New Year's Eve

     Make a number of envelopes with "Emergency Midnight Kisses" written on the front and put in a few Hershey's kisses inside. Scatter these around town or the shindig you are at and bring a smile to many faces as you ring in the New Year.

Terrific for Terra

    If you are anything like me, this is the time of year you suddenly realize you don't have enough flutes and glasses to properly toast in the New Year. Why add to the already burgeoning mounds of recycling or, God forbid, landfill? The cool company Refresh Glass (refreshglass.com) creates pretty and eco-efficient drinking glasses from rescued wine bottles. Cheers!

Have a Gratitude Circle

     Instead of just another holiday party, have friends over and state what you are grateful for in the world and about each other. Take note!

Reach Out

     The holidays can be an intensely lonely time. I remember when I first arrived in San Francisco and really had nowhere to go. Kindly folks invited me to Thanksgiving and Christmas, and I made new friends, ate marvelous dinners, and was so grateful. I try to do the same now that I have a home I can share. Look around and see whom you can invite over. This is a lovely tradition among my group of friends and is, I truly believe, what the holidays are really supposed to be about.

Re-Gifting 101

 

  Now that you and your family have celebrated, eaten to your heart's content, and opened presents, ask if everyone likes your gifts and if they will use them. If there is something that doesn't fit or isn't useful, donate it. I remember when people were shocked that FLOTUS Nancy Reagan re-gifted but I think was just ahead of the curve!

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

    Involving your children in the selection of a charity teaches valuable lessons. You have the opportunity to make a difference. Some charitable gifts are tax-deductible if made to a qualified organization. But be sure your organization meets IRS guidelines, as there may be different tax breaks when you donate certain assets to charity.

Share the Love

    The Holidays can be a difficult time for many people who don't have family nearby, a home to sleep in, of food to eat. A great way to be a good in the world is to volunteer a few hours of your time to work in a soup kitchen and help serve those who are in need of a hot meal. You can also use this time to get your family involved and impart good moral values on your children. For many years running, I have volunteered at Glide Memorial Church in downtown San Francisco and enjoyed each and every minute of it. I bet your community has a place like Glide that can be your happy place. Make other people happy and feel your own special joy. If you find yourself in the San Francisco Bay Area around Thanksgiving or Christmas, check out glide.org/serveameal, then come on down and we'll have fun together serving up some love.

    The Volunteer Resource Program at Glide works with about 10,000 volunteers each year, totally 65,000 hours of service. The Glide Meals Program is a transformative experience. This program requires 85 volunteers each day to fill the breakfast, prep, lunch and dinner shifts, all 365 days a year. With your help they can serve up to 2,400 meals per day to the Glide community. Volunteers assist with everything from serving food, to bussing tables, to handing out silverware and condiments. Be prepared to roll up your sleeves, and make some beautiful connections!

Christmas Eve

  

    As your family arrives- or as you arrive at your family's- to celebrate Christmas, greet everyone with a genuine smile and embrace. Leave any past disagreements at the door and see good in everyone. You love these people and they love you. Bond over happy memories and the amazing dinner spread on the table.

Happy Hanukkah!

    The Jewish Festival of Lights begins this time of year and has a marvelous tradition of giving, known as tzedakah. When translated into English, tzedakah means charity-giving to those in need. Derived from the Hebrew word tzade-dalet-qof, meaning righteous or fair, this practice of giving is both a generous act and a just one in the Jewish religion. In Jewish literature, the sages have said that this performance of duty is equal to all other commandments combined. Tzedakah is what grants us forgiveness for our sins.

    Certain kinds of tzedakah are considered to be of greater merit than others. Maimonides organized the different tzedakah into a hierarchical list. From the least to the most meritorious, they are:

Giving begrudgingly

Giving less than you should, but giving cheerfully

Giving after being asked

Giving before being asked

Giving when you are unaware of the recipient's identity, but the recipient is aware of yours

Giving when you are aware of the recipient's identity, yet you remain anonymous

Giving when neither party is aware of the other's identity

Enabling the recipient to become self reliant

Think Globally

   

    Start a conversation with someone of a different culture, religion, or political view, while actively listening and responding. Becoming aware of someone else's standpoints and personal journeys may enlighten how you think.

    Nowadays, people of different vantage points need to realize that we may worship differently, but we are people all the same. Be accepting and show it. This time of year, so many different cultures celebrate the turn of the year in ways unique to their traditions. Why not find out more about these festivities and even attend some? It's a small world, after all, right?

Make Time to Make Memories

 

    Tis the season to... spend more time with those you love! Instead of sequestering yourselves in separate rooms watching television, playing video games, or growing the Internet, call all family members into the same room and do something together. Play a board game, watch a movie, have everyone contribute to making dinner, then roast marshmallows in the fireplace. Or maybe chestnuts. Ho ho!

If Something Really Worries You, Do Something About It

   

    Millions of tons of plastic waste litter the world’s oceans, converging together in rotating currents called gyres and blanketing the water’s surface. On average, these gyres now hold six times more plastic than plankton by dry weight. Fortunately, 19-year-old Boyan Slat, founder and president of the Ocean Cleanup (theoceancleanup.com), wanted to invent “a method to clean up almost half of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch in just 10 years, using currents.” The youthful environmentalist and entrepreneur presented this revolutionary idea at a TEDx Talk in the Netherlands and was recently named one of Intel’s 20 Most Promising Young Entrepreneurs Worldwide.

The Red Cross Can Use More than Your Blood!

    For some people, health, time, and logistical restraints mean donating blood isn't possible. But blood donation isn't the only way to support organizations like the Red Cross. Along with financial donations, the Red Cross also accepts airline miles and credit card rewards. Easily transferable from your computer, these sorts of donations don't cost you anything but can still make a difference.

Host a Holiday Potluck

     

    Since you might not get to see your close friends much in the next few days to family gatherings, shopping for gifts, and getting over colds, invite them over for a holiday potluck. Spending time with friends is a great pick-me-up and now is a good time to show your gratitude for the people in your life. To make it even more fun, choose a theme for your party, such as tacky Christmas sweaters.

Actions Really Are Louder than Words

    Pay attention to the body language of others around you. If you notice someone with droopy posture or a frown, offer assistance if they need it. That someone could be having a bad day, and one person noticing could make a big difference.

Sign Up to Be Santa's Helper

    Go to your local Post Office around Christmastime and pick one of the letters to Santa that they get every year. Buy and send the gift to the child who asked for it so the gift arrives before December 25.

Love Your Local Public Library

     

    Libraries are just as much a community hub as any coffee house or breakfast joint. Your patronage will make a difference! Nowadays, libraries host events, offer free classes, and are a place we can go for some nice quiet time with a book or a magazine. To me, they are as holy as shrines.

Be a Hospice Volunteer

 

    Jollyologist Allen Klein shares this beautiful story:

    When I was a hospice volunteer, one of the patients I was assigned to look after was an elderly woman who loved classical music. For many years, she, her son, and her daughter had season symphony tickets. But she was way too ill to use them now. Her prognosis was only a few weeks left to live.

    I discussed the situation with the hospice team and how we might get her to a concert. Perhaps we could put her in a wheelchair or even a gurney and have her at the back of the theatre, But in her condition, we realized that that would not work.

    Then I had an idea. I called the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, one of the leading schools in the country, and asked if they had a student who might volunteer to play something for a dying woman. A few days later, they sent over a talented young woman, a violinists, who gave a private performance for the patient and her family.

    I wasn't at the apartment at the time, but from what the daughter told me the next day, it was glorious. She said that after the intimate living room recital, her mother told her, "In all my years of going to the symphony, that was the best concert I have ever attended."

Ring Your Bells

    Ring bells and help raise money for people in need. The Red Kettle Christmas Campaign enables the Salvation Army to provide food, toys, and clothing to over six million people during the Christmas season and helps more than 34 million Americans recovering from all kinds of personal disasters nationwide. The Red Kettle campaign, first started in San Francisco in 1891, has traditionally been the Salvation Army’s most prominent fundraiser. For more information and to find out where you can volunteer, go to ringbells.org.

Make Merry

    

    Santa Claus came early to a Pennsylvania retailer recently. In December 2014, an anonymous man walked into a store and told the manager he wanted to donate $50,000 to help pay off customer layaway accounts. “We made him say it twice,” said store manager Steve Meyers. “When we started telling customers, they thought it might be a joke.” 

    The donor, who asked to be known as Santa B., arrived just in time, as unfulfilled layaway orders were set to be cancelled that day. “He just wanted to bring Christmas cheer to everyone,” Meyers said. “He was in and out, kind of like Santa Claus.”

Save the Planet, One Tree at a Time

     

    Buy an artificial Christmas tree. People love my blue and silver disco tree which I got at a yard sale a few years ago. It is very festive! On average, over 30 million Christmas trees are sold in the United States each year- those are trees we could be saving and using for oxygen, housing material, and paper products rather than as decoration for a small amount of time. When you purchase an artificial tree, you will save money within the first few years and they look just as nice without the mess of pine needles! For more information on the history of the Christmas tree, go to urbanext.illinois.edu/trees/facts.cfm.

Human Rights Day

    

    Today presents an opportunity to celebrate human rights and advocate for equal human rights everywhere. As much as we like to think that the world is all sunshine and rainbows, that is not the truth; we should not be blind or ignorant of the truth. Today, make yourself aware of the injustices going on in the world by doing some research on the prejudices and hate that many people experience from others. Do what you can to help promote human rights today and everyday.

    To keep up on all the latest, check out hrw.org. 

Support Diversity in Education

    New York-based Folk Arts Rajasthan (folkartajasthan.org) and India-based Lok Kala Sagar (LKSS)-meaning "local folk arts society"- are nonprofit organizations joined since 2005 by a shared vision of a thriving and just future for the Merasi people and their unique musical culture. The Merasi of northwestern India carry a powerful legacy of 38 generations but they also carry the burden of the still-enduring caste system. To reclaim an identity as storyteller, the Merasi of Jaisalmer have shed the derogatory caste label Manganiyar, meaning beggars. The name Merasi, instead means musicians, and is a symbol of self-determination.

    The FAR-LKSS collaborative approach recognizes that education, preserving this intangible cultural heritage, and achieving social justice for a continually marginalized people are mutually dependent goals.

    In the face of obstinate hierarchical norms, FAR and LKSS are together nurturing a generation of ambitious and capable youth with their programs. Significantly, two FAR scholarship girls, Sitara and Mobeena Khan, participated in a 2014 US-based international science conference, after their project won awards both local and state level in Rajasthan. In February 2015, a troupe of Merasi youth traveled to Mumbai to play in the prestigious Kala Ghoda Arts Festival and exchange cultural activities with students at a variety of schools.

cultural heritage, and achieving social justice for a continually marginalized people are mutually

dependent goals.

In the face of obstinate hierarchical norms, FAR and LKSS are together nurturing a

generation

of ambitious and capable youth with their programs. Significantly, two FAR scholarship girls,

Sitara and Mobeena Khan, participated in a 2014 US

-

based international science conference,

after their project won awards at both local and state leve

l in Rajasthan. In February 2015, a

troupe of Merasi youth traveled to Mumbai to play in the prestigious Kala Ghoda Arts Festival

and exchange cultural activities with students at a variety of schools.

Charity Rocks!

     When Jaime Finkel, assistant to music manager Scott Rodger, began working at Maverick in Beverly Hills, she noticed there was a lot of unclaimed "merch" in the office. The newly-founded company, which is composed of nine of music's top managers- who collectively manage more than two dozen of the planet's biggest artists, including Madonna, Paul McCartney, Miley Cyrus, Pharrell Williams, Alicia Keys, Arcade Fire, and U2- is at the forefront of major changes taking place in the music industry today.

    Instead of throwing away the excess and unwanted tour products and unsolicited gifts, Jaime initiated a Merch Box. Every month, she selects an organization to donate these items to. It seems like a natural match since for every celebrity and wanna-be star in Hollywood there is a person in need, but no one had thought to do this before. It's as simple as setting up a bin in your office lunchroom and creating a sign that reads "For Charity."

Popcorn and a Movie

 

Donate movies and toys to the children's ward at your local hospital. Even better, stay and watch a movie in the social room and bring doctor-approved treats! 

Slow Down

Take it easier. There is a lot of hustle and bustle in this world, and it's easy to miss the simple joys of life if you are always in a hurry. Alter your perspective a bit and take your time. When grocery shopping, instead of rushing through your list, walk down every aisle, notice all the colorful fruits and vegetables, enjoy the errand, and be grateful you can afford to buy groceries. 

Here is when you know you are going too fast: when you forget to be nice. When that happened to me, I took stock and realized I was heading in the wrong direction. Now I am doing my best to not do the crazy busy thing. It doesn't do any of us good. Least of all me. Least of all you.    

Cartloads of Kindness

This one is so simple that I really shouldn't have to write it here, but you'd be surprised how many people don't put their shopping carts away once they are done unloading their groceries! Walk the nearest ten feet to the nearest shopping corral and roll the cart on in. Done! In addition, if you notice someone about to put their cart away and you need one, offer to take their shopping cart. These momentary connections that can happen in the frozen food aisle or parking lot are good for us. Keeps us human. Keeps us together. 

Teach What You Know

My family recently wondered what I would ever do with an English degree. One of the many things I've done is mentor a student in grammar and hopefully foster a love of reading, the benefits of which will last a lifetime. Check out the vast array of opportunities to teach and learn at teachforamerica.org.

Blanket the World with Love

Do you remember Linus of the venerated Peanuts cartoon? His love for his blanket shows how universal that love for just the right soft cloth can be. My mom and aunts are amazing quilters. They can take seemingly anything and make a gorgeous, collectible quilt from it. Even if you, like me, lack that "quilting gene," you can blanket the world with your love and good intentions by collecting them for donation. I put a call out and got a ton of nice comforters to donate to Project Linus, at projectlinus.org. This nurturing organization sends cozy quilts and oh-so-warm blankets to kids in shelters, hospices, hospitals, and wherever the cloaking comfort of love might be needed. My mom recently made a quilt of some of my crazy outfits from the eighties, so I can only hope that the beneficiaries of Project Linus have a good sense of humor and a love of neon colors!

  

Step Up

Challenge yourself. Life is a process and throughout your years on this planet, get to know yourself better at every stage. Surprise yourself. If you go through life without trying something new, you are not doing yourself justice. Discover your true potential and maybe more than just your life will improve.

Save Rare Earth

Cell phones and batteries are some of the largest contributors to toxic substances in our landfills. More than 13 million cell phones become obsolete in California every year, and historically only seven percent have been recycled. Over 80% of reusable batteries are composed of the hazardous heavy metals nickel, and cadmium. Mobile phones contain hazardous levels of lead, nickel-cadmium, and other toxic materials. While these and other rechargeable batteries have been banned from disposal in California for several years, recycling opportunities have lagged. According to Californians Against Waste, for every million cell phones we recycle, 75 pounds of gold, and 33 pounds of palladium can be recovered. Go to epa.gov for information on how to recycle your cell phone.   

Spend Your Money In Your Own Neighborhood

Support local agriculture by purchasing produce or baked goods from farmer's markets. By doing so, you ensure that your fresh food is organically grown and isn't imported from another state or country- the cost of shipping is a contribution to greenhouse gas and pollution. Every dollar you spend locally will go a long way towards supporting your local economy and your next-door neighbors.

Your conscience will be cleaner!

Save water by taking shorter showers! 

Dyers are Energy Vampires - Clotheslines are Better!

Hang dry your wet laundry. By doing so, you're saving energy and preserving the fit and color of your clothes!

Stop Interrupting Others When They Are Speaking

We have become a nation of interrupters, as though what we have to say is more important than anyone else's opinion or thoughts. Think before you speak. If a friend is confiding in you, consider if your words can truly help them. Many people interrupt or relate the problem back to themselves instead of thoughtfully responding to the person who is confiding in them. Reflect on what you have heard and then reply. This is not only basic manners but also means a lot to the person to whom you are listening to. I guarantee you will start to notice when you are interrupted once you have stopped. Listening in is an act of love.    

Each One, Teach One

Spread around a love of literature, books, and writing! Many children and some adults struggle when it comes to reading. Look into volunteering for adult literacy classes or reading to the elderly at a retirement home at proliteracy.org, an organization with an amazing legacy: Laubach Literacy International's history began in 1930 when Dr. Frank C. Laubach was a missionary among the Maranao people of the Philippines. His concerns about their poor living conditions led him to conclude that the ability to read and write was essential for them to begin to solve their problems. As the Maranao's learned to read, they would, in turn, teach other adults on a one-on-one basis that became known as "Each One, Teach One." From 1935 to 1967, Dr. Laubach visited 105 countries, answering calls for literary help and creating reading lessons in 315 languages.

  

Show a Little Tenderness

Let public workers know they are doing a good job. (See July 15 and try using a few minutes of your extra half hour to write thank-you notes to your local police station. I imagine it happens very rarely.) When you see a firetruck, ambulance, school bus, or police car, go ahead and thank the workers inside for their hard work. Whether internally thought or externally voiced, this appreciation goes a long way.

Add a Half Hour to Your Day

One of the most brilliantly simple pieces of advice that I ever heard was from Peter Shankman at a publishing conference. He said it had transformed his life and it is simply this: get up half an hour earlier and use that to reach out to people. He said it can be as easy as wishing a happy birthday to your Facebook contacts, one meaningful phone call first thing in the morning, or writing a personal note to someone you have been meaning to be in contact with. I remember listening to him and thinking I didn't want to get up any earlier. My days were long enough (see July 14 on letting go- clearly I needed to do some right then!) and that did not sound appealing. But his sincerity and enthusiasm broke through my "badititude" and I pondered the idea as I walked back to my car and drove across the Bay Bridge back to my office. I decided to try it and I can tell you, he is right. 



The extra half hour of every morning has been one of the best investments I have ever made, and so much that I added an hour. It completely changed my life for the better. Try it!

Learn the Art of Letting Go

After all, we are all human and we have a little baggage (or a lot)! Sometimes I hold in my feelings until they are like a dam about to overflow. Luckily for me, I have had the opportunity to learn from great authors like Sue Patton Thoele, Melody Beattie, and Mark Nepo that we just have to move on toward the positive.



Release any repressed anger and pain that you have been keeping inside. Allow yourself to let go of the past so that you can proceed to live in the present without worry, fear, or resentment. Remember that this isn't a one-time event, but a process. Letting go is an act of kindness for yourself. Once you can accept that life isn't always something you can predict or control, yours will eventually become more positive and joyous.

"I've learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow." 
-Maya Angelou

Gaggles for Good

Plan an outing with a group of friends that will positively impact society. Instead of just going to the movies again, gang up for the good of all. Together, plant a community garden, help clean up a schoolyard, or volunteer for a nonprofit organization.



In the San Fransisco Bay Area, there are regular beach clean-up efforts and it is enormously rewarding to see the unmarred beauty beneath the trash. Find your local chapter of "Heal the Bay," and get a little sun, sand, and healing for you, your friends and the closest coast. 

Tend Your Garden

Grow your own garden, even if it is just on a stoop, window-sill, or fire escape. Fruits, vegetables, and herbs, oh my!



Think of the recipe possibilities if your ingredients were right in your own backyard. Growing your own produce can save you money, and time spent picking through the bruised and aged produce some grocery stores offer. This is also a great way to get organic!

Green Day

If you are able to, walk or ride your bike to school, work, or wherever you need to go.




By not using your car, you are helping reduce greenhouse gases while burning some calories at the same time! You can also use public transit or carpool with a friend- this also gives you the golden opportunity to bond with your coworkers or get to know more about your friend. 

Show Someone You Care

Collect or buy some items to make a care package for someone, such as a soldier serving overseas or a child in need you have found through an agency.



I have two shelves in my closet where I stash stuff I know will make a difference in someone's day. I picked up this wonderful habit from my mom and ladies at her church. They have the knack of knowing just what people want.

Book Em'

Give a book to someone out of the blue. Consider their interests and buy them a book.



Recently, one of my friends said she wanted to cook more at home instead of eating out most nights. I got her two cookbooks one on one-pot meals and slow cooker recipes. Much to my surprise and delight, she's been sharing some delicious soups and stews she discovered in her reading, and sharing these makes for truly high-quality time together.

Treats for the Sweets

Treat someone to a meal- this is especially effective when people least expect it!
Whether you are out with a friend or see a person in need on the street, take the opportunity to buy their meal without offering. Just do it.