One of my morning rituals is to turn on the TV and listen to the news as background. This morning, however, I had second thoughts about turning on the TV. My initial thought this morning was do I really want to turn the TV on? Everything on the news is so negative. Do I really want to start my day today with negative thoughts and feelings? Just tell me something positive for once was my last thought as, out of habit, I found the remote and turned on the TV.
Wow, what a surprise when the TV came on. Fox News was interviewing the men who initiated the Grateful Nation Montana movement. Grateful Nation Montana was formed for the specific purpose of facilitating college educations for the children of soldiers killed while on active duty in Iraq or Afghanistan. This was started by two insurance professionals, David Bell and John McCarrick, who wanted to do something for the families of our fallen soldiers. Talk about something positive.
These men have started such a wonderful initiative in this country. In fact, it has been recognized as such a positive initiative, that they are constantly being called for info on how other states can start the same thing. According to their website, they are working with professionals to develop guidance so others can do this within their states.
This story was a great way to start my day. It made me grateful to be in a country of such wonderful giving people. We have so much to be thankful for and this is a great program to show our thanks to those who lost their lives for our country.
Items such as this make me reflect and look for ways I can give back. Writing a check has become too easy. I was fortunate enough to get an email when I got to work that invited me to join a group of professionals in support of a new Career Center our local Dress for Success affiliate is setting up. I love the organization Dress for Success and what they stand for and all that they do. I am so honored to know there is something that I can do to contribute to their organization with something other than clothes or money. For a rainy morning, the day was getting better all the time.
After having these two items brought to my attention this morning, I found myself reflecting on something I read through last night. A good friend of mine, Carol Dawson, started an initiative with her local paper a couple years ago. It is The Extra Milers column she writes once a month that highlights those in her southern Indiana community who go the EXTRA MILE to make a positive difference. I have heard her speak of it often, but have never taken the time to check it out. Last night I took the time to find the link to her articles and read over several she has logged in over the last couple years. To say the least it was humbling to see all the different types of people, many very humble, who in their own way are doing something to make this world a better place.
I love this story Carol tells at most of her seminars, it says a lot about her and about those she writes about as well as others like the men in Montana who are making a difference in the world, one life at a time.
Do Something to Make a Difference in Another Person’s Life
Once upon a time there was a wise man that used to go to the ocean to do his writing. One day he was walking along the shore. As he looked down the beach, he saw a human figure moving like a dancer. He smiled to himself to think of someone dancing on the beach. So he began to walk
faster to catch up with this person. As he got closer he saw that it was a young woman and she
wasn’t dancing, but instead she was reaching down to the shore, picking up something and very
gently throwing it into the ocean. As he got even closer, he called out, “Good Morning, what are
you doing?” The young woman paused, looked up and replied, “Throwing starfish back into the
ocean.” He asked, “Why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?” She replied, “The sun is up
and the tide is going out. If I don’t throw them back in, they will die.” The man was intrigued and stated, “But, young lady, don’t you realize that there are miles and miles of beach and starfish are all along it. You can’t possibly make a difference!” She listened politely. Then bent down, picked up another starfish and threw it back into the sea, past the breaking waves and said, “It made a difference for that one.” (Author Unknown)
We all have the ability to MAKE A DIFFERENCE. I sure got my wish today, I heard a lot of positive!
Wow, what a surprise when the TV came on. Fox News was interviewing the men who initiated the Grateful Nation Montana movement. Grateful Nation Montana was formed for the specific purpose of facilitating college educations for the children of soldiers killed while on active duty in Iraq or Afghanistan. This was started by two insurance professionals, David Bell and John McCarrick, who wanted to do something for the families of our fallen soldiers. Talk about something positive.
These men have started such a wonderful initiative in this country. In fact, it has been recognized as such a positive initiative, that they are constantly being called for info on how other states can start the same thing. According to their website, they are working with professionals to develop guidance so others can do this within their states.
This story was a great way to start my day. It made me grateful to be in a country of such wonderful giving people. We have so much to be thankful for and this is a great program to show our thanks to those who lost their lives for our country.
Items such as this make me reflect and look for ways I can give back. Writing a check has become too easy. I was fortunate enough to get an email when I got to work that invited me to join a group of professionals in support of a new Career Center our local Dress for Success affiliate is setting up. I love the organization Dress for Success and what they stand for and all that they do. I am so honored to know there is something that I can do to contribute to their organization with something other than clothes or money. For a rainy morning, the day was getting better all the time.
After having these two items brought to my attention this morning, I found myself reflecting on something I read through last night. A good friend of mine, Carol Dawson, started an initiative with her local paper a couple years ago. It is The Extra Milers column she writes once a month that highlights those in her southern Indiana community who go the EXTRA MILE to make a positive difference. I have heard her speak of it often, but have never taken the time to check it out. Last night I took the time to find the link to her articles and read over several she has logged in over the last couple years. To say the least it was humbling to see all the different types of people, many very humble, who in their own way are doing something to make this world a better place.
I love this story Carol tells at most of her seminars, it says a lot about her and about those she writes about as well as others like the men in Montana who are making a difference in the world, one life at a time.
Do Something to Make a Difference in Another Person’s Life
Once upon a time there was a wise man that used to go to the ocean to do his writing. One day he was walking along the shore. As he looked down the beach, he saw a human figure moving like a dancer. He smiled to himself to think of someone dancing on the beach. So he began to walk
faster to catch up with this person. As he got closer he saw that it was a young woman and she
wasn’t dancing, but instead she was reaching down to the shore, picking up something and very
gently throwing it into the ocean. As he got even closer, he called out, “Good Morning, what are
you doing?” The young woman paused, looked up and replied, “Throwing starfish back into the
ocean.” He asked, “Why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?” She replied, “The sun is up
and the tide is going out. If I don’t throw them back in, they will die.” The man was intrigued and stated, “But, young lady, don’t you realize that there are miles and miles of beach and starfish are all along it. You can’t possibly make a difference!” She listened politely. Then bent down, picked up another starfish and threw it back into the sea, past the breaking waves and said, “It made a difference for that one.” (Author Unknown)
We all have the ability to MAKE A DIFFERENCE. I sure got my wish today, I heard a lot of positive!
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