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Chrysalosity

a flourishing lifestyle

20 Sweet & Simple Ways to Show Kindness

February 14, 2020 · LIFESTYLE

20 sweet and simple ways to show kindness

Today is Valentine's Day - the one day of the year when public displays of love abound!

But if you ask me, Valentine's Day is a little overrated and gimmicky. Ron Swanson once said that "birthdays were invented by Hallmark to sell cards." Well, Valentine's Day just might've been invented by Russell Stover to sell chocolate! But even though all the focus of Valentine's Day tends to fall on romantic love, it's also the perfect day to show you care through simple acts of kindness.

Isn't it ironic that a day meant to celebrate love in all its beautiful forms is often so exclusive? Many people end up feeling more alone and depressed than ever - but it doesn't have to be that way! On a day all about love, one thing is clear - we live in a world that needs a lot more of it.

I don't know about you, but I love hearing stories on the news of people who go out of their way to be kind to strangers. Every time I hear those stories, I feel a little burst of inspiration to do some small act of kindness in my own capacity. So with the help of some personal experience and inspiration from real-life stories, I've put together a list of 20 sweet & simple ways to show kindness.

Whether you're reading this on Valentine's Day and want to spread some extra love, or you're just looking for small ways to show your loved ones you care at any time of the year, I hope you'll find at least one way to show kindness to someone you love!

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20 sweet and simple ways to show kindness

 

20 Simple Ways to Show Kindness

1. Complete a chore for your spouse, family member, or roommate - especially the ones they hate!

2. Start a kindness fund! Collect your loose change and at the end of the year, turn that cash into a sweet surprise for a friend in need or a local charity.

3. Offer to watch a friend’s kids for a few hours so she can get some rest, do some work, or go on a date!

4. Write an anonymous note of encouragement to a friend at work.

5. Return or replace a lost item.

 

20 Simple Ways to Show Kindness

 

6. Buy the drive-through order for the car behind you.

7. Tell someone you’re praying for them. It’s encouraging to hear it out loud!

8. Surprise your significant other with flowers, candy, or a sweet note after a hard day.

9. Send your child’s teacher an email or a handwritten note saying how much you appreciate his/her work. (Trust me, this encouragement keeps teachers afloat!)

10. Offer to help a struggling mom in the grocery store by loading her groceries for her or paying for small treats for her kids.

 

20 Simple Ways to Show Kindness

 

11. If you know someone who has recently moved to your city, invite them to dinner! Being new to a city is overwhelming and lonely, especially when you don’t have any connections.

12. Give away an item you no longer use to someone that needs it, rather than selling it or throwing it away.

13. Leave a surprise note (or cash!) inside a meaningful page of your favorite library book to bless the reader. (This happened to me years ago, and I never forgot it!)

14. Pack a lunch for your spouse the night before an early morning. Surprise him/her with a sweet encouraging note and snacks they love!

15. Send a care package or unique gift to a friend or family member that lives far away to let them know you still think about them.

 

20 Simple Ways to Show Kindness

 

16. Surprise a friend at work with their favorite coffee order. (Starbucks often does BOGO Happy Hour on Thursdays from 2-7 pm!)

17. Double your recipe when you’re cooking and bring the extra meal to someone struggling with grief, sickness, depression, or even a busy schedule.

18. Carry sticky notes and a pen or marker in your purse. When you go to a public place, you can post an encouraging note, inspiring quote, or scripture passage to encourage strangers that see it!

19. Call (don’t text!) an old friend you haven’t chatted with in a while.

20. Stop to help someone having car trouble, or offer to wait with them until help arrives.

 

20 Simple Ways to Show Kindness

Not so great with words? Check out these note cards & sticky notes - perfect for spreading kindness wherever you go!

Sending EXTRA love your way today!

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Stock Up & Save on Christmas Decor!

December 12, 2019 · LIFESTYLE

Stock Up and Save on Christmas Decor

Want to know how I save on decor?

I NEVER buy an item full price. Ever.

When I shop for decor items, I like to stock up mid- to after-season while the items are discounted. And even though Christmas isn't even here yet, you can find decor items on major discount! Now is a perfect time to shop to add to your decor for this season or to store away for next year.

I'm rounding up a bunch of pieces that I love from Kirkland's, inspired by my very own Christmas decor style. You'll see lots of reds, plaids, and natural greenery. Stock up and save by clicking the photos to shop!

Stockings for All

I love traditional plaids and knits for Christmas decor, and stockings are the perfect way to showcase these textures! You'll love stuffing these cuties with goodies for everyone - even your pup! (You know my Sadie has her own stocking!)

Pillows & Throws for a Pop of Color

Nothing is as cozy as cuddling up on the couch with a warm drink on a winter night! Brighten your space and stay comfy with these festive and cute throws and pillows!

Warm Mantle Pieces

Although we rarely use our fireplace for warmth (the energy bill... YIKES!), there's just something special about a decorated mantle at Christmas. I love decorating mine with natural greenery, art, candles, and small figurines.

Festive Florals

I don't typically decorate with fresh greenery, but I do try to find natural garlands, wreaths and stems for my Christmas decor. I aim for a snowy look with lots of pinecones and berries for a splash of color.

Tie it Together with Tree Decor

I'd describe my Christmas tree as a mixture of rustic and glam. I've paired burlap & twine accents with pops of berry red, buffalo plaid, and sparkly sprigs and ornaments to catch the light. I love my Christmas tree because it's pre-lit and has berries and twigs built in. It looks full even without a lot of decor!

 

Happy Christmas Shopping!

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Stock Up & Save on Christmas Decor!

 

 

 

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Giving Thanks Always, for Everything

November 12, 2019 · LIFESTYLE

Giving Thanks Always, for Everything

'Tis the season for giving thanks, and we all have gratitude to express.

But some years bear more weight than others, and when the season of joy and thanks rolls around, our hearts grow hard and bitter about what we've had to go through in the past year.

2019 was a whirlwind for us. We started a business. My husband switched jobs, and I walked away from work that I loved to take the opportunity to work from home. We (finally) got pregnant, then lost the baby in a matter of weeks. 2019 dished out lots of change and challenges that both thrilled and destroyed us. Yet somehow, we've arrived intact at the season of Thanksgiving near the close of the year.

My heart's default setting is to complain about what I don't have in comparison to others. When I see new families smiling in Christmas cards, my heart grows bitter and hard. I was supposed to be sending out that card this year. I get upset when I think about what I gave up in order to serve differently from home. We took some pay cuts to make this work, but for what? I allow myself to divulge into a tailspin of doubt and self-pity, blinding myself from the joy and many blessings I do have.

Have you ever felt this way? Has your year been such a difficult whirlwind that you feel bitter this time of year? You're certainly not alone - but let's call it what it is. It's ungratefulness. It's sin.

 

Giving Thanks Always, for Everything

In Ephesians 5:20, Paul gives the instruction to give thanks to God "always and for everything." So, does that mean we should continually strive to be optimists, always looking for the silver lining in bad situations? Or is Paul actually telling us to thank God for the things that have nearly ruined us?

Is Paul telling me to thank God for my miscarriage? Or for taking your loved one too soon? For the loss of a job or a painful divorce? Should you really give thanks for that empty chair at the Thanksgiving table?

The simple answer: yes.

Why? Because the whole of our lives are to be a living, breathing testimony to what God has already done for us. He deserves our constant thanksgiving for redeeming us from the darkness of our sin. Even though it grinds against our human nature, we can thank Him for these difficult circumstances because He promises that all things, even the hard things, work together for our good (Romans 8:28).

When God orchestrates the trials that affect your life, He is also equipping you with the Spirit, shaping you more and more into His likeness. So as you reflect on your year, including all its blessings and trials, you can thank God for everything. He is sanctifying and preparing your heart for the eternal joy you long for, even in the events that broke your heart.

 

God is good.

And although I fight my own bitterness, jealousy, and ungratefulness this Thanksgiving season, I know that the Lord is refining me. I pray the same for you, that through the circumstances you have been dealt this year, you will be able to give thanks in all things, for everything. He is good, He is worthy, and He is continuing to write your story. And for that, we can be thankful.

 

Wishing you a blessed Thanksgiving season,

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Giving Thanks Always, for Everything

 

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About Me

Hi, I'm Rachel! I'm a millennial wife and mama loving life in the Midwest. Follow me for lifestyle tips like balanced food, accessible workouts, and personal growth inspiration!

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