45 Random Acts of Aloha

Its been 5 years since my last Random Acts of Aloha venture---and here I am 45 and have tweeked it a bit. It has been an intense 5 years and I have learned a lot and I feel more inspired to address behavior in this set:) Nothing makes me happier than making others happy. I am hoping this 2nd go round can inspire just as many, if not more, than it did 5 years ago. It is a super long list---but please read to the end.:) I will also be blogging as I go through this, as I did the last time. I am aiming to complete the list by October 31st:) Please feel free to comment and share the goodness you feel and bring to others as you feel inspired to complete some of these acts or make new ones for yourself. 

All of my aloha, 

Michelle

1. Do everyone’s family house chores for one day

2. Make a meal for a neighbor

3. Bring in carts at Fry’s 

4. Pay for someone’s order behind me in a drive thru

5. Listen when no else wants to

6. Write thank you notes and deliver with a treat for those who have served you

7. Do an act of service for someone who has wronged you

8. Take a birthday treat to someone who shares your birthday

9. Come to the rescue of someone in need

10. Don’t leave others waiting for you (Be on time)

11. Smile and say hi to 45 strangers

12. Give a generous tip

13. Be understanding – Assume the best in others. If someone is running late or has called in sick don’t assume they’re trying to get out of something.

14. Send a surprise book to someone from an online retailer

15. Write a letter to your mother thanking her for all that she has done for you.

16. Put 45 paper hearts or smiley faces in a box. On each cutout write something that is special about your lover or a good friend. Give them the box and tell them to pull out a heart or smiley face anytime they get lonely or want a pick me up

17. Find opportunities to give compliments. It costs nothing, takes no time, and could make someone’s entire day. Don’t just think it. Say it.

18. Sign up to get 30 free “You Matter” cards. Give them out to people who make a difference in your life. From the cheery barista who gets your day started right to the family member who asks how you’re doing and then listens to what you have to say. Go to  youmattermarathon.com You can read about the woman who got the movement started, which has led to close to half a million cards given out globally.

19. Make a thank you basket for a teacher with supplies for the room and a treat for the teacher!

20. Cook an extra portion of dinner (or dessert) for someone who needs it.

21. Take a treat to a nursing station at a hospital

22. Send cards to lonely seniors. 13-year-old Jacob Cramer started Love for the Elderly, which distributes letters to American seniors via senior centers and nonprofit organizations. This page explains how you can send a postal letter. Letters have come in from all over including Cleveland, Asia and Scotland.

23. Write letters to strangers who need them. More Love Letters has a list of people who could benefit from letters of encouragement. Each person has been added to the web site by a friend or family member. Read the stories and take five minutes to make someone’s day.

24. Bear one another’s burdens- Sometimes we shy away from people when we know they’re having a rough time. We assume we should wait for them to approach us, so we’re not intruding. Instead, ask them how they’re doing. If they don’t want to talk, they’ll say they’re “fine.” Many people will be relieved to have someone to talk to. If you don’t ask, they might never mention anything to you. They might not want to burden you with their problems.

25. Be sure to also share in a work setting. When you get great service tell the person who helped you. Then, tell a manager. Go to the corporate web site and submit an email.

26. Hold the elevator.

27. Stop at a kid’s lemonade stand and buy a drink.

28. Write a love note and hide it in a magazine your partner is reading or somewhere else he/she will find it.

29. Carry around a $5 gift card so you can give it to someone who does something awesome. Or, create and carry “thanks for making my day” cards that you can give to people.

30. Put your phone away for 45 conversations

31. Send dessert to another table when out to dinner

32. Make someone you love a playlist

33. Wash someone’s car

34. Take the time to write a great online review for a restaurant or store you love.

35. Write a sweet, encouraging note and put it in your child’s lunch box or under their pillow.

36. Hand out 45 drink cups at the local QuikTrip or gas station of your choice.

37. Let someone cut in front of you in line

38. Ding Dong Ditch someone with a box of Ding Dongs😊

39. Take a dozen donuts to your fave dentist, orthodontist or doctor

40. Leave the exact change for a soda in the change slot of a vending machine.

41. Send someone who’s feeling down a box of sunshine: fill it with yellow things. This can be yellow candy, lemon cake mix, a yellow mug with a smiley face on it, smiley face stickers, yellow slippers, a great book wrapped in yellow, and so on.

42. Send a friend an old photo of the two of you together and include a note recalling that time.

43. Conduct an Animal Shelter Food drive

44. Leave treats on the RedBox for someone to have a fun movie night😊

45. Don’t forget yourself! Schedule a pedicure or massage, spend a few hours reading a great book or make time for another activity you love. Being kind to yourself will give you the energy and strength to be kind to others!

A FEW NOTES:

• Don’t overthink your random act of kindness! Even the simplest things can make a difference.
• If you’re introverted and intimidated with talking to a stranger, you can always spread kindness to a someone you know. Eventually, it will get further from you and before you know it, the kindness will spread to strangers.
• The airport is a great place to do a random act of kindness. It’s already a place that causes stress and a where we’re caught up in getting from one place to another, so think about the impact it can make by bringing a smile to someone’s face.

Peanuts or Pretzels?

Today was a historic day in travel for me…I secured position A1 on my flight home to Phoenix. 

Why is this historic you may ask? Well it is because I usually get B39 or something similarly “sardine-ish”.

C’mon---we all know the ritual for Southwest---it is a first come, first served cattle call fest. 

24 hours before your flight you can check in on-line and secure your spot in A, B, or C. Then we line up accordingly and file in to the plane, so if you get the latter part of B or any of C you are screwed! 

But there are a select group of people who aim for the A spots! Close your eyes and envision all of the A-type (I know ---ironic) personalities setting their phone alarms to exactly 24 hours before the time of departure.  There they sit…like cheetahs on the Serengeti waiting for their prey! Their screens all set to the Southwest.com on-line check-in screen. Their alarms chime---and...clicks are sounding off all around the state of departure. You’d think 50 five year olds were walking around in their plastic Disney princess heels. And yes, I said 50 because the other 130 of us forgot and ended up with B39 and getting stinky looks as we ask to sit between two of the A-type 50.

So how did I get A1? Well, I had to switch my flight and I had a voucher with some extra money on it and thought what the heck---I will upgrade to business select! Well much to my surprise not only did I get the A1 position but Business Select peeps also get to go to the front of the security line AND I didn’t have to take off my shoes---serious bonus because that always grosses me out! So here is the kicker---I think the upgrade is like $25 or something in that range---seriously---$25 to go to the front of security, not have to take off my shoes AND get the A1 position? Why haven’t I done this sooner? It was like the heavens opened and I had a life changing epiphany!

And where do the peanuts and pretzels fit in to all of this? Well, as I sat in my A1 positioned seat that was NOT in the middle---I was offered the run of the mill peanuts and pretzels with my complimentary cranberry juice and gladly accepted the bag then sat there and eagerly opened my shiny 1oz. bag of peanuts! I thought to myself “why do I always take these things---I hate peanuts and don’t particularly care for pretzels?”

So there it is my dear readers----why do we always anxiously sit there staring at the flight attendant as they make their way down the aisle; giving them the look of---“giiiiirl you know you better hurry it up and give me my bag of peanuts!” What is so magical about those things anyway? Do they lace it with crack? I mean we all watched Super Size Me right?--- if McDonald’s can scientifically figure out how to make their fries addicting so we can buy them, I wouldn’t put it pass SouthwestJ Just kidding---just in case the CEO is reading this blog! But seriously---is it the shiny bag (all humans love shiny bags)---is it the sound of the opening rip?---or is it just that we all want our free things in life, even if it is a snack we would never buy on our own?

I guess the world will never know!

Malama Pono<<<Google it!

Better than Dayquil!!!

So the birthday celebrations continue!!!  I have been suffering with bronchitis for the past few days and I got sick of lying in bed being sick so when my son came home from school today I said "hop in the car son---let's go get our Random Acts groove on!!!" to which he replied "I'm down!!"

Our first stop was...the soda #23 and Redbox machines #37 at Wal-Mart on Rittenhouse/Ocotillo---hope we were able to make someone a little happier with a nice cool beverage and enhance a family movie night somewhere;)

 Our next stop was to McDonald's #26...this was THE BEST because we could see the reaction of the people behind us!  Actually...the best part was getting the reaction from the cashier first because it takes a while for them to truly understand what you are saying---because the reaction is usually the look of "what are you doing?" then I handed her the card (thanking them for helping me celebrate my 40th birthday) and asked her to give it to the people in the back of us when they came forward!  It looked as if they were a grandma and grandpa taking their grandchild out for a treat---their expression was awesome!!!! At first they looked taken back and then the cashier gave them the card and they were all smiles...AJ said the man even looked like he was chuckling...the little girl was even smiling...so I am counting that towards #13 (make 40 people smile)   AJ looked at me and said he felt awesome inside!!!  here is a pic of their truck...that's all AJ could get...along with the card I give out to people or attach to the random act...

Next we went to mail the kind note to a friend #32...sorry no pic...I forgot:( And then on to place the food donation box at the teachers lounge at American Leadership Academy as some of the teachers are challenging their students to bring in donations for the food drive on Friday #31.

After that we were off to complete #15---Buy a stranger a pizza---I really didn't want to just go in there an say "hey let me get you a pizza" so I walked in and asked the girl if I could buy a pizza and just give it to the next person who comes in for a pepperoni pizza, and to please give them the card so they knew it wasn't some weirdo serial killer buying them a pizza!  This time the cashier gave the priceless reaction...she was all smiles from ear to ear and couldn't believe someone would do that!  I really wish I had her pic!  All I got was the outside of the store...but she is another one added to #13 (make 40 people smile)

On a side note I was able to complete #36 at Walgreens when I went to get some cold medicine earlier today! I donated to the Susan G. Komen Foundation at the checkout!:)  But I will tell you something....this 40 Random Acts thing is waaaaaaaaay better medicine than any Dayquil will ever be!!!!

Malama Pono<<<Google it!!!

The Litmus Test of Facebook Friends

According to the be all-end all, of information on the internet- Wikipedia, the main use of litmus is to test whether a solution is acidic or basic...so what does this have to do with Facebook friending you ask?  Well...I recently had a conversation with a fabulous friend of mine where we were discussing a project I am working on and whether or not I have a "market" out there.  She questioned me on my large number of Facebook friends...to which I replied "I only have around 700."  I think if she had the physical capability of reaching through the phone and whacking me over the head with a rolled up newspaper, she would have done so!  Of course she made the obvious remark of "pssshhh yeah ONLY 700"...to which I responded, "well there are so many with 1000, 2000 or even 3000 friends...my 700 pales in comparison to that!"  

And then she said something that opened my eyes...cleared my vision...moved the clouds of naivete from my weary head....she told me, "those people don't have 3,000 friends...they just troll their friends Facebook pages and add them on.  They get business cards throughout the day and 'add them to their network'.  They don't actually know them..know them."  I gasped at the thought of that...what a strange, obscure and unthinkable concept!  

Why the heck would anyone add a person to their Facebook page if they didn't know them?  I mean I totally understand the whole concept behind "hoeing" yourself on LinkedIn--- it is a professional networking arena, for Pete's sake!!!  I am almost sure that if you looked up the word "networking" a drop down in the synonym tab would be the word hoe.  I would, however, like to point out that on LinkedIn we are referred to as "connections" not friends---once again, professional networking at its finest, LOVE LINKEDIN!!!!  Brilliant tool!

Whoa---got a little off track---sorry, I just get so excited about LinkedIn!  Now back to the topic at hand---with the exception of celebrities and politicians or other public figures who use Facebook as a social media TOOL---why would anyone "friend" another person on Facebook without knowing them?  It seems to be an odd thing to me?  Are there really people out there that troll others pages to allocate a large amount of friends so they can say they have 3,000 Facebook friends?  This simply can not be! I receive many requests to be a persons friend on Facebook that I have turned down because I simply do not know them personally.  I even had people who were lame enough to try to friend me on my personal Facebook account who have openly spoken ill of me or purposefully did harm to me---as much as I am all for forgiveness and moving on in life, I am not that two-faced that I would list them as a friend on a personal networking arena..sorry but I basically enjoy looking at myself in the mirror without remorse of what I am looking at:)

So then, of course, this prompted me to think about what the benchmark would be?  What is The Litmus Test of Facebook Friends for myself?  Would I have this person over to my house for dinner?---nah...too much pressure!  Would I stand as a reference for this person on their resume?---nah...I have a TON of friends that I adore but would never be their resume reference...that is for a whole other posting!  I finally figured out what it was---If I saw them would I stop to have a conversation with them!  Yes that was it---that was my Litmus Test for Facebook friends!

Of course, this meant that I had to go check my friend list--- I wanted to make sure that I was not being a hypocrite and actually knew all of my friends on the list..AND would have a conversation with them if I saw them on the street!  I am very proud to say that yes I would...all 700+ of them!  Some I knew better than others...some I only went to high school with, or worked a brief time with...but I did know all of them and I would definitely have a conversation with them!

So there it is folks---my Litmus Test for Facebook Friends!  Remember the litmus is to test whether a solution is acidic or basic, and depending on how you view life you may want to make up your own Litmus Test for Facebook Friends---see whether they are acidic or basic!  And if you take anything away from Miss Michelle today it should be to remember that it is ok to be "hoeing" yourself on LinkedIn (your career depends on it) :) but not on Facebook!  Now, to each his own and may you all be well in your social media networks!

Malama Pono<<<Google it!!!

#39 Checkity Check Check!!! The Giving Tree!!!

Every once in a while you are able to be a part of something that really is amazing!!! I had the great joy of providing storytime to a wonderful group of cuties at a local preschool this morning---what an experience!  I got to sit through their sharing time first...HILARIOUS!!!  The cutie on the bottom left of the picture brought his cell phone (an obviously inoperable one his parents let him knock around with for fun) and was insistent that he had to take a call from his girlfriend--while he was presenting!  They also had a great good morning song and routine that was so full of excitement and smiles I actually almost cried!  I think because my kids are teenagers I have forgotten what that bright eyed and bushy tailed 4 year old is like.  They were so excited for simple things---like singing a song---or having the details of their outfit pointed out as the teacher went around the circle!  (But let's face it---who doesn't like the details of their ensemble of the day pointed out...love those shoes girl!)

The next joy I had was in presenting one of my favorite books of all time...The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein!  If you have not read this story yet then you really need to get out there and purchase a copy for your personal library!  It is a book on true happiness...true friendship...true ALOHA---and that's what this birthday deal is all about right???;)  As I began the storytime I opened the cover and saw the writing of one of my dearest friends Tiffani.  She had given me that book for Christmas 1992, and I was immediately taken back to those great times for us together in 1991-3.  

Here is the writing in the cover...and that is a pic of us at the Retrix Dance Club in 1991---bad pic I know...we have been friends ever since---22 years strong!

So as I was reading to these incredible kids about how this tree and boy were friends and as they progress through life, find out what truly brought joy to this tree---it was obvious to me that these young minds completely understood what brought that tree joy...they shouted out "it's because she was sharing!"  Yes....that's right---the tree was happy when she was giving and sharing---spreading ALOHA!!!:)

Who knew this is what I would gather from this experience?  Maybe we need to be more like the tree...or maybe we should just be more like these 4 year olds who are excited to share and give of their love and time so freely!  Thinking like a 4 year old also affords you an opportunity to only worry about things such as: sharing time, Halloween costumes, and whether or not mom is gonna make a batch of chocolate chip cookies---yeah those were the good ole days!

Stay tuned as I continue to report on the 40 Random Acts of Aloha!!!!

Malama Pono <<< google it;):):)

40 Random Acts of Aloha

I feel like I have been waiting for the ushering in of this decade for FOREVER!!!  My sister is 10 years older than me and has the great pleasure of ringing in the big "whatever-0" there is to ring in and tell me all about it!  She has been professing for quite some time that the 40s were the best!  I have had a similar view---I can't wait to turn 40 because it takes me further and further away from my stupid 20s (bad era---).  Seriously, how many savvy 20 somethings do you know?  

My 30s were just rough...full time school and kids in the first half---personal heartbreak, a PhD education in politics (of all forms), and painful career lessons learned in the 2nd half!  Here I am on the cusp of my new decade and can't wait to get crackin'!  

I think for a woman, her 40s bring a new sense of liberation because she knows who she is and what she wants in life; she is very aware of what kind of people she chooses to allow in her circle of friends--and truly knows how to cherish those friendships and be a friend...MOST of the time her kids are older so she is not defined by her motherhood---but instead embraces it and hopes that she can finish the marathon strong; she is also usually humbled by life and has learned how to self-assess and realize that #1) She doesn't need to be perfect---because she never will be, #2) Knows that saying sorry is the sign of a truly mature person #3) Knows what her strengths are and hits those out of the park using them for good---also knows her weaknesses and how to temper those when they flare up! Yeah the 40s are looking pretty darn good to me right now!  I feel so sorry for all those women who waste their days worrying about wrinkles and age spots---those are badges of honor baby---wear them with pride!!!

To celebrate the BIG 4-0 I always thought I was going to have a huge pimped out party---but it didn't turn out that way and I think it happened to lead me to this single moment!  As I was perusing the internet one night I came across a news story about a man handing out $5 bills to celebrate his 65th birthday http://shine.yahoo.com/work-money/man-celebrates-65th-birthday-giving-away-free-money-174400395.html .  I was absolutely inspired and realized that this was in harmony with what makes me most happy in life---making other people happy!  So I began to thoughtfully create my concept and decided upon these 40 Random Acts of Aloha (the "aloha" obviously taking place of the more commonly used "kindness"---because it had to have a little Miss Michelle bling in the title).  Most of the acts will take place between October 17-19, but some will occur earlier.  I can testify to the great joy that comes from putting others before yourself and finding joy in the joy of others!

Please join me in celebrating my 40th birthday by one of the following:

• Donate an item to the care package I will be sending my friend Jeff Hickman and his peeps overseas protecting our country (#34)!  You can either bring them by my house or call me and I will pick it up (I will be sending it out on October 19th) The items are as follows and in a soldiers own words:  
• " dryer sheets (good smelly kine, we put them in our rucksacks and in a lot of our stuff to prevent smellage), 
• nut and granola mixes (tasty, healthy snacks are not abundant, if HI had a Trader Joes, we would be skinnier), 
• Crystal Light drink mixes (the individual packets, we drink tons of water, and that gets old), 
• good name brand Q-tips,
• Lysol or Clorox wipes (they have a disinfectant, any wipe brand is okay as long as it kills germs, we have tons of baby wipes available, but none that kill germs) 
• and the last thing I can think of, A&D ointment (baby diaper rash kine, again, any brand, but rash from walking is not fun). 
• Hardcandy or any kind of flavored cracker are good fall backs. "

• Join me on September 29th in making leis to hand out at Williams Field Airport (#8)

• Donate to my Food Drive (#31) on October 5th benefitting St. Mary's Food Bank things needed are:
• Beans
• Canned fruits and veggies
• Canned soups, stews, chilis and pastas
• Cereal
• Juice
• Peanut Butter
• Rice

• Join me on my actual birthday, October 17th, in handing out QT cups at the location on Ellsworth Loop (#25)

• Join me on October 18th handing out leis at Williams Field Airport (#8)

• On October 17th, complete a random act of kindness on your own or feel free to use one of mine below:

1.       Take a meal to a family you know

2.       Take a widow flowers

3.       Take a neighbors paper laying out in the driveway to them

4.       Bring in your neighbors trash can

5.       Leave a kind note for a family member

6.       Give a gas card to someone getting ready to pump gas

7.       Do my children's chores for the day

8.       Go to Williams gateway Airport and handout lei’s to people coming in from a flight

9.       Provide a treat or lunch to the  teachers and staff at the kids school

10.   Write a thank you note to a mentor

11.   Leave an extra big tip for wait staff

12.   Invite someone new over for dinner

13.   Make 40 people smile

14.   Push in some shopping carts

15.   Buy a stranger a free pizza

16.   Slip paper hearts that say “It’s Random Act of Kindness day...Have a great day!!!” under peoples windshields

17.   Send a letter to some former teachers letting them know the difference they made in your life

18.   Give a Wal-Mart gift card to someone in line

19.   Send flowers to a teacher that has dedicated their life to teaching children

20.   Anonymously help someone you know is having financial hardship

21.   For one week, act on every single thought of generosity that arises in your heart

22.   Take donuts to the QC Fire Department

23.   Tape change to a soda machine

24.   Provide breakfast burritos for the day laborers on Ocotillo and Ellsworth

25.   Hand out 40 QT drink cups on my actual birthday (October 17)

26.   Pay for someone's meal behind me in the drive thru

27.   Add quarters to someone’s parking meter

28.   Purchase a meal for a homeless person

29.   Walk in to Olive garden and give them a giftcard

30.   Deliver fresh baked cookies to city workers

31.   Collect goods for the food bank

32.   Write a kind note to a friend

33.   Take donuts to the local police

34.   Send off a care package to a military member

35.   Make a donation to a church other than your own (Lady of Guadalupe)

36.   Donate to the local charity that is being sponsored by your grocer

37.   Tape popcorn to the Redbox for a movie night

38.   Take cookies to the dog groomer

39.   Provide a story time for kids at a local library or preschool

40.   Clip coupons and tape it to the items @ the store for people to use

      I am not sure how this blog thing works or if people will even see this, but i hope they do---because I want to know what everyone chose to do out there!  I want to see if my birthday was any worth to mankind and if people got out there and tapped into their inner kind streak!  It's all about the ALOHA---love is truly the most powerful- life changing thing in this world!  So tell your friends about this---help me celebrate my birthday by making a difference for at least 1 day!:)

The Seinfeld of Blogs

Well here I am....writing my very first blog post ever!  I am hoping that I will be just as savvy as my MoMo Chic counterparts (MoMo meaning Mormon).  You know those Lady MoMos....they have a knack for putting the stylish smack down on anything they touch!  We will see if I attain their greatness...I really just wanted to try this out before moving on to a webcast show of some sort.  It seems that I am supposed to have some marvelous wisdom to impart on this blog, when the truth of the matter is I am just an average, almost 40 middle class American woman who think she has something to say that will transform society...or at least make them laugh.  So my plan is to be the "Seinfeld" of blogs.  The Blog about nothing...but to make people laugh and brighten their day when reading it!

I think it is pretty safe to say that I know I will be blogging about my recent Crossfit adventures! For those of you unfamiliar with Crossfit here are a couple of links to check it out: The first is a general overview and the second is the story of my trainer and where I train!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZdp59yyG0M

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVmMAYq1Hok

I have just completed my 10th week and todays big epiphany was how much I desire to do a plank without convulsing...I know you all know what I am talking about...when you are quivering so bad and want to drop your plank or barbell but won't so you can save face in front of your workout buddies while your body is telling you "what the heck lady? you are almost 40 not 14, drop the damn plank!":)  I am more about posting the hilariousness of me even attempting to do these things...and actually doing them!  Case in point: I did my first real box jump the other nioght and celebrated by doing a "Box Dance"...equivalent of a Table Dance...as much as a Mormon woman can do a table dance.  Eh...I am sure for all the kids we produce in this world we all probably got skills in the Table Dancing arena!!!

I am also sure I will share the daily antics of raising my 3 kids...man there are some seriously funny things going on there!  Like I said...this will be the "Seinfeld of Blogs"....the blog about nothing....that will give you reprieve from the world for the few minutes you read it....and who knows...I may even post video of "The Box Dance".... later!