Nope. Which is why I think it’s just fine to post this today, a week later.

With some ribbon and inexpensive carnations, Affiliated Agent T {and Furry Sidekick C!} spent the day making sure the people in their community knew that they were loved.

DATE:
Tuesday, 14 February 2012

OPERATIVES:
Affiliated Agent T
Furry Sidekick C

LOCATION:
Kittanning, PA

TIME:
2:00 p.m.

When I was in high school, our National Honor Society would sell carnations for Valentines Day each year. For a dollar, you could send a carnation and tidings of love to your friends or sweethearts. I was always lucky enough to get one, but I know many of my peers probably never did. This made me feel so nostalgic, and inspired me to relive those memories as a mission of kindness.

I started out by making slips of paper wishing the recipient a Happy Valentine’s Day, and to encourage them to “Know That You Are Loved”. I put a hole in each slip, and threaded it with the cutest Valentine lovebird ribbon.

Then I went to a florist and bought carnations. I tied a slip on each carnation. They looked so cute and bright.

My little doggie, Furry Sidekick C, had a vet appointment, so she got to assist me in the execution of the mission. We headed out to a shopping center near the vet. I found an empty parking spot, and parked the car. Furry Sidekick C was my lookout, and I put the flowers on the windshields of several cars. I saw a man sitting in a truck watching me, and I felt like he could really use some kindness, so I walked to his truck, and gave him one of the flowers too. I wished him a Happy Valentine’s Day, completely my mission, and walked back to my car with a very full heart.

I AM SO EXCITED.

I love it when dudes participate in the SAL Project. I know I always say that, but I really do mean it. And this mission from Affiliated Agent M in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, is one of my favorites–not just because of the mission itself, but because the operative incorporates the SAL ideals into his day-to-day life.

My heart overflows.

DATE:
Friday, 27 January 2012

OPERATIVE:
Affiliated Agent M

LOCATION:
Bright Hope International
Hoffman Estates, IL
Loading dock area

TIME:
7:30 a.m.

This trip was to a place where I volunteer on Saturday mornings, to leave a small gift for someone on our volunteer team. The Computer Connection team is a group of people with technical skills who rebuild donated computers to give away to people locally & around the world. We have been doing this for many years, and have sent hundreds of PC’s internationally, setup several computer labs in the Chicago suburbs and in the city, and given away many laptops and PC’s to individuals in this area and around the world. We use warehouse space from Bright Hope International, located in Hoffman Estates, IL to do most of our work.

I came in early one Saturday morning a few weeks ago and left this note and a Starbucks card on our workbench. One of the other leaders would be among the first to arrive and open up the work area later in the morning. These guys put in lots of hours on weekdays, in addition to starting early and staying late on Saturday mornings, and “going above & beyond” to do what we do to help other people with computer needs. I’m not sure who actually got the note and card that morning, since I didn’t stick around after I dropped it off to find out.

When I came in later that morning at my usual time, there were already several people there and I didn’t want to ask if someone had found a surprise! But someone had picked it up, so I know it was put to good use as I hoped. The attached pictures show the workbench area where we spend most of our time rebuilding the computers. This does not count about 40 pallet spaces nearby in the warehouse where we keep computers, monitors, printers and miscellaneous hardware.

Still humming that Secret Agent Man song to myself….

It’s about love, period. All kinds.

Check out the Valentine’s Day Mission I completed last year.

And remember:

LOVE. IT.

Affiliated Agent J was one of the first recipients of a mission I did here in Pittsburgh. I’ll never forget the email she sent to me to thank me for the gift she’d found. She’d been living in Pittsburgh at the time and was going through a particularly rough time in her life, and she felt so blessed to have been the one to come across the little act of kindness and day-brightening that the Secret Agent L Project had enacted.

I feel so blessed that she’s joined the ranks to continue the spread of that love to others.

DATE:
Wednesday, 18 January 2012

OPERATIVE:
Affiliated Agent J

LOCATION:
an academic library
Jacksonville, Florida

TIME:
between 9:30-10:00 a.m.

I work in an academic library in Jacksonville, Florida, and school started back this week, so I decided to drop off some notepads and a calendar around the library. I tried to place the first one in the seating area near my office, but just as I was trying to get my camera to cooperate, a student came over and sat down. I had better luck in the women’s restroom.

I put the next one in the library stacks, in an aisle I know students will be using for research assigned by a professor this week.

I put three at study carrels on two different floors.

The last one I put in between some books a class will be using for another self-research assignment in the next week or so.

The last one I put in between some books a class will be using for another self-research assignment in the next week or so.

This was my third mission and I absolutely had a blast doing it! Even when I was almost caught!

I’ll be doing more soon as I hit the mother-lode of beautiful, affordable note cards and note pads at a local paper goods store.

I’ve mentioned before that I don’t like to use the SAL website for too much personal stuff, but sometimes I feel it warrants use for that purpose.

Plus, um, this is my project and can do whatever I want. ::stomps foot playfully:: 

At the end of last week, I mentioned on the SAL Project Facebook page that I was embarking on a new chapter in my personal life and that if anyone else out there was going through transition and change like I am, that I was pullin’ for ‘em! Some of you left very kind responses, and I thank you for that.

I can now announce that the new chapter I’m embarking upon is that I’m moving. Don’t worry–not from Pittsburgh! {I could never! At least not without kicking and screaming the entire way!} I had some things I had to sort out before I was able to announce it, which is why I’m waiting until today to share this news with you.

The reason this is such a monumental thing for me is that I don’t do well with change. Like, at all. Growing up in a home with a family member who struggled with a form of schizophrenia, there was always chaos, disorder, instability, and, well, trauma. So, as an adult, I find that I don’t do well with those things in any capacity. Especially when it involves home life. Naturally, moving consists of all manner of chaos, disorder, transition, etc.

I’m moving for personal reasons, mostly financial. I’m also going to be living with a roommate. I have lived alone in my current apartment in a beautiful tree-lined neighborhood, complete with Target, Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, and Walgreens within walking distance, for over 6 years. My current apartment has been a haven for me, a tranquil place of healing and rest and joy. I survived 5+ years of graduate school in that apartment, realized I was deeply in love with @Ross_A_Tron while living in that apartment, befriended neighbors of various backgrounds in that apartment, and really came into my own skin in that apartment.

And leaving it is proving to be very, very painful.

With that being said, I have to admit that I need some help. If anyone in the Pittsburgh area feels like helping me move, I will not only love you forever, but I will also feed you pizza and beer. My little body is just not cut out for the physical demands of moving.

OPERATION MOVE SAL
Saturday, Feb. 4, 2012
9 a.m.-?
from the Shadyside neighborhood to the Garfield neighborhood

If you want to help, will you drop me an email through the Contact button, please? Then I can gather a list of everyone who’s available and email you all with details.

Thank you, thank you, thank you. And any prayers and good vibes you could impart on my behalf during this difficult (but kind of exciting and hopeful!) transition are most appreciated.

I love you guys.

I. Love. It.

Nine-year-old Affiliated Agent C of Santa Rosa, California, is no exception. He completed the mission, took the pictures, and wrote up his narrative, all on his own. I’m so proud of him and honored to have him on board.

DATE:
29 November 2011

OPERATIVE:
Affiliated Agent C

LOCATED:
local neighborhood

TIME:
not indicated

He states, in his own words via email:

here are pictures of my mission i told you about

again in the photo of my letter i have bad riting. also it is a toy because nexdoor they do have a child so ya,

from SecretAgentC

Way to go, Affiliated Agent C! Thank you so much for choosing kindness! I can’t wait to see what your next mission is! And tell the grown-ups in your life how proud I am of you!

Happy Martin Luther King, Jr., Day!

I invite you today to serve one another

in love and kindness.

To give of yourself. Your time, your talents.

To extend your hearts and hands to every person you encounter.

To honor the dream of a man who was the epitome of goodness, kindness, and community.

To make our world a place where we all take care of one another, and, as a result, find that everyone is taken care of.

Go.

Love.

You only need a heart full of grace.

Today’s mission is no different.

Behold the power of words, everyone. *sigh* Oh, how I love them so. And this mission proves that you don’t need to spend a dime to make a difference in someone’s day.

DATE:
Monday, 9 January 2012
Tuesday, 10 January 2012

OPERATIVE:
Affiliated Agent M2

LOCATIONS:
car windshields
Affiliated Agent M2′s Work (location top secret!!!) Roselle, IL; Stratford Square Mall area, Bloomingdale, IL; Trinity Care Center, Roselle, IL; and TBD!

TIMES:
throughout each day

Greeting Secret Agent L! This is Secret Agent M2, reporting on the status of my first mission. After discovering your website, I was immediately inspired. I didn’t want to wait until I had time to go to the store or put ribbons on things. Instead, during my lunch break at work, I pulled out some blank note cards and proceeded to write some inspirational quotes on them. I then attached my Affiliated Agent card to the envelopes and hid them in my bag.

On my way out of work, I looked around (probably somewhat suspiciously) for passersby… finding myself alone a left a card on the vehicle next to mine and quickly drove away (again, probably suspiciously). That evening, I was passing by a mall and stopped to leave a card on a random car in a parking lot.

The next day, I left a special card on a car that I regularly see in a parking lot near my work. The car’s license plate is a moniker of “Disney”… so I wrote some inspirational Walt Disney quotes on the card and left it on the windshield… I then left another one on a van near it. I still have one card in my bag, which will no doubt be left somewhere soon…

I am working on putting together something more elaborate for my next mission… but couldn’t wait to spread some kindness right away!

Well, I’m glad you completed your mission right away, because it touched someone’s life! In fact, the recipient wrote to me to let me know! Here’s what the email said:

I was coming out from work when I saw a pink card sitting on my dashboard. I went to grab it and written on it was, “This is for you,yes you!!” When I open it there was a flower card and inside the card were two quotes written.

“Don’t ask yourself what the world needs, ask yourself what makes you come alive…and then go and do that..Because what the world needs is people who are alive.”

“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched…they must be felt with the heart.”

That card brought a huge smile to my face to know that there are people in this world who do kind acts such as this. I wanted to just say thank you for reminding me how special I am in this world. I wrote both of the quotes on my mirror so everyday when I wake up I am reminded that my life matters.

Thank you!

I loooove doing laundry.

No, really. I do.  It’s like getting a whole new wardrobe. Plus, it smells heavenly. And it reminds me how blessed I am to have clothes to keep me cool in the summer and warm in the winter. So many people don’t even have that.

I also love kindness. {Of course!}  And so does Affiliated Agent S, who completed her first mission right after Christmas. I love it!

DATE:
Monday, 26 December 2011

OPERATIVE:
Affiliated Agent S

LOCATION:
Laundry Room
Apartment Building
Pittsburgh, PA

TIME:
4:15 p.m.

My 1st mission was so much fun!! I was thinking about what to do and where to do it for at least 2 weeks now. As I was doing laundry myself today, (the day after Christmas), I realized how not so much fun it is to go outside then into the scary basement aka laundry room in our apartment building. It’s pretty drab and really cold in the winter! Then, it hit me… what a perfect place to leave my 1st RAK!! I had some extras from Christmas (smelly good candles and anti-bac). Two of my favorite things that I thought would be perfect, for boys and girls alike!

I got it all ready and headed down to the scary laundry room and masked my goodies in my laundry basket. I walked through the hallway to the other side of the building where there is another washer and dryer set. I made the drop and it looked so nice sitting on top of the dryer! I’m looking forward to the next one, and next one…and next one!!!

I’m not gonna lie. Pittsburgh is filled with some of the kindest, coolest, most caring folks. My dear friend Anthony Walker, or “Chachi” as he’s affectionately known, is no exception. In fact, he’s one of the best ones.

{This is Chachi. C’mon. Look at that face. ADORABLE, right? So is his heart. photo: Rob de la Cretaz}

Last year, Chachi started Chachi Plays, a really fun way he raises money for area organizations that help kids.

Helping kids. Who doesn’t want to do that?

He raised a bunch of money for Make Room for Kids, which partners The Mario Lemieux Foundation with Pittsburgh celebrity blogger and do-gooder Virginia Montanez to raise money for Children’s Hospital.

This year, Chachi’s at it again. I’d love it if you’d help him out. Maybe that could be your Secret Agent L mission for the week. Got $5? Wanna help a kid? Here’s how you can (in Chachi’s words):

Hello there! Let me introduce myself. I am Anthony, or “Chachi Says.” You may or may not know who I am already. If you do, fantastic! If you don’t, not really surprising.

Study’s show I have about ten seconds to get your attention: Kids, video games, helping others. I think that pretty much covers everything!

So, I do a lot around the internet. I’m on Twitter: @ChachiSays or @ChachiPlays. I also blog and do a vidcast, but none of that is important. Right now what is important is Chachi Plays.

Chachi Plays is an event that I started last year with the help of some friends. The event is used to raise money to help a children’s organization in the Pittsburgh area. Last year I raised $3000, which was over our goal of $2400 to help with the Make Room for Kids efforts. The basis of the event is that for so much money raised I will play a set time of video games., with the limit being 24 hours straight. (Any more than that would just be crazy.)

Well, it was super popular and the demand came in to do it again… SO WE ARE! This year the money is being split between Toonseum and The Father Ryan Arts Center. Both are starting or already have an arts program for underprivileged children.

All it takes is a few clicks. Go to the Chachi Plays website and make a donation. Any amount is useful. Our goal this year is $3000. Also, if you donate $50 or more, you can come down to Toonseum and spend some time playing video games with me! You pick the game! You’ll probably win. Just saying. The first and last spots are being auctioned off, as they are the best. You can bid on playing a fresh me or loopy me! Your choice.

So, starting the first week of January, donations are being accepted. The rest of the details below:

Where: Toonseum! 945 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222

When: Feb. 10th – 11th. 7 pm to 7pm

Beneficiaries: Toonseum and The Father Ryan Arts Center.

Thank you for your time and hopefully you can help us out! Come on! It’s for the kids!!!!

Thanks, everyone!