Oooh, Pretty.

Would you like to have this beautiful, Jewell Cosmetic Bag from Thirty-one? SOMEBODY will receive it as a special gift from one of our friends here at LKN RAKs. Comment below with an idea for a random act of kindness, and then share www.fb.com/lknraks on your Facebook wall. You can do this every day!

This weekend, the person gifting this beautiful bag will choose her favorite random act of kindness from those posted on this page's comments, and THAT person will receive this lovely gift of kindness -- and YOU will get to find out who she is and why she is so special.  :-)

Easy-Peasy

You all have been pretty quiet.  In continuing our idea a day challenge, here are some more ideas for you.  Will you do any of them?

January 21st

Renew an old friendship by reaching out in some way.

January 22nd

Tell someone face to face how much they mean to you.

January 23rd

Stop at the bank and ask for some two dollar bills.  Use them randomly when you use cash.  They are sure to bring a smile to someone's face -- maybe use them as a tip.

January 24th

Invite a friend over for dinner and make them their favorite meal.

January 25th

Open a door for someone.

January 26th

Pet an animal.  So simply.  So effective.  

Hi, Folks.

One of the things that I like about being a part of a group of people who have a heart for kindness to others is that there is no pressure to be perfect. I missed a week of posting, and none of you gave me a hard time. Some of you continued to be supportive of the Fb page, and that gives me a smile.

My family is working to get past the loss and the sadness, and I am starting to work on refocusing. With that being said, I need to catch up because there are a week of RAK ideas that need to be shared, so are you ready for them? They should all be simple enough to do quickly. I would be thrilled to read your comments below to find out what you think of these ideas.

January 14th

Do not complain for the entire day.

January 15th

Phone your parents.

January 16th

Send a card to someone to tell them why they are so appreciated. Do not sign the card. Let it be a mystery, and let them simply have a feel good moment.

January 17th

Encourage someone specifically about something that they do, whether it is being a parent, working a business, or something else all together.

January 18th

Text someone -- or several someones -- with a compliment today. It may be that brief shining moment in their day.

January 19th

People complain a lot. It is like some people need negativity to survive. If you are at a business of any kind, and the person working there is friendly and courteous, tell their manager. Do good by letting their good be known.

January 20th
Send a cheerful card to Someone in a nursing home.  Address it to Any Patient and put kind, encouraging, happy words inside.

I am looking forward to your thoughts and reports!

About Those Sticky Notes

Most days, we try to offer an idea for a random act of kindness (or a deliberate act of kindness) that you can do with very little to no cost and simply a bit of heart. We always ask for comments of feedback but do not get many. Hopefully people's participation will increase, but, in the mean time, I want to refer back to a suggestion that we shared on January 6th.

In the Public Restrooms post, we asked you to participate and then share pictures on the LKN RAKs Facebook page to show us. 

One person did just that.

Cheryl W., because of your participation and willingness to share, YOU are the fortunate person to be gifted with a beautiful scarf by Yarn Doodles WV, and, wow, does Marsha make pretty scarves!

Gifted by
Marsha Sparks
Yarn Doodles WV

https://www.facebook.com/YarnDoodlesWV

Thank you, Cheryl, and thank you, Marsha, and keep posting those sticky notes, Everyone!

Deliberate Act of Kindness

Today's RAK challenge may be easy or difficult. There is no specific thing that is being suggested for you to do. Instead, wherever you are and whatever you are doing today, why not deliberately look for a way that you can go above and beyond to show kindness to somebody? 

Sometimes what you do inspires another person, so be generous with the comments below and let us know what you found to do.  Thank you for being a part of all of this with us.

Cook AND Eat

We had a challenge at the end of 2014 to get the Facebook page up to 300 "Likes" and then one of those people could receive a gift as a thank you for joining us. We did not reach that goal of 300.  However, there is one person in particular who has been a great support of LKN RAKs, who has invited many friends to join us at the Facebook page, who has liked and commented on our posts, who has given gifts as her random acts of kindness, and who has been a great cheerleader for the mission.

So....

I made the executive decision to decide to give the gift to that person, anyway. It is a good gift, too, if I do say so myself.  Please help us give a super huge thank you to Rose Johns of Tastefully Simple for providing the gift for this giveaway.  The Baking Gift Set includes a Loaf Pan and TWO scrumptious mixes. Can you say, "Mmmm?"

Gifted by
Rose Johns
Tastefully Simple

https://www.tastefullysimple.com/web/rjohns

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rose-Johns-Tastefully-Simple-Independent-Consultant/221459484553972

Please be sure to help us thank Rose for her act of kindness by liking her Facebook page and taking a peak at what other yummy foods she offers.

Shall we get back to thanking that wonderful person who has been so supportive of Lake Norman RAKs and shower her with this act of kindness from Rose?

Yes, I think so, too.  

So...

Without further ado...

Let us give a warm cyber hug to....

Noteworthy

Who does not enjoy receiving a hand written note in the mail? Give someone a smile today by dropping a hand written note or card in the mail to them. You can send it as a way to thank them for something, as a way of saying that you miss them, with a funny anecdote to make them laugh, to let them know that you are praying for them during a difficult time, or simply to send a friendly hello. 

If you are feeling ambitious, send more than one. The recipients will probably be okay with that.

CynTasty's

Have you been sharing?

Have you been drooling?

Do not try to deny it.

Who do you think you are you fooling?

Haha.

It was such a treat (pun intended?) to see so many locals sharing the picture on Facebook of the yummy box of treats from Cyntucci's Bakery. We at Lake Norman RAKs are so happy to see our community supporting one another. We will have another gift from a local business coming up, so keep inviting your friends to "Like" LKN RAKs on Facebook at www.fb.com/lknraks.

Now....

We know that you may be eagerly anticipating the reveal of the person's name who will be treated to a $10 gift certificate to CynTucci's Bakery, and we do not want to make you have to wait any longer. Are you ready?

The person to receive this gift is....

Spouse Boost

You love him. She is your dream. He is such a good man. She is a wonderful mother. He is super hot. She has great legs. He is an amazing cook. She can juggle the children's schedules like you cannot believe. He takes such good care of the family. She makes you feel special. He makes you feel loved.

You have lots of positive thoughts about your spouse or significant other. Sometimes you even brag about them to your friends or tell others how fortunate you feel.

Do you ever tell them directly?  

Take a moment to let your guy or your gal know how much you admire them, what it is about them that makes you so happy that they are yours. Trust me when I say that they want to hear it.  <wink>

Did You Know?

Chances are good that you know somebody who has had a neat accomplishment. Maybe they were their school's valedictorian. Maybe they won a trophy from a sport in which they excelled. Maybe they saved someone's life. Maybe they got adopted an animal and saved them from a horrible fate. Maybe they are a really good teacher for your children. Maybe...lots of things.

When you are in a group, you could tell others about this person's achievement. They will feel good because you recognized them, and others may learn something about their friend and possibly even be inspired!

Trash Day

This may not apply for today depending your on pickup schedule, but you can do it on whatever day it applies.  After the trash has been picked up, why not drag your neighbor's trash pail up to their house for them?  It is a small thing that you can do, but it is one less tedious chore for them.  They may never know who did it, but they may still be grateful for the mysterious gift of kindness.

Are you going to do this one?  

Public Restrooms

This act of kindness can be a treat for multiple people!  Grab some sticky note paper and write a kind message on each piece.  When you go out today, take them with you.  During your errands, find a public restroom and post stick the pages somewhere for people to find them.  

1.  On the bathroom mirror.

2.  On the back of each stall door.

3.  On the wall behind the fold-open changing table.

4.  On the paper towel dispenser.

If you would like to, write www.fb.com/lknraks at the bottom of each sticky note so that people can join us on Fb if they choose to!

Comment below and let us know what kind of businesses' restrooms you RAKed.

BUT WAIT...THERE'S MORE!

Take pictures of your notes and post them to our Facebook page at www.fb.com/lknraks because someone who comments here and share their picture there will receive a gift from yet another friend of LKN RAKs.  This one is a pretty and shiny something for the ladies.  ;-)

Be a Cheerleader

It is Monday.  We know how some people feel about Mondays.  Chances are that someone with whom you deal today with be blah.  Try not to let them stay that way!  Encourage them, smile at them, tell them something good about themselves, about the job that they are doing, etc.  By being that person's cheerleader for the day, you could possibly make a difference in their attitude for the rest of the week.

Even if they stay blah, you can bet that inside, they will feel a little better and be touched by your encouragement.  

Cheese!

Brush your teeth well this morning because you are going to be showing them a lot today.  At least we hope that you will be!  Your challenge for today is to SMILE at everybody.  Everyone.  At church, at home, at a restaurant, at the gas station.  Wherever you go today, smile. 

Your smile could be the very things that brightens someone's day, and, frankly, you may brighten your own day, too, because how can you smile that mush and not feel uplifted?  

You Amaze Me

The weekend is here.  The Holiday vacations are ending.  School and work for many will be starting again in a couple of days.  People may be frazzled.  People may be stressed.  People may be fine.  Either way, today, make a point to compliment someone in front of someone else.  Compliments are great because you can almost always find a reason to say something kind to a person.

While a compliment can make someone feel good, a compliment that someone else can hear may make them feel special enough that you said it in front of others.  

Going Somewhere?

It is January 2nd, and there is a chance that you will be going back to work or to the stores for something today.  When you see that great, convenient parking spot, why not leave it for someone else to appreciate?  

Did you do that?  Did you get a bit of extra fresh air and exercise by walking a little bit farther?  How did it feel to know that you may have made the day even a little bit easier for someone else?

Happy New Year!

As you know, we encourage you to do random acts of kindness for others.  In 2015, we want to keep that going and growing.  To start the year, we will challenge you each day in January to do a specific act of kindness.  Of course, please perform as many acts of kindness as you want to!

Today, pick up the telephone and contact someone with whom you have not spoken in a while.  Give them New Year greetings and ask what has been going on in their life.  

Be sure to comment below and share how it went!