I went to the PO yesterday and found this waiting for me. A wonderful little congratulations package from my favorite mentor and author, Debbie Macomber. Believe me, finding chocolate beside your VISA bill really takes the edge off of “OMG, did I really spend that much?!”
But this is just Debbie in a nutshell—or rather in a cardboard box with some pretty paper and ribbons—there to encourage, there to challenge and there to celebrate. She also put a little bit about me in her blog. She is the best sort of people! And it was especially wonderful yesterday because I found out that I am not only on the NY Times Extended for another week, but I climbed five spots to #30. That means a lot of nice people have been out there telling all their friends to buy my book, and they’ve gone out and done just that. Thanks to all of you—you are making this quite an unforgettable month for me.
So in honor of Debbie and all the people who surprise us with their support, let’s declare today: Do Something Unexpected and Nice for Someone Day. So here is my thought—do something really, really nice for a complete stranger. Buy coffee for the person behind you at Starbucks, let two cars into traffic, hold a door open for a mother with no arms left between the kids, groceries, purse and diaper bag, plug a meter. Or do something nice for someone you know who needs a pick me up, or for someone who could use a pat on the back and their accomplishments are going unnoticed. Might I suggest chocolate? It makes me smile.
Then after you’ve been someone’s Friday hero, report back and inspire all of us with your niceness! Think of it, if we all did something nice for someone and then they felt compelled to go out and do something spontaneously nice for someone else and then it kept paying forward . . . well, that would make it a great weekend for quite a lot of people. I’m smiling already, are you?
Well, I watched for my mail carrier and gave her a bottle of cold water since it’s been so hot! I think I surprised her, but she appreciated it. 😉
My husband and I helped a woman pay for gas the other day. She clearly thought she had more money in her purse and was very embarrassed when she went to pay she was short $8 dollars.
Elizabeth, just a note, I posted my review of Love Letters today over at RI!
Over on Candice’s board, a fellow member is having a rough week with her child going off preschool, and I have been hugging her (virtuallY) and reassuring her, as have other members, and telling her of my experiences.
Andrea, what an excellent thing to do! And Haven, I am sure that woman is telling all her friends about the kind couple who helped her out, inspiring others as she goes.
Keira, it is hard to let the kids go, some more than others. I know I had a hard time this year letting Matthew go, as much as I did the first year he went to preschool. But they survive and before you know it, they are marching off “without mom!”
That Debbie Macomber is a dear!
Have you read Knitting Together yet? I picked it up at Nationals, and I keep it on my desk. It’s just the most wonderful book–it’s my best treasure brought home from the conference.
Such nice things we all did!
And Gillian, I do have Debbie’s book–and I can’t wait to read it–probably on the plane next week. She is truly inspiring.