So as this month comes to an end, I figured I’d spend a moment to reflect on this past month as well as the past 151 days.   I know I usually do a “good deed rundown” of the month, but today, I decided to share a little something that I have learned instead.

When I started this journey, I didn’t have a fully detailed plan.  I didn’t know exactly how to build or maintain a blog.  I didn’t know if I could come up with an act of kindness or some sort of good deed every day.  I didn’t know  how others would respond to my quest– and I didn’t know how to respond to others’ responses.  I just knew that I wanted to take on the challenge of “365 Days of Goodness…”  whatever that meant.  And now that I’m 151 days into this journey, the one thing I do know, is that I’m still learning.  Every day, seems to bring on some sort of new challenge.

There have been times when I have felt blocked.  Where I have felt frustrated, anxious and overwhelmed.  And then I ask myself,  “And I said I was going to do 365 of these?  What the heck was I thinking?!”  And then, a light bulb goes off.  Maybe it’s a suggestion that someone emailed me.  Or a message on a billboard.  Advice from a friend.  Or a simple intuitive response to someone or something in need of some “goodness.”  I get back on track and feel aligned with my highest self… journeying to bring smiles, happiness, laughter and goodness to as many people as I can.

I’ve received tons of beautiful and loving comments about the site and my journey– from family, friends and strangers.  But once in a while I receive an email or a negative comment on the site.  Just this week someone ( a stranger–who I didn’t know) wrote me a whole email basically chastising my journey and suggesting that many of my “acts of goodness” are not good deeds at all.  Anger boiled inside me.  Who was this person to judge me?  Why would they take time out of their life to write such a condescending email to me?

And then it hit me that there was a lesson here.  That “aha moment” (thank you Oprah) went off inside me… I understood that it was okay for this person to say anything they wanted.  I understood that they can feel any way they want to feel.  Because, at the end of the day, I can’t change this person, nor is it my job to.  But, I can change myself.  I released the anger and negative energy and instead was reminded of my purpose here–to share my journey of goodness.  I’m not always going to be perfect.  Heck, I’m as human as anyone else… but I’m making a conscious effort to go above and beyond my norm to spread some of that goodness to others. And as Aesop said: “No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.”

Though I’ve had my share of challenges and frustrations, I’ve had plenty of enlightening moments.  I’ve felt more like myself than I ever have before.  As I said above, I feel a true alignment with a higher purpose, like I’m on the right track in life.  The more I seem to share and give to others, the more happiness, fulfillment, and overall goodness I seem to get.

So I want to thank you all who are taking this journey with me here at 365 Days Of Goodness.  It’s an ongoing trek to 365, but I am so appreciative to have all of you –for the all the help you give, the lessons you share and the love you give.

THANK YOU!