Day 7 - Letter to a Hero!

Community service is a wonderful way of making a difference to a large number of people. I love doing my spontaneous litter picks, my voluntary respite care and working with community groups. Today I joined a Patient Participation Group at my local medical practice … its good to be involved!

I also wrote a letter of appreciation to my doctor who diagnosed my sickness earlier this year. I had already thanked him face-to-face on a number of occasions, but I felt a letter would be a nice thing for him to receive. Without his inspired and thoughtful consideration of my clinical signs, my sickness would have gone undetected and would have had serious consequences to me and my family … what a hero!!

Welcome to Donna who joined my recently joined my Blog … it is really good to have you on board.

Today’s haul included:

1 x Gave money to a street beggar
17 x Proactively ‘gave-way’ to another driver whilst driving
7 x Proactively ‘gave-way’ to a pedestrian whilst driving
1 x Voluntary work in the community
1 x Wrote a letter of appreciation to someone

Sub total: 27
Running total: 102
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 6 - The Wolf-Wistle

Today in the supermarket I spotted an old neighbour, and friend of mine, and I approached her unseen and gave her a loud ‘wolf-whistle’!
She turned towards me with a big smile on her face and let me know how much she appreciated the gesture … she then went on to tell me that I should count it as one of my ‘Ten-a-Day’.

Now I’m not encouraging married men to give a ‘whip woo’  to all the pretty ladies in the supermarket, but in these circumstances, where both parties know each other well, I think it was appropriate.

So Gilly … this Blog is dedicated to you and the ‘wolf-whistle’!!

May I also offer a warm welcome to Jamie and Sarah, I really appreciate you signing up on my Blog.

Today’s successes included:

1 x Wolf-whistle!!!
1 x Cleared/picked-up rubbish in the neighbourhood
1x Gave-up my place in a queue for someone who needs appeared greater than mine
2 x Proactively ‘gave-way’ to another driver
2 x Held the door open for someone
12 x Gave a hello/good morning to a stranger/neighbour

Sub total: 19
Running total: 75

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 5 - Family & Faith

Hi to Mary & Jenny ... thank you for your support.

Today for me was a day of service and worship. I had great joy in involving myself in Church service and spending time with my family. I feel it would be inappropriate to claim any of this service for my ‘Ten-a-Day’.

I’m looking forward to tomorrow’s opportunities … as for today I submit a zero return.

Sub total: 0
Running total: 56

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 4 - Meagre Pickings!!

What a day!!! … I honestly thought it would be easy to find at least 10 opportunities to make a positive difference to someone’s life everyday … after today’s experience I’m not too sure.
Perhaps I wasn’t looking hard enough whilst I was out, whatever the reason I am going to have to think a little smarter about ways of touching people's lives and concentrate a little harder when I am out-and-about.

Today’s haul consisted of:

1 x Proactively gave-way to another driver
1 x Gave a hello/good morning to a stranger

Today’s total: 2
Running total: 56

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 3 - Curry Night

I am finding it difficult, as the day progresses, to keep a mental note of the ‘acts of kindness’ I achieve … it must be my age … I’m having to write them down on scrapes of paper; how sad am I?!
Therefore I may well be under reporting my successes; but I would rather be doing that, then claiming for things not done.

I was thinking about whether ‘acts of kindness’ to family members should count or should they be a non-negotiable … or what about service in the church?
I can feel a rule being announced!! … ha, ha … it was bound to happen!!!

I think I will resist and leave it to my conscious. The bottom line is to make a positive difference to someone … whether related to you or not!! … no rules!!!!!!

Day 3’s random 'acts of kindness' included: 

2 x Went out for a curry tonight and paid the bill for two of my friends
8 x Proactively gave-way to another driver
3 x Proactively gave-way to a pedestrian
2 x Held the door open for someone
2 x Gave a hello/good morning to a stranger
1 x Helped a guy at the supermarket pickup some change he dropped

Sub total: 18
Running total: 54
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 2 - Driving in London

… one of the good things about my ‘Ten-a-Day’ is that it lifts your horizons as you look-out for opportunities to do some good.

I noticed today a colleague at work who valets our cars, she is a foreign nation and doesn’t speak good English, and does not appear to be acknowledged by the other drivers … it was good to change that situation and I will be please to do so from now on.

Thank you Ivana and Donna for signing up to my Blog and another big thank you to Liz for your encouraging comments … xx

Day 2’s figures are:

2 x Gave money to street beggars

13 x Proactively gave-way to another driver

3 x Proactively gave-way to a pedestrian

2 x Held the door open for someone

1 x Gave a hello/good morning to a stranger

1 x Proactively phoned someone and offered to help them out

Sub total: 22

Running total: 36

Target: 3000+ in 12 months

Commenced 30^th November 2011

Thank you for the support!

... last night I got some feedback regarding my 'Ten-a-Day' project and it was pointed out that rather than my quest being about 'acts of kindness' it was simply about 'civility'.

That is a good observation, and quite correct, but it is civility that appears to be disappearing from our society and I want to do something about it.

I must admit I thought about stopping the Blog, as I felt people might see my endeavours as silly and futile, just like the boy in the 'starfish story', but today I woke up to the West Family's words of encouragement and a further two followers ... thank you!!!!

I'm going to do this and if it makes a positive difference to only one person it will be worth it.

Day 2 begins and I'm eager to get going.

Thank you West Family, your words of kindness were beautifully time ... I think you can count that as one of your 'acts of kindness'.