Day 9: Tweet The Ellen Show about #30DaysofGiving

My ninth task of the 30 days of kindness challenge was to tweet The Ellen Show about the bootcamp.

I laughed when I read the task because I had somewhat already completed it. When the bootcamp started, I emailed the producers of the show on Day 3 telling them about the random acts of kindness that were taking place around the world. In my mind it just made sense; when you think of kindness, you think of Ellen!

I had only told two people that I emailed the show, my mom and my friend Chris.

We were also given the option to tweet anyone else we might think would enjoy the bootcamp and help spread the word.

I chose one of my favourite musicians, Boyd Tinsley, the violinist with the Dave Matthews Band. He's a kind, peaceful man that loves to spread love!

It's not so outrageous to think that he would get back to me; he's tweeted at me before! (I freaked out with excitement!)

I still haven't heard back from either of them, but as the wise George Michael says "Because I've got to have faith, I've got to have faith, because I've got to have faith, faith, faith."

One a side note: I see a certain 'someone' in Ontario got one of my secret handwritten letters!

AND I walked into the work kitchen area and someone had replaced a joke I had left on the microwave with a joke of their own! I was completely hoping this would happen when we were given the "post a joke in a public place" task! If whoever did this is reading my blog, thank you!! You made my day!!

Day 8: Leave a joke posted in a public place

My eighth task in the 30 days of kindness challenge was to leave a joke posted in a public place.

FUN!!!!

I woke up in the morning to a blanket of snow covering the ground, so it only made sense to make the jokes winter themed!

I started researching some jokes online and found six that I liked. The executive decision was made; in this case, more is better than less. I got everything prepared and off I went! You know it's going to be a good day when you leave the house armed with funny post it notes and scotch tape...

My first joke I posted outside the elevator at my apartment building.

Q - What did the seal say when it swam into a concrete wall?
A - DAM!!

I needed gas, so I decided to post my second joke on the gas pump!

Q - What do you get when you sit on the ice too long?
A - Polaroids!

Q - What do you call a deer with no eyes?
A - I have no eye deer!

The next four were randomly posted around my workplace (on the microwave, outside the mens room, outside the ladies room, and inside the ladies room.)

I didn't tell anyone what I had done.

Everyday I come into work and one of my colleague's asks "Hayley, what is today's challenge?" Day eight was no different. I just smiled and she said "I think I know. Are you the post it girl?" I just nodded. Another colleague yelled "that's you?! Awesome! I was in the bathroom and I felt so silly because I was in there laughing to myself!"

Now one for all of you!

Knock! Knock!
Who's there?
Freeze!
Freeze who?
Freeze a jolly good fellow! Freeze a jolly good fellow!

Day 7: Make breakfast for someone

My seventh task in the 30 days of kindness challenge was to make breakfast for someone.

There are fewer things in life that I love more than making a breakfast feast for people that I know - Homemade waffles, eggs, bacon, cinnamon roll french toast (yes, you read that correctly.)

Problem is, I work Sunday mornings!

So, off to the store I went and bought a raspberry-rhubarb pie for my co-workers. I was especially excited because it had a heart cut into it! (It's the small things...)

They seemed to enjoy it. After hearing what challenge I had been given my one co-worker said "sweet!! I'm starving!!"

Another publicly thanked me on Twitter!!

The pie was delicious and I think it was the perfect way to end off the week.

Day 6: Call a long lost friend

My sixth task in the 30 days of kindness challenge was to call a "long lost friend."

Two people came to mind right away, so I thought "why choose??"

First I called Garett. We went to college together and aside from a few Facebook messages here and there, we haven't really spoken since graduation. We were incredibly close so I was really looking forward to this phone call. I got home from work and called him. NO ANSWER!

Alright, "no big deal," I thought. Next I called Ara.

I met Ara in 2007 when I moved to BC to work at Radio NL. Ara has a personality that is infectious. We bonded quickly over our love of music. He moved on to work in Kelowna and I followed a year later. He then moved on to Alberta and I to Vancouver. We text quite a bit but the last time I saw him was before the Jay Z/Kanye show in December 2011.

We spoke on the phone for 34 minutes, pretty much instantly going into "what the heck is wrong with Kanye?!" talk. We ended the conversation agreeing that we needed to speak again before Christmas. Ara, if you're reading this, your laugh rocks my world! Also, I told you I'd use a picture of you and I, but it's stuck in a cabinet I can't get open right now because the handle fell off....

I wasn't willing to give up on Garett. I saw he was on Facebook and told him that I had tried calling him. He told me to try again.

We hadn't spoken in more than seven years!! It seemed like just yesterday we were sitting at me place watching movies, going out, and just hanging out. We caught up on our personal and professional lives, talked sports, and had a good laugh about the one time we met Elliotte Friedman (I always told Garett he reminded me of Elliotte Friedman.)

I loved today's challenge. It forced me to reach out to people I think of more often than they know.

It's a great day! I learned a very valuable lesson. If you make a TRUE bond with someone, distance and time can't kill it, it'll always be there.

Day 5: Take someone to the movies

My fifth task in the 30 days of kindness challenge involved me taking someone to the movies.

Sounds easy, right? Not so much.

I made a few calls and everyone was either busy working or at holiday parties. I considered taking myself to the movies, but to be honest, I didn't feel like sitting in a theatre.

So I went to a movie theatre close to my apartment and stood outside. My plan was to find someone and buy them a movie ticket. The suggestion actually came from my mother (thanks mom!)

Two teenage girls walked up to the box office and ordered tickets for Catching Fire. I explained to them and the ticket teller that I was participating in the 30 days of kindness bootcamp and that I would like to buy them their tickets for the movie. They stood there looking at me like I was crazy for a few seconds but then realized I was serious and said "this is so cool! Thank you!!"

I also passed along my favorite movie theatre "snack tip." Put your Milk Duds IN your popcorn so they get a little soft. It's the perfect mix of salty and sweet! Trust me, don't diss it until you try it!

I then went home and watched my favorite holiday movies "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" and "The Holiday."

Day 4: Create a secret handshake with a friend

My fourth task in the 30-day kindness challenge was to create a secret handshake with a friend.

I thought it would be nice to reach out to some friends that live away from me and have a "virtual secret handshake." (I suppose it's not so secret now...)

Thankfully I have the friends that I do and they jumped right on board!

I emailed them a video of me doing our secret "handshake" and they sent me videos in return of them doing the same thing.

It took me awhile to edit, but it was TOTALLY worth it! I laughed and smiled through the entire process! I especially enjoyed how much they seemed to love participating too! The kindness bug is spreading!! Best of all, now we have this ridiculous video as a keepsake :)

I hope they, and you, love the end result as much as I do!

I present to you "The Long Distance Secret Handshake!"

Day 3: Mail a handwritten letter to someone

My task for the third day of the 30-day kindness challenge involved me writing a handwritten letter to someone and mailing it to them.

I decided the recipient of my letter should be someone who I haven't had much contact with over the past year or so, especially through text messaging and/or Facebook.

It took only a couple of minutes before my favorite teacher popped into my head. He was one of my college instructors while I was going through school to become a broadcast journalist and he was AMAZING! Jim was always supportive, kind, patient, and funny. He and I developed a very nice bond over my three years in school and we kept in contact even when I moved from Ontario to BC.

Unfortunately, life gets busy and distance does its thing and we haven't spoken in awhile.

So, I put my pen to paper and wrote him! It was important to me to use the opportunity that had
presented itself and make the letter mean something. I didn't want it to just be a "Hey! How's it going?" So instead, I focused on how he has positively impacted my life, expressing gratitude.

Well, once I finished that letter, I had to send another...it just felt that good!

The recipient of that letter will remain a secret. (They may read this and I want it to be a surprise!)

I can honestly say that I am getting way more in return from this "kindness bootcamp" than what I am giving. The response from my family, friends, co-workers, even strangers has been overwhelming and I am finding myself walking around with a goofy grin on my face since it started. In fact, a woman whom I have never met reached out to me on Facebook yesterday and told me that my blog has inspired her to start her own! You can read it here.

PS: This particular challenge made me realize how bad my handwriting has gotten. I used to have the nicest handwriting! I'm not going to lie, I went through a couple drafts of my letter until I felt it looked OK to send.

PPS: I discovered there is a mailbox right by my apartment! I had always driven around looking for
one! BONUS!