Tag: Giving

Weekly Check-In

On By beinggoodeIn WeeklyLeave a comment

Study, Study, Study is the name of the game for a while.

 

Traditional Volunteerism

  • 4 Hours of Crisis Text Line

 

Charitable Giving

  • Zero

 

Personal Kindnesses

  • They say most of the fun is planning your vacation… so I’ve been helping my friend with tips on planning her vacation because she’s going to a location I know a bit about. It’s a win win because it feels like I’m going on vacation and I can have a little vicarious fun in the planning.

 

Self Care

  • Lots of Yoga and Pilates this week.
  • Still trying to accept that I’m in need of a lot of self-care right now. It’s hard to stop fighting it.

 

Please share in the comments how you’re doing this week!

Weekly Check-In

On By beinggoodeIn WeeklyLeave a comment

I got an influx of good news this week. Makes me feel good to see some hard work starting to pay off.

Traditional Volunteerism

  • 4 Hours of Crisis Text Line
    • I’m officially a Level 3 Counselor!! That means I’ve helped over 100 people! It feels so good to do this every week and see the numbers add up.

Charitable Giving

  • Zero

Personal Kindnesses

  • This week I made sure to ask one of my co-workers who is not my favorite about her weekend. Sometimes exchanging a few pleasantries can really make a difference for everyone.

Self Care

  • I have been making sure to get in my exercise. Sweat out the stress!

Please share in the comments how you’re doing this week!

Weekly Check-In

On By beinggoodeIn WeeklyLeave a comment

Feeling a little run down trying to juggle everything. But nose to the grindstone I can do anything. Gotta keep hustling.

Traditional Volunteerism

  • 4 Hours of Crisis Text Line (we were busy this week and it’s the first week of my new shift which is an hour later).
  • I tried to donate Platelets but was turned away because they bruised my arm donating blood.

Charitable Giving

  • Zero

Personal Kindnesses

  • I went to the DMV this morning to renew my license. There are signs at every desk saying you can’t abuse or yell at the workers. It’s sad to think how angry people get. I went out of my way to smile and thank everyone I interacted with. I didn’t really want to be there but yelling at DMV workers really wouldn’t have helped anyone.

Self Care

  • Superbowl time means it’s time to get some junk food. I went out for wings earlier this week. Pretty tasty.

Please share in the comments how you’re doing this week!

Weekly Check-In

On By beinggoodeIn Self Care, WeeklyLeave a comment

I can’t believe it’s the end of January. This week flew by with all the working. I’m really tired but feeling good that I can work this hard and be this tough. I also got to test out the American Red Cross Blood donor app. It’s pretty cool and great for tracking info and setting up future appointments. Now if I could only get them to stop calling me all the time.

Traditional Volunteerism

  • 4 Hours of Crisis Text Line (we were busy this week and it’s the first week of my new shift which is an hour later).
  • 1+ Hours donating Blood (sticking to my new years resolution)

Charitable Giving

  • Zero

Personal Kindnesses

  • Even as I’m on an extended job search I really make sure to be supportive of others who are starting new jobs or interviewing. Someone came up to my desk looking for a certain room and mentioned they were interviewing. I made sure to congratulate them and wish them luck. There is enough success to go around and someone else’s success should be celebrated like your own.

Self Care

  • I managed to get a run and a couple of workouts in this week.
  • When I have a rare free night I spend at home snuggling with my dog. She’s a sweetie and doesn’t like that I’m away from home longer hours.
  • A friend reminded me to find time for myself too. I feel like the blood donation really was for me. It was sticking to my resolution, something I really want to do. Plus I saved up to 3 lives!

Please share in the comments how you’re doing this week!

Weekly Check-In

On By beinggoodeIn WeeklyLeave a comment

I hope everyone had a nice holiday. I was going to post this yesterday but my Aussie Shepherd Emerson was curled up on my feet and that is my Achilles heel. She’s so soft and fluffy and sweet and my feet get so warm. It’s the best kind of procrastination.

  • Traditional Volunteerism
    • 4 Hours of Crisis Text Line

 

  • Charitable Giving
    • $25 – I decided to participate in The Compassion Collective (which includes a writer I love – Cheryl Strayed) raising over $1 for Syrian Refugees. All with donations of $25 or less. I started with $5 and realized that my company would match if I gave $25 so I gave $20 more. I think this might have messed up my company match having it split up (only by a couple of minutes) so we’ll see. It is a lot of money for me right now but it was worth it to be a part of something really special.

 

  • Personal Kindnesses
    • It’s Christmas time and there have been gifts. Nothing extravagant as my budget for gifts this year was nonexistent but I managed to get something off to my Niece and I got a couple of nice surprises including some free goodies from work. I think when you don’t have piles of gifts it’s easier to notice the kindness behind the gifts, you can really appreciate the giving and receiving.
    • Also I’m close with my brother and growing closer with my Sister-in-Law and the special little moments of her stealing the phone from my brother on Christmas day to talk to me and texting each other about food was a sweet gift.

 

  • Self Care
    • I’m really taking advantage of my extra free time and focusing on making things. Knitting and sewing and baking. All things I very much enjoy.

 

Please share in the comments how you’re doing this week!

Enjoy the Holidays

On By beinggoodeIn ThoughtsLeave a comment

It’s almost Christmas and New Year’s Eve and it’s the time for joy and family, traditions and fun, food and presents, decorations and sparkles but it can also be a time of stress, guilt, and sadness. I think what I’ve accepted is you can and mostly like will have a mixture of both. Life is complicated and wonderful!

 

 

I think that in this season of giving we need to remember to give to ourselves too. Self-care is always important but especially this time of year. I think that we put too much pressure on ourselves to make the holidays perfect. We put too much pressure on the time of year, trying to do too much or please others. It’s easy to forget that you’re in control. You  don’t have to accept the stress that others are putting on you. You don’t have to feel guilty for not giving the perfect present or not going to every event. The holidays are for you to enjoy. If a family member brings up a conversation that makes you feel uncomfortable, it’s okay to remove yourself and do something that calms you down. It’s okay if you can’t afford the most glamorous presents or can’t volunteer or donate to charity right now. It’s okay if a holiday tradition or two skips a year. Do what you can and let go of the rest.

 

I hope your holidays are happy and safe! I hope that you enjoy traditions, make new ones, and follow your own heart! I hope you give all you can this time of year and all year round!

 

Share your traditions or holiday struggles you’ve overcome below.

Weekly Check-In

On By beinggoodeIn WeeklyLeave a comment

Just a quick recap of the week.

  • Traditional Volunteerism
    • 4 hours on Crisis Text Line
    • 1 hour helping at an adopt a family gift drop off. I directed traffic (with a lightsaber) and helped sort and load things onto trucks.

 

  • Charitable Giving
    • I didn’t give any money away this week.

 

  • Personal Kindnesses
    • I noticed one of my coworkers wasn’t her normal self so I took a moment to check in on her. I did this even though I was having a difficult week at work. Actually we ended up checking in on each other. I think it’s important to notice how people are feeling and say something about it in a way that allows them to share if they want to or keep it to themselves.

 

  • Self Care
    • I know coloring books for adults are the latest fade but I’ve been coloring as an adult for as long as I’ve been an adult. Coloring was my dream job (I wanted to be an Animation Ink & Paint girl. Thanks computers for crushing that dream) and I find it extremely relaxing.

 

Please share in the comments how you’re doing this week!

Weekly Check-In

On By beinggoodeIn WeeklyLeave a comment

It’s getting to that holiday craziness time of year. I hope to have another post up this weekend.

 

  • Traditional Volunteerism
    • I made up for last week with 2 Crisis Text Line shifts this week. That’s 8 hours of crisis counseling which took a ton of energy but is always worth it.

 

  • Charitable Giving
    • I didn’t give any money away this week. I wish I had room in my budget and hopefully 2016 will bring better fortune.

 

  • Personal Kindnesses
    • This week I got multiple compliments from my coworkers on my positive attitude. This was so nice to hear especially when, especially in my current work situation, I feel dejected. It was a nice reminder how taking the time to compliment someone you see everyday can make a difference.

 

  • Self Care
    • I got new running shoes and am getting frighteningly close to my marathon. Running has improved my mental fitness as much as it has my physical fitness.
    • Gummi bears. Crisis Text Line has brought out a sweet tooth I didn’t know I had.

 

Please share in the comments how you’re doing this week!

Weekly Check-In

On By beinggoodeIn WeeklyLeave a comment

I have been having a hard week personally and have focused most if not all my energy on self care.

 

  • Traditional Volunteerism
    • I postponed my Crisis Text Line shift until next week so I could be a present, good counselor.

 

  • Charitable Giving
    • I used the “Charity Miles” app here and there but am starting to get frustrated with it’s poor history and inaccurate tracking. I walk more miles than it counts. http://www.charitymiles.org/
    • Again I put a couple dollars into the Salvation Army bin.

 

  • Personal Kindnesses
    • It was important to me that while I was somewhere that was produced a lot of anxiety and stress for me and most people there, that while I was waiting in the halls I made sure to make eye contact and smiled at as many people as possible. Just saying hi as I passed people really helped me feel grounded and better.

 

  • Self Care
    • Like I said this was my main focus this week. I ate ice cream which always makes me happy. I tried to exercise when I could, did breathing exercises when I needed them, and pet my sweet dog. But above all I reached out to friends and family for support. I took hugs when they were offered and re-read texts of support over and over until I really internalized them. Self care doesn’t have to be done all by yourself. Sometimes self care means asking and taking help when you need it.

 

Please share in the comments how you’re doing this week!

Weekly Check-In

On By beinggoodeIn WeeklyLeave a comment

I hope everyone had a happy Thanksgiving!

 

  • Traditional Volunteerism
    • 4 hour Crisis Text Line Shift which I moved to Thursday afternoon this week

 

  • Charitable Giving
    • I used the “Charity Miles” app. It doesn’t track the history of how much you raised per run but I did it twice this week for The Wounded Warrior Project and The Nature Conservancy. http://www.charitymiles.org/
    • Coming out of the grocery store I put a handful of change into the Salvation Army bucket. It was probably less than a dollar but the bell ringer was very sweet and reminded me the act of giving is what’s important.

 

  • Personal Kindnesses
    • I went to see a movie with my friend and we were chatting on the sidewalk by my car, catching up after the movie. There was a woman with her trunk open just looking at two grocery bags. Eventually she asked us for a favor, she had had a small surgery earlier that day and was having trouble lifting the bags. We carried two bags from her driveway to her front door. It was so easy for us and so helpful for her. I’m really glad she asked and the timing was right that we were there.

 

  • Self Care
    • Two seemingly opposing things I focused on this week were making sure I got in my running, toning, biking, and yoga and making sure I got pie. I went to my favorite local bakery on Thanksgiving and had coffee and pastries while I wrote and bought an entire pumpkin pie for myself. Then I went on my traditional Thanksgiving hike with my dog. It’s about balance right?!

 

Please share in the comments how you’re doing this week!