kindness

My cousin invited me to do a 30 day kindness project with a group she started. Today is the first day. I listened to the video and decided who I was doing it for. I am especially focusing on my oldest son's wife as she and I have had several misunderstandings over the years and I truly have never meant to hurt her, but she has been hurt at times nevertheless. I have always thought of myself as a kind person, but in listening to the first video and thinking about it I realize that I have more work to do to be a kind person in thought, word, and deed. I took the assessment on the website and tried to answer them as honestly as I could. It turns out by doing that I come up somewhere in the middle of the group on kindness. I have a just do it type of personality and sometimes I guess I don't think of the people involved as much as the project and getting things done. Also I know I need work on not being negative in words or thoughts. Often I will try to not show my negative feelings, but I will rant in my mind and I am sure that leaks over into body language if not tone and words themselves. So this 30 days I am going to try to improve my relationships with all of my immediate family (husband, kids, their spouses, and grandkids). Also I want to generally try to put positive and constructive spins on what happens in my life and what I think. I really think if I can do this I will be a happier person and better able to see the fun and joy in my life. I am going to try to slow down and listen better. To think of others and how what I say will effect them. And also just look for the good around me and be kinder to everyone I interact with. In this challenge, there are three main things we are supposed to do.
1. We are supposed to be kind to our person and not say negative things to them or about them to anyone.
2. Complement them everyday about something we sincerely admire or appreciate about them or something they did.
3. and do random acts of kindness for them, if possible daily, or as often as is possible.

Today I am taking my daughter-in-law a potted set of tulips, as I know she does not like winter as well and loves tulips. I have also found a card to leave for her with them that reminds me of her. We are going to their house today to babysit the kids as she is photographer at a wedding this afternoon and our son is working. Since we can come down, he will not have to take vacation time off and she won't have to worry about getting the kids to the things they need to do today. She is so talented and I am glad she is doing this wedding for our friend daughter.