week 7

one good deed a day

an ongoing journal of a few good deeds throughout this year

43. feb 12. eat your next meal in silence (away from a computer) » and any other electronic distractions…
44. feb 13. empty the dishwasher -before anyone in your house or office has a chance to ask you to do it » Well considering I normally do this, I'm not sure if it's really a good deed, but I'll take it!
45. feb 14. be the first to apologize » I may be quick to snap lately, but I am also trying to make sure and take responsibility for my actions and any wrongdoing on my behalf…
46. feb 15. shovel the snow off your neighbor's porch salt your neighbor's driveway » Oklahoma's version of snow, usually ends up as slick & hazardous ice…  So we prepared by buying salt, knowing the storm was coming.  My hubby went outside to investigate the weather situation as evening started to fall, and the next thing I know he comes inside and has already salted both ours & our neighbor's driveways…  Ummmm wait a minute.  This isn't Brad's good deeds, is it?  Haha.  But you know what?  I guess that works.  Get others involved with your good deeds, because that's good too.
47. feb 16. make an effort to mend a rift in a friendship » by actually sitting down and talking- not over the phone or through text messaging… but face to face.  It will be hard.  Be honest.
48. feb 17. volunteer » especially when it's for a great cause (and very near and dear to my heart).  There are so many wonderful people helping Weimaraners out there.  Heartland Weimaraner Rescue is one such group.  I've donated to another Weim Rescue in the past, but I've decided it's time to do more, especially here locally.  I have time and skills worth contributing.  And you know what's great?  Just as soon as I put myself out there, someone contacted me needing help.  Would you be interested in designing our St. Patty's Day Parade tee?  You betcha.  The marketing coordinator suggested that maybe since the parade falls on March 14th, we could base the design on the number of Pi.  I got to work, and this is what I came up with.  Weimaraners, easy as Pi… get it?

49. feb 18. be understanding and truthful » The quiet and heartbreak in my life still continue…  I struggle with this new normal daily.  I want to reach out.  I want to help other furbabies.  But I am having such a terrible time…  In addition to losing our light, we went from a family of three to an empty nest.  It's no joke people.  I never REALLY understood the enormity of the situation prior to experiencing it ourselves…  We've been in contact with a few Rescues, hoping to welcome a new addition to our family when the time is right… which we are all too aware hasn't quite worked out for us in the past.  So for now, all we can do is be understanding with each other, truthful as we go through this process, and hopeful for the strength and the courage we so desperately need.

week 6

one good deed a day

an ongoing journal of a few good deeds throughout this year

36. feb 5. offer to give your loved one a massage » Not sleeping well has taken its toll, so tonight rather than just watching my hubby use a heating pad, I offered up a neck massage (followed by a back scratching, of course).
37. feb 6. deliver something small and sweet to everyone on your team your mom - midafternoon, just when everyone's energy wanes because it's her favorite » Mmmmmarzipan.  There is likely no better treat on the planet I tell you.  And considering it was my mom who introduced me to the delectable goodness so much earlier in my childhood…  Well, let's just say when I discovered it inside a pastry from a fantastic local bakery, I immediately purchased another & decided to deliver it to her office on a whim & for absolutely no reason at all!  And considering I had not yet decided on a good deed for today… I was happy to find this one in the book.  Just needed a few tweaks (and since I don't currently have any co-workers…), it worked perfectly!
38. feb 7. pick up the tab » Have gift cards just sitting there, collecting dust, waiting to be used?  How about sharing the meal with your family or friends, and treating them to a night out…
39. feb 8. get some exercise » Running has always been my go-to when I'm feeling overwhelmed, or when I just need to work things out in my head.  It's been almost a month since I've had a workout of any kind, so I took today as a kinda first step in getting back out there.
40. feb 9. take your neighbor's trash bins in off the curb » I can do that.
41. feb 10. tell someone she is appreciated » some people are just a breath of fresh air… maybe it's because they have life experiences which give them a unique perspective, or maybe they just prefer joy & positivity.  Either way- tell them.  It could make their day, just like their kindness made yours…
42. feb 11. stop and look around » At the gym today, I was feeling a bit frustrated waiting on a machine hog.  I like to keep my heart rate up and complete circuits quickly, you see.  But if I hadn't decided to stand there, and wait, well then I wouldn't have seen this very important message someone took the time to share on the chalk wall: When I was 5 years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life.  When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up.  I wrote down "happy."  They told me I didn't understand the assignment, and I told them they didn't understand life.

exactly.  

week 5

one good deed a day

an ongoing journal of a few good deeds throughout this year

29. jan 29. pay for the car behind you at the toll booth in the drive-thru lane » Having a pikepass makes paying for the driver behind us a bit difficult, so I decided to go a step further than a toll charge, and pay for the gentleman's coffee & snack behind me as we went through the drive-thru today.
30. jan 30. teach someone one of your skills » this has been ongoing and has ranged from photography to phone to computer & graphic skills… sharing what I know has brought both joy and a few new wonderful friends into my life.
31. jan 31. write a nice little note on the check to your server » wishing you a wonderful weekend
32. feb 1. fill the printer with paper so it won't run out on the next person » easy enough.
33. feb 2. drink eight glasses of water » and be prepared to have a restroom nearby…
34. feb 3. start a recycling program at your building, school, or home » we actually started doing this years and years ago…  While living in Mustang, Oklahoma, we helped start a recycling program for our community and would volunteer from time to time.  And while we lived in Germany, it was mandatory (and should be here in the states if you ask my opinion).  And although we still do not have curbside where we currently reside, we continue to sort our recycles in bins and take them to the nearest town so that they may be made new again.
35. feb 4. tape a coupon to a product at the grocery store » I also enjoyed seeing that almost all of the coupons I taped had been utilized by other customers, when visiting the store on the following day.  Because every little bit helps.

week 4

one good deed a day

an ongoing journal of a few good deeds throughout this year

22. jan 22. be quick to apologize » What to say other than I feel like every time we eat out lately, we seem to get service that could definitely be improved upon…  I know that all my nerves are completely frazzled right now, but tonight when my order was wrong, I felt like I'd had enough.  So I popped out of the booth & told the manager, not to remake my food, I didn't feel like waiting.  She said it was a super easy fix that would only take a few minutes, and she would bring it to me anyways.  She was really nice & I had to admit… we'd had a terrible week.  I accepted her sincerity and quickly said I was sorry.
23. jan 23. return all of the items you take into the dressing room to their original spots instead of leaving them in the dressing room » I used to do this all the time.  (I know. I worked retail.)  But lately I've noticed I seem to be in a rush or maybe I'm being just a bit more lazy in general… either way, this was a good reminder for today.
24. jan 24. visit an animal shelter sanctuary » Ugh this one made me cry.  I didn't want my Beans food to go to waste though, especially when I know there are so many babies out there that still need to eat.  But man oh man… giving away her food and a few of her treats was just so hard.
25. jan 25. play hooky » I'm feeling pretty slacktastic lately, and have honestly been wanting to actually play hooky from my good deeds project in general… so I'm going to act like this one counts as my good deed for today (it was in the book, after all).
26. jan 26. hand-deliver send a handwritten thank-you note » Saying thank-you with a card & a gift & flowers & food will never be enough.  Although our vet claims there is no need to keep thanking her… I disagree.  I'm sure she thinks she was just doing her job, but I KNOW it was so much more than that.  Well in advance, she helped me have a plan, prepare, and introduced me to wonderful people that would help us make sure Grace was well taken care of… (and it helped, because let's be honest, I was in complete denial that Grace would ever have to leave our world, even though we constantly joked about having her freeze-dried & stuffed, haha NO I'm not kidding).  She gave me her personal number.  She came to our house.  She hugged us & told us we were doing the right thing (even though we never actually spoke the question aloud).  She whispered sweet things to our girl.  She treated Grace & us… like family.  I couldn't have hoped for a better person to come into our lives.  The world needs more people like her.
27. jan 27. say I love you to someone you haven't said it to in a while » In all the times my hubby's job has taken him away from us… I always had Grace by my side.  And I always knew if something happened when it was just the two of us, it would have made a terrible situation that much worse.  Even though I had zero doubt I would make the right decision for my girl (whether her dad was away or not), we were incredibly lucky to have him home with us.  It has meant the world knowing I don't have to go through this alone.  My husband has been wonderful to me, even as he is grieving.  And I don't tell him often enough-- just how very grateful I am, to have him by my side now and always.
28. jan 28. brew the next pot of coffee » and share a cup & a moment with someone special.

from the archives… it was always a happy day welcoming daddy home