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?

Better late than never… I took a break from Social Media and since I was off work for the weekend, my computer time was very limited and I forgot. But here I am. I was busy being grateful for everything, seriously too many things to list.
Volunteering

• 4 hours Crisis Text Line.

Charitable Giving

• $55 – World Wildlife Fund – I bought a gift for my niece that included a donation. Save the Narwhals!!

Personal Kindness

Self Care

• Hiking and running.
• Low tech weekend. I still had my smartphone but there was a lot less looking at screens this long weekend.
• A little binge watching.

How’d you do this week?

Volunteering

• 4 hours Crisis Text Line

Charitable Giving

• $25 – The Firecracker Foundation
• $10 – The Mission Continues – Omaze is a fun company that offers the chance to win experiences in exchange for donating to different organizations. I’m someone who loves a raffle or contest or lottery. So donating paired with the chance of winning is perfect for me. And I might get to spend Earth Day with Jon Stewart.

Personal Kindness

• So I’m going with some personal personal kindness this week. As a Crisis Text Line counselor I get these word charts that show the words that come up frequently in my conversations. It’s interesting and heartwarming to see things like “Thank you” included. 

Self Care

• I feel like I took this literally this week. I’m getting back to running after my injury in January and it’s a slow process that required an extra rest day that I wasn’t expecting and a slower pace than I wanted. But you have to take care of your body and let yourself recover in the ways you need. So I’ll run slow and take more rest days.

How are you doing this week?

 

Still running around trying to do all these wonderful things! I have one more trip coming up next week and then I can wind down the year being happy and calm in my house, snuggled up with my dog, training for a marathon and a half.
Volunteering

• 2 hours Crisis Text Line. I had to switch my shift around this week because of work. It was a little strange doing it on a different day.

Charitable Giving

• $0 – But I did buy a pair of Toms shoes. My black flats died recently and needed to replace them and why not replace them with shoes that give shoes!

Personal Kindness

• I’m an Ally in the LGBTQA community and always have been. There is a resource group where I work and I’m proud to be a part of it. I went to an event this week and was so inspired to see all the people who work on these events and all the people there to support this community. I was happy to show up and clap and cheer and let people know that I’m here.

Self Care

• I made a ton of doctors appointments. I got upgraded insurance with the job promotion so it’s time to get to all those appointments I’ve been putting off on the calendar.

How’d you do this week?

This week I’m at Crisis Text Line Palooza. It’s an amazing conference to bring together staff and counselers to learn, refresh, and have fun. 

I feel so connected and invigorated and it isn’t even over. While I love helping people via my computer from my living room each week, seeing my people in real life has been great. We’re in this superhero business together!!

Volunteering 

• 0 hours, kind of. I gave up my Crisis Text Line shift because I was on a plane but I’m here learning how I can help more and in a better way. 

Charitable Giving 

• $0

Personal Kindness 

• Earlier this week I was talking to my friend and they gave me the nicest compliment – they said I’m a safe space for them. I try to be open and available for my friends but it’s nice to hear that I am! 

Self Care

• Traveling! So I’m in a city I’ve never been in before for Palooza and got to explore a little. Traveling to new places is so fun. Especially when something takes you to a place you never would have gone on your own. 
• This builds of the last one but actually letting myself be on vacation. I disconnected from work, forgot about the dirty dishes in the sink, put my to-do list on hold and am not shy about taking a pictures. Vacation for real. 
• Learning. I’m soaking up all I can from this conference and am learning about myself as a philanthropist. Love learning!

Share in the comments how you’re doing this week. 
#Palooza2016

Lovely things are happening! I ran a half marathon, visited another country, and on Monday I start a new full time job. Just lovely!

Traditional Volunteerism

• 0 this week due to travel.

Charitable Giving

• About $1 – I donated my leftover Euros to Unicef.

Personal Kindnesses

• Mostly this week I just appreciate all the people who put up with my poor attempts at French.

Self Care

• Travel!! Always refreshing and regenerative to my spirit.

How did you do this week? Share in the comments!

So many good things happened this week. I feel vindicated in my optimism!

Traditional Volunteerism

• 4 hours Crisis Text Line

Charitable Giving

• $5 to 826LA. My lovely friends threw a party in their space and had a donation plate.

Personal Kindnesses

• I went shopping in a department store and I had two things in my hand but only wanted one. I handed the unwanted garment to the lady at the counter and told her I didn’t want it. She was so appreciative that I didn’t just throw it on some shelf somewhere. I used to work in retail and I know better but so many people forget that retail workers are people. Always, always be nice to retail workers and wait staff.

Self Care

• Acupuncture.
• I went to the eye doctor for my checkup and my eyes are great!
• I bought a plane ticket and a couple other things this week that I’ve been saving for. It feels so nice to splurge a little.
• September is yoga month! So I’m going to see if I can do a little yoga each day. Two days in and I’m good.

How did you do this week? Share in the comments!