Regifting 101: One sure-fire way to successfully pass it on:

If your heart and your wallet have different ideas about making monetary donations, it is time to summon your inner regifter.  An unwanted gift could be a welcome donation to a charitable organization. For help selecting a charitable organization, visit the Better Business Bureaus’ Wise Giving Alliance. You can also contact the government office responsible for registering charities in your state. A little research upfront will make sure that your donation is put to good use.  If the process of selecting a charity seems daunting, remember, you benefit from giving as well.  

We live in interesting times

I have noticed this December that people are having  a hard time getting in the holiday mood. My theory is that people may feel it is inappropriate to be jolly when there is so much sadness hovering like a cloud over the season.

What do YOU think?

Be a Good in the World: May 31

World No-Tobacco Day

Smoking is a drag, literally. It is bad for your health and the environment. If you need a little push to help you quit or to encourage a loved one to stop smoking, the American Lung Association website at lung.org is replete with helpful information. They report that smoking-related diseases in the United States claim an estimated 443,000 lives each year. In addition, cigarette smoke contains over 4,800 chemicals, 69 of which are known to cause cancer. Leave this old habit behind and we'll all breathe easier!

Be a Good in the World: May 30

 Have a Good Neighbor Policy

If you live next to an elderly couple or someone who is disabled, volunteer to help them around their yard by raking their leaves or mowing their lawn. Consider it good exercise and a good deed.

Be a Good in the World: May 29

Click to Give

There are many websites that are click-to-give. Just by clicking, you can help send food or money to countries and causes that need them. One of them is greatergood.com. It just takes a few keystrokes to make someone’s life better.

Be a Good in the World: May 28

Wish Upon a Hero

Grant someone a wish through Wish Upon a Hero, a network dedicated to people helping people. Anyone can be a hero by sending a donation or offering a service. Explore heronetwork.com to browse through wishes and see if you can help with any. It is a really good reminder of what others are going through and that you are needed in this world.

Be a Good in the World: May 27

Start a Changepot

This is exactly as it sounds: a pot for change. If you don't mind stopping in the middle of a sidewalk or side of the road, pick up loose change that has fallen to the ground. Add your findings to the same pot and after a few months, see how much you have collected. If you're strapped for cash, spend your findings on a nice meal for your family. If you are fairly stable financially, donate the money (anonymously) to a good cause.

Be a Good in the World: May 26

Yes, You Can

Remove the word can't  from your vocabulary and think about what is actually holding you back—fear, reluctance, pride? Once you stop talking yourself out of taking a risk or making a difficult decision, life will open up for you and so will your mind.

Do something nice and helpful without being asked. Take out the trash, clean the house, and visit a relative. Once you make a habit of these tasks, you won't need reminding since you will want to do them as you go about your usual day.

Be a Good in the World: May 25

Be a Compassionate Clipper

Leave extra coupons on the shelf next to the item they are for. Easy peasy!

Be a Good in the World: May 24

Share Your Toys

Leave small, handmade toys for people to find. The Toy Society spreads love by doing this good deed. Visit thetoysociety.blogspot.com for more information and insipiration. You can post your toy drop on the website and view the drops that others have made. Feel free to share a picture and revel in the thought of bringing a child happiness— it might also be a good idea to leave a note on the toy that lets people know they can take it. For example: “Take me home—I'm yours!”

 

Be a Good in the World: May 23

You Have the Power!

Anonymously grant a wish on someone’s Amazon wish list. How simple is that? And how sweet is that?

Be a Good in the World: May 22

Let Kids Be Kids

Finding out that handmade rugs are often made by mere children was so shocking to me—I couldn't imagine what those youngsters have to go through every day. The organization GoodWeave was started in 1994 to stop child labor in the rug industry. To help their efforts, check for a GoodWeave label on the rugs you purchase and donate to their One in a Million campaign. GoodWeave’s work has reduced the numbers of children toiling in rug factories, and with your help, they can help end child labor in the world today.

Be a Good in the World: May 21

National Endangered Species Day

Did you know monarch butterflies are at risk of becoming extinct? Protect wildlife and endangered animals. Join a preservation group or animal sanctuary to help keep our habitats and animals safe. More than 800 animals have gone extinct over the last 500 or so years, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources’ Red List—generally considered to be

the most comprehensive of its kind. Our diversity is what makes Earth so special and we must do all we can do to preserve it.

Be a Good in the World: May 20

Penning the Positive

Write a message of positivity on a decorated postcard and send it in to postsecret.com. There, you can also view postcards that others have sent in. Affirmations, love notes, and written acts of kindness truly have the power to lift the human spirit.

Be a Good in the World: May 19

Let ’s Make It a Complaint-Free World

Go one day without complaining. Even better, go a week. If this is hard for you to accomplish, it’s time to make some changes in your life. Think positively, live in the present, and appreciate where you are and who you are. Today is a gift, so accept and embrace it.

Author Mark Bowen wrote a fantastic book on this very topic that I turn to when I need a reminder, as we all do now and again. My copy came with a bracelet, a simple way to monitor how often you complain that helps you track your progress toward becoming “complaint-free.” Put on the bracelet and every time you complain, switch it to the other wrist. The goal is to go 21 consecutive days without switching the bracelet. It is harder than you might think and I was a bit shocked at what a complainer I turned out to be. It was a really good exercise for me—I highly recommend it. I benefited enormously and I suspect those around me did, too!

Be a Good in the World: May 18

A Laugh a Day Keeps the Doctor Away

As the legendary Charlie Chaplin said, “A day without laughter is a day wasted.”

Laughter and good humor are infectious. Sharing a funny story or memory with others helps increase happiness and intimacy between friends, acquaintances, and loved ones. According to helpguide.org, laughter triggers happiness and can strengthen the immune system, boost energy, relieve physical and emotional pain, and battle the effects of stress. Today is a great day! Let yourself enjoy it.

Be a Good in the World: May 17

Making Sure She Has a Night to Remember

Did you know that many teen girls long to attend their high school prom but end up missing out on the tradition simply because a fancy dress is not in the family budget? Help these girls out by visiting www.glassslipperproject.org.

Donate your old prom dress and shoes to the delightful folks at the Glass Slipper Project, a nonprofit organization that gives free prom dresses, shoes, and accessories to high school juniors and seniors. Generosity can be very glamorous!

Be a Good in the World: May 16

Games That Give

Even online gaming can be philanthropic—try out Games That Give, at gamesthatgive.net/play. This website donates approximately 70% of their advertising revenue to charitable causes. Everyone wins here.

Be a Good in the World: May 15

The Keys to Kindness

If you are like me, you can end up with so many old keys you end up looking like a janitor! Find out how you can unlock some goodness at keysforkindness.com. Donate your old keys to help fight Multiple Sclerosis.

Be a Good in the World: May 14

Lit Love

Every child should learn to expand their mind through the wide world of literature. The fine folks at Books for Kids have a love of reading and have helped disadvantaged families collect libraries at home. You can make that happen, one kid and one book at a time. Pick out some of your favorites that you loved as a child and get in on the fun.

Be a Good in the World: May 13

A Very Very Very Fine House

Volunteer to help build a house through Habitat for Humanity, a nonprofit organization that builds and repairs houses so that families have a safe and affordable place to live. Maybe you'll even get to meet former President Jimmy Carter and you can hammer up a front porch and discuss world peace together.

Be a Good in the World: May 12

Ask “How Are You? ” and Mean It !

Ask someone how their day is going and start a conversation. Sometimes people want to talk more than they let on and your interest will show them you care. One day, you'll get the chance to tell some kind-hearted person exactly how you  are. Your answer to that question might not always be pretty, but it will feel wonderful to be heard.

Be a Good in the World: May 11

Love Your Mother

Celebrate your mother today by making her feel special and loved by taking her out to lunch or a mani/pedi. For your friends who may have lost their mother, check in with them as this day may be difficult. Mother’s Day is all about love, so spread it around far and wide.

Be a Good in the World: May 10

Mother Ocean Day

Look into volunteering to clean up your local beach. With pollution in our water and in the sand, help make these local hot spots safer for visitors to the beach and the environment! If you live in the San Francisco Bay Area, check out All One Ocean to see when you can help: alloneocean.org/community-meeting-beach-clean-up.

Be a Good in the World: May 9

Do the Thing You Think You Cannot Do

My friend Clare Cooley practices this courageous philosophy

and now teaches others how to “Imagine a Day.” Clare is probably the ultimate autodidact; she had to drop out of school pretty early to take care of family members. This has not stopped her from learning and doing anything she sets her mind to, from design, filmmaking, and painting to crafting, writing, and music. One of Clare’s most spectacular gifts is her show-stopping skate dancing and there are many YouTube videos that strangers have taped and uploaded of her whirling and twirling. Clare, who chose to not allow economic difficulties and a lack of formal education prevent her from succeeding in life, has gone on to show her ceramics and naturalist paintings in museums and galleries around the country. She says, “Lack of imagination is the only limitation and fear creates self-doubt.” In her teaching, she helps people get out of “fear mode” and unlock the power of imagination. You can see her beautiful artwork at clarecooley.com.

I urge you to Imagine a Day—pick something you always wanted to do, but were afraid to try. Painting, French cookery, playing piano, singing, learning a foreign language, yoga, rock-climbing, ballroom dancing, pottery, snorkeling—something that speaks to you on a profound level but scares you just a little. Find a class or barter with someone who is an expert to whom you  can teach something, and dive right in.

Mother's Day Gift Guide From Viva Editions

Viva Editions would like to make a toast to all of the moms and inspiring women in the world! To show mothers how much you care this Sunday, bring them one of a book written by a mom for moms on Viva’s gift guide.

1. Toasts by June Cotner and Nancy Tupper Ling

Life’s special moments deserve special words. And the special women in your life deserve a toast just for them.  Cotner and Ling deliver with a section dedicated to motherhood, and “A Mother’s Day Grace.”

2. Girlfriends are LifeSavers by Reeda Joseph

 This is truly a celebration of women’s friendship with rare vintage art and bold bon mots. Show that special lady in your life that she is more than just your mom; she’s your friend too. And you value that friendship.

3. She: A Celebration of Greatness in Every Woman by Mary Anne Radmacher and Liz Kalloch

Mothers are among the strongest and smartest women we know. So inspire the woman who has so inspired you with this celebration of women’s strength and wisdom. 

4. Getting Laid: A Grow-You-Own Guide to Raising Chickens, Gardening and Preserving with Over 100 Recipes by Barb Webb

The extraordinary woman behind the top country living blog Rural Mom, shares her trade secrets for living a healthier, happier lifestyle.  This Mother’s Day, share with your mom the joys of gardening and sustainability.

5. Veganish: The Omnivore’s Guide to Plant-Based Cooking by Mielle Chenier-Cowan Rose

This fact-filled and fabulous cookbook on how to get all the nutrients you need with a plant-based diet was inspired by Mielle’s own child. When you’re a mom, you know the importance of providing your family with proper nutrition.

6. Love in Every Stitch: Stories of Knitting and Healing by Lee Gant

 The power of knitting can transform your life and heal your heart, mind and soul. If your mother or grandmother loves to knit or has ever made you a crocheted scarf, give her the gift of uplifting knitting stories carefully crafted by one mother for another.

7. Crafting Calm: Projects and Practices for Creativity and Contemplation by Maggie Oman Shannon

Moms are always busy! We know that better than anyone. Reward your mom for all of her hard work by crafting something for her, or helping her find inner peace and a quite mind by putting those busy hands to good and creative work. 

8. Lemons and Lavender: The Eco Guide to Better Housekeeping by Billee Sharp

Mother and eco-extraordinaire, Billee Sharp shares with you her tips and tricks for eco-friendly housekeeping.  The perfect gift for all moms who want to keep their families happy and healthy!

9. The Grateful Life: The Secret to Happiness and the Science of Contentment by Nina Lesowitz and Mary Beth Sammons

We are all grateful for the strong women in our lives! What better way to show mom that we care then to give her a book full of inspiration to live to the fullest through daily gratitude.

10. Imperfect Spirituality: Extraordinary Enlightenment for Ordinary People by Polly Campbell

Though moms are always extraordinary in our eyes, Polly knows that even they need reminders! With this guide, moms can learn how real-life moments create opportunities for growth, ultimately leading to a stress free and enlightened life.

11. All You Need is Less: The Eco-Friendly Guide to Guilt-Free Green Living and Stress-Free Simplicity by Madeleine Somerville

 Mom’s are always on the go. Share this book of stress-free simplicity with the woman who has given so much! She’ll save the rainforest and the whales along the way.

12. Getting to 50/50: How Working Parents Can Have It All by Sharon Meers and Joanna Strober

These two moms, wives, and professionals have five young children between them. They understand not only the challenges and rewards of motherhood, but also the importance of tapping into your best recourse and powerful ally – the man you married. They know that you can have it all: a great careers, a great marriage, and be a great mother.

13. Help! My Baby Came Without Instructions: How to Survive and (Enjoy) Your Baby’s First Year by Blythe Lipman

All veteran moms know that newborns are both a delight and a test of strength.  Well Blythe is here to help with her parent-tested, expert-approved guide to the art of infant care! This is the perfect gift for all of your friends and loved ones expected an addition to the family. 

14. Everything I Needed to Know I Learned Through My Six-Month-Old: Awakening to Unconditional Self Love in Motherhood by Kuwana Haulsey

If you’re a mom or know somebody who is, then you know the difficulties of caring for yourself while caring for others. Give the gift of self-love to a mother you love, or give that gift to yourself! 

15. Jump-Starting Boys: Help Your Reluctant Learner Find Success in School and Life by Pam Withers and Cynthia Gill

These moms offer positive, practical, and powerful solutions for parents of underperforming pre-teen and teen boys because they want to see all young boys, and mom, success!

16. It’s Never Too Late to Be What You Might Have Been: A Guide to Getting the Life You Love by BJ Gallagher

BJ Gallagher knows that being a mom doesn’t mean sacrificing your happiness. Instead, motherhood enhances it! So whether she’s a new mom or sending her kids off to college, this book will offer her advice, step-by-step guidelines, and pure inspiration to listen to her inner voice, and live the life she truly loves.

17. Use Your Words: A Writing Guide for Mothers by Kate Hopper

We can learn so much from mothers, so share this book with a mother in your life and encourage her to share her wisdom and story through writing.

18. Mom’s The Word: The Wit, Wisdom and Wonder of Motherhood by Allen Klein

You don’t have to be mom to appreciate motherhood. This inspiration for Allen Klein’s book was his mom; he wanted to write a wise and witty tribute to the heart of every family – mom. 

Be a Good in the World: May 8

Moving and Grooving

Moving? Use clean sheets, pillowcases, and towels to pack breakable items like dishes and framed artwork. The soft material will help cushion your breakables, reducing or eliminating the need for bubble wrap. As an added bonus, linens and kitchen items are also usually among the first things you'll need to unpack at your new place, so using one to help pack the other means you'll find everything you need in one box. Clever, eh?

Be a Good in the World: May 7

List Your Life

Instead of writing up and crossing things off of a bucket list, create a “life list.” Let your hopes, dreams, fears, and thoughts spill out of you and into this list. Next to each entry, write down how that emotion or fear makes you feel—does it hold you back or empower you? This task will put you on the road to self-discovery. Knowing who you are is important in order to have relationships with others. Know thyself.

Be a Good in the World: May 6

For Services Rendered

Send a letter to someone in local law enforcement, the Coast Guard, or serving overseas that gives thanks for their hard work and dedication to our country. It’s simple and will be greatly appreciated. Go to LetsSayThanks. com for inspiration.

Be a Good in the World: May 5

Stories Are Not Just for Bedtime

Read a child a story. Introducing children to the world of books while they're young will help boost their imagination and intelligence (and will also strengthen your bond). Whether you are babysitting, reading to your own child, or volunteering at a library or hospital, this deed goes a long way.

Be a Good in the World: May 4

National Lemonade Day

Instead of driving past yet another lemonade stand, help the kids out by pulling over and buying a cup on a hot day. The kids will feel a sense of accomplishment as more people follow your example. Model good behavior whenever you can and it will return to you in spades.

Be a Good in the World: May 3

Unplug (and Recharge!)

Forego using technological devices today. Texting your friend, watching your favorite show, checking your email—all can wait until tomorrow! Turn off your devices and turn on your senses! Read a book, cook a meal, and enjoy the outdoors by taking a walk or tending to your garden. Technology distracts us from the real world, occupying our attention with game applications, chat rooms, social media websites, commercials, and so on. Want to know what’s going on in the news? Read a newspaper. Be aware of the here and now by finding activities that don't require electricity or a battery. Make your own entertainment!

Be a Good in the World: May 2

True Love Does Not Require a Diamond

Precious gems and metals leave a horrific trail of pollution and human rights abuses. Not much more needs to be said about this one without getting into some seriously depressing territory, but we cannot discuss jewelry without acknowledging that many people pay a steep price in order to mine, produce, and export all those shiny little rocks we coyly call “a girl’s best friend.” There are so many ways to show your love and no suffering should be involved. Ever.

Be a Good in the World: May 1

Plant Flower s in Abandoned Lots

May Day was a sacred celebration of spring in ancient times and remains a special day for modern folk. I have attended several marvelous festivities complete with garlanded Maypoles; one held by Z Budapest is a treasured memory. I have my own tradition for this merry month, which is a really simple and easy way to celebrate spring: I plant flower seeds in neglected plots of land all around

the Bay Area, particularly nasturtiums, which thrive on neglect and can bloom anywhere and under any circumstances. I could give a driving tour of San Francisco and the East Bay and show you the brightly colored patches that are the result of my Johnny Appleseed-style scattershot approach. You can even eat them! I always have a lot of nasturtiums growing in my garden and I collect

the seeds once they have flowered in plastic baggies. I joke to my friends that I would like my legacy to be that I was “Fiesta Blenda,” the name of a mix that yields a riot of color that can turn any former parking lot or weed patch into a pocket of red, yellow, and orange sunshine. I will add that some of my tenth-generation crop mutated into a lovely variegated leaf, which only adds to the glory. 

This bit of freeganomics feeds my soul like almost nothing else. I would say it is a sensible act of beauty.

Be a Good in the World: April 30

Ditch the High-Maintenance Front

Lawn and Plant Natives

As a Northern Californian experiencing a seriousbdrought, I am thrilled to see more and more gardensnbeing cultivated with plants that need no  water. Thisnmethod is called xeriscaping and it is gorgeous and hasbenormous variety. If you're tired of the constant mow/ water/fertilize cycle of your lawn, consider getting rid of it altogether. It’s not as bizarre as it sounds. Some water conservationists estimate that up to 40% of a household’s water usage during the summer months is spent on outdoor watering, so ditching the lawn altogether can save you time and money, not to mention a precious resource. One eco-friendly option is to replace all that turf with plants indigenous to your region, which will require less water and look far prettier than any plain ol’ square of green grass ever could. Start a xeriscaping movement on your street.

Be a Good in the World: April 22

Celebrate Earth Day Every Day!

This is the day to acknowledge your connection to your home planet and all the nurturing nature, bounty, and beauty you receive from this big blue dot. April 22 is Earth Day, celebrated annually in over 184 countries to promote a healthy environment and a peaceful planet. Earth Day highlights our connection with nature, bringing awareness that each one of us is responsible for the destruction or abundance of our natural world...the only one we have. Earth Day makes us realize that each of us has a voice and every one of our actions matters; collectively great things happen.

Celebrate Earth Day by joining an organized group and help clear beaches and parks of cans, paper, plastic, bottles, and trash. Go with your family and friends, or go out alone. Look around in your neighborhood to see what needs to be done. Petition your local government for more trees, cleaner waterways, and an end to industrial pollution. Use earth-friendly chemicals. Recycle paper and cans, and compost green matter. 

Log onto earthday.org or check your local press to find out what is happening in your area, how to organize  your own event, or what commitment you could make in your own small way to help save our Earth...and then make every day Earth Day.

Be a Good in the World: April 21

Top of the Mornin'!

 One of our fabulous interns here at Viva Editions, Sara Wigglesworth, has a lovely way of saying “Good morning” upon arriving that ensures it will actually be a better day. I have to admit that greeting coworkers sometimes slips my mind, so it’s helpful to be reminded of the power that a simple, well-intentioned, and sincere greeting can have. It is a wonderful way to start the day with elegance and ease.

Be a Good in the World: April 17

Extend an Invitation to Life's Rich Banquet

If you see a uniformed soldier or veteran in a restaurant, arrange to pay for their meal. Anonymously is perfect unless you want to thank them personally and "enlist" a new friend into your life!

Be a Good in the World: April 15

Be a Good in the World: April 15

Eat for the Environment

Cutting back on meat consumption is good for the environment, your health, and your wallet. Producing one pound of beef puts as much carbon dioxide into the environment as driving a typical car 70 miles! Read "Livestock's Long Shadow," the 2006 UN paper about the effects of the meat industry on the environment and human populations, at fao.org/docrep/010/a0701e/a0701e00.HTM.

Be a Good in the World: April 14

Hold a Closet Swap Soiree

You can share your surplus clothing with friends and acquaintances by throwing a “naked lady party.” This is a fun way to exchange clothes as well as other items. First, set a date, and invite a group of friends to your house (we do ladies only, but men could be included, too) and ask everybody to bring some clothes that they don’t want anymore. Set up your living room as a shop, designating different areas for guests to deposit their items—dresses in one pile, sweaters in another, and so on.

Be sure to make a bedroom available for those friends who are too shy to try on clothes in company. We usually drink wine and have some snacks, and we end up with bags of new-to-us clothing. Don’t be bashful—things that you are heartily sick of will be starring in somebody else’s wardrobe, and the surplus can be dispatched to the thrift store.

Got gratitude?

Operation Gratitude

I learned about this from my mom, whose church regu- larly sends cards, letters, and care packages overseas to the armed forces. My mom and her fellow church ladies bake some of the best cookies in the world, so they gather up all kinds of goodies and treats and send them over- seas where the taste of down home surely brings many smiles of satisfaction. Those who are less gifted in the baking department (such as me!) can make a $15 dona- tion to Operation Gratitude, which pays for one care package for one serviceperson. Operation Gratitude (operationgratitude.com) has sent over a million of these kindness kits around the world! 

The gift of yourself

When I lived in the Lower Haight district of San Francisco, I drove for an AIDS food bank in my rusted-out little car I had brought with me all the way from West Virginia. I had arrived in the mid-eighties, which we may all remember as the height of the AIDS crisis. My best friend delivered meals to patients in their homes and I gave rides and also hauled groceries donated to the food bank by the Church Street Tunnel. One early morning, I was walking to the Market and Church Street MUNI station and there was the bank, with giant pink letters announcing itself as a place to lend a hand for the AIDS cause. I went in and within two minutes had a shift and assignments for the week. Everyone in there seemed extremely cool to me and they were not grim at all, but seemed to have a mission of importance. It seemed such a small way to help during that scary time, and I learned that regardless of what you can give, large or small, it is important to give of yourself. And it all does add up. Feeding America is the largest hunger relief organization the United States and they need you. Please visit www.feedingamerica.org to find your local food bank or hunger organization. Get involved – you’ll make a difference and you’ll make friends along the way. I sure did, and they remain my friends to this day.

Hugged a tree lately?

Trees Are the Lungs of Our Planet

Have you heard about the amazingly ambitious goal of The Nature Conservancy to plant a BILLON trees and restore the forest of the world? From the rainforests in South America to China and even in the Arctic Circle, this hardy group of tree huggers is doing their darndest to recreate the woodlands and rainforests everywhere they can.  I urge you to look at the map to see how far they are getting; it is impressive and gives me so much hope about our future.

I grew up in a deeply forested state, West Virginia and was taught from a child to know and love trees. When I visited last time and drove all around to see relatives in far flung counties, I noticed huge swaths of brown amongst the green and asked what the heck was going on that seemed to be killing trees. That is how I learned about “acid rain,” an unfortunate by-product of coalmining, logging and too many chemical plants. On our 300-acre farm, no trees are cut, only planted so we are doing our part. In the settled of the great prairies and western states, trees were felled to “clean the land.” That is, in part, being rectified by a special effort to protect trees in the “last frontier.” Check out www.americanforest.org to see how you can help. Oh, and start in your own yard. Got room for a couple of trees? Start digging and planting and know you will enjoy years of beauty and leave behind a legacy for generations to come from your own efforts.

With each passing day, as I read in news about 2014 being the hottest year in recorded history, I feel it is incumbent upon each and every one of us to do everything we can to cool down, slow down and give back to the planet.