Full Tummies, Full Hearts

What a wonderful Thanksgiving it was! Across America, people relaxed and belts were loosened as we gathered round the table and celebrated with food and family. My house was no different, with kids home from college (plus a few of their friends in tow). I am excited as we head toward the Christmas holidays now, and am trying to practice the Buddhist concept of "mindfulness" along with the Christian thought of living each day as God would want me to. I hope each of you that visits this site is well, and that the holidays bring you only good things.

Pay it Forward, Part 3

It’s amazing at the number of replies I’ve gotten so far about “paying it forward!” There are some great things that people have done, mostly anonymously, for those in need....or even for those that are not technically in need, but would benefit from something special. I would like to think that this isn’t just the holiday season talking, although I did notice that yesterday’s Houston Chronicle did its annual story on “Goodfellows”, their 90-odd year old charity that raises so much money for Christmas gifts for kids and their families here in Houston.

With that in mind, I am headed to a car dealership with two bulging bags of food items to support a charity that local broadcaster Dayna Steele is working with. So......the thought for today is find someone deserving that needs something, and be there for them!

Pay it Forward, Part 2

I have gotten a wide variety of emails about "paying it forward". Apparently there are more good souls out there than I would have guessed! However, the most interesting one took an idea and turned it around. "Paying it forward does not always mean doing something for someone", a person wrote me. "Sometimes it means NOT doing something. There have been several times that friends or business associates do or say something hurtful or just plain stupid. If I wanted to (and sometimes should have done perhaps), I could demand an apology or that the incident be put to rights. However, my version of "paying it forward" is to give that person "grace" and ignore the hurt or the mistakes. In the great scheme of things, it doesn't really matter, and I can live without an apology or being in the right......

Hmmmmm.......

Pay it Forward

I watched a movie this past weekend (or a part of a movie...who has time to watch the whole movie anymore?). It was the one where the junior high school teacher motivates one of his students to do something that will impact the world. It’s where the phrase “pay it forward” came from. I am struck with the simplicity of that phrase, and yet how important it is. If everyone took one opportunity to “pay it forward”...to actually do something of value for someone in advance, without any thought as to pay back or owing a favor, what a better place the world would be! It’s really more than the old “put money in the coke machine for the next guy” idea...I mean, this could be really important to someone. Have you paid anything forward? Or had it done for you? Think about it......