FACE OF TODAY



The FACE OF TODAY recognizes everyday people who

have made a positive impact on me and the other people around them.   

Karina Schellin is an employee at Jason's Deli in Indianapolis. As soon as she took my order, I could see that she was just a genuinely nice person.  Look at her picture, you can tell she has good energy.  But Karina did something from her Heart that was natural and kind.....

The woman choking happens
 to be pictured in the background too!

She brought me my food order and on her way back to the counter, this woman started coughing. The sound grew and she appeared to be on the verge of choking, which startled me.  I turned to see what was happening and I was surprised that patrons were passing by-not even acknowledging the choking woman . But Karina was Aware, she stepped in & asked if the woman was ok.  She did the right thing when no one was looking.  The woman was able to swallow and in a flash- everything was back to normal.

Now, I understand employees should always treat their customers well- but Karina actually stopped what she was doing to see if this woman needed assistance.  It was such a small gesture, if you weren't paying attention, you would have miss this all completely. But I was paying attention and you made my day just by observing your SIMPLE ACT of Human Kindness.

Be Aware and Do the right thing, others may be learning from your actions.
 
P.S. If you have never been to a Jason's Deli I highly recommend that you go. www.jasonsdeli.com  I love their salad bar.  They do not have any locations in Michigan yet

DONATING

There are so many ways that DONATING can have a positive ripple effect.





To my surprise, my hair was so thick they were able to get TWO ponytails from it.

Recently I donated my HAIR!  I happen to have really nice hair and one day the thought occurred to me that I could make a difference in someone else's life.   It was a long process but I am so happy that I did it.  A good motivator for me was hearing the news that my high school Art Teacher was diagnosed with Cancer, AGAIN....and she was going to loose her hair due to treatment.  Now, I didn't donate my hair to her personally, but I knew my hair would make a difference for someone else facing Cancer. 

One Wig takes 50 Ponytails to make it complete!

I know not everyone can donate their hair (it took a long time to grow out my hair and a lot of determination to let go of it) but think of all the things we can donate:

Clothing, Food, Cars, Sports Equipment, Blankets, Trinkets, Housewares, Ball Caps.  You can Donate your Time, your Pocket Change, even Frequent Flier Miles! 

THINK of PAYING IT FORWARD when you are DONATING. 

Just because you don't use or need something anymore, doesn't mean that someone else out there wouldn't love to have it.  When you clean out your garage or closets this spring, find items to donate.  Sometimes you just need to Let Go of "Stuff".  One of my friends recently donated some pretty dresses that his daughter had grown out of.  Can you image the look of surprise on a little girl's face when she finds one of these pretty dress to wear?

 

By Donating, you are Giving.  When you Give-someone Receives. It is just one SIMPLE ACT but the effect it can have is endless. 

 

Have you Donated recently?  What items were the hardest to let go of?

P.S.  Thankfully, my art teacher is winning her battle with Cancer too

SMILING

Have you ever Smiled at a Stranger for no reason at all? 

I've started practicing this behavior and I am amazed at the response that it has on people.  Smiling is contagious.  It's a SIMPLE ACT.  It's a small gesture that has such a positive ripple effect. 

MUSIC TO INSPIRE

Just a little something to INSPIRE you to make a difference in your own life and maybe the environment around you!

You may need to sign into YouTube to view this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SE3S7VcyOPU

WORDS OF A WISE MAN

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.”

― Martin Luther King Jr., A Testament of Hope: The Essential Writings and Speeches of Martin Luther King, Jr.

Martin Luther King, Jr. was an American clergyman, activist, and leader in the African-American Civil Rights Movement. He is best known for his role in the advancement of civil rights using nonviolent civil disobedience. Wikipedia

 

We may all know his name, but take a moment to look at this link.  It gives me chills everytime I read his words. 

 

http://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/23924.Martin_Luther_King_Jr_

 

Be aware, live in the moment, correct your mistakes and move forward.

VOLUNTEERING



Future Picasso's

In 2010 I decided that I needed to give back, but I didn't know where to start.  I knew that I wanted to focus on inner city kids in Detroit.  I felt that was an area that needed help.  I was having my birthday dinner with friends, when the conversation turned to Art Road.  My friend Jack works for Mercedes Benz Financial, which is the largest supporter of this non-profit organization www.artroadnonprofit.org.  As he continued to tell me more about this organization his words hit me like a lightning bolt.

An inner city program that teaches art to elementary kids!

This was it!  Now I am hooked. 

It has been over a year since I started volunteering and I have become a better person because of it.

 

There are so many ways we can volunteer.  The biggest challenge is finding time, but you can also do it through providing resources, donating supplies, sponsoring a runner, participating in food drives.  The list goes on and on.  When you volunteer, you control your own schedule.  Most places are happy just to have volunteers, it doesn't matter if you give 100 hours or just 1 hour of your time a year. 

If you choose something you are passionate about, you will find that it is quite easy to make time.  More people and businesses are focusing on giving back and being a volunteer is just one way we can do our part in improving our communities.  I know people who volunteer with Hospice, the Literacy Council, the Red Cross, Churches, Bake Sales, etc.  If you need help finding an organization in your area visit www.volunteermatch.org or visit www.voa.org. 

 

All it takes is just one SIMPLE ACT

In 2013 try to devote 1 hour to volunteering for a cause close to your heart.  

 

TRASH

Today I was on a typical walk though my neighborhood.  I needed to enjoy the fresh air and clear my head -then there it was- TRASH! It was one of the reasons I started this blog and I want to share with you a SIMPLE ACT

Picking up Trash

Who picks up trash these days? I mean, sure, littering is frowned upon. But Who is going to pick it up? Then it dawned on me, that person could be ME.  I started doing it because my mother did it. I knew it was one way to keep the earth clean.  

It's free to do, anyone can find a place to do it, because Trash collects everywhere.  I picked up 4 small garbage bags today.  I primarily target items that will not decompose- cans, plastic, Styrofoam, tin foil. 

 

My hope is that as I walk my neighborhood street, people see me picking up trash.  My goal is to inspire them, through ACTIONS.  It doesn't mean that you have to devote your entire life to it, but be aware.  If you see something, pick it up! Don't pass it by.  You'd be amazed at how such a SIMPLE ACT can Change the World.

 

Imagine if we all did this....