One of the things I love about my house is that I have a sun room with huge windows that overlook the woods out back. My yard, garden beds, and trees are full of birds, squirrels and other animals. I love watching them from my sun room. The downside, however, is that the birds zoom into the glass sometimes, thinking that they're headed for trees on the other side of the sun room. That happened today. I was startled by a loud thud and ran out to see what happened. A Blue Jay had hit the glass. He was breathing and blinking slowly, but stunned, so I picked him up. A friend once told me, when this happens in the winter, pick the bird up and keep it warm in the palm of your hands. I've done that a few times and it worked, the birds eventually perked up and flew off. After 15-minutes of cradling beautiful Jay, thankfully, he was fine and flew straight and strong to a nearby Hemlock Tree. I felt so good afterward. Some days it really is the little things that count.
My point in telling this little vignette from my day is not to receive a pat on the back for a job well done, but instead to remind folks - myself included - to put some extra feed in the bird feeder, and water in the bird bath (the poor doves were sitting in my empty bird bath yesterday, and when I finally went outside with a jug of water - they were much happier).
Today is also Tuesday, and that means it's Tip-Day for PreMeditated Acts of Kindness. My 2008 Resolution is 
to 'Show Gratitude' for my blessings by 'Giving Back'. The point behind PreMeditated Acts Of Kindess is to give more conscious thought to my actions and the way that I treat others - and the way that I treat 'myself'. In 2008 I'm urging folks to join me and do the same - to work at being kind because it's the right thing to do, without worrying about receiving anything in return, be it kind gesture or word, though my experience is that kindness shown is usually returned in kind.
My message today is simple: remember the critters inside and outside, wild and tame. They're innocent creatures deserving of care and kindness. In my travels across the Internet, I ran across a good article written by Wake County Humane Educator, Vanessa Budnick, for WRAL, Raleigh, North Carolina. She offers eight things we can do to help animals: WRALPetTipsMarch2008.pdf. The American Humane Association is also full of wonderful tips and information. If you need special incentive, check out their listing of public awareness events: 'Be Kind To Animals Week' is coming up the first week in May.
Animals are such wonderful companions. They offer such sweet, unconditional love. The least we 
can do is return that love in kind by taking proper care of them, giving them attention and understanding. A little bit of conscious kindness goes a long, long way.
Remember: I Resolve To Achieve My New Year Resolutions, One Resolution, One Day At A Time For One Year. It's your choice. Do it today. Turn your resolution into reality in five simple, common sense steps: Dare To Dream, Decide, Define, Develop A Plan, and Do It Daily. Make your resolution a permanent Lifetime Resolution, something that's with you for good! Above all, Be A Resolutionista, someone who makes resolutions, keeps resolutions, and enjoys the journey! Let's Go For It!
Need More Inspiration? Wear Your Resolution! Make Every Day New Year's Day. Make Every Day Count. Visit my resolution shop by clicking this link: http://www.cafepress.com/iresolveto
Kim M. Simpson - March 25, 2008
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