"What a wonderful idea to support a charity with your proceeds. One of my favourite charities is Kids Help Phone. This organization gives kids across Canada a safe place to turn when they need help - no matter what the issue. When I was growing up I struggled with an eating disorder. When I spoke with a counselor at Kids Help Phone, she didn't judge me. She encouraged me to talk to my mom and get the help I needed. Your support could help other kids who are struggling to find the courage to change their lives for the better. Just like I did. Thanks for your consideration."
Thanks for the message!
I love hearing stories of how charities can create better lives for people who depend on them. That's why it's important to keep these charities in mind, not only this time of year but year 'round so in the spirit of good karma (and the holiday season) I've decided to feature this charity for two full months instead of one.
To help support this charity, all you need to do is shop the boutique and a portion of all sales will be automatically donated.
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Do you have a story of inspiration? Or even a charity suggestion?
If so, contact me by filling out the form on the website.
9 Ways to Show Your Gratitude
Thanksgiving is a time where we are grateful for our life and the little things that make it great but giving thanks isn't limited to just Thanksgiving.
The Huffington Post posted an article today on 9 Ways to Show Your Gratitude on Thanksgiving Day which includes many cool ideas on how to be grateful. Some might be Thanksgiving specific (in part to our American friends celebrating their Thanksgiving today) but many of them, can be applied throughout the year!
I personally try to tweet #dailygratitudes when I can as it really makes you notice the little things in every day life that are great. Like today, I'm grateful for the wonderful barista who gave me a two-dollar discount on a hot drink just because he was having a good day. I love to see people in good spirits as it just makes the rough stuff of life, a little easier to swallow. His happiness led to my good day not just because of the sweet treat at a sweet deal, but because he did it with a smile and a great attitude, reminding ME of what's important.
So...what are you grateful for today (or any day)?
The Huffington Post posted an article today on 9 Ways to Show Your Gratitude on Thanksgiving Day which includes many cool ideas on how to be grateful. Some might be Thanksgiving specific (in part to our American friends celebrating their Thanksgiving today) but many of them, can be applied throughout the year!
I personally try to tweet #dailygratitudes when I can as it really makes you notice the little things in every day life that are great. Like today, I'm grateful for the wonderful barista who gave me a two-dollar discount on a hot drink just because he was having a good day. I love to see people in good spirits as it just makes the rough stuff of life, a little easier to swallow. His happiness led to my good day not just because of the sweet treat at a sweet deal, but because he did it with a smile and a great attitude, reminding ME of what's important.
So...what are you grateful for today (or any day)?
Opportunities, Experiences, and Awakenings
What is success?
What is failure?
More importantly, is there such thing as either?
I used to believe them both as black and white - you either succeeded at something or you didn't; Failure brought shame and success made you king/queen of the world. This way of thinking wasn't serving me any good and was a terrible way of looking at things. Why I made it so hard for myself, I don't know but if the past few years have taught me anything, it's that success isn't necessarily sweet and failure is never a bad thing therefore neither really exist. They are simply opportunities, experiences, awakenings...anything BUT success or failure.
My most recent awakening has had me contemplating the fate of my Creating Good Karma project. With my creative energies being drawn elsewhere and having learned so much since I started the project two years ago, it feels like an appropriate time to step away to re-evaluate, gain some perspective, and take the time to apply that new-found knowledge and skill. The site will be up and running until I figure out my next move so feel free to stop by. I'm not sure what will come of it in the following months and how it will evolve but I do know that I will find opportunity and continue to artistically express my passion for design and the creation of the greater good.
In the meantime, I encourage my followers, fans, and friends to step forward with any ideas, suggestions, contributions, or requests to help fan the flames of creativity. Until then, I look forward to this new chapter full of lots more great opportunities, experiences, and awakenings.
What is failure?
More importantly, is there such thing as either?
I used to believe them both as black and white - you either succeeded at something or you didn't; Failure brought shame and success made you king/queen of the world. This way of thinking wasn't serving me any good and was a terrible way of looking at things. Why I made it so hard for myself, I don't know but if the past few years have taught me anything, it's that success isn't necessarily sweet and failure is never a bad thing therefore neither really exist. They are simply opportunities, experiences, awakenings...anything BUT success or failure.
My most recent awakening has had me contemplating the fate of my Creating Good Karma project. With my creative energies being drawn elsewhere and having learned so much since I started the project two years ago, it feels like an appropriate time to step away to re-evaluate, gain some perspective, and take the time to apply that new-found knowledge and skill. The site will be up and running until I figure out my next move so feel free to stop by. I'm not sure what will come of it in the following months and how it will evolve but I do know that I will find opportunity and continue to artistically express my passion for design and the creation of the greater good.
In the meantime, I encourage my followers, fans, and friends to step forward with any ideas, suggestions, contributions, or requests to help fan the flames of creativity. Until then, I look forward to this new chapter full of lots more great opportunities, experiences, and awakenings.
Peace Day and Random Acts of Kindness Week
Well, it's another fine day for peace and kindness with today being International Day of Peace.
The International Day of Peace ("Peace Day") provides an opportunity for individuals, organizations and nations to create practical acts of peace on a shared date. It was established by a United Nations resolution in 1981 to coincide with the opening of the General Assembly. The first Peace Day was celebrated in September 1982.
Anyone, anywhere can celebrate Peace Day. It can be as simple as lighting a candle at noon, or just sitting in silent meditation. Or it can involve getting your co-workers, organization, community or government engaged in a large event. The impact if millions of people in all parts of the world, coming together for one day of peace, is immense.
International Day of Peace is also a Day of Ceasefire – personal or political. Take this opportunity to make peace in your own relationships as well as impact the larger conflicts of our time. Imagine what a whole Day of Ceasefire would mean to humankind.
So happy peace day everyone! I can only hope that one day the "day of peace" will turn into a week of peace, just like the Random Act of Kindness Week Campaign being put on by the Vancouver Sun.As I had mentioned in my last post, The Dalai Lama is making a visit to Vancouver, B.C. very soon to take part in the Vancouver Peace Summit: Nobel Laureates in Dialogue. To celebrate the Dalai Lama's visit, the Vancouver Sun is hosting a Random Act of Kindness Campaign. Take part in the Random Act of Kindness Week from September 21st until September 25th and tell your story to have the chance to be published in their paper and online.
Also listen to CKNW 980AM on Friday, Sept. 25 for "Good Deeds Day" - an entire day devoted good deeds of B.C. citizens - what a great place to live!
I'd love to hear what you may have done to celebrate International Day of Peace or what your good deeds will be this week. And if you were lucky enough to score tickets to the Peace Summit, please let us all know what you thought. Post on Twitter @creategoodkarma or post a comment here to inspire the world with your random acts of kindness.
Let the good stuff keep on comin'!
Share Your Happy Place
I couldn't be more ecstatic to have been bombarded with happiness on Friday. I received an email from a friend of mine that I haven't spoken to in ages, I read another great gratitude blurb in the newspaper, AND was reminded of the upcoming visit of the Dali Lama in Vancouver for the Peace Summit. If only I could have grabbed tickets!So to start, here is this first of the few great things I got yesterday. Not only are they asking you to share your happy place to win a great prize pack but they will be donating 50¢ per entry to the David Suzuki Foundation. Now that's some great karma!
I personally have many happy places. But I think the top of the list would be vacationing with family, friends, or the love of my life. It doesn't matter where I am, just as long as I'm with them, I'm happy as a clam.
So what's your happy place?
Karmic Freebie #2
A while back I heard a good karma story that inspired this latest freebie.A gentleman pulled in to a Starbucks drive-thru, made his order, and pulled up to the window to pay. Before he paid he told the cashier to include the order of the person behind him.
Little did the cashier know, these two didn't know each other, so you could imagine the surprise when the driver pulled up to pay for his order and was told that it had already been paid for by the kind stranger.
When it comes to good deeds, I always enjoy the personal connection - the smile, the handshake, the cheery salutation - so this latest freebie is a marriage of those two ideas. And you don't have to limit yourself to using them at a Starbucks :) You can use these in a number of ways and they can be printed from your own computer on printable business cards. They're generic too so they can be passed around from person to person.
I'd love to know in what creative way you're using these or if you have a similar story to share, please forward it along!
Download the latest freebie here and let the good karma begin!
Gratitude
Every morning on my way to work, I amuse myself with a read from the 24Hour paper.Well actually I find news quite depressing on the best of days so I wouldn't really call it all that amusing but none-the-less there are some days when I come across a little nugget of joy that makes me smile, which makes it all worth it.
Today a reader had been having a rough start to her day and wanted to write in to this newspaper to publicly thank someone for his kind gesture of holding the bus that she was running to catch. I just loved her outpouring of appreciation and I wonder if he realized at the time, how much his gesture meant.
I've been in this situation many-o-times so I can completely relate how much it means to catch the bus you need to catch.
In fact on Friday my bus didn't show so I had to run to the commuter rail station from my house. I had 10mins before the next train came and I had a 12minute run ahead of me. Needless to say I ran REALLY REALLY fast.
After 10minutes of running, I was in sight of the station and I still had time - the train hadn't arrived yet. But just as fast as that thought popped into my head, the train pulls up and I still have a minute or two of running. I kept pushing, harder, faster and finally...I make it!
Thankfully the conductor had seen a few stragglers running and decided to hold the train for an extra minute. I really appreciated the gesture of him waiting. It really would have to sucked to run all that way and have to wait a 1/2 hour for the next one. Luckily it wasn't all for not and I made sure to leave a gratitude card on my chair when I left.
These stories really make me consider my own actions and how much a small gesture can affect others in such a big way. You could literally be making, or breaking, someone's day based on what you do, or don't do. That's why we gotta make 'every...one' count.
