7 Ideas for Building a Stronger Community

If you haven’t figured it out by now, building strong communities through involvement by all is a big deal for me. I was fortunate to grow up in a city at a time when everyone knew each other and helped each other out. It was a great place to grow up. Unfortunately, such a small-town feel seems to be a rarity these days. Can you imagine how much better daily life would be if positive news was spread more rapidly than negative or depressing stories and people were happy to congregate in their front yards and porches again? It is certainly something I would like my children to experience in their life times. This goal may seem to be a long way off, but taking small steps consistently toward the environment you want can make a big difference.

Here are some suggestions for making a positive difference in the lives around you:
1) Take a few minutes to talk to a neighbor you have seen and maybe smiled at but never shared a conversation.
2) Walk around the block or through a nearby park. You may meet people you would never have met otherwise.
3) Research local organizations looking for volunteers. Volunteer Match can be a good resource for finding local opportunities.
4) Subscribe to a local newspaper. You will learn of upcoming local events you could attend and businesses looking for customers.
5) Check out reviews on Yelp to find local businesses recommended by others. I have found a great massage therapist, many delicious restaurants and a place for alterations through this site.
6) Start a neighborhood watch program. Contact your local police department to find out how. Officers are usually available to come out and speak to your neighborhood group on a variety of topics.
7) Hold a community garage sale. Pass flyers out before the planned day, ask everyone in the neighborhood to participate and coordinate advertising on Craigslist as well as local papers.

Connections are vitally important. Everyone wants to feel they belong somewhere. Go out of your way to build at least one connection today and everyday. You will be so glad that you did.

If you have other ideas for building stronger communities, please share them. Thanks!

Random Acts of Kindness - 20 Simple Things to Do to Brighten Someone Else's Day

Did you know this week has been dubbed Random Acts of Kindness Week? Being kind to others is always a good idea and is beneficial for both the person showing kindness as well as the recipient of a kind word, gesture or act. I always feel better about life the more I help others.

To make it easier for you to participate, here is a list of 20 things you could do. See how many acts of kindness you do throughout the week.

1. Open a door for someone else
2. Give a waiter, pizza delivery person, bell person or barber/stylist a more generous tip than usual.
3. Say “please” and “thank you”
4. Call a friend you haven’t spoken to in a long time whose friendship you would like to renew
5. Wash your spouse’s car
6. Give your spouse or partner a back rub, foot rub or massage
7. Put a special treat or note in your children’s lunch box/bag
8. Have a friendly conversation with a neighbor you don’t know well
9. Return to you neighbor any stray balls the children might have thrown or kicked into your yard
10. Read a magazine article or pages of a book to an elderly family member who may not see so well any more.
11. Recognize a coworker, family member, student, teacher or employee for a job well done
12. Read your children an extra bedtime story
13. Take your spouse to the movies and let him/her pick which movie to see
14. Surprise your secretary/assistant with a gift card
15. Mail pictures of your family to your parents and other extended family members
16. Share a humorous story with others
17. Donate time, money, food, clothing or toys to a non-profit organization (see http://www.volunteermatch.org/ for ideas of opportunities in your area)
18. Forgive another person for something
19. Offer a helping hand if given an opportunity to do so
20. Refrain from saying hurtful words to someone else. As Benjamin Franklin said “Remember not only to say the right thing in the right place, but far more difficult still, to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment.”

Of course, there are many more things that could be done. This list is meant simply to get others started in thinking of ways to be kind to others.

If you are so inclined, you may also become a member at http://www.actsofkindness.org/. Membership is free and once registered, you can send e-cards, download free stuff and even create a website to show acts of kindness you have done. The site also lists a number of health benefits from being kind.

Feel free to comment on ways you show kindness to others. I look forward to hearing from you. Have fun and remember to spread kindness now and throughout the year.