mum and i have been working with other interested people to get a range of stuff to the Perth organiser. Here are some of the things we have acquired between us.

Photo from the Days for Girls Perth facebook page: Fabrics from the CWA ladies, money and kickers from people of the hills (near where my sister lives). Mum and i dropped this delivery off on Saturday.

Bright face washers (I bought at IKEA) and the 9 packs of unpacked knickers (from K-mart), my next door neighbour supplied all the hotel soaps, my sister supplying all the other knickers in the photo.  Plus there were Snap lock bags not in photo which my sister also got. These were taken to Days for Girls Perth HQ on valentines day.

I bought and donated wool to be made into blankets for Wheelchairs for Kids, Nursing homes and for homeless people. 

Not to mention working and having a social life. This year I have been making a concerted effort to see people and catch up with old friends. 

Last year I was basically in hibernation with all the stuff that happened then. Dad passing away, mums cancer and her surgery, some personal issues of my own, not to mention trying to function as an ordinary human. Its been pretty full on this last year. But I'm so glad its over. 

Good things did happen though. I saw my Best friend Tanya get married to her now, hubby, Isaac and in a week they will be celebrating their first wedding anniversary. Happy Anniversary! :) 

I got a 3 month contract for work in the Social Justice Unit of the Uniting Church, which turned into a 6 month contract and that has now extended again! YAY! I work with some amazing people! Pretty awesome there. 

We got a 'new' car. Our little blue baby had to go to Car Heaven after dying quite spectacularly. Our 'new' car is Silver and can hold a lot more stuff than the little blue one... which has been a blessing getting big things from the shops! So i have been trying to look after it better, hence the photos of me washing it on new years day ! we have had it for about 11 months now... time flies so fast. 

Like I said... so much to say...   and I know its not a day by day listing of my kindnesses, like I have done before, but at least you are seeing some of the things I'm doing. Or at least see that I'm sharing them.

Anyway, I hope this finds you all well. 
Much love, 
Daena x

Kindness and all its problems... a rule book of sorts to maintain a healthy state of kindness!

Hello beautiful people,
It was so good to get my words on a page last week, so I am back for some more. But this time for something a little different.

One of the biggest hurdles people have when doing something like 365 days of kindness is that they burn out fast. So I have written a tiny rule book for those who are brave enough to embark on this journey for themselves. And PLEASE try doing a version of this kindness yourselves!!! It really is amazing! :)

One of the reasons that people burn out is that they forget to look after themselves. And I don't mean that they forget to eat or sleep or drink (although Im sure my family could remind me that occasionally I have done all of all these things). Sometimes people forget to be kind to themselves. I forget to be kind to myself too. Most of the time, and particularly lately, I expect too much from myself. Yes, I want to change the world, but that's not going to mean that the world changes overnight! Which is a bummer really because everything would be so much easier if it were that simple, not to mention that much faster! I have been frustrated that I couldn't help someone, or that I didn't see someone that needed help (or at least not until I was thinking about it later ), or sometimes I'm not fast enough to perform an act of kindness and I feel like I'm letting the world down. The reality is I am only ONE PERSON and I am the only one being let down, because I expect so much of myself! Yes, every kindness makes the world a better place, but every kindness you do is one more beautiful thing that exists in the world! After all that lady over there with the heavy shopping, she doesn't expect me to help her with her shopping... That guy in the wheelchair going through the door does not expect me to hold the door open for him (in fact he has become quite adept at doing it without any help), the screaming baby doesn't expect me to stop it crying by making faces at it in the shopping center and neither does the babies mum. I think that is why kindness is so important though, because we do not expect people to perform acts of kindness, that is why they are so powerful. But I need to be kinder to myself. RULE NUMBER ONE: Be Kinder to Yourself! I have started doing a kindness for myself as regularly as possible. It may be buying a new book (yes i still am a bibliophile), or getting a massage, or buying myself a "Soy Chai Latte", or it could be giving myself the morning off from caring for mum by letting myself sleep in(when she needs sleep too), or visiting someone I know will perk my mood up. Yet, it is so important to care for yourself, because if you don't look after yourself, then you will be of no use to anyone... including yourself!!!!

A second pitfall for a kind person is forgetting how blessed we really are. When you are doing things for others a lot, you can see how others live and get jealous or even "preachy" about how people should live their lives. It may seem funny that people who are being Kind all the time can be like this... but it happens. Oh boy, does it happen. I have found myself being jealous of the things I have done for others because I've begun to expect people to do the same things for me. Now this might, to the outsider, seem logical. After all you are giving, therefore you should receive! Right? But to someone who is trying to live the "kind life" its not always this simple. If you always expect the same thing from others, you will be perpetually disappointed. Not everyone is going to want to make YOU a cup of tea in the morning, carry YOUR groceries, bring in YOUR Rubbish/Garbage bin, or buy YOU lunch! After all not everyone has the same wage as you, or want to spend it the same way YOU do. Or have the same ability to brew tea, carry heavy loads or the time to bring in your garbage bin. One of the greatest ways to be a kindness ambassador is to not expect anything from anyone. This is not a rule, just a really helpful note! If you expect it you will be unsatisfied, but if you don't expect something, then it is always always a blessing when something comes your way. I like to think Karma exists, but it might not be a one-for-one deal (as in you do a kind deed and someone does exactly the same in return), and Karma almost never comes the way you want it to or expect it too.
RULE NUMBER TWO: Be grateful! When you are grateful for what you have and what you can do for others you don't have time to be jealous. 

Another problem that adds to the burn out, is that there is often the feeling that you are always giving and never receiving. Yes, we should all give generously, but that doesn't stop us from wanting kindness ourselves. When you are giving all the time it can seem that you are the only one who does this. But its not until you stop and pay attention you realize that other people are doing small kindnesses for you too. I think you all know that I write at least 10 or more things I am grateful for, that happened though out the day, every night before I go to sleep. I follow that up with my Kindness for the day. Recently I started taking account for the things other people do for me because I was so caught up with what I was doing for everyone else. I forgot to look for the things others were doing for me. RULE NUMBER THREE: Pay attention to what others do for you - add this to your blessings everyday! So I started paying attention. Whether it be your best friend who pays for a movie twice in a weekend (thanks Tanya), you sister who takes your mum for a night so you can have a night at your friends (thanks V), a friend who does your washing up after you've made a mess in their kitchen (Thanks Tanya & Kylee), or a friend who compliments you on an awesome job with a blog post (thanks Eva, Terry & Tahlienna), Or someone who gives you the opportunity to try something you have been wanting to do for ages (thanks Taylor). These are a few of my friend blessings that are from this week alone. I got stuck for a while not seeing all the amazing things my family and friends did for me, which was their kindness to me. 

One of the greatest pit falls a kindness ambassador can fall into is judging others and their worth. I have been on a few dozen kindness sites and really struggled with the reactions of some people. Sure, the best/easiest person to be kind to in the world is the ones who obviously need help, ie. Street people, those in financial struggles, the person crying at the shop, underprivileged people etc. One of the things I have noticed is the reaction people have is to those who come from wealthier parts of society. Yes they might have more money, more social status, more ability to do large acts of kindness but just because they have all this, does not mean that we should withhold kindness from them. I am not one who earns lots of money... although I make the most of what I do earn! My annual income is pretty low, yet I still find that EVERYBODY needs kindness. Sure they might not need a $50 gift card from your local supermarket, but they may need your spare change to help them get through the checkout faster. Another group that miss out, are those that are rude to us. Sure their hostility can be a warning, so be careful, but if you can safely ignore it, these people need the kindness more than ever! I once had a drive-thru lady sound rude and curt at the speaker box, others in the car commented on her manner, so i made the extra effort to be super cheery and thank her for her work and for getting our food promptly. The others in the car thought I was nuts, but she needed that! By the time we left, food in hand, she was smiling at least! It may have been because she also thought I was crazy, but if it meant the next car had a smiling server, it was exactly what I was meant to do! There is a quote that I always hear (sadly I don't know the writer) "You never know what people have been through! Everyone is fighting a hard battle".  The hardest part is that sometimes we don't even know we are judging others. So please be careful who you judge as worthy. Everyone is worthy of kindness... that is why it is so powerful and makes such a difference in the world. Not only is withholding kindness a cruelty to others but also to ourselves. We become limited in the impact we can make in the world. RULE NUMBER FOUR: Everybody Needs Kindness.


Okay, so in short my rule book is very simple:
RULE NUMBER ONE: Be Kinder to Yourself!
RULE NUMBER TWO: Be grateful!
RULE NUMBER THREE: Pay attention to what others do for you!
RULE NUMBER FOUR: Everybody Needs Kindness.  

I have been doing this project in its various forms for almost 5 years now. And I encourage anyone who wants to give "365 days of kindness" a go, to do it!!! Give it a go!! Even if you only last a week or a month, that is 7 to 31 more kindnesses in the world! And everyday you do it, that is one more kind deed out there in the world! :) Honestly, it can be hard for the first few weeks, but then you get into a pattern and realize that kindness is just a way of life. Then suddenly its 5 years later and you are doing kindnesses with joy and passion! :)

Think about it! If it is something you want to do, give me a buzz as I can help you out with a few resources! If you want them? You do not have to do a blog about it, you don't have to even keep a record! I like to keep one just to see all the things I have done! But Everyone is different! :)

I hope this helps anyone trying to live a kinder life.
With love and kindness,
Luv Daena

January 28, 2012

Hello hello, 

Well the 28th was an amazing day for me! I got so much done! Most of my work was related to the upcoming Kitchen Tea party for my best friend! 

I went to 3 second hand shops looking for tea pots, cups & saucers, sugar bowls, milk jugs, and pretty plates for the "English garden party morning tea in the high tea style" that I have been preparing for in two weeks time (or there abouts)! 

So I went to the 3 charity op-shops & bought something at each one! Ending up with an amazing array of kitchen tea party wares for $50... Check this out.... 

Or in more detail...

Mum taught me how to stack & pack four cups & saucers into each other so they don't take up as much space! Very grateful for that lesson! Thanks mum!!! 

I also donated a box of books to the first charity shop we went to because they had been sitting in the boot of the car for about a week! :) 

There is still so much to do for these parties... But I just love having the ability to share something! Sadly I can't share much of my preparation about the hens party because I want all those details to be a surprise for my best friend! After all I know she reads this blog from time to time! Hi TJ! :) xxx 

What is the most exciting thing you have found at an op-shop/thrift store/2nd hand shop? 

Luv Daena

January 12, 2014

Hello my lovelies, 

I was almost asleep when I remembered I hadn't posted for the day... So here are my kindnesses...

Today in Perth was another hot day to end a hot weekend and several fires started near my sisters house in the Perth hills! Thankfully my sister & her family are safe and are not currently under threat, however it looks like 27 houses have been destroyed and one life lost in a related incident! My sister and I have friends in the area affected and some people don't know if they have a house to go home to as they have been evacuated and whilst Some stayed to defend their homes the community has been greatly affected! My kindness today was for my sister, her husband & kids, who were having a prearranged day with the kids other grandparents, if I heard or saw any news I kept them informed about the developments. I also shared on my Facebook pages links for people to donate goods & accomodation to those who are without homes in the immediate future (or long term), for agistment for horses and services for those that needed then! In tragedies it is always so wonderful to see the amazing capacity for love & generosity that humans are capable of! It restores your faith in humanity! 

On a simpler note, I cooked one of mums favorite meals for lunch, for no other reason than that we had all the ingredients in the house! We even had the leftovers for dinner! 

My best friend is getting married in less than 2 months so I am organising hens nights and kitchen tea parties for her preparation of "wifedom" (I know it's not a real word but it's a good one)! So some of today was spent getting quotes and organising/writing invitations to these events next month! 

All in all for a day at home it felt really busy! I'm so glad my family is safe! I wish love and hope to those who have lost everything! I cannot imagine what you are going through! But I am sending love to you all! 

With kindness, 

Luv Daena