Using Your Calendar for Kindness

One wonderful way to spread kindness is to honor loved ones' special events: birthdays, yes, but also relationship anniversaries, accomplishments, and days of mourning. 

We strengthen relationships when we join with others in their joys, and show up, fully present, in their times of sadness. #JoinInJoy #ShowUpForSadness

Many people have come to rely on Facebook, which automates reminders for birthdays and some other events: e.g., "It's been two years since you and X became friends on Facebook!"

However, Facebook has significant limitations when used as a calendar:

• Not everyone uses Facebook, and FB users don't always share their birthdays
• Facebook's interface is primarily set to remind you on the day of the event, which isn't much time to plan a card, gift, or experience (e.g., tickets for a play)
• Perhaps most importantly, Facebook doesn't include other important events: e.g., the day of your first date with your now-partner, or the day a close friend's mother passed away--when said friend would especially welcome a call from you

One solution is to create a custom Google calendar, specifically to plan for special events (which Streamlined can make quick work of, or you can do yourself!):

1. Free
2. Works whether or not you use Gmail for email, and even if your primary calendar is on paper
3. Events can auto-repeat as often and specifically as you'd like: e.g., annually, every 2rd Monday of the month, every 3 months on the 19th day of the month
4. Calendar can email you reminders, however far in advance of the event you'd like: e.g., send me emails 3 weeks and 1 week in advance
5. Search within your calendar for upcoming events, share it with others, or set it to "private," so only you can see the reminders
6. Import events from another e-calendar, or quickly enter them manually
7. Alphabetize and color-code the calendar, which is especially helpful if you also use other Google calendars
8. ... and more!

Do you have another calendar solution you use? What are its pros and cons? Comments welcome!