Well, it is now January 31, and happily I can report that I have lost 5 lbs and I’m feeling much better.

How did I do it? I used the bathroom scale of course to verify results, but I mostly just set my mind to:

1) eating less or half portions
2) cutting back on sweets/desserts
3) exercising more (walking more, even up stairs in buildings instead of using elevators, and bicycling more)
4) trying not to eat past 7 p.m. at night (but I did fail & ate some left over spicy Asian chicken one evening which caused me heartburn & a sleepless night, so I will avoid that behavior again)

Additional tip: if you’re trying to lose weight, start small (with just 5 lbs, which is easier to attain) than to attempt to lose 20 lbs. immediately. And now I have to resolve to keep that extra 5 lbs off my person.

As for being patient, I failed that one two weeks ago by being somewhat impatient with a friend in playing mah jong. I will do better next time. Patience is definitely a virtue.

And I’m still working on being kind and compassionate throughout this year.

Let me know how you’re doing with your resolutions, for those of you who made them and remember what they were. Good luck. It takes perseverance and a positive attitude.

Ben’s Bells Project’s 2012 Celebration of Kindness will be held this year at their new downtown location. Order tickets online (click here).

Saturday, April 28th
6:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m.
Hosted at Ben’s Bells Downtown Studio
40 W. Broadway Blvd.

Tickets – $50.00
($60 at the door)
• Live Music
• Dancing
• Silent Auction
• Food
• Wine/Beer

Purchased tickets will be available at the “Will Call” table on the night of the event.

Our mission is to inspire, educate and motivate each other to realize the impact of intentional kindness and to empower individuals to act according to that awareness, thereby changing our world.

I’ve recently dropped by after listening to cases at Small Claims Court and sat there in their downtown studio painting ceramic flowers for the bell mobiles. It’s very relaxing and gives you a wonderful feeling to be part of a larger project to spread kindness. Try it sometime, just drop in:

Open Studio Hours:

Tuesday 10-5pm
Wednesday 10-5pm
Thursday 10-5pm
Friday 10-7pm
Saturday 10-5pm
Closed on Sunday and Monday

Ben’s Bells is at 816 E. University (Geronimo Plaza in Main Gate Square, east of Euclid Ave.) or downtown at 40 W. Broadway (just east of Church Ave.)

Ben’s Bells is located at 816 E. University Blvd. in the Geronimo Plaza of Main Gate Square, just west of the UA. Now they are opening up a second location downtown, and the public is invited.

Friday January 20, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. grand opening celebration
40 W. Broadway (east of Church Ave.)

Schedule for the day of kindness:

10 a.m. Studio officially opens
11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Open house
BYO Bag lunch
Music
Treats

5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Ribbon cuttings
Music
Food/drink
Kindness all around

I reported on their annual “Kindness Day” last April, 2010 (click here for more background on Ben’s Bells and deceased toddler Ben Packard whom this program is named after).

Our mission is to inspire, educate and motivate each other to realize the impact of intentional kindness and to empower individuals to act according to that awareness, thereby changing our world.

I’ve been nominated for a Ben’s Bell, have volunteered to hand paint some of these bells, and on January 8, 2012 (the one year anniversary of the Tucson Tragedy mass shooting), I helped distribute bells along with 200 other people. It was a terrific feeling to drive around at sunrise to locate places to anonymously hang these lovely bell mobiles, in goodwill and hoping that whomever finds them can find some joy and kindness in their hearts.

Mailing address: PO Box 41025 Tucson, AZ 85717-1025
email: bensbells@bensbells.org
phone/fax: 520-628-2829

Be kind today and everyday.

I’ve been wondering about that lately, observing men/women/children around Tucson.

I often see people driving badly in their cars & trucks– not signaling, cutting off others in traffic lanes, running yellow lights turning red, ignoring pedestrians, etc., etc.

But what about other forms of polite interaction, good manners, and etiquette around town?

I rarely see men getting up to give women their seats anymore on the Sun Tran bus. But they usually do for the disabled using walkers and canes, or in wheelchairs.

Do you see men opening doors for women or the elderly? Maybe 21st century feminist women now retort saying they are “perfectly capable of opening their own doors, thank you very much.”

Are people learning to turn off their cell phones so as not to interrupt a speaker at an event? Or are they still behaving badly despite being reminded?

Are invitees sending their RSVP (répondez s’il vous plaît) to events, or just forgetting to?

Random acts of kindness poster

What about random acts of kindness? I used to put coins in parking meters for car owners whose time was about to expire, just to be helpful, to avoid a parking ticket.

My friends sometimes fault me for being “too nice” to others. I give out any extra free tickets or movie passes I have to others (even strangers in line) instead of just throwing them away.

I usually open doors for people overburdened with kids & strollers, and/or carrying large loads.

And I take food or drinks to pot luck meals instead of showing up empty handed, & saying or acting like I forgot.

Please let me know of other acts of kindness or good behavior you see around town. I’m just curious if people even care enough not to behave badly.

“Celebrate Kindness Day” is coming up on Saturday April 24, sponsored by the Ben’s Bells Project, www.bensbells.org. According to their event flyer — “Nothing is more important in these trying times than kindness.”