Tag Archives | Making a Difference
Coca

Give More This Holiday Season

By on November 18, 2011 in Personal Growth
Coca

It is that time of year when we begin thinking about Holiday Giving, the real meaning those holidays have for us and how we can truly celebrate our spirituality, connectedness and genuine desire to aid our fellow-man. Giving almost always blesses the giver more than the recipient. So with that thought in mind, I have some suggestions to offer:

1. Run or walk a charity race – Many 5k and longer runs benefit a charity. Your entry fee pays for your t-shirt, race coordination, and, in part, contributes to the charity.

2. When you pay cash, save your change and put it in a jar – Save it for a month, and then donate the proceeds. Alternatively keep it in a baggie in your car. I empty my change every single time I walk by a red kettle.

3. EBay – Go through your closet, dress or basement, everybody has something to sell. No doubt there is someone out there who will want it. Donate the money to your favorite charity.

4. Sponsor someone – School walk-a-thon, community car wash, charity event, animal shelter fundraiser, whatever. This way you get to help them reach their goal and contribute to something bigger.

5.Institute a luxury tax – Every time you go out to dinner, to the theater or other entertainment, set aside 20% of the amount you spend and donate it.

6. Buy extra – Every once in a while when you buy staples at the grocery store, buy two of everything and donate to a food pantry, church or shelter.There is always a need.

7. Empty your closet and the kids toy box – If you haven’t worn it or played with it this year, donate it to someone who will.

8. Do your shopping online and support sites that make a difference – You get a nice gift, the people who made it earn a living. Try WorldWomenWork, GreaterGood or WomenforWomen.

9. Give a larger than normal tip to a service worker, salon worker or waitress, especially if you know they have small children!

10. Buy gifts for children or families in need – Many times you can team with a church or organization to help provide a Christmas dinner and gifts for struggling families.

Whatever you choose, you will receive more from the giving than they will. Trust me on this…

Question everything, move forward, enjoy the journey.

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Helping the homeless

It’s the Simple Acts That Matter

By on December 20, 2010 in Life Balance
Helping the homeless
Image by Ed Yourdon via Flickr

Sometimes we need a reminder to be grateful for the little things, myself included. We remember to stop and say thank you for babies, raises, recovery from illness, new cars, homes, jobs, vacations, gifts and all those flashy aspects of life. Just for a minute, try to think about the tiny, often overlooked objects or occurrences that comprise the vast majority of our days.

I had an eye opening moment this weekend, just a simple gesture that caused a shift for me. An aha moment of the best kind. I was preparing to assemble my Christmas tree with my children; I opened the box and found a note tucked inside. As I reached for the tiny piece of paper, my heart began to melt and I knew even before I opened it that this would be something significant. On it were written just a few simple words, a private message of comfort, but its impact was for me, enormous. My husband, who as you may know is currently serving in Afghanistan, had written me a note an entire year ago and sealed it in the box before he put it away. The significance of this small gesture was not in the note itself or the words it contained, but in the generous and loving act of his having the forethought and consideration so very long ago to try to ease my sadness at our separation. This was way better than flowers or jewelry any day!

It’s not about gifts and grand experiences. It’s about simple acts of kindness that you receive and can give to others in return. What small act can you do today?

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Charity Focus

By on October 26, 2010 in Life Balance

Check out CharityFocus.org. It is one of my new favorite websites!

I love this mission statement – CharityFocus is an experiment in the joy of giving. Our services enable inspired people to contribute in meaningful ways to the world around them. Together, we hope to “be the change we wish to see in the world.”


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hello

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

By on August 24, 2010 in Personal Growth

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?

hello

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…

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Orange County Fun

How to Stop Doing “Stupid Work”

By on June 23, 2010 in Success

Occasionally I like to share a post from another blog that I think is relevant and thought-provoking. I just loved the title and the ideas in this recent post by Tammy Strobel at rowdykittens.com. If this describes you at all, then give some thought as to what needs to change.

Orange County Fun“Stupid work” happens when you give into fear, give up creative control, and stop doing work that matters.

Depending on your field of expertise your idea of stupid work might be different from mine. For instance, by the time I was in my mid 20’s I worked at a number of “real jobs,” had a BA and two masters degrees. But I didn’t feel a sense of accomplishment or that my work rocked. A lot of my work was unnecessary, automated, and stupid. Attending three hour meetings, commuting over 2 hours a day, and playing office politics were a few of the many stupid things I engaged in. This type of work left me feeling dissatisfied and pressured to conform to what others wanted my professional life to look like. I also wondered if all my education mattered or if it conditioned me to follow the status-quo.

In many ways I think the motivation for doing stupid work emanates from fear. The fear of being useless, fear of being without money, or the fear of doing something different. By choosing to stop doing stupid work you can make meaningful choices. For example, a meaningful choice might be scaling back the time you spend at the office and devoting those hours to volunteer work.

Here are the top four things that will help you do work that matters.

1. Produce work that creates a better world.

I think people are hungry to do meaningful, creative work. Work that contributes to producing a better world; one in which we can get more from less.

Ask yourself:

  • How does my work make other lives better?
  • Does my work give me time for family and community?
  • Do I  have creative control over my work?
  • What is my legacy?

2. Expand your knowledge base to pursue creative endeavors.

Keep learning and expanding your knowledge to pursue creative endeavors, to question the status-quo, and to make informed choices.

3. Focus on one thing at a time.

In an age of distraction there is a lot to be said for focus. So many folks try to do 5 things at once, rather than focusing on one task. For instance, if your working on an article focus on that task. Do you research ahead of time and then start writing.

4. Keep asking questions.

Professionals control the technical means but not the social goals of their creative work. The professional’s lack of control over the political content of his or her creative work is the hidden root of much career dissatisfaction … Professionals are licensed to think on the job, but they are obedient thinkers. ~Jeff Schmidt

Continue to ask yourself hard questions about the nature of work. By asking tough questions you might be “unprofessional,” but you won’t be an obedient thinker.

What would you add to the list?

Reprinted from the “social change through simple living” blog at rowdykittens.com

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Ghandi

What Does Your Life Say?

By on February 10, 2010 in Personal Growth
“It is better to allow our lives to speak for us than our words” - Mahatma Gandhi
Ghandi
 
 
 
 
 
 

 Ghandi had a famous philosophy that said, “My life is my message.” And I think he absolutely exemplified that philosophy of life. When I think of him, the phrase that comes to mind is, “Be the change you want to see in the world.” That is exactly what his life represented and demonstrated in thought, word and deed.

 So this quote started me thinking about what I want my life to say if it is speaking for me!

The challenge for this week is to ask the following questions:

If your life is your message, what is it saying?

This is not the flowery, idealistic version! We’ll get to that but for now, let’s get a reality check. Take a long, hard look at your life. Now what is it saying?

I think most days my life message is – I am really a very kind person, but only if you are nice to me, agree with me and I have had my coffee!

Sample thoughts:
I have the best of intentions, but can’t seem to follow through.
It isn’t really wrong if no one gets hurt.
It’s really not my fault. I just can’t help it.

 What would you like your life to say?

This is where we can be idealistic. What do you really want your life to be about?

I want my life to say – Live kindly, love fully, do your best and let it go.

 Samples thoughts:
You can do anything if you try hard enough.
All that really matter is love.
Do unto others…..

 What changes do you need to make?

For me this means:

-       Think, speak and act from a place of kindness, not judgment.
-       Consider what I can give in my relationships, instead of what I can get.
-       Do everything as if it really matters and release expectations for the outcome; if it doesn’t matter don’t waste my time.
 
 
Sample thoughts:
Focus my attention on my priority of the moment.
Be present in my life and enjoy the experiences.
Spend more time listening to my heart than my head.
When in doubt, speak from a place of love. 
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Generosity

By on January 26, 2010 in Gratitude

When the economy is in a downturn it’s natural to think of yourself and your family first.  You probably have a mortgage to pay, bills to think about or a family to feed.  It is our instinct to try to get more and hoard what we have already to protect ourselves and to give us a sense of security.  It is certainly counter-intuitive to dedicate more of our time, attention and financial resources to those in the world around us when we are plagued by fear and insecurity.

However that is exactly what we need to do for many reasons.  Most importantly in this sort of financial climate, the poverty and need in the world are at their greatest.  Corporate giving is diminished, the government tightens its funding and the citizenry close their wallets. Hungry children, homeless families, the terminally ill and abused animals do not go simply go away! Also consider that the fastest way out of a recession is for people, governments and businesses to spend money, which serves to support our economy.

If you still have a job, a home, health-care and food then be grateful – you are lucky! Please continue to practice generosity and remember that there is always someone in greater need than you.

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