Ripple Kindness Project in Croydon, Victoria, Australia | Community group

Ripple Kindness Project

Locality: Croydon, Victoria, Australia

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25.01.2022 This is such a great way to find new owners for dogs who need a forever home. I love that people come up with these innovative ideas that use the internet for good. Thanks to Stacey for this one. :)

25.01.2022 Get your tissues ready, you're going to need them!

25.01.2022 They were warned that they'd receive a "few" letters addressed to Santa when they moved in in 2010. But it was a bit overwhelming when they realised just how many disadvantaged kids were writing to Santa. Thanks Stacey.

25.01.2022 Let's kick of the Santa videos with this heart-warming clip from 2017. Have you seen any good ones yet?

25.01.2022 I once heard a story about a husband and wife who had been at each other’s throats for years. The couple were so nasty to one another that they had nothing but hatred in their hearts and wanted to get a divorce. A friend suggested that the husband try putting aside his anger and show nothing but kindness and consideration towards his wife that perhaps she would behave differently. He challenged him to try it for a month to see what would happen. The husband started to be kind... and considerate, even giving his wife compliments. Before long, he started to feel a shift. His wife was responding positively to his kindness and had stopped snapping at him. He noticed that he was feeling calmer and more positive and that slowly they were fighting less and talking more. Instead of returning to his old ways when the month was up, he continued to show kindness and consideration. It wasn’t long before the couple had stopped fighting altogether and they both felt very differently about their relationship. Over time, they rediscovered the reason they had fallen in love all those years ago and the last I heard, they were still together and very much in love! The moral of the story? If you want something to change, you have to change your attitude and behaviour. Happy New Year!!! Lis #kindness #love #patience #forgiveness #acceptance #compliments #NewYearsResolution2021

24.01.2022 "When I was 13 my mother purposely burnt a blue teddy bear I had to teach me a lesson. For the past 10 years it haunted me. My girlfriend surprised me with this bear as a pure gesture of kindness. Now I am a 23 year old Male with a Teddy Bear and have no shame! I am so grateful for my girlfriend!" - Posted byu/MATEeA on Reddit

24.01.2022 Beautiful... <3 Stories For The Soul

24.01.2022 Everybody has a fundamental need to belong and feel connected to the people around them. Being part of a community ensures support is on hand during difficult times and helps to increase a child's perception of their worth and the value of their life. Lack of support and the absence of warm, enriching relationships can have a devastating impact on a child's emotional, physical, and mental well-being. Being kind creates warm feelings of connection and trust enabling children t...o cultivate positive relationships which helps them flourish in many aspects of life. Moreover, it's not easy staying angry at someone who tries to make you feel good. That's why kindness can help to break down barriers and mend broken hearts. Teachers who actively promote a culture of kindness reward their students with improved friendships and feelings of belonging. Go to the more tab at the top of our page and scroll down to find out the other 9 reasons why kindness should be taught in school. #ripplekindness #kindness #kindnessmatters #kindnessinschool #kindnessatschool #teachkindness #makekindnessthenorm #emotionalintelligence #socialemotionallearning #belonging #community #relationships

23.01.2022 Which of these ideas could you do today?

23.01.2022 The power of social media and compassion!

23.01.2022 I love this! Right in line with the bucket filling concept! Thanks to my friend Lynne for tagging me. :)

23.01.2022 You've got to have someone in your corner, someone that shows that you're valued and loved to be able to believe in and love yourself. Community, belonging, a sense of self-worth... these are just some of the values kids learn through our curriculum. They'll build empathy and character traits that help them to understand the impact they're having on another human being and they'll become more content and happier within themselves. When a child feels good about themselves an...d knows they have a community of people who care for them, they have no need to be anti-social or cruel. If their cup is full, they'll want to fill others. This is the foundation of our teachings Find out how our year-long curriculum can help the kids in your school. Grab an information brochure through the menu or comment below. :) #ripplekindness #empathy #teachempathy #socialemotional #socialemotionallearning #elementaryteachers #positiveemotions #corevalues #characterdevelopment #characterbuilding #emotionalintelligence #heartcentered #growthmindset #bullying #nobullying #stopbullying

22.01.2022 Research on pro-social behaviour among adolescents determined that being kind increases popularity and fostered meaningful connections with other people. Being well liked is an important factor in the happiness of children and it was demonstrated that greater peer acceptance was achieved through good deeds. Better-than-average mental health is reported in classrooms that practice more inclusive behaviour due to an even distribution of popularity. Read our post, 10 Reasons Tea...ching Kindness in Schools Is Essential to Reduce Bullying to see the other 9 reasons. https://ripplekindness.org/10-reasons-teaching-kindness-in/ #ripplekindness #kindness #kindnessmatters #kindnessinschool #kindnessatschool #teachkindness #makekindnessthenorm #emotionalintelligence #socialemotionallearning #selfesteem #wellbeing

22.01.2022 I often wonder what bad habits I've unknowingly passed onto my kids!

22.01.2022 What would your kids gift to all the kids in the world if they could? SGN-Some Good News

22.01.2022 Understanding Compassion

22.01.2022 If only the whole world could show this much love! Thanks Stacey!

22.01.2022 I started this page over 10 years ago because my husband and I were passionate about teaching kindness in schools. Our mission was (and still is) to make a difference in the lives of kids. To help shape growing beings in positive ways so they could live happier, healthier and more successful lives. If I'm honest, facebook's ever changing algorithm has made it hard for many pages to keep being seen and whether we liked it or not, we had to do something differently for our foll...owers to see us. Over the years, this has unwittingly taken a toll on the content we delivered and taking stock of the page today, it's not the vision we had for it. 2020 has been a huge eye-opener for many of us with COVID-19 changing the way we live. Our outreach program now provides food to twice as many people as it did 6 months ago. We've had to adapt to a new program where we are now only able offer drive-thru food collection. That's been hard because so much of our program was about connection and support. We've also had to adapt our thinking when creating new educational resources to cater for distance learning. After watching the riots and the pain and suffering all over the world, it's clear that we need to change the way we live and how we interact more than ever! Our main focus is on kids... it always has been but that message has become lost in trying to keep up with... everything. We believe that helping to shape our kids at an early age by injecting positive values... kindness, compassion, empathy and all of those important character traits, that we can help grow a better society. One that cares about others, that is connected and that thrives... together! So, you will start to see more about social-emotional learning, emotional intelligence, and our educational resources. There will be more ideas for teaching kindness in homes (like our 10 week kindness challenge that started this week), thought-provoking quotes and less kindness videos (because you can find those on other pages). This move could see our followers plummet but to be honest, if it does, then that's okay, because we want to connect with other like-minded people who have a similar vision. We want to connect with mothers, fathers, teachers, school counsellors, and every day people who want to see change and believe our kids can deliver that. So if this is not for you, we understand and will be sad to see you go, but if this is something that resonates, please leave a comment below. Cyber hugs, Lis, Nick (my hubby), Kim and Amanda (my amazing admins) <3

21.01.2022 Our positive psychology curriculum is research-based with age-appropriate lessons and activities to nurture emotional intelligence and wellbeing in students and teachers. Find out how easy it is to create a culture of kindness to improve relationships and reduce bullying with our individual modules or whole-school curriculum... https://bit.ly/2Kr618k #wellbeing #school #socialemotional #emotionalintelligence #education #mentalhealth #schoolcounselor #schoolcounseling #bullyingprevention

21.01.2022 Here's a kind idea!!

21.01.2022 What's the coolest thing you have learned as a parent?

21.01.2022 Anyone who has lost someone special knows this to be true. Don't put off what you should do today because you never know when your last chance will be to show someone that you care.

21.01.2022 Studies show that people experience a "helper's high" when they do a good deed. This rush of endorphins creates a lasting sense of pride, well-being, and an enriched sense of belonging. Even small acts of kindness are reported to heighten happiness, increase energy, and give a wonderful feeling of optimism and self-worth. Read our post, 10 Reasons Teaching Kindness in Schools Is Essential to Reduce Bullying to see the other 9 reasons. https://ripplekindness.org/10-reasons-tea...ching-kindness-in/ #ripplekindness #kindness #kindnessmatters #kindnessinschool #kindnessatschool #teachkindness #makekindnessthenorm #emotionalintelligence #socialemotionallearning #selfesteem #wellbeing

21.01.2022 That is very special... "After not being able to go home for Thanksgiving because of family having C0vid and then locking myself out of my apartment with my roommates being with their families hours away, the only locksmith that picked up the phone also brought me a plate of Thanksgiving dinner " ~papitabean ... Understanding Compassion

21.01.2022 Here in Australia, kids don't go back to school for several weeks so parents may be looking for a fun and stimulating activity, especially if they're in a locked down area. In other parts of the world, kids may already be back at school and that's where teachers may need an activity that eases young ones back but still have some educational value. If you're working remotely, you can assign pages to those with a printer or add them to your packet if you're providing weekly pri...ntouts. Kindness coloring pages might not be what you would consider educational but there are a lot of benefits to coloring. Kids develop fine motor skills as spatial awareness as they work to stay within the lines. They use their creativity as they select their colors and medium, and build character as they read positive messages. If you're interested, we have a post on our website that explains the benefits of coloring (http://bit.ly/306we00). If you'd like some of our coloring pages, you can see them below and know that you'll be supporting disadvantaged families if you get them... https://bit.ly/2XokM0l #ripplekindness #kindness #kindnesscoloring #coloringpages #coloringactivities #kindnessactivities #socialemotionallearning #finemotorskills

21.01.2022 Now that's an act of kindness I'd never thought about doing!

20.01.2022 Yesterday, a homeless man helped ME! Life has been quite challenging lately, yet I’m so fully aware of all the pain others have. As I was at the stop light, I read his sign and desperately looked for something I could give him. As I was already crying, I knew there was nothing I could do to help. I had a smile, which I gave through my tears. He smiled back and waved at me. He understood pain. At that moment, he gave me a gift because I wasn’t alone during the time at that light. Valerie

20.01.2022 When we get angry and let our emotions get the better of us with loud, angry words, our message can get lost. All kids hear and see is that we're angry with them and the words we want them to hear fall on deaf ears. If we can take a breath and calm ourselves first, our kids will have a better chance of understanding how to change their behavior next time.

19.01.2022 Be inspired to create some ripples of kindness today! Thanks for the tag Amanda. :)

19.01.2022 When children are part of activities that help others less fortunate than themselves, it provides them with a real sense of perspective, highlighting their own good fortune. Being generous helps them appreciate what they have, makes them feel useful, and fosters empathy towards others. Go to the more tab on our page and scroll down to find out the other 9 reasons why kindness should be taught in school. #ripplekindness #kindness #kindnessmatters #kindnessinschool #kindnessatschool #teachkindness #makekindnessthenorm #emotionalintelligence #socialemotionallearning #gratitude #empathy

19.01.2022 This video was posted last year but it's a great example of what kids can do when they put their mind to it. According to Military Times, Tyler has now raised aroudn $100K for homeless veterans. That's an incredible feat for anyone, let alone a young boy. He obviously has a huge heart for helping. What an impressive young man. :D

18.01.2022 I saw some kids sitting out the front of their house selling a few things to earn their pocket money. The sun was very hot and it looked as though they hadn’t had much luck, so I stopped to ask if they would be open tomorrow so my sister and I can drop by and purchase a few things. A small thing but worth seeing the smiles on their faces. I will keep my promise and go by. Elizabeth

17.01.2022 Kindness increases serotonin, enhancing positivity and helping children feel good about themselves. This important chemical affects learning, memory, mood, sleep, health, and digestion. Children with a positive outlook have greater attention spans, are more willing to learn, and are better creative thinkers with better results at school. Read our post, 10 Reasons Teaching Kindness in Schools Is Essential to Reduce Bullying to see the other 9 reasons. https://ripplekindness.or...g/10-reasons-teaching-kindness-in/ #ripplekindness #kindness #kindnessmatters #kindnessinschool #kindnessatschool #teachkindness #makekindnessthenorm #emotionalintelligence #socialemotionallearning #selfesteem #wellbeing #mentalhealth #school

17.01.2022 "Even though his truck does not have sirens and his uniform does not offer added fire protection, Anthony Gaskin is considered a hero in the Hallsley neighborhood. Gaskins is a driver for UPS and during the pandemic, his daily deliveries have been life-saving, both literally and figuratively, to the Midlothian neighbors. "Through COVID, Anthony has continued working, delivering packages at our doors, record numbers of them, over 180 times to date," Hallsley neighbor Patty Fri...edman wrote in an email. "I wanted to thank him personally for how much he helped me feel welcome when I moved in during a pandemic. It was terribly lonely and he was always the highlight of my day. Mentioning this to a few people and the response I got was all I needed to know I was not alone." That prompted Patty and her neighbor to come up with a way to show their appreciation for Gaskin. It all came together on Tuesday, December 15. "Arriving on bikes, on foot, and in more than 75 cars, hundreds of Hallsley residents lined the road and waited for Anthony to turn the corner," she wrote. "A humble man, he needed to be coaxed, but eventually, slowly drove his truck down the road while children and adults held up signs, screamed his name, honked their horns, and rang bells." Gaskin's supervisors even showed up to present him with a gift. The neighborhood gesture visibly moved Gaskin, who spoke briefly, thanked everyone, and then got back to work." Lexi Hanrahan WTVR CBS 6 News Thanks Minionette

17.01.2022 OMG, be still my heart!

17.01.2022 I’d spent almost 2 hours washing and ironing on Sunday morning and asked each of my children to come and get their piles of clothing from the kitchen table to put away. About 30 minutes later, my youngest son yelled out to find out where I was. He came to my bedroom and said, mum, I just want to tell you something. He was quite serious, so I prepared myself for one of those lengthy, deep, and meaningful conversation we sometimes have. I waited... He said, Mum, I just wanted to let you know that I notice how long it takes for you to do all that washing and I really appreciate that you do it! Thank you. Well, you can imagine how pleasantly surprised I was by his observation and him wanting to let me know that he appreciates it! I took him in my arms and thanked him for saying that. I told him it meant a lot to me that he had noticed and took the time to tell me. That’s okay! he said as he skipped off with a huge smile on his face. One of those precious, feel-good moments that really made me go awe Lisa Please tell us about your proud moments.

17.01.2022 We have just uploaded a Christmas version of our new Digital Jigsaw Puzzles to TpT. If you'd like to see a preview of the designs, please look us up on Teachers Pay Teachers - Ripple Kindness Project for Schools. :) #teachingresources #jigsawpuzzles #games #onlinegames #onlinepuzzles #kindness #funforkids #Christmas #forteachers

17.01.2022 Every single lady who attends our outreach program, Nourish Network was given one of these amazing bags. Each has been lovingly selected and filled with beautiful things by a stranger and donated to Share the Dignity who then distribute thousands of bags to ladies in tough situations. Such a lovely Christmas gift to receive when you've had such a crappy year and how encouraging it is to see that so many people care for those with less.

17.01.2022 How did your world change for the better during RAK Week? #kindness #kindnessmatters #randomactsofkindness #bethechange #makeadifference

16.01.2022 When I was in college I didn’t receive any tuition help from my parents. This was not my mom’s choice, but she would send $5 here and there that I knew she took from her own tiny amount she got from my dad to get her hair done etc. It always seemed to arrive just when I was on my last clean pair of jeans. I was the poor farm kid among a lot of well to do kids whose parents put $ in the bank for them every week. I had a full load and work study plus did odd jobs for professors, as most lived around the campus in faculty housing. It meant a lot to me to get those few dollars every now and then. I had the best mom ever and miss her every day. Kim

15.01.2022 This is a beautiful book by Vikki Conley. Have you read it?

15.01.2022 I work an hour from home and one day on my lunch break, my car decided to make a crazyyyy noice a loud, screeching sound. Panicked, what was I to do, I call my husband of course. I knew he could fix this problem if I let him hear it over the phone LMAOO. I guess I sounded nervous of the thought that I would have to drive home for an hour with intermittent cell service and if I break down, what was I going to do. With all that said, my wonderful husband came down to my job a...n hour away, leaving his job along with his co-worker in tow to hear this awful noise. Of course, he didn’t hear it, nor did his buddy. BUT he took my car home to the service station and left me his car so I can get home safe without any worry. I am sure you can imagine how loved I felt at that moment. And of course, there was nothing wrong with my car.LOL, but just the fact that my husband took the time out of his work day to help me was so kind. Melissa See more

15.01.2022 Miracles happen all the time. We just need to find a way to connect. Chicken Soup for the Soul

14.01.2022 Just got my hair done for my birthday. When I went to pay, I was told the lovely lady I had a chat with had paid the $230 for me! She had left before me so I couldn’t even thank her. She said it was a wedding gift for my son (he normally pays for it for my birthday) and a birthday gift for me. I burst into tears. How kind is that? I’m still gobsmacked. Kriz

14.01.2022 I write happy moments on my status most days. I am up to 222 just for this year. Number 221 was donating pajamas to a little girl severely injured in a hit and run accident. Focussing on happy moments has transformed my thinking and really my life! Shirley

14.01.2022 If we can fill our kid's buckets with positive emotions, love, and a feeling of community, they'll have no room for anger, fear, or self-doubt. These are the qualities that are nurtured through our year-long social-emotional learning curriculum and individual lesson plans. We provide a range of resources for teachers to build self-esteem, empathy, and kindness. We'd love to help you counter anti-social and bullying behaviour the positive way. ... See our range of classroom resources here... https://ripplekindness.org/shop/ and here... https://bit.ly/33NRw6b #ripplekindness #caring #compassion #charactertraits #primaryschool #elementaryschool #charactereducation #emotionalintelligence

13.01.2022 My daughter and I just had a knock-down, drag-out bedtime hour. Finally, about ten minutes ago, I put her to bed and through clinched teeth said I love you, Holland, but not another word tonight. You are going to sleep now. I’m done fussing over stuffed animals. Mommy? I paused on the way out the door, literally biting my tongue I was so frustrated.... What is it, Holland? I DO have one more thing to say. Of course she did. She was standing on the bed with her hands on her hips, too. Her hair was wild and she was using her arm to wipe her tears and snot away from her face. Mommy, my three year old said, staring me down with venom in her tiny voice... I FORGIVE YOU!!! Then she laid down and cried and honest to goodness, for a hot minute, I didn’t know what to do. The way she said I forgive you, made it sound like cuss words. I walked over to the bedside and leaned over. Baby girl, do you know what forgiveness means? She was still sniffling, her face shoved deep into her Little Mermaid pillow. Yes, she muttered. I really had to hear this. It means you were wrong, and I’m tired of being mad, and now I’m going to sleep and my heart won’t have a tummy ache. So there you have it, folks. Tonight I was taught a lesson in forgiveness by a three year old. It was a gut punch, too. And you’re dang right I climbed in that bed and loved on her. Because to be honest, MY heart had a bit of a tummy ache. I was reminded by my toddler to never go to bed in anger. Because when you do, your heart will have a tummy ache. And you know what? I’ve been alive for 35 years, and I’ve got to give it to her: She’s not wrong. Mary Katherine Backstrom

13.01.2022 As a family, we have made it a bit of a tradition that at Christmas time we do a secret Santa with a little bit of a twist. Often it will be that we have heard of someone in the community that is going through a rough patch or hard time. Maybe they are currently unemployed, or they are going through some sort of sickness in the family or the loss of a loved one. The main thing is that it is someone who could be in need of an emotional lift in some kind of way just to let them... know that there are still people out there that care about them. We get the kids involved in our little Secret Santa thing by asking first if they know of any families or individuals who are going through some hardships. They will tell us of some and we will talk about it. We will then make a decision as to who the family or individual is. Once we have decided on a target we think of some of the things that they will need and want. We go out and buy food and gifts that we hope that they will like, wrap them and get everything ready for the drop-off. We will drive around past the house to see if anyone is home (almost a bit like a stalker). If no one is home we come back later and try again. If they are home we take the packages up and put it on the front doorstep. Because my kids are young I get them to start leaving and then once they have had enough time to get out of site, I ring the bell and knock on the door and run like crazy with the goal of not getting caught. It puts a nicer spin to the term knock and run. The feeling is amazing. The adrenalin is pumping, your heart is pounding, your mind is racing all in the hopes that you can do this and not get caught. Recently we went out to do this fun family activity. We got home and found on our own doorstep boxes of gifts and bags of food for our family. What a joy it was to our family to think that some cared and loved us enough to take the time for us. This was the first time we were on the receiving end of such a selfless act and gave us a little example of how these other people might have felt. I just wish more people would act a little more selflessly in this beautiful world. If people chose to live thinking of others at the same time the world would be even more beautiful than it already is. Leo Willcocks

13.01.2022 I am trying to source a preloved iPod to gift an 8-year-old boy at our outreach, Nourish Network who has Autism. This boy loves music and needs to hold things in his hands because he is also blind. His grandmother told us he loves someone else's iPod, so that's what we're trying to get for him. If you live in the outer east of Melbourne and have one you're willing to part with, please message the page. I have until Wednesday evening to source one as we are making up our Christmas Hampers and Toy Boxes on Thursday. TIA - Lis :) UPDATE: Within 45 minutes of posting on a local noticeboard a lady replied with a photo of her iPod charging and offered to drop it off! Isn't that amazing! <3

12.01.2022 How have your kids made you proud lately?

12.01.2022 Selflessness, pure selflessness! "Ranjitsinh Disale won the Global Teacher Prize last Friday among 12,000 candidates as the World’s most exceptional teacher. He was applauded for his efforts in making education a birthright of everyone in his community, especially for girls who haven’t always had access. He’s a teacher in the Zilla Parishad a primary school in Paritewadi, India and he’s the first Indian to receive this prize awarded by Global Teacher Prize in partnership with UNESCO. Disale has already donated half of his prize money to the other 9 finalists. Congratulations!" Good News Movement

12.01.2022 After the loss of 3 family members (great grandfather and 2 aunts) to Covid in 2020, I wanted to gift back. Through a 6th grade school band fundraiser, I sold over 1,440 of World's Finest chocolate bars @ $1 each. Using my allowance, holiday, and birthday money, I bought 420 bars to gift away. I gifted 300 bars to the local hospital, 120 bars to firefighters and EMS in Warner Robins, GA. This was my way of saying ‘Thank You’ for loving and caring for people during the Covid ...Crisis. Offering my love and respect for their commitments to serve others. - Raegan, age 11 See the latest post on our blog to see Raegan's photos.

12.01.2022 I'm always researching to stay in touch with what's happening in the world of kindness. During one of my web surfing sessions, I came across some advice in a school newsletter by Tanya Uren, principal at Kingston Primary School in Western Australia. I love that she encourages her whole school community to show kindness and prompts parents to nurture it at home. I felt it is something that other schools may also like to highlight in their communication to parents, so I asked T...anya if she minded me sharing her insights with you below. https://ripplekindness.org/how-a-principal-encourages-her-/ #teachers #principal #education #kindness #community #school

11.01.2022 The last two days at our outreach, Nourish Network have been full on getting ready for our final day of 2020. I am so proud to say that our incredible community made it possible for us to support over 70 families each week during the pandemic. Our numbers have dropped now but we supplied 45 families with a food hamper, body care hamper and toys for their kids today. Read more about it below. <3

11.01.2022 One Mother's Day, I received two carefully wrapped gifts from my boys. Inside was some plastic handcuffs and a gun! Needless to say, my boys (and hubby) were delighted with such a fine gift, especially because toy guns were not allowed in our home! Naturally, I expressed how incredibly grateful I was and shot hubby that look as he quietly smiled trying to hold in his laughter! Later he told me that he'd told them to choose something they thought I'd like. Hmmmm... What funny/strange gifts have you received from your kids?

11.01.2022 Kind idea... Yesterday, as my partner and I were finishing our lunch at a restaurant, a young man approached us. He was a bit embarrassed to disturb us but gave us a voucher to help pay for our lunch! The voucher was valid until today and he said he wouldn't be using it. He has no idea how much he helped us and how surprised we were. I'm feeling so grateful! - Helene

10.01.2022 "OK people - I have a crazy story of generosity and kindness!!! This has not been an easy year for teachers. So many changes, new routines, exhaustion, and unknowns. Not to mention we are still dealing with our own personal stresses and disappointments. This past week, I read @joannagaines ‘s new book with my 2nd grade class. I remember buying it right away when I saw its message and that it matched my hot air balloon themed room. My kids loved designing their own hot air b...alloons just like the kids in the story. I took pictures of the activity, posted it on Instagram, and was probably WAY too excited when Joanna commented on my picture!!! Little did I know, the excitement would not end there. This week, Joanna’s assistant reached out to me asking if I had an amazon teacher wishlist... Before I knew it, Chip and Joanna Gaines had bought every. last. thing. off my list. Bookshelves, paper, pens, borders, bins, markers. And 40 beautiful new picture books filled with stories of differences and strength and acceptance. The total came to over $1,000. LIKE IS THIS REAL LIFE!!?!? I was and still am speechless!!! I have pinched myself over and over and I cry every time I think about it! I have never felt such a wonderfully heavy weight of gratitude and blessing. Thank you @joannagaines @chipgaines from the bottom of my, and 14 giddy 2nd graders’, hearts. You have brought SO much joy and encouragement to our little classroom in a year where we needed it most. I know my students and I will remember this gift forever, we truly do not deserve it!!! I was so excited to share this story because it has been such a tangible reminder of the heart of God towards me and His people. He desires to give us good gifts and does so before we even know what to ask! He is generous, detailed, and sometimes uses other faithful people like Chip and Joanna to pass this truth along. So be encouraged, practice generosity, and trust that God is working even when you don’t feel it. He is SO good!!!" - Sophie Kent

10.01.2022 Every scar, blemish, wrinkle... tells a story - your story! The "Pay it Forward" Effect

10.01.2022 It's so heart-warming to hear people grow up and use their experiences for good. Do you know of anyone who's done something similar? Sharing is Caring

09.01.2022 What's the kindest thing that's happened to you recently?

09.01.2022 t’s the little things that I live to hear. Right before break we were working on our tissue paper turkey writing project. One of my little ones was rushing because she REALLY wanted to finish hers before she went home that day. She was still working on it when the final bell rang. One of my sweet girls went over and offered to help her glue on the feathers. The first girl got a big smile on her face, looked at her friend and proclaimed, Teamwork makes the dream work! Kristi, teacher

08.01.2022 Every New Year, the majority of people make a pact with themselves to do something differently. It might be cutting back on sugar, seeing friends more or making more time for themself. Whatever it is, perseverance is the key but a lot of people tend to lose heart. One way to encourage yourself to follow through is to put reminders in places you can see them. If you write your goals on post it notes and the reasons why you want to do them and put them around your house, you'l...l have little reminders staring you in the face to urge you to keep going. It might seem simple, but these little prompts can be the little push you need to keep going. What are your goals this year?

08.01.2022 Share your positive story like Flick did... "I had a really bad day today, so I thought I would go and cheer myself up. This is what I gave the bus driver who took me to the shops today. I simply thanked him for doing such a wonderful, often thankless job and for always helping me. It was all in the purple ‘Handle With Joy’ envelope so he couldn’t see it at first but when he opened it, the pure joy and radiance he gave off was beautiful. ... He had no idea what to say, almost speechless but he did say that no one had ever been so kind to him as I had just been. This guy is my regular bus driver and often looks like he would like to be anywhere else rather than driving the bus, so I thought he would be perfect. The money was for a coffee break that he so desperately says he wants every time he personally helps me up on the bus, just in general conversation. This man made my day and I’m so glad I could help fill his bucket as he just as successfully filled mine without even knowing it." Flick

07.01.2022 What are some things you love most about your family?

07.01.2022 I sometimes have to stop and consciously take the emotion out of it to see if I'm overreacting and need to change my view. This has saved me on several occasions when my thought process wasn't all that focused. Meditations and Musings by Jody Doty

07.01.2022 I walked into a sandwich shop after spending all day at the hospital with my mother. It had been a long day. I was tired and stressed out. I ordered sandwiches to take home to my husband and son. I asked the girl behind the counter if she could tell me how much my order would be before they started making the sandwiches so I could make sure I had enough money. I had made the comment that I had been at the hospital all day, so I was a little tired and my mind was foggy (couldn...’t figure the total in my head). Anyway, a very nice young gal and her husband were standing behind me and heard me ask about the total. She laid money on the counter in front of me and said I heard you say that you had been at the hospital. I don’t know what’s going on, but take this to pay for your sandwiches and she hugged me. I was so moved, I didn’t even get her name. I shared the story on Facebook to try and find out who she was. I actually ran into her a few days later at the gas station and we have become friends! Stacie We're looking for more good stories. Do you have one?

07.01.2022 I was so excited that my childhood friend from Sweden was in Sydney with her family and making the effort to fly to Melbourne to see me. On the morning of her arrival, I set off to drop my son at school before going to the airport. He was driving and as we sat at the lights, the driver next to us honked and pointed at the ground at the front of our car. We wound down the window and he informed us that the tyre was flat. We thanked him for letting us know. As we drove to the c...losest service station to investigate, my son said he thought the steering felt a bit strange. When we parked and hopped out of the car to look it was pretty obvious why the tyre was flat. There was a huge screw stuck in the side of it and as I started to pump it up, I could hear the air coming out. Not sure how to get ourselves to a mechanic to get it fixed, I went inside and asked the attendant if they had a can of the stuff you spray inside to keep the tyre inflated. They didn't but another attendant overheard and said he'd come out to have a look. When he saw the screw he asked if I had a spare tyre. I knew I had all the gear but was worried about my son being too late for school and me having to get to the airport. This very kind man offered to do it for me saying it would only take 15 minutes and that it would be a good learning opportunity for my son who'd never changed one. I very gratefully accepted his help which was lucky as he struggled to undo the overly tight nuts which he said I'd never have been able to budge. While we were watching him change the tyre, a car pulled up behind us. A man wound down his window and offered to take my son to school. To say I was surprised by this generosity was an understatement, but both my son and I felt a little awkward about it. I thanked the man very much for his generosity and he said that he wouldn't have sent his son off with a stranger either but he wanted to offer. With the tyre changed, I looked at the filthy hands of our saviour and felt so guilty. I hugged and thanked him over and over. "Ah, it's all part of the service," he said. Honestly, I didn't think that kind of service existed anymore, especially as we hadn't purchased anything, so it was such a refreshing surprise. My son was a little late to school but didn't miss much. My friend's flight was delayed a little, so I didn't have to rush. I was feeling so grateful for those three acts of kindness that turned a not so perfect day into one that I'll remember with fondness for a long time. - Lis We'd love to hear a positive story from you!

07.01.2022 Who's crying? Thanks Lynne.

07.01.2022 Christmas Kindness... One year at Christmas my husband and I dropped one of our cars off for service and headed out to shop. Earlier in the week, I had contacted the local elementary school to see if there was a child in need. I was told about a little boy who didn't even have socks to wear with his shoes in the winter. We shopped for our children and spent a little over $150 on the little boy. Now, this was a time where we didn't have much and my husband fussed a little as w...e headed back to pick up our car at the shop. When we got there the man looked over our bill and said: "we did this but I'm taking that off of your bill". He did this several times. As we walked out I looked at my husband and asked if he realized what just happened? The man at the shop discounted our bill almost to the penny, the amount we had spent on the little boy! Good or bad....what goes around comes around!! This story touched me, my husband, our children, the secretary at the school, the little boy's mom, and the little boy... but mostly me! - Terri What's something nice that's happened to you around Christmas?

07.01.2022 There are more beautiful souls in this world than we realise. They just don't have the social or media coverage that darks souls have so are often not seen. Let's celebrate those who do good. Let's tell stories about the beautiful things they do to put more positive energy into the world.

07.01.2022 Small things every day make all the difference. Imagine the impact it would have it everyone committed to doing at least one random act of kindness every day. Sharing is Caring

05.01.2022 My son is 2 & 1/2. I took him for a haircut and when the lady across from us sneezed, he got off his chair, went over to her, put his hand on her back and said you ok? I almost fell out of my chair! He already says bless you when I sneeze. Renee

05.01.2022 I know it says 48, but I've just added another kindness tree submitted by Kindness & Stories with author Angelina Gauthier, Principal at Carson Elementary School, Quesnel, BC Canada She wrote: "This school year our staff and students were feeling a bit disengaged with the new Covid-19 Health and Safety regulations. We are a school that participates in many whole-school activities, family groupings, monthly assemblies, multi-grade events, buddy classes, and school jobs. These ...create a sense of strong community, and have been put aside because we cannot meet as a large group. When browsing the internet for bulletin board ideas, I came across the Kindness Tree. This idea is not my original idea, but as with all great ideas, they are worth copying and sharing! Just prior to World Kindness Day, I created a Kindness tree in the front entrance of the school. On World Kindness Day, November 13th, students, and staff were encouraged to colour and write kind quotes, phrases, or words on a handprint and place them on the tree. It is very heart-warming to see students stop and take a look at the handprints, point out their own, and acknowledge another handprint that they like. Students walk past the tree daily, so this was a way for us to collaborate as a school on creating positive messages and continue to promote a culture of kindness."

05.01.2022 Very special... "In Auckland, New Zealand, that Pokemon craze has recently caught on. And one day, two young boys were outside rounding up whatever characters they could from that game. Those boys were Blake Ockleston and Daniel Coyle-Smith. The 13-year-olds were having a good time playing the game. And then, they spotted an elderly man struggling to cross the street. He was shaking as he stood with his walker, and it was obvious he was unsure of himself.... So Blake and Daniel put away the Pokemon stuff and walked over to the man. As they helped him out into the road, the light changed again. So one of them completely stopped all the traffic so they could get the man safely across the street. They then walked him across another street. But then they did something else. Once they safely got him to the other side, they walked with him to his destination the train station. And when they arrived there, one of the boys asked a security guard to stay with the man and help him. A woman named Lyqueeshah Brooks spotted the boys act of kindness and posted it on Facebook. Says Lyqueeshah: My heart is so full [right now]. These boys helped this man cross 2 pedestrians in new lynn right now .. shout out to these boys parents. If it wasn’t for them no cars would have waited for this man to cross. Photo courtesy: Lyqueeshah Brooks Stories For The Soul

05.01.2022 A mother made a run to Walmart with her young son. While in the store, she turned around and he was gone. She looked all over for him, and was on the verge of becoming frantic when she walked to the front of the store and spotted him. She was just getting ready to lay some scolding on him when she realized he was doing something very strange. He was kneeling at one of the benches just inside the store and he was praying. She could not understand why he was doing this. Then sh...e looked above him at the huge poster he was facing. It had photos and descriptions of missing children, and it read: Every second counts. So she took a photo of her son doing this and posted it on Facebook. It went viral in no time. And as it did, one Facebook commenter summed it up pretty well, writing: Whether or not you believe in God really doesn’t matter. This was a child in Walmart who was thinking about others and doing the only thing he could to help. The world would be a better place if everyone followed his example. Photo courtesy: 89.5 KVNE Sharing is Caring

03.01.2022 After a really crazy year, we can all use a few smiles. :D Thank you Kriz.

03.01.2022 This is a beautiful but long story with lots of pictures so it's difficult to post it all here. It's absolutely worth reading on our blog but here's the start... "At the beginning of the pandemic, I went through some painful personal stuff and would often go out at night for long walks because no one was around, and I couldn’t sleep anyway. One night I was walking down my street and noticed that someone had set up a few little objects in a tree planter and upon closer inspect...ion, I realized it was a fairy garden with a little note about the 4-year-old girl who felt lonely in quarantine and wanted to spread some cheer. The next day I wrote a little note to her, pretending to be a fairy named Sapphire that had come to live in the tree because she had set it up so nicely and I left it on the tree that night on my walk and said I would gift her with a magical fairy dice (I got really into crafting resin RPG die at the start of the pandemic) if she did 3 things for me..." https://ripplekindness.org/sapphire-and-the-fairy-garden/ #kindness #story #kindnessstory #storytelling #storyoflove #covidkindness #covidlove #fairy #magic #magical #kids #kidsstory #storiesforkids

03.01.2022 What an incredible learning experience while helping those less fortunate! And the best part is that they can pay with kindness! Thanks Minionette. :)

03.01.2022 We all need to take a leaf out of Rachel's book. What a beautiful, selfless soul! Love What Matters

03.01.2022 I can't even begin to tell you how relieved I am that this year is almost over. It's so strange to think that just about every person on the planet has been affected by this virus. There have been so many tragedies and so much pain, but it has also shown us just how powerful we can be when everyone works together. I'm so proud of all the wonderful things people have done! I can only hope that this pandemic opens our eyes to see that nothing is as important as hope, love, and ...community. I hope we all become infected with a kindness virus that makes us reach out our hands to those with less and open our arms to those who are distressed. Let us all link hands a form a chain of love. Think kindness, say kindness, do kindness, be kindness. This is how we heal the world. Stay safe. Be happy. Enjoy those you can be with. Connect with those you can't hold in your arms. Take a deep breath and ready yourself for something better... together. Warm hugs from Lis xx And my eternal gratitude to Kim and Amanda, the other admins on Ripple for supporting me so greatly during this challenging year at our outreach program. Love you girls!

03.01.2022 "Totally randomly, I have TWICE had the person ahead of me in the drive-through at Starbucks buy my drink for me! (I paid it forward by doing the same for the car behind me!) Also, a lady ahead of me in line at the grocery store let me go ahead of her. (I’ve done that countless times for others, but this is the 1st time it has happened to me! I must say, it felt awesome!) All of these events happened this month, so in the 1st 2 weeks of 2021. KINDNESS feels GREAT! Pass it on!" - Sandra

02.01.2022 We are constantly being told that it's not the job of a school to teach kindness and emotional intelligence. That's the job of parents. Our argument is that there are far too many children lacking positive, loving home environments and role models and they need someone to step up for them. Can you imagine what could happen if all children were to find that special person or place where they were able to experience the love, kindness and support that everyone needs to grow in...to well-adjusted and successful adults. Let's stop kidding ourselves that someone else will do it. It's time to realise that for some kids, school is their only hope of building positive character traits. If these kids don't find that connection, if they do not have the role models, if they can't experience love and kindness, how will they know how to behave to fit into society and contribute in a positive way? Our year-long modules offer teachers an easy way to infuse emotional intelligence through lessons and activities that allow kids to experience the feel-good emotions that help them to grow. Ask your school to download our information brochure to find out how our social and emotional learning curriculum can transform lives and reduce bullying to improve the culture of a school... https://bit.ly/2Kr618k #kindness #education #teachingresources #socialemotionallearning #emotionalintelligence #bullying

02.01.2022 It's not just kids who love coloring. We'd love to see photos of our free coloring pages you or your kids have colored. #kindness #kindnessmatters #kindnessresources #FREE #freebies #coloringpages #coloring #freetoprint

01.01.2022 What are your goals for 2021? Are they different this year?

01.01.2022 The good feelings that we experience when being kind are produced by endorphins. They activate areas of the brain that are associated with pleasure, social connection, and trust. These feelings of joyfulness are proven to be contagious, encouraging more kind behaviour (also known as altruism) by the giver and recipient. Acts of kindness also help us form connections with others, reported to be a strong factor in increasing happiness. Go to the more tab on our page and scroll ...down to find out the other 9 reasons why kindness should be taught in school. #ripplekindness #kindness #kindnessmatters #kindnessinschool #kindnessatschool #teachkindness #makekindnessthenorm #emotionalintelligence #socialemotionallearning

01.01.2022 No child should miss out on Christmas. This is something that could be done in every community.

01.01.2022 I'm not usually someone who wishes the time away, but I think we can all agree that we're done with 2020! I'm looking forward to a POSITIVE, HAPPY, and HEALTHY New Year!!!! Understanding Compassion