All morning I plotted ways to nice people, thinking I could easily weave random acts of kindness into my whole day. It isn’t as easy as it sounds. Being nice can take a little work.
I got started with the nicing early by tucking a note and Reese’s Tree into my husbands lunch bag. My mom used to randomly surprise me with a note when I was very young. Those were always good days.
I treated someone to breakfast. But she was doing me a favor, so that doesn’t really count.
And then I went to work and got busy. I was actually working on gift bags for clients, one big ol’ nicing. But I meant to nice my co-workers. Fail.
After work, I decided to try the drive-through surprise at Starbucks. Idling in the road, I kept checking in my rearview mirror, watching for someone to come for me to cover their tab. No one came. At seven o’clock in the biggest shopping week of the year, this Starbucks of my choosing was woefully dead. I finally stopped waiting. Another big fail.
It was time to take matters into my own hands. I needed to level up on my nicing plans.
In that brief moment of defeat at Starbucks, I remembered the leftover iris bulbs. I’d bought a big batch, planted most of them, but had run out of ground for a good handful or two. To take it up a notch, I made a Target run for some supplies.
My shopping list:
Cellophane Bags,
My Little Pony Figurines,
Gift Tags.
Behold: Sparkle Pony Iris Nicing
In each cellophane packet, I placed a few bulbs, a couple of tiny My Little Ponies and a note: “You’ve been NICED!” With the bags peeking out of my pockets, I left the house on a mission to nice my neighborhood. You’d think there was gold in my pockets. Or that I was carrying out a secret but very important mission that just might lead to world peace if I could get it right.
I may never know if anyone found them, or if the bulbs got planted, but no matter. The simple act of doing this felt amazing. I’m already wondering what little surprises I can distribute next.
For now, look out, South Broad Ripple. You might stumble upon a Sparkle Pony Iris Nicing on a corner near you.
This post is part of Think Kit by SmallBox
Today’s prompt: “Nice someone. Write about what you did. (What is nicing?)