Day 271 to 287 – Meeting Special People

Over the past few weeks Social Services have linked me with another autistic child. Like Harry he has very little speech and has some quite challenging behaviours. But there is something about these children that is special and unique. The day I met this boy I immediately ‘clicked’ with him and fortunately he ‘clicked’ with me; he is the most endearing child.

I’m really looking forward to spending time with this boy by providing his family with respite care.

I would encourage anyone to get involved with this type of voluntary work; especially men (they are really short of males willing to do this type of voluntary service). It can be worked around a busy career and can be a little as one Saturday morning a month. Go on! … give it ago!!

Other random acts of kindness achieved this last few weeks have included:

7 x Gave cash to a charity
93 x Proactively ‘gave-way’ to other drivers
8 x Picked up rubbish in the neighbourhood
4 x Involved in giving respite care
31 x Held the door open for someone

5 x Voluntary work for Ipsos Access Panels

1 x Gave some brand new tools to the guy who put down our wooden floor
9 x Proactively ‘gave-way’ to a pedestrian
8 x Put neighbours bin back after the bin men had been

8 x Gave a big smile to a stranger

77 x Wrote a letter of appreciation to someone

Sub total: 251
Running total: 3086!!!

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.”