Day 55 - Buy a nice water bottle, so you'll be less inclined to buy plastic bottles.

If you're anything like me, you're a fish throughout your work day. I go through water as if it’s going out of style, especially while at work. I drink up to at least a gallon of water on a normal work day so you can imagine how many plastic bottles of water I can go through.

Today’s deed of the day got me to research the contrary topic of plastic water bottles which most of us drink from on a normal day to day basis. I have always been one to think that bottled water is cleaner and healthier than drinking tap water or any other type of water but unlike contrary belief, bottled water is not healthier than regularfiltered water. In reality, bottled water is just water and not only is it costly and wasteful; but the plastic is also bad for our environment.

Although plastic is used on a daily basis just about everywhere in the world, a lot of people don't realize how harmful it really is to our environment. It takes forever to break down plastics and once it’s finally broken down, it separates into tiny toxic particles that contaminate the ground and water and ends up is most of our streams, oceans, and rivers which are then consumed by fish, those fish are later eaten by humans causing widespread harm. Not to mention, aquatic animals AND land animals eat it and suffocate, some also get it caught around their necks and bodies causing them to choke and/or suffer from it.

Some other bad effects from plastic are that it is made from oil, the less we use the more we preserve our natural resources. Also, plastic leaches into the water, liquids and foods that we eat and drink causing us to put toxins in our bodies.

It’s undeniable that we are going to use plastic in our daily lives BUT we can try to manage how much of it we use. The first step we should take is today's deed, instead of drinking numerous water bottles on a daily basis, buy a nice reusable water bottle and fill it up with filtered water instead. It's healthier for your body and you're saving the environment at the same time. As humans, it’s natural that we don't think about our future, but we should; why would we want to leave beautiful planet earth that has been so good to us, dirty and contaminated for our children and grandchildren? So today, go out there and buy a reusable water bottle and try to stop using so much plastic on an everyday basis, you can also click on this link to get ideas that will motivate you to move forward with the decision!!

Day 54 - • Smile when you talk on the phone – it makes your voice friendly.

When I'm not having the best day and a friend says something to make me laugh or smile, within seconds I automatically feel better. I remember learning about Charles Darwin in college and was fascinated by some of his ideas. Mr. Darwin was the first person to present the idea that emotional responses influence our feelings; his exact words we're "the expression by outward signs of an emotion intensifies it". Of course, there we're many psychologists and scientists after Mr. Darwin that supported his theory.

With that being said, I'm sure you've heard the expression "if you smile over the phone the person on the other end will sense it" but like me, you probably wondered if that was even possible. So I went ahead and researched the theory to see if I could find some data to support it and came upon some interesting information.

According to an article on Discovery News, a recent study proves that human being's can differentiate vocal intonation between a smile, a non-smile, and different types of smiles; "smiling affects how we speak, to the point that listeners can actually identify the type of smile based on sound alone".  And being that 84% of the overall message on aphone has to do with your tone of voice, making sure that you are giving your "smiling tone" not only puts the other person in a better mood, but smiling changes your mood into a good mood as well.

We've all experienced awful customer service over the phone, and that really bad phone call which you wish you didn't have to be on, but if smiles can be detected over a phone, why not cheer yourself up by smiling and maybe the person on the other end can sense your smile and soften up a little bit. In the wise words of one of my favorite, most influential people of all time, Buddha, “all that we are is the result of what we have thought”.♥

 

Day 53 - Buy a stranger a coffee.

It's pretty funny because this morning I did today's deed without even knowing it was a deed. I usually make my coffee in the office upon arriving in the morning but today I had the urge to stop at 7-Eleven to buy a doughnut and a 5-Hour Energy drink which I barely treat myself too.

While waiting in line with my goodies at hand a clearly homeless gentleman walked in; instead of going to get what he came for he started pacing back and forth in the front of the store while mumbling to himself. Usually I would get very nervous and try to bail out as soon as possible but this particular morning I got a deep desire to offer him food.

For those that know me, it may come as a shocker but I am a pretty shy person if I don't know somebody; I am very un-confrontational and rather not talk to someone than to start a conversation with a stranger so I really didn't even know how to offer him anything without making him feel belittled.

I slowly and quietly said "excuse me sir, would you like a doughnut?” the surprised homeless gentleman looked at me and said "yes, yes I would". I automatically gave him the one in my hand and as I went to get another one I said "are you thirsty? Would you like anything to drink?" again he replied "yeah, yeah I want somethin' to drink" so I guided him to choose anything he wanted to drink or eat in the store and that I would pay for it. He walked over to the coffee machine and as he poured his coffee I paid for the items; as he walked out of the store with his black coffee and doughnut at hand I told him to have a good day. The cashier told me he was in earlier that day and purchased a bunch of food, I then proceeded to tell her that I didn't mind buying him anything he wanted even if it left me broke as long as it was food; you see, something I was taught from my parents growing up is that even if I had one dollar left in my pocket and someone was hungry, to use that dollar although it would leave me moneyless so that the person could eat, and still until this day it's something I've always done. Needless to say I didn't expect it to be a deed.

We spend so much money on things we don't really use nor need, why not buy a meal for a person who goes to sleep hungry every night? I've said it before and I will say it again, we never stop to be grateful for all of the things we have which others don't.

Share your blessings and they are sure to come back even more so. Whether it's a granola bar or a bottle of water, today try to give food to someone who's homeless, I surely guarantee that the feeling will melt your heart and make you want to give more, more often. ♥

Day 52 - Volunteer.

One thing that I have always loved and always felt was my reason for being is helping others so I was looking forward to today's deed.  I registered with my church over a month ago to volunteer with today's organization, Feeding my Starving Children, but I did not know the impact that this particular organization would have on me. This Christian non-profit organization is committed to feeding God's children and their approach is quite simple; children and adults like me, hand-pack meals specifically formulated for malnourished children, and they ship the meals to nearly 70 countries around the world.

USA Today recently had an article stating that the head of the U.N. Food Agency reported that 18,000 children die every single day because of hunger and malnutrition and 850 million people go to bed every night with empty stomachs.

In 1982, a businessman from Minnesota by the name of Richard Proudfit started completing missions with his church mainly in Honduras; upon completing these missions he saw the simple needs of children who just wanted a bite of food and heard God say "if you've seen my starving children, feed them". In early 1987 he incorporated Feed My Starving Children to develop an original meal formula. Cargill food scientist Dr. Richard Fulmer teamed up with colleagues from Pillsbury and General Mills to develop a nutritious "Fortified Rice Soy Casserole" for malnourished children also known as MannaPack Rice.

This meal consists of four main ingredients; rice which is the most widely accepted grain around the world), extruded soy nuggets which provide maximum protein at lowest cost, vitamins and minerals with a vegetarian flavoring to give growing children the critical nutritional elements they need and dehydrated vegetables for flavor and nutrition. The pack is simple and for the abundance of food that we are used to in the states, it seemed small to me; what shocked me the most is that each of these small MannaPack's feeds 6 children. In the two hours that I helped out, our crew packed 976 boxes which contained 202,394 meals for starving children all around the world, their goal is 1 million. As our announcer was advising us the amount of boxes we packed they got note that the boxes from the previous day had arrived in Nicaragua.

I know that our daily schedules are usually jam packed, but I also know from experience that there is no better feeling in the world than to help out a complete stranger in need. No matter how you give back, the feeling you get knowing you've made a difference in someone's life is priceless. Take a few minutes to step out of your routine and help change the lives of others and make a difference in our local communities, and if you're still not convinced click here to see reasons why you should volunteer that may benefit you. Ask your friends, families and coworkers to join you in volunteering.

I would like to say thank you for those already out in the community and encourage everyone to keep up the good work and enjoy every minute of it. Helping others and giving back to your community can change your life.

And if you haven't yet, become a volunteer!♥

Day 51 - Read more about a cause that you are interested in.

Out of the deeds I have completed thus far, this has got to be one of my favorites because I found out about amazing causes that I had no idea even existed. With today's modern technology, it isn't crazy to say that computers rule the world and social media is at an all time high. With the click of a button on Facebook alone can make a local cause become a global one which can turn into a personal movement.

It was hard for me to choose only one cause that touched my heart and made me want to get involved and I hope the following information makes the same impact on you. The cause that I chose as my number one is one that has hit close to home; Inheritance of Hope, like many, breast cancer has affected my family and people close to me. I urge you to fight for a cause today, because if you stand for nohing, you'll fall for anything. Here are just a few amazing non-profit organizations that might impact you to make a difference:

♥ Inheritance ofHope – This amazing organizations goal is to improve the well-being in the lives of children and families diagnosed with a life-threatening illness. They provide books and literatures for children, life-changing retreats, and individual and group ongoing support - spiritually, emotionally, and financially. The purpose of this Christian faith-based organization is that they believe that preparing for the death of a parent while they are living will yield significant long-term benefits for children and a proactive, therapeutic focus for the parent. Like them on Facebook and/or Twitter to find out more about them and fight for this cause.

 ♥ Lupus Foundation of America – Lupus is a chronic inflammatory disease that can affect various parts of the body, especially the skin, joints, blood, and kidneys. Many people are unaware of this disease yet it affects approximately 1.5 million Americans, and at least five million people worldwide. This amazing non-profit organization is the only national force devoted to solving the mystery of lupus. One of the world's cruelest, most unpredictable, and devastating diseases, while giving support to those who suffer brutal impact through a comprehensive program of research, education, and advocacy. Like them on Facebook and/or Twitter to find out more about them and fight for this cause.

♥ Water.org – Did you know that 780 million people around the world lack access to clean water? Water.org is a non-profit organization concerned with empowering and working with communities to meet their own water and sanitation needs. Their efforts are focused in Asia, Africa and Central America. A lot of big celebrity names are involved in this one - it's a fantastic campaign and worth following.  To find out more about this organization and to get involved, like them on Facebook and/or Twitter.

 ♥  Doctors WithoutBorders – Is an amazing non-profit international medical humanitarian organization created by doctors and journalists; their purpose is to provide independent, impartial assistance in more than 60 countries to people whose survival is threatened by violence, neglect, or catastrophe, primarily due to armed conflict, epidemics, malnutrition, exclusion from health care, or natural disasters. MSF has won the Nobel Peace Prize and provides free healthcare for those most in need all over the world, they are an amazing organization who focus on humanitarian principles of medical ethics and impartiality; the organization is committed to bringing quality medical care to people in crisis regardless of their race, religion, or political affiliation. You can volunteer globally or locally to help those who can’t help themselves. To get more involved with this organization like them on Facebook and/or Twitter.

 

 ♥ Feed My Starving Children – I actually worked with this non-profit Christian organization several times in the past and every single time I get involved with them it touches my heart. This organization is committed to feeding God's children hungry in body and spirit. The approach is simple: children and adults hand-pack meals specifically formulated for malnourished children, and they ship the meals to nearly 70 countries around the world. Learn more about this organization, donating two hours of your day can feed thousands of children. Donating a couple hours of your day to help out this organization can feed over 100 children. To get involved with this remarkable cause, like them on Facebook and/or Twitter.

 

If none of the above causes appeal to you, you can go to www.dosomething.org/causes; there's thousands of organizations which you can get involved with and support. Remember, if stand for nothing, you'll fall for anything. Make a difference today and you won't regret it!!!!♥

 

Day 50 - Start a birthday calendar to help you remember to mail cards.

As mentioned in previous deeds I've had to complete, sending a hand-written note, card, letter or anything for that matter is non-existent. In a world of texts, e-mails and technology, handwritten notes are getting rarer and rare because they require that heinous thing called "effort".

I have always been extremely old fashioned, growing up I remember how excited I would get whenever I would receive a card or letter in the mail. I felt so special and I just couldn't wait to open it; that feeling has always stayed with me and until this day I have a box filled with most cards that I’ve received, whenever I want to feel cherished, I open the box and take a walk down memory lane which always leaves me with a smile on my face. But hand written cards slowly stopped coming. Even today as an adult, when I check the mail and get a written card from someone, even if it's my dentist’s office thanking me for being their patient, I get a pang of happiness because they took time out of their day, even if it was paid time, to write me a personal thank you note.

Although we are living in a digital world, I am one of the rare people that still send hand-written thank you cards, holiday cards and birthday cards if I remember to; so of course when I saw today's deed I was kind of excited about it. I went out and bought a small calendar which fits in any bag and even slides into my daily planner. The hard part was finding out my friends and distant family members birthdays but thanks to the wonderful world of technology also known as Facebook, I am almost complete with this project.

If we could all agree on one thing it would be that we all love to feel special and/or treasured. I'm obviously not going to ask you to start a birthday calendar like I did because that's a big commitment to keep but I am asking if you have the opportunity to send a hand-written birthday card, please do, I guarantee the person on the receiving end will show you the upmost gratitude for your caring. There's still something to be said for taking the time to hand-write your thoughts - whether it be your feelings for a loved one, condolences for a friend who has experienced a loss, or a simple thank you to someone who has taken the time to help you with your career - and when you send that real letter or card, send it the old fashioned way, via-US Postal Service. Let's not lose the art of writing down our feelings completely, or our memories and sentiments will disappear into internet purgatory when our in-boxes automatically delete old files!♥

Day 49 - Make time to visit an art museum.

I was looking forward to today's deed more than usual; the reason being is that I have always been a fan of the arts. One of my New Year's Resolutions for 2013 was to do more things that I loved so I actually started taking painting classes which commence this upcoming weekend.

 

Unfortunately, unlike New York City, Miami does not have many art museums so I didn't have many options to choose from. Today I took the day off from work and visited MAM; the Miami Art Museum which many people don’t even know is located in Downtown Miami. The MAM is very tiny, factually only two rooms with a couple of photos and some small artwork (which I was not allowed to take pictures of). Thankfully, right next to the art museum was Miami’s History Museum which is much larger; if I would have driven all that way to see two small rooms with barely any art; I would not have been a happy camper. - As you can see from the pictures below, my day ended well; I learned a lot about how my city originated and the generations before mine which was amazing to see.

There are many reasons why you should visit an art museum near you, here are a few:

1) Art Museums inspire you. - The primary role of art museums is education through enlightenment. Art inspires your creative side and passion. Famous Artistic Director, MatthewDirst said it best when he said "great art stops us in our tracks, at best, it's both disorientating and irresistible". Art can unblock possibilities whether it be discovering a hidden talent or passion.

2) Art Museums make you smarter. - Art museums engage and educate the community. They hold events for all ages to brighten your horizons and intrigue your creative and artistic side. Aside from visiting local museums to explore; museums usually have tight partnerships with local schools in their area so that they can work together to enhance their curriculum. MAM for example has many programs for local schools in the Miami area including Teaching Artist's Visiting your Classroom and events the entire family can attend to get more involved in the arts. It's nearly impossible to exit an art museum without having gained any inspiration or insight during your visit.

3) Art Museums create amazing impact on people. - No words needed for this one, just watch the video.

Last but not least....

4) Art Museums are usually free or very inexpensive. - Several museums nationwide offer free admission for seniors and students and admission for general entrance are usually below $10.00. They also offer free admission during specified hours of the week and offer free events as well. For instance, MAM offers free admission to children and students along with a ton of free events. Not to mention most art museums have a nationwide Free Art Museum Day AND if you have Bank of America, they have a program called Museums on Us which allows cardholders free admission nationwide to 54 museums on the first weekend of each month.

So today, pick a random day in your calendar so that you can make time to broaden your horizons and spark your creative side by visiting a local art museum near you!!♥