I am so glad you and I connected a few months back because we are on the same mission. Congratulations on hitting your 1/4 goal of 1,000 acts of kindness.

You are so right that when you are engaged in active giving more opportunities present themselves and it can make you almost giddy to be able to inspire and help others to give more too.

I have a recent favorite spreading joy moment.

Here is the story:

In October, I had an idea. I was so excited to share it with my daughter who loves the Christmas holiday and always struggles with the fact we don’t have a tree, stockings, decorations or any of the things that other “normal” kids have in their homes. (We don't have those things because we are Jewish) I decided to create a mitten tree for the professional woman’s group (graduates) of the Dress for Success program. I thought we could find out what these woman would really love for a holiday present and my networking group plus the volunteers at Dress for Success could help provide all of these items. I figured my daughter could work on the project with me and would enjoy making the Christmas Tree and mittens.

I gathered all the items we would need for our project. The kids had the day off from school so it was a relaxed morning. All my daughter did was complain and whine. She kept saying she hadn’t volunteered for this and how soon would we be done. I continued working on the project even with her complaints and began to read to her some of the items that the woman asked for. Dance pants for a 13 year old daughter - My daughter asked how someone who needs gifts pay for dance lessons for their child. I said maybe a scholarship. Next I read a Burger King gift certificate so a woman and her husband could go out to dinner. My daughter commented that’s not a very special place to go out with her husband. Finally, I read that a woman requested a gift card for gas. My daughter a few minutes later said. “Wow, Mommy I am really lucky. We have a house, we have food to eat, we aren’t worried about paying our bills or buying gas. I am glad we are doing this together.” Then she chose a mitten for a grandmother who is raising her grandson and needed a winter suit as our gift to purchase.

Have a wonderful Christmas Holiday and let's keep Spreading Joy!

Linda
www.1000mitzvahs.org

Last Edited on 11-Dec-2008 10:11 AM

I'm so excited that you are so close to your goal of 1000 Mitzvahs! I'm also moving right along....and have reached 475 acts of Joy. I've been trying to do several things everyday. (also, if I give out 4 hot fudge sundaes - I count that as 4...is that bad???) Who knows? But I just have fun with it - that is the main thing. You have to have a heart to give and really, when you are looking for ways to give - it seems that the ways just present themselves more often.

Thanks again for your story - I would love to hear what others are doing! I can't wait until others decide to share...