Rest apparently does the body good. I feel somewhat better. Not 100% but the cough died down a bit and my throat hurts less. I still plan on resting the remainder of the day and evening. The hubs will even prepare dinner for us tonight. That doesn’t mean no cooking for me, though. I prepared a dinner to bring to a friend since she just had a baby 2 weeks ago. Gina’s Lightened Up Shepherd Pie.

I know those days too well. A home-cooked meal feels like the holy grail – strongly desired, yet simply unattainable. For that reason, I always love cooking meals for those who simply won’t have the time for whatever reason. And I don’t only do it with hopes that good karma comes my way in the form of visitors bearing casseroles after my delivery. 😉

I do such things because I believe in the power of small acts of kindness. The simplest of things, from blog comments to a stranger holding the door for me as I lug M and my bag into the gym, can slap a smile on my face that will carry me through the day. Or on the flip side, when I start up a cheerful conversation with an obviously tired cashier clerk, I never fail to leave without a renewed hope in people and love.

The notion that the simplest of actions can make the biggest of impacts tattoos itself on my heart. Then, urges me to remember it when out living my life. I don’t always succeed, but know that this work in progress delivers more reward than a winning lotto ticket. It saddens me that too often pulling out the checkbook is the resolution we turn to in an effort to help, when other gestures would also serve a positive purpose. Acts of kindness go far and reach places nothing else can. And there are so many ideas out there!

• Write a note of appreciation to your mailman
• Give a huge tip to someone when they least expect it
• Give a genuine compliment
• Write a thank you note to someone
• Look for something around you that can be fixed up, picked up, or attended to
• Write a note to management or someone who has treated you nice while doing their job
• Cut coupons out and leave them at the grocer register for others
• Put a comment on someone's webpage that you really like...... let them know you enjoy it
• Send a card to someone in the military overseas
• Start a conversation up with a co-worker that you don't know
• Put change in a row of vending machines
• Visit a nursing home. Spend time visiting with someone who doesn't get visitors
• Put something you no longer need on Craig's list free spot for your area
• Leave a book/magazine you have already finished somewhere for someone else to read.
• Take some cake, chocolates, flowers etc. to the neighbors, or a senior citizen nearby
• Invite someone who is alone over for dinner.
• Leave a chocolate for a co-worker.
• Copy a favorite recipe and give it to someone
• Write letters of appreciation to groups who are helping the community, the environment, etc.
• Make a point of introducing yourself to someone you see all of the time but never say hello to.
• If you know someone who is having a hard time financially, pop a $5, $10 or $20 note in an envelope, disguise your writing or type the envelope, and post it to them.
• Offer to baby sit
• Donate clothes to goodwill
• Bring cookies or some snack for the office
• Write anonymous, loving post-its for strangers to find

Find even more ideas at Dare to be an Angel. I have to say the bolded ones stuck out to me as a blogger and lover of Operation Beautiful. 😉

How do you feel on random acts of kindness? Which of the above have you done or would you like to do? I tend to do ones that involve bringing food to people or helping out a fellow parent because I can relate to it. I also love complimenting strangers!

Stay tuned for tomorrow morning’s post. I’ll be revealing blue or pink! 😀

AND...one WEEK from today starts the 30 Days of Self Love! Super excited!! Are you?

Thank you all for the birthday wishes! You really know how to make a gal feel loved. 🙂 I’m going to save more of a recap of my birthday along with my special eats for tomorrow morning’s post. I have a delicious quinoa concoction and frozen yogurt visit to share. I also have the BEST blog gift to tell you about. I frickin’ love my husband!! Tonight, however, I feel like doing a bit of reflecting. On the radio the other day, the hosts had people call in to share what 3 things they would tell themselves 10 years ago. Boy do I have some things I would tell myself!

The perfect man will come along. Don’t waste so much energy fretting over that 8 year on-again-off-again relationship.

I cannot believe how much drama occupied my love life for so long. I can only describe the intensity of it as unhealthy. We basically acted like addicts of each other and I never thought things could be different than the up/down/high/low I experienced with the ex. I would have saved myself a lot of strife knowing someone so loving, caring, and devoted would come into my life. And help me see a better version of myself.

My dad is who he is and I am who I am. I don’t need to try to change him or depend on him for self-fulfillment.

It’s no secret that my dad and I have clashed in the past and was much of what led to my depression, and also my binging past. We get along much better now and much of it relates to the understanding that I can’t try to win him over. I just have to be me and accept him for who he is. Forgiveness goes a long way.

Begin a blog sooner! I love love love love love love love blogging! I wish I had heard about it sooner and gotten involved sooner. Perhaps I would have had a healthier relationship with food sooner and even more amazing friends through blogging. I cannot get enough of this community. And psst…check out www.healthylivingblogs.com to join a new site devoted to fabulous blogs!

Sex doesn’t make you beautiful or worthy. My senior year of college was quite the promiscuous one. If there is one thing in life I could say I regret, it would be this. I struggled a lot with my image and a need to be cared for. In the end, it just left me feeling used and abused.

Don’t be afraid to go back to church. By choosing to return to such a welcoming church full of God’s love, I never felt judged. Others embraced me with open arms and uplifted me in many ways. They motivated me to grow more and gave me the type of relationships I always longed for. I will forever be grateful to my church friends and family for bringing me to a happier place in life than I ever imagined possible.

As much as I know these lessons would have been helpful I can’t say I would change anything about my experiences. I learned about love and the qualities I truly needed in a man through that ridiculous relationship growing up. I went through huge trials with the depression and binging but came out a stronger person with a story to share and a way to relate to others. I more fully value my faith now that I had to grow back into it. And so much more learned through every moment. I honestly wouldn’t change a thing.

• What’s something you wish you could tell yourself 10 years ago? I know you all got some after reading some of your crazy bday stories. 😉
• Any guesses on my special present? 😀