Kindness - why don't we all try it?
I have been wondering what to write about next and rather than stress about it, I just decided that something would come to me eventually. Today it did. I was watching a clip of an Ellen Degeneres show and it was about a quarterback and his friend and how the qb won the title of Homecoming King but knelt down and gave the crown to his friend. I guess some have said he did it because his friend has Cerebral Palsy, but the qb stated he did it because he truly thought his friend would win and that he deserved it because he exuded happiness and made those around him happy. His final words were that he hoped if others had the chance to make someone's day by doing something kind, that they would do it.
I sat and thought about this and it made me think of whether I do things to make others happy very often and unfortunately I thought- no I don't. Here I am a recipient of kindness almost on a daily basis from my friends, and even from people whom I know albeit not too well, and I am not giving back. This needs to change! Before I tell you how I plan to do this, I would like to share the kind things people have done for me.
I have some very close friends who have helped me make good medical decisions, made me food, brought me gifts, prayed for me, and simply sat with me during my treatments and on days I haven't felt good. Dr. Tim and Aunita Feeney, Mark, Debbie, Jackson, & McKenzie McCullough, Tim and Jamie Strunk. I want to thank Dwayne and Julia Terry for a couple of very good meals as well. I receive cards almost daily from both family and friends and even some people whom I do not know very well, but I can tell you they can come at just the right moment! I can't even list the people who have sent me cards--but please know I have kept each one and they have meant so much!!
My sister in law - Debbie Moon texts me almost DAILY to ask how I am doing --she has reminded me just how much we love each other and have since the day we met.
I am thankful for other friends who are constant texters letting me know they are thinking about me....really helps me get through some days knowing you are thinking of me: Jamie, Debbie, Tiffani...
I am thankful for my best friend since 7th grade, Debbie who came to sit with me during chemo and brought old photo albums, yearbooks, and even her diary to entertain me. Who knew you could have so much fun at a chemo treatment?
Thankful for my daughter Holley who spent her entire summer running up and down the highway to take me to all of the treatments she could while she was not teaching. The sun rises and sets on this beautiful girl.
Thankful to my son David for giving me something to look forward to and think about during these last few treatments a/k/a WEDDING! Also Mindi who became my second daughter from day one!
Thankful to my mom who offers to take me to every treatment and has to a couple. For some reason, I really don't want to expose my mother to my bad days, I guess because watching a child hurt is the worst!
I am so very thankful for my husband who is cheerleader, cook, caretaker and motivator when I definitely don't deserve kindness. He gets the brunt of my ugly days.
Thankful for new friends who have common problems due to this horrible thing called cancer: Brandon and Maggie Snack, Monica Gagliano-Harris, and all those who sit in that treatment center with me every other Tuesday in Martinsville.
Thankful for my sweet nurses: Sherry and Elaine who are the absolute best.
I am even thankful for my doctor who I have to say doesn't seem to be the most sympathetic person, but whom I have to have confidence in and trust with my life.
I am sure I am forgetting someone and that by no means says I am not thankful for you. Chemo Brain has taken over.
So, what do I do now? I want to start doing something nice for someone every day from now until my last chemo treatment which is hopefully on November 2. I am going to just randomly choose a person and think of some way that I can do something nice for them. I have no idea how I will accomplish this--but I am going to do it. My people have been so good to me, it is time I show some love back.
Join me in making Kindness a priority. I have a feeling we will all be better for it!
I sat and thought about this and it made me think of whether I do things to make others happy very often and unfortunately I thought- no I don't. Here I am a recipient of kindness almost on a daily basis from my friends, and even from people whom I know albeit not too well, and I am not giving back. This needs to change! Before I tell you how I plan to do this, I would like to share the kind things people have done for me.
I have some very close friends who have helped me make good medical decisions, made me food, brought me gifts, prayed for me, and simply sat with me during my treatments and on days I haven't felt good. Dr. Tim and Aunita Feeney, Mark, Debbie, Jackson, & McKenzie McCullough, Tim and Jamie Strunk. I want to thank Dwayne and Julia Terry for a couple of very good meals as well. I receive cards almost daily from both family and friends and even some people whom I do not know very well, but I can tell you they can come at just the right moment! I can't even list the people who have sent me cards--but please know I have kept each one and they have meant so much!!
My sister in law - Debbie Moon texts me almost DAILY to ask how I am doing --she has reminded me just how much we love each other and have since the day we met.
I am thankful for other friends who are constant texters letting me know they are thinking about me....really helps me get through some days knowing you are thinking of me: Jamie, Debbie, Tiffani...
I am thankful for my best friend since 7th grade, Debbie who came to sit with me during chemo and brought old photo albums, yearbooks, and even her diary to entertain me. Who knew you could have so much fun at a chemo treatment?
Thankful for my daughter Holley who spent her entire summer running up and down the highway to take me to all of the treatments she could while she was not teaching. The sun rises and sets on this beautiful girl.
Thankful to my son David for giving me something to look forward to and think about during these last few treatments a/k/a WEDDING! Also Mindi who became my second daughter from day one!
Thankful to my mom who offers to take me to every treatment and has to a couple. For some reason, I really don't want to expose my mother to my bad days, I guess because watching a child hurt is the worst!
I am so very thankful for my husband who is cheerleader, cook, caretaker and motivator when I definitely don't deserve kindness. He gets the brunt of my ugly days.
Thankful for new friends who have common problems due to this horrible thing called cancer: Brandon and Maggie Snack, Monica Gagliano-Harris, and all those who sit in that treatment center with me every other Tuesday in Martinsville.
Thankful for my sweet nurses: Sherry and Elaine who are the absolute best.
I am even thankful for my doctor who I have to say doesn't seem to be the most sympathetic person, but whom I have to have confidence in and trust with my life.
I am sure I am forgetting someone and that by no means says I am not thankful for you. Chemo Brain has taken over.
So, what do I do now? I want to start doing something nice for someone every day from now until my last chemo treatment which is hopefully on November 2. I am going to just randomly choose a person and think of some way that I can do something nice for them. I have no idea how I will accomplish this--but I am going to do it. My people have been so good to me, it is time I show some love back.
Join me in making Kindness a priority. I have a feeling we will all be better for it!
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