Tuesday, June 15, 2010

90 Days of Kindness

I was reading about the 90 Days of Kindness Challenge over at Along for The Ride, and was trying to think what area in my life could use some kindness.

Then I read this post on marriage, and it got me to thinking...

When was the last time I publicly complimented my husband or spoke glowingly about him in front of others?

Answer: I can't remember when. Actually I can't think of the last time I complimented him. Period.

When was the last time I went out of my way to show kindness (love) to my husband?

Answer: I was pregnant with our youngest son. I wrote him a letter, listing all the things that I loved about him, and put it in the pocket of his work-jacket. That was a year ago.

See how life gets busy, and you keep thinking that tomorrow, you'll make time for the people you love? They know you love them already, right? They know that you would, if you could, don't they?

Of course. I have a myriad of excuses. (Don't we all?) Looking after small kids is tiring. I don't have the energy. I'm busy trying to do right by my family, and cooking all my own food. That's time-consuming. Then there's my important mission that I'm terribly fired up over. And lets not forget the all-important blogging.

So much to do, so little time!

The thing is...sometimes the way we spend our time, doesnt always match what we say is important to us...

I believe that a healthy, loving, stable marriage is one of the greatest gifts I can give to my children.

But do my actions reflect that belief?

I guess not.

But all that's about to change! I'm taking on this 90 Days of Kindness challenge, and my husband is going to be the poor sod, er, lucky recipient of my attentions.

Every day, for 90 days, I will go out of my way to show kindness to my husband. Every day I will write down in my diary what I have done.

There's no point in my complaining about how un-romantic my husband is, when I am making no effort myself. It's time for me to be the change I want to see, in my marriage.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Awe you bring up a good point in my relationship. My partner is always complementing my cooking/baking, looks, parenting etc but I never seem to do him. Oh sure I let him know when I noticed he has lost weight and when I had a good say with him...But nothing... special... We say I love you everyday but a compliment here and there wouldnt hurt either... Thanks.

Kylie said...

That's such a great thing to do. I have been trying to make a consious effort to do nice things for my husband.

It's true how we think certain things are more important, yet the way we spend our time doesn't reflect this and since our kids learn a lot from our behaviour we can say one thing but we're really teaching them something different.

Great post!

Yenta Mary said...

Hi! Found you through the blog hop, and following along ... :)

foodfloozie.blogspot.com

♥Yaya's Mommy ♥ said...

Happy Tuesday. Following you from Tuesday Follow Me Back. Have a great Tuesday.
Cindi
http://littleyayasandblessed.blogspot.com/

Kerry said...

I see you have visited my blog and gained something from my situation. Welcome to my life, I am really enjoying yours.
Don't ever take your marriage for granted.
I love my husband more than life itself but at the moment liking him is very, very hard.
Good luck with your 90 days of kindness.

Social Media Junkie said...

Thanks for linking up with us for FMBT. I am now following you back.
Have a great week !
Staycee ( Survey Junkie )

Laura said...

What an awesome post! You took the words right out of my mouth. Thank you so much for taking the challenge with me!

I hope you don't mind but I linked your post up under my kindness challenge page.

Thanks!
Laura @ along for the ride

Alyssa said...

I'm taking up the challenge too...so excited to see where this leads.

Alyssa
http://lifeoflyssie.com
alyssalb@gmail.com

Lynn said...

Wow! What a great post. Many times we take advantage of the moments we have to say how much we appreciate someone in our life. Stopping to say something kind is usually lost in so many moments throughout the day and eventually you get used to not saying anything at all. We forget that sometimes you may never get another chance to tell someone how important they really are to you.

Thank you for visiting my blog. I am following you back from FMBT. ;)

Nancy at EmbroideryIt.com said...

I too am doing the kindness challenge and have chosen my family. I looking forward to a beautiful summer with this.
Blessings,
Nancy