Carrying Murphy’s Light: The Acts of Kindness Movement

We started this project in honor of our beloved brother and son, Murphy J. Ryan, who passed away suddenly on June 16, 2024.

We are a mother and daughter, Kathy and Kaileen, who created Soul Friend Retreats out of grief, love, and the desire to build the kind of community Murphy always made people feel part of.

He had a rare way of making everyone feel like they belonged, whether he’d known them five minutes or five years.

After losing him, we searched for ways to carry his light forward. And this? This ripple of love and connection is one way we get to do that.

When someone you love is suddenly gone, words and gestures often feel too small. The ache of loss leaves you searching for ways to honor a life that meant everything. If it were up to me, I’d build golden cities in his name, monuments grand enough to reflect even a fraction of his light.

But Murphy didn’t need recognition. He was incredibly humble, a one-of-a-kind soul whose kindness spoke louder than any tribute ever could. And I know, with everything in me, that more than anything, he would have loved this movement, the ripple of kindness we're creating together.

I hope to keep making him proud, and I thank you from the depths of my heart for helping me keep my promise to him: to keep his spirit alive.

Your acts of kindness are the true golden city for Murphy, shining bright with love and light.

How It Works

If you received a Kindness Card, it means someone did something thoughtful for you in Murphy’s name. Now it's your turn to carry it forward.

1. Receive the Kindness Let yourself take it in. Someone showed up for you today, and that matters.

2. Share the Love Do a simple, heartfelt act of kindness for someone else. It can be small, free, and ordinary; what matters is that it’s done with love.

3. Pass the Card On After your act of kindness, leave the card behind for the next person. Let it travel; let the ripple grow.

4. Tell Us About It Post your act of kindness—received or given—on our Soul Friend Retreats Facebook page.

Tag @SoulFriendRetreats and let us know where in the world the card is now.

Follow us: Facebook: @SoulFriendRetreats Instagram: @soulfriend_retreats

Let’s see kindness travel the world.

Kindness That Says: “I See You” and “You Matter”

Sometimes the smallest gestures can show someone just how much they’re cared for.​

• Drop off a meal or flowers on someone’s doorstep with a note that simply says, “Thinking of you today.” 

• Put together a small “rest kit” with tea, a book, cozy socks, and a candle; leave it somewhere for them to find, with a note: “For when you need a little pause.” 

• Bring someone a warm blanket or cozy throw when they’re feeling under the weather. 

• Deliver a handwritten note or card to remind them they’re seen. 

• Share a favorite recipe along with a pre-measured bag of ingredients. 

• Surprise someone with a small plant or succulent to brighten their space. 

• Send a care package to someone who’s always caring for others — sometimes the biggest hearts need to receive, too. 

• Bring over their favorite snack or drink unexpectedly, just to brighten their day.
  

Fix-It Friends

If you’re anything like my brother, you’re the ultimate fix-it friend. Knowing your way around a toolbox isn’t just handy; it’s a way to show love and kindness by helping out when it really counts. 

• Help a friend hang shelves, mount a TV, or build that IKEA furniture that’s been sitting in a box for 6 months. 

• Fix a leaky faucet or broken doorknob for someone who wouldn’t even know what tool to Google. 

• Offer to do a walk-through with a friend like Kay (who doesn’t know a thing about home repairs) show them what’s working, what might need attention, and what they can chill about. 

• Organize a “Tool Day” with friends: bring your gear and knock out each other’s long-overdue to-do lists. 

• Lend out your tools with a note of encouragement (and maybe instructions if you know who you’re lending to 😅). 

• Northern friends: Shovel a driveway or rake leaves for someone who could use an extra pair of hands (or a break). 

• Build something thoughtful, like a birdhouse, planter box, or a shelf that actually holds stuff without falling. 

• Gift a handmade craft... crochet scarves, knit hats, or painted pottery because nothing says love like something made by hand. 

• Offer to teach basic home hacks like changing air filters, resetting circuit breakers, or unclogging a drain, so they can feel like a DIY boss too. 

• Jumpstart a car with a dead battery or help change a flat tire. 

• Offer a ride to the mechanic if someone’s car is acting up and they don’t have a way to get there.

Celebrate the Hard Work

Sometimes the best way to show love is by truly seeing someone and acknowledging their hard work, their wins, and the strength it took to get there. Here are some thoughtful ways to celebrate the people in your life and remind them they are deeply seen and appreciated:​

• Drop off flowers or a small gift with a note that says, “I see how hard you’ve been working and it’s inspiring.” 

• Leave a Kindness Card with a quote about growth or healing, tucked inside a book or journal that reminds you of them. 

• Organize a surprise dinner: gather a few friends to celebrate someone who’s had a big win or made it through a hard year. Let them know, without a doubt: you are seen and loved. 

• Bring over a treat or a bottle of something bubbly and toast them: “To the job you didn’t think you’d land. To the thing you stuck with when it got hard.” 

• Frame a copy of something they created — an award, article, photo, business card and say, “You did this. I want you to remember it.” 

• Write them a letter that lists five things they’ve done this year that deserve to be celebrated. 

• Gift them a candle labeled with their strength: “Consistency,” “Resilience,” “Big Heart Energy” and tell them to light it when they forget. 

• Surprise them with a “You Did the Damn Thing” cake or coffee, just because they reached a milestone no one else was tracking. 

• Leave a Kindness Card in their workspace or car that says, “This is what it looks like when someone refuses to give up.”
  

Kindness That Says: “You’re Not Alone” and “I’m Here for the Long Haul”

Sometimes kindness is just about showing up and making the little things easier for someone. 

• Offer to drive someone to an appointment, or just roll shotgun and keep them company because sometimes showing up is the best thing you can do. 

• Give a ride to the airport, pay for the car behind you in line, or cover a friend’s meal or ticket if they’re having a rough day. Small stuff that says, “I got you.” 

• Surprise someone with a small treat and a note: “A little something to lift your day.” 

• Frame a photo of a shared moment and leave a note that says, “Remembering this made me smile.” 

• Pick fresh flowers and leave them with a card that says, “You’re in my thoughts.” 

• Give someone a few hours of quiet time by offering to watch their kids or pets. 

• Create a playlist of songs you think might bring calm or comfort and share it with them. 

• Clean someone’s car or help with a chore — then leave the Kindness Card on the dashboard or counter. 

• On a tough anniversary or date, leave a gentle gift like flowers or chocolate, with a card that says, “You’re not forgotten.” 

• Give a journal with a note encouraging them to write or reflect when they feel ready — no pressure, just support.​