For my 22nd birthday, I received the greatest gift of all: affirmation that we can change this world with kindness.
Back in November 2012, my friend Connie shared a video on Google+ about a young man who completed "22 Acts of Kindness" for his 22nd birthday. When I viewed the video, my heart was instantly filled with love. I immediately knew I wanted to do something similar for my 22nd birthday. Hours after I re-shared her Google+ post, I created my "22 Candles of Love" project.
The 22 Candles of Love project launched a few days before 2013. I asked 22 friends to grant a simple wish: do an act of kindness in your community. When I contacted my friends, my mid-March birthday was months away but as college students, our lives are easily consumed with work, projects, jobs, life, etc. I hoped that with an early wish request, my friends would start off the new year with the mindset to treat the world with more kindness.
Over the past two months, I received lovely emails from my friends. I am incredibly grateful that my friends positively contributed to their community in such creative ways. Each time I received an update about a friend's act of kindness, my heart filled up with so much love. Love that roots from kindness is the greatest gift I can ever receive.
Here are some of the 22 Candles of Love stories:
In Pennsylvania, a friend created an inspirational "take what you need" poster and donated to World Asthma Day. This wish has a special place in my heart because of my personal battles with asthma that resulted in many trips to the UCLA emergency room.
My friend in Chicago touched her friends with multiple acts of kindness in a crucial time of need. When her sorority sister unexpectedly passed away, my friend gave care packages, wrote thank you notes and other acts of kindness to keep her late sister's spirit alive.
A friend in Connecticut volunteered and tutored kids. A friend in Massachusetts cooked meals for the homeless. Another friend in Massachusetts wrote thank you cards to the housekeepers in her dorm.
In New York City, a friend handed out 22 water bottles with positive messages to street performers. A friend in San Diego donated to one of the causes close to my heart and she signed up to volunteer at a non-profit. In Los Angeles, friends completed a variety of acts of kindness. Friends filled up meters for strangers, donated food to the Midnight Mission and assisted a disabled man with the UCLA library wheelchair lift.
Connie, the friend who inspired me with her Google+ post, donated her paycheck to the Elephant Nature Park in Thailand (she volunteered there over the summer). Her generous donation will sponsor, feed and medically aid elephants.
Across the United States, strangers are positively impacted by my friends. There is a ripple effect of love and kindness that will continue to spread around this world. I hope that with this birthday wish, I spread a little bit of kindness in my community and my life. When I completed my 22 Acts, I knew I wanted to do more and volunteer more in my community. This little project of mine changed my life and I hope that you will also spread some kindness in your community.
Through this journey I learned that the more acts we share and the more we change ourselves, the more we treat this world with a little bit more kindness.The more positive thoughts we spread around, the more positive we become. A few friends told me that by thinking about kindness, they began to change the way they lived their lives. I hope that we always continue to be kind.
In the words of my role model Ellen DeGeneres, "Be kind to one another."