Sunday, December 8, 2013

Day 3-6: Catching Up

Catching up a little bit while I have a quiet Sunday moment. Let's get started, shall we?

Day 3: Warm Heart

We've been very fortunate to have good friends who have handed down fabulous clothes for our little guy. As he grows out of his clothes, we look for opportunities to pass on the gifts to someone else.

I've been looking forward to the annual coat drives for a while. And with the holidays in full swing, I knew it was time to go through our outgrown coats to share with someone who needed them.

We found eight coats that were just too small for our growing boy. He helped us go through all of them. And though he was particularly fond of the "one with the mittens." We took some time to explain that we were going to give his old coats and jackets to friends who needed them. He was instantly on board.



One of the biggest coat drives is the Warm Coats & Warm Hearts coat drive sponsored by Burlington and Good Morning America. You just take your coats over to your local Burlington and drop them in the box at the front of the store. Easy breezy.

Once we got to the store, the little guy wanted to do it himself (like everything at this age). So one-by-one he put the coats into the donation box and talked to himself about "helping his friends."

 

Truly heart warming.

Day 4: Bottles

Honestly, today was just as much for us as it was for doing "goodest." We collect bottles and cans to recycle. They were cluttering up our garage. Solution? Recycle them. Do something good for the environment.

It was pretty busy at the recycling center. People cleaning up for the holidays? Folks looking to make little extra cash for gifts? I'm not sure. But it was quick and easy to dump our already sorted bottles into the trash can bins, get them weighed--and yes, get paid.



I'm happy we recycled. (And we put the money we make towards a college fund.) But I know we could do better.

For the most part, we all use reusable water bottles. Yet, we still enjoy the convenience of recyclable plastic. We all drink plain water. Yet, we all enjoy the flavored stuff.

Could we cut it out? Absolutely. In fact, I'm adding it to the list of things that we need to do, well, "gooder."

Day 5: In My Shoes

We regularly recycle our worn out athletic shoes (sneakers, tennis shoes, whatever you call them in your neck of the woods) at Nike as part of their Reuse-A-Shoe program.

If you haven't heard about it, Nike will take your old, worn-out shoes, recycle them, and create a product called Nike Grind which is used for athletic and playground surfaces. So cool.



Though we've been recycling our shoes for years, this was the first time for the little guy. Once we explained that the shoes would be turned into playgrounds, he was sold. He practically dragged us from the car into the store. He was ready to help "the peoples."

 
 


I hope there's a kid somewhere that's enjoying his Nike Grind playground as much as our kid enjoyed taking our old, dirty shoes to be recycled.

Fewer shoes in landfills. More shoes on the playground!

Day 6: Fortunate Ones

I try to live my life with gratitude for the things I have. I'm not naïve. I know how fortunate we are. But even the past few days have been a reminder of just how truly blessed we are:
  • We never have to worry about being warm.
  • We can recycle empty water bottles, when in some places just having clean water is a luxury.
  • We can recycle shoes that aren't quite "fit" to wear, when some people struggle to have shoes to protect their feet.
  • We can give without it being a sacrifice.

It's the last reminder that I took a while to take shape in my consciousness. We can give, because we have so much. What about those that don't? How can they give? Or even better, are there any true "sacrifices" that we can learn to make so that they benefit others?

I'm still exploring the answers to these questions, and it's something I hope to learn as part of this journey.

Saturday, December 7, 2013

Days 7-8: All the Little Things

I started this post thinking I would write about how I took an accidental break from our holiday giving challenge. I had all of my excuses ready:
  • The holidays are such a busy time of year. There are cards to address, lists to finish, events to attend.
  • I'm totally new to this blogging thing and I'm a little overwhelmed.
  • I didn't plan ahead.
  • I'm a full-time working mother of a 2-year old.
  • It's cold and rainy.
  • I was just too tired.

But the thing is...we didn't stop doing our "goodest" even if we weren't busy posting about it. Sometimes it's the small things. The things that are part of how you learn to live your life. It's those things that are about doing our goodest. We:
  • Bought fresh, organic produce at our local farmer's market.
  • Brought our own well-loved canvas bags to the grocery store.
  • Smiled and said thank you to those that helped us. (Even our little guy knows to say thank you to people who work often thankless service positions.)
  • Drove around our neighborhood to look at Christmas lights just to see the way they light up my son's face.
  • Said "I love you" just because.
I didn't put any of this on our calendar. It wasn't part of a big plan to "give back." But it still is a way of giving. It's giving to our environment, our community, giving to our family, giving to ourselves. It's all the little things that combined help us do our "goodest" every day.

How will you do your "goodest" today?

Monday, December 2, 2013

Day 2: Gift giving

Bearing gifts we traverse afar

"We Three Kings" was one of my favorite Christmas hymns when I was young. I loved the story of the 3 men who travelled over "field and fountain, moor and mountain" just to bring a little baby gifts for Christmas.

As I got older, the song--and the season--has taken on deeper meaning for me. But I can't help but think about the little children who can only dream of gifts delivered on Christmas morning. 

"Guide us to thy perfect light..."

I knew before my son was born that I teaching him about generosity, kindness, and compassion might be the most important thing I could do. So, he'll be involved in this challenge.

That's why I chose to donate a gift that my own son loved--and still loves. I hope they help another little one fall asleep just a little bit better at night. And my son--as much as he can--will know that these gifts will go to another little boy or girl to give them comfort and light.
 


I believe experiences and love give us joy, not things like toys and electronics. But I like to think that these gifts, these donations, these toys are gifts of hope, of love, and, yes, joy.

Looking for a place to donate?

Around the holidays, I've found boxes in even the most unusual places (my physical therapists office? the hair salon? Starbucks?) to drop off unwrapped toys for children in my community. Maybe you can find one too?

If drop boxes aren't available in your community, watch out for toy drives or donate directly to national organizations like Toys for Tots.

Tell me about your experience with donating toys to children. How did it impact you? Why do you do it?




Sunday, December 1, 2013

Day 1: Hair Today

A lot of people know me for my long hair. When I woke up this morning, it was nearly down to my waist. 


Now I can feel it gently brushing my shoulders.


For the past 8 years or so, I've donated my hair to help those with hair loss (due to cancer treatments or medical causes) receive wigs. I figure it's the least I can do.

So as part of my holiday giving challenge, I donated 12 inches of hair. I gotta say, I feel pretty darn good about it!

If you're interested in donating your hair, the salon that I went to supported Locks of Love


The American Cancer Society also recommends Wigs for Kids and Pantene Beautiful Lengths.

Do you recommend any other organizations? What's your experience with donating your hair?

Let me hear about it.

Saturday, November 30, 2013

Holiday Blessings

Acts 20:35 It is more blessed to give than to receive.

Giving isn't just a seasonal sport. You don't have to wait for twinkling lights, the sound of jingle bells, peppermint candy canes, or crackling fires to start giving. But it sure is a festive reminder.

As a reminder to myself of how blessed I really am, I'm starting my own season of giving. Over the next 24 days, I've planned at least one "Do Goodest" activity. You can follow me here and on Twitter @DoGoodestToday.

Some give money. Others give their time. Or they give themselves.
However you do it, make this a season of giving. You may just find that you're the one who's blessed.


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Day 1: Hair today, gone tomorrow