The Gratitude Site » Making a Difference

Gratitude Through Thoughtfulness

Royale Scuderi — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 11:04:23 +0000

I am ever mindful of the gestures of love, kindness and thoughtfulness that others direct towards me. I never cease to be touched when my my husband sends me flowers and that he does it from the war zone some 7,000 miles away touches me deeply. Fully appreciate and soak it in when others show appreciation for you and try to do the same in return.

What acts or gestures of thoughtfulness could you make this week?

Just Say Hello – One word May Change Someone’s Life

Royale Scuderi — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 11:35:20 +0000

We get so head-down focused on our own personal struggles that we often forget that we do not live inside a vacuum. People walk by us on the street and seem to gaze right through us as if we are a mirage. We speak and our words fall on deaf ears. The people around us seem to fade into the background as no more than a silent part of the landscape of our lives. This is the danger and the curse of the culture of busyness and apathy that is so pervasive in today’s society.

What difference can one person make?

Hi!

Maybe all the difference in the world…

A picture of my son on a recent vacation reminded me of a story that one of the teachers told at a graduation ceremony many years ago. She recounted how one normal day in her high school years she came upon a boy in her class who was sitting by himself after school looking sad and lonely. You know this child; the loner – the quiet one that nobody really notices, not a troublemaker, keeps to himself, sits in the back of class, and doesn’t really have any friends – basically invisible. For some reason on that day she decided to stop and say hello. That was it, just hello and a smile. The next day he came to her at lunch and told her that he had planned to go home after school the day before and kill himself because he felt so alone and thought that no one would even notice he was gone, but her small gesture, just that brief moment of paying attention to him had changed his mind. He had thought that maybe he might have some hope for a friend and give it some more time. Is this a miracle cure? No; this boy needed help to turn his life around and thankfully went on to get it, but it was a start.

The point being that something as benign and insignificant as a simple “Hello” can be life-changing. A young boy made a friend that possibly saved his life and a young girl found a calling and dedicated her life to teaching children.

This week take a moment to say hello to someone new. The life you change may be your own…

Make Smarter Charity Choices

Royale Scuderi — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 21:37:50 +0000

Are you overwhelmed by all of the options and choices to make when deciding which charities to support? Ratings, administrative expenses vs. actual money going to help; these all need to considered when you determine who gets your increasingly limited dollars. Are they really making a difference or are you wasting your money?

“According to Boston College’s Center on Wealth and Philanthropy, individual charitable giving dipped by 4.6 percent in 2009. While that number is predicted to rise between 3 to 4.5 percent to about $225 billion this year, many are still skittish about giving at pre-recession levels. And like the evaluations we’re making with other purchases — will this car get good gas mileage, will this jacket last more than one season — many want to make sure they’re getting the most bang for their charitable buck, too.”

Read the full article on Getting the Most Bang For Your Charitable Buck, at tonic.com.