Acts of Random Kindness to You

Yes, that is right, we are covered in snow. I didn’t teach today as we had a snow day. I can barely believe in October that we had this much snow. It was at least a foot if not more. Along with snow came shoveling and plowing. I am lucky as my husband does all of the shoveling and my brother usually does the plowing. The problem today was that everything went wrong. Or at least it felt that way, but looking back on the day, it provided opportunities to be thankful.

My brother broke down and could not come help us out and that happened just as we got really stuck in the driveway and realized my husband’s 4 wheel drive was no longer working. So, here we are stuck with no plow and things just started to happen. A neighbor from up the road pulled over and told us he would be right back to pull us out. We didn’t even know him, but he stopped anyone. Thanks neighbor.

As I walked across the road to see if our other neighbors minded us parking in their driveway for a bit so we would not get stuck again, the husband met me at the door. Jokingly, he called me the “abominable snowman” and then explained he was on his way over to plow us out with his tractor. Thanks neighbor.

So, sure things went wrong and they are bound to, but in many ways, things went right ! We are blessed to have a community that still believes in neighborly gestures. My husband is on his way out the door with some cookies for these guys. One act of random kindness at a time can change the world !! Try it !

My husband just showed me a neat new website that is aimed at spreading a little Halloween cheer and friendliness. Who doesn’t need those things in their life?  Ghosting It Forward is just what it sounds like, you simply do something positive and start a hopeful chain reaction. The site has some great stories and ideas. The best part about the entire idea is that it costs so little and can make such a difference. I would love to hear about your “ghostly” activities, so stop back and tell me about them.

It is also a great way to get kids involved with some positive fun for Halloween. This could go in so many directions that I can’t wait to see what we can do with it here in our little town. So, what is stopping you? Let’s make the world a better place with one act of random kindess at a time.

First of all, my apologies for being missing in action for so long. It has been a challenging fall. Besides getting back to school, the weekend before returning to work, we had to place my father in a nursing home. For anyone that has not read previous posts, my father is 64 years old and has Alzheimers disease. For over two years, my mother and the rest of us have been with him 24 hours a day. Mom still has several years of working full time and we simply could not keep up as he got worse. He took a fall on Labor Day weekend that scared my mother and that was that. It has not been an easy decision, but I think it is the best one. The facility that he is in is for his specific disease which is nice.

So, the holidays are approaching and financial times are tough. Anyone have any great tips to share as to how they are going to cut back while still getting in the spirit? If so, I would love to hear them. I am going to try and get here more often now that things are settling down. I have read some great books to review and have had some real acts of kindness come my way this fall, so I certainly have plenty to talk about and I look forward to it !

Until next time, remember it is always fun to be kind for absolutely no reason at all.

This is the time of the year that I always look forward to. As a teacher, I also get to shop for new clothes at the beginning of the school year. I love to look through the many stores to find out the latest fall fashion trends. It is exciting to shop for new clothes.

One way that I find the best savings is to do a lot of online shopping. I can often find major retailers that offer a bigger savings by shopping over the Internet. This is because they do not have the over head selling online as they do in the stores. Because of lower overhead, I often save a large amount of money by shopping the online stores. The best part is, I get it all shipped right to my front door.

Keeping up with the latest fall fashion shopping trends is easier because you can compare store to store to see what is out and what is in. Teaching high school requires me to stay with in the current trend so i can better relate to my students. It also gives me a great excuse to shop for new clothes.

I am excited about going back to school and just as excited that i will look good while I am teaching. However, even if you are not a teacher, it is a great time to find great deals and treat yourself to a act of random kindness.

I love to travel and in my travel I make many new friends. One in particular lives in Canada. She has been very special to me and she has helped me through some very rough times. When one of my parents was sick, she sent me a beautiful arrangement of sympathy flowers that I thought was a special act of kindness that was totally unexpected. We are not long time friends but we do email back and forth occasionally and we have spoken by phone on occasion.

The flowers came two years ago and I have always looked for a way to do something nice in return. On one of my calls to her, I was speaking to husband because she was not at home and I found out her birthday was coming up in a few days. After some chatting with him, I found out her favorite flowers were Sunflowers. I was excited!

I went right to my computer and searched for Toronto Flowers. I was looking for some birthday flowers to send to her to show how much her friendship meant to me. I was excited when I ordered them and waited to see what her reaction would be.

The day of her birthday arrived and I did not hear from her. The next day her husband called to say she was sick and my flowers perked her right up and made her whole birthday great. It was one of those random acts that shocked and amazed her even though she had done the same for me just a couple of years ago.

Flowers are a great way to show someone how much you care and it inspires a smile even when there would otherwise be none. I did not know she was sick but the time was perfect to celebrate her birthday and cheer her up from her illness.

Just remember, random acts of kindness not only helps the person who receives it, it helps the giver also.

I have just finished one of the most amazing books that I have ever read. Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen was one of those books that I hated to see end. The setting is the circus during the Depression Era, but some of the things that happen are astounding.

You find yourself rooting hard for the protagonist, Jacob, and hating Uncle Al and August so much that your heart actually races with the turn of each page. If this is her first attempt at a fiction novel, Gruen has nailed it perfectly.

The characters, imagery, and plot of the book keep you hooked from beginning to end. Whether it is old man Camel, “Rosie”, Marlena, or let us never forget Barbara and Walter; you want to know them inside out. What makes these people travel with the circus and what makes a place that sells happiness such a dark world?

If you’d like to find out, then get the book, but be ready for an all night read-a-thon and be sure not to get “redlighted”

If you are living in Philadelphia and need to buy fresh flowers, or you want to send flowers to Philadelphia. You can check various online florists’ websites or you can go to local florists in Philadelphia, PA and buy your fresh flowers. Philadelphia local florists include Beale Flowers-The Original, Bee’s Flowers Art & Crafts, Rose Velt Florist, Muller Society Hill Florist, Floragift.Com, Mayfair Flowers Incorporated, Anthony’s Florist, Wylde Flowers, Cullinan Flowers Inc., Wanners Flowers, Flower and Balloon Boutiques, Just Flowers & More, Four Seasons Flowers & Gifts, Sha’ron’s Florist, Gallagher John Kevin & CO Floral Decorators, Evantine the Rittenhouse, 5th Street Florists, Robert Mitchell Florist, Adams Apple Inc, London Jean Flower Shop, Trolley Stop Florist, Baker George Inc, Permanent Plants Inc, Avanda Flower Shop, Flowers Etcetera by Denise, Artistic Desingns By A Green Thing, Teleflorist Inc, Grandiflora, Robertson Florist, Steven J’S Florist, Angel’s Floral Design, Flower From Our Heart, Creative Floral Planners, Barbara’s Florist, Green Lane Flower Shoppe, Showers Of Flowers, Anne Hopkin Flowers, Kuhn’s Flowers Inc, Andy’s Flower Shop, Trudy’s Trimmings, Sunflower Florist, Fancy That, Pennypack Flowers Inc, Brandis World, Cedrone Flowers, Philly Petals, Mayflower Floral Shop, Society Hill Florist, Flowers by Linark, Lisa’s Flowers & Gifts, Sheraton Roses Florist, 20th Street Florist Inc, Pennypack Flowers, Center City Flower Market, Ten Pennies Florist Inc, Rose Garden Flower Shop, Bells Flowers, McClane Flowers, Circle Florist Shop, Carregon Silk Floral & Gourmet Basket Company, Ivan’s Flowers and Balloons, Wescott Funeral Home, Poole Betty, Avenue Pretty Petals, Overhill Flowers Florist, Philadelphia Flower CO Inc, Ambiance Flowers, Flower Basket, Azzaam Balloons & Roses, Kennedy Rose VELT Flowers & Gifts, Quinn Frank C Florist, Tacony Florist, 1-800-Balloons.com & flowers of Philly!, Josephine’s Contemporary Floral Designs, Remy’s Floral Treasures & Gifts.

If you are living in Denver and need to buy fresh flowers, or you want to send flowers to Denver. You can check various online florists’ websites or you can go to local florists in Denver, CO and buy your fresh flowers. Denver local florists include Leetsdale Florist, Our Flower Shop, K L Design, More Flowers, Blue Moon Floral & Gifts, Side Effects Unique Flowers & Gifts, Tagawa Florist & Garden Center, flowersbydebbie, Beautiful Blooms, Crestmoor Floral, Safeway Food & Drug – Stores- Aurora- Grocery, Bouquets, Country Club Flowers, Delilah’s of Denver, City Floral Greenhouse, King Soopers – Stores- Thornton- Floral, Sterling Rose Florist, Basket World Inc, D’CleMent Custom Florist, Lehrer’s Flowers Inc, Denver Wholesale Florists, King Soopers – Colorado Blvd & Yale- Commerce City- University Hills- Fl, Central Flowers, Flowerama, City Flower Market, Brentwood Flower Shop, Safeway Food & Drug – Stores- Lakewood- Grocery, King Soopers – Commerce City- Mayfair Center- Floral, King Soopers – Commerce City- Floral- Stores- Denver, Native Floral, King Soopers – Castle Rock- Floral, Le Grues, Flower Patch, Busch Greenhouses Inc, Safeway Food & Drug – Stores- Arvada- Grocery, Greenery at Porter Adventist Hospital, R & O of Denver, DENVER FLORAL EXCHANGE, The Perfect Petal, Petals On Pearl Street, Jensen’s Flowers, Flowers-N-Roses, King Soopers – Edgewater- Floral, King Soopers – Commerce City- Speer & 14- Floral, Brown Palace Flowers, Inca Roses-Inc, Lady Sue’s Flowers, Mr K’S Flowers, Diz’s Daisys Flower Shop, Petal Shop, Apricot Halves Flower Shop, Male-A-Basket, Inca Roses, Floral Supply Syndicate, Ortega Nicholas Landscapng Jr, Sweet Pea Flowers, Ovations On Larimer, DWF Growers Supply, Flower Box Gallery, Ryburn Davis Custom Floral Inc, Beck’s Silk Plant Company, Abc Bouquet West LLC, HMK Designs, Colorado Flower Shippers Inc, Forever Yours Floral Design, Floral Expressions & Gourmet Goodies, Simply Beautiful, King Soopers – Commerce City- Hampden & Monaco- Floral, Associated Wholesale Florist, Safeway Food & Drug – Stores- Safeway Pharmacy- Grocery, Amato’s Wholesaleflorists, Ardinger H T & Son Direct Import CO, Bromfield Flower Market, Safeway Food & Drug – Stores- Grocery, Jultak Michael Florists Inc.

If you are living in Omaha and need to buy fresh flowers, or you want to send flowers to Omaha. You can check various online florists’ websites or you can go to local florists in Omaha, NE and buy your fresh flowers. Omaha local florists include Voila! Blooms in Dundee, Craft-Ware Pottery Company, Petals by Janet Floral Shop, Blooms in Rockbrook Village, David M Mangelsen’s Party Supplies, Hy-Vee Foods Inc – Floral Shops, Ferguson Florist & Greenhouses, Janousek Florist, Bill Doran Company, Northwest Florist Nursery & Greenhouse, Grasso Florist & Greenhouses Inc, A Bloom Above Floral Design, Ken’s Flower Shop & Greenhouse Inc, Terryl’s Flower Garden, AKI Oriental Foods & Gifts, Creaciones Y Floreria Fabi.

If you are living in New York and need to buy fresh flowers, or you want to send flowers to New York. You can check various online florists websites or you can go to local florists in New York, NY and buy your fresh flowers. New York local florists include Flowers by Vicky, Fresh Flowers, Simpon & CO Florists Inc, Studio Artiflora, Lily Florist Inc, Bluebell Flower Shop, Mitchellcraft’s, Color of Magic, LAI YUN LING, Robert Pesany Inc, Caiba Design, Exotica Del Caribe Flower Shop, Floral Impressions Inc, Bosquet Isabelle, Celebrations @home, J & D Grocery Inc, Artscope, Green – The Orchid Company, Violets Florist, Big Apple Florist, Matthew David Events, Flowers Of The World, De Juan Stroud, Giovany Diaz Beautiful Flowers Inc, Twin Hearts Gift Company, Tonys Greenery, Flora Tech Inc, Modern Artificial Flowers & Displays Inc, World Financial Center Florist Inc, 1 2 5 Flower Shop, Center of Floral Design & Supply, A Academy Floral CO, Public Floral Decorators Inc, Jungle II Flowers Inc, Ellie’s Gardens Incorporated, Felt Etc, Sweetface, Offspring Group Inc, Flowers To Deliver Acacia, A Bills Flower Market Inc, Yoshiko Miyake CO, Quality Florist, Florea, Marlo Flower’s Limited, Grand Central Florists, MIHO Kosuda Limited, Flowers On the Avenue, The Grotto Floral Design, Blue Meadow Flowers, By Special Arrangement, Posies, Mozb Grocery Inc, The Flower Emporium, Lenox Hill Florist, Primrose Florist Inc, Macres 57th St Corporation, New York Florist, Flowers by Konstantinos, Town & Country Florist, Americas Florist, Perriwater Limited, Fiori Ltd, Flower City & Porcelain Town Inc, Judy’s Plant World, 14th St Florist, Flowers by Reuven Limited, Peoples Alexis Flowers, Dutch Flower Line Inc, Portafiori Florist, Manhattan Florist, Rainforest, The Flower Depot, Blanchfield- James Inc., Imperial Flower & Feather Corporation, Denis Flowers.

If you are living in Augusta and need to buy fresh flowers, or you want to send flowers to Augusta. You can check various online florists’ websites or you can go to local florists in Augusta, ME and buy your fresh flowers. Augusta local florists include.

If you are living in Jacksonville and need to buy fresh flowers, or you want to send flowers to Jacksonville. You can check various online florists websites or you can go to local florists in Jacksonville, FL and buy your fresh flowers. Jacksonville local florists include St Johns Flower Market, Flower Power, Multi Colors, Carlstedt Oscar G CO, Flowers & More Inc, Floral Designs by Marti Delaney, LA MEE the Florist, Loop’s Nursery and Greenhouses Inc, Turners Ace Hardware, Ackashia Florist, Far East Trader, La Mee By Sylvia, I Do Weddings- Inc., Michael Haley Limited, Turner Ace Hardware, Catanese Florist Inc, N A P C O Marketing Corporation, Deerwood Florist, Jacksonville Florist, LA Bella Floral Designs, Hazel’s Florist, Kelley’s Bloom Room, Rick’s Florist, Honey B’S Florist & Gifts, Gardners Ortega, Design Elements of Jacksonville, Flowerama of America, Ace Florist, Cox Main St Florist, Progressive Florist, Floral Supply Syndicate, Belden WM C, Napco Express-A DIV of Napco Marketing Corporation, Ace Hardware Garden Center & Florist Superstore-Turner, Bend Wholesale Outlet, Flowers by Pat, Earth-Pro Corporation, White Orchid Florists, James Burns Florist, The Design Company-A DIV of Napco Marketing Corporation, Carousel Flowers Inc, Center Stage, Flowers of Blessings, Dinsmore Florist, Expressions by Pam, Kuhn Florist, Pennock CO, A Day To Remember Weddings, Skinner’s Florist, Kuhn Flowers, J P’s Florist Shop, M J McCall CO Inc, Flower Express, Freeze Dried Florals Inc, Blume’s Nursery, Flowers by Elaine, Drury’s Florist, Anita’s Garden Shop & Design, Purple Petunia Flower Shop, Bad Alice’s.

You can check online florist, it has loads of florists’ business listings that you can visit to order your online flowers. Or you check one of the online yellow pages websites.

First of all, Happy 4th of July. If you are reading this than I want you to know that I appreciate you and your comments. For me today was one of those days where “Kindness” seemed all around and for no apparent reason. It seemed to just be Random !!

First, I was in the ATM drive thru line getting some money and a man approached. Okay, I am the first to admit that it wasn’t his smartest timing, but alas, he meant well. He had gotten out of his car and wanted us to know that we had a brake light out. I already knew this, but yet began to think about the hundreds of people who have probably noticed it and not said a word. People that were in much better positions to approach me and did not. For whatever reason, this man did and for that I felt fortunate.
After leaving the bank, we stopped at the Farmer’s Market with my mom and dad. As I have said before, my father is sick with Alzheimer’s Disease. Most people that know our family are aware of this and the reactions vary from overly friendly to obviously trying to avoid us. I can respect both approaches as it is not an easy thing to deal with even when you are around it every day. However, I am always grateful as I was today when someone seems genuinely glad to see him and shake his hand. He doesn’t know who they are, but for that moment, he is appreciated for the man that he has always been.

Finally, I want to close with a website that I found today. It is something that I think everyone should take a look at whether you are in need or are in a position to help someone else. Wish Upon a Hero is a website that allows just those types of connections to be made. You can go there and send school supplies to a needy child or you can go and ask someone to help with your needs. It is all based on just good old human decency. Will people take advantage? Sure, maybe some will, but I bet the majority will pay it forward and as I always say, it is easy to make the world a better place with one Act of Random Kindness at a time.

Well, the regular school year is over and with it comes a lot of changes for the coming year. I don’t mind the changes so much, but it is nice when those changes come with positive attitudes and willingness to give new things a shot. I mean after all, how are we suppose to get the kids to give things a try if we aren’t willing, right?

So, instead of focusing on those people I call “blockers”, I will focus on those that go out of the way to make work a better place. There are a couple of people that are genuinely positve no matter the situation. They aren’t fake about it, rather they can see the good in everything. It makes work a much better place.

One of these people retired last year and I still miss her smiling face. She had been a teacher for 35 years and yet smiled at the kids and her coworkers and always had a kind word. My first week at the job, I remember having a terrible day and this lady invited me to her classroom for “tea”. It struck me as odd at the time, but looking back, it is one of the kindest things anyone could have done. After all, I wanted to be a part of this new job.

Another thing that makes an impression on me is people who not only remember my name, but take a minute to call me by name. It makes me feel like I am important enough to them and I try to do the same with others.

So, with every new year at work will come change and that is o-kay with me. What do you do to help you embrace changes?

You The Owner’s Manual

By: Michael F. Roizen, MD

Mehemet C. Oz, MD

If you literally want to learn how to make your body both healthier and younger, then this is the book for you to read. Both my mind and my body will benefit from my recent reading of the book, You The Owner’s Manual. This book is so full of good information that it is hard to know where to begin when telling people about it. At times, the information made me cringe as I just knew the authors were talking about my bad habits and at times the book made me smile because I knew that was an area I was strong in when it came to my health and body. I guess we all have strengths and weaknesses, right?

Regardless of the feelings I had while reading this book, one thing that really impressed me was that it held my interest and was completely easy to understand. The authors went out of their way to make this a book for every person. In this, they were successful. I am not usually one for a straight nonfiction, medical type book, but this one was different.

Chapters in the book ranged from the way your home impacts your health to that dreaded “C” word, cancer, to a great diet and workout plan. It stopped at every part of your body in between as well. You The Owner’s Manual did not just tell you what you were doing wrong, but it also gave you advice on how to fix those habits immediately and what impact that would have on your “Real Age”.

I learned quickly while reading this book that age actually has little to do with the number of birthdays that you have had and rather, it has to do with how old your body is feeling and responding to the ways you are treating it.

When you look at the book, you may think it is way too much to read and absorb on such a topic, but this book is really all about the most important person in your life, YOU. For that reason alone, you can’t afford to miss it. If you have not read it, I would highly reccomend it to you and every family member that you care about. From the brutal honest truth about what is going on in your veins to the sometimes corny jokes made by the authors, this is a must read for anyone that wants to get healthier, but needs that little extra push. Get your copy of You The Owner’s Manual and start getting younger today.