Posts tagged How to change
The Perfect Last Minute Gift Idea (and it’s free!): Gratitude
Dec 22nd
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_3BEwpv0dM
The holiday season is here. The stress of getting every detail completed before the big day is at a peak and many of us wonder if it will actually come together. The “to do” list is as long as your arm and Christmas seems more like work than joy, love, peace and happiness.
I hit a peak last night while wrapping Christmas gifts at 10:00 pm as the “to do” list in my head was replaying itself over and over. How was I possibly going to get everything done with a 4 year old bouncing off the walls and a new baby in my arms. My list seemed never ending: preparing the house, cooking Christmas dinner, last minute gift shopping…… I was driving myself into a holiday stress frenzy.
There is no one that should be more grateful than me this Christmas. I have been blessed with a beautiful baby boy that we just adopted weeks ago and I was forgetting to take the time every day just to be grateful. I needed perspective and I found it through this video of one person that is so selfless and giving I wanted to share it with you.
It reminded me what Christmas is really about – giving with your heart, being grateful for all you have and counting each blessing as it comes into your day. Narayana Krishnan the gentleman featured for his remarkable work in the video reminded me of just that – he reminded me to stop trying to make Christmas “Martha Stewart” perfect and reflect on my life for all it’s blessings.
I was inspired by Tina Sue this morning from Think Simple Now by a post entitled 20 Ways to Be Grateful. The article in worth a read and will inspire you to find the things in your life you are grateful for and how to share those thoughts with those around you. The greatest gift you could give this holiday season is not the perfectly wrapped present under the tree. Instead try looking your best friend, your brother, your mother. your neighbour, your children – even your pet right in the eye and telling them how grateful you are for them in your life. Here are some of my favourite quotes on being grateful this holiday season.
Gratitude Quotes
- The single greatest thing you can do to change your life today would be to start being grateful for what you have right now. The more grateful you are the more you will get. Oprah
- God gave you a gift of 86,400 seconds today. Have you used one to say “thank you?” ~William A. Ward
- Silent gratitude isn’t much use to anyone. ~G.B. Stern
- If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, “thank you,” that would suffice. ~Meister Eckhart
- You say grace before meals. All right. But I say grace before the concert and the opera, and grace before the play and pantomime, and grace before I open a book, and grace before sketching, painting, swimming, fencing, boxing, walking, playing, dancing and grace before I dip the pen in the ink. ~G.K. Chesterton
- If you want to turn your life around, try thankfulness. It will change your life mightily. ~Gerald Good
- Gratitude is the music of the heart, when its chords are swept by the breeze of kindness. ~Author Unknown
- Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it. ~William Arthur Ward
I am so grateful for everyone that has supported 365give this past year. You have inspired me, made me laugh, supported me when I needed it the most and encouraged me to keep giving even on the days I didn’t think I had it in me. I feel honoured to know you – my Twitter friends, my readers, my Facebook friends and those who have just stumbled upon my site. Giving is my passion and being grateful is something I will remember to do every day of the year.I wish you a wonderful holiday season filled with love, happiness, peace and gratitude.
Jacqueline
Founder 365give
Day 357: The F Word: Will You Help Bono?
Oct 5th
I had to come back today. After my 3 day maternity leave from 365give after adopting a beautiful little boy just a week ago I am back more dedicated than ever.
There is no greater motivation to change the world than your children.
How can we sit back and not want to make the world a better place for all the children?
Day 257: Give 357
- What about the 30,000 children that have already died in the last 3 month in the Horn of Africa?
- Are you motivated to help them?
- Are you motivated to help change the world to make it a better place for the children that suffer so much?
What if you got a letter from Bono in your inbox today. Yes “the” Bono. Today I did and I have to share his message.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYZWZ6N-6tc&feature
Watch the video, read the letter and sign the petition. It’s an easy give and the message is clear.
Famine is a man made disaster. Be part of the solution.
ONE doesn’t want you money they want your voice.
| Dear Jacqueline,
I’ve been known to drop the occasional expletive, but the most offensive F word to me is not the one that goes f***. It’s F***** – the famine happening in the Horn of Africa, mainly Somalia. Dear world leaders, The famine in Somalia could kill 750,000 in the coming months, and tens of thousands have already died. When you meet at the Group of 20 (G-20) Summit in November, you have the opportunity to break the cycle of famine and ensure people are hungry no more. Lives are in your hands. Please keep the promises you have made to the 2 billion poor people who depend on farming for their livelihoods. The reasons for the famine in the Horn of Africa are complex and solutions are difficult, especially in Somalia, but we can’t lose sight of some simple facts: 1. 30,000 children have died in just 3 months. Thirty thousand. With over 12 million people at risk. 2. Famine is not a natural catastrophe – drought doesn’t have to lead to famine. It can be prevented, as we have seen in much of Kenya and Ethiopia. In the 21st century, it’s an obscenity that people are dying because they can’t get enough food to eat. Every one of those 30,000 children is part of a family – a son, a daughter, sister or brother. We can’t imagine what it must be like to starve to death, but most of us know what it’s like to lose someone we love. Please watch the film and make use of the voice you have – sign the petition. It will make a difference in putting pressure on world leaders to do more to help those in need right now, and live up to promises already made to invest in the things proven to work – early warning systems…irrigation…drought resistant seeds… and of course, peace and security. Thanks for reading. Bono Time Commitment: 10 seconds Cost: 0 |
Day 354: Family Give Day: The Sister Give
Oct 2nd
I think we have all heard the saying ‘Charity begins at home‘ and this week this could not be more true! My sister has started this movement, 365give.ca where she writes everyday, gives everyday to people she knows, people she does not know, the planet, international organizations and tons of other causes and projects. She has been giving for more years than anyone would know and I am thrilled that she has formalized her passion and energy into a public educational program.
But sometimes the giver needs a give. And sometimes your sister needs a give to get her over a large hurdle.
So the give today is to my sister, Jacqueline Way, and this give will continue for the ext few days as she gets settled into Mommyhood once again. See Day 353 on her newest family member and miracle.
Day 354: Give 354: The Giver gets a Give: guest post by Nicola Inwood
If you have not heard, my sister Jacqueline will be adopted a new baby this week. This has been a long process of waiting, some disappointments as there were some adoptions that did not go through, some heart wrenching moments and some great patience on her part. The day has come when she gets her greatest give, a new baby, and as her sister, I get to give her the greatest give, making sure that she has support for another passion, 365give.
We live in different countries, and at this point will not overload her house with yet another person to get in the way, I will from afar give my time and dedication to her 365give.ca site as she settles into motherhood2 (squared). The duty of 365give.ca will be taken off if need be and I will submit the posts, or tweet or post on facebook while she settles.
This is my give to my sister for as long as she needs.
The Giver is not the best Receiver
In case you are not aware, Givers are not the best receivers. There are many givers out there, many of you who read this blog are great givers and one of the downfalls of a Giver is that they do not receive very well. It is my hope that Jacqueline will become as good of a Receiver as she is a Giver in this circumstance. Having a new baby pop into your life without the 9 months of preparation is a big change, and I only want the best for her, her first born Nicolas and husband David in this case. So work with me people and lets give Jacqueline full support as she flips into this new family mode.
Remember your family when thinking about your give of the day
It is easy to forget about our own family when we are thinking about the give of the day. But charity does start at home and I am happy that on 365give.ca we can ironically come full circle. So I am dedicating this day today, as a Family Give Day, where each of us looks to our immediate family, husband, sister, brother, child or roommate and give to them today.
We have Fathers Day, we have Mothers Day, we have Secretary’s Day and Bosses Day, but for some reason we don’t have a Sisters Day or Brothers Day. Mexico celebrates Kids Day, El dia de los Ninos, but sisters and brothers seem to be forgotten in these celebrations. So in your give today, phone your sister, help them with a chore, take their kids, or tell them that you appreciate them. Write them a note like Jacqueline did on Father’s Day.
Sisters Day Today
So if the 365give voice seems a bit different, know that it is Jacqueline’s sister providing a give of the day to help her settle in. It may be one give it may be a series of gives, but the Giver is getting a give for as long as she needs it….
Time commitment – Does not matter
Price – Priceless, the opportunity to give to your sister is really priceless
Related Gives
My other sister gives to 365give on Jacqueline’s birthday
Giving to Mothers every Friday
What Are you Saying?