Work ordered in for us from Little Italy today. As people were done, I subtly offered to clear their trash for them. At one point I draped a paper towel over my left forearm like a fancy server at a high-end restaurant and asked a coworker if they saved any room for dessert. 😋
I fairly recently suggested an older TV series to a coworker I thought would really like it. He’s loving it and comes in almost every day talking about all the different goings-on in the new episode or two he’s watched. I saw the series about 20 years ago, when it first came out. Without giving a hint of any spoilers, I’ve been able to consistently give him alternate viewpoints and ways to frame things he’s seen, which has given him a much deeper appreciation of the show while still keeping the upcoming twists and amazing reveals a complete surprise for him.
I helped my mental health today by tidying up my space. I washed dishes, did some laundry, cleaned the kitchen, made some organizational to-do notes, etc. A tidy and comfortable space helps me to focus better and be more able to tell ADHD to stick it!
Today I took a mental health day and barely got out of bed all day. Just TV, making art on my phone, snuggling kitties, and cat naps. Sometimes I’ve got to put the oxygen mask on myself and rejuvenate to be most ready to help others.
I was in line at the grocery store with a cart full. A couple was scanning the lanes and had maybe a dozen items. I told them to go ahead of me, as I’d only have to wait a minute or two for them to be done, whereas they’d have to wait several minutes for me to get through.
While they were being checked out, the lady was telling the cashier that all the grapes in the multi-fruit packs had white, moldy fuzz on them, like in her pack. She said she didn’t really mind, because they only really wanted the sliced apples, anyway. But she wanted to make sure they knew that all the grapes were bad in those packs. I told her that was normal for this time of year, as the grapes had grown their winter coats, and that they’d shed them as Spring started to come on. She took me somewhat seriously at first, so I had to let her know I was just joking.
While grabbing a quick dinner at the drive through on the way home, I rounded up for charity, donating $0.68, or thereabouts.
Today I helped a friend realize that they’re generally a helpful person on a daily basis already, and that going “above and beyond” is not necessary to check off their daily help goal. Taking care of your family counts. Taking care of people you work with counts.
I offered that when people explicitly ask for help and you’re already busy, it’s okay to say no without any feelings of guilt. When someone already has a full and busy life with family, work, hobbies, and other projects, saying no to one way of helping allows us be able to more intentionally direct and focus our energy into ways that may be even more helpful.
I think when it all boils down, no one owes us anything, and none of us really owe anyone else (except for that loan shark you borrowed from to feed your chocoholic habit. Pay that guy ASAP and reevaluate your willpower.) It’s up to each of us as individuals how and when we do a little extra. So when we do more than the bare minimum when it comes to sharing ourselves, our effort, our time and resources, well that’s more than the world would have otherwise – whether we “owe” it or not. It’s a small way to make things a little better than we found them.
Today I helped myself hopefully help others in the future by making upgrades to this website.
Contact Us
Now we have a Contact Us page, so users can contact us with questions, suggestions, or whatever else they might have in mind.
Subscribe
I’ve set up a forms system that will allow us to subscribe to the newsletter. Now I’ll have to make some tweaks so that folks can actually join the site!
Today I showed a piece of software I’m developing to my boss. I knew it was the kind of app that could help him on a daily basis and speed up his workflow. I asked what other features he could envision that might make the app even more useful, and we both simultaneously came up with same idea! So I’ll implement the changes and polish it up and get the inaugural version to him quickly.
At work today, the owner was kind enough to treat us all to lunch, and several of us ate together in the conference room. One by one, as each person was done with their meal, I came by to take their trash away for them.
I set up a Facebook “Have a Heart” <3 Valentine’s Day countdown fundraiser to try to raise $200.00 by the Day of Love. I donated $35.00 to kick things off and help entice others to follow suit. Click the image to see the fundraiser. Every little bit adds up. That’s the whole mantra of this website – “No amount of help is too small!”. Even the smallest bits add up quickly when we multiply our efforts by all doing what we can when we can. The second mantra, and just as important, is “DO NOT FEEL OBLIGATED OR PRESSURED!” If you can’t donate now, or ever, do not feel guilty, ashamed, or that you’re being judged. NO judgment here. I sincerely appreciate you just being here. If YOU need help, do not be afraid or ashamed to ask. I will do what I can to help direct you to the best resources to help get you where you need to be. We are all in this life together, and no matter what anyone else might say, that’s true – whether we act like it or not. So I’m starting with me, and trying to act like it just a little more each day. I’m going to exercise this “helping” muscle until it starts running on autopilot! That’s the goal, anyway. Join me. We can have wins and losses and ups and downs together. We’re human. So we’re not always going to be at our best. And that’s okay. As long as I’m honest with myself and others, I’ll also not always be at my lowest. And that’s okay, too. You and I both deserve self-credit for even the smallest positive things we do. I’m not saying any of this to praise myself, but I’m also tired of doing the opposite of praising myself. It’s time to allow myself to feel some self worth for being the mostly decent person I am and for my good intentions I act upon. Same goes for you and all the rest of us. You have worth. And you can grow it by sharing your better moments with the world. It’s true that sometimes a simple smile to a stranger can renew their faith in the world, even if only for now. That’s a start. And the more often you give out that energy, the more likely you’re going to be giving something to someone when they’re in need of that very thing. Your efforts are never wasted. Don’t let your self doubt tell you any different. You’re a bad mamma jamma, so keep that up!!
