Some time ago I wrote this. It wasn’t really a post about religion, it was a post about human kindness and the fact that it prevails, despite everything.
There must have been something in the air because around the same time Susie over at New Day New Lesson started the Kindness Club, inspiring loads of like-minded people to spread a little kindness through her weekly prompts. If there’s anything that deserves to go viral it’s initiatives like this one.
There’s been a lot of talk lately about Cybermummy. I’ll admit that initially I was sceptical. Primarily it was a cost issue, I couldn’t sanction spending that kind of money on myself to attend a conference that I thought wouldn’t really benefit me a great deal. And when I say that I mean no disrespect to the organisers, just that I didn’t see myself as the target market in my capacity as amateur blogger.
So I ruled myself out, and ignored the pangs of jealously as I saw the list of gorgeous people who I’d love to meet in real life growing.
Then something wonderful happened. A chance meeting with London City Mum at Innocent, the briefest of conversations concluded with ‘that’ question. “Are you going to Cybermummy?”
*sigh* “No”…
…then smiles and goodbyes and put it out of minds. Until last week when the very lovely LCM contacted me and asked if I’d like to go, and if I would then she’d sponsor me.
Sponsor? Me?
What do you do when someone makes a genuinely altruistic offer?
React in a cynical way obviously – I asked what I’d need to do. Would LCM require me to wear a sandwich board? Was there a list of caveats to be fulfilled?
“No, I’d just like you to be there.”
“oh” (in a very small voice)
and “WOW”.
and “Yes please!!!”.
Since then I’ve been trying to think about what I can do to say thank you, apart from the obvious “THANK YOU LCM, YOU’RE UTTERLY GORGEOUS!!!”
I’ve found something.
In just over a week LCM is taking part in the Henley Triathlon to raise money for Cancer Research. On June 13th (that’s a Sunday), this fabulous woman will be swimming 400m, cycling 25km and then running 5km. Then she’ll quite possibly be shuffling to the nearest pub for a well deserved celebratory snifter. You can read all about her motivation here on her Just Giving page. Please take a minute to go and have a look, and do consider sponsoring her. I’m deffo going to…
And in the meantime I’m looking forward to meeting you all at Cybermummy….that day when we all mystically transform from virtual beings into real life, walking, talking weirdos. I can’t wait!
P.S I’ll be the one wearing the sandwich board 😉
What a wonderful thing for someone to do. Congratulations
I love it when people really do things from the heart because they want to.
I also think that part of what needs to be changed in this world is that we have become really skeptical about peoples’ kindness. Often our initial reaction is that there must be an ulterior motive. And even when we don’t think that, someone then comes along and questions our naivete and says there must be something behind it. And that then gets us questioning our own initial reaction.
I say we need to take kindness at face level and be grateful. The one think the giver of a kind act does receive is the good feeling that goes along with being kind.
And forgot to say-so excited for you and great post!
Thanks Susie, you’re absolutely right. We’ve all become incredibly cynical, something that I work to change in myself and love when I see it in others or, as in this case, am on the receiving end of such genuine kindness.
x
Lovely! Wish I was coming too now. Bet you suit a sandwich board.
You very sweet girl – thank you so much for putting the link to my sponsorship page on your post.
I am starting (starting??) to get slightly panicked about the ordeal now, especially as I have just been sent my race number and start time. In fact I am getting palpitations merely writing about it.
Catch you at CM!
LCM x
This is such a lovely story – yay for LCM for being all-round fabulous – and yay for you that you get to come to Cybermummy! See you there!
What a lovely thing to happen to a lovely person & by a lovely person! I’m really envious now about CM!
Sending via my phone as I’m in Braemar tossing the caber!
Great post. I’m coming if it kills me or at least causes my kids to hate me. As we said they don’t even have the lead…x
I am sure you will be just as gorgeous in the sandwich board as you were in your swimsuit and I hope you have a brilliant time at the conference. That was so kind of LCM, I hope the triathlon goes really well:) Jen.
What a wonderful thing to happen!
I’m so glad you’re coming and I can’t wait to catch up with you then (without the distraction of my small person too)
That’s great that you’ve found a sponsor 😀
I’m still a little bit angry about all the good stuff being down South and me being so bloody far away!!
I want you to take notes and text me ALL (and I mean ALL) the gossip 😉
It would certainly cover a multitude of sins….
You’ll be fab I’m sure – you looked whippet fit when I saw you…Best of luck to you all xx
You will, you will! Really looking forward to it now 🙂
LOL, thanks J and hope Scotland was gorgeous. Catch up with you soon x
I am having no part in it (no pun intended!) You’ll be paying for the counselling they go through in later life 😉 x
Ha, thanks Jen. Have never worn a sandwich board, wonder if they come in different sizes? x
Such a wonderful thing – I’m really chuffed 🙂 And YAY to catching up without small people x
It is a bit rubbish, deffo time to organise something HUGE oop North…
I will be keeping notes and revealing all – watch this space 😉
Completely wonderful – and unexpected too. Thanks Jen x