FREE muffins
Message: Today, I spent the morning baking 50 muffins, half blueberry and half chocolate chip. I then took an old pizza box and wrote "FREE MUFFINS" on it and took them to a busy street in town and sat on a bench and offered them to anyone that walked past. Most people were skeptical at being offered free anything, but when I explained to them I just wanted to spread happiness and joy without expecting anything in return, and that they could enjoy their fresh homemade muffin and this beautiful sunny day, they all smiled, thanked me and went on their way. I think I made a lot of people's day today :)
Location: Tauranga, New Zealand
Kindness via Bike
Message: “Daddy, cars are silly.” -4 year old girl riding in her dad’s cargo bike
“Why, honey?” – her dad
“Because you can’t see the people in them.” – the girl
I bike almost every day. It's my lifestyle of choice for many reasons. Modern life can be pretty anonymous and isolating in nature, and biking around my town on a daily basis allows me to instantly share and receive kindness with all the people I pass on the way. No matter the weather or how I’m feeling, whenever I pass anyone during my bike ride I look them in the eyes and offer them a smile. Inevitably, they too will offer a smile or a kind look in their eyes.
Location: Seward, Alaska
RKD Donation
Message: I know of RKD through my boyfriend, Matt, and his family's relationship with Ron, and I am happy to take part in it! I donated to the Breakthrough Miami cause, which is a summer program which targets underprivileged youth and aims to educate them in STEM. It especially places a priority on minority girls, and I worked there for a summer during college. I never got to meet Ron, but I hope I helped spread his kindness back in Miami.
Location: Cambridge, MA
Yarn, Color, Joy
Message: In the name of my niece Emma who left us in 2016, her family and friends and I have put together www.pamemmazi.org -- an organization in Greece that operates in hospitals bringing empathy into the lives of cancer patients, reminds them that they are whole, creative people, and bringing them joy. As with every trip to Greece, I am packing a separate suitcase with yarn, paints, glitter, paper, craft materials to take to the PAMEMMAZI space at the oncology hospital Agioi Anargyroi. Last time I was there, a patient came by with her knitting and asked: "I am finished with chemo and heading home. Can I come knit with you? May I take more of this color to finish my scarf?" My sister and I said, of course!
Location: Potomac, Maryland
Ron Kim's Impact
Message: Today, I woke up after a poor night of sleep and a subpar couple days of work, and was not excited to tackle Wednesday. However, I had this day marked on my calendar as a day of compassion, mindfulness, and appreciation, and I made the choice to improve my morale for the day. I know that, in past years, I have made a marked effort to do something tangible to show my Ron Kim Day participation, but this year it felt much more powerful to live the day as Ron would have lived it. There is no reason for me to be glum, feel down, be upset with my lot in life. I have a great job, great friends, I am happy and healthy - these are all things that Ron would never take for granted.
I have to say, appreciating the day as Ron would appreciate the day was refreshing and I look forward to continuing to attempt it. I know that I did not actively make many people's days notably better (aside from a few out-of-the-ordinary tasks that I helped out with around work), but perhaps I brought a smile to many people's faces and kept their days from being glum. I happily engaged in conversations that I often feel too busy for, I helped the coworker who was struggling with a task, and I kept from being annoyed with dishes strewn about the just-cleaned apartment. And altogether, I think I feel much better and others feel better for it. This is the way to live - happy and with gratitude for the luck in my life, and I have to thank Ron for constantly showing that side of himself above all else.
I miss Ron's laughter and goofiness, and I have many fond memories of him, as Carrie and the family know. His love of life continues to be contagious to this day.
With Love,
Matt
Location: Cambridge, MA
Recognition and Generosity
Message: Today I spent several precious hours with 3 of my grandsons and their mom (my daughter). We ate lunch at Ruby Tuesdays and were treated extremely well by our waiter, Dave. We discussed the types of service we’ve all experienced at restaurants and agreed that great and respectful service is a feel-good gift! and that so many people have to work 2 and 3 jobs to get by! Ricky, the oldest (27), recognized the importance of mentioning our great service to the manager and added his own $50 tip to the bill! He felt it in his heart to reward Dave for making us feel great!
Location: Windsor NY
Happy Ron Kim Day!
Message: As Susan & I sat down for pizza and salad, a very young woman and her toddler sat down near us. She was taking pictures on her phone to send to Daddy and I thought back to all the trips Ron took while Sam and Sophie were little. It was an easy choice to pay for their meals. Susan shared with her this was Ron Kim Day and this young woman was very appreciative. I could only think Ron would approve.
Location: Chesapeake, VA.
Celebrating Ron Kim
Message: My husband, Keith, and I made a financial contribution to the UNHCR in hopes of helping those who are without a home find some safety and fulfill, at least, basic needs. In my life, I had been homeless and have lost my country only to find my way to a new self through help from kind, generous people like Ron Kim and my wonderful, most inspiring colleague Carrie Zwicker. Thank you for reminding me of how hugely important kindness and compassion are in this world we live in!
Location: Plymouth, MA, USA\
Sharing Food-Ron’s Favorite Thing!
Message: My daughter’s and I paid for customers’ purchases at a local Wendy’s and Dunkin Donuts. Not only was it a hoot to know we were making the customers happy, the staff were so enthusiastic and excited to help make it happen—we paid for random customers in line and in the drive through. We could feel the love flowing…
Location: Langley Park, MD