July 11 - Card Challenges

Day 191 of a year of Kindness

My sister-in-law, Julie Sturges Cline, sent me kindness scratch-off cards that I could do with my 17-year-old niece Sophie Cline while she was visiting. So, today we each plucked a card from the deck and scratched off a kindness challenge.

Sophie’s challenge was to pick a friend and send them a message about what they meant to her. My card challenged me to give 10 compliments. It was described as “a simple and uplifting way to spread positivity and make people feel good about themselves.”

Sophie completed her challenge quickly. However, she did have to add a caveat that it was for a kindness challenge or her friends would “think she was dying.” They were happy getting a sweet text and she was happy with how they responded.

My challenge took a little longer and mostly included strangers. Sophie and I got tickets for an afternoon tea at a local estate and there were plenty of fabulous women to compliment. One woman wore a hat that matched her dress perfectly. How could I not compliment that kind of coordination? I complimented dresses, dogs, good service, beautiful blue eyes, my niece, my daughter and my mother. If we had crossed paths today, I would have complimented you as well.

This practice reminded me that it’s not that easy and a little socially awkward. But it doesn’t matter! Every single compliment brought a smile. Every. Single. One.

Science of kindness: Research confirms that giving compliments to strangers or loved ones is a simple and uplifting way to spread positivity. #bekind #kindnessiscontagious #kindnessisfree #kindness #shareacompliment #kindnessbucketlist