{Our family is participating in Ann Curry’s call to do acts of kindness to honor the lives of those who died in Newton, CT. We are committed to doing 28 acts of kindness…for all those who died. See my initial post here.}
Our first act of kindness…perfectly imperfect hand-made cards to my co-workers…
After the kiddos were snug in their beds for the night, I headed downstairs to make cards. I love making cards. No two cards are the same. I hand cut and craft each one. Sometimes often, that means my lines aren’t straight and the layers of paper aren’t “perfectly” aligned. Friends say, “Lis, you gotta sell these on etsy.” “I never have an inventory,” I say. I make one and someone comes into my heart, and I think, “I need to send this card to such and such.” Hence, no inventory. But what I really think inside is: “they aren’t perfect.”
No, they are not “perfect” as if created on an industrial printing machine. I could point out all the “mistakes” on each card – glue glob here, too much white space there…but has any person I’ve given a card to had any other reaction than, “Oh Lisa, this is beautiful! Thank you!”???? No. That’s how it often is with us, isn’t it? We notice the seemingly “imperfections” about our bodies, hair, skin, artwork, homes, and even our children. We focus on the negative. We stress ourselves out over “perfecting”…the birthday party, the Christmas card and letter, the remodeled kitchen….you name it. All while those around us see the beauty in how we craft, cook, make a home, create a great celebration, write, and…offer ourselves to the world. They see the beauty of how we softly smile, wink, laugh, touch, and love.
Maybe an act of kindness is to see ourselves through a dear one’s eyes.
Maybe an act of kindness is to offer our “perfectly imperfect” love — however it comes out — glue globs and all — to our dear ones without pointing out the “imperfections.”
Maybe an act of kindness is to not wait until “the wound is healed” or the perfect words come or we have “totally” forgiven in order to love and love without holding back.
So for my dear co-workers who will receive one of the hand-made, perfectly imperfect cards, each with a personal message of how they bring delight into the world, I hope the cards and words bring a sparkle to their day.
As human as we all are, as imperfect as we all are, we each have a light that shines and inspires. Shine on, dear ones! Inspire us with your globs of glue, fumbled words, and crooked lines. I’ll treasure them!
Blessings,
I love this SO much!!! I am taking these words here with me: “We stress ourselves out over “perfecting”…the birthday party, the Christmas card and letter, the remodeled kitchen….you name it. All while those around us see the beauty in how we craft, cook, make a home, create a great celebration, write, and…offer ourselves to the world. They see the beauty of how we softly smile, wink, laugh, touch, and love.”
I am so inspired by you.
http://www.handsfreemama.com
Rachel, thank you so much. I”m inspired by YOU, mindful mama, hands-free mama. So many of your posts resonate with me — I’ve been meaning to tell you about the one w/ your daughter who is a gift-giver. Do you know the book and the concept of the Five Love Languages? Look it up. OR – ask me about it — I use it all the time in my work in psychotherapy. But what I wanted to share was that Brian and I are starting to see the love language of our youngest emerge and we think it is gift-giving. Your post helped me to clarify that. Not being a gift-giver myself, I didn’t see it right away. But as you pointed out — our daughter is soooo quick to say, “Oh me make something for them”…a picture, two pieces of paper glued together, acorns glued to a page….you get the idea. Your post made me look at this in a whole new light. Thank you for all you are doing to change the world. Yes, that is what you are doing, dear soul.
Lisa
You rock, Lisa!
I did my act today for a client who wanted some money back for a document that the FDA had redacted too much. Normally I wouldn’t do it, b/c it’s not our fault the FDA redacts so much, but I had just heard about the random acts of kindness thing so I gave him a partial refund 🙂
Rach, the “acts of kindness” at work….now that’s sometimes harder than at home! You go girl!!! Love to you and those three little honeys, Lisa
How very very special Lisa!! I love hand-made cards…. so much more than any gift that could ever be purchased! Have been using my photos to create them whenever I am able… means so much more. Random Acts of Kindness is a wonderful Mantra for our new year — what a fantastic world it would be if everyone joined in this…. Love and Blessings ~ Robyn
Robyn, Oh I’d imagine that you create beauuuuuuutiful cards with all your gorgeous pictures!!! All you have to do is stick one on some cardstock and there you go — I’d imagine people are DELIGHTED to get one and keep them where they can see them every day. It’s folks like you, and me, and all the folks we know doing acts of kindness every day – through your poetry and pictures, through lovin’ on my kiddos, etc etc – that change the world. I love your idea of people committing to a year of acts of kindness. Hmmmmmm…..! I’ll think about that one!
These are beautiful Lisa. Love what you are doing with these acts of kindness. Much love to you dear friend ♥
thanks, meg! you do this kind of stuff every day — i often think of you walking (I picture how the streets look!) and the kind things you do – like helping someone or talkign to someone or meeting a little pup!!!
What’s Going down i am new to this, I stumbled upon this I have discovered It positively useful and it has helped me out loads. I’m hoping to contribute & help different
users like its helped me. Good job.