Rose of Sharon Jewelry

Sharing your happiness & gratitude increases your own “wealth.” Here’s 15 ideas to secretly spread goodness around! I was raised by women who always take time to help others. Every year, my Mom outfits 100+ “Barbie” dolls with complete wardrobes and donates them to little girls who need Christmas cheer. Until the very day she passed away last year, my Granny (my Mom’s mother) was busy fixing up dolls or making quilts to donate to those in need. My family isn’t rich except in goodness and generosity. But the powerful lesson that I took away is to not only help others but that this act of  charity shouldn’t be for self-promotion. It’s wonderful if you can donate millions for a hospital wing, but the act is diminished if you have to have your name on the door!

Secret Sharing

Here are 10 ways to secretly share what you have with others in need. It need not be much to change a life. Give with all your heart.

1. Buy gift cards from an office supply for a teacher. Leave your envelope with the school office with a specific teacher’s name or to “5th grade teacher.” Did you know that teachers personally spend on average over $500 a school year on classroom supplies?
2. Adopt a child or family through your church or synagogue. Ask your pastor or rabbi for someone in your congregation that could use some financial help from an anonymous donor. A few timely received dollars or a store gift card can be a real life saver. Secret Santa activities are great but the need exists well beyond the holiday season.
3. Sponsor a child’s school activities. Many schools require user fees for band, sports or clubs. Contact the school principal to sponsor a needy child anonymously.
4. Sponsor a child’s afterschool activities. The Boys & Girls Club or other local afterschool programs always need assistance. Also think about updating equipment, donating usable computers or offsetting the cost of a field trip.
5. Advertise your business in a school’s yearbook. Yearbooks become prized mementos. However, underfunded local high school budgets often eliminate this classroom activity that older folks (that’s me, ha!) take for granted. Sure you’ll be paying dearly for your ad but think of what you are underwriting!
6. Pay it for forward. Think of ordinary situations such as toll booths and pay for several cars behind you. This simple act can really bring a smile to someone who isn’t expecting it.
7. Mow, weed or tend a neighbors’ yard. Elderly or disabled people often struggle to keep their yards healthy and neat. It takes just a few minutes to mow another yard! Create lovely pots of colorful annuals and leave them on the door steps of neighbors. It doesn’t make much effort or time to make several.
8. Call a house-bound person every day. If you know someone who is living independently but could use a regular check in, make it a point to call and chat regularly. Local social service or police agencies can also connect you with people who need a check up phone call. Also you can create a contact list to call people in case of a local emergency such as extreme weather, fire, etc. You’d be surprised how many people have no one in their life to make certain they are okay.
9. Create a Pay It Forward program at your company. Maximize your resources by creating a group to think of new opportunities and carry them out.
10. Enlist your children to teach them your values. Help them sell lemonade to raise funds for a local charity. Ask your local pet shelter how older children can help out. Include an extra treat in your child’s lunch box especially to share with someone who isn’t popular. Make certain your child includes everyone in their class to birthday parties, show and tell activities, sharing holiday treats, etc. Reward very young children for finding ways to help others to jumpstart the compassion training. Later your child will be able to recognize the positive benefits are reward enough. Insist that your child’s schools have community service  participation requirements for graduation.

 

• For classroom oriented ideas, check out the Pay It Forward Foundation.
• For community ideas, check out the Pay It Forward Movement.
• You’ll find helpful ideas at Help Others.org

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A critical key to happiness is gratitude. A recent post on the  Nurturing Creativity blog discusses creating your own gratitude list. What are you grateful for? Here’s my partial list – look forward to reading yours.

 

1. A devoted husband of 30+ years who works hard to protect and provide.
2. A Mother who is always caring for others (including me and my broken ankle).
3. A son who shares our passion for progressive politics with his 12-year-old.
4. A loving daughter-in-law equally dedicated to her family and her education
5. Grandson  Hunter (12) who shares his wisdom and loves to stay up late watching my favorite B movies like Jason and the Argonauts.
6. Kael and Orion (3 1/2) – who love coming to Grandma’s house. Kael is the “big” brother and scolds me for reprimanding Orion and let’s me play with his train. Orion is the snuggly one with a devilish personality who loves to chase me with the water hose.
7. A warm, safe and comfy home (thanks Arden) where I can work, create, laugh and share all the goodness that comes from my family.
8. My passion for learning – always challenges me and keeps me entertained.
9. My writing talent is a source of pride and enjoyment.

Leave a comment today and tell us what you are grateful for.

 

Hunter before his first Kart race this past October in Sonoma, CA.

Millions of words have been written through the centuries on happiness. I thought today I’d share the one single answer to your search.  Drum roll please. . . . . . . . .

 

It’s GRATITUDE.

Simple huh? It’s personal, practical, affordable, achievable, sharable and it works!

Through my adult life, I’ve had plenty of ups and downs. Really great highs and some terrifying lows; but every time I need to grasp onto something it’s been Gratitude that has done it for me.

No matter what the situation I try to step back and find the things I can be grateful for.

After hubby Arden was diagnosed with lung cancer, I would cry every morning on my way to my brand-new job. But when we heard that he didn’t have brain cancer – we celebrated and went out to our favorite Greek restaurant. It was gratitude that carried us through. And with early detection and surgery, he has been cancer-free for almost 20 years!

5 Reasons to be Grateful – Right Now

So turn off that depressing news network and write your own personal gratitude list. Here are 5 reasons I’m grateful today – in no particular order.

1. My grandsons live 3 blocks away.
2. My mother is coming to visit in July.
3. My sister-in-law has found a life path through her faith.
4. My husband is truly devoted to me.
5. My niece is in love.

 

I’d love to have you post your “I’m Grateful For List” here. I’d be grateful for your willingness to share. Look another reason to be happy!

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P.S. Don’t forget to pass this on!