Day 345 to 361 – 'Reasons' To Be Cheerful!

Today was to be my first full day with my new link. Jacob (not his real name) is severely autistic and his family are in desperate need of some respite care, so they can have some time doing 'normal' things with each other; things we would take for granted.

Unfortunately I hurt my back falling on the stairs last week and I am now in the grip of sciatica … certainly a 'reason' to postpone today’s outing.

Also the Youth Club I was to take him to this morning had to close for the day because of some building work … another 'reason' to postpone the day.

To top it all … high winds and rain were expected today. This could make driving conditions dangerous … yes, you’ve guessed it, the final 'reason' to spoil a wonderful opportunity to serve Jacob and his family.

But maybe not!!!!

There are often reasons why we cannot do good deeds, but rarely are they insurmountable.

Today’s respite care went ahead as planned, the adversity was overcome and the reward was to hear Jacob squeal with laughter and delight when he bowled a strike at the ten-pin bowling alley this afternoon … sheer joy!!

Other ‘reasons to be cheerful’ over the past two weeks have included:

96 x Proactively ‘gave-way’ to other drivers

15 x Gave a big smile to a stranger

21 x Gave cash to a charity
12 x Held the door open for someone

8 x Voluntary work for Ipsos Access Panels

2 x Voluntary work for Take-A-Break
1 x Helped someone in need
11 x Put neighbours bin back after the bin men had been
29 x Proactively ‘gave-way’ to a pedestrian
10 x Picked up rubbish in the neighbourhood
1 x Gave my money back after being given too much change
20 x Voluntary Work for the Langford Village Community Association
1 x Lent a stranger my telephone to make a call
3 x Replaced store’s merchandise that had fallen off the display

Sub total: 230
Running total: 3900

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.”