Month: December 2016

2016 Yearly Check-In

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I know it’s been a hard year with all the bad news in the news. We lost Bowie and Prince; Brexit, the US Election, and the endless coverage of both were very draining. But I hope if you take a moment to look at your own life you’ll see all the good news that 2016 brought.

Volunteering

275275 Hours – Most of these hours were spent on Crisis Text Line helping people cope with all the bad news in the news. But I also got to experience my first Invictus Games, I volunteered hours giving blood and platelets, I made blankets and scarves, and a few hours here and there doing whatever I could. I can’t believe I spent an average of 45 minutes a day volunteering.

 

 

Charitable Giving

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  • I’d have to go back and add up all the small donations I made this year. It wasn’t much because of the financial struggles in my life but when I gave I gave with all my heart.

 

 

 

 

Personal Kindness

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  • This year I really noticed as I sat down to write the nice things I’d done for others the first things that would always pop into my mind were the nice things others had done for me. It just showed me how these easy nice things you can sneak into your week make a huge difference in people’s lives.

 

 

Self Care

  • handI ran a marathon! And I have trained for another one in the beginning of January. The challenges of running long distances and committing to myself has been endlessly rewarding. It makes me feel like I can do anything.
  • I traveled. This year marked my first volunteering vacation and also my first time back in Europe in a decade. And I followed the Dalai Lama instructions to “Once a year, go somewhere you’ve never been before,” with a trip to Austin.
  • I took time to be calm and quiet and pamper myself when needed.

 

How’d you do this year? Are you ready for 2017?

I have big plans for 2017 that I will be announcing here on January 16th. I’m excited for the new opportunities and the new lessons that the new year will bring. Thank you for reading. Happy New Year!

Weekly Check-In

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I’m feeling very joyful and ready for a calm and happy holiday weekend. I had some big wins in my personal kindness this week and I’m still feeling the joy of those.

Volunteering

  • 4 hours Crisis Text Line

Charitable Giving

  • $0

Personal Kindness

  • A friend of mine who has been looking for work for a few months recently found and started a new job. I decided to send her some flowers as a congratulations. We’re not super close and it’s expensive to send flowers but the joy it brought the both of us is far greater than any excuses I can come up with. Send flowers to someone if you can, it’s amazing.
  • I was getting coffee one morning this week and the line moved up and somehow I got in front of the gentleman who was in front of me in line. I tried to get him to take his place in line back but he wouldn’t. He was happier than most people are after thier morning coffee. So when I got to the front I ordered and when the cashier said “anything else” I just said “and whatever he’s having”. It was such a nice split second decision. It is also exactly what I mean by throw kindness around like snowballs. Could that money have gone to a charity or someone who needs it more? Maybe. But it was an easy way to be kind and feel joy this season so I did it.

Self Care

  • I’ve been checking things off my to-do list since work is calmer and quieter than normal.
  • I’ve also been putting some time in journaling and prepping my 2017 planner. Reflecting back and looking forward. Tis the season.
  • I just took my puppy dog to get a bath. It’s a treat for her that’s really a treat for me. They trim her paws and nails so that they are cuter than I can stand and she smells so nice.

How’d you do this week?

Throw Kindness like Snowballs

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I’m going to go against my own advice a little bit and say it’s okay this time of year to not be as thoughtful. I’ll explain.

Around the holidays the donation jars, bins, and trucks seem to multiple infinitely. From Santa ringing a bell in front of the stores to giant bins at the grocery store to trucks lined up at a local parking lot to collections in your office. There are hundreds of people working to make it easier to give this time of year. So give! Put some change in a jar, buy an extra toy or canned good. It doesn’t have to be much.

This is the time of year to get in the spirit and I think an important way to that is to let go of the stress and contemplation and just be in the moment. It will be January soon and we can go back to thinking through every donation carefully. But for now I encourage you to shift your mindfulness into the moment. Hold doors, buy someone hot chocolate or bake cookies, sing, hug, and just spread joy. There’s a saying “Throw kindness around like confetti,” this time of year I say throw kindness around like snowballs!*

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*I do have an asterisk to this post. If you’re feeling sadness, depression, or just stressed and down – take time for yourself! Self-care is still important or is more important during the holidays. If you need to reach out, please find help.

Weekly Check-In

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As the holidays approach I’m feeling less and less on top of it. Things are slipping through the cracks a little bit but what I’m making sure isn’t missed are the really important things. Primary, the joy of the season.

Volunteering

  • 4 hours Crisis Text Line

Charitable Giving

  • ~$1 I put some change in the Ronald McDonald house bucket when I got coffee twice this week
  • $1 in a local homeless program bucket

Personal Kindness

  • I gave someone directions. I was in the middle of a run, completely in my own mind, in my zone. But stopping to give someone who seemed very lost directions only added a minute or two to that mile and it was helpful to that person.
  • I bought someone’s dinner. It wasn’t much and wasn’t necessary but it was nice and it felt good doing it.

Self Care

  • I’ve been focusing hard on training for the marathon that’s quickly creeping up. Keeping exercise and diet commitments is a wonderful way to take care of yourself.
  • I had a meet up with another Crisis Text Line volunteer. It’s great to see my comrades in person.

How’d you do this week?

Weekly Check-In

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Some excitement at work distracted me from being productive. I think it’s good excitement but we’ll see how it plays out. Lots of changes to come.

Volunteering

  • 4 hours Crisis Text Line.

Charitable Giving

  • $35 to Planned Parenthood via a contest to win Hamilton tickets. *Fingers crossed*

Personal Kindness

  • I got a sweet and very personal Facebook message this week. Just saying something nice to someone you love can mean so much. Take a second to say something nice to someone. Send a quick message, pick up the phone, send a card.

Self Care

  • With my new job I have better health insurance so I’m systematically going to all the doctors!
  • December 5th is Repeal Day. I added this celebration to my holidays a few years ago when there was a local party. The party is discontinued but I’ve kept the tradition. We went out on a Monday night to get holiday drinks and celebrate the right to alcohol.

How’d you do this week?

Weekly Check-In

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It’s getting to feel like the holidays. Things are getting sparkly and more exciting. December you’re the last one, be the best one.

Volunteering

  • 4 hours Crisis Text Line.

Charitable Giving

  • $25 – Special Olympics on Giving Tuesday.  They had a promotion to triple the donation and with my company match it ends up being $100 going to a great cause. I had a hard time choosing a cause on #GivingTuesday but the extra match for an organization I love made it easy (well easier).
  • $1 – St. Jude – There was a donation jug at the gas station.

Personal Kindness

  • I think the most helpful thing I can do lately is be there for my friends to vent about the frustrations they have in the world and by providing a little bit of cheer in the way of adorable dog pictures.

Self Care

  • I put up my Christmas tree. It’s giant and blue, I love it.
  • I also got an advent calendar which is a tradition I really enjoy.
  • On Black Friday/Cyber Monday/Shopping weekend I bought a workout series on sale. I’ve been looking at it for a while and was having trouble justifying the cost but on sale! I’m already 4 days in and even though some mornings I don’t want to do it I’m always happy I’ve done it.

How’d you do this week?