Sharing Your Strength: Stop Hunger Now

Did you know one in three  kids in America go hungry every day? Let's stop that asap. 

When I worked on the Random Acts of Kindness project, we looked around for places to donate profits from the books and SHARE OUR STRENGTH came highly recommended. It remains an organization I deem as a real good in the world. Did you know one in three children in America deal with hunger on a daily basis? Join SOS’s campaign www.nokidhungy.org so we can take care of those who need it most.

We All Have a Story: Listen to Our Veterans

Senator John McCaai's passing has reminded me of our veterans and their sacrifice:

My dad loved to tell his stories of being in World War II and he did have many dramatic tales, especially of having saved lives and delivering a Japanese POW’s letter to his parents in Tokyo, a major act of kindness involving much risk. I really wish I had recorded these but I carry dad’s stories and share them his honor. Our elders, in particular, have much to share and life lessons we could all learn from. The Library of Congress is gathering these by sending out volunteers to video record in the Veteran’s History Project, loc.gov.vets. To me, one of the most special aspects of this oral history project is that it is not only the “Greatest Generation,” but also even young people coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan whose stories are equally precious and just as important. I think we are learning that every generation has true greatness.

Listen to the Wisdom of Our Veterans

Senator John McCain always reminded me of my dad: strong minded, funny, loyal and dutiful and they both suffered a lot of wounds and trauma in serving their country.  What can you do to help?

 

Counselors can contribute enormously to our troops when the return back at the end of their service term. I honestly think my Ex-Marine dad has PTSD but that posttraumatic stress was not even acknowledged until long after the Viet Nam War and only through the activism of many.  Therapists and mental health professionals can really help our military veterans by volunteering their own service through the organization Give an Hour (giveanhour.org) and this is extremely helpful to families of vets. Listening can change lives for the better here in a big way. Volunteer of give to the Wounded Warriior Project: www.WounderWarriorProject.org

Operation Gratitude: Those Who Serve

Giving and gratitude go hand in hand; what can offer that will make someone's day?

I learned about his from my mom whose church regularly 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 overseas 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 $15 donation to Operation Gratitude, which pays for one care package for one serviceperson. Operation Gratitude has end over a million of these kindness kits around the world!

The Power of the Human Heart: Kindness

When I was working on the Random Acts of Kindness campaign, it was an incredibly joy-filled work experience. 

I usually do love what I do but this took it to a whole new level. My work was not just about helping my company or paying my rent for the month, it suddenly really meaning something. We were making the world a better place, one act of kindness at a time. There was literally electricity in the air and we arrived at work each day to see what miracles had happened overnight while we were sleeping.

I remember the first day we knew everything had really changed - we found out through the US mail. Usually we only had a dozen or so pieces of mail, bills mostly and a few queries, letters from readers or an order or two. One day, the mailman knocked and said, "I need help here." He had BAGS of letters from people all over the country and a TON of ones with suggestions of acts of kindness. There were laughter and tears as we sat down on the floor and tore open the envelopes reading aloud from the letters. Some were in children's big blocky letters (these usually had the best ideas of kindness) and others in elder's careful script. I treasure that memory as I saw the power of the human heart that day.

Veg Out: Everyone Should Have Access to Healthy Food

Don't all families deserve affordable vegetables so they can cook healthy food?

 

Have you hear of “food deserts?” I certainly never did until reading last year in the New York Times about entire swaths of urban areas with nothing but corner stores filled with processed packages foods and no produce whatsoever.  I started paying attention and it is true.

There is something you can do about it, by making a donation of www.WholesomeWave.org who will provide fresh fruits and veggies to these underserved communities.  How great is that? Actually, it is even better, as Wholesome Wave obtains their organic produce from small and mid-sized farmers.

No One Should Go Hungry: Practical Acts of Kindness

Stopping World Hunger, 10 Grains of Rice A Day

 

Save a few dollars each month and donate it to a different charity. The website http://freerice.com/#/english-vocabulary/1504 quizzes you online and for each answer you get correct, they donate 10 grains of rice through the World Food Program to help end world hunger. Think about how much rice will be donated if even half of the population did this!

Giving the Gift Of Sight: Your Old Glasses Can Help Somebody

Be a Visionary!

 

Did you know your old specs can have a second acts? Old prescription eyeglasses can be donated to a Lens Crafters store. Every Lens Crafters business supports OneSight, which provides glasses to millions of people around the globe. http://www.lenscrafters.com/onesight?sid=OurVisionDD-LeftLink-OneSight-US-042613

Doing Good With What's in Front of You

Get Out of Your Head and Back Into Your Heart

 

Because the world we live in today is very much about getting in your head and staying there, many of us have to make a concentrated effort to become grounded and in touch with our bodies and the natural world around us. Grounding is the technique for centering you within your being, getting into your body and out of your head. Grounding is the way we reconnect and balance ourselves though the power of the element of earth. When you see someone driving past talking on their cell phone, you know that they are not grounded. For deep grounding, we recommend a creative visualization or, better yet, a group guided meditation.

This is the simplest of rituals; one you can do every day of your life. As you walk, take the time to look and really see what is in your path. For example, my friend Eileen takes a bag with her and picks up every piece of garbage in her path. She does this as an act of love for the Earth. During the ten years she has practiced this ritual, she has probably turned a mountain of garbage into recycled glass, paper, and plastic. Eileen is VERY grounded. She is also a happy person who exudes and shares joy to all in her path.

Keeping Calm and Carrying On

We have become a nation of worriers. America is living in the Age of Anxiety.

Think “Best Case Scenario” All the Time. It seems so simple but is one of the smartest things you can do. Many people over-analyze situations, psych themselves out, and only consider the worst-case scenarios. I, for one, am guilty as charged. Let’s start each day on a positive foot and make a list of your “best-case scenarios.” What are the best things that could possibly happen to you? To your family? To the world?  Have fun with this and think big!

Declutter For a Good Cause

If you're like me, you dont have any spasce in your drawers for anything extra, let alone all those deceased cell phones! Guess what, you can declutter and help others!

Donate old cell phones to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (http://www.ncadv.org/). They will donate the proceeds to programs that protect families that have suffered abuse. Phone it in for a good cause and help women and kids in your own community.  Being a good neighbor is easy and giving back feels great.

Kicks for Kids

I bet you take shoes for granted, right? Not everybody does so what can you do about it?

 

Next time you are in the mall or wandering the web doing some retail therapy, buy a gift card from Nordstrom’s in support of the Shoes That Fit program. For as little as 10 bucks, you can kickstart a pair of brand new tennies from New Balance that will fit perfectly to a young person who needs a leg up. www.shoesthatfit.org is the place to go. The right shoes can be the first step to in the right direction.

Protecting Trees Protects 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.

PJ's and a Book: Gift a Child in Need

Good Night, Moon. Good Morning, Sunshine!

I have to agree with the lovely people of The Pajama Program that some of the sweeter side of life comes from warm, snuggly pj’s, preferable footed in my case, so this is their mission – to provide children who need them the exact set of pajamas and a book of bedtime stories. 

Need I say more? www.pajamaprogam.org Good nights make for good days. 

What Can we Learn From Our Military Veterans?

We all have a story and there is much to be learned by listening. 

 

My dad loved to tell his stories of being in World War II and he did have many dramatic tales, especially of having saved lives and delivering a Japanese POW’s letter to his parents in Tokyo, a major act of kindness involving much risk. I really wish I had recorded these but I carry dad’s stories and share them his honor. Our elders, in particular, have much to share and life lessons we could all learn from. The Library of Congress is gathering these by sending out volunteers to video record in the Veteran’s History Project, loc.gov.vets. To me, one of the most special aspects of this oral history project is that it is not only the “Greatest Generation,” but also even young people coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan whose stories are equally precious and just as important. I think we are learning that every generation has true greatness.

Blanket the World With Love

Do you remember Linus of the venerated Peanuts cartoon? 

He was a piano virtuoso who loved his blankie and also shows how universal that love for just the right soft cloth can be. My mom and aunts are amazing quilters and can seemingly take 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 out a call and got a ton of nice comforters to donate to Project Linus,  www.projectlinus.org for gifting 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 80’s so I can only hope the leads of Linus have a good sense of humor and a love of neon colors!

Save the (Rare) Earth: Smart Recycling

Cell phones and batteries are major contributors of toxic substances to our landfills.

 More than 13 million cell phones become obsolete in California every year, and historically only 7% have been recycled. Mobile phones contain hazardous levels of lead, nickel-cadmium, and other toxic materials. Over 80% of reusable batteries are composed of the hazardous heavy metals nickel and cadmium. While these and other rechargeable batteries have been banned from disposal in California for several years, recycling opportunities have lagged. (http://www.cawrecycles.org/issues/battery_waste) For every million cell phones we recycle, 35 thousand pounds of copper, 772 pounds of silver, 75 pounds of gold, and 33 pounds of palladium can be recovered.”(Go to www.epa.gov for more information on how to recycle your cell phone.)

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 and seeks advice, think about how what they have said makes you feel and consider how 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 politeness but also means a lot to the person to whom you are listening. I guarantee you will start to notice when you are interrupted once you have stopped. Listening is an act of love.