Tag Archives: #kindness

I think one of the greatest gifts is to give words of encouragement. Thank you to everyone who has shared kindness with me in this way over the years.

I have recently started asking new teammates to prepare a shield to show me in our first 1-to-1. We take turns during the 1-to-1 meeting to share our shields – divulging our core values and favourite quotes as well as describing what we’re like at our best and our hopes of working together. I knowContinue reading “Day 291, £1262 donated so far”

I felt deflated this morning when a plan to go for a long Sunday morning walk with a friend was cancelled at short notice. I’d been looking forward to catching up with him after so long and doing that while surrounded by nature. I’ve often allowed for this type of disappointment to impact me moreContinue reading “Day 228, £795 donated so far”

A decade after promising to go to a folk festival, I am finally embarking on my first experience. In my living room. I am listening to Folk on Foot Front Room Festival 2. Folk on Foot is a podcast series hosted by Matthew Bannister in which he combines his passions of folk music, walking andContinue reading “Day 76, £740 donated so far”

After an extensive debate this morning about each other’s cleaning skills, my mum and I decided it would be appropriate to make amends by listing five things we in fact like about one another. I realised this was a tall order when “you do a good weekly food shop” was her third point for me.Continue reading “Day 74, £715 donated so far”

I had mixed feelings about my undergraduate placement year in a scientific research lab. I was the lone team member of my supervisor who had, incidentally, started at the company on the same day as me. I was only doing the placement year to get some work experience on my CV and, already sure thatContinue reading “Day 53, £695 donated so far”

Oh my, the last seven days have been exhausting. What started out as a twinge in my leg quickly developed into a pain disco of numbness, pins and needles, and sharp bolts while I also developed other symptoms on an almost daily basis. I have read that up to 40% of the UK population sufferContinue reading “Day 35, £685 donated so far”

I have wanted to do seva, the Sikh term for selfless service, at Harmandir Sahib in Amritsar, India, since I was eight years old. I had arranged to spend a week there this year but my travel plans were sadly cancelled due to the virus pandemic. Amritsar, a city with a population of over oneContinue reading “Amritsar”

I love waking up to a WhatsApp chat full of photos of my sister’s and brother-in-law’s 8 month old puppy that they send through to me each night. The photos are invariably of Buddy sleeping camouflaged amongst his dog teddy bears or him memorised by a dog on TV. He looks so cute in allContinue reading “Day 30, £675 donated so far”

I pleaded with my supervisor to extend the helpline hours on the evening when my helpline log listed only snap calls. This is the term we used on the helpline when someone called but hung up as soon as they heard a voice. It is not uncommon for helpline callers to make a few snapContinue reading “Day 27, £623 donated so far”

More than a fifth of the World is on lockdown to save hundreds of thousands of lives from COVID-19. Each day we’re reminded that staying home is the single way in which we can all contribute to the global fight against this disease. I understand it but I can’t stop thinking about those, for whom,Continue reading “Day 24, £608 donated so far”

It was the best surprise when I received a handwritten letter from a friend exactly five weeks ago today. I recall the date because it was Pancake Day and the envelope had the Royal Mail stamp commemorating the special occasion. I remember how instantly excited I felt when I saw the letter amongst the usualContinue reading “Day 21, £508 donated so far”

I dedicate this post to my cousin – who incidentally has the same initials of SS as others featured in my posts – in honour of his fortieth birthday this weekend. SS is a gem. He is the eldest of our group of cousins and he has always looked out for us. He never refusesContinue reading “Day 19, £471 donated so far”

One of my favourite things about this my1825 project is how much I’m learning about the World. I am learning about the people and the causes that I am supporting, family and friends are sharing their wonderful stories about volunteering and I’m reading more blogs than before and learning about acts of kindness all overContinue reading “Day 17, £431 donated so far”

In my first blog post I explained the objective of the my1825 project: To make regular in person donations over 12 months. I aspired to donate £5, in person, each day, achieving an annual donation total of £1825. However due to the current social distancing measures because of COVID-19, I have not managed to followContinue reading “my first t-shirt”

As a child I was always most excited when my mum received a letter from the child she was sponsoring via Plan International. It was exhilarating to learn about the life of another child in a different country through their heartfelt letters, happy photos of them with their family and their colourful drawings depicting theirContinue reading “Day 12, £426 donated so far”

I was moved by The One Show‘s segment about food banks on Thursday evening. There was one comment, in particular, that impacted me. One of the food bank users, a parent, expressed her concern that, as the UK’s nurseries and schools close for the foreseeable future and the children of non-key workers will stay atContinue reading “Day 10, £192 donated so far”

In my last post I stated that we are presented with countless opportunities to make donations every time we leave our homes.  I feel I need to correct myself on this.  The impact of our current pandemic on this is visible.  There is now a distinct absence of fundraisers on our high streets.  It isContinue reading “easyfundraising®”

I made my first in person donation 10 minutes ago! Woo-hoo! This is exciting within itself but it’s doubly exciting because I was eager to achieve this milestone before this blog turned one week old tomorrow. I did it and with a few hours to spare. Oh yes! I know my reaction seems a littleContinue reading “Day 6, £180 donated so far”