Give Today To Make An Impact

100 Days of Giving is about hope, healing and simple gifts in times of difficulty and creating opportunities for each of us to have fun with unique ways of giving. Create rich opportunities to give of yourself...it is possible, have fun with it, create joy give freely!

Each day of the 100 Days of Giving includes a daily reflection for you to consider. Included within the 100 days are interludes, bonus times to stop and reflect. While you are reflecting...be sure to remember to LIKE 100 Days of Giving on Facebook

Today's reflection is about giving just for fun: Day 64

Last year, when I was working with a team of women preparing to return to Ghana I was moved by the outpouring of support and generosity that the team experienced. While the team was not the final beneficiaries of the support, the generosity and confidence of others was uplifting.

People who want to be part of something bigger than themselves, who want to know they are having a meaningful impact...that is what this is about...being part of something. To make this work we need all parts of the puzzle together which is a pretty big task - but this group was up for it and so are you. Be part of something, know you will be making an impact - support someone who is making it happen.

To learn more about our trip to Africa go to: www.csksghana.blogspot.com . You can be part of something - just do it.

All 100 Days of Giving are available as an e-book you can purchase it for $2.99 at Smashwords: 100 Days of Giving e-book at Smashwords or for your Kindle at 100 Days of Giving e-book at Amazon and get all of the daily experiences, journaling exercises and stories.

Your daily reflection: Simply give yourself, be a friend...reach out.

For your daily giving journal:  Give just for fun

• What did you give today?
• What did you do for fun when giving today?

To write your comments on 100 Days of Giving on Facebook click here

Please feel free to write about your experience in the comments section, share with someone else, or keep to yourself...whatever works for you, just keep in mind that one of the most important part of giving is being open to receiving and the more you share with others, the more you will receive in return. As difficult as receiving may be for you, it is an essential part of giving, so challenge yourself and give receiving a try, or a "do...there is no try, only do."

LIKE 100 Days of Giving on Facebook

Now that 100 Days of Giving is available as an e-book you can purchase it for $3.99 at Smashwords: 100 Days of Giving e-book at Smashwords  see coupon in sidebar for Smashwords and get all of the daily experiences, journaling exercises and stories.

To read today's reflection click on this link: Day 64

To read about all the 100 days of giving experiences you can download the e-book in a variety of formats at:

 100 Days of Giving at Smashwords

or through Amazon for your Kindle: 100 Days of Giving e-book at Amazon

What Small Difference Will You Make Today?

COUPON FOR One Hundred Days of Giving e-book on Smashwords for the holidays - buy today and give one as a gift. Use coupon code NB98U

Day 78 ❦ Sometimes Even a Small Gift Can Make Difference

The Gift: Personal Care Items for the Emergency Shelf

As you may have ascertained, I get to travel a lot. Often I have the privilege of traveling to crazy great places and have experiences with which I could fill books. But the fun and adventure comes at a price. There are always trade-offs right? The problem with traveling for work is that oftentimes, the trade-offs are not so apparent to someone who has just asked me where I have been lately. I am not going to spend any time listing the trade-offs for so many reasons, I just want there to be a stated awareness that the work that accompanies the travel can be difficult, draining and downright dirty.

I am fortunate that most of the times I am traveling for work I am staying in hotels - although the times I get
to stay in people’s homes are special; hotels give me the respite that I need to recharge for another full-board day of work the next day. I will learn later in my life why I need that recharging time but for now, during this exercise, 100 Days of Giving,  I have not yet learned why I need my alone time so desperately. When I get back to my room I may just sit for an hour or so trying to clear my mind and refresh my thoughts for the next day. I always have visions of sitting and writing or reading, but the truth is that my brain is usually spent and even drawing a bath seems like it would take too much brain power.

Just Give Yourself...Harness Your Power and Give

Interlude   ❦   Just Give Yourself

The reflection...

As I sat down to write today, I was reminded about this post and thought I would reprise the sentiments of the day. The bonding and connecting that comes together over tragedy is powerful. Defining moments happen, people learn about their own inner strength and we are often surprised by the empathy that stirs in us when surrounded by massive destruction.

These defining moments do just that, help establish a sort of collective character of the group that is rising from the challenge faced. While I do not wish tragedy upon anyone, I am fascinated by the strength and power of those who are resilient and rise  beyond the challenges. Those who harness the power, the inner strength and use that energy to help others.

Our community is implementing flood relief efforts which include building a wall to keep the rivers that flow through the town at bay. While I realize that this will be helpful for some, I do wonder about the impact to the people and communities that live downstream. For days the construction has shook my house as enormous trucks drive beams deep into the ground to hold tall walls firm against the rising waters. I find that I am becoming distracted thinking about the people who live down stream...and I am publishing this post so that I can be reminded that there are things I can do right now to make a difference in someone's life - right now.

The Interlude...

During the first series of 100 days of giving I have talked about the floods that devastated Austin, Minnesota and even though the magnitude is much greater in real time with Hurricane Sandy and the aftermath of the flooding and water and wind damage - the concepts of moving outside ourselves to find a way to give to those around us remain the same. I am reminded about this flooding as construction swirls around me.

For this interlude I am posting 4 of the most popular posts as a means of prompting or priming the pump in the giving world. It is so easy to get so overwhelmed and consumed with the need that we may marginalize or underestimate our capacity and impact.

So today step outside yourself and do something for someone else, smile, show friendship, lend a helping hand - it does not need to cost anything...just give yourself.
The top 4 posts - just click on the link:

Giving can create a sense of relief

Do something for someone else

When you give, you give others permission to give too

And, the one that still makes me smile every time...

Find a way to stretch yourself...

 ❦   Just Give Yourself

100 Days of Giving is about hope, healing and simple gifts in times of difficulty and creating opportunities for each of us to have fun with unique ways of giving. Each day of the 100 Days of Giving includes a daily reflection for you to consider. Included within the 100 days are interludes, bonus times to stop and reflect. While you are reflecting...be sure to remember to LIKE 100 Days of Giving on Facebook

All 100 Days of Giving are available as an e-book you can purchase it for $3.99 at Smashwords: 100 Days of Giving e-book at Smashwords or for your Kindle at 100 Days of Giving e-book at Amazon and get all of the daily experiences, journaling exercises and stories.

To write your comments on 100 Days of Giving on Facebook click here

Please feel free to write about your experience in the comments section, share with someone else, or keep to yourself...whatever works for you, just keep in mind that one of the most important part of giving is being open to receiving and the more you share with others, the more you will receive in return. As difficult as receiving may be for you, it is an essential part of giving, so challenge yourself and give receiving a try, or a "do...there is no try, only do."

LIKE 100 Days of Giving on Facebook

Now that 100 Days of Giving is available as an e-book you can purchase it for $3.99 at Smashwords: 100 Days of Giving e-book at Smashwords  see coupon in sidebar for Smashwords and get all of the daily experiences, journaling exercises and stories.

To read about all 100 days's giving experiences you can download the e-book in a variety of formats at: 100 Days of Giving at Smashwords
or through Amazon for your Kindle: 100 Days of Giving e-book at Amazon

And now available "From The Eye of The Hurricane" eBook a collection of short stories and poems that sets the stage for, and provides the back-story for "100 Days of Giving"

From The Eye of The Hurricane available at Smashwords
From The Eye of the Hurricane

Simply Give of Yourself...Be a Friend

A reprise of one of my favorite posts...enjoy...

100 Days of Giving is about hope, healing and simple gifts in times of difficulty and creating opportunities for each of us to have fun with unique ways of giving. Create rich opportunities to give of yourself...it is possible, have fun with it, create joy give freely!

Each day of the 100 Days of Giving includes a daily reflection for you to consider. Included within the 100 days are interludes, bonus times to stop and reflect. While you are reflecting...be sure to remember to LIKE 100 Days of Giving on Facebook

Today's reflection is about giving just for fun: Day 64

As I work with a team of women preparing to return to Ghana I have really been moved by the outpouring of support and generosity that the team is experiencing. And while the team will not be the final benefeciaries of the support, the generousity and confidence of others is really hitting home. People who want to be part of something bigger than themselves, who want to know they are having a meaningful impact...that is what this is about...being part of something. To make this work we need all parts of the puzzle together which is a pretty big task - but this group is up to it. So if you want to be part of something and know you will be making an impact - support someone who is making it happen.

To learn more about our upcoming trip to Africa go to: www.csksghana.blogspot.com and follow us. You can be part of something - just do it.

All 100 Days of Giving are available as an e-book you can purchase it for $2.99 at Smashwords: 100 Days of Giving e-book at Smashwords or for your Kindle at 100 Days of Giving e-book at Amazon and get all of the daily experiences, journaling exercises and stories.

Your daily reflection: Simply give yourself, be a friend...reach out.

For your daily giving journal:  Give just for fun

• What did you give today?
• What did you do for fun when giving today?

To write your comments on 100 Days of Giving on Facebook click here

Please feel free to write about your experience in the comments section, share with someone else, or keep to yourself...whatever works for you, just keep in mind that one of the most important part of giving is being open to receiving and the more you share with others, the more you will receive in return. As difficult as receiving may be for you, it is an essential part of giving, so challenge yourself and give receiving a try, or a "do...there is no try, only do."

LIKE 100 Days of Giving on Facebook

Now that 100 Days of Giving is available as an e-book you can purchase it for $3.99 at Smashwords: 100 Days of Giving e-book at Smashwords  see coupon in sidebar for Smashwords and get all of the daily experiences, journaling exercises and stories.

To read today's reflection click on this link: Day 64

To read about all the 100 days of giving experiences you can download the e-book in a variety of formats at:

 100 Days of Giving at Smashwords

or through Amazon for your Kindle: 100 Days of Giving e-book at Amazon

Move Yourself Up and Over...Give

Giving is so important not only to the recipient of the gift, but to the person giving; that I dedicated an entire chapter to giving in my latest book Up and Over; Boost Your Confidence When None is to be Found  The act of giving in a meaningful and intentional manner does something so important to the giver, that it can almost feel selfish. Don't let that deter you, the act of giving is about self care and selflessness. Give, give often, give spontaneously...just give of yourself and you will get a boost.

Here is a preview of the first section of the chapter on giving from my latest book - enjoy:

Chapter 5 – Give

When experiencing a lack of confidence, nothing will boost it quicker and painlessly than giving. The act of giving helps to move our thoughts away from ourselves and toward someone else, creating movement of focus and energy. And identifying that someone may need or want something that we have to offer provides an immediate boost to self-worth.

The gift can be simple, a kindness, an action, a thought shared with another; its main components are to be genuine and intentional. I wrote a book called  “One Hundred Days of Giving” which is loaded with ideas and inspiration for giving opportunities, most with no financial expectations, simply fun and creative ways to give and to provide a meaningful experience for someone else.

The process of first engaging in the practice of giving for one hundred days, and then, writing the book, created so much positive energy and confidence that I couldn't wait to share it with others. You can find one hundred daily giving opportunities and writing reflections in the book available as an e-book at all e-book distributors. This chapter contains new and alternative giving opportunities that are quick and easy to launch - enjoy!

Give Yourself a Break and Add it to the List

Does your to-do pile look like this?

I am a big list person. I love lists; so much so that I wrote an entire chapter in my new book about creating successful lists and strategies to use lists to boost your confidence. Writing a "to-do" list and checking things off is a visual and tangible way to record moving forward progress.

I am going to add things to this list
as I accomplish them

I especially love those days when I have a full page of things to do and I can just check them all off, I get such a rush of accomplishment when I can see what I actually got done during a day. However, I have been spending a lot of time lately focusing on the final editing and formatting of my upcoming book and so the daily to do list has consisted of only one thing; “publish the book” and because that process is much longer than one day, I have not been able to check it off leaving me with several weeks of daily lists left unchecked. This is not a set-up for success, so today I am going to test a new list and see how it works – while I am testing it I would also love to get feedback from you about how it worked for you – so let’s try this together…

Did I mention that I have been consumed by one thing for weeks now? And yet, as an engaged and active professional I have had more than one item, one project, one assignment land on my desk in the last month and I have been doing my best air-traffic controlling to deal with urgent matters and park most everything else into the overflow lot. And now the pile-up, literally, in my overflow lot is crashing down around me so I am going to get it done today. But if I were to sit down and make a list of all of the things in the pile I have to get done, it would take all day so I am going to try a different strategy. A backwards list.

One thing done!

I am going to start at the top of the pile and get one thing done each hour. As I accomplish, finish, or process each thing, I am going to write it down on my backwards list. Today I am going to get at least 12 things done from the pile – I think this is going to work, in fact, I think it is going to be a lot of fun! First thing accomplished…write a post for my blog. Check…only 11 more things to do today…what’s next?

Give yourself a gift today and add something to the list.

My book 100 Days of Giving is about these kinds of gifts exactly, sharing our gifts with others and ourselves so that we can be creative and intentional in giving. If you found this exercise to be helpful - I would love to hear about it and I know my readers would love it too - so please post your experiences and I will post them so that others can continue giving, one simple gift at a time.

100 Days of Giving is available as an e-book you can purchase it for $2.99 at Smashwords: 100 Days of Giving e-book at Smashwords or for your Kindle at 100 Days of Giving e-book at Amazon and get all of the daily experiences, journaling exercises and stories.

Kathy Stutzman is a creative connector, writer , consultant, and all around cockeyed optimist. For more about Kathy Stutzman go to: @KathyStutzman, www.KathyStutzman.blogspot.com www.onehundreddaysofgiving.blogspot.com or contact her at kastutzm@smig.net. 

It really is the thought that matters...

These flowers decorated a pavillion in rural Nicaragua
making me feel like royalty

Today, I was reminded how powerful the gift of kindness is and what it feels like to be the recipient of a very simple and effective gift...by a total stranger.