The Gift of Kindness

/ August 11, 2021

I was recently reminded of the beauty and power of kindness.

Someone choose to anonymously give me this unique treasure chest made by artist and friend Tania Marie. My chest came with bonus gifts like an oil diffuser, crystal, and bath salts, a heartfelt note, and reminders to be open to new energies like possibility and wonder. You can learn more about these delightful Cosmic Curiosity Chests on Tania’s blog. At first, I was a little disappointed at the anonymous part, but now I see the beauty of letting it be a mystery. Some of the best gifts are random and spontaneous. I appreciate the kindness of this mystery person sending me a gift and feel like a kid receiving a surprise!

My chest is called a Cosmic Manifestor Chest to aid in manifesting new energies in my life.

The gifts have percolated in my consciousness, doing their magic, and seeding my mind and heart. My benefactor may have sensed a growing dissatisfaction with my life. Outwardly, my life is OK. I have health, friends, income, savings, and this community, but I’m not really happy within. I’ve let myself slip into dull routines with very little love, joy, meaningful connections, or purposeful direction. This is a great recipe for creating a life of quiet desperation. A place I know all too well from my teens and 20s before embarking on my life altering choice to quit my job, sell my condo, and travel the US in search of meaning and adventure in a VW camper. I did this way back in the early 90s before it was a hip thing to do and document on WordPress, Instagram, and YouTube; prior to the internet, smart phones, and social media! My trip was a simple adventure of the heart, exploring our National Parks, meeting people, and sharing joy.

It came with a crystal and a rainbow, good reminders for allowing more goodness into my life.

Being aware of this slide into despair, I spent some time this weekend in contemplation and found a seed of inner hope to nurture and the resolve to begin making more life affirming choices. I’ve let my choices slide into a place of less self care. So I’m letting my new Cosmic Manifestor Chest be a reminder to live each day as a gift and an opportunity to spread a little beauty, love, or kindness. Even if I don’t make any big changes to the circumstances of my life, deciding to live more purposefully will help bring meaning and joy back into my life.

So thank you Tania and my mystery benefactor! Your kindness has helped shift my energy and potentially the direction of my life. And no matter what, this gift of kindness touched my heart and reminded me how nice it is to share in the act of giving and receiving. Sometimes it’s even more fun and impactful to give randomly like people do with pay it forward gifts at restaurants and coffee shops. Maybe we can reignite the kindness and pay it forward movements!

Please remember the power of spreading kindness in our daily lives.

#KindnessMatters, #PayItForward

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78 thoughts on “The Gift of Kindness”

  1. What a thoughtful and touching gesture Brad. I’m so glad to hear that it reignited that seed of purpose within you. Such a heartfelt post you’ve written and your honesty and kindness shines. May you be surrounded by joy, peace and love always. And kindness too of course. xx

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  3. Lovely!!! It reminds me of anonymous Valentine’s messages… since one doesn’t know who sent the card/gift, one can imagine all sorts of different people who might be one’s benefactor/admirer. You bring lots of positive energy and wisdom and beauty to a bunch of us with your blog, Brad. May you find — or re-discover — ways to deepen your personal fulfillment in the coming days/weeks/months. ps: I think of you EVERY TIME I read news about the Delta variant spreading in Arkansas, about hospitals there being maxed out, etc. I hope/trust you are continuing to take good care of your health…

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  4. What a lovely gift! It’s like a treasure chest and mystery box in one! ☺ I know that place where despair dwells very well, and little gifts or gestures, from others, or even from myself or the Universe and spirit have always helped me find the way back to hope and light too! Enjoy your lovely gift, Brad ♥

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  5. What a wonderful gift you got Brad. Such a beautiful chest. The Universe is working for you and showing you kindness and love when you are feeling low right now. Kindness and selflessness is everywhere and let us be of help wherever we can and see happy smiles.

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  7. What a thoughtful gift, Brad. Glad you are enjoying it. Small moments of joy can lift us from despair. Also, in the absence of a fulfilling job, finding a hobby that challenges us deeply. I’m rooting for you, Brad. You send such kindness into the world. It’s time it came back to you.

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  8. Seeing this post this morning was pure joy to my and your sweet Earth angel’s hearts. I loved what you shared here: “I’m letting my new Cosmic Manifestor Chest be a reminder to live each day as a gift and an opportunity to spread a little beauty, love, or kindness. Even if I don’t make any big changes to the circumstances of my life, deciding to live more purposefully will help bring meaning and joy back into my life.” – so wonderful! I find that things like this make all the difference…those little shifts of perspective and focus. May these seeds of love and hope kindle within us all and may we all be reminded that even the smallest acts of kindness can be life changing. We never know what even just a smile can do for someone at the right moment, right? Remembering to view each other in reflection of connection helps us open our hearts even more. The interesting thing that happened with these chests, which I had no idea would….it turned into a “Pay it forward” act of kindness, as the exact day that your gift happened, I was contacted by someone else who also wanted to gift someone else one of them. A very sweet couple reached out saying that they loved this Cosmic Chest project and the energy behind them and felt that there was someone out there who really wanted and could use one (had seen the post, but wasn’t able to get it themselves), that they’d like to gift one to. We figured out who that was and which was perfect energetically, and off it went….it was hugely life-changing for her. This is beyond beautiful and what I could have imagined when first I listened to making these. SO SO touched by the kindness and love out there…there is indeed so much hope. Much love to you dear friend!

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    • Wow Tania! Thanks for the amazing backstory. I’m delighted that your nudge to create them has transformed into a vehicle to bless others with the spirit of giving ala pay it forward. The energy and intention of these chests are quite wonderful. Thank you for being an open channel. I’m very grateful for my gifts, shift, and intention to bless others and become more of an open channel like you. And thank you for your continued loving support and beautiful perspective on life. 🙏🧡

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  13. Such a wonderful and heartfelt gesture..I think it was given by someone close to you who probably understands what you’re dealing with internally..I hope this gives you the much needed positivity to start afresh and look at things from a more optimistic perspective. 💖💖

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  14. Aww, Brad. I love how much this gesture shifted your perspective and opened the door to a new you. Super cool and thoughtful of that person to think of you and take the time to send this gift. There are some truly beautiful souls out there, and I love it when one finds another. I am really happy for you, my friend.

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  15. This made my day! That chest is gorgeous and the energy & shift it brought you is so precious. I feel so grateful to read such a powerful positive post. It enlivens and inspires the value of such acts of kindness for me. I can relate to your sharing of having everything in place in life, and yet having this inner despair. I have lingered there quite often and long. The Universe has our Back – to find the gifts of each day and also the gift we are for the day. It is so amazing that you travelled, you took that trip of simple adventure of your heart. I dream of such trips and am happily tucked in my comfort zone 🙂 I am trying to imagine that joy, before blog, phone, social media etc …feels such purity in simplicity.

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  16. You are a most worthy recipient of this cosmic gift, Brad. It seems to have come at the perfect time. You were a wanderer back before people sought external validation. It was simply you, having the courage to let your heart lead you. May this mystery gift remind you that you are special and deserve so much happiness.

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  17. What a magical gift! Unexpected kindness from strangers and mystery friends feeds joy and wonder, and can transform our day and our attitude. You already spread so much kindness and beauty to others all around you, Brad. Perhaps the magic of this chest is to remind you to extend kindness and love to the beautiful person you are. A person deserving of the love, affection, and connection you crave. Embrace this affirmation. Hugs to you.

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  18. Bloggers lift us up and set us straight. Your community knows how good and kind you are Brad, even when you may forget it for a moment. I love your anonymous gifter and you. Stay safe and well my friend. You make my life brighter.

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  20. What a lovely anonymous gift, Brad. There is something special about not knowing who gifted it to you. The world becomes a kinder more hopeful place in general. I enjoyed the honesty and humanity of your reflections. Sometimes we all need reminders that life awaits us if we choose it. I hope this inspires you to go for it. Hugs, my friend.

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  24. How AWESOME, Brad!! What a wonderful gift and the best part is that you made a decision to allow the free spirit within to take the good energy and run with it! I love it!! Sometimes all it takes is for the kindness of a caring soul to look at us and know that there is something that is needed. I am so happy that you have this wonderful benefactor in your life!
    Have a super wonderful week…I hope this energy stays with you!!

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  25. Reblogged this on Tania Marie and commented:
    In these challenging times we are all navigating, sometimes we go through more profound ebbs than maybe others do and it is in these times that it’s wonderful to know we have a collective buddy system of support. My dear friend Brad shared this blog post a few days ago and I felt that the message in it and his beautifully transparent and vulnerable experience of it would speak to others. When reading through all the comments, it provided an added boost of hope, inspiration and love felt across the collective tapestry.

    I had no idea what this creative project I was inspired to bring forth would turn into, but have been so touched in ways beyond words to hear the trickle effect of kindness and life-changing experiences I’ve heard from others. Even the people who do not share on social media, sent messages that warmed my heart and have fueled confirmation of why I will always listen to intuition on what I write, create, and share about.

    Here is my comment from Brad’s post, copied and pasted in here, so you can learn more about the backstory on this:

    Seeing this post this morning was pure joy to my and your sweet Earth angel’s hearts. I loved what you shared here: “I’m letting my new Cosmic Manifestor Chest be a reminder to live each day as a gift and an opportunity to spread a little beauty, love, or kindness. Even if I don’t make any big changes to the circumstances of my life, deciding to live more purposefully will help bring meaning and joy back into my life.” – so wonderful! I find that things like this make all the difference…those little shifts of perspective and focus. May these seeds of love and hope kindle within us all and may we all be reminded that even the smallest acts of kindness can be life changing. We never know what even just a smile can do for someone at the perfect moment, right? Remembering to view each other in reflection of connection helps us open our hearts even more. The interesting thing that happened with these chests, which I had no idea would….it turned into a “Pay it forward” act of kindness, as the exact day that your gift happened, I was contacted by someone else who also wanted to gift someone else one of them. A very sweet couple (I’ve become great friends with through magickal connections online) reached out saying that they loved this Cosmic Chest project and the energy behind them and felt that there was someone out there who really wanted and could use one (had seen the post, but wasn’t able to get it themselves), that they’d like to gift one to. We figured out who that was and which was perfect energetically, and off it went….it was hugely life-changing for her. This is beyond beautiful and what I could have imagined when first I listened to making these. SO SO touched by the kindness and love out there…there is indeed so much hope. Much love to you dear friend!

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  32. What a beautiful story. And a powerful life redirecting gift. That’s the beauty of gift giving —to meet a need. And we only know that when we care to listen and respond to what we hear (sometimes intuitively hearing). Stay focused!!!!

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