MISSION: Sunny Days, Sweepin' the Clouds Away

You know what I love?

Sunflowers.

I think it's pretty difficult to look at a sunflower and not feel instantly happy. I mean, they practically smile right at you! So when I got today's mission from Affiliated Agent D in Ontario, Canada, I knew I had to post it. He said he felt so good doing this mission. How could he not? It's a sunflower!

And you're smiling now aren't you? Mmm hmm. I know you are. Feels good, doesn't it?


Date: Sunday, 8 August 2010

Location: park bench near popular local dog park; Chatham, Ontario, Canada

Time: afternoon

Affiliated Agent D states:

I have good news. My first of hopefully many missions to initiate random and anonymous acts of kindness in my town of Chatham, Ontario is complete.

I successfully (and hopefully) was able to brighten someone's day with a gift that is also ironically bright.

I cut off one of the flowers from my sunflower garden, and left it, along with your business card and a poem-message on a park bench close to a very popular dog park in my city.


Loving it, Affiliated Agent D! Your photos are beautiful! And you're quite a poet! Can't wait to see what your next mission is. I'm so excited!

I'm going to just keep smiling all day today...

MISSION: Cashin' in at the CVS

I love CVS Pharmacy. It's right on my way home from work, and it has, without a doubt, the best cotton balls ever. (Why, yes! It does!) It's clean, it's well-lit, and the employees at my local shop are very nice. While it's a little more expensive than, say, Target, sometimes I stop in for a little pick-me-up or, of course, my cotton balls.

Affiliated Agent B thought it'd be nice to leave a little something special for someone who parked their car in her local CVS parking lot. Maybe when they got to their car, they'll turn right around and go back in for an extra little treat!

Date: Tuesday, 10 August 2010

Time: 12:05 p.m.

Location: CVS Pharmacy parking lot; corner of State Road 70 and Lockwood Ridge Road; Bradenton, Florida

Affiliated Agent B gave up some of her lunch break to spread a little kindness today. Somebody take this girl out for lunch in return!

She says:

Today I completed my very first mission!

I targeted a car in the parking lot of CVS Pharmacy at the corner of State Road 70 and Lockwood Ridge Road in Bradenton, Florida.

I left the note card at approximately 12:05pm, during my lunch hour. I think I was stealthy enough, no one noticed me!

I had fun with all the creating and planning ... can't wait to do another one!

Well done, Affiliated Agent B! And nice touch with the plastic bag to protect your gift in the event of bad weather! *high five*

MISSION: Pump Up the Kindness

Quarters. I tell ya. They're never around when I need them.

Ever.

It's the most popular coin out there, and yet, it's so elusive. Whenever I find one (those rare occasions, don't you know), I feel like I've hit the lottery!

Wouldn't it be nice if we found quarters when we really needed them?

Well, Affiliated Agent K (who also calls herself IslandGrlWriter), thought the same thing as well. Her mission today? Leaving quarters for someone who will probably need them.

Date: Monday, 9 August 2010

Time: 10:45 a.m.

Location: air/vacuum pump; Grand Isle, Vermont

Let's see what she had to say about her first mission!

I decided to place 8 quarters in a little bag with a note attached that read, "These are for you if you need air but have no quarters."

I placed it at the air/vacuum machine in Grand Isle, Vermont. I live in the country on an Island so it was a little more difficult to find a public place where people gather.

I've been sick lately (nothing life-threatening) and found while I was working on this project, lo and behold, I started to feel better. I'm sure it was because my mind wasn't occupied. I felt like I was on an important mission and felt like a spy. I checked out who was around and if they were paying attention to me or not.

Well done, Affiliated Agent K! And like I always say: Giving has the ability to help heal. Even the person doing the giving. :)

Hope you continue to feel better, Affiliated Agent K! Rest up so you can complete your next mission! We can't wait to see what it is!

MISSION: Workin' Out and Cleanin' Up.

Now that I've gotten a handle on most of the 700+ emails I've received over the past few days, it's time to start posting missions again!

This one come from newcomer Affiliated Agent K from North Carolina.

Date: Sunday, 8 August 2010

Time: 12:15 p.m.

Location: Women's Locker Room Shower; Rush Fitness; Asheville, North Carolina

Affiliated Agent K states:

I bought a small body wash and a small body lotion.

I decided to make my first mission at the health club.

I had to put it into a zip lock bag so that it would not get wet in the shower.I had hope to make it prettier than it was, but the plastic bag was necessary.

It was left on the ledge in one of the private showers. I took the shower photo with my cell phone. This was fun!!!


Nice job, Affiliated Agent K! I'm glad you had fun, and I'm sure the woman who had a tough workout will really appreciate your kind gesture! Way to go, and can't wait to see what you do next!

MISSION: Speechless. Well, Sort Of.

Hello, All!

I just wanted to take a minute to say that I am so overwhelmed by the amazing and loving responses the Secret Agent L Project has been getting as a result of Wednesday's CNN interview. Never, ever did I think that this project would attract national media attention. I simply set out to inspire whoever stumbled onto my site to spread kindness and, if they were interested, to offer them a fun and creative way to do so.

The 700+ emails I've received since Wednesday night tell me that people are hungry for participation in acts of goodness. And I am honored to be a facilitator for such participation, humbled by people's kind words, and grateful to each and every person who has reached out as a result of this project. Thank you. From my heart of hearts.

I will be responding to each email, but it will take some time, so I ask that you please be as patient as possible. In the meantime, if you are interested in becoming an Affiliated Agent, perhaps you could start putting together some ideas and maybe some little gifts that you'd like to use as your act of kindness. Soon I'll send you the necessary specifics.

Again, thank you to CNN, to all of the media members who have reached out in interest and support, and to you, my readers--new and old--for your support not only of this project, but for your pure hearts that are hungry to spread kindness in this hurting world.

All my love,
Laura (Secret Agent L)

MISSION: #helloSAL Follow-Up

Just a quick follow-up from the #helloSAL fundraiser and reveal party that was held on July 24th. We're still receiving monetary donations, so we don't have an exact total yet on how much money was raised for the National Alliance on Mental Illness, but as soon as I get a total, I'll be sure to share it with all of you! As of right now, we're at around $1,500. I feel confident that total will have increased by the end.

At the party, I had a Mini Mission Station set up for my guests. The Mini Missions included buying a drink for a stranger, writing a postcard to a military service member, and writing a letter of thanks to a veteran.

{photo: Rob de la Cretaz}

{photo: Rob de la Cretaz}

{photo: Rima Campbell}

I'm pleased to say it was a success! People really enjoyed the Mini Missions, and I'm especially looking forward to mailing out the postcards to our troops!


One of the Mini Missions also included writing words of encouragement and kindness to children. I've been in contact with a party guest who works at a local elementary school, and she and I will be coordinating a way to not only get these important messages to the children there, but also have the children respond back!


I cannot wait--CANNOT WAIT--to give the messages of love and appreciation to our local veterans organization.




Finally, Mike Woycheck from Wear Pittsburgh, mentioned that he will be donating around $150 from t-shirt sales to the National Alliance on Mental Illness. I am honored. Thanks for such generosity, Mike! You can view more photos of the event by visiting here.

I'll be posting a new mission soon, so keep your eyes peeled!

MISSION: Happiness in Holland

I love getting emails from my Affiliated Agents, especially the ones who have just completed their first missions. You can easily feel the excitement in their words! It's so exciting and refreshing to experience someone participating in an act of kindness. I never, ever get tired of it.

Today's mission is from Affiliated Agent K from Holland. It's been so overwhelming to receive missions from around the globe! I never imagined that the Secret Agent L Project would take off like it has, but it's just a testament to the fact that people find kindness exciting and inviting!

Date: Monday, 2 August 2010

Time: not specified

Location: a) IKEA Restroom and b) street sign, Holland

Let's see what Affiliated Agent K has to say about her mission:

Today performed my first mission. I had some bright coloured, plastic necklaces lying around, in the colours pink and green, which I thought was very suitable :). Since the weather is really bad here in Holland, I wanted to brighten someones rainy day, and I painted 2 summer-like pictures to go with the necklaces.


I went to the IKEA nearby to drop them of. The first one in the ladies room. I wanted to place the next one on those cute toys they sell there, but the store was packed so I couldn't do it unnoticed :(. Therefore, I went on my way home, and put it on a traffic sign on the road. I hope some bicyclist will pick it up!

I really enjoyed my first mission, and I'm definitely going to do one more in the next few weeks!

Affiliated Agent K, we enjoyed your first mission, too! Thank you so much for spreading kindness on the other side of the globe. Can't wait to see your next mission!