Many of you, my awesome readers, had the pleasure of knowing my sweet Nana (Mary Cordell) before she passed away in 2013. For those of you who didn't know her, let me share a little about her! My Nana was a truck driver for many years, who adored her grandchildren and was a devoted, faithful Christian woman for as long as I can remember. We grew up spending a lot of time with our Nana. From watching movies, family dinners, going on road trips, and even riding along with her in the semi from time to time. Nana was also an AMAZING cook, my favorite meal being her famous french toast.

Nana had many redeeming qualities. More specifically, Nana was one of the nicest people you could ever have met. Nana loved her friends and family unconditionally, was full of forgiveness and second chances, and was truly kind to everyone she met. I literally cannot even put into words the kindness that just POURED from my Nana. Nana was selfless in her relationships and was always the best shoulder to lean or cry on. Besides being the nicest person on Earth, my Nana was also a junk-food-addict, adventurous, loved to sing, and was a great friend.

Nana passed away in 2013, after a hard battle with cancer. Even though we knew that her time with us was coming to an end, it was not easy to say good bye and to come to terms with the fact that her sweet, kind, gentle soul would no longer be on this Earth. Looking back, it still makes my heart ache to think of all of the milestones in our lives already that have been missing her, and the things to come that she would've been so happy to be a part of.

Nana's pearls that I wore on our wedding day.

What started out as a little inside "joke" with my mom and I turned into somewhat of a mantra. After Nana left us, we found ourselves reminding the other (in all kinds of situations, where it might be easier to be petty or not-nice) "WWND?" (What Would Nana Do?) and it became just something that I used to remind myself to be more like my Nana. To have a heart more like hers which was so forgiving, loving, and understanding. To have it in me to love those around me with a constant, unconditional love. To be just KIND to those around me, even if I was going through a hard time or having a bad day. To live my life with the purpose of being HAPPY and making those around me feel happy, safe, and loved too.

Nana would have turned 73 this year, on August 17. I'll admit that I'm not the type of person that goes to a gravesite on occasions like her upcoming birthday. Not just because it makes me sad, but mostly for the fact that I don't feel her there. I feel my Nana every day when I feel so much love in my heart that it seems like it might burst, or at the grocery when I pass one of her (many) favorite snacks, or when I hear an old hymn that she used to sing or hum. I feel her when I choose to be a kind person versus something else, and when I (try) to make her french toast for my family that misses her so. It's been hard to be anything but sad when a holiday or special occasion comes along that she is missing, but that's not what Nana would want her family to feel when they think of her.

So this year, in honor of what would've been Nana's 73rd birthday, I'm committing to spreading kindness. The world lost a beautiful, kind soul when my Nana left us, but I think, with your help, that we can help restore that kindness-balance a little!

To help me honor Nana, I'm challenging you all to perform random acts of kindness from Thursday, August 10th to Thursday, August 17. After performing your random acts of kindness, you can enter to win a special gift that will be curated JUST FOR YOU! Entering is EASY, and I encourage you to spread the word and get your friends and family to help you in this challenge!!

HOW TO ENTER:

Perform random acts of kindness from Thursday, August 10 to Thursday, August 17.
Document each random act of kindness with a video or photo.
Post your video or photo to your Instagram feed or Facebook page, and tag Letters From a Good Friend and use the hashtag #whatwouldnanado
Repeat steps 1-3 as many times as you want for unlimited entries!!

(*If you would like your act of kindness to remain anonymous, just private message me your entry!)

(**If you can't document your act of kindness with a photo or video, just write a little description of what you did in a post on Instagram or Facebook, and still tag me!)

As you get ready to perform your RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS, you might be saying to yourself "I have no idea what I should do!?" or "I don't have extra money to spend on other people!" or "This is going to be too hard!" BUT I have solutions for all of those things!! Check out my list below of "FREE" "CHEAP" and "BIG" random acts of kindness that ANYONE could do!!

*Must be following @lettersfromagoodfriend on Instagram

or "like" Letters From a GOOD Friend on Facebook

RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS IDEAS:

FREE:

"heart attack" someones front door/bedroom door (cover it with heart-cutouts)
help an elderly person get their groceries into their vehicle
make a cute bookmark to leave in a library book
babysit for someone you know who needs a break
write a list of awesome things about someone (and give them the list!)
write a note of appreciation to the local Police Department, Fire Department, a bus driver, teacher aide, etc.
leave a happy note for your garbage man/mailman
give a stranger a genuine compliment
spend time with an elderly family member
leave a funny note in a library book
donate items to a local homeless shelter
leave an encouraging note in the diaper aisle, for a mom/dad to find
clean up litter
cut a neighbor's grass
leave a GOOD review for a local small business
tell a manager when you have GREAT service somewhere
visit a nursing home
tell a friend why you appreciate them (in detail!)
call an older family member just to chat
leave an encouraging note on a public bathroom mirror
let someone go in front of you in line
walk dogs at a shelter
donate old blankets and towels to an animal shelter
return stray carts to the store or the cart-coral
take someone's dog on a walk (someone who you know has been really busy!)
give a shout out on social media to someone who inspires you or makes you happy
pack your spouse's lunch (and leave a cute note in there!)
do a family member's chore for them
volunteer somewhere
leave encouraging notes in chalk on a sidewalk
pray for someone
donate blood
write a letter to someone who is deployed
donate your hair to Wigs for Kids
let someone have the good parking spot you were about to park in
hold the door for 10 people
do a friends' dishes while you're at their house (or any other chore!)
make your spouse their favorite meal just because
call or text someone and let them know something that you admire about them
run an errand for a friend/family member
volunteer to help teachers set up their rooms at a local school
give hi-fives to people you pass on the sidewalk
make someone laugh
help a friend with lawn work
send a nice email to someone you don't know very well
give a friend's dog a bath

CHEAP:

hand out pre-stamped "thinking of you" cards for people to send to someone they love
pay for a game of bowling for someone at the bowling alley
leave a bag of diapers on the doorstep of a new mom
take a homemade meal to a friend, just because
Leave flowers by your mailbox with a sign that says "FREE: Take for someone you love!"
Give a $5 grocery gift card to the person in line behind you at the grocery store
take snacks/treats to the local Police Department/Fire Department
send a thoughtful card to someone
leave bubbles/chalk/hula hoops at a local playground
"Ding-Dong-Ditch" someone you know (with a box of ding-dongs!)
buy a cheap bouquet of flowers, and pass them out to strangers telling them to have a good day
leave a few quarters taped to the lid of a washer at the laundromat with a note "for you"
leave tennis balls at the dog park
tape a bag of popcorn to the redox with a note for the next person
send someone a thank you card
pay for the coffee for the person behind you at Starbucks/Tim Hortons
make a neighbor or friend a special treat, just because
leave a little happy surprise for your mailman
hide dollars (with notes) in the tow aisle of the Dollar Tree
pay for a book of stamps for the next person who needs them
leave an unscratched lotto ticket taped to the gas pump
take treats to pass out at the dog park (as the owners before you give them out though!)
leave detergent or softener at the laundromat
give your umbrella to someone that doesn't have one on a rainy day
leave quarters taped to parking meters
make someone a handmade gift just because
take a new coworker/member at your church/person new to the area to lunch
leave $1 taped to the vending machine at work
pack a lunch for a coworker friend

BIG:

mail someone a "box of sunshine" (all yellow things!)
leave a $20 gas gift card at the gas pump
tip BIG to a waitress/waiter
buy lunch for an older couple at a restaurant
bring donuts or cookies to work to share
buy someones popcorn/drink at the movies
pay for someones gas at the gas station
take your spouse on a surprise adventure just because
send someone "just because" flowers
pass out flowers at a local nursing home
surprise someone with a gift that you know they've been wanting
donate food to an animal shelter
leave a case of waters at the front desk of your gym for other members
pay for someone's groceries at the store
send pizzas and chips to the local Police Department/Fire Department
buy school supplies for a friend/family members student
give someone you know tickets to a local event
take school supplies to teachers at a local school
take treats to a local nursing home or hospital for the nurses there
pay for a stranger's pedicure at the nail salon
pay for the adoption fee for an animal at an animal shelter
pass out free waters at a local outdoor event (think ball parks, running events, etc)
donate money to a local charity
annonymysly send a family in need a gas gift card/grocery gift card