Help Abused Women and Kids

Last week was Abused Women and Children’s Awareness Day but with what is going on in the daily news, it should be every day. There are many ways you can help, both large adn small. And the little things count for a lot. 

 Collect coupons for life’s little essentials, buy the merchandise, and then donate them to a homeless shelter or a home for abused women and children. I donate magazines and books to my shelter of choice, the fantastic folks at Delancey Street (www.delanceystreetfoundation.org) who have been making a difference in people’s lives for decades and turned thousands of lives around.

Give Your Old Clothes a Promotion: Donate to Dress for Success

Join the decluttering craze and help others at the same time!

Donate your unworn professional clothing to http://www.dressforsuccess.org/. This organization promotes economic independence for disadvantaged women by providing them with clothing they can wear to work and advance their career and confidence.

Be Kind To Yourself, Too

Make a commitment to yourself to refrain from negative self-talk. Be kind to yourself and focus on the traits you like rather than the ones you don’t. 

The extremely wise Dawna Markova, the author of some of my favorite books including I Will Not Die An Unlived Life, says “Your soul remembers when you put yourself down; it imprints upon you. Never do this. Self-compassion is key to a life well-lived.”

Catch People Doing Something Right (and Make Sure They Know It!)

During difficult transitions, our natural tendency is often to contract and grow rigid. In this state we seem to only be able to focus on the negatives. We think about the despair and torment of the death of a loved one, but not the wonderful moments spent together. We think of the heartbreak of a relationship ending, but not of the exhilaration and freedom of being unattached. We might even scold our loved ones, or our friends, or coworkers for something minor or insignificant when we wallow in such negativity. But it is in these moments specifically that gratitude can be used to alter this way of thinking.

Finding positives and accentuating them is the easiest way to turn those proverbial frowns upside down and gray skies back to blue. Try catching someone doing something right for a change, not something wrong. Giving praise for a job well done lift all parties involved and is the easiest way to say, “Thank You,” without actually having to say it.

Start a Changepot

This is exactly as it sounds: a pot for change. If you don’t mind stopping in the middle of a room or the sidewalk—and maybe getting a few looks from passersby—pick up loose change that has fallen on the ground. Add your findings to the same jar 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.

Wish Upon a Hero: KidsWishNetwork.org

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 http://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.

Live Aloha: Simple Acts of Goodness

In the beautiful paradise known as the Hawaiian Islands, there is a tradition of “Living Aloha.” This one encompasses all of the aforementioned good deeds, which is why it’s the most important of all. In the Hawaiian tradition, “aloha’ stands for the akahai, lokahi, olu`olu, ha`aha`a, and ahonui—in English, these words translate to kindness, bringing unity, politeness, humbled, and enduring. Check out www.livealoha.com

If you live your life with simple acts of goodness every day and follow the tradition of native Hawaiian islanders, you will surely become a good in the world.