Last week of giving challenge

So, it turns out I had some technical issues with my blog after day 25 and wasnt able to get on and write! I did successfully finish the challenge, but I didnt write any of the details so I wont be sharing all of that. My last gifts included giving a nice donation to a family in need (from a fundraiser I helped with months ago that fell through), a chore free day for Bryan, and one of my favorites, I bought a copy of the book 29 Gifts on Amazon and am passing it along as soon as it arrives. My plan is to put my name and date on the back, with a little note in there to pass it on and do the same after reading. I hope the book gets passed around and that each recipient takes the challenge and pays it forward. I have this image of the amazing trickling effect this could potentially have on people, and it makes me want to buy 10 more books to randomly hand to people I encounter! Maybe I will...it was only $4 shipped on amazon for a used copy!

This challenge had a seriously positive impact on my life. Yes, I still had some down in the dumps kind of days, but shifting my focus to more positive things became more and more easy. My intention is to get back into the swing of giving on a daily basis. I have also picked up a couple more books to read that teach ways to focus on the positives on life, and how it can change any circumstance you face on life. Over all, I feel like life is headed in an exciting new direction for meand my family. I thank every one of you who followed my challenge, and hope I have inspired some of you to do the same!

#25- Advice

The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.
- Mahatma Gandhi

I know I've already given my time and a listening ear as gifts. But in all reality both of those things are valuable gifts, and there's no limit on the number of times you can give a particular gift. I say this especially because today was random & given with purpose.

I've learned recently that negative things that happen in life are sometimes just stepping stones to something positive. Personally, I've recently been able to take some negative events from my life to help others. Today a close friend was in need of some advice, from a standpoint that I myself have been in. I was able to have a very meaningful talk with her and gave some advice that was very valuable to her. I believe that everything in life happens for a reason & I've been blessed enough to recognize those reasons. I may have asked myself at the beginning of this challenge if having a conversation with a friend could really count as a gift. But being near the end I've discovered that it absolutely is.  Having a life altering conversation with a friend, and contributing advice that can greatly benefit them is not only a gift....it's a gift you can't put a price tag of a value on.  

#24- yard work.

Yes...that really does say yard work. And that really was my gift. While I do enjoy having a pretty yard...I really despise the upkeep. Bryan on the other hand would prefer doing the outdoor chores...so I don't argue. I'm even a little embarrassed to admit that I'm almost 31 & I've never ever mowed a lawn. I grew up with brothers so I never had to lol! Then I got married & well, still never had to.  I do enjoy planting flowers & adding personal touches to the yard. I just really hate bugs...and weeds. So I decided I'd shock Bryan and help him out in the yard for a change. We've been busy and thanks to lots of rain our weeds have been busy too. Busy growing and spreading, and providing a home for a new species of disgusting bugs that we discovered live back there now. Oh yeah, and they bite!

So there I was with my gloves and weed pulling tool...breaking my back bending over because I was too terrified to sit down amongst the bugs. I was feeling pretty good about my assistance. I pulled weeds, raked pine needles, then took a short break, apparently just in time. As I'm walking away from the weeds that are left I hear Bryan say " holy SNAKE". Pretty sure I did a record breaking sprint up our long flight of stairs to the backdoor. While I realize I'm a baby and bugs are a silly thing to fear...snakes take it to a whole new level. I'm 100% terrified of them & I'm sure had I been the one to discover it hiding in the weeds I would've fainted. I had tears in my eyes just looking at it as Bryan brought it onto the porch to show me through the locked door. Yep, tears over the sight of a snake. I realize garden snakes are harmless. But I also realize that I don't care...and I am now even more afraid of yard work. We've seen 3 snakes out there just this year. In 9 years here we had never even seen one!!  I'm not really thrilled.


I really hope Bryan appreciated my awesome, short lived efforts in the yard. It was a great gift in my mind...until the snake happened.

#23- random act of kindness

“When we feel love and kindness toward others, it not only makes others feel loved and cared for, but it helps us also to develop inner happiness and peace.”

The 14th Dalai Lama (1935)

I'm starting to be more aware of random opportunities to give, as my challenge nears the end. I've really enjoyed this challenge, and it's given me much more than I could have ever hoped for. When my 29 days is up, I plan to continue giving on a regular basis.

Day #23- Bryan and I had just dropped the kids off for a sleepover with their grandparents. We had plans to meet up with a few friends downtown to watch my brother's band perform.On the way there, as we exited the freeway we seen a homeless man on the corner. I've said before that I have a soft spot for the homeless. Yes there are some that I'm skeptical of...but I feel that those who stand on corners with signs who aren't honestly in need will be the ones carrying that on their conscience forever. Not me. I give because I know there ARE people in need, and I'm fortunate enough to be able to help.  This particular man was holding a sign that really stood out to me. He wasn't asking for $ or food specifically. His sign said " anything helps. Always remember to SMILE".  And he stood there waving & smiling at everyone. I couldn't help but feel like, wow...look how happy this guy is to just have someone smile & wave at him, rather than avoiding eye contact like most do. It didn't matter that most likely everything he owned was sitting in the bag next to him...or that it was 95 degrees & he was sweating to death in long sleeves...or that he was hungry & dirty. He was happy. We smiled & waved and I knew this was my opportunity. Bryan knew it was too. While we talked in the car about wishing we had something to give, we decided to drive to Wendy's near by & buy him dinner. Can I just say, not only does Bryan support me 100%, but he has a heart of gold & this meant as much to him as it did me. We got a combo meal & headed back to where the guy had been standing.He was walking away as we tried to find a place to pull over so we ended up having to turn around and find him. He had gone in a nearby restaurant to refill his thermos with water, so we waited outside for him. As he walked out, I approached him & told him I bought him dinner. He got tears in his eyes as he took the food, and said thank you.  As we left the parking lot, I seen him go sit under a tree and immediately start eating...as if he hadn't eaten all day. Tears filled my eyes & a sense of gratitude for this beautiful life filled my heart. A $6 meal became a priceless gift.

#22- Simple reminders

“Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless.”
― Mother Teresa

You never really understand the impact of a kind word, until you are the one it is spoken to. This week has been filled with SO many blessings for me, including many kind words. I am surrounded by the most amazing group of people. This week on two separate occasions, two friends who I've known for years...but really gotten to know more over the last few years on Facebook...posted the most sincere, heartfelt messages to me on my wall. Both came at a time when I needed to hear it. I think we often wonder how we are perceived by others, naturally. Having people I know, who I don't interact with  on a daily basis, go out of their way to let me know all of the positive things they see in me, meant so much. I have given the power of a kind word a lot of thought. How amazing would it be if we ALL went out of our way every now & then to say something nice to someone?  People's lives could truly be changed for the better! Think about that...

For gift #22 I decided to pay it forward with kind words. Since it was late & I knew my mom was in bed, I followed my friend's lead & posted on her Facebook wall. Just a simple reminder of why she's such an amazing mom, because she IS. The world was given an angel when my mom was born. Really. She is one of the most selfless people I've ever known. She always puts others before herself. She loves unconditionally, makes her family feel important & she sees the good in the world. She makes the world, and my life a better place! Have someone like this in your life? Let them know!

#21- The gift of slowing down

Our life on Wednesdays has been pretty chaotic all summer. At one point we had back to back activities from 10 am until 5pm. It's just the way the schedules worked on that particular day so I decided I'd make the best of it. Normally we are in a rush, because I don't plan well & am always late. One of my biggest flaws. So I decided to slow down the pace a little bit this week. I planned ahead...made sure we had what we needed with us to avoid unnecessary trips back home that tend to stress everyone out. Things went so smoothly that we were able to stop & have dinner together between activities at a cool new kid friendly restaurant we discovered. It was nice to slow down the pace for once & enjoy each others company amidst the chaos. Kind of a weird gift...but it's amazing how life can adjust to stressful situations when you just slow down a little bit!

#20- fundraiser support

I've always been all about supporting kid's school fundraisers. Even though I don't like the crappy candy bars they usually sell... and have no need for a bulk supply of wrapping paper. I'll almost always thumb through the book & purchase something to show my support. The fundraiser I normally avoid presented itself this week..and I decided it would be my gift #20. I've never been a fan of the "discount card" that you purchase to save $. It makes no sense to me. $20 for a card that I doubt I'll use enough to save even $20.  But I realize that the kids who need the support have no say in what they have to sell. So I sucked it up & forked over $20.

#19- gift card

Yesterday I was beyond frustrated over some issues that keep taking place with my bank account. I'd attempted numerous times to get them resolved over the phone with the customer service department, but wasn't successful. In fact I'm pretty sure I spent almost 40 minutes of my life yesterday sitting on hold. I finally hung up & decided to swing by the bank on my way to work. I know for a fact I walked in the door with a negative attitude. I was irritated...maybe even a little rude. Oops. Anyway, I was directed over to speak with a lady in account services. I recognized her because she's helped me with many other things in the past. Applying for loans, selling vehicles, etc. She even witnessed the very first (& only) time Braxton ever dropped the F bomb. Oops again. She still had the same mug on her desk that had caught my eye before, it said " no coffee, no work". I obviously loved the mug because I can relate to that! She took the time to sit with me & look over my account. She was super patient and understood my frustration. She explained things & resolved the issue, sending me on my way to work feeling much needed relief. So when I stopped for my nightly coffee I grabbed a $5 gift card & took it over to her. I thanked her again for her help & told her the next coffee for that awesome mug was on me!

#18- service

"You have never really lived until you have done something for someone who can never repay you"

I can't tell you how true that quote is in my life right now. It is a truly humbling experience to be surrounded by people who feel they have nothing to offer, while you provide a service to them. The only difference is though, while these people couldn't offer me a tangible object...they gave me so much more.

I volunteered at a dining hall downtown yesterday, to serve dinner to the homeless community. I knew going into it that it would be an emotional thing for me. I've always had a soft spot for the homeless. You can never know or understand each ones own individual struggle, nor can you judge a person you don't know for a position they are in. So serving a meal to the homeless is something I've always wanted to do, but usually the thought comes about during the holidays. Naturally I think we feel inclined to give more around the holidays. But the harsh reality for these people is that they need to eat everyday, not just sometimes.

I pulled into the dining hall & was greeted by people lined up outside waiting for dinner to be served. Inside, I met with Russ, the guy in charge of a group who call themselves the Street Crew. I'll tell you more about them in a minute. He greeted Stevie & I ( my amazing friend who came with me) & gave us a task to take over. He placed Stevie in the serving line, and I was in charge of handing out water. I was excited and nervous because this meant I'd be having quite a lot of interaction with everyone who came in to eat.

When 5'o'clock rolled around, the dining hall immediately became flooded with people.  Young people, old people, people of many races, and the one's that really hit me hard....children. So many children.  My heart literally ached as I did something as simple as handing someone a bottle of water to people in dire need. I've never been greeted with so many smiles & thank yous, EVER. I studied every single person's face that I approached & wondered what their story was. I wondered if they knew how much I really cared. I wasn't there to get service hours, or because someone asked me to. I was there because I care about these people. And to be honest, I felt honored.

One particular family really stood out to me more than others & I felt drawn to them. A couple close to my age with 3 small children, ages 3, 2 & 5 months. The little girl was dressed in a princess dress, the little boy was wearing a sweater & was drenched in sweat. I handed them water, and walked away with tears in my eyes & a pain in my heart I don't think I've ever felt. Russ approached me & asked if I was ok...I apologized for being so emotional & reassured him I would be fine. He asked if he could take over my water task for a minute, and encouraged me to go mingle with these kids that I was so touched by. So I wiped the tears & gathered myself the best I could & I approached the family that had caught my eye. I told the little girl she looked like a beautiful princess in her dress...Xavier (the 3 year old boy) talked to me about his dinner & I told him I loved his name. I watched the 5 month old baby in the car seat wait patiently for his turn to eat. I talked to the parents & told them how beautiful their family was. My heart was literally breaking with every word. I wanted so much to tell them everything will be ok, to give them a hug, to help them...anything! I could tell they were happy I approached them, just to have a conversation and get to know something about them. I'm so thankful for that experience and it's something I'll never forget. I hope I encounter that family again in the future.

After I mingled with a few people I went back to my station & Russ came over & talked to me about the Street Crew. The goal of this group of HUGE hearted people isn't just to meet a couple times a month to serve dinner to this community. Their goal is to get to know them & to provide them with friendships to give them some kind of hope & something to look forward to.  I feel like this is something I'm supposed to be a part of, and I'm planning to volunteer for future service.

I went home that night & viewed my own life in a whole new way. I am SO incredibly blessed, beyond words. Once again...giving to others really put my "problems" into perspective! So happy this opportunity crossed my path!

#17- lunch on me

As I've grown up, I've realized the importance of having good friends. When I moved to Salt Lake 10 years ago, I left everything & everyone I knew behind. I stepped out of my comfort zone & started over. Luckily over the past 10 years, many amazing people have crossed my path, resulting in lasting friendships. Life has never been about being popular to me. I've always had a small, close circle of friends & been content with that. As an adult, I can honestly say I have more close friends than I could have ever imagined. I'm very lucky to have each one of them. This past week one of my friends had a birthday. I planned a little girls lunch get together for her with a few other girls. I realized before we met at the restaurant that I hadn't done anything for the other two friends on their birthdays. I'm a big fan of birthdays and making them a big deal. I guess life just got in the way...late became later and I let their birthdays slip my mind. So I took the opportunity for the day & bought birthday lunches for everyone. It was great getting together & just enjoying each others company. Love my friends!

#16- coffee!!!!

Anyone who knows me at all knows that I LOVE me some coffee. Actually I should start more like this: Hi. My name's Tiffany & I'm a coffee addict. It's THAT bad. So with that being said...I make frequent stops at all local coffee shops. Today on my way to work, I stopped at my favorite, Brew Monkey. I thought to myself, I bet my bestie, who's already been at work for 4 hours, would love some coffee too. So I surprised her, and it made her night a little more bearable. Win win situations always happen when coffee is involved!

On a side note...I've continued to notice more crazy positive things taking place in my life. Maybe like I said before, I'm just more aware. Or maybe life really does become more abundant when you focus on giving. Either way, I'm happy with the outcome. Being able to make someone elses day better is awesome. Seeing your own life improve as a result is just a bonus. Happy weekend y'all!

#15- what happened was...

Well day #15 went down like this: life was crazy & hectic &  I didn't feel I took an opportunity to give. It was one of those days that felt like I was being pulled in 85 directions at once. Problem was, I can usually only be pulled so far before I break. Today I broke. I felt I gave 120% of myself to every single person I encountered, literally. So you'd think with all this giving of myself today that there would have been a gift in there somewhere. Well I guess in a way there was, but it wasn't done with the intent & purpose that makes it truly count. I don't want to beat myself up, it was just one of those days for me. Tomorrow is a new day, with new opportunities!

#14- gratitude

When I started this challenge I had this idea in my mind that I'd be reporting back everyday that my giving was a success & life is grand. Well, in real life everyday isn't filled with unicorns & rainbows. Day #14 was one of those slap in the face kind of days. Excuse me in advance for keeping it vague, but I don't want to piss anyone off.

There's a certain person in my life who I feel I can never please. No matter how above & beyond I try to go, I don't fit a certain mold that this person has in mind. Truth is, I never will. It wasn't until recently that I decided to let that fact go, and just be myself regardless. So day #14 I had a lot to be thankful toward this person for & decided I'd step out from behind the wall I usually shield myself from this person with. I sent a very sincere text ( I know..pick up a damn phone & talk..it's like a foreign language these days)...expressing my overwhelming gratitude for things this person has done for me. In my mind I pictured receiving a reply that was equally as kind. Instead, I got nothing. I felt a knot in my stomach almost as if I felt regret for reaching out & putting my guard down. But no, I decided I did what I felt in my heart & accepted the fact that some people, just like some days, are just that way; not full of unicorns & rainbows.