Happy New Year

It is difficult to believe that 2010 is almost done! The year went by so fast - did we really have live through four seasons already? No doubt, 2010 will be known as the year of extreme weather and of breath-taking events. From the devastation of the earthquake in Haiti, to flooding, fires and heat waves through-out the world, it seemed that each day brought more bad news. However as each new tragedy occurred, kindness and compassion grew and people reached out in a manner never seen before. The most poignant event to me was the rescue of the Chilean miners. I watched spell bound as each miner was brought to the surface and shed tears for each one as they embraced their families. On my computer at work, I have pictures of several of the miners as they emerged from the earth. When those pictures flash across my screen, I am reminded of the strength of the human spirit, and how hundreds of people and dozen of countries worked together day and night for weeks to save these men. If anyone had any doubts of man's survival instinct or the compassion humans have for each other, the events of 2010 surely erased those doubts. Knowing that out of the ashes of bad events rose human compassion and resourcefulness . . . it's a good thing!

Skid Row Santa

Some people are just nice! For the past thirty years, every Christmas season, a lawyer has been handing $10 bills to thousands of people on skid row in Los Angeles. The lawyer, now sixty-nine years old and retired, has remained anonymous. He estimates that he has given away $20,000 of his own money every year. He says he does it because he is so moved by the appreciation and gratitude shown by homeless people when they receive his gift. Destitute people line up for hours ahead of time to meet the generous man and receive his donation. People like this man make the world a nicer place in which to live. Knowing that good people are taking care of the less fortunate . . . it's a good thing!

A Close Shave

I don't, as a rule, wonder about simple items we use every day. I don't wonder where they come from, how they are made or who made them. I did come across a story about the inventor of the Gillette disposal shaver that I thought was worth passing on. It is a story of perseverance and believing in yourself when no one else does. King Camp Gillette had a dream of creating a sharp but disposable razor. You would think that having a name like "King Camp" would have been hardship enough, but he set himself up for ridicule from investors, metal engineers and experts at MIT by pursuing his vision. Gillette laboured for four years creating a razor that was sharp, but yet inexpensive enough to be disposed of when it became dull. It took another six years before Gillette razors reached store shelves. Ten years of Gillette's life were devoted to creating something no one else believed in! When it finally reached stores, only 51 blades sold the first year, but in the second year, over 90,000 were purchased. Within the next few years, Gillette's disposal razors were in most homes and his creation changed the shaving industry forever. So, the next time you use - and dispose of - a Gillette shaver, take a moment to think about King Camp Gillette and his determination and belief in his himself. Knowing that sometimes even the craziest ideas are brilliant . . . it's a good thing!

Operation Nice

In June, 2008, Melissa Morris Ivone of New Jersey did something wonderful: she launched a website called "Operation Nice". The purpose of her site is for people to share stories about kindness. The idea came to her one day when she was not feeling particularly happy or kind. As she waited to enter an elevator, a gentleman told her to get in ahead of him. While in the elevator, they made small talk. As she left the elevator, Melissa realized that small gesture of kindness put her in a wonderful mood and she enjoyed the rest of her day. She knew she was onto something, and "Operation Nice" was born. The mission of Operation Nice is encouraging individuals to be positively nice. How simple, and yet how extraordinary, is that? Besides sharing stories of kindness, Melissa creates "nice" assignments. Her latest assignment is to write five favorite things about 2010. What a great idea! I'm sure the entire year was not all pleasant for everyone, but by focusing on the good things that happened, the not-so-nice stuff is not so important any more. If everyone followed Melissa's example and focused on being nice and doing nice things, the world would be a better place. If we all took part in Operation Nice, our little part of the world would be brighter. Thank you Melissa for sharing a wonderful idea. Melissa's blog can be found at http://www.operationnice.com/ . Making our world a happier place by taking part in Operation Nice . . . it's a good thing!

Finger Lickin' Good!

Harland Sanders had a great little business going in Kentucky. He had a small restaurant where he sold his chicken and he made a good living. He lived off the profits of his chicken throughout the 30's, 40's and 50's and most of the 60's Construction of a new road which bypassed his town put him out of business in 1967. Because of the popularity of his chicken, Sanders decided he would sell his "secret recipe" with its 11 herbs and spices and begin franchising his chicken. To his surprise, he could find no buyers. He went to over 1,000 buyers before he finally found someone who was interested! Together with that buyer, Sanders opened his first Kentucky Fried Chicken outlet. In a few short years, there were franchises all over North America. Seven years after selling that first franchise, at the age of seventy-five, Colonel Sanders sold his fried chicken company for $15 million! This story proves once again that truly successful people never give up on something they believe in. Believing in a finger lickin' idea . . . it's a good thing!

Just Be Friends

Janice Taylor and Mona Crandell are two incredible women from Regina. The two have been best friends since they were twelve years old, growing up in the north end of Regina. Inspired by Oprah Winfrey and Gayle King's long friendship, Janice and Mona decided to create a website called "Just Be Friends". The site is used by women to find friends. Their site took off very quickly as more and more women joined. Just Be Friends now encourages women to buy locally "Just Be Local", to support local charities "Generation Give" and to share information "Just Be Informed". Taylor and Crandell were picked by Oprah Winfrey as one of her "ultimate viewers" and invited to tale part in an Australian trip with Oprah and Gayle King. Janice and Mona, along with the other women chosen by Oprah, spent twelve days in Australia. This was a trip of a life time for the two women and it was made even more special because they shared it with their best friend - each other. Taylor said, "We really want women to understand that friendship is the most important thing in their life". By starting a web site to encourage other women to find friendships, they ended up going on a dream vacation with Oprah Winfrey! Their Australian journey will be aired sometime in January, 2011. Their web site is: http://www.justbefriends.ca/. Cherishing your friendships with other women . . . it's a good thing!

Band-aid Solution

Husband and wife Hanoch and Meladee McCarty wrote a book called Acts of Kindness: How to Create a Kindness Revolution. Since they have published their book, many people have shared with them their stories of how acts of kindness changed their lives. One story they were told was of six-year old Susie of Chicago. Susie's mother told her that their next door neighbor was very sad because she had just lost her daughter. Susie's mother told her that their neighbor had a broken heart and needed extra care for a little while and so she was making her a casserole. Susie decided she also needed to find a way to take care of her neighbor. Later that day, Susie knocked on her neighbor's door and presented her with a band-aid. She explained to her neighbor that her mother had told her about the death of her daughter and how sad she was. Susie told her that the band-aid was for her broken heart. The neighbor tearfully hugged Susie and thanked her. She assured Susie her kindness would help a lot. The neighbor eventually bought a small key-ring with a plexiglass picture frame. Rather than place a picture in the frame, she placed Susie's band-aid. She carries it with her all the time and it has helped her in her healing process. One small act of kindness by a little girl which helped a grieving mother begin to heal . . . it's a good thing!