Random Acts & Blessed Bucks

“Do something for somebody every day for which you do not get paid.”
~ Albert Schweitzer

Today is Mardi Gras.

In French that means "fat Tuesday" and is the traditional start to Lent in the Catholic religion. More than just a heckuva party in New Orleans, it is a time to whoop it up because tomorrow, on Ash Wednesday, as tradition states, we fast and refrain from exuberant activities and call to mind that Lent is 40 days to make a change.

There are three components to Lent: prayer, fasting and alms-giving.

I believe in the power of prayer and feel that there are many ways to pray, you have to find what works for you. My favorite way to pray is to do centering prayer. Sit in a quiet place. Relax. Focus on your breathing. As you inhale repeat a mantra that means something to you...I like to call to mind who I am praying to... "Lord Jesus Christ"... "Ruler of the Universe"... "God in heaven"... whatever works for you. As you exhale you breathe out the words that focus on what you need from the prayer.. "show my your way"... "guide and protect me"... "help me seek peace"... it is a great way to destress and relax and when you let yourself really give in to it, your mind can be opened to the possibilities.

Alms-giving is a tradition of donating money. I do this all year round, but find a particular satisfaction in giving up something that my life has come to rely on and donating that money to a cause. My church supports Catholic Relief Services, but you could choose anything that speaks to you. As far as fasting, I plan to refrain from my beloved "liquid courage" - COFFEE - and donate the money I would have spent on it. I will be a tea drinker for these next weeks. That will be hard (I know, I have done this before).

One great way to incorporate all three is to be a living prayer... to do those things which will have you fasting from the richness and overindulgences in your life while also calling to mind those who are less fortunate and spreading joy. All life can be a living prayer.

On the blog Kind Over Matter, I read that this week is Random Acts of Kindness week. I think that we should be doing that all the time, not just during one week. But it reminded me of what I did last year. Since I only had about 50 followers last year at this time, and now I am pushing the 250 follower mark {seriously, how does that happen?}, I thought I would resurrect a challenge to all of you called the Blessed Bucks Challenge. Read on...

____________________________
Completing the Circle of Good

When we are faced with uncertainties in our lives it is easy to curl into ourselves and play the WHY-ME card. The challenge then is to take stock of the blessings that do abound in your life and find a way to step outside of yourself. You gain so much more giving than by receiving.

We celebrated Fat Tuesday this past week. My husband and I attended a party hosted by one of our favorite restaurants, Christian's Bistro {you have no idea how lucky we are to have this little gem}, with my best friend Lynn and her husband. There were Hurricanes and gumbo and jambalaya and red beans and rice. There was authentic Dixieland jazz, boas, beads and voodoo dolls. There was even a tarot card reader.

But one of the things that we had fun with was to randomly choose a "spell" from a bucket. These spells were of the good variety with the promise of health, wealth and love.

The spell that I received was called "Blessed Bucks."


Blessed Bucks Money Spell
Take one or more dollar bills and write on each,
"May you be blessed with health, wealth & love"
Then take the Blessed Bucks out into
the world and hide them in places where people will find them.
NEVER just drop one on the ground as it might look like merely an accident.

Great places to hide them:
Open a newspaper kiosk and slip one inside a newspaper, especially the jobs section.
Carry a glue stick with you and go inside a grocery store. Glue a Blessed Buck on the back of a food item, milk, or a box of diapers.
Pull out the next cup on the coffee kiosk at your favorite convenience store. Wrap the buck around the cup so that when the cup is pulled out pops a buck.

Lynn and I challenged each other on the spot to distribute one Blessed Buck per day during the 40 days of Lent. I have been recording where I have placed them just as a reminder of my progress, and I am trying to pick varied spots to ensure that they will be found by the widest range of people. I will also be making donations to my church's rice bowl collection, but it feels good to know that someone, somewhere will pick up that package of diapers or reach for that packet of sugar on the table at Applebee's or take home a plant to brighten someone's day and there will be an added bonus, a Blessed Buck wishing health, wealth and love on the recipient.

"In helping others, we shall help ourselves, for whatever good we give out completes the circle and comes back to us." ~ Flora Edwards

Will you join me in the Blessed Bucks Challenge?

Starting on Wednesday, February 17th and for the 40 days of Lent (or just for the next 40 days in whatever faith you celebrate) I challenge you to a play along and pay it forward.

Leave a comment on this post sharing some suggestions of places you will hide Blessed Bucks. I will check in periodically and ask for your continued suggestions.

At the end of the 40 days - at Easter - I will select a random winner from all the Blessed Bucks participants who post where they are hiding them to win one of my Seeds of Inspiration necklaces, customized with the winner's choice of power word.

What are you doing to complete the circle of good? I challenge you to find one thing each month that will allow you to step outside of your life (and maybe even your comfort zone) and give.

Do tell me about it! I love to hear from you.

Check It Out::Kind Over Matter

Enjoy the day!

Random Acts & Blessed Bucks

“Do something for somebody every day for which you do not get paid.”
~ Albert Schweitzer

Today is Mardi Gras.

In French that means "fat Tuesday" and is the traditional start to Lent in the Catholic religion. More than just a heckuva party in New Orleans, it is a time to whoop it up because tomorrow, on Ash Wednesday, as tradition states, we fast and refrain from exuberant activities and call to mind that Lent is 40 days to make a change.

There are three components to Lent: prayer, fasting and alms-giving.

I believe in the power of prayer and feel that there are many ways to pray, you have to find what works for you. My favorite way to pray is to do centering prayer. Sit in a quiet place. Relax. Focus on your breathing. As you inhale repeat a mantra that means something to you...I like to call to mind who I am praying to... "Lord Jesus Christ"... "Ruler of the Universe"... "God in heaven"... whatever works for you. As you exhale you breathe out the words that focus on what you need from the prayer.. "show my your way"... "guide and protect me"... "help me seek peace"... it is a great way to destress and relax and when you let yourself really give in to it, your mind can be opened to the possibilities.

Alms-giving is a tradition of donating money. I do this all year round, but find a particular satisfaction in giving up something that my life has come to rely on and donating that money to a cause. My church supports Catholic Relief Services, but you could choose anything that speaks to you. As far as fasting, I plan to refrain from my beloved "liquid courage" - COFFEE - and donate the money I would have spent on it. I will be a tea drinker for these next weeks. That will be hard (I know, I have done this before).

One great way to incorporate all three is to be a living prayer... to do those things which will have you fasting from the richness and overindulgences in your life while also calling to mind those who are less fortunate and spreading joy. All life can be a living prayer.

On the blog Kind Over Matter, I read that this week is Random Acts of Kindness week. I think that we should be doing that all the time, not just during one week. But it reminded me of what I did last year. Since I only had about 50 followers last year at this time, and now I am pushing the 250 follower mark {seriously, how does that happen?}, I thought I would resurrect a challenge to all of you called the Blessed Bucks Challenge. Read on...

____________________________
Completing the Circle of Good

When we are faced with uncertainties in our lives it is easy to curl into ourselves and play the WHY-ME card. The challenge then is to take stock of the blessings that do abound in your life and find a way to step outside of yourself. You gain so much more giving than by receiving.

We celebrated Fat Tuesday this past week. My husband and I attended a party hosted by one of our favorite restaurants, Christian's Bistro {you have no idea how lucky we are to have this little gem}, with my best friend Lynn and her husband. There were Hurricanes and gumbo and jambalaya and red beans and rice. There was authentic Dixieland jazz, boas, beads and voodoo dolls. There was even a tarot card reader.

But one of the things that we had fun with was to randomly choose a "spell" from a bucket. These spells were of the good variety with the promise of health, wealth and love.

The spell that I received was called "Blessed Bucks."


Blessed Bucks Money Spell
Take one or more dollar bills and write on each,
"May you be blessed with health, wealth & love"
Then take the Blessed Bucks out into
the world and hide them in places where people will find them.
NEVER just drop one on the ground as it might look like merely an accident.

Great places to hide them:
Open a newspaper kiosk and slip one inside a newspaper, especially the jobs section.
Carry a glue stick with you and go inside a grocery store. Glue a Blessed Buck on the back of a food item, milk, or a box of diapers.
Pull out the next cup on the coffee kiosk at your favorite convenience store. Wrap the buck around the cup so that when the cup is pulled out pops a buck.

Lynn and I challenged each other on the spot to distribute one Blessed Buck per day during the 40 days of Lent. I have been recording where I have placed them just as a reminder of my progress, and I am trying to pick varied spots to ensure that they will be found by the widest range of people. I will also be making donations to my church's rice bowl collection, but it feels good to know that someone, somewhere will pick up that package of diapers or reach for that packet of sugar on the table at Applebee's or take home a plant to brighten someone's day and there will be an added bonus, a Blessed Buck wishing health, wealth and love on the recipient.

"In helping others, we shall help ourselves, for whatever good we give out completes the circle and comes back to us." ~ Flora Edwards

Will you join me in the Blessed Bucks Challenge?

Starting on Wednesday, February 17th and for the 40 days of Lent (or just for the next 40 days in whatever faith you celebrate) I challenge you to a play along and pay it forward.

Leave a comment on this post sharing some suggestions of places you will hide Blessed Bucks. I will check in periodically and ask for your continued suggestions.

At the end of the 40 days - at Easter - I will select a random winner from all the Blessed Bucks participants who post where they are hiding them to win one of my Seeds of Inspiration necklaces, customized with the winner's choice of power word.

What are you doing to complete the circle of good? I challenge you to find one thing each month that will allow you to step outside of your life (and maybe even your comfort zone) and give.

Do tell me about it! I love to hear from you.

Check It Out::Kind Over Matter

Enjoy the day!

The Uniform Project

NYC Woman To Wear Same Dress Every Day For a Year

The Idea

Starting May 2009, Sheena Matheiken has pledged to wear one dress for one year as an exercise in sustainable fashion. How so you ask?

Here’s how it works: There are 7 identical dresses, one for each day of the week. Every day she will reinvent the dress with layers, accessories and all kinds of accouterments, the majority of which will be vintage, hand-made, or hand-me-down goodies. Think of it as wearing a daily uniform with enough creative license to make it look like she just crawled out of the Marquis de Sade's boudoir.

The Uniform Project is also a year-long fundraiser for the Akanksha Foundation, a grassroots movement that is revolutionizing education in India. At the end of the year, all contributions will go toward Akanksha’s School Project to fund uniforms and other educational expenses for slum children in India.

BRAVO! Sheena!

You are all winners in my eyes

"The habit of giving only enhances the desire to give."


~Walt Whitman




Thank you for scattering a bit of joy in your corner of the world this week. Here is a bit of joy I found from my trip to San Francisco in September 2008 from the Japanese gardens.

I was really blown away by the creative ways that all my commenters intended to Scatter Joy this past week. You have no doubt made a difference in the lives that you touched, whether you did so anonymously or right out in the open. You have lifted my soul.


From a simple hello to the more complicated standing up for your beliefs to the beautiful works of art and the poignant gift of flowers, I thought that you might like to see what good you have done, in case you would like to be so inspired to continue the goodness, so here is a list of all the joy-filled activities that were going on:

• Just smiling at someone and making a nice comment ("Wow, that's a great color on you")--what a great way to give someone a little more spring in their step! {Proving that it shouldn't have to be a herculean effort to scatter joy, just a little perceptiveness and a pause in your day.}



• I'm a SAHM and really spend most of my time with my kids, so I think I will focus on "scattering joy" by putting extra effort into encouraging them! {The greatest gift you can give to your children is to be there for them. It makes all the difference in their world.}


• Giving a smile is a great way to start!! {So easy, so cheap and yet so often overlooked.}


• Each day I hope to make someone smile in a different way. I want to help someone out there see the world a little brighter. {I enjoy trying to find just that thing that will be the difference to a person. All it takes is a little bit of listening to really hear what would make someone happy.}


• This week I've been bombarded my negativity in the workplace - people gossiping, blaming, and complaining. To help scatter joy - instead of joining the complainers - I am going to be an ally with the poor targets of those complaints and help come up with a SOLUTION to the problem! {This was truly one of the most wonderful things I read. It is so easy to be dragged into the spiral of negativity and to have the courage to stand up for others is the best way to scatter joy.}
  
• I want to be an example of a joyful heart and raise up a son who will seek out ways to bless others. {How blessed to be raised to have a joyful heart. It really does start at home.}


• A smile to a stranger at the grocery store. A compliment to a tired mom at the bus stop. A few minutes really listening to a lonely senior citizen. A show of enthusiasm when my kids create a picture. {It doesn't get any better than doing those things that we should really be doing already. Just a conscious effort to be a brighter star in another's world is such a great place to start.}


• I will scatter joy this week by going to the coffee shop and buying the next persons drink. {Which coffee shop will you be at? I am at Emy J's every day...just in case you happen to be in line ahead of me! How about paying for the next car at the drive through?}


• I will also be thinking more about the impact we have on others - it's easy to hold a door, smile and say "beautiful day isn't it?" I will be more thoughtful of ways I can scatter joy... {I am definitely a "half full" kind of gal... even if the sun isn't shining, I know that there is something good in every day and I actively seek that out.}


• I have always enjoyed bestowing random acts of kindness upon absolute strangers. {I love to see the faces of those I don't know who are the recipient of a kindness, like when I invite the person behind me at the grocery store with only a few items to jump ahead of me and my cart overfloweth. They truly cannot believe it, but I know they appreciate it!}


• Today I'm going to be scattering joy by visiting blogs and spreading some love and encouragement! {We bloggers love to have your comments and know that what we wrote makes a difference to you...I make a point of going to a new blog everyday and providing written encouragement. I find the coolest things that way and it is easy to follow a random link on a blog that you already like.}


• I will be scattering joy this week by leaving little works of art behind on my travels for others to find. {Oooh! That is so very cool! Random works of art would be a welcome treat to find.}


• I think to scatter joy I am going to contact a friend of mine in southern Wisconsin that I have not heard from in over a year! {Reconnecting is a great way to perk someone up. They may have thought the same but not had the courage. You may be the blessing that someone needs right now.}


• Today I will gather two bouquets of roses from my rose garden and give one to a friend who became a widow a year ago today. {This was the most touching comment I read...brought tears to my eyes when I read, "Isn't it just like God to have beautiful roses blooming on a day when my friends need special touches of joy!"}


• I will give one random compliment to a co-worker each day this week. Work will be such a great place to be this week! {Imagine if you did this...the ripple effect would be amazing...and then the clients you talk to on the phone would catch your positivity...and they would spread joy where they are...ripples!}
  

In the spirit of scattering joy, I decided to spread a little more of my own. I was so inspired by what you had to say that I decided to giveaway not one...not two...but THREE W.O.W. Pendants. After all, you have been an inspiration to me!

So... I printed out each of your posts and assigned it a number in the order that it was received. Then I made sure to give extra entries to those who posted on their blogs or even Tweeted about it (thanks so much! I have never been "tweeted" before!). And finally, those who sent others to scatter the joy got yet another entry.

First... from Random.org the random number generator:

Anna L. (*Joyful*Heart*)! (How wonderful that you stopped by!)

Second... I had my daughter Tiny Dancer pull one of your names out and she chose...
Jenners! (I will be in touch :)

Third... so my son Sport-O didn't feel left out, I let him pull another name and he chose...
Laurel! (So glad you found my blog!)
So Anna L., Jenners and Laurel... congratulations! I will be in touch to find out exactly which letter you would like (perfect as a gift for someone else, or as a mother's necklace with the initial of your child, or to celebrate yourself) for your W.O.W. pendants and then I will get busy creating them just for you!


I am so glad that each of you chose to spend a few moments stopping by to visit my blog and more importantly that you all chose to spend a few moments this week scattering joy in your neck of the woods. I cannot help but think that by spreading these little ripples of joy we can start a chain reaction. I hope that you will continue to find ways to share your blessings. And I would love to hear about it!

P.S. Since I had so much fun with this, my first, giveaway, I have decided that this should become a monthly event. So watch the blog at the beginning of each month for something new to win!

"You make a living by what you get. You make a life by what you give."
~Winston Churchill


Check It Out::http://www.charliewrites.com/


Enjoy the day!

You are all winners in my eyes

"The habit of giving only enhances the desire to give."


~Walt Whitman




Thank you for scattering a bit of joy in your corner of the world this week. Here is a bit of joy I found from my trip to San Francisco in September 2008 from the Japanese gardens.

I was really blown away by the creative ways that all my commenters intended to Scatter Joy this past week. You have no doubt made a difference in the lives that you touched, whether you did so anonymously or right out in the open. You have lifted my soul.


From a simple hello to the more complicated standing up for your beliefs to the beautiful works of art and the poignant gift of flowers, I thought that you might like to see what good you have done, in case you would like to be so inspired to continue the goodness, so here is a list of all the joy-filled activities that were going on:

• Just smiling at someone and making a nice comment ("Wow, that's a great color on you")--what a great way to give someone a little more spring in their step! {Proving that it shouldn't have to be a herculean effort to scatter joy, just a little perceptiveness and a pause in your day.}



• I'm a SAHM and really spend most of my time with my kids, so I think I will focus on "scattering joy" by putting extra effort into encouraging them! {The greatest gift you can give to your children is to be there for them. It makes all the difference in their world.}


• Giving a smile is a great way to start!! {So easy, so cheap and yet so often overlooked.}


• Each day I hope to make someone smile in a different way. I want to help someone out there see the world a little brighter. {I enjoy trying to find just that thing that will be the difference to a person. All it takes is a little bit of listening to really hear what would make someone happy.}


• This week I've been bombarded my negativity in the workplace - people gossiping, blaming, and complaining. To help scatter joy - instead of joining the complainers - I am going to be an ally with the poor targets of those complaints and help come up with a SOLUTION to the problem! {This was truly one of the most wonderful things I read. It is so easy to be dragged into the spiral of negativity and to have the courage to stand up for others is the best way to scatter joy.}
  
• I want to be an example of a joyful heart and raise up a son who will seek out ways to bless others. {How blessed to be raised to have a joyful heart. It really does start at home.}


• A smile to a stranger at the grocery store. A compliment to a tired mom at the bus stop. A few minutes really listening to a lonely senior citizen. A show of enthusiasm when my kids create a picture. {It doesn't get any better than doing those things that we should really be doing already. Just a conscious effort to be a brighter star in another's world is such a great place to start.}


• I will scatter joy this week by going to the coffee shop and buying the next persons drink. {Which coffee shop will you be at? I am at Emy J's every day...just in case you happen to be in line ahead of me! How about paying for the next car at the drive through?}


• I will also be thinking more about the impact we have on others - it's easy to hold a door, smile and say "beautiful day isn't it?" I will be more thoughtful of ways I can scatter joy... {I am definitely a "half full" kind of gal... even if the sun isn't shining, I know that there is something good in every day and I actively seek that out.}


• I have always enjoyed bestowing random acts of kindness upon absolute strangers. {I love to see the faces of those I don't know who are the recipient of a kindness, like when I invite the person behind me at the grocery store with only a few items to jump ahead of me and my cart overfloweth. They truly cannot believe it, but I know they appreciate it!}


• Today I'm going to be scattering joy by visiting blogs and spreading some love and encouragement! {We bloggers love to have your comments and know that what we wrote makes a difference to you...I make a point of going to a new blog everyday and providing written encouragement. I find the coolest things that way and it is easy to follow a random link on a blog that you already like.}


• I will be scattering joy this week by leaving little works of art behind on my travels for others to find. {Oooh! That is so very cool! Random works of art would be a welcome treat to find.}


• I think to scatter joy I am going to contact a friend of mine in southern Wisconsin that I have not heard from in over a year! {Reconnecting is a great way to perk someone up. They may have thought the same but not had the courage. You may be the blessing that someone needs right now.}


• Today I will gather two bouquets of roses from my rose garden and give one to a friend who became a widow a year ago today. {This was the most touching comment I read...brought tears to my eyes when I read, "Isn't it just like God to have beautiful roses blooming on a day when my friends need special touches of joy!"}


• I will give one random compliment to a co-worker each day this week. Work will be such a great place to be this week! {Imagine if you did this...the ripple effect would be amazing...and then the clients you talk to on the phone would catch your positivity...and they would spread joy where they are...ripples!}
  

In the spirit of scattering joy, I decided to spread a little more of my own. I was so inspired by what you had to say that I decided to giveaway not one...not two...but THREE W.O.W. Pendants. After all, you have been an inspiration to me!

So... I printed out each of your posts and assigned it a number in the order that it was received. Then I made sure to give extra entries to those who posted on their blogs or even Tweeted about it (thanks so much! I have never been "tweeted" before!). And finally, those who sent others to scatter the joy got yet another entry.

First... from Random.org the random number generator:

Anna L. (*Joyful*Heart*)! (How wonderful that you stopped by!)

Second... I had my daughter Tiny Dancer pull one of your names out and she chose...
Jenners! (I will be in touch :)

Third... so my son Sport-O didn't feel left out, I let him pull another name and he chose...
Laurel! (So glad you found my blog!)
So Anna L., Jenners and Laurel... congratulations! I will be in touch to find out exactly which letter you would like (perfect as a gift for someone else, or as a mother's necklace with the initial of your child, or to celebrate yourself) for your W.O.W. pendants and then I will get busy creating them just for you!


I am so glad that each of you chose to spend a few moments stopping by to visit my blog and more importantly that you all chose to spend a few moments this week scattering joy in your neck of the woods. I cannot help but think that by spreading these little ripples of joy we can start a chain reaction. I hope that you will continue to find ways to share your blessings. And I would love to hear about it!

P.S. Since I had so much fun with this, my first, giveaway, I have decided that this should become a monthly event. So watch the blog at the beginning of each month for something new to win!

"You make a living by what you get. You make a life by what you give."
~Winston Churchill


Check It Out::http://www.charliewrites.com/


Enjoy the day!

EARTH HOUR 2009 SET TO SWITCH OFF THE GLOBE

* 377 cities already committed, and double the number of countries that participated in 2008
* Archbishop Desmond Tutu leads call for action on climate change
* Christ The Redeemer statue to turn off its lights
* Iconic Obama artist Shepard Fairey joins campaign

The lights out initiative, which began in Sydney in 2007 as a one-city environmental campaign, has evolved into a grassroots action that has captured the attention of the citizens of the world. In 2008, 371 cities across 35 countries turned their lights out in a united call for action on climate change.

Now, with almost two months still remaining before Earth Hour 2009, that number has already been eclipsed, with 377 cities across 74 countries now committed to turning off their lights for one hour at 8.30pm on 28 March.

Again, Mr. Fairey rocks the designs!

Read more

Random acts of kindness..in a book:)

One of my favorite books is, "The Guerrilla Art Kit" by Keri Smith
I just love it! It's a little book, but it's filled with SO MUCH inspiration.
There's something about doing something so unexpected in an everyday place. Something about bringing color, inspiration and joy to someone you don't know...something about beautifying a space that may be soulless or without character, and adding a new life to it.

Here is a little blurb from the book:

Modern culture with its overwhelming wealth of advertising, mass media, and mass communication often teaches us to tune out, or disconnect, because there is a limit to how much information we can process on a given day. In many cases we have no choice about the quality or quantity of what we take in. In an urban environmental it becomes necessary to form a direct connection with the landscape, with aspects of the natural world, or with the greater community. Creating street art is one way to foster that connection.

And her site-

Possible Formats to be a guerrilla artist:

1. Sidewalk chalk
2. Sticker art
3. Flyers/posters (see "make a flyer of your day" at learningtoloveyoumore.
4. Journals (pass it on)
5. Zines
6. Object leave behinds (money, gifts, junk)
7. Notes (slogans)
8. Graffiti
9. Book inserts (library)
10. Book leave behinds (bookcrossing)
11. Letters (possibly love letters to strangers)
12. The age old 'message in a bottle', or a balloon. Or if you are really adventurous you might be drawn to carrier pigeons.

Potential Ideas for subject matter

-any form of artwork (drawings, collage, doodles, paintings)
-recipes
-photos
-good luck charms
-fortunes
-quotes
-variations on a theme
-many guerrilla artist are politically motivated and find that being anonymous allows them to be more controversial or extreme with their message. Popular with activists.

Further reading:guerillart.org

Check out her site