How a random act of kindness in a different continent inspired me

I often find inspiration by reading other people's posts

It can be an artwork that triggers my inspiration or maybe a very moving post that I've read. You probably know how this goes, sometimes a simple image can be enough to remember something and get inspired to write about it. A few days ago this happened to me as well when I read @galenkp's post, apparently, he has some hurdles in his life currently, and this was noticed by the three ladies at the cafe where he was having a coffee.

I truly appreciate it when people see through the mask, even if you think you're the best actor in the world. This means, they have empathy and often, at least that's my experience, this means they are people with a good heart. Or else they wouldn't care about others in this way. If you want to know what these ladies did, you will have to go read his post here.

I almost forgot about a feelgood project that I had in mind

A while ago, I decided to find a purpose for some of the smaller items I've painted like the rocks and wooden rounds. Especially those rounds that I baked myself from bread dough. They are now laying in a closet in a box, and honestly without any purpose. They were made to practice and most of them were made during the period that I didn't have the best tools yet. They do have some emotional value (some of them) because a few of them actually turned out great if you ask me, especially when you take into consideration that I had no idea what I was doing.

A while ago, I decided that at one point, I should make a selection and create a little note on cardboard paper including a friendly message. Then add the little artwork to it and pack it with gift foil to make it look like a present. Maybe even a colored ribbon to grab the attention. This way, I could place them at random places and hope someone would pick it up and smile after finding it and reading the message. It was purely based on putting a smile on someone's face.

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What these ladies did for @galenkp reminded me of this

Being busy with 100 other things, this project of creating the notes and packing the little artworks faded to the back of my mind as it wasn't a priority. I did an attempt to find gift foil when I thought of it at the time, but after a few attempts I failed to find it and the idea landed in the closet. After I read the post, I realized that around this time, normally, I feel depressed and low on energy, not being as productive as I would like to be, because I'm defo not a winter person.

This year, so far, this hasn't happened while normally this starts during the fall. Fall has arrived, and I'm super grateful that my only obstacle currently is that my joints aren't flexible and hurting (one day more than the other thankfully) but that the depressed feeling has not arrived. Knowing that's actually the biggest burden during the winter months. Of course, I hope to keep it this way. It would be the first winter in YEARS if I could make that happen. But then again, I've overcome many things this year already, so why the heck, not this one as well?

Looking around, people seem down

The daily weather contains rain, rain and well, mostly rain! I see that people aren't smiling as much anymore as they did during the summer months. Honestly, I can read "depressed" on a lot of faces. I think there are no coincidences in life, so it must have been for a reason that I read the post and got reminded of my idea a few days ago. The reason was to not forget about this small gesture I had in mind.

It doesn't cost much time, money, or effort to spread a little bit of kindness around. I only need the gift foil and maybe a few gift ribbons to make them look even cuter. Deciding on the friendly message won't be too hard, and therefore I will make sure I get some of these artworks out this week. I can also paint a few other stones I still have to make someone smile and spread these while I'm outside as well. Guess what I'm doing today? Yes, buy gift foil! :)

As soon as I'm ready packing a bunch of them, I will take a picture and then put a few in my bag every time I leave the house. Thanks, @galenkp for sharing your story about the ladies and their kindness I'm trying to pay it forward by spreading some kindness around here on a different continent :)

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13 comments
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This story made me smile and I love these little acts of kindness. They sure make a difference in people's days and lives.

Depression is a recurring theme in my life but I'm getting so much better these days in taming the beast before it controls me, by making changes to my life. I also have to admit that I can't complain about the Portuguese weather so far ( the Dutch weather would probably depress me now ). Aside from misty mornings and fresh evenings/ nights, it's still holding up, like an extended Summer.

Big hug from Portugal,

Vincent

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glad I could make you smile @vincentnijman!

I have to admit, that the idea started to pop up because of my own experience of finding such random acts of kindness spread out in the "wild" lol .. long time ago, but I never forget how happy it made me and I found them at the moments I needed a smile :)

I wish I could say that I'm having great weather here as well, but this winter will be still cold, I hope next year, Spanish temperatures :)

Take care!

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Making people smile is always nice :<)

We are prepping for storm and rain here and I'm sleeping in a camper van at the moment. Interesting times ahead ;<)

Big hug!

P.S. Funny that you talk about Spanish temperatures, as I'm in Portugal haha

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Good luck with the storm :o

The Spanish temperatures are because we are trying to move there next summer ;)
I know you're in Portugal (which is a country I'd consider too but my boyfriend isn't lol)

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Ah, I see :>)

I know I'm biased but Portugal is nicer than Spain ( says a guy who loved Spain before ), especially in these 'crazy' times. Spain is getting more and more fascist and it already felt off to me, back in early 2018, the last time I was there.

Who knows, your boyfriend might change his mind.

come to portugal

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A year ago I painted a few very small paintings that I was going to distribute randomly, but after they were done, they got put away and forgotten.

My phone's photo program sometimes decides to show me things from a year ago and one day this week, there were photos of those small paintings and it made me stop and think for a moment.....

I suppose I too need to pull them back out and get them ready, so when I go out I can take some with me. There were no restrictions when I painted them, but I don't go out so much now with the covid mess. I still need to get them ready, just in case !

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Ah, there was a reason you saw them this week I guess :) You can do something similar where you live, people will be happy for sure!

I know what you mean btw with these memories on the phone, so funny to see things from 1, 2 or even 3 years ago.

Good luck getting the paintings out, hopefully , soon I will read something about it in your blog :)

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Random acts of kindness benefit the receiver and the giver both - Nice to see you getting on board. :)

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That's such a great idea! I'm sure, you will make someone smile, your artworks are full of positive energy <3
This year is hard for everyone in one way or another. So these small gestures are more needed than ever.

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I hope you're right and thanks for the compliment :) I would smile if I'd find something similar with a positive note. I couldn't buy the foil yet, but as my boyfriend is working the last day before having a week off, I will arrange it in the next days probably. The little lady is also having 2 days off next week, so maybe she wants to make some cool small artworks as well for the purpose :)
This year has indeed been so weird and hard for many people, it's normal at all, and winter is not helping with the mood either in many cases ;)

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