The Birthday Project!

Those of you who are connected with me on Facebook would know that on the 17th of September it was my 23rd Birthday, and I celebrated by doing at least 23 Random and Intentional Acts of Kindness.
I was inspired by The Birthday Project a few months ago, and decided it would be a great way to 'give back' on my birthday this year, especially after reading about the adventures of the people who have participated already.  I believe it is 'more blessed to give than to receive'.

(First of all, a big thanks to my brother G, who helped fund this venture, and was the only family member I got to see on my birthday this year.  Love you bro!)

I asked my Facebooked friends if they would join me in doing a Random or Intentional Act of Kindness, in lieu of wishing me Happy birthday.  Well 23 people (funny that!) said they would, and if they share their stories with me (poke!!), I might post them here too!

On the day, I was feeling a bit apprehensive about how the day was going to go, and how people would react, but it turns out my fears were unfounded!  I had a great time, walked till I dropped, and I definitely recommend it to anyone!

Here is a list of the actions I have completed so far (I plan on doing some more before the end of the week):


*  Gave yummy treats and a Thank You card to the firebrigade which is located not far from my house. The fireman I spoke to was really surprised and touched I think.  He said it is nice to be appreciated.

*  Wrote out notes saying "Have a great day, and enjoy this random act of kindness!", stickytaped them to Freddo Frogs and put them on the windscreens of random cars.

*  Bought 12 flowers from a florist and asked for them to be individually wrapped (I think the florist thought I was a bit crazy lol).  I took the flowers up to the maternity ward at one of the hospitals, and asked the nurses to hand them out to the mums.  They were really happy, especially when I told them it was my birthday.

*  Gave the florist ^ a Freddo Frog and he really liked that!

*  Put $10 towards someone's meal at a cafe where I had lunch.  They were really surprised, and I'm pretty sure they happily 'paid it forward', which is great!

*  Left a Freddo Frog + note for the waitress, as she seemed a bit unhappy.

*  Took a hot drink to a friend working in town.

*  Anonymously paid for someone's coffee.

*  Put $1 coins and chocolates on a washing machine in a laundromat

*  Left $2 coins in a parking meter

*  Left a Freddo Frog + note in a random location

• + still to be done:

*  Write cards to old friends I've lost contact with

*  Collect rubbish from the roadside

*  Donate blood

I think saying thank you to the firemen and giving flowers to the maternity ward were the most rewarding, but it was all lots of fun, and a really nice way to spend the day, instead of sitting at home by myself!

If any of you reading this are keen to try this project yourself (and I hope you are!), then check out The Birthday Project website for ideas and more information.  There is a wide range of things you can do, and they don't all have to mean spending money.
It was a little hard to do a variety of activities here where I have just moved to, and there is a lot more I would have loved to do if I was back in my home town.  But I'm planning on making some of these things a habit, and definitely doing at least some every birthday from now on!

Hope you enjoyed reading about this!  :-)  Have a great day!