I had an interesting conversation with a colleague about this one, when I was explaining to him what today's act was. I don't drive, so the traffic one isn't one I can do anyway, but the shop queue thing is something I don't think I've ever done either. I don't know why, but this initially seemed a bit of an odd thing to me:
"I'm not sure I could do this one - wouldn't the person think it a bit weird if I just turned to them and said they could go infront of me?"
My friend looked at me slightly shocked and replied, "What, you've never done that?! I do it all the time!"
Hm. I'd still feel a bit odd doing it I think - no idea why. Maybe I'm too selfish in that situation! I didn't end up going to any shops that day anyway, but I was going on a train that evening, so ended up letting everyone board the train first before I hopped on with my bike. And still, I'm not entirely sure I'd do that every time because there were loads of people and I couldn't get myself to the bike rack as a result. Hm, maybe being kind just isn't practical sometimes...
Day 13: Share positive posts on your social media pages
I'm not actually that big on social media (in terms of platform as well as generally posting on it). I'm on Twitter, but don't have Instagram or a personal Facebook account. I'm also on LinkedIn but I only update my profile on there, rather than posting stuff as well. Since the whole social media thing kicked off, it's something I've resisted giving into completely, because I am generally quite a private person, and the idea of sharing stuff on a regular basis just isn't my thing. (Yeh, the blogging is different cos in a weird way I treat is as a therapeutic open diary that I'm guessing only a handful of people actually read, haha - and that's fine with me!)
Needless to say, I go through phases with Twitter and lately I've been on that quite a lot over the last couple weeks, since this challenge began, so I did post one of my favourite positive quotes:
I skipped this one because I couldn't actually think of anyone I hold a grudge against! I don't think it's something I've really done (or if I do/have, I'm blissfully unaware of this. There's just not really any point of holding a grudge is there? What's it going to achieve?
Day 15: Write and send a thank you note to a teacher, friend or a loved one
It took me a while to think of who to write a thank-you note to, but then remembered someone I had been meaning to send a proper thank-you to in some form, but hadn't got around to it. And it was to this dude, Ben Smith, from The 401 Challenge.
But then as I followed Ben's story and his progress, it inspired me to give the full marathon a go! There were so many people who were joining him every day, completing their first ever marathon also, and it made me realise that, hey, it was something I could do too!
I joined him for marathon #392 in Portsmouth on 26 September 2016 - and I'm not going to lie, I found it pretty tortuous. I had trained pretty hard for it, in the months leading up to it, but the main thing that 'got' me was that it was very stop-and-start, due to the volume of people running. All of the marathons were about completing the distance, rather than a race to the end, so there would be groups of people running, and then stopping to wait for others to catch up, before a little rest. Ben was also being followed (with his permission, ha!) by BBC Breakfast that day, so there was also alot of stopping and starting for filming purposes too.
This was something that I hadn't factored into my training, and so every time we stopped, my legs seized up that little bit more each time and found it tougher and tougher to get going again.
The only moments I managed to enjoy was anytime Ben came and spoke to me - particularly during the last few miles (or actually I think it was during the last 6, my memory of the day is a bit of a haze), when he kept coming back to check on me. (Yes I was lagging at the back for the majority of it all.) His energy, amazing spirit and gentle humour kept me going, and I literally don't think I would have made it to the end without him!
You can probably tell from my rambling that I'm still in complete awe of him and he remains firmly as one of my top role models. Whenever I feel down or negative, I just think 'What would Ben do?' or think of that day of how he lifted me and almost immediately, my perspective is changed and I feel better. So THANK YOU Ben!
Day 16: Be the one to shift a negative conversation or gossip into something positive
Now, despite all this kindness and positivity, I had been grumbling (to myself and others) about the fact that the current Southern Rail strike was preventing me from travelling back home for Christmas - I had booked train tickets to go home on the 16th, but the strikes meant that I would be unable to get to London, and basically had no option but to travel the following day instead. Which I was dreading because it would mean a Saturday + being-the-day-after-a-strike = even more busyness and mayhem.
My backup plan was to work from home on the Friday, so that I could then pack and clean that evening, before setting off on the Saturday. Now on the Friday afternoon, there was due to be a works Christmas do in the office, which I've managed to avoid for the last few years, as I've always found it to be one of those messy, cringe-fests of Forced Festive Fun. So my plan to work from home was to avoid this also.
Then, during a dinner with a couple of work colleagues (who are also good friends), I suddenly realised that I was being silly and irrational about the whole thing. Why was I being negative and planning to just sulk at home to be away from everyone? So I ended up getting my packing and cleaning sorted on the Friday morning instead and went into the office, wearing my Christmas tshirt and Christmas spirit. And it was a fantastic evening!
Day 17: Appreciate good service - smile and say thank you to everyone who serves you today
So this was the day I was travelling back home that I was dreading, because it takes 5 and a half hours which can feel like a drag anyway, but I was also fearing the madness and busyness with it being a Saturday so close to Christmas. After yesterday, I decided again to try and turn it into a positive again - this time by going on a kindness post-it note rampage (see top of post) and sticking up as many positive notes as I could throughout my journey! It was fun being a bit of a kindness ninja, sticking up post-its when no-one was looking and hopefully it would have made at least one person somewhere smile :-)
I was also served by a bright and breezy ticket office man, who helped me with changing my ticket as a result of the train strike. He did it in such a calm and nonchalant way that I was really appreciative of - as I was geared up to be met with resistance and denial (yep a bit of negativity slipping out there again sorry). I gave him my cheesiest grin afterwards as I thanked him, wishing him a merry christmas - to which he responded - "Ah and a merry Christmas to you too!"
I also smiled at every station guard and ticket person I came across throughout my journey - this wasn't always reciprocated, I must say - but I didn't care. Just the act of smiling cheers yourself up, so there now seems no excuse to wear a frown.
Day 18: Be kind to yourself
The one marked on the calendar was actually to dance around your house to your happy tunes - but this is something that I actually do alot of mornings anyway to wake myself up - yes really! When I get up, I either go downstairs and put Kisstory radio on the TV, turn it up and go back upstairs to get ready. Or I switch on my portable Bluetooth speaker on my dressing table and put on some dance music (usually 90s!). It really does make a difference to my mood in the mornings - you should try it!
So that's now three weeks down, and just one to go...
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