MISSION: Men are Marvelous

First, THANK YOU everyone for being so patient after my website crashed yesterday.  That was so frustrating!  But I want to publicly thank two of my most favorite men in the world, Norm (@mrdirby) and Andy (@techburgh) for working their magic and getting me back online.

Speaking of wonderful men, I'm always so excited when I get a mission from a male Affiliated Agent.  I love that men are stepping up and showing their more caring, softer sides.  And when both women AND men are out there sharing kindness with the world, the world has that much more of a chance to heal.  Don't you agree?

Affiliated Agent C of Pittsburgh (yay!), who also happens to be a friend of mine, completed his first mission recently.  And I'm proud of him.  Well done, friend.

Date: Saturday, 25 September 2010

Location: Seattle's Best Coffee; Borders Bookstore; North Hills; Pittsburgh, PA

Time: 7:15 p.m.

Let's hear about his very first mission!

Truth be told, I struggled as to how to carry out this mission. Reading the previous mission reports, I wanted to do something different, but eventually realized that if I didn't start, I'd be just over-thinking things, knowing that I just had to go out there and see what happens. So I did this past Saturday night.

Inspired by a tweet SAL sent earlier in the week, I used a quote as a springboard for the mission. Truth be told, part of the reason I had trouble doing missions were how to present them while striking the right tone. I honestly don't know if I accomplished this, but I gave it my best shot.

When I arrived at the target location, I went into the store, and went straight to the Seattle's Best Coffee store. After inquiring, I learned that they did not give out gift cards for SBC, so I pulled out $5 from my pocket and placed it in the prepared card.

Seeing that a quote was supposed to be the theme, I felt that the quote should stand alone with no explanation.

With the standard SAL card inserted into the card and envelop along with the money, I handed it over to the waitress minding the register, handed over the envelope, with instructions to give the card to the next customer. I know that you usually ask for us to photograph where any materials are left at the target location, but in this specific case, I felt that discretion was the better part of valor.

Again, I hope I did this right, seeing that this was my first mission as an Agent. If not, I hp to do better in the future.

Affiliated Agent C, you absolutely did this right!  I love the little added touch of handing it to the cashier and giving instructions to give it to the next person.  Keep that kindness coming!

MISSION: Dino-mite Kindness!

Dinosaurs.  They're pretty awesome.  We've got loads of dinosaurs all over the place here in Pittsburgh.  There's Dippy (she's adorable), and Creation Rex (personal friend of mine), a T-Rex dressed up as Mr. Rogers, and a host of others scattered here and there in statuesque form all over our beautiful 'Burgh.

Needless to say, when Affiliated Agent M from Portland, Maine, sent me his mission, I knew I had to post it pronto.

Rawr.

Date: Tuesday, 5 October 2010

Location: office; Portland, Maine

Time: not specified (but assuming during work hours)

Affiliated Agent M tells us of his first dinosaur-ific mission:

Well, it took me a while to do this. But, once I finally took the initiative – what a blast!

This task has been shuffled around my calendar on a daily basis. But finally, my inspiration came when I happened to be in an art supply store. As I was checking out, on the counter were these tiny rubber figurines, everything from gorillas, to dragons, to babies. Spinning the display, I saw one of my childhood favorites – a Tyrannosaurus Rex! The figurines are barely an inch tall, so this little guy had the perfect mix of snarling ferocity mixed with a bright, happy green color. I bought five.

My plan was simple. I would bring them to work and covertly prop them on random people’s desks to add a dose of mysterious fun in their day. Throughout Monday and Tuesday I placed the figures on keyboards, monitors, and desks, along with a Secret Agent card and message. As part of my profession write a fair amount, so I misspelled part of the message to avoid being busted by my peers.

The results are coming back as I write. The whole office is abuzz with trying to figure out who left these rogue dinosaurs on people’s desks! People are laughing and the theories are flying around.

This was a lot of fun. I forget how good something like this can make me feel. I’m looking forward to doing more!

Okay, seriously--this is one of my most favorite missions EVER. Clever, fun, and kind.  A trifecta of awesomeness!  

Creation Rex of Pittsburgh says:

"RAWR!" (which, in dino-speak, translates to "AWESOME!")

(photo from here)

MISSION: Notes of Niceness

I'm a girl who loves words.  I love words so much that I decided to put myself through the tortures of graduate school to study them.  Quotes?  I've got books full of them.  I have them jotted down on pieces of scrap paper all over the place.  I have them on Post-Its stuck around my desk.  And Quotable Cards?  Well, let's just say we're in a long-term relationship.

Iowa Affiliated Agent L loves them, too.  She completed her first mission using them.  I particularly love this mission because Affiliated Agent L chose quotes that are uplifting, and seeing that this week is National Mental Health Awareness Week, it seems a perfectly fitting mission.  Sometimes, when depression or anxiety find their way into our lives, it can be a word or two of encouragement and love that helps us get through it.  Well done, Affiliated Agent L.

Date: Monday, 27 September 2010

Location: various locations around Iowa town

Time: 6:30 p.m.

Let's hear about her first mission!

I am so excited to have completed my first mission!  Let me tell you, it was quite an exhilarating experience. I had no idea how much of an adrenaline rush it would be!

I was in a discount store one night looking for a card of encouragement for a friend of mine who is struggling right now when I came across the perfect little "pick-me-ups" for my first official mission.  I was hoping these cheery sayings would be just the perfect thing to brighten someone's day.

I picked up enough "happy thoughts" cards for each of them...

...and found some happiness quotes to write inside the cards.

"The best vitamin to be a happy person is B1."  Author Unknown

"One joy scatters a hundred griefs." Chinese Proverb

"Some picture happiness; others create it." Author Unknown

My goal with this mission was simply to bring a smile to someone's face and put a little extra spring in their step for the day.  Just getting the stuff together was enough to make me smile!

Since I had several packages ready for this mission, I enlisted both my mom and sister-in-law to help me make these drops in

different locations.  Unfortunately I don't have pictures of their drop locations, but my mom chose to put hers in the restroom at her church.  My sister-in-law works at the university and chose to place hers somewhere on campus.  I know it made me happy just to watch the two of them walk out of my house with the packages in their purses!

My heart was pounding as I was driving around deciding on my first location which was a bus stop in town.  It took me several minutes to find an unoccupied bus stop without people milling around.

Just when I thought I had made it in and out quick enough to make the drop and snap a fast picture, I turned around to see a man sitting in his truck across the street looking at me through binoculars!  I just started giggling and hoped that he wasn't taking down my license plates and calling the police as I walked

back to my getaway vehicle :)

My next drop location was a park bench around a lake area where many people go to exercise, walk their dogs, and kayak or fish.  It was such a gorgeous night with many people out, but this drop was much easier as people seemed to be preoccupied with what they were doing.  I casually sat on a bench and gazed at the lake for awhile wondering who might be the one to find this and snuck away when no one was too close by.

My final drop was inside a tailgating tent in the university parking lot. I figured one of the students who park in that lot or someone setting up for a tailgate before this weekend's football game would have a nice little surprise.

The sheer joy this first mission brought to me was amazing. I can't wait to continue spreading random acts of kindness!

Thanks to you Secret Agent L for letting me join your ranks! 

Thank YOU, Affiliated Agent L, for your words and acts of kindness!

Mini MISSION: Love at LuLu's Noodles

Here in Pittsburgh there's a really popular Chinese restaurant called LuLu's Noodles.  If you're from Pittsburgh, you know about this place.  It's right in the heart of Oakland, near the University of Pittsburgh's campus.  

I received the following email today from a fellow Pittsburgher, and it made my heart smile:

Today, I went to Lulu's Noodles in Oakland to pick up my lunch order.  There was a man sitting on the stoop just outside of the restaurant,asking people for spare change so that he could buy something to eat. I said, "Sorry." He said, "Maybe on your way back out?"

Upon entering the restaurant, I went to the register and asked if I could add something to my order. I picked something from the menu for him and paid. While waiting for the order to be ready, a woman behind the counter asked me, "Are you buying food for that guy out there?" I said, "Yes." She said, "Oh. Just so you know, there are about ten people buying food for him right now."

I was stunned! So many kind people at Lulu's today!  :)

A lot of people are hesitant to help people on the street.  We often think they just want money for drugs or alcohol.  But the truth is, we don't always know what they need, nor can we assume we do.  I am so proud of my fellow Pittsburghers who decided to take this man's request seriously and extend kindness to him by purchasing him some food.

When we start seeing people as unique, un-repeatable individuals, it's amazing the opportunities for kindness and love that will surface.

MISSION: Kindness for the Cure

I've mentioned on more than one or two occasions here my own experience with a near breast cancer scare.  October is a very special month to me for just that reason.  When I think about the fact that I was diagnosed with an atypical papilloma at the age of 28, when I think about the fact that I've already had about 10 mammograms in my life (and I'm only 32), when I think about the fact that I have an oncologist who watches me like a hawk, and when I think about the fact that I'm now 5 times more likely to develop breast cancer in my lifetime, I want to scream out to every woman to let her know that she is unrepeatable, amazing, beautiful, precious, and loved-and that I want her to take care of herself.

This month, I encourage all of my Affiliated Agents to complete missions that center around Breast Cancer Awareness.  We WILL beat this disease.  I don't know when, and I don't know how, but we will.

I just received Affiliated Agent T's mission in my inbox this morning.  I knew I had to post it right away.  Thank you, Affiliated Agent T, for your kindness.

Date: Tuesday, 5 October 2010

Location: Sonic; Gibsonia, PA

Time: 6:00 p.m.

Affiliated Agent T tells us about her first--and very special--mission:

This was my first attempt at a mission.  I really wanted to do something that was not only kind, but had a real purpose.  October presented the perfect opportunity, since it is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  I decided to go a little goodie bag of some products that would help raise awareness and support, while being practical.  A bonus was a portion of the proceeds from the sale of the items went to breast cancer research organizations.  Since pink is the color symbolic of breast cancer awareness and breast cancer survivors, I decided to bundle it all together in a pink bag, and write a note to go along with the bag.  The bag would contain a water bottle, a journal, and an awareness bracelet, along with the note.

I wanted the note to stress to the person finding it that she or he (because breast cancer affects us all) was important, and loved, and that it was important to take care of one’s self, as well as to encourage all the women we love to do self exams and get mammograms.  I wrote it on some paper with a pretty breast cancer awareness image on it, and sealed it up in an envelope.  I taped the envelope to the front of the bag, and then taped the bag closed.

The hardest part of the mission was deciding where to leave the bag.  I wanted to do it somewhere in my area, but not in my town.  Hubby and I were attending an event, and on our way, we stopped to grab a bite to eat at Sonic.  I realized that this was the perfect place to leave my package.  The weather was a little rainy, and the little car bays at Sonic, where you pull in for curb side service, are under an awning, so it would be protected.  We hung the bag off of the little area where you order your food, so someone was sure to see it.

I hope that someone not only enjoyed the little surprise, but also saw the opportunity to help continue spreading breast cancer awareness.  Together, we will find a cure!

Affiliated Agent T, thank you for opening your heart and for sharing your kindness with us!  Yes, together we WILL find a cure!

MISSION: Kindness in Canada

Oh, Canada!

You are filled with some of the kindest people out there!  Thank you, Canada, for giving us some great Affiliated Agents!  Especially those who share their gifts and talents with us and others!

Affiliated Agent M shares her green thumb with us and others.  Take a look!

Date: Monday, 16 August 2010

Location: Plaza parking lot; St. Catherine's, Ontario; Canada

Time: 8:55 a.m.

Mission specs:

This is my first assignment for HQ.

First of all I've made it a decision to perform my missions on Mondays because it gives me something to look forward to and well, let's face it - most of us need a pick-me-up on a Monday!

I have a garden that is bursting with flowers. I made a small bouquet out of phlox, black eyed susan, shasta daisy and thyme. Everything was wrapped up and the personal note "I hope you have the 'thyme' to enjoy this gift!" and the business card were hole punched and attached. (I wanted to include a play on words with 'thyme' because not everyone can identify culinary herbs.

Cruising around my normal coffee stop in the morning, I couldn't find a place that wasn't near observing people. I didn't want anyone to cause a fuss thinking that I was breaking into someone's vehicle so I drove to the far end of the lot and found a red SUV sitting in the middle like a cherry on a plate. The bouquet was tucked into the right corner between the hood and windshield curve (I'm petite and reaching for the windshield wipers was a bit awkward for me when I was in Secret Agent mode. I'll get more suave as I practice.)

And yes, I was humming the Mission Impossible soundtrack as I jumped in and out of my car to make the drop!

GO, CANADA!

MISSION: Ready for Kindness in Radiology

One of the things I've noticed about some of the missions that have been completed by my Affiliated Agents is that the more personal they are, the stronger they seem to affect people--recipients, AAs, and followers of the project alike.  It is because of these personal missions that I am encouraged to be even braver in my own missions. 

Affiliated Agent C took a very personal situation and used it to reach out in kindness to someone else.  Her bravery and awareness of others is inspiring. 

Date: Tuesday, 31 August 2010

Location: West Penn Hospital; Radiology Department Ladies' Dressing Room; Pittsburgh, PA

Time: 10:15 a.m.

On Tuesday I headed to West Penn Hospital to have some tests done.

Knowing firsthand how stressful diagnostic testing can be I thought this would be the perfect place to do a mission.  I needed to be there for 3 hours so tucked in my tote bag with a good book and some snacks was my first mission.  I was so excited!

After registering I went to the women’s dressing room to change into the very lovely hospital gown.  The dressing room has two small rooms each with a curtain. The gowns are kept in a bench/seat in each dressing room so I closed my curtain, pulled my gown out, and placed my card inside for the next person who would be changing in there.

I wanted to get a picture of the dressing room but there were two other ladies waiting to change.  So I quickly went out to the waiting room to wait for my test.

I hope whoever found it smiled and a little bit of the stress went away.  I know it made me feel good to spread some kindness. 

Affiliated Agent C, I'm sure your act of kindness helped.  Diagnostic testing is never fun.  It's filled with so much worry and stress.  I bet the woman who found your gift felt like she'd received a hug, too.  Thank you for reaching out!