“’Be selfless, if only for selfish reasons’ is one of my favorite paradoxes. Generous acts strengthen our bonds with others, and what’s more, studies show that happiness is often boosted more by providing support to other people than receiving it.” – Gretchen Rubin, author of The Happiness Project
As a bucket list blogger, I am always interested in encouraging others to start their own bucket lists.
Happiness scholars and even certain governments are arguing that the study of happiness should be an equally important part of curriculums, along with other subjects. Consider how well students will perform in other areas if they have high well being.
If you’re a parent, teacher, or a professor I hope to encourage you to ask your child/children/students to participate in this project (as the end of the year approaches, I thought some teachers might want to offer it as an extra credit opportunity or even just for fun; the project is meant to apply to students of any age, including kindergartners or college students!):
1). Ask your children/students to perform one kind act for someone else that they have never done before. (They can consider the act crossed off their bucket lists once it is complete).
You can also use this list to give them some ideas or they can come up with their own idea.
2). Ask them to email you a photo of them doing the kind act and to type a short paragraph describing what they did and how it made them feel. If everyone is comfortable, forward the emails to me and I will share the responses on my blog (no names or personal info will be included).
While of course students can send photos from other times they’ve done kind acts, I’d like to think most of them will take this opportunity as a fun one and abide by the honor system 🙂
3). I will give out prizes to the child I believe has the most interesting kind act/write up, class with the most students participating, and the class with the most unique ideas.
4). If you are interested, please either post a comment below or email me at Projectlighttolife@yahoo.com and we can try to work out details and a deadline that works for you.
What do you guys think? Is anyone interested? I’d love to hear from you!
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I try to do acts of kindness. I will try to do better.
Aww, I’m glad to hear that :)!
sounds amazing. I love this project. I have no kid and don’t teach anymore. but I myself as a participant would like to share mine. let me know how when and other details.
That’s wonderful! I would be happy to have you participate as well 🙂 Would next Thursday be an okay time period for you to complete it in or do you think you’d like a little more time? You can answer on here or feel free to email me at projetlighttolife@yahoo.com – whatever is easier for you!
This is an awesome idea! How creative and I am loving your blog! Great job!
Thank you so much :)! Let me know if you’re interested in participating yourself as well!
You’re welcome and I will let you know! Have a great day!
I LOVE this idea!! Will discuss with my children and their teachers this week and maybe they will get inspired.
That sounds great; I hope they will be interested in participating and keep me updated :)! Feel free to comment back on here, or, if it’s easier for you, to email me at projectlighttolife@yahoo.com!
Love this project…. However, eventhough u have good reasons to, I am of the opinion that handing out prizes kind of defeats the whole aim; happiness through being kind…. real kindness is doing good acts towards others without expecting something in return cos when these children/students enter into the “real” world, no one’s gonna be handing them stars for being kind (infact, some people would repay their kindness with much more negative and hostile emotions) so they should learn not to expect it…..
Thank you 🙂 But I agree, I think you make a very good and accurate point! My hope is that they enjoy doing it, despite the potential rewards, and continue to do kind acts, but perhaps in the future I’ll do one without prizes.
Altruism 🙂
😀
This is brilliant! I look forward to seeing the results…
Thanks so much! Let me know if you’re interested in participating yourself 🙂
This is lovely and very inspiring! 🙂
Thank you so much 🙂 Let me know if you’d like to participate yourself!
WOnderful project- anxious to hear of results. But what a wonderful thing to do in companies at work,and in everyday life.
Thank you so much! Let me know if you’re interested in participating yourself 🙂
continuing on spread sunshine from this bucket of mine
Haha, aw thanks so much 🙂 Let me know if you’re interested in participating yourself Annette!
This is such a beautiful idea…and is just my kind of idea. Would definitely tell my kids about it…
Thank you so much and I’m glad to hear that 🙂 Let me know if they’re interested or even if you want to try it yourself!
No kids, but I plan on doing this with some of my favorite adults. Great ideas here 🙂
I’m so glad to hear that! Feel free to send me an email at projectlighttolife@yahoo.com if you or some friends wind up doing it and I would be happy to post your results 🙂
Reblogged this on MARSocial Author Business Enhancement Interviews.
Thanks so much for sharing this post :)!
Go to my blog, please. One of the earliest posts I made was about my Rebeccah Award which is quite similar to your acts of kindness. Good idea.
This is a wonderful idea, I will followup with an email, I definitely want to show my kids your blog and get them interested.
super cool!
Just to add I absolutely love post-it note messages, so cute! 🙂
I have something for you ! I have nominated you for the Liebster Award.
http://evelenmargaret.com/2014/04/25/today-is-my-birthday-and-award-day-2/
I had the honor of being nominated for the Liebster award, which means that I can also nominate some bloggers. I love your blog, so I decided to nominate you! This is the link to the rules and what you have to do next!
http://neceewrites.wordpress.com/2014/04/26/liebster-award/
Aww thank you so much, you made my day :)!
I have a class of 3rd graders–it will be my last and I love this idea! Next week we have state testing, so after that I can incorporate it. Looking forward to what they do!
Aww I am so glad to hear that you are interested in participating! 🙂 When you get a chance, please email me at projectlighttolife@yahoo.com and we can try to work out details!
Love this!! I teach 4 year olds but am hoping I can get them into this. If not now…. This summer! 🙂 love the blog as usual!
Thanks for stopping by my blog 🙂 and thank you for some brave and inspiring writing!