Reflections on the Kindness Challenge

The Kindness Challenge has come to an end!  This lovely event was created by Niki of The Richness of a Simple Life blog.  She also created a Facebook page, Everyday Kindness, as well.  If you want to do the Kindness Challenge, you can still jump in.
The challenge for week 7 was to do secret kindnesses, and the prompt is to reflect back on the challenge as a whole.  I must say that I’ve enjoyed this challenge.
I’m not sure that I’ve become a kinder person.  I’m generally a pretty kind person.  But it has raised my awareness.  It brings me joy to notice the kindnesses around me.  I notice  more.  Not just kindnesses toward me, but kindness toward others. Little things, like a kind word, or helping someone reach something on a high shelf in the grocery store or just a smile to a passing stranger or friend.
And I have been more aware of the many kind people I have in my life, people who care about me and go out of their ways to let me know.
I have enjoyed thinking about kindness, finding quotes about kindness, participating with other people who are thinking about kindness.
For me, the first challenge is still my biggest challenge.  Being kind to myself.

Taking care of myself.  As a mother, and as a teacher of young children, so much of my work (and perhaps success) comes from kindness and taking care of others.  This is a good thing, and I love these roles. But remembering to take care of myself requires constant vigilance.  It’s easy to slip into old habits, to push myself too hard, to berate myself for not doing enough, to stay up too late.  This challenge has reinforced for me how important it is for me to take care of myself so I can be kinder to others.
 
Thanks, Niki–for the kindness and thoughtfulness that went into creating the Kindness Challenge!  I plan on doing it next year, too.
Thanks for stopping by.  Wishes you lots of kindness throughout your day.