By Lodi Bond

On August 30, 2015, I completed the first-ever Love the GIVE #30DAYGIVE challenge. It was fun, it was challenging, and I learned a whole lot about giving.

I did the #30DAYGIVE for two reasons. First, I was part of the team Alex Cohen brought together to build the Love the GIVE movement. Second, I wanted to see if I could strengthen my giving muscle over the course of one month. So I tried my best to follow the #30DAYGIVE to the T – every day, every inspiration, for 30 straight days.

30 days of giving and some time for reflection later, my #day1 GIVE stands out as my favorite. I had just started installing a Thule rooftop box on my car when Esther pulled up and asked me how long before I was leaving. I told her five to 10 minutes, but then I rethought it: instead, I took the Thule down and pulled around the corner to install it so Esther could have the spot right that moment. She thanked me and we ended up chatting for a few minutes about the #30DAYGIVE.

I told her that Love the GIVE exists as an inspiration for all of us to treat each other kindly. My conversation with Esther moved me and served as inspiration throughout my entire #30DAYGIVE and it represents many of the things I learned…

1. Setting a daily intention is inspiring and fulfilling. There was a special purpose to waking up every morning and checking Instagram for my Love the GIVE inspiration of the day.

2. I understand why 30 days builds a habit. With each passing day of my #30DAYGIVE, I began to see more opportunities for acts of kindness and I wanted to give more often.

3. It takes a village – or at least the support of family and friends. Everyone around me was a part of my #30DAYGIVE – offering ideas, posing for posts, or joining the movement.

4. Plan ahead. Some days are busier than others – especially weekdays – and I eventually learned to plan ahead…like buying cookies on Sunday to share with my co-workers on Monday.

5. Acts of kindness to strangers are welcome and personally moving. I love giving to my friends and family, but when you give to an acquaintance or stranger, it brings a different satisfaction to both.

6. Telling people you’re acting kindly because of the #30DAYGIVE is important. People are happy to know you’ve made a conscious choice to be nice to others – and they like to talk about it.

7. #belated gives and #substitute gives were totally okay. Two gives on one day are just as good as two gives on two days – and an inspired, new act of kindness may be the best give of all.

8. Giving breeds creativity. The #30DAYGIVE challenge isn’t simply to give every day – it’s also to give in new, meaningful ways and it energizes the right brain.

9. I felt generally happier throughout the entire #30DAYGIVE. One of the Love the GIVE hypotheses appears to be true: the greatest recipient of a gift is the giver.

I’m a pretty private person. I rarely post on Facebook and my Instagram account is private. I’m still surprised by how many people ‘Liked’ many or all of my posts. I’m appreciative of everyone who encouraged me or made a GIVE of their own. And I know now – better than ever before – the power of giving. Try your own #30DAYGIVE challenge and experience it for yourself. Good luck and be happy!

Lodi