Karma Yoga Crew
The Karma Yoga Crew
(Random Acts of love )
3rd Monthly Random Acts Of Kindness Day
Date: Sunday, November 30th 2008
Time: Noon- 3pm
Start: Christiansen village in Gibsons
Location: 548 Shaw rd
What to Bring: bring a flower, an instrument, warm loving arms, an open mind and whatever else you want to share
WOW what a glorious day of spreading LOVE, KINDNESS, JOY & PEACE!!!! Our day of random acts of kindness on Sunday November 9th was a
HUGE, LOVE PEACE AND JOY- ATHON!!!! For those of you who could not make it here is the recap:
We started our kindfest off at the IGA gibsons parking lot.. There was an INCREDIBLE 14 of us (including 4 children). On my way driving to the event I wondered who if anyone would show up.. the universe delivered once again... ask and it is given!! We gathered to decide what to do during our 3 hours together... We decided to start by buying balloons and flowers at IGA to hand out to children and strangers .. IGA was kind and donated the balloons and gave us 10% off on the flowers. YEAH IGA!!!! GO TEAM!
We then proceeded to the parking lot and collected garbage in the area.. Cleanliness is next to godliness~~~ we found lot's of juicy garbage...
We then decided to take a walk to the senior centre and share a song, hug, massage and converstation.... on our way we stopped at the Tim Hortins to sing " You are my Sunshine" and hand out flowers & free hugs... the crowd at Tim's was a little shocked by the flood of LOVE.. we obviously need to make it more of a habit of this spreading kindness so we don't appear to have two heads coming from outer space.. on our kindness walk we all had helium filled balloons the colour of the rainbow.. the people driving by honked with smiles and others just stared in be-wonderment.. are these the new Hari Krishnas of this generation.. we are hooked on the vitamin B1 (inside random acts of kindness joke) a group of earthbound angels we are .. just spreading light.. sounds YUMMY! Mike our shinning sage spread his kindness handing out poppy's to our blessed elders and sharing his beautiful smiles.. We then proceeded to the Garden Inn Retirement centre and continued our garbage collecting service.. we were all keen to spread LOVE.. but our sweet elders were still sleeping .. we were told to come back at 11:30am as they would be so HAPPY to receive some kindness then at lunch hour...so off we went on our spaceship crew of Bliss to the Gibsons Pool on Stacy's request.. we sang "you are my sunshine to the women (i think her name was Trish) the lone sunday pool angel.. also gave her a few balloons to hand out to the wee ones. She expected 50 wee ones.. next time we'll be more prepared for a balloon extravaganza) then we were off to Supervalue to share some FREE HUGS and song!!!! We could not have picked a better venue.. The people that shop at Supervalue on Sunday mornings were aching for some LOVE..
So we made our Free Hugs (no tax) signs and took out the guitar to sing a few tunes.. you are my sunshine.. if you are happy and you know it.. and a few other delicious ones to warm up our sunshine community.. then we proceeded to start HUGGING!!! Well the reception was a little dry at first and I think people thought we were just let out on a day pass from coo coo ville BUT with Stacey, Mary & Andrea our HUGGING STARFISH CREW on board we started to embrace everyone.. The smiles started to flow, warm squeezes of Joy flooded that building.. some people tried to escape and we visualized hugging them at a distance (just as powerful though. ... power of intention.. wayne dyer would be happy!!!) Very easily could have turned into feelings of rejection and denial but instead we shifted it back to Love again by just accepting that some are just not ready to receive love from a stranger. Reminds me of the song from Ben Harper "Waiting on an Angel"
Words : So speak kind to a stranger ...Cause youll never know... It just might be an angel
The beautiful little angels who came with their pure innocent hearts and arms spread love and handed out balloons and flowers to other children.. wow .. witnessing this act completes me.. teaching children that kindness is a way of life.. a way to happiness. to serve others is when we tap into unlimited love, peace and joy!!! We are here on this planet to serve eachother in turn healing our own hearts.. as the other person is you!!!!
We continued on back to the Retirement centre for a finale love-athon.. We began our journey at the center with the song we had rehearsed a few times and felt pretty united on.. "You are my sunshine"
Then proceeded to connect with our beloved elders with hugs, conversation, massage, tunning fork healing, Fab's beautiful compilations and Bob Marley's Songs of Freedom and Ocean Love visit and smiles with our beloved ones..... John had saved his red rose for a beautiful elder and she blushed the colour of the rose when he so humbly gifted it to her.. Derek made warm and Mike made warm and friendly conversation with the elders.. I witnessed a complete transformation from when we arrived to when we left.. A gift for both parties.. We were warmly received by our elders and so grateful to share some time together.. We ended our time together with the Long Time Sunshine song: A irish blessing and a kundalini yoga - farewell blessing
May the long time Sun shine upon you, All love surround you. And the pure light within you, Guide your way On..
We gathered our stuff and floated together down the street feeling the gift of giving.. shared a few hugs and some blessed granola bars from Beautiful Shekinah who so graciously brought her 2 wee little angels and angel friend along to expose them to this blessed day of giving...
This is an investment into our community and I am committed to transforming this annual event into a monthly event..
Anyone in for another round before I head off to Barbados..???? it's so uplifting and inspiring spreading light & Love...
The Karma Yoga Crew
(Random Acts of love )
3rd Monthly Random Acts Of Kindness Day
Date: Sunday, November 30th 2008
Time: Noon- 3pm
Start: Christiansen village in Gibsons
Location: 548 Shaw rd
What to Bring: bring a flower, an instrument, warm loving arms, an open mind and whatever else you want to share
WOW what a glorious day of spreading LOVE, KINDNESS, JOY & PEACE!!!! Our day of random acts of kindness on Sunday November 9th was a
HUGE, LOVE PEACE AND JOY- ATHON!!!! For those of you who could not make it here is the recap:
We started our kindfest off at the IGA gibsons parking lot.. There was an INCREDIBLE 14 of us (including 4 children). On my way driving to the event I wondered who if anyone would show up.. the universe delivered once again... ask and it is given!! We gathered to decide what to do during our 3 hours together... We decided to start by buying balloons and flowers at IGA to hand out to children and strangers .. IGA was kind and donated the balloons and gave us 10% off on the flowers. YEAH IGA!!!! GO TEAM!
We then proceeded to the parking lot and collected garbage in the area.. Cleanliness is next to godliness~~~ we found lot's of juicy garbage...
We then decided to take a walk to the senior centre and share a song, hug, massage and converstation.... on our way we stopped at the Tim Hortins to sing " You are my Sunshine" and hand out flowers & free hugs... the crowd at Tim's was a little shocked by the flood of LOVE.. we obviously need to make it more of a habit of this spreading kindness so we don't appear to have two heads coming from outer space.. on our kindness walk we all had helium filled balloons the colour of the rainbow.. the people driving by honked with smiles and others just stared in be-wonderment.. are these the new Hari Krishnas of this generation.. we are hooked on the vitamin B1 (inside random acts of kindness joke) a group of earthbound angels we are .. just spreading light.. sounds YUMMY! Mike our shinning sage spread his kindness handing out poppy's to our blessed elders and sharing his beautiful smiles.. We then proceeded to the Garden Inn Retirement centre and continued our garbage collecting service.. we were all keen to spread LOVE.. but our sweet elders were still sleeping .. we were told to come back at 11:30am as they would be so HAPPY to receive some kindness then at lunch hour...so off we went on our spaceship crew of Bliss to the Gibsons Pool on Stacy's request.. we sang "you are my sunshine to the women (i think her name was Trish) the lone sunday pool angel.. also gave her a few balloons to hand out to the wee ones. She expected 50 wee ones.. next time we'll be more prepared for a balloon extravaganza) then we were off to Supervalue to share some FREE HUGS and song!!!! We could not have picked a better venue.. The people that shop at Supervalue on Sunday mornings were aching for some LOVE..
So we made our Free Hugs (no tax) signs and took out the guitar to sing a few tunes.. you are my sunshine.. if you are happy and you know it.. and a few other delicious ones to warm up our sunshine community.. then we proceeded to start HUGGING!!! Well the reception was a little dry at first and I think people thought we were just let out on a day pass from coo coo ville BUT with Stacey, Mary & Andrea our HUGGING STARFISH CREW on board we started to embrace everyone.. The smiles started to flow, warm squeezes of Joy flooded that building.. some people tried to escape and we visualized hugging them at a distance (just as powerful though. ... power of intention.. wayne dyer would be happy!!!) Very easily could have turned into feelings of rejection and denial but instead we shifted it back to Love again by just accepting that some are just not ready to receive love from a stranger. Reminds me of the song from Ben Harper "Waiting on an Angel"
Words : So speak kind to a stranger ...Cause youll never know... It just might be an angel
The beautiful little angels who came with their pure innocent hearts and arms spread love and handed out balloons and flowers to other children.. wow .. witnessing this act completes me.. teaching children that kindness is a way of life.. a way to happiness. to serve others is when we tap into unlimited love, peace and joy!!! We are here on this planet to serve eachother in turn healing our own hearts.. as the other person is you!!!!
We continued on back to the Retirement centre for a finale love-athon.. We began our journey at the center with the song we had rehearsed a few times and felt pretty united on.. "You are my sunshine"
Then proceeded to connect with our beloved elders with hugs, conversation, massage, tunning fork healing, Fab's beautiful compilations and Bob Marley's Songs of Freedom and Ocean Love visit and smiles with our beloved ones..... John had saved his red rose for a beautiful elder and she blushed the colour of the rose when he so humbly gifted it to her.. Derek made warm and Mike made warm and friendly conversation with the elders.. I witnessed a complete transformation from when we arrived to when we left.. A gift for both parties.. We were warmly received by our elders and so grateful to share some time together.. We ended our time together with the Long Time Sunshine song: A irish blessing and a kundalini yoga - farewell blessing
May the long time Sun shine upon you, All love surround you. And the pure light within you, Guide your way On..
We gathered our stuff and floated together down the street feeling the gift of giving.. shared a few hugs and some blessed granola bars from Beautiful Shekinah who so graciously brought her 2 wee little angels and angel friend along to expose them to this blessed day of giving...
This is an investment into our community and I am committed to transforming this annual event into a monthly event..
Anyone in for another round before I head off to Barbados..???? it's so uplifting and inspiring spreading light & Love...
Get Started now!!!
Karma Yoga Ideas:
Deliver fresh-baked cookies to city workers.
Collect goods for a food bank.
Bring flowers to work and share them with coworkers.
Garden clubs can make floral arrangements for senior centers, nursing homes, hospitals, police stations, or shut-ins.
Adopt a student who needs a friend, checking in periodically to see how things are going.
Volunteer to be a tutor in a school.
Extend a hand to someone in need. Give your full attention and simply listen.
Merchants can donate a percentage of receipts for the week to a special cause.
Bring coworkers a special treat.
Students can clean classrooms for the custodian.
Buy a stranger a free pizza.
Sing at a nursing home.
Offer a couple of hours of baby-sitting to parents.
Slip paper hearts that say “It’s Random Acts of Kindness Week! Have a great day!” under the windshield wipers of parked
cars.
Have a charity day at work, with employees bringing nonperishable food items to donate.
Serve refreshments to customers.
Draw names at school or work, and have people bring a small gift or food treat for their secret pal.
Remember the bereaved with phone calls, cards, plants, and food.
Treat someone to fresh fruit.
Pay a compliment at least once a day.
Call or visit a homebound person.
Hand out balloons to passersby.
Be a good neighbor. Take over a baked treat or stop by to say “Hello.”
Transport someone who can’t drive.
Mow a neighbor’s grass.
Say something nice to everyone you meet today.
Send a treat to a school or day-care center.
Volunteer at an agency that needs help.
Wipe rainwater off shopping carts or hold umbrellas for shoppers on the way to their cars.
Give the gift of your smile.
Send home a note telling parents something their child did well.
Adopt a homeless pet from the humane society.
Organize a scout troop or service club to help people with packages at the mall or grocery.
Host special programs or speakers at libraries or bookstores.
Offer to answer the phone for the school secretary for ten minutes.
Volunteer to read to students in the classroom.
Write notes of appreciation and bring flowers or goodies to teachers or other important people, such as the principal, nurse,
custodian, and secretary.
Incorporate kindness into the curriculum at area schools, day care centers, or children’s classes in faith organizations.
Give a hug to a friend.
Tell your children why you love them.
Write a note to your mother/father and tell them why they are special.
Pat someone on the back.
Write a thank-you note to a mentor or someone who has influenced your life in a positive way.
Give coffee to people on their way to work in the morning.
Donate time at a senior center.
Give blood.
Visit hospitals with smiles, treats, and friendly conversation for patients.
Stop by a nursing home, and visit a resident with no family nearby.
Plant flowers in your neighbor’s flower box.
Give another driver your parking spot.
Leave a treat or handmade note of thanks for a delivery person or mail carrier.
Give free car washes.
Clean graffiti from neighborhood walls and buildings.
Tell your boss that you think he/she does a good job.
Tell your employees how much you appreciate their work.
Let your staff leave work an hour early.
Have a clean-up party in the park.
Tell a bus or taxi driver how much you appreciate their driving.
Have everyone in your office draw the name of a Random Acts of Kindness buddy out of a hat and do a kind act for their
buddy that day or week.
Give a pair of tickets to a baseball game or concert to a stranger.
Leave an extra big tip for the waitperson.
Drop off a plant, cookies, or donuts to the police or fire department.
Open the door for another person.
Pay for the meal of the person behind you in the drive-through.
Write a note to the boss of someone who has helped you, praising the employee.
Leave a bouquet of flowers on the desk of a colleague at work with whom you don’t normally get
along.
Call an estranged family member.
Volunteer to fix up an elderly couple’s home.
Pay for the person behind you in the movie line.
Give flowers to be delivered with meal delivery programs.
Give toys to the children at the shelter or safe house
Give friends and family kindness coupons they can redeem for kind favors.
Be a friend to a new student or coworker.
Renew an old friendship by sending a letter or small gift to someone you haven’t talked with in a long time.
For one week, act on every single thought of generosity that arises spontaneously in your heart, and notice what happens
as a consequence.
Offer to return a shopping cart to the store for someone loading a car.
Invite someone new over for dinner.
Buy a roll of brightly colored stickers and give them to children you meet during the day.
Write a card of thanks and leave it with your tip. Be sure to be specific in your thanks.
Let the person behind you in the grocery store go ahead of you in line.
When drivers try to merge into your lane, let them in with a wave and a smile.
Buy cold drinks for the people next to you at a ball game.
Distribute kindness bookmarks that you have made.
Create a craft project or build a bird house with a child.
Give a bag of groceries to a homeless person.
Laugh out loud often and share your smile generously.
Plant a tree in your neighborhood.
Make a list of things to do to bring more kindness into the world, and have a friend make a list. Exchange lists and do one
item per day for a month.
Use an instant camera to take people’s photographs at a party or community event, and give the picture to them.
As you go about your day, pick up trash.
Send a letter to some former teachers, letting them know the difference they made in your life.
Send a gift anonymously to a friend.
Organize a clothing drive for a shelter.
Buy books for a day care or school.
Slip a $20 bill to a person who you know is having financial difficulty.
Take an acquaintance to dinner.
Offer to take a friend’s child to ball practice.
Waive late fees for the week.
Tell someone you love them
Recycled your household items
Hug someone today
Donate clothes to a shelter
Compliment a stranger
Donate to a charity
Call someone you haven't spoken to in a while
Write a thank you letter to someone who has helped you recently
Give a massage to a friend
Volunteer at a local non-profit
Plant a tree
Send cookies to a neighbor
Plug a parking meter
Buy lunch for a homeless person
Buy coffee for the person behind you in line
Play music for strangers on the street
Buy a flower for a stranger
Smile and acknowledge three people you don't know today. Remember how it made you feel.
Put on some smile-inducing music; crank it up and take a 5-minute dance break. (Hint: Bobby McFerrin, Don't worry, Be Happy!)
Take a different route to get to work, for no reason but to appreciate something new. Be a tourist in your own town.
Switch up your lunch break. Go for a stroll and get under something green.
Buy a lush green plant for your workspace. Plants rejuvenate stale air into fresh oxygen.
Write a positive wake up note for yourself and stick it to your mirror: Nice bed head!
Try some basic yoga poses at your desk. Interlock your fingers and raise your arms above your head. Squeeze your stomach and lean to the left, then lean right.
Set your watch alarm for a random time during the day; when the time comes take a moment to feel grateful for what you have. Write down those ideas.
Write down 6 great things about yourself and 4 things you would like to improve. Post that in a place where you see them on a regular basis.
Ideas inspired by www.extremekindness.com & www.actsofkindness.org
Karma Yoga Ideas:
Deliver fresh-baked cookies to city workers.
Collect goods for a food bank.
Bring flowers to work and share them with coworkers.
Garden clubs can make floral arrangements for senior centers, nursing homes, hospitals, police stations, or shut-ins.
Adopt a student who needs a friend, checking in periodically to see how things are going.
Volunteer to be a tutor in a school.
Extend a hand to someone in need. Give your full attention and simply listen.
Merchants can donate a percentage of receipts for the week to a special cause.
Bring coworkers a special treat.
Students can clean classrooms for the custodian.
Buy a stranger a free pizza.
Sing at a nursing home.
Offer a couple of hours of baby-sitting to parents.
Slip paper hearts that say “It’s Random Acts of Kindness Week! Have a great day!” under the windshield wipers of parked
cars.
Have a charity day at work, with employees bringing nonperishable food items to donate.
Serve refreshments to customers.
Draw names at school or work, and have people bring a small gift or food treat for their secret pal.
Remember the bereaved with phone calls, cards, plants, and food.
Treat someone to fresh fruit.
Pay a compliment at least once a day.
Call or visit a homebound person.
Hand out balloons to passersby.
Be a good neighbor. Take over a baked treat or stop by to say “Hello.”
Transport someone who can’t drive.
Mow a neighbor’s grass.
Say something nice to everyone you meet today.
Send a treat to a school or day-care center.
Volunteer at an agency that needs help.
Wipe rainwater off shopping carts or hold umbrellas for shoppers on the way to their cars.
Give the gift of your smile.
Send home a note telling parents something their child did well.
Adopt a homeless pet from the humane society.
Organize a scout troop or service club to help people with packages at the mall or grocery.
Host special programs or speakers at libraries or bookstores.
Offer to answer the phone for the school secretary for ten minutes.
Volunteer to read to students in the classroom.
Write notes of appreciation and bring flowers or goodies to teachers or other important people, such as the principal, nurse,
custodian, and secretary.
Incorporate kindness into the curriculum at area schools, day care centers, or children’s classes in faith organizations.
Give a hug to a friend.
Tell your children why you love them.
Write a note to your mother/father and tell them why they are special.
Pat someone on the back.
Write a thank-you note to a mentor or someone who has influenced your life in a positive way.
Give coffee to people on their way to work in the morning.
Donate time at a senior center.
Give blood.
Visit hospitals with smiles, treats, and friendly conversation for patients.
Stop by a nursing home, and visit a resident with no family nearby.
Plant flowers in your neighbor’s flower box.
Give another driver your parking spot.
Leave a treat or handmade note of thanks for a delivery person or mail carrier.
Give free car washes.
Clean graffiti from neighborhood walls and buildings.
Tell your boss that you think he/she does a good job.
Tell your employees how much you appreciate their work.
Let your staff leave work an hour early.
Have a clean-up party in the park.
Tell a bus or taxi driver how much you appreciate their driving.
Have everyone in your office draw the name of a Random Acts of Kindness buddy out of a hat and do a kind act for their
buddy that day or week.
Give a pair of tickets to a baseball game or concert to a stranger.
Leave an extra big tip for the waitperson.
Drop off a plant, cookies, or donuts to the police or fire department.
Open the door for another person.
Pay for the meal of the person behind you in the drive-through.
Write a note to the boss of someone who has helped you, praising the employee.
Leave a bouquet of flowers on the desk of a colleague at work with whom you don’t normally get
along.
Call an estranged family member.
Volunteer to fix up an elderly couple’s home.
Pay for the person behind you in the movie line.
Give flowers to be delivered with meal delivery programs.
Give toys to the children at the shelter or safe house
Give friends and family kindness coupons they can redeem for kind favors.
Be a friend to a new student or coworker.
Renew an old friendship by sending a letter or small gift to someone you haven’t talked with in a long time.
For one week, act on every single thought of generosity that arises spontaneously in your heart, and notice what happens
as a consequence.
Offer to return a shopping cart to the store for someone loading a car.
Invite someone new over for dinner.
Buy a roll of brightly colored stickers and give them to children you meet during the day.
Write a card of thanks and leave it with your tip. Be sure to be specific in your thanks.
Let the person behind you in the grocery store go ahead of you in line.
When drivers try to merge into your lane, let them in with a wave and a smile.
Buy cold drinks for the people next to you at a ball game.
Distribute kindness bookmarks that you have made.
Create a craft project or build a bird house with a child.
Give a bag of groceries to a homeless person.
Laugh out loud often and share your smile generously.
Plant a tree in your neighborhood.
Make a list of things to do to bring more kindness into the world, and have a friend make a list. Exchange lists and do one
item per day for a month.
Use an instant camera to take people’s photographs at a party or community event, and give the picture to them.
As you go about your day, pick up trash.
Send a letter to some former teachers, letting them know the difference they made in your life.
Send a gift anonymously to a friend.
Organize a clothing drive for a shelter.
Buy books for a day care or school.
Slip a $20 bill to a person who you know is having financial difficulty.
Take an acquaintance to dinner.
Offer to take a friend’s child to ball practice.
Waive late fees for the week.
Tell someone you love them
Recycled your household items
Hug someone today
Donate clothes to a shelter
Compliment a stranger
Donate to a charity
Call someone you haven't spoken to in a while
Write a thank you letter to someone who has helped you recently
Give a massage to a friend
Volunteer at a local non-profit
Plant a tree
Send cookies to a neighbor
Plug a parking meter
Buy lunch for a homeless person
Buy coffee for the person behind you in line
Play music for strangers on the street
Buy a flower for a stranger
Smile and acknowledge three people you don't know today. Remember how it made you feel.
Put on some smile-inducing music; crank it up and take a 5-minute dance break. (Hint: Bobby McFerrin, Don't worry, Be Happy!)
Take a different route to get to work, for no reason but to appreciate something new. Be a tourist in your own town.
Switch up your lunch break. Go for a stroll and get under something green.
Buy a lush green plant for your workspace. Plants rejuvenate stale air into fresh oxygen.
Write a positive wake up note for yourself and stick it to your mirror: Nice bed head!
Try some basic yoga poses at your desk. Interlock your fingers and raise your arms above your head. Squeeze your stomach and lean to the left, then lean right.
Set your watch alarm for a random time during the day; when the time comes take a moment to feel grateful for what you have. Write down those ideas.
Write down 6 great things about yourself and 4 things you would like to improve. Post that in a place where you see them on a regular basis.
Ideas inspired by www.extremekindness.com & www.actsofkindness.org
My religion is very simple.
My religion is kindness.
-Dalai Lama
Our prime purpose in this life
is to help others. And if you can't help them, at least don't hurt them.
-Dalai Lama
This is my simple religion.
There is no need for temples; no need for complicated philosophy. Our own brain, our own heart is our temple; the philosophy is kindness.
-Dalai Lama
Whether one believes in a religion
or not, and whether one believes in rebirth or not, there isn't anyone who doesn't appreciate kindness and compassion.
-Dalai Lama
