Thursday, March 8, 2012

What am I doing with my life?

Without elaborating too much,I have become so selfish lately. It didn't happen over night. It slowly happened and now I realize my world is all about ME. I also realize I have three copy cats. Do I want them to end up living selfishly? NO! I want to teach them that the world is bigger than us. That there are people that are suffering. And we have the opportunity to help them. Whether that is through sacrifice or service or a simple smile. So i was looking for ideas and here is a whole I list I found at www.helpothers.org
I know that I am hard on myself. But you have take this with a grain of salt. There are times when helping others is working in a kitchen at a shelter and other times when it means letting a friend drop her kids off at your house while she runs an errand or just buying a canned good at the store. It is also going to be different for each person according to his or her gifts and talents. For example, if you knit you can knit scarves or hats for people that are sick or in need. If you are a musician it could look like you singing at a nursing home...

 Kindness Ideas

  • Help The Homeless: Donate your professional clothes to an organization that helps people get back into the workforce. G...
  • Valentine's Day in September: Don't wait until February to recognize the impact they make in your life. Celebrate Valentine's Day ...
  • Lend a Hand to All Parents: Baby sit. Deliver a cooked meal for the entire family. Let their children spend the day with you or ...
  • Reachout to the Homebound: Reach out to the homebound -- seniors, ill or incapacitate children or caregivers committed to carin...
  • Crafts of Kindness: Ask a creative crafter to help you with acts of kindness. Knit a hat for a homeless person this wint...
  • Corporate Compassion: Plant seeds of kindness in the corporate world. Find the office of your CEO and leave a thank-you ca...
  • Gift of Generosity: Next time you give a gift, deliver it in a context of generosity. On your friend's birthday, sponsor...
  • Healing Kindness: Express kindness to those who are healing. Leave a stuffed animal for a child in a hospital. Plant a...
  • Long Distance Kindness: Reach out to far away lands, with long distance kindness. Ask your penpal to do something kind in hi...
  • Honor Your Heroes: Honor your heroes with kindness. Dedicate a small act of kindness to your hero by writing them a let...
  • Kindness Towards Environment: Practice kindness towards the environment. Participate in beach or park cleanups. Reduce air polluti...
  • Globs of Gratitude: Appreciate someone who has done something kind for you. Send a 'Thank You' card to someone who's hel...
  • Five Bucks And Under: What can you do with five bucks to make someone's day? Tape the exact change for a soda to a vending...
  • Spring Forward: Clean out your closet and take the extra clothes to a local nonprofit organization. If you have flo...
  • Community Kindness: Appreciate a community worker. Give a thank-you card to a bus driver who is driving off-peak hours, ...
  • Tag the Ones Closest: Do something kind for those closest to you. Give your housemate a hug in the morning, for no reason....
  • Public Transportation: Before you get off the bus or train, leave an inspiring book on a seat with a Smile Card. Give a flo...
  • Lending An Ear: Sometimes kindness is as simple as listening. Lend an ear to someone going through a tough time. N...
  • Connect with Seniors: Connect with seniors in your community. Visit senior centers or nursing homes. Walk or visit with ...
  • Public Places: Beautify public places in your community. Clean graffiti on public walls. Have a clean-up party at ...
  • Family Kindness: Surprise your family with an act of kindness. Send flowers (or a plant) to your mom or dad. Have e...
  • Hear the Homeless: It's been a long winter. Make some soup or sandwich for a homeless person in your neighborhood and d...
  • Gift of Books: Never underestimate the power of books to expand minds. Give an inspiring book to a friend in need. ...
  • Volunteer Wonders: Volunteering often provides a good opportunity to be exposed to people who may be in need of an anon...
  • Restaurant Uproar: Tag someone at a restaurant. Buy someone dessert. Pay for the person behind you at a drive-thru. Pic...
  • Kindness With Children: Get children excited about kindness. Have a child deliver a hand-made card to your neighbor. Gathe...
  • Halloween Happiness: Volunteer to take a child trick-or-treating. Teach a kid about safety while out at night; give them ...
  • Flowers of Kindness: Send unexpected bouquet of flowers to the hard-working receptionist in your office building. Plant ...
  • The Small Things: Share your umbrella with someone who doesn't have one. Write a thank-you note to a mentor or someo...
  • Pen is Mightier Than the Sword: Pen is mightier than the sword, they say. Write a note of appreciation to someone. Send an inspirat...
  • Giving Thanks: Give thanks. Volunteer at a soup kitchen. Invite someone for dinner who would otherwise be spendin...
  • Winter Warmth: As December approaches, the heaters turn on and jackets are zipped up, be mindful of the less fortun...
  • Gift of Inner Transformation: Restrain from criticizing or saying anything negative to anyone this week. In a challenging situatio...
  • Seven Greatest Gifts: Gift of service: donate to a cause, as a holiday gift for your best friend. Gift of affection: be g...
  • New Year's Resolutions: Make a New Year's resolution about giving. Do one small act of kindness every month, whether it is ...
  • Give of Yourself: Prepare a nutritious sack lunch for a homeless person and hand it to him/her saying "have a great da...
  • Kindness With Youngsters: Get kids excited about kindness! Setup a 'lemonade' stand on a busy street corner in your neighborh...
  • Be Vocal In Times of Beauty: Create beauty, in the spirit of kindness. Draw the feeling of kindness and send it as a postcard to...
  • Ideas in Five Words or Less: Read to a child. Make a wish come true. Rake someone's yard. Smile at a stranger. Be a courteous dr...
  • Stop Negative Comments: Create change one conversation at a time. Stand up for a woman who is the target of a sexist remark...

1 comment:

Elizabeth M. Atkinson, LPC said...

Well - you just encouraged me to go do two things that I have been meaning to do!!! That would be thoughtful acts of kindness.