This first two-part post isn’t what you can expect from my weekly blog posts, which will be “good news” stories, inspiration and ideas for spreading kindness within your sphere of influence.
The first part explained the what. This second part is the why. And this one is personal.
Here’s what’s going on in my life and the purpose for this new website/journey.
First… I’m preparing for retirement. What?! Am I really that old? The hot flashes, the hairs popping out on my chin, and the sounds my knees make when I climb stairs tell me that, yes, I am that old.
And… when I do retire, I’ll be living in the middle of nowhere. As in… no Starbucks, iffy internet, and no outside sources for supplementing Social Security.
Why the middle of nowhere? Two reasons that are very close to my heart:
- My Mom. She and her husband live in a rural area of Eastern Washington. They love their beautiful land on the Columbia River. But I worry about them being so far away, and in an area with little in the way of services and resources. I want to be closer. I want to be able to drive mom to appointments and craft fairs. I want to be there on days when she needs a bit of help weeding her vegetable garden. And I simply want to spend time with her because, well… she’s my mom and she’s pretty cool!
- My Son. He has a chronic disease that there currently is no medication or cure for. He will likely have it for the rest of his life but… according to his neurologist, there is a chance that a change in environment could make a difference. That’s a chance definitely worth taking, regardless of how slim the chance is.
The larger reason for this new site?
The Amount of Unkindness in Our World.
So much hate! Every time I open the news or social media I am shocked at the amount of ugliness of heart I see. Families fighting families. Neighbors fighting neighbors. Republicans fighting democrats. Vaxers fighting anti-vaxers. Ugh. Just ugh.
Because there are no employment opportunities in this beautiful little town where my mom resides, I needed to find a way to support myself with something online. I knew I had to do something I was passionate about and I’m most passionate about encouraging kindness (well, that and Jesus, kittens, coffee, etc). I’ve spent the last year trying to figure out how to create a source of income out of kindness. I mean… kindness doesn’t need to cost a thing and, in some ways, it seems wrong to turn it into a source of income. But the reality is that I absolutely will need an income.
But I promise you this is about more than the all-important income. I truly want to cultivate an attitude of kindness in others and will continue to fill this site with lots of ideas, free resources and printables. The income portion will, I hope, come from the online store where I will be selling items for those wanting to spread kindness with baked goods in a handmade container, or words of affirmation in a blessing box. And from my Amazon store where I will list items that I love. Some are kindness resources and others are just stuff I think are really cool. I will receive a small commission from Amazon for purchases made through my store and will never recommend anything I don’t absolutely love and believe in. I know this site won’t fully support us, but it’s a start. And it’s a site I can feel good about. A place where unkind words will never be spoken, and ideas for loving on others will take center stage.
Now that I’ve shared a bit of my life and current situation with you, I would like to ask for your help.
Please share this site with your friends and link to it on your social media platforms. Together we can do so much more than any of us can do alone.
Follow me on Facebook, Instagram and/or Twitter and share my posts.
And spread kindness.
I absolutely believe we have the power to make a difference for good within our homes, our communities, our country and the world.
Be the Change,
LeAnn
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