One of the drawbacks of all of the attention that 366 Random Acts has been getting is the anonymous posters on this blog and other media outlets that think I am doing my kindness mission for personal gain or benefit. Luckily, I am able to laugh at the comments because I know in my heart why I am doing this. I wish that I had the ability to find every person who has written a negative comment and perform a random act of kindness for them. This way, rather than spreading negativity, they can pay it forward and help to promote kindness and positivity. I will say, though, that I am not guilt free when it comes to making negative comments or negative anonymous posts. Until I was in this position, I never really thought of the impact that my internet comments could have on people. So from this day forward, I am not going to comment on any story unless it is positive and/or constructive. However, for today's random act of kindness, I am going to take it one step further. For the whole day, I refuse to allow negative thoughts to come into my mind or negative words come out of my mouth. If any sort of cattiness, disparaging remarks, or overall negativity comes into my mind, I am going to think about my family and friends to immediately change my tune. I refuse to allow myself to make anyone's day worse due to my words or actions. Sarcasm and cynicism be damned too. Today, my world is going to be 100% positive, and I challenge everyone reading this blog to do the same. Let's all try to make the world a more positive place by eliminating the thoughts and words that bring us and others down.
Good for you! I enjoy your blog. It's inspiring me. God bless the nay sayers that they may know what it's like to have the pure intent that I believe you do!! Thanks for sharing your journey!
ReplyDeleteThis is something I've tried to do everyday for a while now. If you decide to keep it up you may start to see things differently. I used to hate people such as those who deliberately try to bring others down, but doing this has made me see there could be a reason for their negativity. Sending these people positive thought and showing them how nice people can be may even change the way they see things too :)
ReplyDeleteUniversal Gibberish
Let us be the change we want to see in the world. Kudos to you.
ReplyDeleteWarmest regards,
Ruby
You put out what you get back! Awesome idea!! Positive energy is healthy energy!
ReplyDeleteHave a beautiful day to you, your family n everyone you touch.
Just remember, what other people think about you is none of your business. Nice thought but hard to do. It's really only their problem. I just found your blog and I love it. I'm adding to my Blog Roll. Thanks for making the world a better place. No negatives today...I like it. Sandra
ReplyDeleteThe tongue and mind is a powerful thing. It's amazing what an impact negative and harsh words can have on a person!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE IT! :)
ReplyDeleteThis is a great stance to take. Honestly, it is easy to criticize a person in your position, but the arguments of the critics don't change the fact that you are trying to do good things and help people. Even if your motives were as selfish as could possibly be, I would encourage your attempts to improve others and yourself.
ReplyDeleteIt is also true that having a conscious conviction to think positively helps. I had an experience a few years ago as I was preparing to serve a proselyting mission for the LDS church in which I resolved to clean up my language. I had never had a serious problem with profanity, but I tended to use what my friends and I might call "Mormon swear words", those words that serve no other purpose but to replace profanity. Within a week or so of beginning to catch myself whenever I wanted to say one of those words, I noticed that I really started mellowing out as a person. I became more patient and willing to deal with difficulty because I wasn't encouraging frustration and anger by airing it through interjections and adjectives. Whatever helps you eliminate negativity is definitely worth pursuing.
i need this. thank you.
ReplyDeleteI love this! It is a great attitude to have. It's well known that people behave badly when they feel bad. Spreading a bit of warmth is always a good thing :)
ReplyDeleteVery cool. Peace!
ReplyDeleteI just found this blog today and decided not only to follow it, but instead of giving up something for Lent, I am going to try to mimic your Random Act each day during the Lenten Season.
ReplyDeleteGreat idea Chris! I will join your cause!
DeleteI am running 2012 miles in the year 2012 to raise $$ for the American Cancer Society and the Michael J. Fox Foundation in honor of my parents who are suffering from these 2 diseases. If anyone wants to follow my journey: www.trick2012in2012.blogspot.com
Great work. You are so right, and I will follow suit.
ReplyDeleteI hope it went well for you!
ReplyDeleteI love this! This post and all the ones before. Your blog is inspiring me in so many ways. Keep up the amazingness.
ReplyDeleteI only found your blog yesterday and joined immediately. I was inspired that you were doing your bit one 'free sandwich' at a time, to make the world a better place for your little girl.
ReplyDeleteI think what you are doing is remarkable. Good on you and if others are going to put foward negative views on something so positive then that probably says more about them than you.
Timely. I just posted a free hypnosis session for increasing positive thoughts on my channel at youtube.com/nlpmagic. people need to remember how to feel good and get away from the negative that surrounds us. When your subconscious is focused on seeking the positive in any situation, you'll discover it is there!
ReplyDeleteAmazing, inspiring, and all the rest. Hope it goes well and i think i may just try to do the same one day. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the inspiration.
ReplyDeleteI gave your blog a plug from NZ!
http://whilemollynaps.blogspot.co.nz/
I really second you on this one.Keeping yourself free from negative thoughts is a really difficult task to accomplish.Having a positive attitude profoundly increases your horizon of thoughts.It promotes you from a narrow minded to a broad minded person and amazingly changes your perspective of life.However,I believe having positive thoughts and criticising are two very different things.You can always criticize whilst maintaining a positive thought process.Criticizm,if taken positively,can prove to be very fruitful sometimes.Criticizm tells people about their faults.It makes people vigilant about the contrary of their point of view and hence strengthening their thought process.
ReplyDeleteI cultivate a white rose
ReplyDeleteIn July as in January
For the sincere friend
Who gives me his hand frankly.
And for the cruel person who tears out
the heart with which I live,
I cultivate neither nettles nor thorns:
I cultivate a white rose.
By Jose Marti
Its really difficult to stay away from negative thoughts, be it a way through traffic or want to buy a fresh brewed coffee from your fav store which is always crowded. But staying calm and being patient is the key. Keep going man..
ReplyDeleteJay
What a great way to give something back to the community, to the world even and to yourself! Bless you for doing this. It's going to take a lot of strength, determinations and will power but I think you seem to have that. Thanks so much for sharing this blog and being so positive!
ReplyDeleteAs the Dalai Lama proclaims "My religion is kindness" :) Your Blog is amazing and inspiring. I will follow suit and hope that more and more people will do the same. Imagine if the whole world committed to doing just ONE Random Act of Kindness every day. I often text my kids to "Pay It Forward, Today". Keep this going...it is so very wonderful. I only wish I would have thought of it! :)
ReplyDeleteI think what you are doing is great and I wouldn't listen to others who try and knock your spirit. If you haven't read it, there is a great book on: http://dannywallace.com/work/books/ about kind acts and another one he did called Join Me. Maybe they will keep your spirits light and see that there are people everywhere trying to make the world a better place. Have a great day : )
ReplyDeleteI came across your blog just today. I am not a regular blogger, nor do I read that regularly. Today morning, I just felt the need to read something nice, inspiring and saw your blog. There is a phrase in sanskrit "aa noo bhadrah kratavoyanthu vishwatah" meaning 'let noble thoughts come to me from all directions (of the universe' Yours has come my way :)
ReplyDeleteLittle things are important too :)
ReplyDeleteright on i like to the see best in people
ReplyDeleteMost people who are critical of other people have issues themselves to work on and it is your charitable nature that reminds them. They need to change themselves and your kindness reminds them. Keep on being nice. Remember a smile to everyone you make eye contact with is free and universal kindness in every language.
ReplyDeletenaysayers be gone :)
ReplyDelete