THE ACME SHARING COMPANY is a place where parents, grandparents, babysitters (even teachers and camp counselors) can find activities for spending family time with meaning.
Exposing our children to cause-based adventures is a wonderful way to make giving a part of their lives now and for the future.
i know how great it makes me feel to help/ share/ give to others. i want my kids to know what that feels like and to know that they can make a positive difference. this is why i've listed some fun projects to get your family thinking about how they can help others and how meaningful it can be all around.
i have two boys, ages 5 and 10, and i'm married to a writer. we all live in los angeles with our two dogs, four fish and countless drawers full of crafting supplies!
in 2004, i started MILK + BOOKIES, a nationwide non-profit that exposes kids to how great it feels to give back and get books to kids who need them.
today my son celebrated his birthday at school. they have an amazing tradition of making each child a BIRTHDAY APPRECIATION CIRCLE.
i bet you could guess that it's where the class sits on the floor in a circle while each student says something about the birthday boy (or girl) that they appreciate. true. but aside from it's obvious name, this was better than any play set from toys r us and something i hope every school does. Being acknowleged by your peers (especially as a child) is a deeply important gift.
this is a great way to show gratitude and kindness to others of all ages AND doesn't need to just be for birthdays. try it around the dinner table, a girl scout fireside or a school/ summer camp morning meeting. the boost of confidence is quite a gift for that child.
the lesson: thinking about others and some simple ways to help people feel good. then there's karma - in a circle especially, what comes around goes around!
***added bonus: the savings on presents!!!!
here's an idea for a birthday party that will shake things up, put on a SOCK HOP for your child and their friends.
disco, 50's or pop - whatever tunes rock your house will set the theme for the dance party.
invite the guests to, in lieu of gifts, bring new pairs of socks for children living in poverty. ask guests to wear crazy socks (i know it's not the most modern idea, but you can make it your own) and dance the day away.
need more ideas? how about a cake shaped like a sock? toe rings for party favors, pedicures on site for the moms, use xmas stocking templates to make brightly colored socks for hanging decorations or a matching game where kids have to find their mate.
to find recipients, please check:
kids in need
or your local shelter, temple or church
or go to
the lesson: it's not always all about them, even on their birthdays.
***added bonus: you try dancing for 2 hours and staying awake! a nap is in their near future.
call me a scrooge but i have a problem with "goodie bags". the sentiment is there and i appreciate that; you go to a birthday party, bring a gift, have fun, eat cake, play with friends and your child leaves with a party favor.
these days we have been to a lot of wonderfully loving parties and walked out with a cellophane bag, colored or clear, with what my husband calls "EARTH GARBAGE". you know what this is without me even having to explain. the tiny plastic toys that hold your child's interest half way home and then end up on the floor of the backseat. tiny stickers, pencils, plastic rings, whistles - the list is long.
i challenge you to find a more useful and creative gift for your guests. the price point should remain the same, but take some time and scour your farmer's markets for local artisans making toys, trinkets or whatnots that might be more substantial. if you don't have the time to be creative, then may i suggest an edible favor? our children (along with the earth) will not miss the garbage and your money will be better spent.
here's a start:
or even spend a minute on amazon.com's bargain books section.
*may i reccomend the handknit finger puppets at $2.60 each or the wooden kazoos for $2.99?
or another shopping spot with more is www.meggiemoos.com
rant over, resume pleasantries. happy happy smile smile.
when your child wants to have a slumber party, this is the answer...
yes, it will be a LATE night, and yes, they will be CRANKY in the morning, but this party is worth it. have the guests bring (in lieu of gifts) a pair of new pajamas. your child can then donate the lot to the pajama program. kids in need, living in group homes, get new jammies and books to make their bedtimes feel as cozy and safe as ours do.
how about breakfast for dinner theme? who doesn't love pancakes? serve low-suar muffins instead of cake or cupcakes to ensure sleepy little party goers don't have an overtired sugar rush meltdown. also a pillowcase decorating craft is a fun nighttime activity. the cases can act as a "bag" for the donated PJ's.
the lesson: let your children know that some kids have to sleep in their jeans since they have very few things to wear. they don't have a stack of books from which to choose each night.
***added bonus: after hosting htis shindig, you will be off the hook for play dates for a looooong time.
here's a link:
i have come to realize that "birthday party season" is not a season, but rather a euphemism for the over-whelmed to describe what is, in fact, the entire school year.
here is a website to help. CHANGING THE PRESENT is a great place to browse with your kids to pick out meaningful gifts for their friends.
buy flowers for a playground ($5), books for kids in need ($15), feed horses ($12) or buy toys for children needing aid in recovering areas($20).
click here to "change the present"
the lesson: every chance to give is a chance to help.
***added bonus: not having to make that trip to the toy store, which inevitably winds up with you bringing home more stuff that your kids didn't need.
my other baby, milk + bookies, is a national non-profit that exposes kids to how great it feels to give back WHILE sharing the love of a great book.
there are models to have this experience as a birthday party, a book club activity, a class project, a book fair or just about anything you can imagine where kids and books come together.
there are step by step instructions to throw your own event where you can invite kids to a book store, book fair, or any party location (like your home) and ask them to choose, inscribe and donate books to local kids who have none.
this is really the same message i share here about giving little ones an experience where they can give back.
the motto: READ, GIVE, GROW.
although it is a bit pricey, an amazing birthday party with a craft AND a giving componant is the STYLE YOUR SOLES for TOMS SHOES. you can purchase plain white toms in any sizes and buy fabric markers for kids and adult alike to decorate. i love this one!
as you probably already know, TOMS gives a pair of new shoes to a child in need for every pair of shoes you purchase. TOTAL GENIUS.
my beautiful and wise cousin, carolyn, sent me this quote which i wanted to share with you all.
"i truly believe it is one of the greatest gifts we teach our children to show them through actions that they can make a positive difference in the lives of others" - sandra magsamen
this summer keep your families busy doing just that.
scroll the activities listed on the acmesharing.com website. i know that my boys and i will be; planting an organic garden, having a canned food drive and baking dog biscuits for the rescue shelter - no name just a few.
happy summer.
"life's most persistent and urgent question is, "what are you doing for others?" Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
please use this holiday as an excuse to expose your family to a giving experience. find one on this site, sit at the kitchen table and get to it.
there is a lot of stuff for your family to do here; arts and crafts, field trips and building. i've represented activities for homelessness, global warming, animals and illnesses (to name a few). whatever your cause, whatever your methods, the only value is if you do them.
if you still can't find the time for anything extra (and i get it, believe me) then the suggested reading from our READ section (which will link you to amazon)is a great place to share a moral message with your child.
happy MLK day to you.
xmas, channukah, kwanza - alright, people, now is the time. this is your call to action. this is (or "tis") the season...
wanna give your kids an amazing gift? let them choose a toy to buy and donate. it is a great lesson in delayed gratification and an even better lesson in the joys of giving.
even if you don't participate in ANY of the acme sharing activities throughout the year, (i know, i know, i'm not judging you, i get it, life is BUSY) this is your moment to make time.
at the very least, take your children to the drugstore, pick up a toy and then take it to your local firehouse to donate it to TOYS FOR TOTS. this is really "give back 101".
for more advanced lessons, scroll through this website archives for tons of ideas for giving, making and appreciating.
here's a link for specific drop off info:
turkey day, such a great excuse to get your family thinking about gratitude, thankfulness and helping others less fortunate (or just others, period).
there are so many ways to list all the things for which we are grateful;
-the kindness chain
-the gratitude album
-a video journal
-a picture journal (photos or drawings)
-strips of paper in a hat
-how about a gratitude tree (each item on a leaf)
there are a lot of fun ways to do the same thing, get kids to think about how many things they have, people they love and experiences they get to do.
it's a perfect set up as we enter into the weeks of holiday indulging.
this year let's not let the pies overshadow the point.
isn't it the cutest thing when your kids come home from school with a paper sack filled with valentines from their classmates? mine love to spread them all over the table to read and re-read them.
this year, the save the children organization has given us a meaningful alternative to the box of "scooby doo" cards (no offense, velma). save the children has made a box of 28 cards, all with great artwork from classic children's books. purchase this box for $25 (ok, a bit more than the scooby cards, but it's FOR A CAUSE!) and the proceeds will go towards the programs they support; literacy, medical assistance, and general aid inside the rural U.S.
***added bonus: not getting sucked into the "earth garbage" cycle, you know, buying super balls and little plastic toys to add to the envelopes, the ones that will be played with for 45 seconds
with so much festive hoopla in the air, it's hard to believe it's almost time to deconstruct it all. once you have un-trimmed the tree, think about how you will dispose of it. here is a list from worst to best:
a.) if you put it in a large plastic bag, you can almost insure it will be thrown in a landfill and practically never decompose.
b.) if you saw it up yourself, (my husband loves this part of the holiday, the one time a year he uses his electric saw) you can put it in your garden rubbish bin to give it a slightly better chance at being composted.
c.) the best option is to go to
earth 911 to find out if there is a green pick up or drop off for recycle made especially for the post holiday clean up.
d.) the extra credit option it to buy a potted tree and keep it year after year.
the lesson: our kids should know that since the tree brought so much happiness and light to our holiday (if only for less than a month), the least we can do is NOT trash the earth with the dried and needle dropping remains.
***added bonus: having a pretty responsible answer for your hard-core friends who 1.) drive 4 hours to chop down their own tree from a sustainable farm 2.) buy a seedling in a pot and then plant it in the yard or 3.) use the artificial tree year after year bragging about the carbon they have saved from the lack of transport. *all of which i always think we'll implement NEXT year.
so at our house, we celebrate everything (almost) and in order to keep it orderly, we get pretty rigid, cuz if you are anything like me, the thought of so many new toys makes you cringe.
here is how we do it:
nite 1.) a toy from us to our children.
nite 2.) pjs for everyone
and another set sent to the pajama program.
nite 3.) siblings exchange gifts.
nite 4.) a book
with another copy of the same sent to a milk + bookies recipient.
nite 5.) present from aunt and uncle.
nite 6.) we write letters to each other and read them in turn.
nite 7.) just plain giving back - the kids choose what and where.
(usually baking cookies and bringing them to the fire house)
nite 8.) a toy from grandparents - go out with a bang!
this gives them plenty to play with and enough about giving back so as not to shove it down their throats (i can do that all year). hope this helps as you lay out the holidays at your home.
this is amazing.
when your child writes a letter to santa claus and drops it in a BELIEVE MAILBOX in any MACY'S store, a dollar will be donated to the make a wish foundation!!!!
letters must be in envelopes stamped and addressed to:
SANTA - AT THE NORTH POLE.
letters should include your children writing about WHY they believe in santa.
the lesson: including the wonder and magic of the holiday season into your traditions. and, of course, giving back - for free!
***added bonus: they were most likely going to write to him anyway, this is a great excuse to make it a special project and when they see his big red mailbox it keeps the hope alive and adds to the mystery and mythology all tied up with the spirit of christmas.
for years i have been giving my grandparents cards on grandparent's day only to find that they had never heard of it and expected nothing special (until the year i forgot). now most calendars printed in the usa include this ode to the older gen. it is usually in september.
another chance for your kids to be exposed to demonstrating kindness and gratitude. a hand drawn picture is nice, a framed photo is better but my favorite idea is this one:
have your child journal a day in their life. it can be photos glued into a book, or a video diary a few times throughout the day or a story that they write sharing the highs and lows of their universe. whether the grandparents live down the block or around the world, they will eat this up with a spoon.
the unconditional love of a grandparent is pretty significant, fostering this relationship is so valuable (free babysitting is also an incentive). if your child has none, there are countless lonely geriatrics living in your city. to find one, google "senior housing" and feel free to brighten the day of a stranger by showing any gesture of kindness (cookies, cards, a hand of go fish or just a chat).
p.s. another project is just not on your agenda - especially in september. maybe you will get lucky and have parents with calendars printed overseas.
so your kid has their costume, they are thinking of nothing else but trick or treating this year, you've got your flashlight and all is good to go.
SO, since you will be going door to door ANYWAY, here is a very easy giving back project/ lesson.
UNICEF has raised over $140 million and saved god only knows how many teeth from cavities.
if you don't know this program, it's where kids ask neighbors for pennies in lieu of candy. money raised is then sent in to help support the very worthy programs in over 150 countries.
since our kids will be at carnivals, class parties and more, they won't, in any way, be deprived of candy this halloween. so trick or treating can become about something else. i am not above bribing my kids to trick or treat for UNICEF and i will buy them their favorite candies in return (is this the wrong message?).
get your boxes at participating IKEA, PIER ONE IMPORTS or HALLMARK stores or
download cute "wrapper" at unicef.org and affix to any canister at home (i am using one that had bread crumbs).
the lesson: we drink clean water, not all children do. unicef helps provide for the kids who need water, medicine, food and education.
***added bonus: not hopped up on sugar, they might get to bed on time after an already over-stimulating day.
tuesday, november 11th, marks veteran's day.
hang your flag.
most schools are closed in observance, so here's how to spend the day with your kids...
locate a veteran's hospital near you:
chose one of the following, or make up your own:
bring flowers.
bake and drop off yummies.
bring a deck of cards and play GO FISH with a vet.
prepare a joke or song.
just go and meet some heroic people, shake their hand and thank 'em.
the lesson: teaching appreciation and acknowledgement of others makes a real difference in the type of people we are raising.
with lunches to pack, diapers to change and homework to correct we're supposed to celebrate ARBOR DAY???? the idea alone might push you over the edge? not to worry, it's bark is worse than it's bite.
some simple suggestions to help you see the forest for the trees;
-plant a tree
-hug a tree
-lay on the grass and admire a tree
***sit and read a story (The Giving Tree?) under a tree
-climb a tree
-pick fruit off of a tree
-just be together in the presence of a tree.
the lesson: reminding our kids that so much of what we need in our lives comes from trees; paper, wood and a little something we like to use quite often... oxygen. the birds, squirrels and thousands of other living beings need them for their homes. so, they pretty much deserve their own day.
here's a link for how to plant a tree from TREE PEOPLE.
here's a link for how to climb a tree
not much "giving back" in the traditional st. patty's day activities of searching for a pot of gold or drinking shamrock shakes.
so here's another thought. yes, it's drastic, yes, it's mostly for boys, and yes, most of you won't do it BUT, here goes...
the st. baldrick's day foundation organizes head shaving to raise awareness and funds for kids with cancer. your child can be a "shavee" to show their support for this cause. log onto the site to find the allocated barber in your neighborhood. before the buzz, go online for details and have your child solicit donations from family and friends.
the lesson: your child could have a deeper level of understanding for chemotherapy patients as they go through this process. it might touch them in a way neither of you could imagine and quite possibly send them on a quest to help find a cure in our lifetime. for example.
***added bonus: no more fighting about washing his hair.
in honor of president's day, how about throwing a birthday party?
wait, wait, hear me out.
after dinner, gather your family, put on party hats, blow up balloons, heck, even bake a cake and blow out the candles if you like. now that you are all together, share with your kids the important deeds WASHINGTON and LINCOLN left behind; washington's declaration of "i will not tell a lie" and lincoln's tireless efforts to abolish slavery. those two topics alone can fill the dining room with conversation about kindness, equality and karma. subjects that can easily relate to today's playground shenanigans.
the lesson: those who don't know their history are doomed to repeat it.
***added bonus: what? birthday cake isn't enough for you ???
last week my grandfather turned 100 years old - seriously, 100. it was remarkable. then, sadly, the very next morning he passed away. my kids were so lucky to have had a great grandfather, one filled with nothing but love for them.
in showing our kids how to treat others with kindness and respect, an easy target is grandparents. they will be overjoyed with almost anything (time together, a picture drawn, a hand of "go fish"). another fun activity is to have your children come up with a list of questions to ask the grandparents, "what was your favorite candy as a kid?", "what was the worst job you ever had?", "what's the most embarrassing thing that happened to you when you were my age?"
if your kids don't have grandparents near by or at all, it is very easy (and deeply appreciated) to ADOPT A GRANDPARENT and brighten up a person's day. just google "adopt a grandparent" along with the city you live in, and you will find a long list of participating retirement homes.
the lesson: it is sometimes forgotten, but so invaluable to treat the older generations with the respect they have earned.
***added bonus: actually the mystery of what your child will get out of this experience is pretty exciting - the unknown... and maybe a hard candy.
every night at our dinner table we have "highs, lows and gratefuls". we start with the "lows" since you want to end on a high note, and then move on to one thing for which you feel grateful that day.
the repetition of this kind of exercise just gets kids AWARE and thinking about the idea that everything is not owed to them.
one of my favorite, not every night, projects is a gratitiude album. it can be drawings or it can be cut outs from old magazines or it can be photos you've taken.
ask your child to write on each page something for which they are thankful, draw or paste the image and move on to the next page. this can be in a journal, notebook or just papers you can later staple together. make this a new tradition at your thanksgiving dinner to share these books with the table.
this will give your kids time to sit and think of just the things for which they are grateful. you can even phrase it as "what are you happy about, what makes you feel good" or other basic ways for them to start categorizing their life.
the lesson: we often think about things we DON'T have or things we are frustrated about. it is not often we get to think only of the positive.
time to start teaching our kids about the mighty dollar.
there are so many different ways that people look at allowance (chores vs. no chores), when to start giving it (i've heard first grade), but the simple fact is that kids can't learn about money if they don't have any.
a great rule of thumb is that whatever you decide to give them should be divided into 3 equal parts for spending, saving and sharing. (the sharing is for DONATING, in case you didn't get that) and as far as i'm concerned, the saving is for them to decide and when they don't save and they wish they had, they'll figure it out pretty fast.
here is a great article on the basics at
the lesson: it's all in their hands. doling out responsibilities will give them a chance to rise to the occasion.
***added bonus: no longer feeling like a bottomless pit (wallet).
a holiday i always try to mark is TEACHER APPRECIATION DAY. true, it sounds like another hallmark fabricated holiday only to forget about now and be bathed in guilt later, but this one speaks to me.
who else spends 8 hours of their day with children who are not their own? ok, well, yes, childcare givers do, too. which now brings me to the new and improved (and just invented!) TEACHER AND NANNY APPRECIATION DAY. there's no one more important to our families than those people who are members of the "village" that it takes to help raise our kids.
we've heard the stories of teachers paying for supplies out of pocket, or nannies with no health insurance. these are the folks whom we trust to love, nurture and teach our offspring. i think everyday should recognize and appreciate them! (brown nose alert)
ask your child to give from their heart; write a letter, make a card, bake a treat or just bring the symbolic apple to bestow upon these well deserving citizens.
the lesson: showing our kids appreciation toward others. if they see us doing this enough, little things they take for granted may soon be looked upon with gratitude.
***added bonus: now that you have successfully remembered this holiday, you might feel less culpable when "grandparent's day" comes and goes.
another chance to show appreciation, this time toward people in real danger, risking their lives for our freedom.
i feel impossibly lucky that the closest i have come to a battleground is the Barneys warehouse sale, this is a perfect opportunity to teach our kids how to show gratitude and thanks to VERY VERY DEEPLY deserving soldiers.
the men and women on the front lines are always happy to get mail. the website below can help walk you through the making of a care package or they can simply tell you the best way to send a letter.
the lesson: i feel like a broken record, but we all know repetition is good for a developing mind. once more, with feeling, let's show our kids how to appreciate others and honor them.
***added bonus: you may walk away feeling like, in a teeny tiny small way, you, too, have served your country.
sends to "any soldier" so you needn't know anyone personally serving.
i need order. i can't breath without it. my house is usually overstuffed with untouched things we don't need.
it is SO hard for most kids (mine especially) to part with even the smallest bit of broken lego. help them clean out the toys, books and even winter clothes that they barely notice hanging around.
make piles for;
MAYBE KEEP, GIVE AWAY and TRASH.
it will be hard to get them excited about the "give away" pile, but once you put on some music, eat some cookies, they might get into the groove.
OR
you can tell them that for every new item they get, they need to give one away.
the lesson: abundance is the road to ungratefulness ? (ok, i think i just made that up, but it seems right, doesn't it?). plus, talk to your families about how lucky we are to get new things while explaining that not all families have the same luxuries or something like that, only more eloquent. then go back to the MAYBE KEEP pile and start again.
***added bonus: more organization means less likely chance of stepping on an errant action figure with bare feet - youch!
*find a children's hospital for donating books and puzzles.
*stuffed animals can go to SAFE or project night night.
*bigger toys and warm clothes are great for local homeless shelters.
now you can thank your kids for, not only appreciating the things they have and keeping their toys organized, BUT MOSTLY for making a difference in another child's day.
life is MESSY. i often pretend otherwise. keep my ducks in a row, keep a neat house and live and die by my to do list.
but 99.9% of the time, being a parent is not something you can put in a box and tie up with a bow. i am beginning to embrace the chaos. well, "embrace" might be a little strong. but kids get sick, bullies torment, hormones strike and mostly, general madness ensues. my eyes are finally opening (i liked it better in the dark).
how on earth are we supposed to take care of our families AND make the world a better place AND teach our kids about making their world a better place??? sometimes there just isn't time in the day to eat a healthy dinner, let alone hot glue a recycle sculpture project.
here is where the easiest ACME SHARING activity comes into play. MODEL KINDNESS. it is so easy and most of us (you know who you are) do it anyway. when our children see us taking an extra millisecond to smile at the toll booth person, make idle chit chat with the grocery bagger or say nice things about the world around us, they are learning to be kind and positive.
it is so simple that it feels silly writing about it, but lately i have had NO time or interest to do anything extra and i couldn't help but notice how powerful and effective being nice (and sometimes faking it for the benefit of our little audience) can be.
looking for an EASY craft? how about a KINDNESS CHAIN. great for wrapping around a tree or hanging from the dining room ceiling.
1.) cut strips of paper into 2" x 8.5" (basically a piece of construction paper sliced into 2" strips). get creative with different colors if you'd like.
2.) grab your stapler and have a seat with your kids.
3.) ask them to write on each strip an act of kindness they have performed, you can write it for them if they aren't yet literate.
4.) bend the strip into a circle and secure with a staple. loop the following ones through the last one and keep going. see how long you can make it - you can even hold a length competition between siblings.
5.) when they are all out of loops, send them out into the world to do some more good deeds.
the lesson: it's like a mini reward for each act of kindness.
***added bonus: the money you can save on decorating your house.
EXTRA CREDIT - if you use left over scraps of paper from the recycle bin!!!
there are so many freakin' (forgive use of word freakin') things to remind our kids to do everyday. pick up your socks, put your dishes in the sink, brush your teeth, finish your homework, don't bite your brother (they say it's just a stage, here's hoping), pack your lunch, wash your hands, eat your vegetables. not necessarily in this order.
it is too easy to forget the simple simple important basics. "BE NICE", for example.
here's a new doohickey (forgive use of word doohickey) to do just that. the stringring company has made rings entwined with strings so as not to forget to be kind. you needn't purchase the silver version, just sit down at the kitchen table with your kids, a ball of twine and some hope.
the stringring website says:
"tying a string around your finger as a reminder is an ancient tradition thought to keep an idea from escaping - literally tying the idea to yourself. the string ring is a cue to remind yourself and those who notice it to be kind to one another, to do a kind act, say or even think something kind."
i hope it isn't UN kind to the stringring people to suggest that we make them the old fashioned way, hopefully they will see our intention of spreading kindness and KNOT get TIED up in the details.
in parenting, everyone is always talking about the value of simplifying; family dinners, anti-over-scheduling, fewer presents at the holidays. and it seems to feel right, doesn't it? while researching facts for MILK + BOOKIES, i gathered these very basic, classic and simple facts. it's almost too easy to be true. (probably isn't that easy at all).
ways to raise a philanthropic child and all around good citizen:
1. reinforce sharing
2. demonstrate empathy
3. reward kindness
4. spread hope
5. teach the golden rule
6. live the golden rule (in case you forgot it's the "do unto others..." one)
i always assume if i'm thinking about doing better, i eventually will... fingers crossed.
hey, it's a start, if nothing else.
bake at home and deliver to your local fire house. this is an activity that's great for any age child, any gender and is possible in every city. no need to call to see when they're open, no need to make a reservation, it's the ole stand by. the women and men on duty are always very thankful, they are always happy to demonstrate the pole (not that kind, you perv) and even give your kids a chance to sit on the truck.
the lesson: this is a great way to show and teach appreciation. and it couldn't be simpler. talk to your kids about fire safety and how these brave people have chosen a life of danger to protect us.
***added bonus: for single moms, there's a good chance to meet a handsome stranger.
the folks at tiny revolutionary, sent out this email to celebrate INTERNATIONAL PEACE DAY.
- SMILE. The act of smiling releases endorphins and serotonin - the good mood chemicals coarsing through us. Smiling triggers these guys to wake up and start dancing which makes us happy. Happy people are peaceful people. And to paraphrase Elle Woods, peaceful people just don't kill people :).
- LISTEN MORE. Spend a day being a listener . . . even if you totally disagree with what someone is saying, listen. Do not argue. Breathe. Know you do not bare the responsiblity for changing them and their opinions.
Everyone's life experience delivers them to a set of conclusions about the way the world works. No single conversation will change anyone but you know what will make them better? Feeling as though they are heard. Be the hearer of their truth, even if it makes you want to run for the hills. People always feel more peaceful when they are heard.
- HUG IT OUT. Hugs are a highly underrated form of peace activism but a really effective strategy for connecting with someone quickly. If we could ditch hand shakes altogether and go for the full body contact we would. Imagine how much better those business meetings would be if you started with a hug? To bolster your hug reserves, check out the Video of the Free Hugs Campaign - we dare you not to cry.
it's a new year and time for resolutions and fresh starts.
we all want to be good people, be better, do better and look better.
well, i am SICK of it. i do "good" all the time and i have had it up to here.
i use canvas bags at the market, feed my kids soy nut butter, give to the homeless, write an endless stream of thank you cards and hold open doors every time i walk through one. i am not telling you this to pat myself on the back, i am telling you this because i am tired of helping. tired of trying to be a good person. it can be a real drain.
so today (maybe it was that time of the month, or a holiday too filled with kids home from school or too many relatives, or that i was attacked by a Lorikeet at the aquarium this morning who drew blood after pecking my ear- true story!) i decided to be a jerk. and eat a lot of ice cream in the middle of the day.
i didn't yield to let the car ahead of me in, i didn't stop to chat with the solicitors in front of whole foods and i didn't turn out lights when i left the room. i was feeling tired of doing "good".
and then it set in. i thought about it for a beat. now, i was feeling bad. and not just from too much ice cream. it was actually harder to be a jerk. it takes more effort and feels really crappy. if everyone felt and acted this way, we would live in a WORSE world than we already do. BUT... if everyone tried to do just a little bit better as a human, we could achieve greatness.
so, cranky tantrum over, ear still throbbing, i thought about it for a minute.
