Create a card for a senior citizen

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Over the summer I was feeling crafty, but not sure of what I wanted to create. I didn't have a lot of time, but was itching to go to Hobby Lobby.

While searching the Internet for crafty ideas, I stumbled upon an organization called DOROT. (in Hebrew "DOROT" means "generations").

One of their many many many missions is to send over 200 birthday cards a month to (unfortunately) isolated senior citizens.

Learning this...my fate was sealed! I was on a birthday card creating mission.

One trip to Hobby Lobby, $20 and 2 hours later I was able to create 25+ birthday cards to be given to senior citizens who otherwise wouldn't get any birthday mail at all.

Supplies: construction paper

                markers
                scrapbook paper
                stickers
                glue
                *lots of creativity*

 

 



I highly recommend this activity! It is great for crafty adults, children, organizations, etc. It warms my heart to know that one of my cards (hopefully) brightened the day of someone who deserves to be celebrated but for unknown circumstances is alone.

Store this idea in your memory bank. It is definitely worthwhile!

DOROT: http://www.dorotusa.org/site/PageServer?pagename=homepage_DOROT

Card Project Instructions: http://www.dorotusa.org/site/PageServer?pagename=vol_cards_D

Fantastic Thursday - Five Little Chefs

 

 

Gather School Supplies in December (Donation Opportunity)

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I know you've taken the time to donate to Toys for Tots, given money to the Salvation Army bell ringers and donated gently used or new items to local people/pets in need...but have you thought about picking up school supplies to donate to children who can't afford them?

Yes, I know...it is December and I'm talking about next August. Hear me out.

Being thoughtful can be overwhelming. You have the best intentions of helping as many people as you can, but sometimes the bank account can't handle all of the goodness you'd like to spread.

The Plan: PLAN AHEAD!

I was at my local Office Depot two weeks ago and stumbled upon their clearance area.

Wowza! It was exciting!

Look what I found...

What really excited me was knowing that I would be able to make a difference in 10 little kids lives next school year and pay next to nothing.

I combined each of the items to create a "set." My total cost per set and total spent was...(drum roll please...)

 

Yes, that is correct. I bought 10 binders, 10 calculators, 10 rulers and 10 pencil pouches for $10.70.

Want to know what is crazy...if I would have purchased all of the items at regular price I would have spent $129.60 (not including tax).

 

The lesson here is to practice awareness and think about how you can be thoughtful...even if the particular thoughtful idea is not in season.

 

 



Why being thoughtful means putting yourself out there

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I SO love thinking about being thoughtful. I'd say I've acted on 50% of my thoughtful ideas. Through this blog I hope to challenge myself and others to put ourselves out there even more and do what we are afraid to do.

What's so scary about being thoughtful towards others? Fear of rejection...humiliation...what are they going to think??? Of course the negative thoughts of what could possibly go wrong seem to over power the potential good that could come from it. This is especially true if it is NOT anonymous.

Tonight, I performed a thoughtful action and lied. I didn't tell the person that I was giving them something because of pure kindness, I lied and said I had won it in a gift basket and didn't need it.

They were beyond grateful. Would that have been different if I told them the truth? Probably not. It was my own fear of rejection that stopped me from being completely honest.

I guess that is why I decided to call this blog "Thoughtful(ology)."

I enjoy making other people happy and I'm learning in the process.

Christmas Lights & Thoughtfulness

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It's December...and that means Christmas lights are everywhere! This month we've already put many miles on our cars and drained our gas tanks searching the neighborhoods of our town for Christmas light displays to look at.

Let me tell you, we have not been disappointed!

It is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G how much effort people put into making their homes twinkle with gorgeousness, animation and pure FUN!

I decided that it would be really neat to write down the people's addresses who we feel deserve some thoughtful recognition for the entertainment they have given us.

The Mission: Pick 5 houses that bring us pure joy based on their light displays and send them a Christmas card thanking them for getting into the holiday spirit and brightening our day.

The card will be anonymous and will be addressed to: The Folks with the Amazing Light Display(Kind of long...but it's what I chose) and no return address.

What's great about this is:

a) You're already out viewing Christmas lights (no extra work required...keep it to your neighborhood if you choose).
b) You already have extra Christmas cards, note cards or plain paper and envelopes at home.
c) If you have kids they will love being in on the action...let them sign the cards too!
d) It is easy and will surprise your recipients.

All you need is:

- Pen and paper for car ride (to write down addresses & anything specific you want to remember about their display

- Extra Christmas cards (preferably ones without family pictures), note cards, pen and paper

- Stamps

- A little thoughtfulness. What is most important is to say exactly what you like. Maybe it is their attention to detail, or it's the colors they chose,  maybe it's the fun blow-up figures scattered across their lawn. Whatever it is...be specific. Don't be vague. Recognize them for the specifics not the generalities. Compliments mean more when they come from the heart and say what you mean.

  

 

What a great way to spend time with loves ones!

 

 

 

The Sanitation Engineer/Sanitation Worker (AKA: Garbageman)

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When most people think of doing something nice for their garbageman they think of the holidays.You know...when the people who help our lives function get recognized with cards of thanks, monetary gifts, etc. While this is fine and good (potential future post, maybe) have you ever thought to just say hello and see how you can help make your garbageman's job easier?

Let me explain.

I had a conversation with the gentleman, who, every Tuesday picks up our recyclables. Through this brief conversation I learned that he was (repeatedly) frustrated with our neighbor.

Why?

Our neighbor (a very kind man) through no fault of his own was making our garbageman's job a little tougher and a little more frustrating (every week) by none other than placing his garbage can right next to his mailbox. This was causing a problem.

You see, today's garbage trucks have mechanical arms that reach out of the truck and lift the can and it's belongings into the main collection bin. If anything (like a mailbox) is too close to this mechanical arm the garbageman can't efficiently do his job (for fear of ripping the mailbox out of the ground). He must now stop the truck, get out, re-position the can and then use the mechanical arm to lift the can to empty its contents into the bin.

Can you imagine how frustrating this would be day in and day out (as I'm sure my neighber is not the only one doing this)?

So, take a moment and talk with your garbage man! You never know what you may learn.

After learning my garbageman's frustrations I let my neighbor know (in a nice way) that the garbageman said it would be helpful for him to put his trash cans on the other side of his driveway so as to avoid damaging his mailbox during his weekly Tuesday visit.

My neighbor happily obliged.

Problem solved. A little thoughtfulness lead to one less frustration for our garbageman. Could you imagine if everyone did this? Garbage men everywhere would be so happy!


***(Because I grew up with the term garbage men I in no way mean to disrespect the profession by not using the politically correct terms sanitation engineer and sanitation worker throughout this post. I also know that not all garbage men are men. Women do this job too. For my first post, I chose to write in a way that I would speak normally. Please do not take offense to my word choice as my intentions are to make these folks jobs easier)***