One of the ripple of moved by love retreat hosted for TCSers between April 8-9-10 at Maitri Space was to engage in a 21 days kindness challenge ! Little did we know that one circle will lead to so many circles and acts of kindness, including providing service of deep listening to an auto driver inspiring him to not to commit suicide as exerienced and shared by one of the participant Arti Krishnan on her 5th days kindness challenge.

Arti, an incredible mother, a black belt (in six sigma ;) ) took account of each act day of kindness challenge...

What a enriching experience it has been and continues to amaze every day!!!

Heartfelt "Thank you" to Kishanbhai, Hardik and Aanchal for conceiving and making this a reality for all of us....

While Day 1 (Compliment 2 people today) and Day 2 (Pay forward a surprise treat) were easily accomplished, Day 3 (Gift your favorite book) was the twister as I have favorite from each stage of my life and each has a story attached with it so was perplexed which one to gift to whom. But by mid of the day, confusion was sorted and gave "You can win" by Shiv Khera which was a promised long made and forgotten to a colleague...almost forgotten for 8 months... :)

Day 4 (Donate clothing or food) was simplest as it is a routine each week but Day 5 (Connect with a stranger) had a surprise story unfold. The auto driver who regularly drives me to work sent an unknown substitute. For an entire hour, I was listening to a steady stream from a 30 + male struggling to make ends meet for his family about his issues and problems. Once he was exhausted, I requested him to stop at a roadside stall for a glass of sugar cane juice and offered him the same. This is not routine for me but I understood he just needed a patient listener. While drinking the juice, he asked me why was I travelling to this destination and on hearing that I travel this distance every day as I come to work, he was taken aback. He asked why did I have to go through this hardship of 2 hrs of travel 2 times a day? I told him I do this as I have few dreams which I need to turn true and not for anyone else. When I paid him the fare, he mentioned that when he came to pick me up, he had planned to jump off the Narmada canal which we cross on the way while returning but after venting everything out to me and seeing what I do everyday for my living, he had calmed down and dropped his idea of committing suicide. He also made me promise to not tell his friend about our conversation in return of him promising to me that if he ever feels distressed, he should take a break and talk to someone like he did with me.

One of the bungalows in our society was rented to police station for last 35 years. Last month, they moved out to a new place but every day, few policemen come to collect left over belongings so Day 6 (Thank a public servant) was easiest to accomplish when we gave tea to 4 guys who came there in morning and it felt good.  

Day 7 (Share an inspiring story with friends) was easy to accomplish when I met a group of friends whom I talked about our experiences of retreat. For Day 8 (Beautify your neighborhood), I hired a full day laborer to clean the entire surrounding of my home as my sister had already bought saplings of different flowers to plant. Challenge got accomplished without any thought or effort.

Day 9 (Send a hand written gratitude note) was difficult to do but I tricked to achieve it..I wrote a thank you note for my mom and left it at her pillow before leaving for work.. We had a fight a night before and mom had not been talking to me since then. The challenge helped me to bridge the divide. Day 10 (Give up complaining for a day) was again effortless as had planned to not complain on the rating / band received in my annual appraisal. 

Day 11(Make something with your hands) was difficult and required me to think what to make and being so "uncreative" as I am, I did the only thing I know to do, embroidered a small motif on a napkin for my home.

Day 12 (Choose your own kindness adventure) again had me thinking and I decided to take my extended family (cousins, maid, driver) all for watching a movie which is a rare incident in my household. We all watched "Bahubali" and my kiddo got addicted to it.

Day 13 (Surprise someone with flowers) was opportune as had to send flowers to wish a friend on birthday who called to thank.
Day
14 (Pay forward a kindness received) saw me providing some financial support to a student in need while recollecting help received during my tough times.

Day 15 (Call a loved one) was what triggered me to call a friend with whom I have not been able to talk for entire year and I was glad to have called as the friend is now immigrating to US with his family. If I hadn't called, I would have missed meeting him before he left the country. 

Day 16 (Spend 15 mins in silence) was the easiest as that is the routine on my way to work and back home as I close my eyes and try to relax /rest throughout the travel. 

For Day 17 (Make time to listen to someone), I heard a lot of people as well as inspiring videos. Our maid, who worked at my home when my dad was alive, had come to invite for her daughter's wedding and broke down crying while explaining how this is the third marriage for her. Just listening to her made me think how girls in our society are still treated as a burden which has to have a support in form of some male in her life. It also made me think how girls in Arab countries are conditioned and forced to wear, talk, eat and behave on similar mandates created by so called societies. How oppressive is that life and how fortunate are we to be living so freely to all our whims and fancies.

I was wondering for Day 18 (Be truthful for a day) shouldn't we keep "Maun vrat" (silence day) ? Just kidding...easiest to state and most difficult to accomplish as being truthful, just didn't mean to not utter any lies, but being truthful to whatever you are doing to. So I chose to do the pending tasks to ensure the work was completed the same day.

Day 19 (Give back to Mother Earth) was easily accomplished in routine of watering the saplings every day and so was Day 20 (Abandon gossip for a day) as in routine work days, I don't get time to even sit and talk, forget gossip with anyone. God ensured I had enough work at home and office that I slept without even talking to family that day.

This blog is the result of Day 21 (Start a gratitude journal) challenge. Trying to document every day's incidents, I started registering moments of joy.

While "Retreat" connected me with few of my past habits (reading, listening to music, bhajans), this 21 days, have made me happier. Every day starts on a high note with few positive wishes and greetings, helps me take things in my stride and at end of the day, feel a sense of accomplishment on completed tasks / work besides being able to connect with such wonderful people.