Day 84 to 90 – "Passing it Forward"

One of my jobs recently was to meet-up with a well known celebrity and swap an Audi with him. I arrived at the rendezvous and made the swap and the celebrity gave me a £10 tip … very nice!

I returned to the Depot with the car and parked it up to be valeted. I went into the office and returned a while later to see, and hear, our valeter cleaning this car. He was cussing away about the filthy state the car had been left in and he was having a difficult job getting it into the pristine condition expected. I still had the £10 note in my pocket and felt that if anyone deserved this ‘tip’ it was our valeter.

I took the £10 note from my pocket and explained to the valeter where the money had come from and why I was giving the money to him. The valeter flatly refused to accept it and I was insistent he took it … the situation was in deadlock! The valeter then suggested I give the money to a good cause. I eventually agreed and I’m please to report that two Big Issues sellers benefited from the valeter's generosity.

The valeter taught a wondeful lesson to me that day, that we should always consider 'passing forward' our good fortune to those in greater need … I love this work!

This week’s other recipients of kind acts included:

11 x Gave cash to a charity

3 x Voluntary work with the local community association

1 x Put neighbours bin back after the bin men had been
3 x Held the door open for someone
2 x Cleared/picked-up rubbish in the neighbourhood
4 x Proactively ‘gave-way’ to a pedestrian
46 x Proactively ‘gave-way’ to another driver

1 x Gave cash to a Big Issue seller

1 x Struck up a cheery conversation with a stranger

1 x Gave money to a street beggar

2 x Replaced store’s merchandise that had fallen off the display
2 x Gave a cheery hello/good morning to a stranger

2 x Voluntary work as a mediation consultant

1 x Voluntary work as a respite carer

Sub total: 80

Running total: 909

Target: 3000+ in 12months

Commenced 30^th November 2011

Motivation for ‘’My Ten-a-day’

One day a man was walking along the beach when he noticed a boy picking something up and gently throwing it into the ocean.

Approaching the boy, he asked, “What are you doing?”

The youth replied, “Throwing starfish back into the ocean. The surf is up and the tide is going out. If I don’t throw them back, they’ll die.”

“Son,” the man said, “don’t you realize there are miles and miles of beach and hundreds of starfish? You can’t make a difference!”

After listening politely, the boy bent down, picked up another starfish, and threw it back into the surf. Then, smiling at the man, he said, “I made a difference for that one.”

Day 76 to 83 – The Tonic of Life

May I first welcome Donna to the Blog. I really appreciate you joining us ... thank you.

The thought of taking on a service project and volunteering our time can be daunting at times.

There is almost a fear of commitment and this ‘fear’ often wins the day as we decline opportunities to serve.

Well, the best way to combat this ‘fear’ is to simply ignore it! It is amazing what happens to your mind, heart and health when you lose yourself in the service of others … it is amazing!!

This week’s ‘tonics’ included:

7 x Gave cash to a charity

3 x Voluntary work at the local medical centre

3 x Voluntary work with the local community association

1 x Put neighbours bin back after the bin men had been
7 x Held the door open for someone
1 x Proactively ‘gave-way’ to a pedestrian
47x Proactively ‘gave-way’ to another driver
1 x Took time to let someone know I appreciate them
2 x Volunteered to give someone a lift in my car

1 x Gave cash to a Big Issue seller

1 x Cleared/picked-up rubbish in the neighbourhood
1 x Retrieved a supermarket trolley and put it in the trolley park
1 x Gave my time to a friend in need
1 x Supported a friend with their endeavour

Sub total: 77

Running total: 829

Target: 3000+ in 12months

Commenced 30^th November 2011

Motivation for ‘’My Ten-a-day’

One day a man was walking along the beach when he noticed a boy picking something up and gently throwing it into the ocean.

Approaching the boy, he asked, “What are you doing?”

The youth replied, “Throwing starfish back into the ocean. The surf is up and the tide is going out. If I don’t throw them back, they’ll die.”

“Son,” the man said, “don’t you realize there are miles and miles of beach and hundreds of starfish? You can’t make a difference!”

After listening politely, the boy bent down, picked up another starfish, and threw it back into the surf. Then, smiling at the man, he said, “I made a difference for that one.”

Day 69 to 75 – The ‘Mod’ Hair Cut

The following story demonstrates my commitment to equal opportunities when dishing out the kind comments to those around me … J

Whilst delivering a Bentley to the manufactures in Crewe, the guy at the security office had a fantastic Paul Weller (Mod) style hair cut. He must have been my age and looked really cool … I just had to compliment him on it, for which he thanked me.

However, by the look on the face of the guy standing next to him, I’m not sure the men of Crewe appreciate such compliments! … J

This week’s ‘cut and blow dries’ included:

6 x Gave cash to a charity

2 x Voluntary work as a mediation consultant

1 x Voluntary work at the local medical centre

2 x Voluntary work for Ipsos Access Panels
1 x Put neighbours bin back after the bin men had been
4 x Held the door open for someone
19 x Proactively ‘gave-way’ to a pedestrian
45 x Proactively ‘gave-way’ to another driver
2 x Helped out a stranger (suitcase & information)
2 x Took time to let someone know I appreciate them
2 x Gave my seat up on the train
2 x Paid for my friends on a lunch date
1 x Volunteered to help someone in a crisis
1 x Spent time with a friend in need

Sub total: 90

Running total: 753

Target: 3000+ in 12months

Commenced 30^th November 2011

Motivation for ‘’My Ten-a-day’

One day a man was walking along the beach when he noticed a boy picking something up and gently throwing it into the ocean.

Approaching the boy, he asked, “What are you doing?”

The youth replied, “Throwing starfish back into the ocean. The surf is up and the tide is going out. If I don’t throw them back, they’ll die.”

“Son,” the man said, “don’t you realize there are miles and miles of beach and hundreds of starfish? You can’t make a difference!”

After listening politely, the boy bent down, picked up another starfish, and threw it back into the surf. Then, smiling at the man, he said, “I made a difference for that one.”

Day 60 to 68 – Penny For Your Thoughts

One of the great advantages of this endeavour is that I see more opportunities to do some good than I previously did.

I have noticed that on most retailers counters are charity boxes. I have taken to putting my loose change in them each time I see one.

I was thinking about how much could be given to good causes if everyone in the UK took advantage of them.

If everyone in the UK put a penny (1p) in a charity box, each day, then good causes throughout our country would receive £622,187.61 ...

... in a week it would mount up to £4,355,313.27 ...

... in a year they would receive £227,098,477.65

That’s a lot of pennies!!!

This week’s ‘penny’ treats included:

7 x Gave cash to a charity

1 x Voluntary work as a mediation consultant

1 x Voluntary work at the local medical centre

1 x Voluntary work for Ipsos Access Panels
1 x Put neighbours bin back after the bin men had been
13 x Held the door open for someone
1 x Proactively ‘gave-way’ to a pedestrian
30 x Proactively ‘gave-way’ to another driver
1 x Gave a cheery hello/good morning to a stranger
2 x Took time to let someone know I appreciate them

Sub total: 58

Running total: 663

Target: 3000+ in 12months

Commenced 30^th November 2011

Motivation for ‘’My Ten-a-day’

One day a man was walking along the beach when he noticed a boy picking something up and gently throwing it into the ocean.

Approaching the boy, he asked, “What are you doing?”

The youth replied, “Throwing starfish back into the ocean. The surf is up and the tide is going out. If I don’t throw them back, they’ll die.”

“Son,” the man said, “don’t you realize there are miles and miles of beach and hundreds of starfish? You can’t make a difference!”

After listening politely, the boy bent down, picked up another starfish, and threw it back into the surf. Then, smiling at the man, he said, “I made a difference for that one.”