Living Simply: Pay It Forward

It's been a while since I blogged about this topic, and today is a wonderful time to bring it up again. The concept is to Pay It Forward. If you haven't heard of it before, here's the foundation of it:

Do something nice for someone else, not for someone who did something nice for you, and tell them to do something nice to "pay it forward" as well (instead of repaying you for your kindness). 

If possible: do it for someone who you know could never repay you anyway.

So what does that look like? First let me explain the last part. Maybe you need to forgive someone who can't repay you, for example, forgiving a parent for a bad childhood. It's too late for them to re-do it all over again, they're powerless to change the past, but you let them know that all is forgiven. This works with an ex-partner, estranged child or sibling, old bosses, neighbors, etc.

The beauty of it is that you do something nice for 3 people, then they do the same, then they do the same, and it could make a difference in your family, workplace, neighborhood, or community. Spreading help, joy, and love - what's better than that? Now what is something positive you can do for someone so they can do something nice for others? Here's a few ideas:

• Call someone you know needs a friend right now
• Help someone who you pass that's homeless - it could be money, food, bottled water, etc.
• Write a note, email, or even text to someone letting them know you appreciate them
• Pick an event or charity where you can do a one-day volunteer opportunity
• Compliment someone (it must be sincere), maybe someone overlooked, like a janitor.
• Pray for someone you know is struggling
• Donate to a food bank or a shelter, especially if you find a Buy One Get One Free sale
• Do a task for a friend/family member like doing laundry, washing their car, etc.
• Bring a meal to someone who's going through a rough time, or is sick, or too busy to cook
• Volunteer to babysit for a single parent who needs some alone time 
• Babysit for a couple so they can have a much-needed date night
• Pay for coffee for the customer behind you in line or in a drive-through
• Give someone a ride when they don't have a working car
• Donate blood with your local Red Cross organization
• Recycle your stuff - donate toys to a school or church, give magazines to a nursing home, etc.
• Invite someone over for dinner - even if you just serve pizza or take-out.
• Hold the door open for the person behind you
• Smile at someone who looks like they're having a rough day, be nice
• Bake treats for a neighbor, friend, or loved one

The list is endless, be creative, and be kind to others. Have a great weekend.

Living Simply: Let It Go

Today was the perfect chance to live out what I blog, speak, and teach. Today was the last day before my college Spring Break. I had 2 tests today, one in Statistics and one in a Psychology class. First, you should know that I've always been a little OCD, I am an over-achiever, and if I get a 97% or a 98% on a test, I want to know why. Today, I got a 90% and an 87%. Had this been last semester or even the beginning of this one (back in January), I might have panicked, especially getting a B. I have a perfect 4.0 GPA and if I maintain it, it means thousands of more money in scholarships, so there's something tangible to lose.

When I got my grades, I wasn't happy. In fact, I thought I really did do better on both. But I know what I teach and blog about - so it was time to live it out. I decided that a 90 is still an A, still a 4.0, so I let it go. Nothing changes the grade by me stressing over it. If I did, how would I focus enough to do well on the next test a little while later?

When I got the grade back that was a B, I was a bit surprised, but I knew the tests questions were worded very differently than they were in the lecture and on the worksheets. I talked to several classmates outside the class after we were done testing. They all had very similar issues with the test, and my friend in class reminded me that this teacher drops your lowest test grade anyway, so one test is no big deal if I study harder and do better next time.


This was the first time in my life that I didn't stress over the grades. I was truly able to just let it go. I didn't carry the anxiety into the next classes. I kept a great, happy, relaxed attitude all day. I've been like a whole new person. I seriously recommend this whole "living simply" attitude and outlook!

On one last note, when I got home I looked to see what the average was for the class, along with the highest/lowest grades in class. (It's anonymous, just the number is visible.) In Statistics, the average was a 62, the highest was a 96, so a 90 is really good. In the psychology class, the average was a 77, the highest was a 93, and I got an 87. That's pretty good too. The teacher already put an "x" next to that test with a note saying it'll be dropped, because he knows I usually get high 90s on his tests. All in all, not too bad. I also found out I got a 97.5% on my History quiz yesterday.

What does this mean for you? When things don't work out to perfection, take a deep breath, keep them in the proper perspective, don't panic, and just know it'll be okay. Have a great rest of the week.

Living Simply: Spring Cleaning

     Now that spring is almost here (although I know that's hard to believe in many places right now), it's time to start thinking about how to start spring with a clean house that feels refreshed. It's time to chase out the closed in feeling of months in hibernation. Even where it's warm and sunny all winter, this is a time to prepare a few things before the summer heat sets in around May.

1.  Time to do a quick de-cluttering again. Over the winter things accumulate. Set a timer and go through each room, even if it's just one a day, and declutter for say 10 or 15 minutes. What things are you looking to get rid of? Regift or donate gifts you've gotten in the past few months you know you'll never use or need. Donate stacks of magazines and books that could benefit someone else (maybe a doctor's office, hairdressers, nursing home, library). Do a quick sweep of your pantry for items that are still good but you know you won't use them - donate them to a food bank or shelter. Throw out old take out menu coupons. Look in your closet and remove anything you haven't worn in the last 3-6 months and probably won't in the near future.

2.  Clean. Dust whatever shelves, furniture, art, and other things that need it. Dust your blinds, ceiling fans, and curtains (or wash them if you can). Wash all your bedding. Vacuum neglected areas. Maybe even call in a service to shampoo and steam clean rugs and upholstery.

3.  Service your heating/air conditioning units, and have the duct work cleaned. It's cheaper than problems later.

4.  Clean your vehicles. Remove the trash, vacuum it out, wipe down the glass, dust the rest, remove spots from the seats if you can, and give it a good wash. If you live in an area with salted roads, you really need to keep it off your car to prevent premature rusting.

5.  Office areas need attention too. File away what you need to keep. Scan what you can to avoid tons of papers. Dust and vacuum. Clear the desktop for a more productive work environment. Remove clutter that's been put down and forgotten.

6.  Bathrooms get filled so quickly with bath, body, and beauty products. Take time to throw out anything that's old (especially makeup), donate lotions, hair products, and other things you thought you wanted but now realize you never use it. Use up those half-filled containers so you only keep what you're currently using. It seems like everywhere I go, people's bathrooms are filled with dozens of half-filled products because they start one, bring home a new one, and never get back to using up or throwing out the old one.

7.  Outdoors. Clean up trash. If you live where it doesn't snow, rake or sweep up around your home, patios and balconies for apartments too. Wash the windows when you get a nice day (or pay someone to do it). Get rid of old holiday decorations left sitting outside. It's March. You shouldn't still have Christmas lights on your house.

8.  Finally, take one day and really wash and disinfect your home - floors, counters, sinks, bathrooms, all doorknobs and light switches wiped down, change batteries in smoke alarms, wipe down cabinets, clean mirrors, wipe down table tops in the kitchen, dining room, and living room, change out any burnt light bulbs, etc.

This may take you a week, maybe even two, working a little bit each day - but once you're done - you'll feel like your space is refreshed, healthier, and more relaxing. It's worth it.