No Foolin’

I don’t know the history of April Fool’s Day trickster antics but they always make me cringe. I suggest a “reverse prank” instead, where you do something really nice.  Heard through the Random Acts of Kindness network about a good deeder buying lottery tickets, adding a sweet little note, and placing them onto a car door where they could not be missed. Can you imagine if you were the recipient of this delightful act and won the big Scratch Off for a cool million or so?

Have fun and bring some joy into this early spring day. It may be April Fool’s Day but don’t fool yourself! Today is about laughter rather than pulling pranks on others. Tell your coworkers a joke you enjoy; find a way to make someone who looks unhappy put a smile on their face.

Make Up Your Own Holiday

Invent a special holiday to celebrate someone you love-be it your spouse, your dog, or your

closest friend. On this day, make them a special dinner, take them out, and write them a letter

saying how you feel about them. You can even create a fun holiday to share with your family so

everyone can participate.

The Best Kind of Social Networking

Help the elderly with their devices. Many senior citizens aren’t tech-savvy, but given that we live

in a technologically advancing society, learning how to use a computer or the Internet can be

very helpful. Volunteer your assistance to a senior who has a cell phone or computer and needs

help using it. Be email buddies with your new friends, too!

Be a Good in Your Hood

Pick up and recycle or compost loose garbage as you walk. Sidewalks are meant for safe walking, not weaving through someone else’s abandoned bottles and crumpled up take-out bags. Take pride in the area you live and help contribute to keeping it clean and safe. One person helping can inspire many others to do the same. I vowed to do this 15 years ago while living in the Lower Haight in San Francisco. By the end of each week, I usually had a big bag to take to the HANC recycling Center. In the last couple of years, I have gotten some puzzled glances and even laughter when I am dressed up for a meeting while walking down the street and picking up garbage, empty bottles, and what-have-you. I will occasionally say, “This is my service to the earth. Recycling is my religion.” And it is. I have the planet’s back!

Use Your Words

I read all the time as a child, and by that I mean every minute I wasn’t at school, doing chores or

homework, or sleeping, I had the cover of a book open. I developed a love of language that has

lasted me a lifetime.I notice that it brings joy to others when they hear an interesting or pretty

word. So try flipping through a dictionary every day and pick a word. Use this word at least once

in the same day. This will help expand your vocabulary and communicate better with others. If

you have a smartphone, download a free word-of-the-day app instead of using a dictionary.

Help feed a child by adding a definition to the Online Dictionary on definition-of.com.

Cloth Napkins Are Nicer Anyway

On average, an American uses around six napkins each day-2,200 a year! If every American

used even one less napkin per day, more than one billion pounds of napkins could be saved

from landfills each year. Using cloth napkins can be even better!

Don’t Be Judgemental; Be Kind Just because You Can

“Contagious Optimist” Colleen Georges taught me this: It’s easy to judge others for their actions

and take for granted those we love or meet in chance encounters. We sometimes get so caught

up in our busy-ness that we forget others are busy too, they have rough days just like us, and

they benefit from our kindness just as we do theirs. Go out of your way to smile at strangers,

say good morning, say thank you, give a compliment, and listen attentively to someone who

needs your ear. Do it because you can, because it feels great, because it makes someone else

feel good. Don’t worry about a subsequent thank you; let a thank you be a beautiful perk,

rather than an expectation.