Here’s a love list of the things that have decorated my days with delight.
Here’s to the moments of magic that may appear in your life next week.
Be sure to pause and take note.
Have a great week!
Nicky xo
If you’re a regular visitor to my little corner of the web, you will know that it’s pretty easy to please me.
I post weekly about the little things that have shown up and brought a smile to my face or made my heart do little star jumps.
They’re not big things, extravagant gifts or expensive outings…they are the magical moments that cost very little (sometimes nothing at all), aren’t going to win awards and most people take for granted.
But they are special to me.
They are the thoughtful comments, the little wins and the perfect pauses in a crappy day!
I notice the magic in the mundane.
I love smiling and try hard every day to do so.
Here’s a little love list of things that are sure to secure a smile…
💛 food that tastes as nice as it looks 💛 the smell of a newly opened jar of coffee 💛 coordinating stationary 💛 little love notes left for me to find 💛 when someone compliments my kids 💛 an outfit that looks better on than you visualised 💛 the last pair of sale shoes, in your size 💛 a beautiful flower 💛 when someone takes the time to leave a comment on my blog 💛 the perfect pony tail first time 💛 a child’s drawing 💛 strawberries and cream 💛 a pretty cocktail 💛 a great idea 💛above and beyond customer service 💛 a sale item that is cheaper than the ticket price 💛 an Instagram like 💛 beautiful gift wrapping 💛 writing on the first page of a new notebook 💛 an ‘I saw this and thought of you‘ text 💛
What does it take to please you? Are you difficult to please? Is making you smile, easier said than done?
Let me know below.
Smiles xo
So, seven weeks ago I started The Kindness Challenge created by Niki of The Richness of a Simple Life.
Each week we were given a prompt (self kindness, find kindness, kind energy, be kind, ending the day with kindness, inspired by kindness and secret kindness) that you could choose to blog about, however you wished.
Any challenge I participate in excites me as it gives me an excuse to really stretch my creativity bone. I particularly enjoyed adding inspirational quotes to my photographs and creating mantras to use each morning to set my intention for the coming day.
I was surprised at how much this really worked – it was like priming your brain to really notice the kindness that was gong on all around you.
And believe me it was going on!
As well as witnessing kind acts, I created a few of my own (anonymously and intentionally) as I bought gifts, gave extra attention and ‘good gossiped’ about people to others.
I also rekindled my love of art journaling and this really helped me to focus on how I was going to integrate kindness into my everyday.
And finally I made a real effort at ending my day with gratitude – listing three things I was grateful for that day.
These little additions to my day were not difficult, costly nor time consuming. They were merely little ways to intentionally be kinder – to others and myself.
I would like to thank Niki for starting this revolution – and I do see it as a revolution, because let’s face it we all have days where we feel there needs to be a shift in society’s thinking.
So as this challenge ends, I’d like to ask a question:
I’m sure we can all think of ways we can increase the amount of kindness going on in our busy lives.
I’m sure we can all find a moment to pause and speak to someone who needs to hear kind words.
I’m sure we can all find one way to be kinder to ourselves.
As for week seven’s challenge – secret kindness, I can’t write about it…it’s a secret!
But I’ll leave you with a reminder of my favourite quotes from this challenge and I hope you feel inspired.
Here’s a round up of all the little things from my week that have made me smile ’till my cheeks ache.
This week has been a mixed bag of sunshine and showers – literally and metaphorically.
Hoping your week was warm and sunny – let me know in the comments below…
Have a sunny week!
Nicky xo
The Shimmer Within Her 