For those who haven’t heard, my New Year’s Resolution is to do a Random Act of Kindness (RAOK) every day in 2013. And much like the weather, January was full of good RAOK days and bad RAOK days.  I only missed three days (and you’ll find that reflected in my total at the end).  There were some days when I felt very thoughtful, like the 18 degree day when I brought all my neighbors’ trash cans in from the curb and the very chilly morning I sent our intern, Twizzler, out with coffee for Channel 4′s Shawn Ley, and some days where I felt like I was just throwing money at it – like when I left the manicurist a double tip (though she did do a really good job!).

I definitely need to be more creative.  I’m hoping that the warmer weather and longer hours of sunlight will get me out of the house a little more; I think that’s part of my problem.  If you’re interested, here’s the rundown:

1 – $5 to Salvation Army

2 – Put money in parking meters running low on time

3 – Paid for a car wash for the next person in line

4 – Took cupcakes to the middle school office staff

5 – Made pastries for the skating team

6 – Shoveled neighbor’s driveway

7 – Left candy for co-worker’s desk candy bowl

8 – Bought a cookie for the next person in line at concession stand at skating competition

9 – Returned carts at the grocery store

10 – Treated a friend to lunch

11 – Donated winter wear to St. Vincent de Paul

12 – Wrote a thank-you to the blogger who inspired my RAOK resolution

13 – Held door for people in the rain

14 – $5 to Salvation Army

15 – Let every0ne go ahead of me in every line all day

16 – Sent an extra water bottle to son’s fencing class for someone who forgot theirs

17 – Babysat the skating coach’s kids when her sitter got sick

18 – Got carts for shoppers at Trader Joe’s

19 – Left a pair of gloves for a skater who needed them at the ice arena

20 – Treated my son’s friend to lunch

21 – Doubled the manicurist’s tip

22 – Brought neighbors’ trash cans in from curb

23 – Made son run out a cookie to his friend after he fell in love with them

24 – Sent chocolate covered pretzels to cousin in Chicago

25 – Sent Twizzler out with coffee and hash browns for Shawn Ley

26 – Took brownies to school concert

27 – Donated a copy of my book, The Fairy Painting,  to fundraiser

28 – Brought in physical therapy band for coworker with bad knee

29 – Gave a fresh-baked loaf of bread to a friend

30 – $5 to Salvation Army

31 – Worked Coneys for a Cause for THAW

Total: RAOK = 28, Salvation Army = $15