Valentine's Day Challenge

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Cristina, you are the winner of this Valentine's Day Challenge! 

Please email me at sincerelykinsey@yahoo.com so I can send a little gift your way!
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   I've had Valentine's Day on my mind a lot the past two weeks. It seems to be one of the holidays you either love or hate depending on if you have a significant other in your life to share it with. Now I know, I've got my beau, but I don't want that to mean I should expect him to lavish me with this, that, and the other and if not, then it wasn't a good Valentine's Day. I just want it to be so much more than that. What you focus on, magnifies. When you're focused on yourself, it's so easy to get caught up in expectations of what this holiday "should" look like. Whether you're single or taken, love or hate Valentine's Day, or simply don't care about this holiday in general, try and focus on bringing love into someone else's life this holiday.

   That being said, I've really felt pressed on my heart this month to try and show genuine love to folks I love and total strangers with random acts of kindness in honor of Valentine's Day. This time of year is the perfect opportunity to take advantage of making someone's day and ultimately, maybe impacting their life for the better.

Here is a "Random Acts of Kindness" list I plan to accomplish by the 14th. I would love if you would join me in this challenge!

1. Tip 100% of your bill.
2. Collect a bag of non-perishables, and deliver it to a local food shelter.
3. Buy the coffee of the person behind you.
4. Surprise a friend with flowers.
5. Email someone online whom you don't know but has inspired you in some way.
6. Visit a place you regularly go (I chose the post office) but don't know the folks personally. Bring someone there a small gift (flowers, coffee, chocolate, card, etc.), and tell them how you appreciate what they do.
7. Pay the bill of someone's dinner in the restaurant. 
8. Bake for your neighbors or co-workers.
9. Create small care packages to pass out to the homeless.

10. My last act of kindness will be giving away a small package full of pretty things to one of you, my sweet readers. Just leave a comment sharing how you have or are planning on showing a random act of kindness or a story of how someone else impacted your life by reaching out in love. I'll announce the winner on Valentine's Day.

 I hope this post has encouraged you in some way to make an effort to show love to someone over the next few weeks. I just think it's time, for me at least, to ditch the cheesy aspects of what Valentine's Day has to offer, and get down to what it's really all about. Sharing and giving love.