Operation NICE

So, some of you have already gotten an email stating I found an inspiring website. (Actually Holly sent it to me-thanks!) Anyhow, you should check it out and join me. http://www.operationnice.com/

It’s right up my ally! First because I really do try to be a nice person. Sure, I’ve got my bitchy quirks and blatantly discus for some people out there but overall I try to be nice, so I think that counts. Think of a really good movie, it’s entitled to have a couple of scenes that are just crap but Overall it was a good flick right?

Anyhow, I love the idea of this for 2 reasons. 1 because it makes be responsible for being nice. I plan on keeping record of being nice (hello- this blog) and I feel like this will somehow make me more accountable for my niceness or lack there of. I think everyone should do this. I think keeping track of stuff makes you more aware of it and continue down a better path. Think of all the woman that lose a ton of weight because they keep a Food Journal. I’ve never done this but heard it works. Makes sense to me. Example:

8am: large bowl of cinnamon toast crunch
9am: huge piece of triple chocolate Pepperidge Farm cake
Noon: a handful of pretzel sticks
12:20pm: an over sized plate of left over baked ziti with a piece of garlic toast

Now the gal that ate this can look back at her day and understand why she’s not gaining any weight. Btw- this is 100% honestly what I’ve eaten today. Ouch. And now tomorrow when I hope on the dreaded bathroom scale and watch the needle point to a much more than I’d like to see number I wont be pondering how/why have I not lost any weight. Yikes! Instead I’ll sarcastically say something to myself about the 9am devilishly good cake. Ugg.
*note to self…start keeping food journal.

Anyhow, second reason this is for me. I’m a fierce competitor. I love a challenge and always believe I’ll be the winner. Thus, the betting problem I have with my husband, which by the way I’m in the hole $260 to him right now, but lets not talk about that. I’ll win a double or nothing soon! So, what better competition to have than one with myself (no losers to feel bad when I waste ’em) and it’s all about bettering myself.

Now, the only rules I’ve put on myself for this one is no “Everyday-normal-should-be-expected-nicenesses” will count. I’m setting the envelope a little higher than that. Because well, I do that normally and I think it should be expected. This things are the regular holding doors open when someone is coming/going at the same time as you, helping a lost kid find mom in walmart, saying bless you when someone sneezes, excuse me for bumping into someone and/or getting them out of your way, pleases, thank yous, simple gratuity for service (except I’m still on the fence about buffet tipping, we’ll talk more on this later) covering your mouth when you cough and leaving a penny in a take-on-give-one jar at gas stations.

The big reason for this is I don’t want my kids to grow up and feel like they should give themselves a big pat on the back for helping someone pick up the change they just dropped in the check out line at the grocery store. This should be instinct. I don’t want them to wonder why someone would do that. They should know that’s what people do. I’m making this challenge about effort. Putting forth Effort to be nice. Something that might not be the norm.

I know I do some of these things already and honestly it makes me feel good to do good by/for others.
Example: I’m a Huge thank you card giver. I think we should tell our friends thank you when they do something “extra nice” for you. There were a handful of you that really pulled through for me when I had the twins unexpectedly. Big stuff, not just sending me flowers (that is nice too though) but like taking the kids the minute I told you the situation and needed you (Jess!) without a second thought. I sent cards out. Hope you got and liked them. Last Example: I do it all the time and think it's pretty nice. When I have a small amount of money left on a gift card that I just paid with it (it’s amazing how many cards I use to have with 28, 77, 33 or 89cents left on them) I give it to the person behind me in line. I know I’m going to forget about the almost worthless plastic card in my coin purse but the person behind me is going to use it that very second and hey sometimes it covers the tax for them. It’s just nice.

Okay- I’ve got a couple of things that will count almost as freebies for me because I already like/do them so it should be easy. Right? We’ll see. Here’s to day #1. I’m off to do my first thing right now and I’ll post back later. xoxo-mary