Spread the Love: Random Acts of Kindness

Just about a year ago I had a really special experience. I was out to dinner with my now ex-boyfriend and we had our ENTIRE meal paid for by the couple behind us.  It was the craziest, kindest, most amazing thing someone's ever done for me. Even more, I didn't take the time to look around the restaurant, so I'm not even sure what the couple looked like. Wow. What a gesture. To pay for a young couple's $80 dinner. I SO want to be able to give that to someone someday, don't you?! If you want to read about my genuine excitement, you can read this post I wrote about it happening.

You may think it's silly, but I'm planning on paying it forward on the year anniversary of this day. Even if I can't pay $80 forward, and despite the fact that I'm not together with the guy now, I do think it's important to give back to people. I want to serve others, show God's love, and truly make someone's day a bit brighter, if even for a minute. God's really been teaching me to love and serve people with nothing in return, and this is another way to do that.  You know what my favorite part of giving is, friends?! The way your heart feels after. Overflowing. I could be having the worst day then pay for someone's coffee in front of me at Starbucks, and immediately I feel an overwhelming sense of joy. It's God's way of reminding me that this life is not about me. It's about others. It's about serving. It's about making other people smile, sending friends a note, baking cookies for neighbors, buying dinner for the homeless person on your way into a restaurant, loving those who are hard to love, and loving without getting anything in return.  That's making love and life and joy really happen. 

This quote is my desktop and phone background. Download it for free by following the link!

I'm so excited to team up with one of my dearest friends, Nicole from Bloom, and with all of you who want to join in, to bring kindness to people this next week. In the next week, be thinking of how you can pay it forward, do a random act of kindness or do something sweet for a friend or family member. I'm going to host a link party right here next Monday, so we can see what each of us did to pay it forward! The blog world is such a supportive, giving, and encouraging place, I thought this would be yet another way to inspire each other...by giving and then sharing about it! Don't think of it as bragging about what you did to pay it forward, but rather think of it as just another way to encourage others to do the same. Let's spread kindness around the world, friends. Won't you join me?!

Pay it forward, write a post about it, and link up at the party right here on Monday, May 6th!  Share in the comments if you've ever had anything paid forward to you before so we can get some ideas :)
Who's with us?!
xoxo

PS. Only a few more sponsor spots available for May! Email me if you'd like more information: michaelawarner90 {at} gmail.com