#52: Avoid Thought Traps! (Friday, December 28)

This is it: the last Good Friday of 2007. I can't believe it's been a year. When I started this back in January, I didn't think I'd have enough ideas for an entire year of Fridays (believe me, it's hard to come up with 52 ideas). But it's here, and I'd like to think that even if some people weren't actually doing the ideas, my Good Friday emails provided a little burst of positive energy for the weekend.

The Idea: Sometimes with our busy schedules and responsibilities, it's hard to find time to do things that impact other people's life. But remember that positive thoughts begets positive energy, so avoid thought traps that may prevent you from making a difference:

1. "That's just the way the world is."
   
2. "It's not my responsibility."
3. "One person can't make a difference."
4. "Building a better world seems overwhelming."
5. "I don't have the time or energy."
6. "I'm not a saint."
7. "I don't know enough about world issues."
8. "I don't know where to begin."
9. "I'm not an activist."

(To read more about the thought traps, visit: Building A Better World

The Cost: Determination and the willingness to be the change you want to see in the world.

The Benefit: You can make a difference!

Other reading: The Better World Handbook, The Difference A Day Makes: 365 Ways to Change Your World in Just 24 Hours, Unconditional Acts of Kindess

#51: Track Your Progress (Friday, December 21)

"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." - George Santayana

A few years ago, one of my friends asked me to complete an exercise, which I've found so invaluable that I've used it every year since. For a few days leading up to my birthday, I was slightly depressed because I felt like I hadn't accomplished everything I set out to do this year. My friend's exercise helped me to realize that I'd had a pretty good year. Even though I hadn't accomplished everything I wanted, there was so much I had done.

The Idea: Take 30 minutes to think about all the things that have happened in your life this year. Of all your experiences, select your best and worst moments. If you have more best moments than worst moments, consider yourself fortunate and blessed. If you have more worst moments than best, consider yourself fortunate anyway. At least you made it through those worst moments, and you're a stronger person for it.

The Cost: Just your time.

The Benefit: By tracking your progress (even your failures) you will have a clearer understanding of what you need to do to move forward and accomplish your goals for 2008.

Testimonial: After evaluating my year, I realized that I had numerous best moments, including:
I had impacted the lives of many people through my weekly Good Friday emails.
I had done all except about 5 of the Good Friday ideas myself.
I'd gotten a new job, doing what I liked to do.
I'd conquered my fear of long flights, which enabled me to have a wonderful once-in-a-lifetime experience in Egypt.
And I'd met new people who have impacted my life in a positive way.

So I didn't buy the house, or read 52 books, and I probably won't be making Brazil carnival in January, but when I put it in perspective, I'm still happy which was the biggest goal I had for myself in 2007.

#50: Join A Co-Op (Friday, December 14)

I'm a bit of a germaphobe and as such, I'm really passionate about the food I put into my body. Add to that the fact that my dad is a farmer (which has made me accustomed to good, fresh food) and you have someone who is almost maniacal about their food.

The Idea: Join a local food co-op. Not only is it a great way to ensure you are getting good quality foods, you are also helping to sustain local farmers AND you'll know where your food is coming from.

The Cost: Membership fees and in some cases, your time.

The Benefit: Healthier food, healthier you, and the opportunity to help support local businesses.

Testimonial: I'm looking into a couple in my neighborhood now and hope to join one for next year.

#49: Gifts That Give Back (Friday, December 7)

So after last week's Good Friday, I got some feedback that sometimes it's not feasible to grant a wish. Well, good news: there are other alternatives.

The Idea: Give gifts that give back. If you have to give a gift, why not give a green gift or a gift that helps to sustain the community? Some ideas:

• A compost bin
• A TerraPass
• Books for Global Volunteers
• Gifts that promote fair trade in emerging countries such as Haiti, Ethiopia, Ghana, etc.
• Eco-friendly gifts such as low-flow shower heads, books on renewable energy, etc.

The Cost: The cost of the gift you choose to send.

The Benefit: You'll be able to finish your holiday shopping and also fulfill your global responsibility by giving gifts that help those in emerging countries and also help our environment.

Testimonial: I gave a couple colleagues MAC Viva Glam lipsticks as a holiday stocking stuffer. I was able to support World AIDS Day and also do something for the holidays. And I'm sure my two purchases helped MAC AIDS Foundation raise 100 mil for AIDS charities this year. :)

#48: Genie For A Day (Friday, November 30)

I'm in love with the Sears holiday ad campaign. I don't know if anyone's seen it, but the concept is, "instead of giving gifts, grant wishes" which I think is great. Gifts are memorable, and some of them last a long time, but can you imagine granting someone's wish?

The Idea: Instead of giving someone a gift for Christmas or their birthday, grant them a wish. Of course, some wishes aren't within your power (like, "I wish I had a million dollars"; or "I wish I could fly") but I'm sure most people can find someone with a wish so simple that it would take just a little of your time and energy to grant.

The Cost: Maybe some time; maybe a little cash...who knows?

The Benefit: It is an amazing feeling to make someone so happy that you know you will be remembered forever.

Testimonial: This year, I helped to grant 3 wishes...one person cried, one person laughed and one person...well, I don't know what happened with the third, since it was anonymously done. But the happiness I felt was like no other.

Here are some ways you can grant a wish this season:
- Operation Santa Claus
- Adopt-A -Wish through the Make A Wish Foundation for ill children
- Ask your loved ones about some of their greatest wishes and see what's in your power to grant

(P.S. World AIDS Day is tomorrow...have you done Good Friday #47? If not, what are you waiting for?)

#47: AID a Good Cause (Friday, November 23)

Next Saturday, December 1, 2007 is World AIDS Day.  Although you may not think it affects you personally, consider this: Africa has the most HIV infections in the world; the Caribbean region has the third largest infection rate in the world; and Brooklyn, NY has the highest infection rate of any city in North America.  Scary, huh?

The Idea: Do one small action to help support the fight against HIV/AIDS or to help those living with the disease. Here are some suggestions:

• Get tested and encourage your friends to do the same.  To find an HIV Testing Center near you, text your zip code to KNOWIT.
  
• Fundraise: help raise money for a local HIV/AIDS organization.
  
• Wear a red ribbon; it may prompt one person to ask about its purpose and begin a conversation on the disease.
  
• Wear a HIV/AIDS awareness t-shirt.
  
• Add World AIDS Day to your Myspace and Facebook friends so your other friends can see that you are supporting the fight.
  
• Buy MAC Viva Glam Lipstick: all the proceeds go to the MAC AIDS Fund to support HIV/AIDS causes.
  
• Buy other products that donate part of the proceeds of your purchase to HIV/AIDS organizations.
  

The Cost: the cost of whatever activity you decide to do.

The Benefit: If you get even one more person to change their habits, get tested or even just have a discussion about the disease, the benefit will make itself apparent.

#46: And A Child Shall Lead Them (Friday, November 16)

I used to be a bookworm when I was younger (which probably explains why I'm KICKING BUTT right now on last week's Good Friday idea). Everyone who knew me bought me books for gifts...dolls were secondary in my world. It occurred to me the other day that I have no clue what happened to those childhood books. Such a pity!

The Idea: Collect children's books from the kids of family and friends who have outgrown them and donate your collection to the children's ward of your local hospital.

The Cost: Just your time.

The Benefit: Reading feeds the imagination. You can help find a home for things that are no longer needed; help a child escape his/her sickness even for a short while; and help promote philanthropy and caring with the children who are donating their used books.

(P.S. I just found out this past week was National Random Acts of Kindness Week. Imagine that! I still think random acts of kindness should be part of everyone's daily routine.)

P.S.S. Please excuse the formatting of this entry; it was typed entirely on my Blackberry.

#45: Words Speak Louder Than Actions (Friday, November 9)

Those who know me very well know that I'm a stickler for vocabulary. Often, I find myself using words that even I wonder how I knew the meaning. :) Now, I've found a way to use my love of words and vocabulary to help those less fortunate.

The Idea: Use your vocabulary knowledge to help fight hunger around the world. Go to www.freerice.com and take their vocabulary challenge. For each word you get right, they'll donate 10 grains of rice through the United Nations to help end world hunger. It may not seem like much, but think of what a spoonful of rice can do for someone whose stomach is the size of a pea. Supersize the idea: this is a great activity for high school seniors who are preparing to take their SATs.

The Cost: A couple minutes each day.

The Benefit: Not only will you be improving your own knowledge and making yourself a better person, you'll also be helping those less fortunate than yourself.

Testimonial: In just 3 minutes, I was able to donate 310 grains of rice...and I found out my vocabulary level was a 38. Now I want to challenge myself to get every word in their system right. Who wants to join me?

#44: Use Your Holidays Wisely (Friday, November 2)

I have to work whenever the stock market is open. As such, I don't get many of the holidays that many of my friends get. But for the holidays I do get off, most of the time all I want to do is lay in bed and catch up on sleep. Since Thanksgiving is coming up, I thought it'd be a good idea to focus on that holiday. Aside from the fact that there is no such day in Jamaica and I have to work the next day, I think one should give thanks every day. In addition, for Native Americans, that holiday represents something completely different.

The Idea: Use the holidays you don't celebrate or disagree with to help those less fortunate. For Thanksgiving Day, why not volunteer in your community? Or help educate others about Native American history?

The Cost: Just a little of your time

The Benefit: You will feel more accomplished on that day, and instead of filling yourself with food (and probably regretting it later), you can fill yourself with pride. :)

#43: Help Someone Find Their Way (Friday, October 26)

Earlier this week, I had to work late. I hadn't eaten any lunch, so by the time I left work, I was cross with the world. When I got outside, there was a woman sitting in the atrium. She gestured to me, asking if I could take her picture. I agreed, but was ver annoyed to be doing it.

After the picture, she took out a piece of paper from her bag. "What now?" I thought. The name and the address of Rockefeller Center was on the paper. She wanted me to direct her there, but she didn't speak or understand english, and my french was terrible on my best day.

It became obvious that I would have to take her there myself. Another inconvenience, considering my day.

I tried valiantly to communicate with her on our walk to Rock Center. It was no use. We met her bilingual cousin in front of J Crew who was able to give me some more information.

Turns out the woman was visiting from one of the two places in the world I want to visit: Morocco! She was so grateful to me that when she heard I wanted to visit Morocco, she gave me her contact information and insisted I stay with her. Karma is a good thing.

The Idea: Take some time to help a tourist find their way.

The Cost: $0...just some of your time.

The Benefit: You just might make a friend across the world.

#42: Get S.M.A.R.T. About Your Finances (Friday, October 19)

Yesterday was National Get Smart About Your Credit Day (how many people knew that?). Hopefully, after my Pay What You Owe entry (Good Friday #38) many of you were inspired to take a second look at your debt situation.

But so many of us are still not where we need to be financially; and many have no idea how to get where we want to go.

The Idea: Identify one area of your financial situation you'd like to improve (such as Saving, Investing, Retirement, Credit...). Attend a financial seminar on that topic and take a teenager with you. Financial services companies offer free seminars on various topics all the time. You just need to take the first step to find one. Contact your bank, local community organizations (such as the NY Urban League, who is sponsoring the workshop I'm currently teaching), or just do a Google search. Once you've identified a free investment seminar, register yourself and take a teenager or young adult with you.

To get the most out of the seminar, write a list of your financial goals before you go. Your financial goals should be Specific, Measurable, Actionable, Realistic, and have a Timeline (SMART).

The Cost: Seminars are almost always given free - but they will try to make a client out of you, which is why knowing what you want to accomplish is important.

The Benefit: You will feel better about your financial situation, and by taking a young adult with you, you're empowering someone of the next generation to be smarter about their finances.


Just A Thought:
At this present moment, there's a child somewhere in America who is possibly dying - but his parents don't know it. Why? Because he doesn't have health insurance, so he only goes to the doctor (i.e. the emergency room) when he's sick.

There is currently legislation that could give health insurance to 10 million low income children, but the president has vetoed the bill. Speak to your congress persons, sign petitions and get involved. It may not be your child, or you may not consider yourself low income, but with the state of the world as it is, one of those circumstances may apply to you one day.

#41: Tag Your Friends (Friday, October 12)

I recently became aware of a phenomenon on the internet called tagging. You answer specific questions about yourself, then name two people you want to answer the same questions. Think how much more powerful tagging could be if used towards volunteerism?

The Idea: Tag two of your friends to do something specific that will impact someone they don't know. Send an email to all of your friends, name the two people you'd like to tag and the task(s) they should do.

The Cost: A moment of your time, and an email.

The Benefit: You can touch the lives of more people by encouraging your friends to tag others as well.

I'm tagging:
Rashida, to use her crocheting talent to make a scarf/hat for a homeless person for the winter.
Erica, to bake a batch of brownies (if I remember, you make good ones) and bring it to the precinct down the block as a thank you for keeping your neighborhood safe.

This one's a bonus: My line sisters, to come up with a volunteer initiative we can all do together for our 10th anniversary.

#40: Just $5 (Friday, October 5)

Whether it's saying hello or taking your own bag to the grocery store you can impact your surroundings in a positive way without spending a dime. But sometimes spending a little cash can also impact someone in a positive way.

Case in point: a couple days ago, I was standing on line in Duane Reade to get a bottle of water. I wasn't really paying attention to my surroundings. When I got to the counter, the clerk told me that the woman in front of me had paid for my water. I looked around, she was gone. It was just a random, anonymous act of kindness.

The Idea: Do a random act of kindness for someone else and don't wait for a thank you. Here are some ideas of things you can do that don't cost a lot, but may have a lasting impact:

1. pay for a small item (cup of coffee or a toll) of the person in line behind you;
2. leave extra money in the dryer for the next person to dry their clothes;
3. tape exact change to the vending machine for the next person who uses it;
4. leave some extra time on the parking meter for the next person or put in a couple quarters on a meter that has already expired if you're walking by;
5. on the expiration date, give your unlimited metro card to someone who is about to get on the subway; or
6. buy two umbrellas on a rainy day and give one to someone else...

The possibilities are endless!

The Cost: Less than $5

The Benefit: You never know what people are going through; your simple act of kindess could help turn someone's entire day around and could also motivate them to do the same for someone else.

#39: Continue the Cycle (Friday, September 28)

I think everyone knows how I feel about teachers. In my opinion, they are the most powerful people on this earth, because they possess the ability to change and shape minds. Now we can all be teachers...

The Idea: Learn something new, then teach it to someone else. Some of you may know of my commitment to do something I've never done before every month. Think how much more learning could be accomplished if I shared that new thing with someone else who also hadn't done it before?

The Cost: Depends on what you decide to learn.

The Benefit: Each new experience increases your knowledge, and passing that knowledge on to someone else can help create change in the world!

Testimonial: I promise to share all the new things I'm learning in Egypt with as many people as I can. I also will try to invite someone along for my monthly "Do Something New" exursions from now on.

#38: Pay What You Owe (Friday, September 21)

We've all had someone borrow something from us and not return it (Good Friday #20: Many Happy Returns) and it's not a nice feeling. Unpaid monetary debts are no different.

The Idea: Pay your debts. Get a copy of your credit report (it's free, yall!) and review any unpaid items that are listed there. If it is a legitimate debt, pay it off IN FULL; do not accept any settlements or special offers. You created the full debt, so you should pay the full debt. If the debt is not valid, write a letter to all three credit reporting agencies disputing the debt, and if possible provide documentation.

The Cost: Whatever you owe.

The Benefit: You'll get the monkey off your back, re-establish yourself as someone that can be trusted, and if you have kids, you'll begin setting the foundation for them to become responsible, trust- and credit-worthy adults.

Testimonial: I'm currently looking into my credit situation. Unbelievably, I found that there are some things on my credit report that I don't even know about. Even though reports are avaiable free, I recommend getting reports from all three credit reporting agencies, as the information may be different. Also, check out the FTC's website on credit which has a wealth of information to help consumers get out - and stay out - of debt.

Also, I'll be dedicating my Saturdays in October to participate in the Citi Financial Education program, where my colleagues and I will be teaching financial literacy (saving, credit, investing, etc.) to people in underserved communities through the New York Urban League. I'm excited to be able to give back something to the community I live in.

P.S. For those of you living in NYC, I'm sure you've seen the taxicabs with the flowers painted on them...I haven't seen any of the actual flowers I painted yet (Good Friday #19), but each time I see a painted taxicab, I'm SOOO happy to have been a part of the program.

#37: Start Something Wonderful (Friday, September 14)

A lot of people think of work as something separate from the rest of the rest of their lives, yet if you really think about it, many people spend the majority of their lives at work. Why not use your time there more effectively?

The Idea: Start a volunteer initiative at your job. If you don't have an job, start one in your apartment building. If you live in a house, organize a volunteer day for your street. It may be something as simple as getting your coworkers to participate in a volunteer initiative you're already a part of, or as ambitious as starting and coordinating something from scratch.

The Cost: Time that you'd have probably spent either a) surfing the internet or being otherwise unproductive at work or b) volunteering (if it's already an established initiative).

The Benefit: You'll be able to help others, and you might also reap unintended benefits such as recognition/help/support from senior management. In addition, it's a nice way to feel good about the company you work for.

#36: Help Resolve Conflict (Friday, September 7)

We've all been in a situation where two people we love aren't on speaking terms or are constantly fighting. Not only does it put you in the awkward position of being in the middle, you can probably also see that in most cases, the conflict is the result of a misunderstanding.

The Idea: Help resolve a conflict between two people you love. Try using these steps to help:

1. Get both people in a neutral environment together.
2. Be objective; state the situation as it is without choosing sides.
3. Allow each person time to speak without your interruption or interjections from the other party.
4. Find the commonalities in their perception of the situation and focus on those.
5. Have each person talk about how the situation made them feel, instead of throwing blame.
6. Speak about how their conflict makes you feel.
7. Find a compromise (i.e. the win-win situation) for both.
8. Have them both make a resolution and shake on it before leaving the meeting.

The Cost: Just a little of your time, objectivity and your commitment to improving the lives of those you love.

The Benefit: Resolution of conflict restores balance and harmony in the lives of those it affected. In addition, it takes much more energy and effort to fight with someone than it does to be cordial and respectful. You may not get both parties to be the best of friends, but you can get them to a mutually respectful place that is beneficial for all.

#35: Take Care of Your Parents (Friday, August 31)

We fight with them; they annoy us; they embarass us; they have the uncanny ability to make us feel lik we're 4 years old again, even after we've had kids of our own; and sometimes we even wish we had different ones. But despite it all, we love them: Our parents are the reason we're here.

Those of you who know me very well know that my mother and I are always fighting; hurtful things have been said, and we've even gone for long periods without speaking to each other. But I've come to just accept that she's the way she is and love her despite our obvious and continued differences.

Many of us have parents who are getting to the age where they're either retired or contemplating retirement. If you're like me, you worry about how you'll take care of them when they are too old to take care of themselves. Yes, your parents may be financially stable now and not need your help, but things happen that are out of our control.

The Idea: Develop a plan for taking care of your parents. Sit down with your siblings and talk about financial and elder care options for your parents, and create a plan. Your plan shouldn't just be about when they get older; also think about nice things you can do for your parents NOW when they are capable of enjoying it.

The Cost: Varies, but it shouldn't matter...they're your parents!

The Benefit: It speaks for itself.

#34: Be Nice to Someone Naughty (Friday, August 24)

The world is a big place, and inevitably you'll meet people whose personalities don't mesh well with yours. It happens. I have someone who falls into that category: a coworker at my new job. But even the people you don't get along with can help to make you a better person.

The Idea: Do something nice for someone you don't like/get along with. Whether it's giving the person a little token, taking them out for a meal, or even just offering them a genuine compliment, take the first step.

The Cost: The cost of whatever nice thing you decide to do.

The Benefit: You may discover that your initial personality conflicts were just misunderstandings. Or you may still not get along, but might have a clearer understanding of the individual's personality and be better able to manage your relationship with them. Either way, it takes a big person to try to repair a damaged relationship, and you'll be a better person for it. Remember, a little kindness goes a long way.

#33: Break A Bad Habit (Friday, August 17)

We all have bad habits and behaviors that we would like to get rid of; I know I do. I don't check my voicemail very often; I'm bad at returning calls; and I worry way too much.

When you think about it, bad habits are just unproductive routines that we've grown comfortable with - it shouldn't really be that hard to break them.

The Idea: Choose a bad habit that you'd like to get rid of, and actively work on changing it into a positive habit. For example, I could change my bad habit of not returning calls, into a good habit where I proactively and routinely call others before they even think of calling me. Try these other tips to help you get out of an unproductive routine:

1. Pay attention to the habit. Why did it become a habit in the first place?
2. Practice breaking habits by randomly changing up other routines in your life like your route to work, the activities you do before going to bed at night, the foods you eat, etc.
3. Think of 2-3 small steps you can take to change a bad habit that can be slowly incorporated into other positive routines.

The Cost: $0

The Benefit: As you break a habit, you open yourself to new behavior, new experiences and new ways of looking at the world. New experience provides new knowledge.

#32: Ten Virtuous Actions (Friday, August 10)

"Do not treat others as they treat you; treat them as you would like to be treated."

So many of the problems in the world could be solved today if people put themselves in the shoes of others and treat others as they would like to be treated.

The Idea: Make the Dalai Lama's Ten Virtuous Actions an integral part of your life.

• Protect and save life - plant, animal and human.
• Give and do not take what is not given.
• Treat your partner respectfully (respect your marriage vows or practice fidelity).
• Speak honestly.
• Speak with the goal to bring harmony among beings.
• Speak gently.
• Refrain from gossip.
• Be happy for others’ accomplishments.
• Be loving toward all.
• Have a view that includes karma.

The Cost: Nothing, but the will to improve yourself.

The Benefit: You will be treated as how you treat others and will be able to live a more fulfilling life.

#31: A Positive Attitude Conquers All!

This week has been one of the most challenging weeks of 2007. Food poisoning, a pinched nerve in my back, 103-degree fever, dizzy spells and a few other unmentionables left me feeling defeated. And to top it all, this was the week I was to leave for my annual trip to Barbados. I had two choices: stay home and be miserable or change my attitude and try to have a good time with my friends, some of whom I haven't caught up with in months.

Needless to say, I'm writing this on the beach in Barbados. I'm still sick, but I'm determined to stay positive and fight it as much as possible. Don't let your attitude stop you from enjoying life's wonderful experiences.

Signing off from the beach...Stay positive!

#30: Put Yourself First (Friday, July 27)

If you've been following along with my Good Friday posts since January you'll see that I put a lot of emphasis on impacting the lives of others. But sometimes you really have to take a step back and focus on yourself.

I know a woman who would give a stranger her last meal and go hungry because that's just who she is. But now her ability to help others has been significantly compromised because she's spread herself so thin that she's burnt out all the time. I see her headed for a meltdown if she doesn't make a change - and fast.

The Idea: Have a "Monthly Me Day". It's a day where you focus on yourself and your needs and not the needs of others. On your Monthly Me Day, do things that make you happy, whether it is shopping, spending time with your friends, or reading. Your Monthly Me Day shouldn't include any of the following: catching up on work (housework or other), running errands (grocery shopping, going to the cleaners), or any other similar task - those things will all be there waiting for your attention the next day.

The main focus of your Monthly Me Day should be relaxation and breaking the routine and stress of everyday activities.

The Cost: The price of the activity you choose to do on your Monthly Me Day.

The Benefit: You cannot be the the best, most helpful person for others until you are the best you. When you focus on improving you, only then can you be effective in improving the lives of others.

#29: A Little Reminder (Friday, July 20)

"People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did; but they will never forget how you made them feel."

I was catching up with my mentor last night. Work demands, family life and travel had resulted in us not speaking for a few weeks, so last night we spent a half hour just touching base. I've been having "adjustment issues" at the new job, and she said something that really inspired me, and put things into perspective.

"The cards you've sent me over the years are what keep me going at this job," she said. That was it. All this time, I thought she'd thrown them out, but she'd kept them - every note of thanks, praise and love I'd sent her...and she was using them to help her get through a difficult time. Without knowing it, she'd helped to lift my spirits.

The Idea: Think of something someone has done/said a long time ago that has helped to get you through some difficult times. Remind that person of their deed and let them know how it is impacting your life today.

The Cost: Nada

The Benefit: Brighten someone's day; you never know how much they'll need that reminder.

#28: Just A Few Miles More (Friday, July 13)

A few years ago, I decided I wanted to do one of the Habitat for Humanity trips abroad where you go to another country and spend two weeks building homes for the poor. I had the vacation time and the will...I just didn't have the money to pay for the trip. It would've been so easy if back then I would've thought to ask someone to donate their miles to me.

The Idea: Donate your miles to help a good cause. There are many organizations like Habitat for Humanity who travel abroad to help those in less fortunate situations. Many of the volunteers use their vacation time and cover their own travel expenses, accomodations and insurance. If you have miles to spare, why not donate them (especially considering American Airlines' new policy which puts an expiration date on miles)?

The Cost: just a few more miles...

The Benefit: You'll be contributing to helping to improve someone's life across the globe without even having to physically be there!

Note: Many of the larger service/charity organizations make it easy for you to donate your miles to volunteer initiatives. In the event that you come across one where the process is a little more challenging, don't let it deter you from doing something positive!

#27: Accept the Things You Cannot Change (Friday, July 6)

Can you believe we're at the Good Friday mid-point already??!! Yes folks, this entry is the official start of the second half of Good Fridays. I hope you have enjoyed the ideas up to this point, and that at least a few of them managed to become embedded in your consciousness.

But I'm also realistic, and I know that some people don't even open the weekly emails I send, let alone implement the idea. I used to be upset in the beginning, but now I don't stress it because it's not something I can change.

We all have people in our lives who have qualities that we wish they would change. Maybe it's someone who's always late; or maybe they have a bad temper; or not enough ambition; or too much ambition. Sometimes you might be able to effect change in a person's behavior, but other times you'll just have to change your reaction to them.

The Idea: Accept the things you cannot change, yet be wise enough to recognize and act on the things you can. Hate your job? Your living situation? How people perceive you? Those things are all within your power to change. Changing people, however, is an entirely different story - unless they want to change themselves.

The Cost: nada

The Benefit: Learning to accept people the way they are will certainly help to make you a more tolerant person. Being able to distinguish between the things you can change and the things you can't will help you to refocus your time and energy where they will have the most impact. Remember, sometimes you have to be the change you want to see in the world.

#26: You Are What You Eat (Friday, June 29)

A few weeks ago I watched my neice eat a meal of fried food, soda and sweets. The next day she had difficulty completing a 3.5 mile walk. I knew it was because of her eating habits.

The Idea: Be mindful of what you put into your body. No, you don't need to be a vegetarian to eat healthy, but you should consider things like portion size, nutrition information (good and bad fats, cholesterol, etc.) and the way your food is processed.

The Cost: A little time and dedication to your personal welfare.

The Benefit: Well it should be obvious, but a healthier, more productive you! And you'll probably increase your life span by a few years. Remember, junk in, junk out!

#25: Be Present For The Experience (Friday, June 22)

I was at the same company for 7.5 years; today was my last day. I spent the day rushing through trying to finish up last minute things, sort files and transition things to other people. My perfectionist nature wouldn't let me leave until every "i" was dotted and every "t" was crossed. I ended up leaving without deleting my emails and other relevant information from my computer, and horror of all horrors, not sending out my weekly Good Friday email!

The Idea: Be present for the experience. Stop to enjoy and appreciate the things that don't happen very often - you might never have another opportunity.

The Cost: Your time.

The Benefit: You will always have that experience and the fond memories from it.

#24: Are You On Track? (Friday, June 15)

By this time of the year, many people have already forgotten about their New Year's resolutions and the goals they set out to accomplish this year. On May 18th 2006, I made a public goal to get out of the job rut I was in, and increase my income by $20K by the end of 2007. On May 18, 2007 (sheer coincidence that it was exactly a year later), I got a job offer that far exceeded my my goal.

Although this is my biggest goal accomplished for the year thus far, I'm on target to complete the other goals I've set for myself.

The Idea: It's almost the middle of the year; re-evaluate the goals and New Year's resolutions you made and see if you're on track. If you're not on track, try to identify what has sidetracked you, and decide whether the goal is still something you want to pursue.

The Cost: Your time and a little introspection.

The Benefit: A more productive and positive you. If any of your goals involves others, you will also impact their lives as well.

#23: Become A Mentor (Friday, June 8)

Every major decision I've made for the past five years, I've done so with the help and guidance of my mentor. Her wisdom, insight and objectivity have always helped me to excel beyond what I thought my capabilities were.

The Idea: Become a mentor. It could be a child, a teen, a coworker, an intern, someone at church or someone in another organization to which you belong. No matter how much you think you have to learn, you ALWAYS have the potential to pass on wisdom and knowledge to someone else. And you'd be surprised how much you can learn from your mentee. It's a two-way street.

The Cost: Your time

The Benefit: A one-on-one opportunity to share knowledge and experiences and to see the impact you have on another human being.

#22: What Will You Leave Behind? (Friday, June 1)

I've recently taken to leaving little positive post-it messages inside the books that I borrow from the library. Sometimes it'll be as simple as, "Have a nice day!" Other times, I'll leave a suggestion for a random act of kindess (such as "Smile at a stranger today.") or a nice quote.

I thought it would be a fun idea to make the concept more global.

The Idea: Leave positive post-it notes for others to find. In the pocket of a plane/train/bus seat; in the changing rooms of a department store; in books you borrow from the library; on the windshield of someone's car; on a carton of milk in the grocery store - the possibilities are endless.

The Cost: The cost of a pack of Post-It notes.

The Benefit: Maybe someone will find your note...or maybe they won't. Just the act of leaving it will make you feel 10 times better! :)

#21: The Art of Letting Go (Friday, May 25)

The black stillettos with a hole in one toe and a tear on the top of the other shoe; The red leather pants that I bought back in '98 that can't go past my knee anymore; the work clothes that I know I'll never wear again; the salmon pink designer suit that I'll never wear (not even once); an extra copy of Memoirs of a Geisha; an extra copy of Strunk & White; the yards of leather I've kept since 2004 that I've been meaning to use; clothes I bought and forgot to return; the list is endless.

These are all things that I've kept long after I should've either thrown them out, or given them away to someone else. Why have I held on to them? I haven't the foggiest idea. (Well, the stillettos are just really, really comfortable because they're broken in.)

The Idea: Go through your living space and make a list of all the things you no longer need. If you haven't used or thought about it in a year or more, chances are you don't need it. Divide the list into two categories: Things to Throw Away and Things to Give Away. (If you're a little more enterprising, you can also add a third category: Things to Sell).

Start with the easiest category first: Things to Throw Away. Just dump 'em. Go ahead...I know it might be difficult, but take the plunge. I'm committing to dumping those stillettos today.

There are a few options for giving away your stuff. You can:

• Email the list to your friends and give stuff away on a first-come, first-served basis;
• Post your list in the "Free" section of Craigslist (select your city from the menu); or
  
• Take it to the local thrift shop, Salvation Army or shelter.

I plan to give some of mine to the man on the corner who collects knick-knacks and resells them. Hopefully the books can be donated to a library.

If your stuff is valuable, you can:

• Sell it on eBay;
• Sell it or barter it for something else you might need on Craigslist;
• Or have a garage/sidewalk sale.

(You can even supersize the idea by donating a portion of your proceeds to charity.)

The Cost: Possibly the cost of transporting the items to their final destination.

The Benefit: More space! Think of all the space you'll have once you declutter your home. You'll also be able to help someone else. One man's trash is another man's treasure, so something that is worth nothing to you might be invaluable to someone else.

#20: Many Happy Returns (Friday, May 18)

The other day I was looking for one of my favorite articles of clothing, remembering that I hadn't worn it in ages. I searched high and low; dug up boxes that I hadn't looked through in years; and generally ransacked my apartment. Then I remembered I'd loaned it to a friend and she'd never returned it.

I'll admit it, I was a little annoyed...ok, a lot annoyed. But without that incident, I wouldn't have had the brilliant Good Friday idea I came up with.

The Idea: Create your own Return Day. Go through your apartment/house and identify things you borrowed from friends and family and never returned. Make a genuine effort to give the item back to its owner.

Supersize The Idea: Pay off an old outstanding bill/debt that you might have neglected, such as a library card balance.

The Cost: Nothing...well, maybe a little embarassment if you've had the item for a really long time.

The Benefit: You'll contribute to restoring balance to the universe. Also, if you send this idea along to your friends, you might even get back some of your things you thought you'd lost! Finally, people will be more likely to lend you things if they believe you'll be more responsible about giving it back.

#19: Make Your Surroundings Beautiful (Friday, May 11)

When you think of NYC taxi cabs you probably think drivers cutting you off in traffic, the inability to get one if you're going to Brooklyn (or if it's New Year's Eve), and convenience. With their bright yellow color, they're certainly distinctive, yet few people would go as far as saying they're beautiful. I recently got involved with a project that might help New Yorkers to appreciate the beauty of NYC taxicabs.

Garden in Transit is an art project that paints flowers on New York City taxicabs. The majority of the painting will be done by children through youth networks such as schools, hospitals, and churches. Not only will it give participating children a creative outlet, but it will also provide an opportunity for them redefine their immediate surroundings through art.

The Idea: Make your surroundings beautiful. Sign up for an open paint-in session at Garden in Transit studio. If you are not in the New York City area, find out what similar "social art" projects are going on in your city and volunteer to help make it come to fruition.

The Cost: A few hours of your time.

The Benefit: You'll get to see the impact of your efforts on the community, and you'll get a valuable lesson in how to make the best of your surroundings.

Testimonial: I'll be hosting an open paint-in session on Saturday, May 19. You're welcome to come along!

(P.S. The pictures from "Roll Up Your Sleeves" [Good Friday #15] and "Celebrating Mother Earth" [Good Friday #16] are now available.

#18: Be Happy (Friday, May 4)

The Idea: Be happy.

Sounds easy enough, doesn't it? Yet it's the hardest thing for a lot of people to do, because it's difficult to even acknowledge that one might be unhappy. It's also difficult to realize how our individual unhappiness affects those around us.

If you're like me, you grew up with the "count your blessings/it could always be worse" philosophy. You were taught that it was ungrateful to complain when many others have greater troubles. And it's partly true, but I also think complaining (i.e. voicing distress/unhappiness) is the first step on the path to happiness...if you use your complaint as the impetus to changing your distress.

Whether you're unhappy because you hate your job, or you're overweight, or you're in an unfulfilling relationship, the first step is acknowledging it (i.e. complaining). The second step is actively working on changing your circumstance for a more favorable position.

The Cost: Introspection and the willingness to work hard to change the things that make you unhappy.

The Benefit: You'll be happier, and by default, so will the people around you!

#17: Build Up Your Tolerance (Friday, April 27)

Living in NYC - one of the greatest melting pots in the world - it's amazing how very little people know about other cultures, ethnicities, religions and races. A friend of mine sent me an article this week about Asian-Caribbeans who came here yearning for aloo pie, and found Jewish knishes to be a good substitute. Who would've thought that those two groups had anything in common?

The Idea: Choose a culture, ethnicity, religion or race that you don't know much about about, or that you have a negative feeling toward. Make it your goal to learn about that culture/ethnicity, etc. - not from Google or the library - but from a native, and by experiencing things typical of that group. Supersize the idea by taking a child along to participate in the experience.

The Cost: Mostly time, but you might have to shell out some $$ for cuisine, garb, events, etc.

The Benefit: A more you know, the more you'll see that we're not really that different. Increasing tolerance reduces racism, hate crimes and biases.

#16: Celebrating Mother Earth (Friday, April 20)

This Sunday, April 22 is Earth Day. All over the world, people will be participating in activities to help make our earth sustainable for many generations to come. My friends and I will be doing our part tomorrow, but there are many ideas that you can implement both short-term and long-term to reduce your negative impact on the environment.

The Idea: Implement one or all of these ideas into your life. Send along to your friends so they can do so as well.

When eating out, eat at green or eco-friendly restaurants. Don't worry, they're not all vegan; they're establishments that have made a commitment to reduce their emissions, recycle and contribute positively to the environment. To see if there are any such restaurants in your area, do a Google search for "green or eco-friendly restaurants" or you can also go to DineGreen.com

Take public transportation or carpool whenever possible, or share a cab to reduce emissions and conserve gas. If you're in NYC and want to share a cab to the airport, visit Hitchsters.com

Save energy by switching from inefficient incandescent lightbulbs. To learn more about energy-efficient lightbulb stands, visit the EnergyStar website.

The Cost: what you'd be spending anyway.

The Benefit: Every little bit helps!

Happy Earth Day!

#15: Roll Up Your Sleeves (Friday, April 13)

Sometimes it's not about a nice gesture, or a smile, or an anonymous good deed (although those things all go a looooooong way). Sometimes what's required to make an impact is to roll up your sleeves and physically do something.

One of my goals this year was to improve my volunteerism and dedicate 52 hours this year to volunteering. As one of these initiatives, I've organized a team to participate in NY Cares' Annual Hands On New York Day. Next Saturday, my friends and I will be working at the East New York Farms' Community Garden which supports the East New York Farmer's Market. Not only does this provide a vital service to this community, the garden itself is actually tended and run by teens!

The Idea: Volunteer for a clean-up initiative, or some project where you actively participate in revitalizing your community (as opposed to writing a check, or just paying taxes).

The Cost: a few hours of your time

The Benefit: You'll make a difference to everyone who comes in contact with that space, and will actually be able to see the difference you have made.

(P.S. If you want to register to participate on my team, today is the last day to do so. Go to the NY Cares website, select "Join an existing team" search for the Guerilla Good team and sign up. All are welcome!)

The pictures from this event are now available for viewing.

#14: The Importance of Forgiveness (Friday, April 6)

If you're a Christian, today is one of the most important days on your religious calendar. Good Friday: the day when the son of God gave his life so that the sins of the world could be forgotten.
I'm not a Christian, but I think it's as good a time as any to practice the art of forgiveness.

A while back, someone who I considered a very dear friend did something to me that was not only hurtful, but in my opinion, dishonest. The situation made me angry, bitter and sad all at the same time. But, as is my tendency, I swept it under the rug and figured I'd feel better with time. I didn't really speak about it to anyone (I alluded to it in jest a few times though), not even my closest friends - I just kept up my happy front. By failing to confront the situation openly and honestly, I bottled up a lot of negative energy which started to affect my sleeping patterns, my skin, my moods and (inadvertently) those around me.

The Idea: If there is a situation or a person with whom you have unresolved issues, acknowledge it, address it, forgive and move on.

The Cost: $0

The Benefit: Restoration of health, peace of mind, and relationships with those around you. A healthy, happy you is a productive you! :)

Let it roll off your back. ;)

#13: Must Be Somethin' In The Water (Friday, March 30)

I love to take loooooooong leisurely showers in piping hot water. Even as a child my father's rants that I was running up his water bill and threatening me with bodily harm when I turned on the water heater fell on deaf ears. I continued to take long, hot showers...that was until a few days ago when I caught part of a documentary about a village in Africa. I saw the "community" stream where people were drinking water that I wouldn't even wash my dirty shoes in, and I was ashamed of myself.

Sometimes we take the privileges that we've grown up with for granted, and every once in a while, it's good to make a little personal sacrifice to remind us just how much we have.

The Idea: Commit to taking shorter showers every day, and once a week try to take a cold shower.

The Cost: $0...just a little personal sacrifice.

The Benefit: By taking a shorter shower, you're conserving both water and energy. A cold shower minimizes the demand for energy to heat the water. You will be doing your own little part in conserving energy (and lowering your bills!). And for the vainer ones among us, cold water actually revitalises the skin and gives it a great glow!

Just imagine if each of us could get 10 people to implement this idea.

#12: BYOB and Change The World! (Friday, March 23)

This week's idea is so easy, that it would take more effort NOT to do it.

• Over a billion plastic bags are given away free each day.
• Millions of these bags end up as trash in our rivers and streams, and on our beaches and coasts.
• Scientists estimate that it can take up to 1000 years for a plastic bag to fully degrade.
• They are also a threat to animal life.
• Producing these plastic bags also relies on energy.

The Idea: Bring your own canvas or duffel bag to the grocery store instead of stocking up on plastic bags there, and reuse your plastic bags as often as possible.

The Cost: Nuthin'. Nada. Zilch. Zip. Zero.

The Benefit: You'll be taking an active role in improving your environment and reducing your impact on environmental waste.

(P.S. After I wrote this entry, I found an article on how IKEA is becoming even more environmentally responsible, by charging customers $0.05 for each plastic bag they take from the store. Kudos to them!)

Tell me what you think of this idea!

#11: Contact A Teacher (Friday, March 16)

I was speaking to a teacher and she told me about some of the hardships she has to go through on a daily basis. Teachers keep the children we love safe during the day, and have a vital impact on their development. Yet a lot of them go unappreciated until the PTA meeting, or Christmas.

When I was younger, my dad would regularly give me flowers and produce to take for various teachers at my schools. Each time I graduated from a school, the teachers always told me how much they appreciated the gesture. I'm sure it also made the difference between a teacher doing the bare minimum and taking an interest in my growth as a student.

The Idea: Send a teacher an appreciation card. You can send it anonymously or you can leave your contact information. You can choose one of your old teachers who've helped you, a teacher of a child you know, a teacher that you've come in contact with, or even a generic card to the principal of a school in your neighborhood.

The Cost: the cost of a card and postage

The Benefit: You can let someone - who is often underappreciated - know that you thought of them, and that you are thankful for the work that they do.

#10: Say No To Technology (Friday, March 9)

If you're like me, life without 24-hour internet and TV is a distant, hazy memory. So dependent have we become on these things. I recently had my internet and phone service go out at home and I almost disconnected the entire service because of the length of time it took to get it fixed (as a matter of fact, it's still not fixed and disconnection is still a possibility).

The Idea: Choose one day a month (gotta start off slow) when you will not use the two technological items you rely on most. (For me, it'll be the computer/internet and the television.) Instead, use the day to catch up on reading, (the lost art of) letter writing, chores, volunteering, or just enjoying a beautiful day outside.

The Cost: Nothing. In fact, you'll be saving money.

The Benefit: The energy you'll save by turning those things off for one day could probably light and heat a small village. Besides, it's another opportunity for you to focus on other things that might have fallen by the wayside.

Saturday, March 24th will be my day this month when I say no to technology.

Tell me what you think of this idea...

#9: Feeding The Box (Friday, March 2)

I originally got this idea from a fellow blogger, who'd heard of married couples using it to improve their love life.

You should do and say positive things just because you want to improve yourself. But what if there was a way you could track the positive impressions you leave on others and reward yourself at the same time?

The Idea: Keep a box under your bed (or set up a separate ING account online, so you can earn interest on your good work). Everytime you do or say something positive to another person, deposit a fixed sum ($1 - $10) into the box/account. When you've amassed enough, used the money to take a trip somewhere, go for a massage, or to treat yourself to something nice. Keep reinvesting in the box/account each time you deplete the funds.

The Cost: $1 - $10 each time you make a positive impact on someone else's life.

The Benefit: You'll be sharing your positive outlook with others, and also rewarding yourself for being more positive and reaching out to folks. In addition, you'll have the ability to track your "Positivity Progress". And if nothing else, you'll be able to save some money that you'd have probably spent on some frivolous thing you could probably do without (coffee, cigarettes, candy, etc.).

I'm starting this idea today. I'll contribute $2 each time I do or say something positive to someone else (the people I greet Hello Day and my Good Friday emails count too, so I've already gotten $2 just by writing this).

Tell me what you think of this idea...

#8: The Living Eulogy (Friday, February 23)

We all know someone who, since they've entered our lives, it's been changed for the better. More than likely, it's a family member or a significant other. Family members and significant others are likely choices, but what about the people who've helped to make a positive change on your life who aren't related to you and who have absolutely nothing to gain from helping you be the best person you can be? Many times we wait until the person is no longer around to articulate how much they've impacted our lives...why not give them a living eulogy?

The Idea: Think of someone (other than parents and significant others) who has helped to make you the person you are today. When you've identified that person, give them a call, send them an email, a card or some other communication telling them exactly how they've impacted your life.

The Cost: Your time

The Benefit: There are several:

1) If you've never told this person before, you'll have an opportunity to let him/her know how much they mean to you.

2) If you have expressed these feelings, it will be an unexpected and pleasant reminder.

3) Life is a chain. If you have impacted someone's life in a positive way, it's partly because of the influence of someone who has done the same for you.

Testimonial: I have many people who've helped me become the person I am today, but my most recent and impactful transformations I credit to my former boss, mentor, friend, and sometimes substitute mother, Digna.

Digna is one of the most genuine, positive and uplifting people I know. She always is willing to lend an ear, a hand - even when she's dealing with her own problems. She urges me to dig deep and embrace my talents and strengths, some of which I didn't even know I had. A couple years ago, Digna sat me down and told me that my attitude was my barrier to success. She was right; once I changed my attitude, I changed my world. With her guidance, I've come a loooooooong way.

Her constant encouragement, objective advice and the selfless, unconditional way she gives of herself makes her truly an angel on earth. I consider myself truly blessed to have her as a part of my life.

"You make a living by what you get, but you make a life by what you give."

-Winston Churchill; also one of Digna's favorite quotes

Let me know what you think of this Good Friday idea...

#7: Support the Streets (Friday, February 16)

If you've been on the east coast recently, you know that we're in the middle of a deep freeze with some very nasty weather. Even other parts of the country (snow in Texas, rain in Cali) have felt the effects of global warming. If you work inside, it's not such a big deal, but if you make your living as a street artisan, the weather could determine whether or not you'll be able to eat, or pay rent.

The Idea: Street artisans use their God-given talents and creativity to make beautiful and useful things for our consumption. It's harder for them to make a living in inclement weather. Show your support by buying from a street vendor.

The Cost: The cost of the item.

The Benefit: You'll be helping to support someone who is WORKING to make a living, instead of relying on government assistance, stealing or doing some other illegal activity.

P.S. The purchase of bootleg DVDs and CDs and other knock-offs doesn't count.

Tell me what you think of this idea...

#6: Lift Spirits with Letters (Friday, February 9)

Email has become so convenient that we don't write letters half as much as we used to. Who wants to write the letter, go to the post office, stand on line, buy stamps - and everything else - just to send a letter when you can give the person a call or shoot them a quick email?

But think how nice it would be if you went to your mailbox and got an actual letter from someone you knew, rather than the bills and junk mail we typically receive? To think that someone went through all that effort and trouble JUST for you! What a nice feeling it is.

The Idea: You know hundreds of people. Probably even thousands. Choose ONE person and write them a nice, positive and uplifting letter. If possible, choose someone you haven't spoken to in a while; that will make it all the more special and unexpected.

The Cost: Your time and postage.

The Benefit: You will let someone know you care AND brighten their day with an unexpected communication.

Tell me what you think of this idea...

#5: Give The World A Physical (Friday, February 2)

I know of 3 people whose deaths could have been prevented by a visit to the doctor. Unfortunately, they found out about their health conditions too late. You probably know a few people like that too.

The Idea: Encourage (and if possible, accompany) two people you know to the doctor. You can even go a step further and offer to pay for the visit if money is an obstacle. Often people who refuse to go to the doctor are stubborn. Don't take no for an answer.

The Cost: Your time (and the cost of the physical).

The Benefit: You could save someone's life.

#4: Use Your Talent to Improve Your Surroundings (Friday, January 26)

The Idea: We all have something that we do well. Whether it's singing, arts, design, photography, bookkeeping - everyone has something that they're good at. Many times, we're used to using our talent for financial gain or to make our living. How about using your talent to improve your immediate surroundings?

1. Send an email to your friends and family informing them of your talent.
2. Encourage them to forward the email to anyone who they know could use your talent.
3. Agree to use your talent to help others for free, with the condition that they:
a) Use the help you've given them to improve themselves, or
b) Use their talent in a similar fashion to help others

The Cost: your time.

The Benefit: you can impact your surroundings one person at a time.

My talents are writing and editing; I can write resumes, cover letters, bios, press releases, business plans - you name it, I can write or edit it.

For the next week, I'm committed to helping anyone who needs writing help, with the stipulation that you should either:

- use my help to improve yourself (i.e. if I help you with your resume/cover letter, you should be proactively searching for a job), or
- use your own talent in a similar manner to help someone else

This works on the honor system, so I will just trust that you'll keep up your end of the bargain. :) You don't have to know me to enlist my help either, just send me an email and the help is yours!

(P.S. Business plans are a little more involved and obviously can't be done in a week's time...but I'll give you a good base to start with! :) )

#3: Hello Day (Friday, January 19)

The Idea: You never know how you're connected to someone. The person you see every day on the street could be the person who will one day save your life.

Institute one day a week where you greet a stranger. Make eye contact, say hello and smile!

The Cost: A smile

The Benefit: You might brighten someone's day, make a friend, develop a valuable business contact, or simply improve your own day. Don't be discouraged if the person doesn't respond!

Tell me what you think of this idea!

Appreciate The Little Things (Friday, January 12)

The Idea:

We spend so much time worrying about money, our jobs, and taking care of our family and friends that sometimes we forget to enjoy - I mean, really enjoy - the little things. Here's something that I've done to help me remember those little things:

Starting tomorrow morning, and for the next week, twice a day (once in the morning after you wake up, and once in the evening before you go to sleep), do the following:

1. Write down something that makes you happy which does not include money, work, or your loved ones.
   
2. At the end of the week, make a list of all those things, and post it somewhere where you'll see it all the time. Refer to that list often and remember to appreciate and savor those things.
3. You can also share your list with your loved ones and encourage them to make a list of their own.

You can see a copy of my list here. As you can see, I still have 20 more things to go. It's harder than I thought!!

The Cost: 10 minutes each day for the next 7 days, a piece of paper and a pen.

The Benefit: Finding happiness in even the littlest things makes you happier overall. The happier you are, the more you'll want to share your happiness with others. Happiness is contagious.

Tell me what you think of this idea...

Book In A Bottle (Friday, January 5)

The Idea:

1. Think of a book that you've read that has positively impacted your life, and you'd like to share with the world.
2. Register the book at BookCrossing, where you can print a label with a tracking number and the website to affix to the book.
3. Write a short note in the book that says something like: "This book has changed my life. It is public property and you are welcome to borrow it, but you must pass it on to someone else when you are finished, or leave it in a public place for someone else to find. If you have found this book, please go to the web address on the label and register it before passing it on."
4. Give the book to someone, or leave it in a public place.

The Cost: The cost of the book.

There's a chance that the book may not reach anywhere, but there's also a chance that someone might find it, and it might change their life.

I left my book for someone to find on Wednesday, January 3 in New York, NY.

Simplenigma's Volunteer Log

I have committed to dedicating 52 hours in 2007 to volunteering in my community. Here's where I keep my log.

Date: 05/20/2007
Program Name: AIDS Walk New York
Program Hours: 2.5
YTD Hours: 7 (didn't raise any money or volunteer, just walked)

Date: 05/19/2007
Program Name: Garden In Transit
Program Hours: 2
YTD Hours: 7

Date: 04/21/2007
Program Name: Hands On New York Day
Program Hours: 5
YTD Hours: 5