A to Z Challenge: B(e) Kind 366 - Y is for Yes and Z is for Zip-a-dee-doo-dah Day

I fell a bit behind on the last two letters, but here they are. 

First, though, I'll explain B(e) Kind 366. It's a project I've been planning for a few years now that started on January 1st of 2016. Every day this year (366 days) I'm performing an act of kindness (random or otherwise), doing a monthly challenge of some sort, and raising funds for three charities that have effected my life: World University Service of Canada, The Women's Resource Centre, and the Canadian Cancer Society. 

I blogged A-Z last year with lists of potential acts. Here's the W, X, Y, and Z post from last year. I got sick near the end of last year's challenge so I had to write a couple of posts that included more than one letter. 

As for this year, Y is for Yes and Z is for Zip-a-dee-doo-dah Day! I came up with these because I had two really great days. I didn't do acts of kindness that start with Y or Z - mostly because there are a limited number of ideas under those letters. What I did do on those two days was so amazing that I decided "Yes" and "Zip-a-dee-doo-dah Day" were good descriptors of how I felt. 

On Friday  afternoon I participated in Indigenous ceremony and completed a hand drum at The Women's Resource Centre (one of the organizations I am raising funds for). I learned so much from the grandmothers who facilitated the workshop. The drums are comprised of two spirits: the buffalo's whose hide we used for the face of the drum and the tree's whose wood we used for the frame. Once the drums were completed, we feasted them with water and berries. They will be awakened in another ceremony on Thursday. I cannot wait!

Later in the evening on Friday, I spent time with some of the incredible people that make up World University Service of Canada (or WUSC and one of the other organizations B(e) Kind 366 is in place to raise funds for). There are sponsored students who fled countries such as Ethiopia, Somalia, and South Sudan in this photo. We had an "end of the school year" bbq and I sat and listened to discussions about life in the refugee camps and the politics of a number of African nations - one of my favourite things to do!

On Saturday, I spent the evening with my "Little" from Big Brothers Big Sisters. We went to an arcade and then made dinner together at my house. We watched a movie while we ate and on the way home he said to me, "I had a lot of fun today. How long do you think I'll be with you guys?" That melted my heart!  -- My Oh My What a Wonderful Day! --

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A to Z Challenge: B(e) Kind 366 - X is for X's and O's

In 2016 I am performing an act of kindness (random or otherwise) every day of the year. That's where B(e) Kind 366 comes in! Last year I blogged A-Z with lists of potential acts of kindness. Here's the list for X if you're interested. I actually had a surprising number of options for X last year.

From that list I chose X's and O's. 

I made this simple little game and left it on a picnic table at a park close to my house. Coincidentally, when my partner and I went out for dinner tonight Elle King's "Ex's and Oh's" was playing at the restaurant and now I can't seem to get the tune and chorus out of my head!

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A to Z Challenge: B(e) Kind 366 - V is for Virtual Hug / W is for With

B(e) Kind 366 is a year long project where I perform an act of kindness (random or otherwise) each day of 2016. Last year I blogged A-Z with lists of potential acts of kindness. If you're interested here's the V list and the W list. A headache got the best of me yesterday so today's post contains two letters.

Yesterday, V was for Virtual Hug. I've been on an emotional roller coaster this week so yesterday was the perfect day for this act of kindness. I posted it on my own personal Facebook and on the profile of a family member who is part of this roller coaster.

Today W is for With - go With and wait With. I went with a colleague to drop off two strangers. It might not have been the smartest thing to do - two women dropping off two unknown men - but we believe in the good in people and went together. Following that little jaunt, we waited with another colleague while she waited for CAA. Her car wouldn't start after our meeting so after we dropped the two gentlemen off we came back to the office and waited with her. 

Stop by my G is for Giveaway post and enter to WIN (one of my favourite W words)!

A to Z Challenge: B(e) Kind 366 - U is for Unplug

We're in the final week of A-Z! B(e) Kind 366 still has 36 weeks left to go! I'm performing an act of kindness (random or otherwise) every day in 2016. Last year I blogged A to Z with lists of potential acts of kindness. Due to an illness I had to combine my S, T, U, and V posts, but if you're interested you can find that post here: Random Acts of Kindness beginning with "S," "T," "U," and "V."



U is a tough letter. I only had two ideas listed under U last year: unplug and upside down. Earlier this year I performed the "upside down" act by building this snow person. I saw a grown man walk by, do a double take, and smile. Mission accomplished!


Since there's no snow (thankfully) left and I already performed the "upside down" act, the only one left was unplug. Before bed tonight, I unplugged all of the electronics, lamps, phone chargers, etc. that we leave plugged in all the time. I'll save a little power tonight and do the environment a small kindness.

If you like winning free things, stop by my G is for Giveaway and enter to win!

A to Z Challenge: B(e) Kind 366 - T is for Take What You Need

B(e) Kind 366 is me being kind 366 days of this year - 2016. I've been planning this project for a few years now and while I try to be kind whenever I can, whenever the opportunity arises, this year, I am making a point of doing something consciously every day and keeping track of it.

Last year I blogged A-Z with lists of potential acts of kindness. I ran into some illness around this time last year so my last few letters of the challenge are combined. Here's my S, T, U, V post!

T is for one of my favourite random acts of kindness to perform: Take What You Need.

I made these posters and posted them on three random bulletin boards in the city. The last time I did this act of kindness was a few years ago when I was working at a university. A few days after I had posted these a colleague sent me a photo of "what she needed" - courage - and it made my day. I hope these 24 slips of paper find their place with someone who really needs them!

For a bit of fun, stop by my G is for Giveaway post and enter to win a Blind Date with a Book!