Today’s MessageMaking mistakes is inevitable. Quitting, though, is optional.
Research any famous person today. Notice the struggles they faced at some point in their lives
“It is necessary for us to learn from other’s mistakes. You will not live long enough to make them all yourself.” ~Hyman George Rickover
This year for our annual Kindness Challenge we are going to do something a little different. This year’s challenge is called, “Half of 
Something Kindness Challenge.” The challenge will begin July 1st and run through August 30th. The premise is that everyone can give up half of something. Maybe you spend one hour a day playing video games. Your challenge would be to give up half that time and do something kind during that time. Easy right?
We will be putting more details around the challenge and encourage you to participate and tell as many people as you can about it. Full details and how you can participate will be coming within the next few weeks.
Peace and gratitude,
Bill
Well, today marks the final day of the Kindness Challenge. I hope that by some small way this challenge has prompted several of you to do kind deeds. But you know what? Just because the Kindness Challenge ended today doesn’t mean that you should stop doing kind deeds for others and yourself. The main purpose of this challenge was to get you thinking about doing kindness consciously on a daily basis.
Come back for more post thoughts on the Kindness Challenge.
With kindness and gratitude,
Bill
Today marks the next to last day in the kindness challenge. One question I keep asking myself is was this a successful 
challenge? I thought about this a lot over the past few days. I believe my answer is that if a single person participated in the challenge and completed at least one kind deed, then yes, this was a successful challenge.
F0r me, many times I was reminded to do kind deeds because of the challenge. By keeping kindness in my awareness it allowed me to do more kind deeds. I suggest as you start off the new year, decide that you will spread your love with kindness to all that you meet. Don’t reserve the kind deeds for just people you know, share them with everyone.
May you have a positive and blessed new year!
Peace, gratitude, and kindness,
Bill
Today is Christmas Eve and my traditional time to shop with my sister for last minute gifts. Yesterday it was nearly 80 degrees but when we left to go shopping this afternoon, it was nearly blizzard conditions. Unbelievable weather but we will have a WHITE CHRISTMAS here in Texas! Sa-WEET! Today was fill with giving. It just makes me feel so good inside when I am able to help others and do kind things for them. Then sometime I even get to watch as they return the favor to others.
The holiday seasons are about giving and compassion. Let today be a reminder to start practicing it on a daily basis if you already do not.
Happy Holidays!
Bill
I ran across this quote tonight and thought I would share it with you. I believe it captures what kindness is all about 
and why we kindness challenges here at idontstink.com. It is from Amelia Earhart and is worth thinking about:
“No kind action ever stops with itself. One kind action leads to another. Good example is followed. A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees. The greatest work that kindness does to others is that it makes them kind themselves.” – Amelia Earhart
With kindness and gratitude,
Bill
What am I grateful for? Well, that one is easy! Today marks my 24th wedding anniversary with my awesomely, beautiful wife! She has been my inspiration, my joy, my happiness, my teacher, my love and my soulmate. I am so grateful to have met her and I know for a fact that I would not be who I am today without her.
As we start to wrap up the challenge, take some time every single day through the end of the year to give gratitude to someone. End your year with grace and gratitude and get ready for a fantastic 2010.
With peace and gratitude,
Bill
Here are some super cool kindness quotes to get you thinking for this weekend:
“Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love.” – Lao Tzu
“I prefer you to make mistakes in kindness than work miracles in unkindness.” – Mother Teresa of Calcutta
“Kindness is more than deeds. It is an attitude, an expression, a look, a touch. It is anything that lifts another person.” – Anonymous
”He who distributes the milk of human kindness cannot help but spill a little on himself.” – James Matthew Barrie
“No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.” – Aesop (620 BC – 560 BC)
“Kindness is difficult to give away because it keeps coming back.” – Anonymous
“Wherever there is a human being, there is an opportunity for kindness.” – Seneca (Mid 1st Century AD)
“By doing simple acts of kindness for others, we can’t help but lift ourselves up.” – Anonymous
“Remember there’s no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end.” – Scott Adams
Have a SUPERFANTABULICIOUS weekend!
Bill
I had an interesting thing happen today. I actually started Christmas shopping this afternoon (I normally do ALL my shopping on Christmas Eve with my sister). I tell you, it really was making me feel good. I was able to find some awesome gifts at unbelievable savings. After that, I noticed several nice things done for me. On two occasions I had a nice financial reward – well, not necessarily a financial impact but more of a savings. We had our yearly checkup for our heating unit in our house and I was expecting to pay well over $500 in parts to be replaced. But, when it was all said and done, nothing needed replacing and my bill was $0. SWEET! One other thing happened that had me paying $0 when normally I would have had to pay $50. It is amazing to me how abundance flows when the mindset is focused on giving.
With peace and gratitude,
Bill
I thought I would post the Daily Positive Points from today since it related to kindness. 
Try every day to do something kind. It can be for someone else, an animal and/or even yourself. Sometimes it is the smallest gifts we give that have the biggest impact on our lives and the lives of others. Just remember to give those gifts of kindness with your heart.
Today’s Quote:
“Every gift which is given, even though it be small, is in reality great, if it is given with affection.” Pindar (Greek lyric poet of ancient Greece, 518-446 BC)
With kindness and gratitude,
Bill