We're Back!

Last year 315 people from around the World Participated in Spread the Love 2013. I'm pleased to announce that Spread the Love 2014 has officially been launched! This year we will be committing any number of random acts of kindness for our: partners, lovers, family, friends, coworkers and even strangers! If you need some ideas to get you started check out the posts from February 2013. In the coming weeks the blog will be updated with even more ideas, inspiration and thoughts on kindness. 

Haven't signed up yet? Join the movement : https://www.facebook.com/events/193405444192032/

Getting Our Kindness On

By 9 a.m. on February 14th over 300 had responded that they planned to participate in Spread the Love 2013!
 
Some of you shared pictures and stories from Valentines Day and here is what you did:
 
Michael Jones from Guelph, Ontario:
 
Shoveled the sidewalk of his apartment complex which NO ONE ever does. Gave pancakes to his doctor & nurses on Tuesday and this week, he let several people merge onto the busy Highway in front of him. That last one may not seem like a big deal yet NO ONE ever does it! The guy he let in today did the same for another driver a few blocks later. Paying it forward.
 
Greg Nash from Kitchener, Ontario:
 
Bought Timbits for my entire Hermeneutics class.
 
Karen Stroebel from Vancouver, British Columbia:
 
Made Valentine's Cards that she gave to Strangers.
 

 
Geri Silva Macias from Weslaco, Texas:
 
Gave away some baked goodies after her radiation treatment:
 

 
Lori MacKay from Ottawa, Ontario:
 
Donated to the Heart and Stroke Foundation.
 
Tiffany LaSalle from Sudbury, Ontario:
 
Shared a cab with an 85 year old woman from the grocery store so she didnt have to wait another 15 minutes.
 
Shanon Langton from Halifax, Nova Scotia:

 

Doesn't get out much these days because she has a newborn, was able to:
- help give directions to a blind woman
- drove a friend around on errands
- smiled at everyone I encountered on our walk

... Random acts she received:
- homemade cupcake from roommate
- random gentleman helped get my stroller down a set of stairs
- husband offered to watch after Gwendolyn so I could nap even though he was exhausted

 

Kieron O'Gorman from Ottawa Ontario:

 

- made cookies and brought them to work today
- bought a couple of coworkers coffee
- tried to help a coworker who was looking for advice
- bought lunch for a coworker
- made plans to spend time with my nephew on Monday

Beverly Burge Cutone from Waterloo, Ontario:

 

- gave a ride to a friend having car troubles

- bought a box of timbits and when she did my running around at lunch and handed them out to everyone she talked to...

- donated money to children wh eat at school

- bought donuts for the people she works with

 

David Barth from Waterloo, Ontario:

 

Brushed off 3 people's cars, gave free hugs to many on the streets of Kitchener - many people ignored us, some took hugs for fun and a couple of people were very happy to get that hug.  Gathered the found remains of a stolen woman's handbag, phoned her work and arranged to meet her to give her her stuff.  He also told her where he found it so she could go back and look for more things that were lost. He also had his office manager's coffee sitting on her desk just the way she likes it when she arrived at work

 

Karen Strang Allen from Ottawa, Ontario:

 

-  sent care packages to two sick friends
- called her Dad, whose "sweetheart" is dying in a nursing home
- messaged my best friend, who was alone for Valentine's Day

- made gift bags for my two kids and my boyfriend's two kids
- made my son's favourite meal, even though it's labour-intensive and I was sick
- smiled and wished everyone I saw a "Happy Valentine's Day"

Andrea Belle of Ottawa, Ontario:

 

 Said her favorite act of kindness was one she wasn't even thinking about. She invited her friend out for milkshakes, without acts-of-kindness in mind. She received this message the next day. ☺

 

Some Acts Arrive a little bit Early.

So it seems many people have been eager to start their acts of kindness.

Here's what they're doing:

Leah Watkiss of Toronto:

When my coworkers come to work tomorrow, this is what they'll find! Homemade bath bombs that smell of cinnamon with sweets and chocolates and "Smile" tag cards encouraging them to go on and commit their own anonymous random acts of kindness. The hearts on the counter have 20 suggestions of ways they can pay it forward!

 

Carrie McNabb, Kitchener, Ontario

Helped connect a new acquaintance (on CMA track) with some resources for finding a job for her MBA program. It's not much, but I'm working up to tomorrow.

As for me...

I had a bit of trouble not giving the flowers I bought for tomorrow away from tonight. The people in my performance swing dance class will be getting a delicious surprise tonight. 

V-Day Minus 25 Hours

When I first created Spread the Love this Valentine's Day as an event the number of people crept up day by day. I received occasional facebook and in person messages about people's plans to participate but I wasn't sure it was going anywhere big.

On Friday we had a Snow Day from work which meant I had some free time on my hands and so I put my plan in action and baked a batch of cookies. Since then I've made some free hugs signs, some stars and tonight I made fair trade truffles. 


My friends have shared some of their plans with me too. At swing dance on Saturday night my friend from highschool, Leah, came up to me and eagerly explained that she was planning on making bath bombs for her coworkers, and our friend Jean was thinking about Baking and shoveling snow. Today I got a text message from my friend Greg proclaiming that he had no intention to plan his random acts of kindness but instead to look for fourteen opportunities before the end of the day Thursday to do kind things.

This event has also given some people the opportunity to express their struggles. One of my friends from Halifax recently lost her husband and expressed that she didn't feel she could participate this year. Another event participant has indicated that she will be participating to commemorate her cousin's suicide a year ago. I think this gives a window into how difficult of a day Valentine's Day can be for people.

And then today, to my surprise and my delight, 100 more people confirmed that they were planning to participate and over 1000 more people were invited to the event.


There are some location specific events happening.

In Kitchener we will be meeting at Kitchener City Hall at 5:15 to give away free hugs for an hour.

In Ottawa Nindi is getting people together to collect and sort food for the Food Bank. If you want more information you can comment on her post on the facebook event. 

With all this action there's only one question left;
 Are you ready for the best Valentine's Day yet?

So You Want to Commit a Radom Act of Kindeness

Random acts of kindness can take many shapes. Some may be impromptu such as holding a door open for someone or helping someone whose car has broken down or they can be planned such as bringing cookies to work or volunteering somewhere. They might also cost something or be free.



A few years ago I committed 24 random acts of kindness for my 24th Birthday. Some of the acts went very well and others, not so much.

My favorite acts of kindness were writing super stars for all of the members of my swing dance class explaining why I thought they were amazing. I also enjoyed giving out flowers to people on my way to work, an action I'm considering repeating this Valentine's Day.

 

Some general ideas for random acts of kindness might include:

- paying for the coffee of the person behind you in line at your favorite cafe
- sending an old friend a letter
- picking up litter
- buying lunch for a homeless person
- bring cookies to the office

Some of the ideas I'm working on for V-Day (without giving too much away):

- I'm going to give out flowers on my way to work
- bring cookies to the people who serve me coffee every morning
- pay for the coffee of the person in line behind me
- stand outside Kitchener City Hall with a Free Hugs sign for 30 minutes (with a friend).

There are also loads of websites with great ideas:

http://www.randomactsofkindness.org/kindness-ideas

http://extremekindness.com/

If you have other ideas for random acts of kindness post them as comments below or send me a message on Facebook and I'll add them to the list.