24
MISSION: Notebook for Niceness
I carry a notebook with me wherever I go. I jot down songs I hear that I like, quotes I stumble across, and grocery lists. I journal in it, write reminders, and keep receipts in the little envelope pocket in the back. I find it to be a very helpful part of my daily routine. Plus, I’m very forgetful. So, you know, there’s that. ::grin::
Affiliated Agent S’s first mission, completed this weekend in Texas, is one I would have been very happy to stumble upon.
DATE:
SUNDAY, 23 October 2011
OPERATIVE:
Affiliated Agent S
LOCATION:
local park
Converse, Texas
TIME:
3:30 p.m.
Took my kids to the park in Converse, TX today (October 23rd, 3:30PM CST). So why not leave a little something behind? Moms, parents could always use a smile.
I love this mission, Affiliated Agent S. So simple, but still one that could make all the difference for a busy parent or other individual enjoying the park yesterday. By the way, I love the signature you include in your emails:
Never ignore someone who truly loves and cares for you. One day you may realize that you’ve lost the moon, while counting the stars.
21
MISSION: If At First You Don’t Succeed…
I admire tenacity. Especially when it comes to kindness.
DATE:
September 2011 (date not specified)
OPERATIVE:
Affiliated Agent DLP
LOCATION:
knitting department
local craft store
Hartford, Connecticut
TIME:
not specified
My first mission did not work out the way I planned. My husband had to go to the hospital for a day procedure. I took my card/gift and left it in the family waiting room at the hospital. When I went by the room, 8 hours later, the card was still there. It had been moved around but was still there. I brought the card home and the next day, I took it to a local craft store and left it in my favorite department which is the knitting department. It was nestled on a pile of pretty green yarn. I remain excited and I am already thinking about my next assignment.
Affiliated DLP, I really admire your tenacity! AWESOME for not giving up! Way to go! ::high five::
20
MISSION: Daffodil and Dash!
I’m a sucker for a nice-smelling candle. In the colder months, my apartment has one in almost every single room. The soy ones burn the cleanest and have such a pure scent. I love them.
{Note to self: time to stock up!}
DATE:
Thursday, 28 October 2010
OPERATIVE:
Affiliated Agent A
LOCATION:
ladies’ restroom
Barnes and Noble
Fayetteville, Arkansas
At approximately 3:45 pm on Thursday, October 28 in Fayetteville, Arkansas I completed my fourth mission. My random act of kindness consisted of a greeting card, a daffodil scented votive candle and my Secret Agent L card. I was out running errands this afternoon to Hobby Lobby and Barnes and Noble. First stop: Hobby Lobby. I was hoping to catch a woman getting out of her car and planned to leave everything on the windshield of a car. I don’t imagine that a guy would want to get a candle. No such luck – there wasn’t anyone getting out of their car as I went into the store or as I was leaving the parking lot.
I decided to try my luck at Barnes and Noble. I chose the ladies room for my mission. At first I intended to leave my random act of kindness in the first stall on top of the toilet paper dispenser. But, I started feeling bold and decided to leave everything in a corner on the counter! I was the only person in the ladies room and was hoping that I could place everything on the counter and snap a picture before someone else came in. I did! I even managed to get a picture of the ladies room door on my way out!
19
MISSION: Happy Hump Day
Wednesdays. I love ‘em. It’s like, “I’ve made it half-way through the week! I DID it!” I love my job, of course, but there’s nothing like knowing you’re that much closer to Friday. When you work a 9-5 job, Fridays rule. And Wednesdays help you get there.
DATE:
Wednesday, 1 September 2010
OPERATIVE:
Affiliated Agent B
LOCATION:
ladies’ restroom
Sweetbay, SR 70 and 33rd Street
Bradenton, FL
TIME:
5:00 p.m.
I completed another mission today. I left work this afternoon and needed to stop by the grocery store on my way home. So I hit the Sweetbay at the corner of SR 70 and 33rd Street in Bradenton, FL. I left a little something in the ladies’ room for an unsuspecting shopper at about 5:00pm. The restroom was deserted so it was very easy.
I’m already planning the next one!
17
MISSION: Music Mission
Working at a university allows me to encounter lots of different types of people from all kinds of backgrounds. I meet students regularly who have stories and life experiences that move me deeply. And at the beginning of each new academic year, I am always excited to think about who I might meet and what stories I might hear. I have a tender heart for first-year students, especially, as I participated as a mentor to freshmen students to help them get adjusted to the new environment and demands (and experiences) they’d be experiencing as new college students.
I love Affiliated Agent AF’s mission, which she completed last year on the campus of Georgia Tech Institute of Technology. Sometimes, the best way to get through your own new (and sometimes scary) experiences is to help someone else get through theirs.
DATE:
Tuesday, 26 October 2010
OPERATIVE:
Affiliated Agent AF
LOCATION:
library
Georgia Institute of Technology
TIME:
not specified
I am a first year student at Georgia Tech. This first semester has been really daunting as I feel like I have been pulled in so many directions as well as adjusting to brand new surroundings eleven hours from home (I am also from Pittsburgh). I have been in a slump lately felling very overwhelmed. Then I thought about all of the other students at Tech who are feeling the same way and probably worse. I decided to model you and have my own act of random kindness for another stressed college student. Something that can always invigorate me is new music so I went to the student bookstore and bought an iTunes card. I left this in the library next to a computer signed “George P. Burdell” (a fictitious hero at Tech). Knowing that I made someone’s day brightened mine and has inspired me to focus on my studies into the end of the semester.
14
MISSION: Cancer and Caring
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. If you’ve been following the SAL Project, you know this is an important part of my life. And it’s an important part of many of my Affiliated Agents’ lives, too. Missions around breast cancer care and awareness have been highlighted here for the past two years, and it makes me so proud to see such love and kindness enacted around such a painful and difficult part of so many people’s lives.
Today, I am thrilled to share Affiliated Agent N’s mission with you, not only because it highlights love and care for those suffering from cancer, but because she is a survivor. I am so honored to encounter people like Affiliated Agent N on a regular basis through this project. Her strength and courage and, most importantly, her desire to show love and kindness to others, is inspiring to say the least.
DATE:
Tuesday, 11 October 2011
OPERATIVE:
Affiliated Agent N
LOCATION:
Seidman Cancer Center
Cleveland, Ohio
TIME:
not specified
In September of 2008, I was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer. The cancer had spread to my liver before it was detected. I was 44 years old. I have a husband and 4 kids. Really, I don’t need to say anything else, right? There are only 4 stages to cancer and I have stage 4. Almost immediately, I started chemo. I had eleven rounds of it…which was 22 times sitting in a “chemo chair” with an IV for hours. My husband was with me every time but one. My sister in law was almost always there. I also had a brother and another sister-in-law that stopped by on occasion. While this was a scary time, I actually enjoyed my experience because of all the love that surrounded me. When I finished my treatments, I started to miss my Tuesday dates with everyone!
In October of 2010, after the cancer had been stable about a year, I asked if I could see a liver specialist. Thought I might qualify for some surgery to get rid of whatever was left in there. A PET scan showed no active cancer ANYWHERE in my body! A follow up diagnostic mammogram was ordered. No lump was detected. Wow…stage 4 Breast Cancer is NOT curable. (yet). This is as good as it gets…and this is where I am! Sure, I have circulating tumor cells that may one day form lumps again. But, for now, I’m coastin’.
You don’t go through this experience unchanged. I am constantly wondering why I’ve been given this extra time on earth. Certainly it isn’t to wash dishes, do laundry, etc. I long to reach out to others in a similar circumstance. Everyone who feels hopeless needs to know that sometimes the most hopeless cases can turn around. Receiving chemo treatments can be a long, tiring experience. Sometimes even nauseating. When it was over, I had people to bring over meals and make me feel warm and well. I want to give someone else a piece of that feeling. Not everyone has a strong support system. And, even if they do, an extra kindness is never wasted.
I was treated at University Hospitals. Their cancer center was named the Ireland Cancer Center, or ICC. Now it’s the Seidman Cancer Center but the signs haven’t all been changed yet. Special parking is designated for cancer patients there. In thinking of what to share, I wanted to choose something that’s a “healthy treat” because junk food is not what you need if you have cancer. Also, a person may not feel like going out. You know, maybe a bad hair day or something, right? So, I thought the powerful combination of antioxidant-rich green tea and dark chocolate would be perfect. I chose the car next to mine just because I wanted to be a bit inconspicuous. I was in and out of my doctor’s appointment before the person got their gift. But, I sure hope it made someone smile!
Affiliated Agent N, there is no doubt in my mind that you have been given this extra time on earth because it NEEDS you. WE need you. Thank you (and your husband and family) for the amazing love and kindness you give!
11
MISSION: Multiple Missions in Japan
Affiliated Agent 444, as she calls herself, is a true agent of kindness. She has performed missions for the SAL Project before, but she’s taken her role so seriously that she’s actually supplied me with mission reports. As you know, my inbox gets rather full, so I don’t always have the ability to post missions as soon as they come in. A quiet morning today has allowed me to go through my inbox and find some missions that I haven’t had the opportunity to post until now. And Affiliated Agent 444 has outdone herself once again.
DATE:
various throughout September and October 2010
OPERATIVE:
Affiliated Agent 444
LOCATION:
various throughout Kobe-city Hyogo-prf
Japan
TIME:
various
MISSION #1:
bath soda balls left on post of Rote Rose Restaurant
Friday, 10 September 2010
10 p.m.
MISSION #2:
sweet erasers (not to eat!)
on motorcycle
Friday, 17 September 2010
9:30 p.m.
MISSION #3:
two Starbucks gift cards
on chair in police station
Saturday, 18 September 2010
7 p.m.
Affiliated Agent 444 states: “The police were out. I could not take [more] pictures because it was hastily.”
MISSION #4:
sweet erasers (not to eat!)
in flowerbed next to bus stop
4 p.m.
Friday, 1 October 2010
Affiliated Agent 444, these are WONDERFUL! Thank you for spreading so much kindness in Kobe-city Hyogo-prf! I look forward to your next mission report!
10
MISSION: Birthdays Are For Life.
Cancer is something that I think every single one of us has been touched by in some way. I know I have. And what I love is that the American Cancer Society is the “official sponsor of birthdays.” Because of the important work the ACS does, so many people get to celebrate another birthday, another year on this earth with those they love and who love them. And I love birthdays. For me, they don’t symbolize getting older. Instead, they are the anniversary of the day we came into this world…a celebration of our lives, our one-and-only opportunity to bring goodness and love to those around us, friend or foe. A celebration of another year that we get to be here, with and for one another.
What could be more celebratory than that?
When Affiliated Agent LA of Pittsburgh shared this particularly touching mission with me, I knew I wanted to share it here because it really hits home the idea of the SAL Project community. Give, share, love. And then pay it forward.
Here’s what Affiliated Agent LA wrote to me:
My birthday is the first day of Spring and I absolutely LOVE everything about birthdays! It is the one day of the year when everyone has to go out of their way to be nice and spoil you! This year I wanted to “donate” my b-day for a great cause. The American Cancer Society has declared themselves the “official sponsor of birthdays” and I have been a team captain for the “Relay for Life” for the past nine years. It is a cause close to my heart since I have lost many family members to cancer and my father-in-law has recently battled stomach cancer. I decided to throw myself a little girls-only Happy Hour fundraiser party at Mad Mex (my favorite dinner spot) . I asked my closest women to join me for a little b-day shindig and in lieu of a gift for me, I asked them to bring a small donation for the American Cancer Society. We had a great time and raised $200. My beautiful sister also gave me a gift that kept on giving! She knows of my love for Secret Agent L and decided to put together a box of goodies that I could use in future missions. I squealed with delight when I read the card and saw the pink box of treasures. The box contained candy, bubbles, note cards, Target gift cards and more.
I kept the kindness kit handy on my desk and anytime I needed a little pick-me-up over the past few months, I would write out a card and leave it with one of the little presents around the PGH East area. I left gifts at the local hospital reception desk, the community college job office, my workplace and my favorite park.
My 4 and 6 year old kids really enjoyed participating in leaving the presents around town. Thanks to my incredibly thoughtful & creative sister, my birthday was celebrated for much more than a day and was a gift to so many others! It is my hope that other SAL lovers will “steal” this idea and put together their own SAL birthday boxes to gift! Thanks to Laura and Viv for continuing to inspire so many of us to keep on giving.
Thank YOU, Affiliated Agent LA, for your gift of kindness, creativity, and community. And many thanks to your amazing sister for coming up with such a loving and giving birthday gift idea! LOVE IT!
6
Be Kind To Pitbulls. Pittsburgh-style.
Things I love:
People.
Kindness.
Mental health awareness.
Cool t-shirts.
ANIMALS!
You’ve heard of St. Francis of Assisi, right? Well, he’s totally my homeboy. He has this wonderful quote that resonates with me and, I think, with the SAL Project in general:
“If you have men who will exclude any of God’s creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who deal likewise with their fellow men.”
–St. Francis of Assisi
I got a press release recently from Zoe at The Cotton Factory about a fundraiser they’re participating in for Hello Bully, a non-profit 501(c)3 corporation here in Pittsburgh that focuses on the rescue and rehabilitation of the American Pit Bull Terrier. And, of course, I knew I wanted to share it with you. Because I do love me some animals. And I bet a lot of you do, too.
It’s the PITS: Pittsburgh Loves Pit Bulls
Limited-edition PITSburgh tees and hoodies available through October
Pittsburgh, PA — September 2011 – The Cotton Factory and Hello Bully are pairing up once again to bring back the incredibly successful limited-edition PITSburgh t-shirt for the month of October. Designed as a fund- and awareness-raising campaign for Hello Bully, with portions of each sale donated to the local Pitbull rescue group, the shirts were a huge hit when issued in June.
This time around the PITSburgh pride design is available on both t-shirts and hoodies with your choice of gold or pink ink. $5 from each t-shirt and $7 from each hoodie sold goes directly to Hello Bully. The shirts are available for sale online at The Cotton Factory October 1 through October 31, 2011. The promotion ends October 31, after which the shirts and hoodies will no longer be available.
The Cotton Factory produces quality apparel with original designs created by a devoted staff of local designers. Based in Pittsburgh, PA, the Cotton Factory often partners with local groups such as the Pittsburgh Tote Bag Project, Bike Pittsburgh, and more. For more information contact Zoe. And make sure you visit their Facebook page!
I hope you’ll consider helping out the folks–and Pitbulls!–at Hello Bully by purchasing one of these limited edition t-shirts and/or hoodies. And you don’t even have to be from Pittsburgh! You’ll just be showing the world that your kindness extends to all living creatures, and that really takes the phrase “Be Kind. No Exceptions.” to its full meaning!
I’ll be placing my order tomorrow–on payday!
5
Secret Agent L Needs YOU! Yes, YOU!
Alright, lovers of the Secret Agent L Project!
I need your help!
I’m working on a very special and very top-secret mission that will help the Secret Agent L Project touch even more lives, but I can’t do it without you. That’s what I love so much about our community: it really is about all of us. It functions and flourishes because we all come together.
[cue group hug]
So here’s where you come in:
I want you (yes, you!) to film your next mission.
It’s simple, and I think it’ll be a lot of fun! You can even have a friend help if you like!
Here are the specifics:
1. Please limit your final filmed mission to a maximum of 4 minutes. (Less is fine!)
2. Please upload your finished product to YouTube or Vimeo and email the link to me via the Contact button above.
3. Introduce yourself speaking directly to camera, tell me where you are from, and your reason for being a part of the SAL Project.
4. Introduce your mission idea.
5. Show the exterior and interior of the location of your mission if possible.
6. Film yourself with limited explanation of what you are doing.
7. Film from a hidden spot the person finding your mission. (This part might be tricky, so a busy location, like a bus stop or shopping center parking lot might be best, because that way you won’t have to wait around too long. Also, please give limited explanation at this point, too.)
8. Afterward, film yourself directly into the camera concisely speaking about the success of your mission, how you thought it went, and how it made you feel.
9. DO NOT do anything illegal, and if asked to stop filming while on any property, please do so and find another location to better execute your mission.
10. BE SAFE and HAVE FUN!
p.s. If you need some more help, check out this video mission I completed last December. Yours doesn’t have to be quite as long or as involved, but it might help you get an idea of how to film and complete your mission. I just used my iPhone’s video option, but even a FlipCam could work.
I would like to have your missions by
Friday, October 21, 2011, please.
That gives you a little over two weeks. Easy peasy!
I realize that we’re all very busy, but I cannot express to you how much this act of kindness will mean–not just to me, but to many others. I wish I could say more, but just trust that this request is made out of love and kindness. I will not be using ANY of this footage without your final permission, so I’ll be sure to contact you if your filmed mission is chosen to be a part of this very special project.
Thank you!
xoxo,
Laura
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