A message a day... creates a streak!

I've been thinking more about the idea of streaks. Specifically, what discrete action could I take each day that would really be a gift to myself?

What I've decided to do is to pull a kindness card at random every day, and share something about it that feels true and real.

I started on January 1st, and thought I'd share my first three messages with you.

Day 1: Integrity
A perfect message for Day One, solidifying my commitment to giving this practice a fair chance.

Integrity, to me: doing what you say you will do, and acting in ways that are consistent with how you say you want to be.

For me, this meant writing thank you cards for Christmas gifts I'd received, and dedicating time the following morning to send a slew of long overdue emails.

I don't know why I put off these things that feel so good to complete. But I feel blessed having completed them.

Day 2: You are Beautiful
My first reaction to this card was Ugh. So much superficial, judgmental, comparison-laden baggage connected with this word.

But I still want to be beautiful. I want people to see beauty in me. I want to see beauty in them, too.

Then I remembered this song that Marshall Rosenberg wrote and often sang in his Nonviolent Communication workshops:

See Me Beautiful
See me beautiful, look for the best in me
That's what I really am, and all I want to be
It may take some time, It may be hard to find
But see me beautiful

See me beautiful, each and every day
Could you take a chance, could you find a way
To see me shining through in everything I do
And see me beautiful

I added a post to Facebook, asking people to share what brought them joy, and got so many wonderful responses.

I think people's joy is beautiful. It was just what I needed.

Day 3: Ease
Just because I randomly picked a card with this word on it did not make this feel like an easy day.

Ease is not something that can be forced.

But I did notice this: If you add two letters to the word, it becomes "Please."

A prayer for ease.

It is a step in the right direction.

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A few days in, I'm liking this practice a lot, for many of the same reasons that I like writing this newsletter.

It also just feels like a really good use of my cards.

I like using them for little acts of kindness, but even more than that, one of my big hopes has always been for people to think about and engage with all of these different messages in ways that are meaningful to them. So maybe this will be another way to encourage that.

If you have reflections of your own, please share!