EVERY DAY I DO SOMETHING KIND FOR A STRANGER!

THERE’S A WEBSITE DEDICATED TO THIS PROJECT HERE: http://www.366daysofkindness.com/

In brief: on the 18th August 2011, after a chance encounter in a Post Office, and in response to the summer’s riots, I decided to do something kind for a stranger every day. So I did. I am in the process of writing a book. I was lucky enough to receive arts council funding to  make a show about my experiences. And I continue to be kind, in a modest attempt to change the world … or something…

My daily adventures were posted on Facebook and Twitter (@betterussell #366daysofkindness)

On Valentine’s Day I did a lot of stuff:

Here’s a little bit about it on Time Out Blog: http://now-here-this.timeout.com/2012/02/14/random-acts-of-valentines-kindness/

And some pics of the day: http://www.flickr.com/photos/76734716@N08/sets/72157629325098151/

HOW DID THIS MADNESS START?

In 2000, at a time when I was touring with theatre companies a lot, whizzing around the UK/Europe/US in various trains planes and automobiles, I started leaving letters in envelopes in phone boxes, funny and inspiring messages with READ ME on the outside of the envelope. I only did it occasionally, only ever told my friend Amanda Hadingue that I did, I liked it being a strange and secret hobby.

In August 2011 I was at the Edinburgh Festival when the riots broke out in London. I was sadangry at it all, I had been reading A. N. Wilson’s “The Victorian’s” and came across this: “… policemen, were seen by the early Victorian poor as representative of a hated governing class, come to keep the poor from doing what in the circumstances might have seemed reasonable: erupting, rebelling, looting, destroying- not necessarily with any fixed or focused aim in view, but merely as the political equivalent of a scream”

Mmmm.

On the 18th August I saw a boy in front of me at the Post Office. I was back in London and the TV and papers were full of pictures of boys like him, hoods up, eyes down. He didn’t have any money for his DVLA envelope as he thought it was freepost. I paid for his stamp. It felt like a nice thing to do. He said thanks and I decided to do something nice every day for a stranger, keep a record of it, on my blog, facebook and twitter.Just see what happens.

As I write this having completed the first 366 days,  I can honestly say that  it’s changed my life for the better. Not least as I have met a few of my neighbours. Loads of friends and strangers have encouraged me and made funny/crazy/helpful suggestions.I am  looking forward to making a show about it . And I am trying to keep it up.

Bernadette x

Here tis on Time Out blog

Here tis on Daily Express website  http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/282242/365-days-of-kindness