Search Results for 'popular' (3008 matches)

Accidental Firefighters

Where I live, July 1st means firecrackers!   Last year, we had just finished lighting off a heap of firecrackers on the beach and had watched the show, so we started walking home. That's when we saw the smoke.

Near the museum (about 50m away) there was a bushfire. The dry grass and pandanas were burning away with no intention of stopping. The museum cafe staff were trying to put it out but they were only two women and having a hard time of it.

As we were leaving, one of the cafe chefs called out to my dad: "They're some great kids you got there, you know?" My dad just smiled and nodded.

I don't think anybody ever found out it was us that put out the fire. We weren't made honorary firefighters but what that cafe chef said made it all worthwhile!

Traffic In A Small Town

One of the reason I like small towns is the lack of traffic.  Unfortunately, small towns become popular and even though there aren't jobs in them, people will live there and commute to larger areas.  Such is my fortune.  Along with the small town comes lack of traffic signals.  I live off the southern most road in town and you would think that it would be easy to get onto the highway.  Wrong!  By the time the morning commute traffic gets to my road, it is completely and utterly bumper to bumper.  I can hear you laughing ... small town bumper to bumper traffic can't really be that bad!  Well, on more than one occasion I have sat through over 100 cars going past before I could pull out.  Forget trying to cross traffic to go North!  I can't even tell you how many accidents have occurred from that.  You ... Read Full Story >>

A Sweet Afternoon

Last week, I had stopped to get the mail before going to pick up my son from school.  Included in my mail was a coupon for a free chocolate bar. After picking up my son, I saw a student sitting all alone on the side walk waiting to be picked up.  I thought it would be a good idea to offer her the free coupon.  She flashed a big smile when I handed it to her and said thanks.

When my son and I returned home, what did we see in the refrigerator?!?  The same exact candy bar.  I guess my husband had gone to the store the night before!!! : ) 

What goes around comes around.  It was a sweet afternoon indeed! : )

The Shawl of Courage

Sometimes kindness takes courage. I had bought this beautiful shawl some time back. I tried wearing it one day, but it felt like I was constantly messing with it throughout the day. Not for me. So the idea lingered in the back of my mind that I could give it to someone I run into when I get my morning coffee. I heard myself say, "Naw. I'll put it in the Goodwill box with the rest of the stuff. That's an act of kindness." But each morning I'd pass by women who might like it. "They'll think you're crazy just asking them if they want it out of the blue. Or they'll reject it. Put it in the pile." The thought of giving it away personally nagged at me a couple weeks. Finally, I took one little step. "I'll just put the shawl in my truck in case I see someone." And then ... Read Full Story >>

A Fabric of Comfort

I have a non-profit called "Kidz KLoakz to Komfort Kidz." We use new, fun patterned fleece fabric to make, pillows, blankets, poncho's and hats and scarves, for kids in need of comfort, no matter their circumstances. The items we make go to hospitals, shelters, life-line helicopters and social service residential programs. We have simplified the pillow making to use all our scrap materail. NO sewing is required. We just take two identical size pieces of fleece fabric and fringe all the edges - the fringe shoud be two to two-and-a-half inches long. We then tie the top and bottom together on three sides, and stuff and tie the remaining open side.
In the three years since we were founded, we have given away over 7,000 fleece gifts. All funds are donated and all work is done by a group of 20 -40 volunteers of all ages. It's a beautiful example of lots of people doing a litte bit. My foundation provides the fleece. If anyone is interested feel free to let me know. Also, if anyone knows a place that could use them let me know - we ship all over!

Putting Yourself Second

Life is so busy and there just isn't enough time in the day to do it all, it seems. As much as I often think of my older relatives, some of which I adore, I do tend to procrastinate when it comes to visiting them. There just always seems to be more pressing things that I feel need to be done. I tell myself my loved ones will be there tomorrow, but sadly I know that isn't necessarily true. Nothing is ever guaranteed.

Today, instead of catching up on my housework, or working on the computer, or shopping for a new pair of pants, I dropped in to see a dear great-aunt of mine. She doesn't always remember us anymore, and I miss the vibrant person she once was, but she is always so grateful for our visits and I feel good about putting her first today.

How Do Those Who Have the Least Give the Most?

I work in a company in India which has branches in Germany and the UK, so I frequently take business trips to these places.  We have a tradition at the office whereby anybody coming back to India from a foreign country gets chocolates for all the employees. Naturally the chocolates are finished in no time because everyone loves them and tries to grab as many as possible. I had noticed that the housekeeping staff members working in our company (nearly 12, including the security and office boys) never get to taste even a single chocolate. Recently, I came back to India after a month-long trip from Munich and I'd bought a lot of chocolates for the office staff. I called over one of the housekeeping staff members called Babu.  I gave him a packet of chocolates and told him to distribute it equally amongst the housekeeping staff.  His face instantly broke into a wide ... Read Full Story >>

The Seven Wonders of Love

Love is the highest emotion in life. When one practices love, one can love the self first and from there the love flows to your most cherished life members, family members , forever friends, and extends to your neighbors, your community, strangers, your city, your country, your continent, and ultimately, the universe. Here is a love prescription, or rather a compilation of love exercises that I assembled which I hope can be a fruitful source of love generation for you:  The seven ways to love oneself are: 1. When you wake up in the morning,give yourself three loving compliments.  2. Before you go to sleep, think of three good things that happened to you that day.  3. When you brush your teeth in the morning, look into your    eyes and say, "I love you" and mean it.  4. During the day, pay attention to any subtle energy shifts     and ask your heart for guidance, when anything is off      balance.   5. Put ... Read Full Story >>

A SPECIAL MEMORY

I was on my way from work one Mother's Day, and I noticed a man pulled by the side of the road and he was trying to load these huge logs into the back of his pick-up truck. As he attempted to load a log, I noticed every vein and muscle in his body straining to complete the task, but to no avail. I stopped my car and offered a hand. The gentleman looked at me as though I might not have enough strength to assist, but since I was the only one offering help he accepted. Together we lifted the log into the back of his truck and then two more. Admittedly, I was grunting from the weight of the logs. As we were loading the logs, I wondered if he was a craftsman who might be making tables from the huge logs (recently cut down by the city), but he ... Read Full Story >>

Appreciating a Neighbor's Garden

I have discovered the joy of speaking to strangers and now that I have crossed the age of 50 there is less danger of being misunderstood. The best thing about it is seeing the surprise and happiness of others when they are addressed or are included in the sharing a thought. Invariably, one kind gesture is returned with more kindness.

During my morning walk one day, I noticed a bush in front of a house that had half-opened buds of my favorite flowers that reminded me of my childhood. I went close to the bush for a better look and noticed the house lady looking at me curiously. I smiled and told her that I loved the flowers for their fragrance. She reciprocated. “I plucked them all for my morning prayers. You can have some,” she offered. I was touched by her generosity and blessed her in my heart for making  my day. 

A Desert that Learned to Smile

Many summers ago in a faraway Desert, a seedling came along to be and share herself with the scorched barren land. She was a young lavender colored flower in the Desert where all was dry and sullen. It was as if the Desert sat alone, depressed and dry. The flower's name was Violeta and she was blooming on her own. She enjoyed every day and would often ask the Sun, "When shall I be all grown up"? The Sun would smile by shining and say, "Be patient. Each time I touch you, you grow a little." Violeta was so pleased to have this opportunity to grow because she wanted so much to have a chance to bring beauty to this corner of the sand. That truly was all she wanted to do; bring a little splash of color to this side of the lonely world. Suddenly, one day, a Hunter came ... Read Full Story >>

Sandwich and Tea for the Man in the Doorway

I was in my city centre the other day, something I rearely do because it is so busy, noisy and unfriendly.  I walked past the shopping centre and noticed a youngish man sitting in the doorway of a shuttered shop. Something about the way he huddled into his grubby blankets against the cold steel shutters, his straggly, sandy hair blowing about his face in the wind and rain, made me feel so much compassion. It was as if even the buildings were against him, shutting him out, telling him there was no place for him here.  I went to a sandwich shop and bought him a sandwich and a take-away tea. I took them back to him and we didn't exchange conversation really, I just said, "I've brought you a bite to eat," and he said, "Thanks very much" and gave me a lop-sided smile -- as if he didn't have enough happiness ... Read Full Story >>

Being Just The Way You Are

A water bearer in China had two large pots, each hung on the ends of a pole which he carried across his neck. One pot had a crack in it, while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water. At the end of the long walk from the stream to the house, the cracked pot arrived only half full. For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water to his house. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect for which it was made. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do. After 2 years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the ... Read Full Story >>

Smiling with a Purpose in the Workplace

   Ever since I found this website and joined your wonderful group of 'SMILERS', I have realized the true power of a Smile.  Earlier, I used to smile a lot, (thankfully smiling has always come very easily to me), but after I joined this website, it has added a new meaning, and now when I smile, there is a purpose – to spread happiness - to keep on smiling until I receive a smile back. It so happens that I work in an ‘analyst department’ where the members are always ploughing away at their work quite seriously, clicking the mouse, typing in the numbers, searching the net... you know how it is.  Prior, to my joining the team there was always a loud silence, broken only by hushed whispers, mouse clicks or keyboard sounds.  But today, I must confess after more than six months of “smiling with a purpose”, I can see ... Read Full Story >>

Two Wolves

Two Wolves - A Cherokee Parable An old Cherokee chief was teaching his grandson about life...   "A fight is going on inside me," he said to the boy. "It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves."   "One is evil - he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, self-doubt, and ego."   "The other is good - he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith."   "This same fight is going on inside you - and inside every other person, too."   The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, "Which wolf will win?"   The old chief simply replied, "Whichever one you feed."     ... Read Full Story >>

Helping Out A Mother

The other day I was really glad to be able to help a friend. She had gone back to full time work after years of staying at home to take care of her children. She has been finding it quite hectic, especially because her husband works away a lot and isn't able to help as much as he would like. She had an after-work meeting to attend in the evening and I suggested her children come over and have dinner at our house. I told her not to worry about rushing back because they would be just fine.  We had a lovely time together and my son enjoyed seeing the girls here too. Life being how it is, my friend was a lot later coming back than she thought she'd be. So, when she rushed up to my front door I stopped her, hugged her, and told her to breathe deeply. Her children were lying on the couch reading, ... Read Full Story >>

Cuddly Bears And Beenies

Today, when I was out in town, I went into the pound shop. Everything they sell costs £1.  

An Unexpected Surprise

One morning I heard someone trying to get their car out of the snow after a snowstorm. (A very common sound here in Montreal.) After a few minutes I realized they needed a push, so I got dressed ,went outside, and pushed the car. It only took about a minute and, feeling more cold than sociable, I walked back to my apartment, without really seeing the driver.   Months later I was at the corner store and the guy in front of me insisted on paying for the beer I was buying! It felt a bit awkward and I had to refuse repeatedly. When I reached the cashier she told me my stuff was already paid for and she couldn't take my money.     So, I was walking back home from the store and that same guy is fifty feet in front of me, all the way! It turns out he's my neighbor, ... Read Full Story >>

Uncovering the real Self

 In my high school yearbook my teacher wrote a quote from "Hamlet":  "To thine own self be true."  It took me years to understand what that meant.

Through actions and mis-actions I began to learn to listen to my heart and to follow it in my decision-making and activities.  In the 1960s and 1970s I was an activist against many things:  racism, the Vietnam War, sexism, nuclear power...  This work was endless and exhausting.  

I was being true to myself at great personal cost.  I reached a point when I could do no more (age, health, economics). When I let go of being against so much, I found all that I am FOR.

 My energy has increased, I am happier.  I am turning every "against" belief into something I am for and focusing on change for the better.  I feel more true to myself than ever before.  And I have immense gratitude for that.

Flowers of Gratitude

As most of the flowers in my yard are gone for the year, I made a run to Walmart last night for flowers.

This morning I waited for the neighborhood school bus. As soon as I saw the bus, I flagged it down and gave the flowers to the bus drive Jeanette, who is also my neighbor. The look on her face was priceless!

My children are not school-age anymore, but I do have nieces and nephews that age. I think it takes pretty special people to do this job.

To safely drive, watch over, and deliver so many children is a great responsibility and one that is undoubtedly under appreciated!