Circle of Holiday Kindness

 

A Holiday Gift that Benefits Us All

Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel

When you're kind to others it spreads beyond them and ultimately back to you – creating a circle of kindness that enriches, energizes and restores.

 

Just like recycling gives new life and purpose to the things we have, so do acts of kindness give new dimension and meaning to our own existence.

 

The holiday cards, personal notes, and gifts that you take the time to send can put a smile on someone's face as they are sorting through the bills and advertising notices.

 

Stopping by a neighbor's house to leave a piece of pie or homemade cookies on a doorstep can make their day.

 

Offering to pick up something at the store for someone who can't get out can provide sustenance and relieve anxiety.

 

Phoning to say Hello or texting messages and photos to friends and loved ones keeps them included.

 

Picking up trash when you're walking on the beach or in the park makes it safer and prettier for the next person.

 

However you build your circle of kindness, now is the perfect time to do it during the holidays when everyone needs something to feel good about.

 

In the end – when your kindness comes full-circle from other people's actions – you will find that one of those who benefits the most is you.

 

 

 SurfWriter Girls

 

Surf’n Beach Scene Magazine

 

Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given. 

 

Say Yes to Calapunting!

 

Exploring and Having New Adventures

 

Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel

SurfWriter Girls are always exploring and looking for new adventures.

 

When we used to stop by Sunny's house to visit her mother Patricia Alorro Magdaug Sunny's mom always asked us, "Have you been out calapunting?"

It was one of the Filipino expressions from Culasi, her mom's small town in the Philippines, where she was born. Calapunting means going out and having adventures and fun.

 

Sunny’s cousin Babette Haluska told us the word calapunting may come from the Filipino word “calapati,” which means “dove,” and that when doves fly you can see them enjoying each other’s company.

 

Whether we're going for a walk, exploring the outdoors, reading a good book, or cooking something delicious in the kitchen, we always enjoy each other's company and calapunting.

When Sunny was growing up in Seattle, WA, her mom used to take her calapunting to the nearby lake.

 

They would watch the ducks and geese swim and the speed boats go racing by. That's probably when she started to love the water.

 

Eight years ago, on October 29th, Sunny's mom passed away. We both think of her often...especially when we're out calapunting.

 

 

 SurfWriter Girls

 

Surf’n Beach Scene Magazine

 

Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.