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.
Jul 27, 2007
Jul 20, 2007
#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.
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.
Jul 13, 2007
#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!
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!
Jul 6, 2007
#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.
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.
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