My 38th Birthday

I am conducting an experiment for my birthday, August 23. I have no idea how it will work. The basic idea is this: I will ask my friends to perform at least one random act of kindness as my birthday gift. I will also ask them, when they perform that act of kindness, to leave a note inviting the recipient to "pay it forward" and perform a random act of kindness for someone else. I will ask that they include this blog address on the note, and all subsequent notes, so people might come to this site and write what they have done, or what they have received from others. What a gift it would indeed be to know that people I don't even know are benefiting from my friends' generosity on my birthday!

So, if you have been the recipient of a random act of kindness, or you have passed some kindness on to someone else, please leave a comment below. And just so everyone knows: kind acts are so easy to achieve, and they needn't cost any money...just a little thoughtfulness...a book left behind on a park bench, a thank you note mailed to someone on the block who has a beautiful garden, a warm smile on the street. Other ideas: buy coffee for the person behind you in line, buy a single flower and hand it to someone on the street, hail a cab at a busy corner and give it to someone who looks frustrated (or happy), hold the door for ten people at the grocery store, offer to help someone who looks like they are carrying too much on the street, take a photo of some tourists.

I look forward to hearing from you all! Please feel free to leave your first name and location, as I have friends all over the world!

Have a wonderful day!