Wow! I am truly grateful to meet very nice people in business. We are leaving to drive to Florida for vacation tonight so I filled the tank and checked the tire pressure, which you should always do before a long drive. To my horror, I found a bulge on the sidewall of one of the tires. I found out online that this could lead to tire failure, so I panicked that we were not going to be able to get out tonight. I drove down to Firestone Complete Auto Care, told Fred my story and asked if he could fit us in since we were leaving in three hours. At first he was not sure and said maybe in a couple hours. I said I would have to call for someone to pick me up. Fred spoke to someone and they ended up getting right to replacing the tire. What a great experience. I will enjoy telling this story several times. Thanks guys!
Category Archives: Ripples
Ex-cons have kids too
When most of us think about ex-cons, we think of a story we read of how hard it is for them to find a job and that many return to criminal activity to survive. What we rarely think or hear about is their families or their kids. Over 7 million children in the U.S. have a parent in the criminal justice system – many hoping their parent will be home soon. The Center for Employment Opportunities in New York City helps ex-prisoners reenter life and support their families. Jesus said to forgive seven times seventy times, so give an ex-con a chance in your business today. You could be helping a whole family heal. Learn more in the Making A Difference In 7 Million Children’s Lives story at the Huffington Post.
Madonna creating schools in Malawi
The singer Madonna’s charity called Raising Malawi is teaming up with buildOn to create ten new schools to teach 1,000 students each year in the east Africa country of Malawi. Madonna has a special place in her heart for Malawi having adopted two children from this AIDS ravaged country where over 500,000 children have been orphaned from the epidemic. It is great to see entertainers investing their money in great causes like this. In her spare time, Madonna will be singing during the Super Bowl halftime show this Sunday. You go girl!
Learn more in the Madonna plans 10 schools in Malawi with new partner story at Reuters.
Love and perseverance transcend generations
Spend time reading to your children. Show them love and encouragement. Most of all, persevere through adversity even if it takes three jobs to support your family. The lessons will carry on for a hundred generations or more. The example of your family can influence many people to come. Read more in the Love is the ultimate hero editorial at The Princeton Packet.
Oprah proud of her first South African graduates
Oprah’s girl school in South Africa graduates 72 disadvantaged young women. The whole class is now headed to university, most at home but some abroad in the United States. “There are a lot of people … who lower their expectations and think that if you come from a disadvantaged background … you have a disadvantaged brain. I know that is not true,” says Oprah.
I completely agree with Oprah. Everyone, let me repeat, everyone has potential to do great things. Read the full First class graduates from Oprah’s South Africa school story at Reuters.
Person 1, Kindness 26
Sarah York of Tacoma, Washington spent her 26th birthday doing 26 random acts of kindness around town. Her log of the acts on Facebook are almost as good as what she learned from the reactions. Read the details in the One day, 26 acts of kindness story at Komo News.
Doing kind acts many times does more for the doer than the receivers. Try it today and see.
The world is becoming a small village
It is amazing what a small village the world has become. I found a story about people reflecting on the kindnesses they received this year in the village of Yellow Springs. I guess the word-association made me think I was reading about a village near Yellowstone National Park. Once I finished, I looked up Yellow Springs and it is in Ohio. Their reflections on the past year could be written in any city, town or village around the globe. See for yourself by reading the Acts of kindness the whole year long story at the Yellow Spring News.
Happy New Year to you and your family! I wish everyone good health and prosperity in 2012. God bless you one and all!
Random kindness: paying off layaways
Kindness can be hard to administer as a woman discovered in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. She learned about the “Pay It Forward” idea from her middle-school-aged daughter and decided to pay off layaway bills for three people at Kmart, but the store would not let her – initially. The assistant manager thought it was unfair to those who were not chosen. The store’s manager later invited the woman back and she was very happy to help a few families make sure they had toys for the kids for Christmas. Read the full Area woman practices random act of kindness by paying off layaways story at The Patriot News.
This reminds me of a time when I paid for the last few items, food essentials, for a woman in front of me at the store. The cashier smiled and said, “Bless you,” but the person behind me in line asked, “What about me?”
These random acts of kindness are so rare that many people involved do not know how to respond. There are no rules – nor should there be. My motto is to just keep doing it and they will catch on eventually.
Kindness is catchy
I stumbled on this story about random acts of kindness catching on at Riley’s Cafe in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. It seems that patrons are passing along the kindness they receive to others and it is continuing each week. Read the Random Acts Of Kindness Reported At Cafe story at KCCI.com Channel 8 in Des Moines.
Ripples can begin with a single pebble. Be that pebble.
Holiday parties picking up
After a few years of decline, Holiday parties are beginning to pick up this year. It is a good sign for businesses and will likely boost morale. I recommend ALL businesses do something for your employees for the Holiday, even if just sharing a bag of Hershey Kisses! It is the thought that counts. See Holiday parties making comeback story at The Columbus Dispatch.