The Clarissa Burden Kindness Project
As many of you know, I'm a survivor of child abuse and domestic violence. I'm here today--writing, and teaching, and loving life--thanks to the abundant kindness bestowed by friends and strangers. To honor the many people who helped me along what has been to date an amazing journey, and to encourage all of us to participate daily in active acts of goodwill, I'm abandoning the I've Got a Secret Project in favor of the Kindness Project. Send me via email (mail@conniemayfowler.com) an act of kindness you offered or received today (if you'd like your entry to remain anonymous, just let me know). I'll regularly post them on this page. I'll also post selected entries on Facebook and Twitter. Hopefully, these acknowledgments will serve as sweet reminders that sometimes even the smallest acts of kindness can change lives. That is what Clarissa Burden learned. And that is what enabled her to fly. I look forward to hearing from you and learning from your shared tales.~~Heart and Soul, Connie May
Kindnesses: November 24, 2010
"I gave a bag of Persimmons to a co-workerf or
Thanksgiving pudding and found out that he had grown up just around the
corner from me."~~Sawyer Finn
"I sent a brief holiday greeting, partly in Russian, to the astronauts
and cosmonauts on the International Space Station today. NASA Invites
Public to Send Holiday Greetings to Station: http://bit.ly/eGCNEI"~~Mike Underwood
"I received from friends and acquaintances on my
writing, and this has given me hope."~~Marcia Golub
"I went by somebody today (didn't notice who)
with a flat tire and THOUGHT ABOUT THIS POST. When I went back it was a
young girl who needed help so I changed it for her."~~Jon Johnson
"A barista at Starbucks offered me a free coffee
today for my birthday, even tho my birthday was Saturday. And when I
just ordered a plain coffee...she told me to order something more
expensive! Brought a big smile to my face which has lasted all day! Now
it's pay it forward time..."~~Nancy Jill Hayflich Rees
"All right - Pay it Forward!!! I closed my eyes
and made a beautiful wish, whe I blew out my b-day candles.... Love
conquers all, don't it?"~~Lillian McGee
"Gave the simple gift of a Youtube music video to
my mom's FB page. Everything's better with music..........oh, and GUM
:) Yup, everything's better with music and gum..........."~~Linda Johnson Furst
"Selected ten, small yams for a woman who could
not reach them."~~Karen Huber
"Helped a WONDERFUL elderly gentleman at Walmart
choose a nice dress shirt to wear to his brothers funeral.. Still can't
get him off my mind.."~~Dorothy Hays
"Made Cranberry Orange Relish to give to friends
for Thanksgiving and bought two books for the library to complete an
author's selection.Thanks Connie for your kindness in opening this site,
it is great. Also, yesterday I mentioned to my husband how gracious all
the employees at Walmart in Crawfordville had been to me as I shopped.
Thanks to all of you."~~Jackie Shaw Gay
"My (sometimes) husband has been out of work for
100 weeks, and just this past week, the director of my work place, the
local library, offered him a job. I taught him how to put book jackets
on books yesterday, and today, I had to admit, in front of everyone,
what a good job he had done. He said it really made him feel human
again, which of course, made me feel human again. It does come right
back to you."~~Suzanne Deal-Fitzgerald
"My stepsister who i have barely ever seen took me
and my dog in when we had nowhere to go she kept us off the streets so
thought i would give you another one for your page!"~~Maranda Hinson
Kindnesses: November 23, 2010
"Told my fav teach her car was broken into then
let her use my phone to call cops and dad and boyfriend then stayed to
comfort her until she felt ok to wait alone"~~Maranda Hinson
"I saved a morning dove from my Weimaraner who was about to have his
Thanksgiving early!"
~~Kimmy Van Kooten
"Through my son's memoral fund, I partnered with a
local tree farm to give free Christmas trees to families who would not
otherwise be able to afford one. They can choose from pre-cut or cut
their own. No limits on price."~~Sherry Chapman
"Told my niece that when I get to Jacksonville
today I will cook dinner and have it ready when all and sundry get in
from school and work"~~Judi Breuggeman
"I spent a little extra
time listening to a lonely person chat."~~Charlotte Jones Cabaniss Robertson
"I gave my neighbor ten dollars for gas
cause she was in a bind. Not much, but it's a start - and I'm inspired
to look for other better ways to be kind"~~Christy Waite Espy
"We bought a fishing rod to give to a
nine-year-old girl in the foster system who needs Christmas gifts. It's
easy to use but really works :)~~Janie Watts Spataro
"A long time ago I read that every
day you should think of things you wish people would do for you - and
then do at least one of them for someone else. Wish I could say I do
this every day, but I do try. Does staying up much of the night with a
jet-lagged baby so that her mom can get some sleep count?"~~ Candice Imhof Michalik
"Stayed after school to help student with a 4-H
art project."~~Sally White
"My step-daughter told me she loved me."~~cmf
To participate in the project, send a postcard (anonymous or not) to:
The Clarissa Burden Kindness Project
PO Box 98
Panacea, Florida 32346
Or email me at mail@conniemayfowler.com.
