Sunday, January 29, 2017

Happy birthday to Oprah!

Just Say Hello!

Try something new this year and check out the Just Say Hello Campaign on Oprah’s website. The campaign (find it at www.oprah.com) encourages kindness and strives to combat loneliness by reading our and connecting. A howdy-do to a stranger might make your day and a new pal in the process. I read about this excellent friendliness project in Oprah’s O Magazine a few Sundays ago and immediately felt inspired to try it that day. My boyfriend and I went to do our weekend chores, which include fresh flowers from our neighborhood stand. An older gentleman was standing there smelling the roses, always a good idea in my mind. I remembered to say “Hi” as instructed by Oprah and he responded with a big smile and wanted my input on flowers he wanted to buy for a lady friend.  As you might imagine, quite a conversation ensued and my boyfriend joined in, who is even friendlier than I am. Soon the florist was involved and our new gentleman friend turned out to be a fascinating conversationalist. He had been a fighter pilot in the Korean War, very highly decorated and has travelled all over the world before returning back home to El Cerrito. Widowed some years back, he was only beginning to get back out there and date. After landing upon a carefully selected bouquet of red roses and pink lilies, he headed off to the dance at the senior center. I noticed he has a good bit of pep in his step and I remember having a good feeling about his first date. We kept our eyes peeled for Colonel Jarvis when in the vicinity of the flower shop and sure enough we saw him and he had pictures of his lady friend from the dance featuring a corsage he had gotten for her. 

Monday, January 23, 2017

Give, give, give, give it away!

January 23- Give Away Your Old Stuff


I said it before and I’ll say it again.  We all have too much stuff.  Do a favor for people in need and give away some of the things you no longer need or use or wear.  Others would be happy to have it and it will help you simplify your life and enjoy your time more.  Find a few locations that you can drop off your stuff or call an organization that collects your goods to redistribute to those in need. There are Goodwill’s or Salvation Amy centers in every town, large or small so you can donate there to help others and quickly.

Saturday, January 21, 2017

How are you serving the greater good?

January 20 – Martin Luther King Day of Service

“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’ ” - Martin Luther King, Jr.


I am very happy to see that, thanks to Selma, a new generation of young people and moviegoers are learning about the man who stood among his brothers like Bayard Rustin and John Lewis to fight for the rights of their people and other minorities.  Find a project in your community or register your own project through http://mlkday.gov/ It has occurred to me that many presidents share the legal holiday in February but there is only one day for the courageous Dr. King.