Thirty-three

It's not every birthday girl who says, "Today isn't about me this year. I don't need a crown, or balloons, or a singing group of waiters with a piece of cake. Skip the flowers and the cards and the parties and the candles. Let's make this year about the greater good."

But the truth is, this birthday girl deserves all of the above and then some.

And it may not have been her intention--she didn't want the fanfare with the birthday, nor with the accomplishment of doing what she did.

But this accomplice wonders, how can one not celebrate someone's desire to make the world a better place?

On her birthday eve, after a night of yoga and dinner and ice cream, we sat on her couch at 11 p.m. and finished prepping for the project. Surrounded by fun markers, and post-its, and stickers and cookies, we taped and scribbled and doodled and wrote.

It was just the beginning of the many random acts of kindness--thirty-three of them to be exact--that my friend Holly (inspired by this blog) chose to do in honor of her thirty-third birthday.

Here's the run-down of the kindness she shared:

1. Donated money to her favorite charity organization.
2. Made yours truly breakfast.



3. Posted a paper at Panera, "Take what you need, then pass it on: Love, Courage, Hope, Faith."



4. Held the door open for a sweet lady at Panera.
5. Left stamps stuck to a mailbox at the Post Office.



6. Bought coffee for a car in the drive-thru at Starbucks.
7. Gave a gift card to another car in the drive-thru at Starbucks.



8-9. Left post-its on cars: "Drive safely!" "Wear your seatbelt!"
10. Placed wishing pennies by the fountain at the mall.



11. Taped enough change for a drink to the vending machine.



12-17. Stuck notes of encouragement and positivity in the ladies' restroom at the mall. "You are beautiful!" "That lipstick looks amazing on you!" "Nice outfit!" "Your hair looks great today!" "You can do this!"



18. Left a coupon for Bath & Body Works next to a fragrance display in the store.



19. Placed pennies heads up in the parking lot.
20. Purchased (and delivered) flowers for her mom.



21. Gave a tired looking mom at the grocery a gift card to Tim Horton's (the first tired looking mom said she didn't drink coffee...we are thinking she should re-think that!).
22. Returned a grocery cart back to the store.
23. Took two bags of groceries to a food pantry.



24-26. Took gloves, coloring books, and craft supplies to a women's shelter.



27. Left Oh, the Places You'll Go! at a bus stop...with the message, "Enjoy the journey."
28. Fed parking meters.



29. Dropped off some dog treats at a local animal shelter.



30. Sent a friend a note, just because.
31. Sent a photo memory to another friend.
32. Took cookies to work.
33. Bought coffee for a work meeting.

Inspired yet? Get in on the kindness act. Tell us about what you've done. Or what you long to do. Or what someone did for you!