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. I guarantee you will start to notice when you are interrupted once you have stopped. Listening is an act of love.

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.

National Pet Day

    If you have a pet, make sure you give them attention every day. Even if you can only afford to spend ten minutes with them, that time is enough to show them that you care and to make them feel loved. Pets need love as much as people do. The responsibility of caring for your pet’s life includes dedicating time and affection toward them.

Listening Is an Act of Love

    We don’t always have to donate time and energy to other parts of the world. Sometimes help is needed much closer to home. Is a parent, sibling, spouse, or friend having a difficult time? Help lift their spirits by letting them experience that loving feeling. Invite them to coffee or to dinner, surprise them with a simple gift, or take them somewhere they like. Lean forward and listen closely. Just listen.

Don't Interrupt When Others Are Talking

    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. I guarantee you will start to notice when you are interrupted once you have stopped. Listening is an act of love.

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 the question might not always be pretty, but it will feel wonderful to be heard.

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.    

Resolve to Be a Force for Good in This World #HappyNewYear!!!

New Year’s Day. Did you make a New Year’s resolution for this year? 

Throw that word “resolution” out the window. It’s not strong enough to hold people to their goals, or at least that is true for me and everyone I know!  If you want to eat healthier, spend more time with your family, or finally volunteer at your church’s soup kitchen, go ahead and make these things happen. Tell people about your mission and maybe they will join forces with you. I had so much fun at Glide Memorial Church serving lunch that my friends asked to come along with me! Or, if you want to jumpstart your New Year’s with a MAJOR act of kindness, head on down to LA for the New Year’sl Race for  A Place Called Home, www.apchorg,  is a safe haven in South Central Los Angeles where underserved youth are empowered to take ownership of the quality and direction of their lives through programs in education, arts, and well-being; and are inspired to make a meaningful difference in their community and the world.

National Day of Listening

How often do you feel truly heard?

 

Be an active listener. When someone is speaking to us, it is easy to become distracted by thoughts and external sounds, such a car horn or other nearby conversations—and by giving in to these distractions you can miss crucial details from the speaker. Let the person who is speaking to you know that you are listening by making eye contact and focusing on the sound of their voice rather than the distractions around you. Additionally, don’t interrupt someone when they are speaking. Listen, then respond. Quite often, people are not looking to be “fixed” or for answers and truly just want to be heard

From Growing Up Homeless to Helping the Homeless

NFL player James Jones knows it’s better to give than to receive

“Being homeless made me a better man,” says James Jones, wide receiver for the Oakland Raiders since 2014. “And while I wouldn’t wish anyone to go through that, I wouldn’t change anything as far as how I grew up.” Having slept in shelters and on park benches for the first fifteen years of his life, Jones’ success as an athlete defies stereotypes about homelessness and poverty.

He has taken his challenging experiences to heart. Since being drafted to the NFL in 2007, he has volunteered for many community organizations, and in 2008, started his own with his wife Tamika. The LoveJones4Kids foundation provides funding for school supplies, football camps, and pep talks to underprivileged children, many of them living in the same conditions that Jones did growing up.

“People are used to hearing about a homeless person or kid and don’t think it’s possible to be a professional football player. But down on your luck doesn’t mean down and out.” Touchdown

Honor Our Fallen Military By Helping the Troops Now

We should should really think about the military more than once a year, right?

 

Talk to United States troops we have now! Don't wait for Veteran's Day! Give an Hour is a nonprofit organization that provides free counseling to soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, including their families. This is a great way to show your support to the military while giving the affected people a place to turn to. http://www.giveanhour.org/

Every Day Should Be Forgiveness Day

If you have born a grudge for someone, forgive them or let it go.

You don’t need that negative energy in your life. Remember that forgiveness is not absolution; what happened in the past still happened but what you are doing is relieving yourself of the burden that has been weighing you down. Now you can heal. Our society is also in need of lessons in forgiveness and a dramatic reminder of this can be found in the film and foundation behind www.unlikelyfriendsforgive.com where we learn the real power of atonement and the art of forgiving, even after brutal acts of violence.

Be Open to the Possible

Start chatting it up and you never know what could happen. Prepare to be amazed!

 

My boyfriend has that magic ability to talk to anyone; 99% of the time, he has made a new friend, too. It is fun to watch him in action and he is definitely somebody you want to bring to parties and social occasions.  Be open to conversing with new people and becoming friendly with them. If you’re at a bookstore and see someone holding a book you like or are interested in, strike up a conversation and ask them about it. You may make a new friend or find out that they’re in the same business as you. You can network yourself and make connections at any time. Many people keep to themselves when out and about, either playing on their cellphones or avoiding eye contact with others, but this closes you off from being a productive individual. Being open to the possibility of a new friendship or work relationship helps share your ideas with others and creates more opportunities for you. In line at the Pacific Café in San Francisco on Geary Street, we met a woman’s whose cousin from Mainland China was being held in immigration detention for not having the proper paperwork and my boyfriend who is fluent in Cantonese was able to offer vital information to this family. You never know when YOU might need the help of a total stranger!

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Find the Joy in Giving

Have you noticed how good it feels after an act of kindness?

Find joy in giving.“Altruism boosts immune function, improves our moods, and is linked, not only to a higher quality of life, but a longer one,” according to Stephen Post, at Stony Brook University. Those who help others also experience a “helpers high” when their bodies are flooded with feel good endorphins and other natural chemicals. It’s pretty basic: When we do good, we feel good.

We Are Here to Love 24/7

What the World Needs Now

 

Tell someone you close to you how much you love them, even if you’re sure they already know. Do it often. xo

Gifts That Give Back: The Feed Project

Now that October is here, are you thinking of making a holiday shopping list?

My favorite kinds of gifts are the ones who keep on giving. The FEED project has many cool options that are made-in-America and crafted with love and pride.  By presenting a beautifully carved wooden cutting board for your best friend’s birthday from www.FeedProjects.com, that gift will help feed the hungry.  I love their FEEDbags, which are a handy way to ditch the plastic and the paper, too.

Listen With Love: Veteran's History Project

We all have stories and it is important to make sure they are told and heard. 

 

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.

Kindness is Love Made Visible

The world can seem so crazy now that we should be even kinder to each other.  

When life gets you down, remember to look on the bright side (and there is always a bright side). Be strong not just for yourself but for those around you as well. Eleanor Roosevelt once said, “It is better to light a single candle than it is to curse the darkness.” Look into the meaning of this quote: focus on the light in your life—and if there is none, try to be that light.

“Attitudes are contagious. Make yours worth catching.” –David Mezzapelle

Child Trafficking Awareness: How to Help

It is almost hard to believe that this goes on in 2018 but it does more than we know: 

Support Love146, an organization that provides holistic care to children who have survived exploitation, enforced labor, abuse and even slavery. These children have been through so much so think about what you can give and give it.   Join a task force, fundraise for abolition, spread the word, or donate to this cause on http://www.love146.org/

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.