It's November 5th, exactly 30 days before my 30th birthday. I wish I could say I didn't care, and I pretty much don't, but there is something inside me that shudders a little when I think about turning 30. No longer being able to say "yeah, I'm 20-something." Maybe the world has conditioned us to think that 30 is the beginning of getting older, or a milestone by which to judge your accomplishments, or the turning point of becoming a real adult. When I look back at my 29 years and 11 months I'm really proud of myself, but also want a lot more for my life. 

I had this idea, (which I think is pretty spectacular!) in order to take the focus away from me and myself, and to turn it outward. To pay it forward, make someone else's day better, to acknowledge that everyone we encounter every day is fighting a silent battle that we know nothing about. I have decided to do 30 random acts of kindness for the next 30 days leading up to my 30th birthday.

This project is not to show you what a wonderful person I am by doing these kind things for strangers, neighbors, public servants, teachers, etc. It's a challenge to myself to step out of my comfort zone, talk to people I've never spoken to before, to do things expecting absolutely nothing in return, to be unselfish. Most importantly, it is to make someone else's day a little brighter. A bit of appreciation goes a long way. 

Today was Day 1 and It. Was. Awesome! Liam and I went to the grocery store and bought a few bags of groceries for the local fire department. We kept it simple, bought some pasta, sauce, bread, and cookies. Of course, walking into the fire station with a toddler and bags brought about 10 firefighters down to the garage. Then I basically had to give a little speech (TERRIFYING) explaining that first, nothing was wrong and I didn't need help, second, that I am about to turn 30 and decided to do a bunch of nice things for people, and third, that they were the first on my list. 

Of course, the response was warm and welcoming. Liam climbed on the fire trucks for a few minutes and I got them to all line up and take a picture with me. I felt great, but more importantly I let those firefighters know that we appreciate and support them. We appreciate that they are grossly underpaid, let our kids climb on their big, expensive trucks, drop everything and run to burning buildings to SAVE LIVES. A few bags of groceries isn't nearly enough, but it's a small start. 

Lastly, one very important thing I realized today is that I can involve my son in every act of gratitude. I can show him how important it is to appreciate others, to always be kind, and to learn to be unselfish. He's 3 1/2, but that's not too early to learn how to pay it forward.

30 Days of Gratitude. Day 1 : Thank You Firefighters