Save a Life

Want a really easy way to save a life? Give blood. It doesn't take a large amount of time and doesn't cost anything, but it can make all the difference in the life of someone else. I must confess that I'm not a fan of needles, but this is no excuse. The potential impact by donating blood is too high to let needle fear get in the way!

Apologizing

Is there somebody needs to apologize to? It may be somebody from your past or somebody from the president that if you can is highly advisable to go ahead and apologize as soon as you can. Asking for forgiveness is never easy, but is important because it can clear your heart and your mind from the past wrongs you've committed. Apologizing is service modeling to yourself, but to the person that you hurt. A simple e-mail or call can be enough. This isn't easy, but it can help us mend the wrongdoings that we've committed. It can also help us connect with others and forgive ourselves.

Changing a Culture

How do you change a culture for the better? Reflecting on the quotes below is a good place to start.

“If we want to change our culture for the better, we need more and more individuals possessing the right world values and the right world view and therefore, making better choices."

“How do we redeem a culture? …from the inside out. From the individual to the family to the community, and then outward in ever-widening ripples.”

-Charles Colson

It's OK to Be Sad (sometimes)

Oftentimes we think that it's not okay to be sad, to need help, to be lonely. However, it's really important for us to accept these feelings, to feel them out, to understand that it’s normal. Ignoring these feelings and deep emotions can be self-destructive.

It's also important for us to allow others to heal this way. Life is not always good. There are difficult times we have to confront. This makes us a deeper, more experienced, more nuanced people. Overcoming life's challenges requires facing up to the difficult times. We have to recognize that our lives are not always going to be perfect. There are going to be sad times. People are going to die. Jobs are going to be lost. Families are going to be decided. However, accept these difficult times, and enable yourself to move on into the future to the better things that lie ahead. This frees us from the bonds of the past and enables us to move into the future.

If you need a friend, be a friend

Have you ever seen a small container on the counter of a grocery store or gas station that says, "Take a penny leave a penny”? This is just like with friendship. Many of us are in need of friends. Facebook, LinkedIn, MySpace and all the other social networks are great. But this doesn't replace the bonds of friendship that can only happen in person. We need to interact with other people. This is important to what it means to be human.

I think many of us are lost when we try to figure out how to get a new friend. This can make our lives lonely, especially when you don't have family that lives nearby. It's difficult to know how to get a friend when you're in a place where you're by yourself. One of the best ways to solve this problem, though, is to help someone in need. By helping someone in need, you show that you care. Caring is what friendship is all about. By showing someone you care, you are being a friend. Everyone needs these relationships, no matter how self-sufficient one may seem. The next time you see someone in need, do what you can to help. You'll end up making a difference in a person's life and also adding a new friend.

Finding an Oasis

Everyone needs to have a safe place, a quiet place where they can have peace and reflect on their situation in the world. It's important to take the time to separate yourself from others and to have a place where you can go and feel safe. This is an oasis that will help you restore your mind, reflect on recent experiences, and determine how you want to live your life. An oasis is a quiet place where you can seclude yourself to restore your mind. In the midst of a busy world, with never-ending work, and endless obligations, you must take time to be by yourself and think. Disconnecting from the world for a few brief moments can help you can put clarity into your life, learn how to serve others, and determine what you can do for others.

18 going on 80

18 going on 80

Our society often expects us to know by age 18 what we will have accomplished in our lives by age 80. Once we graduate from high school we're expected to be able to tell friends and family who we are, where we went to go, when we will start a family, how we will succeed in life, how we will choose to serve others, how we will be successful, how we will avoid failure.

This is both unfair and unrealistic. We cannot know at age 18 where we will be by the time we are 80. We can make decisions in our lives, but ultimately those decisions will be affected by the decisions of others. I believe in hard work in making decisions that direct our future, but some things are simply not determined by our own decisions. We are impacted by the choices of others. We are impacted by events that happened and the world. There are things we cannot control. We simply cannot know by age 18 what we are going to be when we are age 80.

Commitment and Marriage

Marriage is a societal practice that we should respect. Unlike living with someone, marriage involves a lifelong commitment to serve someone else. Commitment is important, and the legal seal of a marriage cannot be underestimated. Marriage is not just something that happens before children. It's not just a wedding. It's the joining of two people who commit to serving each other throughout life. Living together without marriage is not a commitment. It does not offer the same sense of security or promise that marriage offers. Marriage is good for our society needs to be embraced. It is a way for us to serve others.

Marriage is Service

If you look at divorce statistics, the lack of individuals who are getting married, and the number of unhappy marriages, you'd think that marriage is a bad thing. However, I disagree. Even though I am single, I think that marriage is something worthwhile, something to aspire to. In its very essence, marriage is a partnership between two people. It is a commitment to serve someone throughout life. This is a type of service that knows no bounds. This is service regardless of the sickness, health, wealth, beauty, fitness, success, momentary happiness.

Who is in most need?

Who is in most need?

Many times, when we think of who is the most needy person in the world, we think of someone with shriveled skin, no money, no home, no job. This is usually someone without the physical and material trappings of the developed world. However, some of the neediest people that I've come into contact with are the people who are emotionally and spiritually needy. They are strained by their lack of life purpose, by their lack of religious understanding and their general dissatisfaction with life. They may have everything that they need to survive physically, but they don't have anything to make their lives spiritually and mentally fulfilling.

These are some of the neediest people that we encounter. What can you do to uplift someone like this today? How can you encourage them? How can you up with them?

The Importance of Words

Have you ever heard: Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me? This makes for a great rhyme, but I don't think there's truth in the saying. Words can really hurt. They can damage relationships, hurt feelings, and it destroys self-esteem. Our words are important and they can impact the lives of others. It's important to watch what we say and make sure that they uplift the lives of the people around us.

Mentoring

One of the biggest impacts you can have on the life of another person is mentor them. At some point in everyone's life, you have to choose what you're trying to make a living. This can be a very difficult decision inventory can help someone determine what their talents are and how they can uses those talents to contribute to society.

Even if you're young and new in your job, you could help somebody figure out what their talents are what they're good at, and enable them to get a job. You can also give them the tools and encouragement needed to figure out how they can make a difference in the lives of others through their work. If you've recently been on the job market and were successful, you can also give helpful tips about how they can also find a job. This practical information can be invaluable and help someone understand the true worth that they have and how it can be beneficial to others.

Getting to Know You

If you’ve just moved somewhere, one of the best ways to meet new people is to volunteer. You’ll get to meet all the people who come to a fundraising event/ service effort. In addition, you’ll get to know the leaders of the organization you’re supporting. It’s likely that these people are well-connected within the community and can help you meet other people. This is a great way to help others and help yourself in a time of need.

Caring for Kids

Some of the most recent statistics about kids in America are startling. Take a look at these facts from the Children’s Defense Fund’s 2010 State of America’s Children report:

Each day in the US,

• 4 children are killed by abuse or neglect
• 5 children or teens commit suicide
• 202 children are arrested for committing violent crime
• 2,222 high school students drop out
• 18,493 public school students are suspended

What will you do to help change this for the better?

Who is Eunice Kennedy Shriver?

Who is Eunice Kennedy Shriver?

Born in 1921, Eunice Kennedy’s life legacy is her work to give mentally handicapped individuals the opportunity to become respected members of the community. She believed that these Americans could contribute to society and should be treated with respect. In 1968 she established the Special Olympics, which is renowned for its athletic events held for mentally handicapped people. These events give them a fun way to engage in physical activity and competitions. She also helped found the National Institute for Child Health and Development.

“You are the stars, and the world is watching you. By your presence, you send a message to every village, every city, every nation, a message of hope, a message of victory.”
-Eunice Kennedy Shriver

Fun Events for Fundraising

Fun Events for Fundraising

Need help brainstorming events that you can use as fundraisers? There are plenty of options aside from extravagant galas and ballroom dances. Consider these options:

-Office Olympics
-Cheese or chocolate tastings
-Health fairs
-Roasts
-Golf/tennis/soccer/bowling/Scrabble tournaments
-Open mic concerts
-House parties
-Dance-a-thons

People Who Can Recruit Volunteers

One of the best sources for recruiting volunteers is the people who are already involved in your cause or organization. Ask them if they have any friends, colleagues, family members, or networking contacts who would be interested in volunteering. Here are some of the people who can help with this:

-Donors
-Fundraising volunteers
-Website visitors
-Newsletter recipients
-Board members (if you have them)
-Program beneficiaries

Giving Now

Many people choose to save up their money and entrust it to a foundation or trust that will disperse the funds to good causes after they pass away. However, many of America’s greatest philanthropists are following a different model. First, they devote a considerable portion of their time, energy, and talents accumulating massive amounts of wealth. Then, they spend the end of their lives giving a significant portion of that wealth to others. They believe that a part of their service to others is not only donating the money, but also determining where it can best be put to use. In this sense, they use the intellectual capital they cultivated while earning financial capital in order to ‘invest’ the money where it may make the biggest difference to the community. This is an approach many of us should consider when reflecting on how to give money in the most effective manner.

“Surplus wealth is a sacred trust which its possessor is bound to administer in his lifetime for the good of the community.” –Andrew Carnegie

Volunteer 'Jobs'

Volunteer ‘Jobs’

When you’re fortunate enough to get volunteers to help, it’s important to let them not what you expect of them and how they can contribute. There’s no need to write an actual job description to give them, but having a clear idea of what their responsibilities are is important. Make sure that you communicate about the following topics so that there is a mutual understanding about what they will be able to do to help:

-Specific responsibilities
-Training that you provide
-Time commitment and scheduling
-Team participation
-Opportunities to get more involved
-Fundraising goals

Fundraising Guidebook

There are countless books, websites, and other resources available that claim to tell you the ‘secret’ to raising money. Most of them are not worth the cash that you shell out at Borders or Barnes and Noble. Fortunately, there are a few diamonds in the rough that provide comprehensive and concise advice on raising money for a charitable purpose. My current favorite is:

The Essential Nonprofit Fundraising Handbook by Michael A. Sand and Linda Lysakowski (published in 2009 by Career Press)

It tells you everything you need to know in simple and practical terms—all within 224 pages and at a list price of $14.99. This is highly recommended for anyone who needs to raise money.

(I didn't include a link to Amazon, Borders, or B&N to show that I'm not making any money off of this recommendation unlike other bloggers who recommend products/books. You can trust that this is really the best resource out there that I've found.)

The Responsibility of the Wealthy

Andrew Carnegie, one of America’s greatest philanthropists, would likely not approve of the way many of us are using our material wealth. Regardless of how much money we have, Carnegie’s donations provide an example for all of us.

“This, then, is held to be the duty of the man of Wealth:

First, to set an example of modest, unostentatious living, shunning display or extravagance; to provide moderately for the legitimate wants of those dependent upon him;

and after doing so to consider all surplus revenues which come to him simply as trust funds, which he is called upon to administer, and strictly bound as a matter of duty to administer in the manner which, in his judgment, is best calculated to produce the most beneficial result for the community-the man of wealth thus becoming the sole agent and trustee for his poorer brethren, bringing to their service his superior wisdom, experience, and ability to administer-doing for them better than they would or could do for themselves.”

-Andrew Camegie, "Wealth," 1889

Need a Hand?

Need a Hand?

Volunteers can be hard to come by if you don’t know where to look. Here are some places where you can find people who help you make an impact:

Senior citizen centers
Local businesses
Colleges/universities
High schools
Churches/religious organizations
The Chamber of Commerce
Leader development programs (ex. Leadership Nashville, Young Leaders of _________, etc.)

Forget Fundraising

Many people looking to make a difference quickly realize that they will need a certain amount of funding to be effective. The first question they ask is, “How will I get the money?”. The implication is that someone—a foundation, wealthy philanthropist, nonprofit organization, or friends and family members- will need to make donations.

However, many of us have the financial means to support our change-making efforts in the beginning stages. Instead of sticking out our hands and begging for money from others, we should first look at our own bank accounts and determine how much we can give. Then, if more is needed it can be appropriate to ask for assistance. But contributing what we can give should be the first step that comes before asking for money from others.

How does change happen?

How does change happen? This is one of the ‘great’ questions that people have wrestled with for decades. Although I think this is incredibly complex and that we might never really learn a definitive answer to this question, here is one answer from Robert Kennedy:

“It is from numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is shaped. Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current that can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.”
-Robert F. Kennedy, 1966

Impactful Donations

When giving to nonprofits, it can seem like your money goes into a black hole and is never to be seen again after you write the check. It’s important to understand what type of impact your donation can have for several reasons. First, it gives you an incentive to keep on giving. If you know your money is actually making an impact, you’ll want to continue donating. Second, you can help keep the nonprofits and causes you support accountable for creating results.

There are several websites that can provide insight into the impact that your donations are having. You owe it to yourself and the nonprofits you support to understand where your money is making a difference. Check out these sites:

Charitynavigator.org

Guidestar.org

Giving by Getting Married

Getting married this summer? Many single adults already have all of the things they need to start a home. Getting gifts from all of the people who attend your wedding and showers is a blessing, but it can also cause clutter and the burden of finding a place to put a 2nd toaster oven and another set of dishes. People want to give wedding presents as a sign of their love for you. If you’re not in need of any more kitchen appliances and don’t want to deal with finding a place for the olive green vase that your well-intentioned but aesthetically challenged aunt gave, ask friends and family members to make donations in honor of you and your spouse instead.

Regifting

Regifting is oftentimes looked down on because a new item isn’t purchased to give to someone else. But why is this the case? Regifting is essentially just another type of recycling. Plus, you’re still giving a new item. Your thoughts are in the right place, and you want to give someone an item that shows you care about them. There’s no shame if regifting something. In fact, this is something we should encourage! Instead of collecting dust in a closet, perfectly good items can be put to use by someone else. This is recycling at its best.

The Biggest Gift You Can Give—Yourself

There’s recently been a big media emphasis on doing small amounts of giving. This is good because everything that’s given to others, even if it’s only a small amount, can be beneficial. However, many of us can do more than simply focusing on the smallest actions and contributions we can make. Giving in an intentional and sacrificial way can have a much larger impact on others and also on ourselves.

The biggest gift that you can give to others is yourself. What does this mean? It means giving your time, work, and intelligence for the benefit of others. Many of us have developed certain skills that are very valuable and can make a significant impact. Whether you’re gifted in finance, fine arts, sales, or education, these talents can be used to support nonprofit organizations and help others. Think about what you’re good at and how you can transfer those skills to the benefit of others. This is truly a big gift! You’re giving yourself.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Reduce, reuse, and recycle. This is the motto of all the conservation organizations that urge us to change our consumption habits to benefit the Earth. However, we mostly focus our efforts on the last step of this cycle, recycling. It’s important to note that reducing the amount of goods that we purchase is the first step. However, it’s also the most difficult. Reusing and recycling the items we’ve already purchased is much easier than reducing what we buy to begin with. Think about ways that you can cut back what you purchase. This will be good for your savings account as well! How can you reduce what you buy so that it doesn’t have to be reused or recycled later? Are any of the items you’re buying unnecessary? If you had to put back 5 things in your grocery cart, what would they be? When you’re in the grocery store, consider the containers of the items you buy. Minimal packaging is best for the Earth. Our planet will be better off if you are willing to do this.

Quiet Time

Quiet Time
One of the things we don’t do enough of is making time to be quiet. In our fast-paced lives we oftentimes do not dedicate a portion of our days to reflecting on what we’re doing, why we’re doing it, and who we’re doing it for. Doing this each day takes discipline. It also will reinforce the purpose of your life and this will be transferred to every part of your day. For example, studying work-related training guides might not be your way to spend a Saturday afternoon. However, you will be able to recognize that this will increase your skills and enable you to be even more effective at your work. Here are some suggestions for your quiet time:

• Establish a routine time when you sit down and think about your day
• Purchase a devotional or motivational book to read
• Pray
• Reflect on the major tasks you will be doing throughout the day or that you have already finished and connect those to your life purpose
• Think of ways to get better at what you do everyday
• Identify several things you’re thankful for

Unspoken Kindness

Have you ever heard someone say something but could tell that these were just words? There was either no meaning behind them or the person was not being honest.

Many of the ways we communicate are not actually verbal. Through our facial expressions, gestures, physical touch, and eyes, we convey how we feel about other people. By smiling, truly listening, and being genuine, we can convey an authentic kindness that goes beyond words. How will you do this today?

It's OK to Be Sad

Bad things happen in life. It’s not because of some divine intervention (or lack thereof). It’s simply a fact of life. You’re not cursed or facing retribution. Bad things happen, even to the best people. When facing death, anger, a lost job, physical illness, loneliness, and natural disasters it’s ok to be sad and to reflect on the hard things that happen in life. These are important and natural feelings that shouldn’t be ignored.

By deeply feeling this sadness, we can accept that we’ve been hurt and faced hard times. Being sad does not mean feeling like a victim or felling sorry for yourself. It’s the absorption of all of the negative impacts and subsequent emotions that are flooding your life. The redeeming part of experiencing your sadness is that you eventually are able to accept the unfortunate experiences that have led you to feel this way. It may take significant time, prayer, counseling, religious support, and love from family or friends. However, you can heal. You can come through the darkness and into the light. You can experience the joy of living again.

Cleaning Up the Oil Spill—What You Can Do

You’ve undoubtedly seen the oil spill images: seagulls covered in splotches of thick brown oil, the cloudy waters that now cover the entire coast of the Gulf of Mexico, and fishermen who will no longer be able to fish. Some experts are predicting that it will take decades for the wildlife population to recover. So what can you do to make a difference even if you live nowhere near the coast of Louisiana, Florida, Alabama, or Mississippi? Here are some low-cost, high-impact efforts you can take to help clean the Gulf and prevent this from happening again:

• Keep eating seafood from the Gulf. Louisiana seafood officials are constantly monitoring quality levels to make sure that all products are safe. By still eating fish, you can support the bruised economies of the Gulf States. Fishermen, seafood processing facilities, and restaurants that serve local seafood will all lose money and may have to lay off employees or close.

• Don’t buy gas from BP stations until they stop the oil spill and pay the total cost of cleaning up the Gulf of Mexico. BP is the corporation responsible for this environmental disaster. As a consumer, your purchasing decisions combined with those of other Americans will effectively deliver the message that these atrocities cannot go unpunished.

• If you have friends or relatives who are part of the Coast Guard, Navy, National Guard, or federal government emergency response efforts, offer to take care of their kids while they travel to the Gulf. By doing this, you can give them some peace of mind about their families as they help clean up the shoreline.

• Let family members and close friends know that BP has developed a Claims Line to reimburse individuals and companies that have been adversely affected by the oil spill. The number for the Claims Line is 1-800-440-0858. Costs associated with property damage, lost wages/profits, injuries, and other damages will be eligible for reimbursement.

• Consider taking a vacation in one of the states affected by the oil spill. By spending your vacation savings in these areas you can help jump-start the local economies that have been negatively impacted. Plus, even if your vacation is planned for later this summer, the cleanup process will likely still be ongoing. You can choose to volunteer for one or two days and help restore beaches and rehabilitate wildlife. Go to the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana website (http://www.crcl.org/) to sign up.

So who was Susan B. Anthony anyway?

So who was Susan B. Anthony anyway?

Susan B. Anthony was one of the most influential and effective organizers of the movement to give American women the right to vote. She dedicated her life to this cause. Her ardent belief was that because women were citizens they had the right to vote. In order to assert her Constitutional rights, she submitted a ballot in an election. Because of this, she was put on trial and fined for illegal voting. Talk about bravery! She lived from 1820 to 1906 and paved the way for women to be considered equal to men.

“The older I get, the greater power I seem to have to help the world; I am like a snowball -- the further I am rolled the more I gain.”—Susan B. Anthony

What are you going to be when you grow up?

What are you going to be when you grow up?

This is one of the most disliked questions for college senior who are graduating. When asked by friends, professors, family members, neighbors, great aunts, and 5th cousins, it’s easiest to come up with a stock answer to the question. Few of us know when finishing college what we want to be ‘when we grow up’.

Truth be told, though, the problem doesn’t end once the caps are tossed and the tassels have been turned. People question what they want to and should do with their lives throughout every stage. Regardless if you’re in school, a single professional, married, have kids, or are entrenched in a career, we all have doubts. This oftentimes leads us to a midlife (or quarter life!) crisis. However, I’m not convinced that we all have one thing that we’re going to be when we embark on our careers. Much has been noted about the trend of switching careers 7 or 8 times throughout one’s life. There’s nothing wrong with this as long as we’re doing good work and putting our skills to use in ways that are beneficial to society,

At the end of the day, you don’t have to know what you want to be when you grow up. You probably didn’t know when you were 7, 17, or 27, and you won’t like be able to define one specific profession for yourself if you live to be 97. Maybe it’s time to give ourselves some peace of mind by changing the assumption that we have to be something, one thing, when we finally grow up.

Simple Ways to Give

Giving to other people is one of the most effective ways to change and improve your own life. Through volunteer service, you can use your talents and skills to help solve a local or global problem. Nothing can compare to seeing the direct impact that your work has on filling urgent needs in your neighborhood or making a meaningful difference to someone else. Changing the world can change our own lives as well.

Although most of us lead busy lives, it’s possible to make a contribution in a way that doesn’t require a lot of time and can even reduce stress. Here are a few simple ways that you can make a meaningful impact and also improve your own life:

1. Start Clipping

Not everyone can afford to buy the food they need for their families, and there are ways you can help—even while strolling down the supermarket aisles. If you cut out coupons, be sure to clip the offers that you don’t plan to use in addition to the coupons for products that regularly appear on your grocery list. For example, if you have no need to buy baby formula or diapers, cut out those coupons anyway. Then, when you’re in the grocery store and passing through the baby aisle, place the coupons that you don’t need on the shelves. You never know who will be coming along behind you. You might help a mother on WIC or food stamps save several dollars, which she can use to buy some fresh fruits and vegetables for her family.

2. Give Someone a Job

Unemployment is still soaring, and many people are out of work. If you’re fortunate enough to be employed, look to see if your company is hiring. If so, think about whether or not you know of anyone who would be a good fit for one of the open positions. As a current employee, you can provide a reference for someone, and this can help them land a new job. If they’re hired, an added benefit is that you may receive a referral bonus from your company.

3. Clean Up

If you haven’t worn an item in your closet over the past year, chances are you’ll never wear it again in your life. Go ahead and get rid of that extra baggage. Free yourself from clothes that don’t fit and don’t flatter your body!

Volunteering enables you to form connections with other people and help solve the world problems we face. By making efforts to give to others, even if it’s as simple as cutting coupons, you can make an impact and also improve your own life.

Red light!

Sometimes things just don’t go the way we want them to. The printer jams, five people call and need you at the same time, you run out of milk. It’s these small things that can somehow add up and get us down.

So how do you handle days like this? A lot of magazines and TV “experts” will tell you to breathe. However, this doesn’t do a thing for me. I’m always breathing—whether I’m calm or not! I’ve found that the best solution for me is to stop. I simply don’t do ‘printer surgery’, ask if I can call people back later, and eat oatmeal instead of cereal. Then I ask myself what I can do to start fixing the situations I’m in. Writing down a short list of things to do gives me a better sense of control of the situation. Then I do each item on the list, in order. There’s no need to worry about all the other problems going on, just focusing on one thing at a time is enough.

Eventually, I use patience make it through the day and am prepared to make the next day better.

Volunteering While Working Full-Time

When you’re working full-time (or more than full-time), it can be difficult to figure out ways you can fit volunteering into your schedule. Here are some ideas:

-Read to a class of nearby elementary school students once a week on your lunch
break. Even in less than an hour, there’s plenty of time to make connections with students and show them that you care.

-Go on a week-long service trip that’s related to your profession. Some companies will consider this training experience. If you’re a doctor, you can go on a medical mission trip. Restaurant workers can volunteer for a week teaching low-income individuals how to cook healthy meals that are affordable with a monthly budget of food stamps. Accountants can audit the financial records of nonprofit organizations.

-Organize a canned food drive, and give prizes to the department that collects the most food.

-Ask employees to bring in old eyeglasses so that these can be donated to people who can’t afford them.

-Pick one day a week to stop by a homeless shelter or food pantry on your way home from work. Spend just half an hour doing whatever they need you to do. This is a great way to give back and unwind after a day spent on the job.

These are just a few of the ways you can make a difference during the week while working full-time. Of course, there are always weekends. But why wait until the week is over to help someone in need?

The Value of Your Used Clothing Donation

Did you give away a closet worth of used clothing to Goodwill last year? You can include this on your tax form and get a deduction, which saves you money. You need to keep track of all the items that you donate and get receipts from the nonprofits where you dropped them off. The IRS has special instructions for how to place a value on the items that you give away, so you know exactly how much you can deduct.

Here’s a link to the IRS publication that has information on that:

http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p561.pdf

Happy giving

TGIM—Again!

“It makes you feel good, like you’re doing something positive.”

Looking at this quote, you might think that the person who said it had just finished serving soup at a food bank or had helped an elderly woman pick up the groceries she needed for the week. However, this quote has nothing to do with nonprofit service. Howard Fritts, the person who said this to a Washington Post reporter, is a prisoner in the state of Virginia. He had been given the opportunity to work. That’s right, the opportunity to work. And this wasn’t just any work. He was mowing lawns and trimming shrubs on government property. Work is good, an opportunity to serve others and the community. If you have a job, be thankful. This is a wonderful opportunity to do good work.

Living with Laughter

Sometimes I'm just too serious. My sister has always joked that I'm 23 going on 200. That's not a good thing! My 'Serious Syndrome' can sometimes take some of the joy out of life, and I have to remember to keep things light.

For me, it can be a challenge. I dive into new projects and really get into the strategy, quantitative data, and detailed facts. This can all be great, if only you take time to have some fun and always remember to laugh.

Keeping people like my sister around who can remind me when I'm getting too serious is important. They help me stay in balance even when my mind is focused on solving a problem or starting a new initiative. So for me, forget the apple. A laugh a day keeps the doctor away!

Earth Day (for people who don't hug trees)

I must confess that I'm not a tree-hugger. I recycle, try not to take showers that are too long, and use some of the more environment friendly light bulbs. That's pretty much the extent of my environmentalism.

However, today, the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, is a good opportunity to consider new ways to be earth-conscious even if you're not working every day to 'save the rainforest'. Here are some easy but impactful things anyone can do:

-Choose one meal a day where you don't eat meat (it can be breakfast)
-When you're grocery shopping, think about the packaging materials that are used to preserve food before you buy them. Buying in bulk can reduce the plastic waste that you throw away
-Try not to buy more food than you'll eat
-Recycle your newspapers
-Don't litter
-Reuse things before throwing them away

The Hard Questions

As we all know, life isn’t always easy. There are inevitably tough times that come our way. Usually when this happens, we think about all the big, hard questions surrounding our life—how we’re living, what we should be doing, what’s going to happen in the future, and if the mistakes in the past will be relived. Before getting into a crisis situation, it’s important to stay vigilant about these difficult topics and keep them in mind as we go through daily life.

Living a life that is worthwhile every day is the best method for avoiding sudden life purpose crises in which we don’t know who we are, what we’re doing, where we’re going, and who we love. Reflect on some of these questions to make sure you’re using your life in a way that you’ll find valuable and meaningful whenever you look back at your life’s course:

Am I using my natural talents on a regular basis in my daily life?

What is my first priority in life?

What will happen to me when I die?

How and what am I giving to others?

Is this the way I want to keep living?

How can I change to become a better version of myself?

April—National Month of Service

According to Congress, April is the official month dedicated to service. This is a great way to remember the importance of giving to others. There will be numerous special events that celebrate the contributions of volunteers to our communities. We need to remember, of course, that service isn’t just a one-month or one-day event. It’s an everyday spirit and set of actions. Live in a way that gives to others every day, not just in April.

If you’re not already volunteering, this can be an ideal opportunity to test-drive doing service work at a nonprofit. They’d love to have you on board. Or, if you’re already volunteering and want to try something new, there’s no better time to do a volunteer ‘refresh’ and try out a new way to give to others. If you find something you like and that you’re passionate about, you can commit to making a difference all year long.

Giving Someone the Gift of Sight

Every year I go to the eye doctor for my regular eye exam. Each visit inevitably results in a stronger prescription for my glasses and contacts. I spend so much time working at the computer and reading that it’s a wonder I’m not already blind!

I’ve been wearing glasses since I was in the 2nd grade, and the upside of my annual eye appointments is that I get to help someone else be able to see. This helps cushion the realization that my eyes are probably never going to get any better. I’m fortunate to be able to purchase the new glasses that I need, but many other individuals around the world cannot do this. They don’t have access to skilled medical doctors that can examine their eyes. Even if they do, many individuals cannot afford this. The result is that there are people across the globe who are unable to read or even see the faces of their family and friends.

You can make a difference every time you get new glasses by donating your old pairs to nonprofit organizations that help match low-income individuals with used glasses. Even if you don’t purchase your glasses at LensCrafters, many of these stores have bins where you can drop off your unneeded pairs. Lions Clubs also have outreach efforts to do this.

By doing something as simple as giving your old glasses away to people in need, you prove that you don’t have to be a medical doctor to give someone the gift of sight.

Thoughts on Karma

A lot of people put faith in Karma, the belief that if you do good things to others, then you will receive good things in return. However, this isn’t always true and should be taken with a grain of salt. We’ve all heard the phrase that bad things happen to good people. The reverse is true as well. Good things happen to people that we deem to be bad. When natural disasters occur, the ‘good’ face devastation as well as the ‘bad’. Cancer and terminal illnesses strike ‘good’ people and cause them to die too young. There are ‘bad people’ that achieve worldly success. So the principle of Karma should not be taken seriously.

We should do good deeds and be kind to others because they are good. There is a right and wrong, and treating others with respect and kindness is right. Regardless of the effect that these actions have on our lives, we should do them because they’re right. Fortunately, serving and giving to others can have very positive impacts on us. In fact, living a generous life and striving to be good to others can be life-changing. This is selfless service. It’s doing good because it’s the right thing to do, not because it will make our lives perfect.

“Love has nothing to do with what you are expecting to get—only what you are expecting to give—which is everything. What you will receive in return varies. But it really has no connection with what you give. You give because you love and cannot help giving.”
-Katherine Hepburn

National Problems, Local Solutions

One of the best features of the American political system is that it is based on multiple levels government: local, state, and federal. Because of this, good ideas in a small local community can be shared with other communities across the country. It’s true that if a community clinic works in Jacksonville, Florida it might not be a good fit for a rural farm community in the farmlands of South Dakota. However, many of the successful principles of the success stories can be shared and adapted so that as many people as possible benefit.

The bottom line is to not discount your efforts just because they are local. Your local greatness can be shared with other people across the country. By taking service seriously and building upon each other’s successes, we can solve our national problems.

"There is no problem in America that is not being solved somewhere."
- President George H.W. Bush

Ever Wonder?

Ever wonder how many worker bees it takes to make one jar of honey? Or how about the reason why we need to sleep for a third or our lives? Have you ever thought about how spiders create their webs?

So often, we forget about the wondrous natural world that surrounds us. Wrapped up in spread sheets, data analysis, research reports, and performance reviews, it’s easy to ignore the splendor that surrounds us every day. Take a few moments to think about this and appreciate the miraculous life forms and natural phenomena that inhabit our lives. What do you wonder about?

I think I can, I think I can…

Ever have those days where you wake up tired and need an extra energy boost to get started on your day? That’s natural for anyone. Sometimes we just get worn out and need to take a break. The challenge comes when we already have meetings, parties, work, errands, and other things planned and can’t change those.

I usually find that the best way to approach these days is by giving myself what I call a little ‘extra cushion’. If I exercise, I take it easy. No 7% inclines on the treadmill for me! I read a mindless magazine before work for a few minutes. When I’m working I try to remember to give myself a brief break to stretch every few hours.

By doing this, you can still do good work while allowing your body to recover. Listen to yourself. It’ll do your body good. You can have a productive day and seize be ready to seize tomorrow.

TGIM?

TGIM…

Thank goodness it’s Monday! If you’re fortunate enough to have a job, Monday shouldn’t be thing to dread. Even if you’re not working in your ‘dream job’, you have something very important to be thankful for. Choose to make this a great Monday. It’s essential to remember that Mondays account for 14% of your life, so it’s important to use your time wisely and not to discount these days just because you’re no longer on a weekend schedule.

Here’s something to consider: What can you do to make a difference today? Yes, even though it’s a Monday and your mind might be a little less sharp than usual, you can still have an impact. What are you going to do to make this a “meaningful Monday”?

TGIF!!!

TGIF…

Thank Goodness it’s Friday! I hear this all the time from people. It’s meant as a celebration of the weekend, but it really alludes to something else. Many of Americans don’t like their jobs. They feel like their work isn’t worthwhile, and their ‘true lives’ begin on Friday night and end on Monday morning.

But is this really the right way to live? If you think about it, if you’re only living for the weekends, you’re only truly living 29% of the time. So if you live to be 100 years old, only 29 years of your life are going to be worthwhile and 71 years will be lived in vain. 71 years is a long time.

The solution isn’t to stop working! Work is important because it allows us to meet our fundamental needs and improve the world that we live in. This is true for both nonprofit and for-profit work. So be thankful that today’s Friday, but recognize that today is an opportunity to do great things. You don’t have to wait until 5pm to live.

Have a great Friday!

Greatness in Small Things

One reason why many of us don’t give donations or time to good causes is because we think what we have to give is too small. We rationalize and say that we’ll donate when we make $X a year or when we retire or when we’re at a more stable point in life. But if you’re not able to take care of the small things in your life, why would you be able to do ‘big’ things that we dream about? Give what you can, even if it’s a few dollars a week. Serve when you can, even if it’s only an hour each month. Then you’ll be ready for the bigger, better, and brighter times ahead.

Giving from the Garden

Have a green thumb? You have a great opportunity to bring joy to others by sharing your garden’s spring bounty with others. Flowers can brighten anyone’s day, and this is a free way to make a difference. Here are some people to whom you can give your blooms:

Elderly individuals

Your secretary at work

People who are sick

Women who have recently given birth

Your roommate

A stranger

Guilt in the City

Whenever I’m in downtown DC I feel guilty when I’m approached by a person begging for money. I never give because I never know where my dollars and change will go. Is this wrong to refuse to give? I don’t think so. I keep food in my car so that I can give something to help the person without gambling on whether or not the homeless person will use the money I give to meet his/her needs. Is this an ideal solution? No. I’d venture to say that’s it’s not even a solution. However, it’s the best way to give in a difficult situation.

We are Blessed

Living in one of the wealthiest countries in the world, it’s surprising how easy it is to forget how blessed we are. Here are some fundamental things to be thankful for:
Clean water to drink

Free public education

Family members

A bed

Clothes

Healthcare and modern medicine

Religious freedom

How are you blessed?

Being a 'Loser'

All of us want to win. Winning is usually seen as a validation of all the hard work that we put in to achieving our goals. Striving for excellence and being the best at something that’s important to us can be worthwhile. The personal satisfaction and joy that we gain from winning can affirm that we are using our talents in the best possible way.

The hard part, though, is that we can’t all be winners all the time. Being a loser is a part of life. It’s challenging when we dedicate what we think are our best efforts to something and then don’t get the “gold medals” results in life that we dream about. It’s normal to have these feelings of disappointment and failure. They can cause us to reflect on the true value of our goals and whether or not we’re using our skills and natural gifts in the right ways.

Here are some things to think about to cushion the blow of losing and help you grow from a difficult experience:

When was the last time you were a loser?
How did you handle the feelings of rejection and imperfection?
Even though you weren’t declared a winner, were there other ways that your efforts, practice, and dedication had positive impacts on others?
Is this still a goal worth striving towards?
Are you living the purpose that you want to live in life by working towards this goal?

Getting Kids Involved in Service

If you want to get your kids to care about others in the community, here are some easy ways to get them involved in service:

• Have them draw pictures and make cards that you take to residents in nursing homes.
• Give them a piggy bank that they can use to save money from their allowance. Each month, they can choose a charity that’s important to them and give away some of their savings.
• Visit a children’s hospital together and play with some of the children who are undergoing serious treatments.
• Ask an elderly neighbor if they need help with any household chores. Your family can offer to come over for an hour a month and help clean or take care of any of their needs.
• Let them adopt and care for a seeing eye dog and explain how this helps people who are blind.
• Bake chocolate chip cookies together and give a plate to new neighbors that are just moving into your neighborhood.

There are countless ways that kids can make a big impact and help others. This is a great way to help them grow into the kind of caring and thoughtful teenagers and adults you want them to become.

Giving to Yourself- Even in Hard Times

As we all know, life isn’t always a bowl of cherries. But one way to get through the ‘pits’ of life is to give ourselves little treats amidst the difficult days. These gifts to yourself can keep you going even in the hard times. They don’t even have to cost anything— giving yourself a foot massage, lingering over a Saturday breakfast, and going for a long walk at sunset—these are simple ways to take good care of yourself and be ready for the better days to come.

“One of the secrets of a happy life is continuous small treats.”
-Iris Murdoch

Expectations and Happiness

Americans are known for expecting a lot out of life. This is the very essence of the American dream, but our unfulfilled expectations can lead to chronic dissatisfaction with who we are and what we’re doing. Even our successes and accomplishments become cumbersome because once we achieve one goal we are always setting new ones. This saps the joy from achieving the small milestones that lead to a better life. Sometimes we need to simply say “Enough!” and choose to be satisfied with our lives and who we are. This type of attitude can lead towards contentment.

“Expect nothing, live frugally on surprise.”
-Alice Walker

Guys and Giving

Guys, it’s time to get your give on. According to the latest statistics, women are more likely than men to volunteer. 30% of women were actively involved in service last year, compared to only 23% of men. So, grab your guy friends, or maybe a girlfriend who already volunteers. Choose a service opportunity that interests you and get involved. It’s painless, and you’ll be back to Sports Center in no time!
 

Good Citizenship

Last week I got a letter in the mail from the local county government. Upon opening it, I was immediately disappointed. I had been assigned to jury duty, and this obligation could last as long as two weeks! In the midst of a busy schedule, this was exactly what I didn’t want to get in the mail. However, after thinking about it further, I realized that this is not a huge commitment and is a small price to pay for the freedom that comes from living under the justice system we have in America.

Sure, I could probably find a way to get out of the jury duty. I’ll be in the final throes of a project for work at that time, but I’m going to do whatever I can to follow through on this obligation. In fact, I’m now starting to look forward to it. I’ve never been on a jury or involved in a trial, so I’m sure I’ll learn a lot. Being a good citizen means honoring our civic responsibilities. Even if it means two weeks of jury duty!

Remembering Birthdays

Birthdays are the single designated days when each person should feel special. You can make a difference in someone’s life by simply remembering their birthday. For an office colleague, sending a brief birthday email or asking about any special plans goes a long way in terms of showing that you care. For friends and family members, sending a card is a terrific way to stay close and let them know that they are loved. You can do this through a free e-card or through the mail. Getting a physical card in the mail is always a nice touch. To keep track of dates, you can make a special birthday calendar where you record everyone’s special day. Remembering people’s birthdays takes very little time and effort, but the impact that you can have on others is significant.

Quick Calls to Build Community

Want a way to connect with others and make meaningful relationships? Give a long lost friend or relative a call. In a world of Facebook (which is great), we often forget that having conversations with people can be a much more meaningful way to stay in touch with the people who are important to us. So often, we only stay ‘in touch’ with people by taking a look at their online profiles and status updates. But this doesn’t give you the full picture. Calling someone can help you reconstruct the personal bonds of relationships that are so important.

You don’t have to schedule a time or send an email first. Calling out of the blue is fine. Let them know that you’ve been thinking about them and want to reconnect. Ask about their work situation, how their family is doing, where they live, and anything else you want to catch up on. It might seem awkward at first, but they will really appreciate knowing that you thought of them and wanted to reconnect. This is a wonderful way to build up your community.

Change for Change

Need an easy way to get money so that you can give it to a good cause? Bring out your piggy bank and start collecting loose change. Anytime you find a luck penny or have a case of ‘wallet obesity’, dump your coins into the bank. You’d be surprised how quickly that little pig can fill up. It’s also strangely satisfying to know that every time you insert change, you are making a difference in a way that’s important to you.

Once you’ve stuffed the pig, go to a local bank and ask if they will convert the change into bills for you. Some banks charge for this service, so be sure to ask first. However, other banks such as TD Bank, have a free coin sorter in the front lobby. Once you get bills in exchange for all of your pennies, nickels, and dimes, you can use the funds to make a donation to a nonprofit, church, or other charity. So there you have it. Donating can’t get any easier than that. It’s truly change for change.

How to Help Someone Get a Job

Know someone that’s unemployed? Here are some ways you can help that person get a job:

• Offer to provide a positive reference
• Connect with unemployed friends, former coworkers, and family members on LinkedIn so they can access your network of connections as they search for jobs
• Be willing to talk with someone who is interested in transitioning into your field of work
• Periodically send an encouraging email to anyone you know that’s unemployed. Let them know that you’re thinking about them and that you’ll do whatever you can to help
• Look to see if your company is hiring. If so, think about whether or not you know of anyone that would be a god fit for any of those positions. If they’re hired, an added benefit of being able to help someone get a job is that you may receive a referral bonus from your company

Being able to work and provide for our families is important, and helping someone get a job will lift their self-esteem. This even boosts our economy.

Be Prepared

Being prepared isn’t just for Boy and Girl Scouts. When we encounter disasters such as the earthquakes that recently occurred in Haiti and Chile, we can see how important it is to be ready to give back in times of crisis. People in the developed world are in a unique situation when it comes to disasters because we have the resources to contribute in the times of greatest need. Here are some ways you can be prepared:

-Have an ‘emergency fund’ of money that you can donate immediately whenever there’s an urgent situation

-Keep canned goods and nonperishable foods in your pantry throughout the year so that you can give to food banks whenever there is a food shortage

-Don’t overspend on your credit cards so that you have a ‘cushion’ of cash that will enable you to give

-Leave some space in your schedule so that you can help someone in need when they have a problem

These are easy ways that you can be on guard and ready to help whenever a disaster strikes. Being able to help when you’re really needed is a blessing. And knowing that you’re ready can give you a sense of comfort and peace of mind.

Sleepless Service

Ever wake up in the night thinking about life? I certainly do. I wish I was able to instantly go back to sleep, but this usually isn’t the case. I think about what I want to do with my life and if I’m living the right way. I wonder what I’ll be doing a year from now, five years from now, twenty years from now… I worry about things that are not going right and try to think of solutions, but this usually isn’t effective.

Lately, instead of lying in bed pondering the unknown and trying to go back to sleep, I’ve found that it helps for me to get up and actually doing something. I’ll work on a volunteer project for Students Serve or write down ideas for new types of service. I map out what I want to do for the next couple of weeks and this gives me a better sense of direction and peace. It enables me to visually see how I am going to live out my life purpose each day. It doesn’t have to be ten years from now. It can be every day… or night!

Donation Haven

Having trouble forcing yourself to tithe or give a portion of your income away to charitable organizations and those in need? You’re not alone. There are many of us who struggle with this. For me, the solution has been to set up an extra bank account. Every time I get paid, I transfer 10% of my paycheck to my “donation haven” bank account that it set aside for giving to others. Once I transfer the donation to this account, I don’t touch it. I can still see all of the money that I’ve got to live on in my other bank accounts. Plus, seeing the donations add up each month is really satisfying. By the end of the year, I give all of the money away. That’s the easy way to give!

The Limits of Luck

In the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day yesterday, it’s worthwhile to think about luck and the role that it plays in our lives. Although some things certainly happen by chance, we can always control our response and what we do about the situations life throws at us.

Hard work and sweat equity are important ingredients in accomplishing any goal. It’s not just about luck. If you look at any of the people we deem to be successful they have all had ‘lucky breaks’ along the way. However, the common factor of their success stories is that they were never deterred despite all the bad things that happen. So, the moral of the story is to never use ‘bad luck’ as an excuse to not keep trying. We can accomplish great things, despite the ‘luck’ in our lives.

Spring Cleaning Opportunity

I’ve seen more snow this winter than I care to see for the rest of my life. D.C. has gotten record snowfalls this year, and I couldn’t be more ready for Spring. Seeing the sun and the fact that the calendar says ‘March’ makes me warm inside. And whenever the winter begins to brighten into spring, that can only mean one thing besides the fact that it’s time to start thinking about vacation. Annual spring cleaning is about to begin. The yearly purging of your closets, pantry, and shelves is also a great time to help others in need.

Nonprofit organizations that operate secondhand stores are always looking for items that they can sell. The money that they make from their stores goes directly to helping people in need. Plus, these stores can provide quality (albeit used) items to lower income individuals who cannot afford to pay the premium prices at department stores.

-If you haven’t worn an item in your closet over the past year, chances are you’ll never wear it again in your life. Go ahead and get rid of that extra baggage. Free yourself from clothes that don’t fit and don’t flatter your body!
-Have any old cooking appliances that still work perfectly well but that haven’t seen the light of day in your kitchen recently? Give them away. Your kitchen cabinets will thank you.
-If you have a storage unit, think about what you’re hanging onto that can be donated to others. Downsizing can save you money as well.
-Many of our pantries are filled with unopened cans that we’re unlikely to use. The food is still good and is nonperishable, and it can provide nourishment to someone else. Box up these items and give them to a local food bank.

Spring cleaning can give you a liberating feeling. Freedom from too much stuff can be uplifting! It can also make a difference in the life of someone in need.
 

What did Mother Theresa Do?

So, What did Mother Theresa Do?

She’s someone that is looked up to by many people across the world, but few people know exactly why she is so well-respected. Mother Theresa was a Catholic nun from Albania who is known for her extensive ministries to the orphaned children, poor, and sick in India. She started a nonprofit charity called Missionaries of Charity in Calcutta, India in 1950. She dedicated her life to this cause and later expanded the organization to countries beyond India. She passed away at age 87 in 1997, but her legacy is ongoing through Missionaries of Charity. The organization has served people in 123 countries, meeting needs through food kitchens, counseling programs for children and their families, schools, orphanages, and hospice centers for people with terminal illnesses.

“ You and I, we are the Church, no? We have to share with our people. Suffering today is because people are hoarding, not giving, not sharing.
Jesus made it very clear. Whatever you do to the least of my brethren, you do it to me.
Give a glass of water, you give it to me. Receive a little
child, you receive me...”

“Love cannot remain by itself—it has no meaning. Love has to be put into action, and that action is service.”

-Mother Theresa

Volunteering with Animals

I wish I had a pet. My beloved cat Ali, who is solid white and full of spunk, is with my parents in Nashville. I’m renting a townhouse in DC, and unfortunately I have to remain ‘pet-less’ due to my lease.

In the meantime, if you’re like me and miss having a pet of your own, there are other ways you can interact with animals. An added bonus is that you can give back to others while gaining the benefits of having a pet.

• Volunteer at an animal shelter for abused and abandoned pets
• Offer to pet sit for a friend or neighbor who’s going on vacation
• Help an organization that brings animals to nursing home residents. This is an innovative type of therapy that helps elderly people feel loved

These options can fill in the gap until you’re able to get a pet of your own. Someday…

Giving Your Trash

What could be an easier way to make a difference than giving away your trash? It’s free, doesn’t take much time, and can make a huge impact across a year or more. Recycling is something anyone can do to help take care of the Earth.

If you’re not already recycling, here’s the simple way to get started:

1. Get a paper grocery bag and fill it with old newspapers, cereal boxes, and any other items that can be recycled. (Don’t know what you can recycle? Click here and print out this guide as a reminder.)
2. Each week, place the bag outside your curb on recycling day. If you don’t have curbside recycling, find the nearest recycling location in your neighborhood.

That’s it. That’s all there is to making the world a cleaner, more sustainable place to live.
 

Giving at the Grocery Store

I love going to the grocery store. To me, there’s just something fun about getting a big cart and strolling down the aisles looking at what’s on sale and the new products that have been developed. Plus, I’m a couponer. I clip and file all of those coupons that come in the Sunday paper and then strategize how to get the biggest bargains possible. Getting things for free can be a great cheap thrill.

Not everyone can afford to buy the food that they need for their families, and there are ways you can help—even while waltzing down the supermarket aisles. If you’re like me and cut out coupons, be sure to clip the offers that you have no plan to use. For example, I have no need to buy baby formula or diapers, but I usually cut out those coupons anyway. Then, when I’m in the grocery store and passing through the baby aisle, I place the coupons that I don’t need on the shelves. You never know who will be coming along behind you. You might help a mother on WIC or food stamps save several dollars, which she can use to buy some fresh fruits and vegetables for her family. Or, even if the person who comes along behind you isn’t in financial need, you might just brighten a guy’s day when he finds that someone was thoughtful and left a coupon that allows him to get an extra bag of his favorite candy for free.

Ah, the grocery store…it’s the little things

Let's Move

Michelle Obama, our First Lady, has recently launched a new initiative to help kids get off the couch and get active. This is fantastic. It’s something that all of us need to do, whether we’re 5, 25, or 95.

Although we don’t often think of it this way, our health is a community issue that affects people all around us. From family members to co-workers to neighbors and even people we don’t know, we have a responsibility to take care of ourselves as best we can. Think about it this way.

-When you’re sick but go to work anyway, you can spread that on to others

-Illnesses are caused by bad choices that we make, such as smoking, tanning, not exercising, excessive drinking, and eating too much/too little

-A major part of our excessive healthcare costs come from illnesses that are due to these bad choices

-Because of the way our healthcare system is structured, healthy people often have to help pay the financial cost of providing treatment to sick people

We owe it to ourselves and our society. It’s time to follow our First Lady’s lead and get moving.

Service Shopping

New to service? Want to find a new place to volunteer? Here’s one of the best ways to identify a volunteer opportunity that’s right for you. I call it ‘service shopping’. Essentially, you’re shopping for a place where you can make a difference.

The concept is simple. Make a list of the local organizations that interest you and call or visit their websites to find out how you can get involved. Pick out 5 or so that seem interesting, and volunteer one time at each of them. You’ll get a feel for the effectiveness of their work and whether or not you can make an impact with them. Then, after you’ve ‘shopped’ around, you can choose to spend your volunteer time at 1 of the nonprofit groups. You can start building connections and maximizing your ability to make a difference.

The Power of Parents

Last weekend I was doing a rigorous spring cleaning. This wasn’t just running the vacuum and dusting the furniture. This was an intense effort of going through all my drawers, closets, and bookshelves to give away the things I don’t need and gain enough space to breathe again.

While I was knee-deep into my “weekend project” I realized that this is just like something my dad would do. When I was growing up (and still to this day) he never seemed to stop thinking of weekend projects to improve the house. This led me to reflect on the many ways that my parents have influenced me and shaped the person I have become. The impact that they have had on my life is incalculable.

Parents and relatives have some of the most important opportunities to change the world. They can shape their sons and daughters, nieces and nephews, godchildren, and friends’ children into our future world citizens. You don’t have to have kids to do this. What a wonderful opportunity this is! It’s something I’ll think about every time I interact with Rachael, my beloved niece.

Chuck, My Librarian

Sometimes you just happen to have a special connection with certain people. Chuck is one of those people for me. He’s my librarian in Nashville. There are many reasons why I love going to the library, and Chuck is one of them. I always look forward to seeing his smiling face. He knows me by name and never fails to greet me with a warm-hearted wave each time I visit the library. Chuck knows about my life and always asks about my family members. At one point we even learned that we share the same birthday, October 14th. We’re separated in age by several decades, but we have developed an interesting friendship, nonetheless.

He’s not rich or famous, and probably won’t receive any lifetime achievement awards. But Chuck has made a difference in my life. Chuck’s not just any librarian. He’s my librarian.

There’s no other way to say it—Chuck makes me feel special. I hope I can be like him.

Cost-free Ways to Help Chile

If you don’t have money to donate, here are ways you can still help people who were affected by the devastating earthquake in Chile:

-Firefighters and people with emergency medical training will be going to Chile to offer their services. If you know a firefighter or someone who plans to help, offer to take care of their children, watch over their house, or check the mail while they’re away.

-You can also volunteer at your local Salvation Army. This trusted organization is currently in Chile providing assistance. By donating your time to their volunteer programs, you will enable them to send as much aid to Chile as possible.

-If you have any home improvement goods such as furniture, home accessories, building materials, or appliances that you are not currently using, you can donate those items to Habitat ReStores, which are run by Habitat for Humanity. They have locations all across the US.

-Donate any clothing or shoes that you can no longer wear to a Salvation Army thrift store. You can also purchase items from these stores. Proceeds from sales are directed to Salvation Army programs, and will enable the organization to direct as many funds as possible to relief efforts in Chile.

-If you know of anyone with relatives in Chile, offer to bring them dinner or do anything else you can to provide some comfort and show that you care. This will help put their minds at ease despite the fears of friends and family members that might be missing.

In difficult times following natural disasters, such as the current situations in Chile and Haiti, we have the ability to show our compassion and give to those who have the most immediate needs. We are not powerless. Even though we may be separated by thousands of miles, cultural differences, and political ideals, we can help our global neighbors in these times of crisis.

Get Involved, Get Local

If you’re new to an area or have never really found a niche within your community, getting involved with local service organizations can help you find a place to fit in. You’ll quickly begin to get a sense of what the local issues and needs are. The complete perspective on what makes your city unique will give you a better appreciation for the area you live in. This is especially helpful if it’s not your hometown or you’d rather be somewhere else.

Here’s an easy site to find local volunteer opportunities: http://www.volunteermatch.org/

Olympian Inspiration

Watching the Olympics every two years is always inspiring to me. Seeing the athletes that have spent their lives in endless training sessions never fails to remind me of the value of working hard. In a world of magazines, TV shows, and blogs that only focus on the “simple”, “easy”, and “stress free” ways to get through life, it’s easy to forget that there is a lot of value in picking one goal and working towards it with all of your strength. This is something that I need to be reminded of as well from time to time.

Greatness does not happen in an instant. It is created over years, through self-discipline, courage, and faith. Giving ourselves to worthwhile goals can help us use and hone our talents so that achieve something excellent. Patience, perspiration, and practice can create powerful results.

Here’s something to reflect on:
What goals do you have that are worth working for?
 

What Really Matters

I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.
-Maya Angelou

Service in Small Ways

“I am only one,
But still I am one.
I cannot do everything,
But still I can do something;
And because I cannot do everything
I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.”
-Edward Everett Hale

To be honest, I have no idea who Edward Everett Hale is (or was) but I really like his short poem. I don’t know about you, but I constantly doubt myself when it seems like I’m confronted with a problem or situation that’s more than I can handle. Why me? What do I have to offer? Edward Everett Hale had the answer to these questions. We’re all someone and we can all do something. When we have a whole lot of “someones” each doing something, the combined results can be amazing.

It’s kind of like the sand on a beach. Each grain is tiny on its own, but when combined with thousands upon millions of other tiny, tiny grains of sand, they together make a beach. Yes, this may sound clichéd, but you can’t deny that it’s true.

Edward Everett Hale was certainly on to something here.

Service and Singlehood

Today’s the last day of February, the month that’s known for Valentine’s Day, aka Single Awareness Day (“SAD”). Many of us who are not currently in long-term relationships have mixed feelings throughout this time of year. We have hope for future that is filled with a committed marriage, feel dismay at another Valentine’s Day without a wedding ring, and crave a way to meet someone to share a life with.

Most successful marriages are characterized by partners that share the same values. Keeping that in mind, here’s my newest idea: Service dating! No joke. What better way could there be to find that ‘right’ person to spend your life with? By engaging (pun intended) in volunteer service on a date, you can get a sense of what someone’s values are. It’s a great way to interact and learn about who someone really is.

Instead of sitting in a dark movie theater for two hours with someone you don’t even know, meet up at a local food bank and offer to help sort cans before going out to dinner. Lots of church groups have service events, and some employers have volunteer days as well. You never know who you’ll meet.

This definitely beats speed dating.

Volunteer Gear

If you’ve got a group of volunteers and are hosting a service event or fundraiser, it’s typical to order t-shirts with the name of your group or organization. This is a great way to thank your volunteers and show that you appreciate their efforts. It’s also a way to outwardly show solidarity for a cause that’s important to you. Whenever your volunteers wear the shirts to the grocery store or wherever they go, other people will see the service efforts that you’re involved with. So this can be an advertising investment for your service project as well.

The only challenge with t-shirts is that the cost per shirt can be expensive if you only need to make several. Sometimes there are minimum orders of 50 shirts or more, and this might be way more than you will ever need. It can also take a long time to have the shirt maker take your design and transfer it to your shirts. However, there are websites that can help with this. You can order small quantities of shirts and other items that you design on sites such as CafePress, Zazzle, and others. There are also other creative items that you can customize on these sites. The expense varies significantly depending on the object that you want to put your logo on.

Your volunteers will be lookin’ good in no time.

Service and Your Self-worth

A lot of people lose sight of the fact that they’re still important even though they commit to serving others. George Eliot understood this,

“It is good to be helpful and kindly, but don't give yourself to be melted into candle grease for the benefit of the tallow trade.”

What does this mean? Be careful that you take care of yourself even if you’re taking care of the needs of others. It’s easy to devalue yourself, but this is not what service should be about. Giving to others is all about recognizing the greatness in yourself and also seeing that greatness in others.

You can certainly choose to make short-term sacrifices for someone else, but if you go too far it’s possible to melt down. This is becoming more and more common, particularly as people have to care for their elderly parents and their own children, not to mention working full-time.

The bottom line? Regularly appreciate your unique greatness and care for yourself in addition to the other people in your life. This way you’ll be able to keep giving and living a life you love.

Who is Gandhi?

Who is Gandhi?

Sure, you’ve seen all of the inspirational quotes. But when it comes down to actually explaining what he did, could you give a good answer? I couldn’t. Beyond the basics, I didn’t really have an idea. I guess we skipped that chapter in my world history class!

So who was Gandhi? Here’s the 101 version:

Born in 1869, Mahatma Gandhi was a leading political and spiritual figure in India throughout the Indian independence movement. His biggest claim to fame was that he used civil disobedience to resist the rule of tyranny. He was followed by large numbers of people in India, and the result of this nonviolent movement was the independence of India. Gandhi led campaigns across India to expand economic self-reliance, decrease poverty, support women's rights, and end the traditional practice of untouchability. In addition, his methods have served as inspiration for leaders throughout the world who are being suppressed.

So that’s who Gandhi was. Good to know.

“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”-Mahatma Gandhi

Helping Haiti

The destruction and devastation of Haiti that occurred as a result of the earthquake in mid-January is overwhelming. Seeing the endless streams of families without houses or any of their personal belongings is difficult to watch. Personally, I prefer not to be bombarded with all of the bad news. It’s not that I don’t want to be well-informed about the problems or that I don’t care. It’s because I would rather be doing something that would contribute to a solution as opposed to spending my time absorbing all of the devastation.

I’ve talked to a lot of people who feel the same way. Many of us would rather get involved instead of get depressed. Although taking a flight to Haiti to help out is not feasible possibility for many of us, there are other ways to get involved. One of the biggest needs right now is funding to assist with rescue and rehabilitation efforts. Here are some of the most established organizations that are actively on the ground in Haiti helping rebuild the nation:

1. American Red Cross: Since its founding in 1881 by visionary leader Clara Barton, the American Red Cross has been the nation's premier emergency response organization.
2. International Rescue Committee: Since 1933, the International Rescue Committee goes to crisis zones to rescue and rebuild. We lead refugees from harm to home.
3. Catholic Relief Services: Help CRS rush humanitarian relief to survivors within hours of man-made and natural disasters around the world.
4. Operation USA: Operation USA helps communities alleviate the effects of disasters, disease and endemic poverty throughout the world by providing privately-funded relief, reconstruction and development aid.
5. UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF): Humanitarian fund established by the United Nations to enable more timely and reliable humanitarian assistance to areas affected by natural disasters. CERF will assure that the funds for the relief effort in Haiti will go where they are most needed in the network of international aid organizations.

Instead of buying a plane ticket to Haiti, send the same amount of money to one of these organizations instead. Your donations are never needed more than they are now.
 

The Meaning of Politics

I’m no Greek scholar. I took Latin in high school and Spanish in college. But even with the limited linguistics skills that I possess, I do know that the root meaning of the word politics is “people”. At the end of the day, politics is about the people—not the politicians, their political parties, or the issue du jure. It’s about the people that our governments are formed to serve.

Vaclav Havel got this right,
“Genuine politics—even politics worthy of the name—the only politics I am willing to devote myself to—is simply a matter of serving those around us: serving the community and serving those who will come after us.”
Sometimes I wonder if our government leaders have forgotten this basic middle school government class lesson. Politics is serving others. To that end, anyone who serves others, whether they’ve been elected or not, is a politician.
Go figure. Who knew that we are all politicians in our own way?

I love my job!

Only 45% of Americans are satisfied with the jobs.

(http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/01/05/national/main6056611.shtml)

That’s less than half of all workers! Is this how you would describe your work?

The dissatisfaction with work has become pandemic. It seems like it’s more culturally acceptable to hate your job, your boss, your coworkers than to enjoy and take pride in the work that you do.

This is especially true for people who are committed to serving other and volunteering. They feel like their jobs aren’t meaningful, worthwhile, or contribute to society. But is that really true? Do you have to volunteer and donate your talents and labor in order for your work to be worthwhile? I don’t think so.

In fact, I have a confession to make. I love my job. I really do. I’m not just saying that because my colleagues, supervisor, or grad school admission panelists might read this. Going to work every day and doing the best job I can is personally gratifying and it also makes a positive impact on the world.
Think of it this way. Someone has to manufacture the shoes that protect the fragile feet of children in third world countries. Someone has to analyze the best way to use farmland so that we can produce high quality, abundant food sources. Someone has to decide where to invest money so that it will still be there for people when they have to retire and are unable to work any longer.

If you’re still not convinced that your paid job is as meaningful as your volunteer work, here’s another way to think about it. Consider your job a type of training ground for your service efforts. You learn valuable skills while working in your full-time job, and you can transfer those talents and abilities to your volunteer work. Doing a good job is, well, good.

P.S. Along these lines, it’s ok to make money! It’s what you do with your money that matters. In my mind, making money isn’t a crime. Money can be used to do a lot of good. As long as you don’t worship the dollar or let your bank account fuel your self-worth, it’s not wrong to be rich.

My Guilty Pleasure: Platinum Weddings

I admit it. I am fascinated by the show Platinum Weddings on We TV. I’m not sure if I can explain exactly why, but there’s just something about the $150,000 rehearsal dinners, bouquets of the most expensive orchids in the world, and seemingly infinite diamond necklaces that captivates my attention. Sure I’m a single twenty-something woman right now and I definitely dream of getting married someday, eventually. But I think it’s more than that. The opulence just seems to never end, but in reality it does. It’s all over in 1 day (ok maybe 1 week in the case of some of these wedding extravaganzas). Hundreds of thousands of dollars spent for 1 day. I have to wonder if it’s worth it—especially if the marriage ends in divorce. The pictures may be great, but I’d be willing to bet that couples who have reached their golden anniversaries and were married in their church with only their pastor, immediate family, and maybe a bouquet of flowers purchased from the local florist are just as content, if not more so.

This isn’t to say that we shouldn’t have nice weddings, but doesn’t there have to be a point when you focus more on the marriage than the royal violet Norwegian orchids and herb encrusted scallops that were harvested in Nova Scotia and air-lifted in for the reception? I hope so! Celebrating is important, but I’m not convinced that these platinum brides are celebrating love, family, marriage, and community.

To my future husband, whoever he may be: I don’t want a wedding that will cost as much as a mansion. A sincere and fulfilled commitment of unending love and faithfulness is all I need. But then again, I wouldn’t mind a nice ring as well!

Is bigger always better?

So for the question of the day, Is bigger always better?

When it comes to chocolate, my answer is a resounding “Yes!”.

But with service that’s not always the case. Those small acts of kindness can make all the difference in the world. Service is not just about volunteering every Saturday afternoon. Service is an everyday ethos of treating others well and leading a good life. Some of the most impactful actions you can take might only take a couple minutes. The other day when I was at the post office, I had five packages to mail and my hands were overloaded. A gentleman several decades older than I am offered to help bring the packages to the counter. His kind smile and practical help relieving my burdened back was a great type of service. It made all the difference in my day. It didn’t even require a donation or an hour of his time. I was sincerely grateful!

What can you do today, even if it’s something small?

“Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could do only a little.” -Edmund Burke

Heroes

Everybody needs a hero, someone they can aspire to be like and admire. I’m not sure if I have somebody I would consider to be my hero, but I definitely have role models that I try to imitate. These people range from successful business innovators to world leaders to my mom, dad, and respected teachers. Having people to look up to is important. It can help you keep growing to become the person you want to be.

Sometimes though I think we can become guilty of hero worship, putting people who do great things on a platform so that they seem to be ‘saviors’. It seems like they are the quintessential embodiment of perfection. They can do no wrong. Our world is reliant upon them in order to make progress and improve society.

However, the unfortunate truth is that all heroes have an Achilles tendon or two. That is to say that everyone has faults and a couple of great people who inhabit the earth for a short amount of time can’t do everything that needs to be done to solve all problems and wipe away all injustices.

I love something Marian Wright Edelman said,
“A lot of people are waiting for Martin Luther King or Mahatma Gandhi to come back—but they are gone. We are it. It is up to us. It is up to you.”
We can still look up to others, but we’ve got to go beyond that and actually take actions with our own hands and minds. We’ve got to be our own heroes.

Silver Linings in the Snowdrifts

I live in the Washington, D.C. area and we’ve had record breaking snowfalls this winter. It seems like every time we finally dig ourselves out of the latest snowstorm, another one springs up and covers the streets with another dusting of snow and ice. It’s almost like you can hear Nature laughing at the joke she’s played on us, requiring us to plow the roads (once again…) and sprinkle cat litter on the front porch so that we can keep from tripping.

At least there’s been a silver lining amidst the snowstorms.

Having only met my neighbors on passing occasions, driving in and out of the subdivision, the blankets of winter white have forced us out of our houses. We’ve helped each other de-ice our cars and scrape the windshields. I’ve seen nearby kids building amazing snowmen together and couples sharing meals. We’ve offered praise and encouragement to the guy who keeps coming with a bulldozer to plow our driveways. It’s too bad that it took record snowfalls for us to appreciate the people who live right next to us, but I’m thankful nonetheless.

Maybe Nature knows better than she’s letting on…

Where to Start

“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” –Anne Frank

One of the hardest parts of volunteering for the first time is deciding where to start. 

Child hunger? Poverty? Gang violence? Teen pregnancy? Immigration? Endangered species?

The issues are as endless as the opportunities to serve.  A lot of people who haven’t started volunteering yet are intimidated by the infinite choices, but this shouldn’t keep you from jumping in.  You don’t have to decide on a ‘cause’ before you choose a place to volunteer.  Experiment!  If you’re not a regular volunteer, try helping out at some local nonprofits.  See what moves you.  What organization needs the most help?  Where can you make the biggest contribution?  Do this before you choose one issue you want to focus your volunteer efforts on.  As Anne Frank mentioned, there’s no need to wait until you find the ‘right’ cause for you.