Keeping Smiling At The Office

I love it when people find interesting ways to keep people smiling at work. Here's another great idea that would be wonderful to incorporate.

"Kindness is never wasted. If it has no effect on the recipient, at least it benefits the bestower." -- S. H. Simmons

"I have been sending out Smile Cards with little gifts around my work place for about six months. Since I place the gifts in our inter-office mailbox, I never know who gets them or see their reactions. As I place gifts in the mail box, I imagine people's reactions and it makes me happy to know that maybe I am making someone's day a little brighter. Today, I actually got to witness the reaction. Apparently, one of the little gifts I left in the mailbox this morning made it's way to a co-worker of mine. Today's gifts was a little cloth kleenex holder that you can leave in your purse and a yarn flower bag tag, so my co-worker, a guy, passed it along to another female co-worker. I heard them talking as they figured out what it was and why they had received it, and they started discussing the whole concept of "paying forward". I later heard her talking and brainstorming on what she would like to do. It wa exciting to hear others get excited about the "pay it forward" concept and hear their ideas."

I Hope You Dance!

Here's how one person responded with an act of kindness I just had to share. I hope you enjoy it ~ Love, Kat.

I wrote an earlier story about a friend who was put on hospice care. I would visit her on Tuesday nights and we would talk and have some "girl time". I would do her hair on those visits. I couldn't heal her but for a night she felt beautiful! We would talk and laugh. And after her hair was done on one of my last visits I put lipstick on her lips and some color on her cheeks. When I held up the mirror for her to see how she looked she smiled at me and told me she was going to go dancing. I told her to be home before her family got up in the morning!

How nice to be at the end of your life and have a sweet dream of getting out of your wheel chair to dance! When I went for my visit this week the dancing was over. She was weak and in bed. I stood by her and did her hair as I promised I would. Our "girl time"was different. It was Tuesday, she knew I was there. I struggled to keep myself together . I knew deep inside that this was going to be the last time I could make her feel beautiful.

I didn't hold up a mirror for her to smile at her self because when I finished her family was standing there. Their smile said it all,they knew it was the end. They were happy I made their Mom look like "Mom" again. I cried as I left because I knew that I would not see her on this earth again. She passed away today and as sad as I am I know she no longer is dreaming about dancing, she is dancing ...with all the stars in the sky

Joy Waiting To Be Discovered

A new video of a young Chinese girl playing the piano is about to make your day. And the footage may force you to examine the excuses you make not to tackle those major challenges in your own life.

“Souvenir D’enfance” by Richard Clayderman is not an easy piece to play. Yet the little lady delivers it beautifully, as if she were an accomplished pianist beyond her actual years.

Add to this the fact that she’s only been playing for three years.

But what’s most impressive in this video is what you see, not what you hear. The girl has no fingers on her right hand.

Makes you wonder what you’re not doing with the ten fingers most of us were born with.

Appreciate your day today, seek out joy, it's waiting to be discovered!

Kindness With An Open Heart

Until your eyes are fixed on the Lord, you will not be able to endure those days that go from bad to worse.

Here's a wonderful story that I got in my email that inspires us all to fill a need if we are able! Enjoy and have a blessed weekend! ~ Kat

Cons happen a lot in our city and it can be hard to know who is really in need and who is trying to exploit other people's kindness.

Recently, I was finishing my work at home when the dog barked letting me know someone was at the gate. I rushed to see who it was and there I saw poor, fragile woman in her late fifties.

I said to her, "May I ask what you want?"

She replied, "Hello, ma'am, my name is Parvathy. My husband and I live in the slum nearby. We earn our living working at construction sites. A few days ago my husband tripped on the stairs while carrying a heavy load. He is badly hurt and hasn't been able to work for the past five days, and so we have no food. Now he is at home in bed with a high temperature. Please help me! I need to take my husband to a doctor!"

"Oh!" I said. "Please wait here."

I felt really bad about her situation but ... Was she telling me the truth or trying to con me for money?

Then I decided to help her. But first I said a simple prayer. "Dear Lord. You know how I earn my pennies, so please see to it that my hard earned money helps the real need. Amen."

I went out with a fifty rupee note and handed it to her. The moment she got the money she broke down in tears. She took my hand and said, "May God bless you abundantly, my dear! Thank you so much!"

I was so moved, and turned back to my work smiling.

Making Adaptations Work

Here's an interesting spin on just how birds are adapting to man intruding in their world. Truly beautiful and just another wonderful gift from God!

Overlooking Our Disabilities

This video showcases just how our disabilities can be overlooked. We simply need to stay focused on what we can do, not what we can't!

Handing Out Happiness

Here's a wonderful story to inspire you to find out what you can do today to make a difference. Trust me, it will pay you back in more ways than ever before. Enjoy ~ Kat

This said, I would like to share my story, not because I want to be thought well of by others but rather because I have discovered a recipe for happiness that I'm sure someone can benefit from.

So here it is.

It is hard for me to keep a smile on my face during certain times of the year and this is one of them. With the impending arrival of Valentine's Day I found myself thinking that if I didn't make a concerted effort to put myself in a good humor I would very quickly find myself sliding into depression.

You see, I haven't received chocolates, cards, flowers or tokens of love since 1999 when my husband was killed in a car accident. He always brought me flowers for Valentine's Day (and birthdays, and special occasions, and some days for no reason at all) and it's hard for me to see all of the advertising and reminders of the love that now only exists in my memories.

Anyway, yesterday was my day to run my weekly shopping errands, and I had noted that the grocery store had even gotten into the Valentine's Day Retail hype and was offering a dozen roses on sale for $12.00. So I bought a bouquet, knowing that my husband would want me to have them. I hoped that they would lift my spirits, although I truly just felt depressed at the idea of buying flowers for myself.

In Canadian retail establishments, stores do their part to encourage people to use recyclable totes rather than non-biodegradable plastic bags and most stores charge 5¢ per plastic bag.

While I was bagging up my groceries I noticed that the man bagging his groceries opposite me had purchased a large quantity of plastic bags rather than bringing recyclable totes.

I always bring extra totes so I figured that I would brighten up his day by performing a random act of kindness and helping the ecology at the same time by passing one along, and said: "hey dude, save a tree… you can have one of my bags". He just growled "that's not necessary" at me. I persisted by saying: "really, there's no strings attached, I don't want anything from you, I have extra and I'd be happy to give you one". I received another monosyllabic and emphatically grunted "NO" in response.

Rather than let this unpleasant individual put a damper on the good mood that I had worked so hard to cultivate, as I left, I smilingly wished him "a better day" (and got growled at again for my efforts) and went on to run the rest of my errands.

As I was driving to my next errand it occurred to me that other people might also be having a tough time, so as I went from store to store and met up with all of the sales people who regularly serve me, I pulled out a rose and wished them a Happy Advance Valentine's Day.

The lady at the cosmetic counter practically jumped across the counter to hug me.

The really overworked pharmacist who hardly ever smiles was so staggered by this simple gift that she had tears in her eyes and her smile practically lit up the entire back of the store.

All too soon my roses were gone, but then it occurred to me that somewhere along the line I had ceased having to force my good mood. By simply bringing a little sunshine into people's lives I brought joy into my own.

As children we have all been taught that it's better to give than to receive, but exposure to the unkindnesses of the world wears on us as we grow up. Consequently by the time we reach adulthood we have lost so much faith in our fellow man and even in ourselves that the childhood lessons are forgotten. It didn't surprise me that the unpleasant man at the grocery store refused my offer as modern society has taught us to be distrustful, and offers of assistance and even smiles are treated as suspect.

However, it shouldn't stop us from trying. We won't always succeed, but the successes DO outweigh the failures, and through the gift of a smile, a kind word or a flower, with any luck we will cause a chain reaction of happiness, tolerance and renewed faith

The Ah Factor

Here's a super cute video designed to make you go "AHhhhh!"



Enjoy~