Today is my 32nd Birthday.
Today I will perform 32 Random Acts of Kindness.
My Birthday WISH… JOIN ME. Attached are a list of Ideas that you can do TODAY… On the way to work, at lunch, in passing of a stranger, on the way home, in Pumping your Gas, going to the Grocery, or even at Dinner. Pick 1 from the List – Or Perform your own Random Act. When you do… I would LOVE to hear of your Giving – Post away on the attached comment thread or touch base via the Facebook Page.
I will update this Blog Post throughout the Day & will look forward to connecting soon – Off into the World I go. MAKE it Great, my Friends!!
My Birthday WISH
Sun Rising in East. Rainbow in West… How I KNEW Today was a BLESSING!!
Turning Panera Bread into a PARTY this morning along with 12 of my Newest BESTEST Well-Caffeinated FRIENDS!!
“Anonymous” Flowers waiting for someone who needs to be told more often how much I appreciate the Value they add to my life.
Baked Doughnuts Dropped off to our Men in Blue
Were these DARK Chocolate Cupcakes waiting on YOUR desk @ 7am??! Still wonder who they were from??! Well… I’m sure you do, because I was the ONLY one in the Building when I delivered these Heavenly Morsels of Deliciousness!
INGREDIENTS:
-1 1/2 Cups All-Purpose Flour, Sifted
-1 Cup Chocolate Milk
-3/4 Cup Sugar
-1/2 Cup Dark Cocoa Powder
-1/2 Cup Unsalted Butter, Room Temperature
-1/3 Cup Chocolate Chips
-1/4 Cup Dark Chocolate Syrup
-1 t Baking Soda
-1 t Salt
-1 t Vinegar
-1/2 t Vanilla Extract
METHOD to the MADNESS:
-Pre-Heat Oven to 350ºF.
-Sift Flour, then in a Large Mixing Bowl combine all remaining Dry Ingredients.
-In Glass Mix DARK Chocolate Syrup into Chocolate Milk.
-In Separate Bowl, Combine all Wet Ingredients.
-Fold Wet Ingredients in to Dry & with a Hand Mixer, thoroughly Blend ALL Ingredients until Smooth.
-Line Cupcake Tin with Non-Stick Spray or Butter.
-Pour Batter 3/4 Full.
-Place in Oven… After Baking for 10 Minutes, sprinkle Chocolate Chips over Cupcakes.
-Return to Oven & finish cooking for another 10 Minutes, or until cooked through & toothpick removes clean.
-Remove, allow to cool for 5 minutes, then Serve Warm… To SOMEONE ELSE!
A Gift to Pay for your Gas. Use & Pay Forward.
A Stack of Pennies waiting for those Children who anxiously hope to Ride that Horse Like a Cowboy at Meijer.
Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital. New Books&Games for those Kids who need them the MOST.
108 Flowers Hand-Delivered. 109 Smiles (Have to Count MINE).
Mentoring a Child… On how to take down a Monster Sandwich like THE BOSS!!
At the Wishing Well… Making a Wish for SOMEONE ELSE.
4 Quarters to Pay it Forward.
A Surprise for my Sweaty Friends @ HOT Yoga – “Relax. Drink. Pay it Forward. Namaste.”
Our Favorite Baked Cookies for the local Fire Department. Those Guys were SO appreciative… They gave the Kids a Station tour & Front Seat in the BRAND NEW Fire Truck!!
#30 – Applying my Artistic License to Public Property Across Town.
With #31 & 32 Complete, I have not Finished, but instead JUST STARTED…
31. Donated Suits/Shirts/Ties to Mel Trotter Ministries for the Jobless so they may now wear professional dress for Job Interviews.
32. Mentored a Child. Spent the day with MY SON showing him FIRST-Hand what it TRULY Means to GIVE without the Expectation to Receive.
7/24/2012 – The COMPLETE List – 32 Random Acts of Kindness in Paying it Forward:
2. Baked Chocolate Cupcakes for a Professional Mentor.
3. Initiated a Panera Bread PARTY @ 720am with 12 of my NEWEST BESTEST Well-Caffeinated Friends!
4. Called my Children’s Mothers to wish them a GREAT Day.
5. Ran an Errand for a Friend who was working ALL Day
6. Dropped Doughnuts to my Friends @ Acura Auto & Hansen Auto Collision.
7. Brought Cookies to the local Fire House.
8. Brought Breakfast Muffins to the local Police Department.
9. Donated Children’s Clothes to Goodwill.
10. Gave 108 Flowers to Strangers Downtown Grand Rapids.
11. Gave Pennies to Store Greeters @ Meijer to Give to Children wanting a Horse Ride.
12. Corralled ALL Carts in the Meijer Parking Lot!
13. Dropped Bottled Water to Homeless on Division/Wealthy.
14. Taped Quarters on a Snack Vending Machine.
15. Paid for my PowerBar with $2 & a Lottery Ticket as a Tip to the Cashier.
16. Delivered Books & Games for Kids who are living in the Children’s Hospital.
17. Left a Gas Gift Certificate in Fuel Pump.
18. Helped an elderly Lady Bag/Load Groceries.
19. Brought Bagels / Flowers in for the Bank Tellers.
20. Stopped to Help 2 Gentlemen Fixing a Flat Tire in the Cascade Parking Lot.
21. Provided a Recommendation for an Individual to a Job I KNOW they Applied for… But, they do not know I KNOW.
22. Found something nice to say about EVERYONE who asked today… Why are you doing this for me??
23. Connected with a Long-Lost Friend. How quickly time passes.
24. Emailed an UN-Published Recipe to a Passer-by who Recognized me downtown.
25. Surprised my HOT Yoga Studio with COOL Refreshments.
26. Made 32 Wishes for Someone Else & Left Pennies for others to do the Same.
27. Bought a RedBox Movie Rental for Someone Else.
28. Gave 12 Hugs (12 More than Usual).
29. Donated to my Alma mater & worked on Building Blocks to establish an Alumni Association for the Baseball Team.
30. Wrote Messages of Encouragement on Sidewalks with Bright & Colorful Chalk.
31. Donated Suits/Shirts/Ties to Mel Trotter Ministries for the Jobless to wear for Job Interviews.32. Mentored a Child… Spent the day with MY SON showing him FIRST-Hand HOW TO GIVE with NO Expectation to Receive in Return.
I LOVE this!!!! Absolutely wonderful. Will do!
David, this is so inspiring. It wasn’t the amount of money you spent but the thought behind each and every act. I know when the next people came to the wishing well and saw your pennies, they paused for a moment instead of just wishing for that new car or toy. And I can’t even imagine the smiles you brought to 108 ladies with the simple act of a single flower. I’m sure this is a day your son will never forget and that is truly paying it forward.
i just LOVE that you did this. I will turn 60 on October 11 and I want to do just what you did, only 60 times. Thanks for the wonderful idea and I hope to pass YOUR random acts of kindness on as well. When you give, you get. All the best to you.
pamm
David,
Just reading this makes me smile. Great job !!!
To Pamm – You have the time before your birthday, start with one deed a day leading up to the big day. 60 days of feeling great is so wonderful.
I just want you to know you have given me something to do on my birthday and each one of my kids birthdays as well! I know they will find it to be the most fun and inspirational thing to do! I “liked” your page on my face book just because of your actions on your birthday! Inspired and motivated by you…<3
Absolutely brilliant.You did so much in a day.May blessings and good things come back to you a hundred fold.I am doing something similar for my birthday in a few weeks.Your son has a great example to follow.
Do you remember me? I remember you. I am glad you had a wonderful birthday. I wish you the best
Laurie… Yes! Thank you for the kind post & birthday wishes… The day was marvelous. Hope all is well on your end!!
I just want to say you have inspired me. You have restored my faith that there are still good people out there and random acts of kindness touch the soul. Thank you for making me believe again.
Happy belated Birthday! What a wonderful idea! I read each and every act with a smile on my face and a smile in my heart! I stumbled onto your website cause of your fabulous cooking and found so much more than recipes! Thank you for your kindness!
♪♫ HAPPY BIRTHDAY ♫♫…to a very unselfish young man!!! (Keep grill’n)
What a great idea! Totally Inspiring. I hope you had a great birthday!
Hope you accomplished your 32 acts of random kindness! A great idea! Wonderful recipes!!! I enjoyed reading your bio, except for the Ohio State part! I can overlook that and instead look at all your mouth water recipes! Hope you had a great birthday and hope you are indeed traveling and finding adventure!
What an inspiration! I love this! I will have to “pay it forward” as well. wonderful ideas. Hope you had a great day. I am just seeing your site for the first time but know I will visit often.
Take care
Nicole
Will God’s richest blessings be you and your family’s portion now until the end of time. You have a heart of gold and will be rewarded 1000 times over in all areas of your wonderful and selfless live.
Blessings,
Winsie
Excellent post and lots of ideas that I haven’t seen before! Thanks for the inspiration!