Today’s challenge is to pass along something you know to a child.

I found this challenge in an article on UpWorthy.com.

Today’s challenge is offer to babysit for free for a friend or family member so they can have a night out.

#CareEnough

#alovechallenge

Today’s challenge is to send a friend an encouraging card.

Time to pick up that old device we used to talk to people on – the phone.

Today’s love challenge is to call a friend I haven’t spoken with in at least one month and talk for at least 10 minutes.

#alovechallenge

 

This morning I awoke to the sound of the trash collection truck coming down my street.  I ran out the door to quickly drag my trash can to the curb and was amazed at the speed and strength of this team of sanitation engineers. One of them grabbed my can and lifted it as if it were light and easy.  Although I was very late, he greeted me with a smile and ushered the trash can up my driveway and back to me as if he were a valet bringing my pristine Tesla to me.

These guys do this all day.

I got to thinking…these guys probably never hear thank you from the people they serve. There are a host of others who I would call ‘the forgotten’ who do things for me all the time – the receptionist, the janitor, the mailman, the police officer, and so on.

Today, I challenge myself to do something kind for one of the forgotten people in my life.

(I’m leaning toward a cupcake for the receptionist)

It’s not enough to just feel bad when misfortune comes to people.  Genuine sympathy and empathy ought to spur me toward action, when I have the power to do so.

Recently, I learned of a major fire in a community we used to live in.  I can’t imagine how it must feel to be displaced from my home or business due to fire, especially during this time of the year.

Today’s challenge is to do something in response to a recent tragedy impacting someone else.  In my case, this is what I’m choosing to respond to:

Cambridge Mayor’s Fire Relief Fund

Today’s challenge was inspired by a message delivered today at Grace Covenant Church and is a way to internally express love.

It resonated deeply because I too believe that simply reflecting on the good things that have happened in the past has mental, physical and emotional benefits.  Chemicals are released in the body when we do good, witness others doing good, or reflect on good – chemicals like endorphins, the brain’s natural painkiller, oxytocin, which lowers blood pressure, and serotonin, which combats depression.

So today’s challenge is to pass out notecards to everyone in my household and have each person capture 4 things that went well this year.  We’ll consolidate them in a jar and add to the jar throughout the remainder of the year and then review them on New Year’s Eve.

#alovechallenge

Yesterday a co-worker mentioned someone anonymously paid for her to have 20 smoothies (which happens to be her daily lunch).  I was floored by this person’s generosity.

In honor of this really kind gesture, I’m challenging myself to do copy it.

Today’s love challenge – buy a gift card and give it to a stranger.

 

I gotta admit – I have a little bit of experience with this one.  A few months ago, my daughter asked me to pay for the car behind me in the drive thru.  I reluctantly did it. Hours later at dinner my son shared that a stranger paid for his lunch that same day – miles away!

#alovechallenge

#lovejustbecause

#21daysoflove

 

I’ve seen this idea in 2 different places this week and I want to give it a shot.

Today’s love challenge is to post 3 sticky notes with a short positive message on mirrors – at home, at work, at school, in a restroom at the mall, wherever!   The goal is to encourage.

 

 

 

 

We just stuffed ourselves with turkey and all sorts of fixins. We were thankful for our lives but missed something pretty basic – saying THANK YOU to OTHERS.

There are so many very specific things that others have done for me and my family over this past month.

Today’s love challenge is to gather around that same dining room table we used to fill our bellies, and write thank you cards – me and the fam (and drop them in the mail soon after).

It’s the least we can do.