Day 212 to 224 – Creating Sunshine

I think I’m about to give up on the British Summer. My frequent excursions to the Gower Peninsula and the North Coast of Cornwall have been curtailed so far this summer. What I would give for a few days on the beach in the glorious sunshine!

Well, back in soggy Bicester, I am simply going to create my own sunshine by smiling more at people I pass and meet. I have felt the effects of someone smiling at me; it can change your mood in an instance and bring warmth of friendship and of our common humanity.

A few sunny encounters these last two weeks have included:

16 x Gave a big smile and a hello to a stranger
19 x Gave cash to a charity
5 x Gave cash to a street beggar
98 x Proactively ‘gave-way’ to another driver
8 x Picked up rubbish in the neighbourhood
1 x Gave my support to a friend in need
1 x Voluntary work within the Community
15 x Held the door open for someone
27 x Proactively ‘gave-way’ to a pedestrian
1 x Voluntary work for the NHS
1 x Treated a friend to dinner
8 x Put neighbours bin back after the bin men had been
3 x Helped a person in need
3 x Replaced store’s merchandise that had fallen off the display
2 x Gave respite care to a family
2 x Cut my neighbours lawn

Sub total: 210
Running total: 2257

Target: 3000+ in 12months

Commenced 30^thNovember 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.”