Killing them with Kindness


Last year I gave you a list of random acts of kindness that you can practice anytime. I'm revisiting that list to continue to practice those things. I'm also keeping a "Year of Kindness Box" for myself, it's a collection of compliments and moments of kindness I witnessed throughout the year. I keep it in my gratitude journal in the 365 app, they say that keeping a daily gratitude journal can increase your happiness.

Later this month I'm going to a volunteer orientation for a Books to Prisoners program. After reading the book Orange is the New Black I felt inspired to do something since I learned that many prisoners have little access to books. Usually prisoners are not allowed to receive books from friends or family and while some prisons have libraries, many do not. Of the prisons that do, access and selection can be extremely limited. As an avid reader I thought it would be nice to give back to a program that makes a few options available to prisoners seeking books. Basically I will get to read letters and pick out books to sent. I think it will be fun and rewarding!



10 comments

  1. love the list of kind things to do!
    I also love the idea of a gratitude journal, my friend did one for a while and said it really helped reframe her thinking around things.

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  2. Such a great list, and I want to check into Books To Prisoners. Have a great weekend!

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  3. Your list is really REALLY good! I especially resonate with #13, 14 and 15! Thanks for sharing them! The Books to Prisoners program sounds neat! But if prisoners aren't allowed to receive books from people, how does it work? Just curious... I'm thinking of books I have that I could donate. I usually give them to the Friends of the Library but this would be even better.

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    1. There are several organizations around the country that do this. The one in my city sends them to 150 prisons that do accept books. Prisons only accept paperback books.

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  4. I've never bears of this program. Sounds like a great way to give back to the community.

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  5. Sounds like a great program to be involved with. Good luck on it!

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  6. This is a great idea, Anna! I always thought all prisons had library. Thanks for correcting my wrong info.

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  7. Anna, I just love this whole post. I love the idea of a kindness box! Details, please!! I live in a military town and one random act of kindness I see over and over, is people allowing soldiers to go ahead of them in line at Wal-Mart or Target, number 4 on list from 7/2013. Such a simple thing that can uncomplicate someone's life for a bit.
    Please let me know when you start gathering books to send to the prisons, and I would love to send you a few books to include in your box.

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    1. My kindness box is the 365 app that I posted a screenshot of. The group I'm using operates out of a church and doesn't have much storage space so they've asked people not to mail books to them, only walk-ins allowed. But you can mail books directly to prisons that will receive them. Books must be paperback.

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