On Bragging… I Mean Sharing
Each time I sit down to write a post, I have to push myself past an invisible road block. Each time I share a story, I have to remind myself that the goal is to inspire and inform others with tales of my family’s experiences.
I feel woefully under-qualified, endlessly humbled by the good works being done all around me. From neighbors to fellow bloggers to long-lost college friends, kind acts of all sizes are being lovingly carried out every day.
Each time I sit to write, I wonder if so much discussion about good works and volunteerism undermines the very acts of kindness my girls and I have undertaken.
Have I mentioned that I was raised not far from Lake Wobegon? Even if you haven’t flipped pancakes for Sunday brunch while listening to the Garrison Keillor re-broadcast, you’re probably familiar with his take on us Midwestern-types.
Long story short, I’m not a big fan of boasting. It just feels wrong.
Each time I write about my family’s volunteerism, I have to remind myself that bragging is not the same as sharing stories here.
If nothing else, working with Doing Good Together has shown me that no matter how dark the headlines, people are doing beautiful things for one another everyday. They are inspiring. They are talented. Often, they (you?) too are reluctant to share their stories because compassionate acts don’t go well with a megaphone.
I’ll say it again. Bragging is not the same thing as sharing. I’ve been asked to share my family’s experiences using the resources of Doing Good Together. Think of me as a DGT Guinea pig. For nearly two years, my family has been intentionally, methodically folding kindness and service into our regular routines.
Our acts are small. We’re often tired or frazzled, usually both.
With a new baby at home, we’re usually covered in rice cereal.
This ongoing effort has been so worth it. My girls aren’t perfectly kind, don’t get me wrong, but our habits have made an impact.
Yesterday I watched Little Miss – who didn’t know I was watching – retrieve wayward toys for little friends in her play group. Her sense of justice has been shaped by some of the projects we do at home. Admittedly, she’s my rough-and-tumble child, too often resorting to hitting when an older child (read: her sister) takes a toy from her.
But when she sees such an injustice happen to anyone else, she steps in and saves the day.
I no longer have to prompt kindness. Miss First-grader overheard me talking about her babysitter’s recent oral surgery, and before I noticed, she had packaged up cards, the remainder of our latest batch of muffins, and some homemade “hard-math” worksheets to keep our friend busy.
Little Miss overheard a bit about the Syrian conflict on public radio, unfortunately. She heard just enough to know that grown ups were fighting, and decided that we should send them the The Peace Book.
At just four and six, the girls are growing up alert to the needs of those around them and willing to take action whenever possible. This warms my heart. This is exactly my goal as a parent.
Yours too. As a follower of Doing Good Together, you have your own tales of kindness to share or maybe a few bumps in the road. Remember that sharing them here is anything but boasting. It is inspiring others, or refining our advice to others.
Consider sharing your latest attempt at volunteering right here in the comments section. Or take time to write up the story with your child, and post it here.
The more you share, the more we’ll all be inspired to continue Doing Good Together.
February 10th, 2012 at 2:02 am
This sounds awesome, I’d love to pick your brain and hear more about all the awesome stuff that you are doing around this important work! perhaps email would be a the best way to start the conversation..holla!