26 (point two)

This blog is not about how I feel about what happened at Sandy Hook Elementary School.  It is not about guns or security or "what is this world coming to."  Nope.  If you are reading this, you are likely a close friend or family member and probably already know how I feel about all of it.  I am sad. I am mad. I am inspired.

How is it possible that I am inspired by any of this?  Well, that would be a complicated and quite lengthy answer.  And I am not even sure that it's one I can articulate today, or probably ever for that matter.  But the gist is that I am inspired to make the world I live in a better place. Better for me.  Better for my family.  And especially better for Bryan.  I want him to know the love I feel for strangers.  I want him to see the good in everything.  And I want for him to know that bad things happen to good people and it is up to the rest of us carry the torch and make things better.

This morning, I logged in to my iGoogle page (which is essentially an RSS feed of my favorite blogs) and my top two are Another Mother Runner and A Happy Little Family.  This morning, my favorite Mother Runners posted about the 26 acts of kindness and paying it forward.  And my favorite mother runner reader, Lisa posted an update to the Mother Runner blog.

Here's my contribution to the 26 acts of kindness.  And in typical Jenna fashion, it's a list!

1.  Between now and the end of the year, I will share 26 random acts of kindness with others.  My typical holiday giving will not count.  If you want to know what I am doing, you can follow me on Twitter.  Ann Curry (NBC News) has created the #26Acts trend on Twitter and just announced that those participating should take pictures and  post videos for Rock Center.  I will not be participating in that part.  I believe that random acts of kindness are not about the recognition you receive for being kind, but rather how you make another person feel.  I will  hashtag (that's the # in Twitter speak) my acts with #26Acts hoping that it helps add to the infectiousness of the trend.  Not because I want recognition.

2.  In 2013, I am registered for two half marathons.  That's 26.2 miles of long racing.  I will direct my "Braver. Stronger. Smarter." mantra to 20 children, 4 teachers, and the shooter's mother as I run one mile for each of them.  The last mile I will run FAST will be my way to demonstrate the need to put an end to violence.  The final two-tenths of a mile is for me.  To remind myself that one person can make a difference.

I guess it's a short list today.  That just means it will be easier to remember.

Merry Wooley and do something extraordinary today.