Positive Thoughts | Positive Actions | Positive Results
Martha “Mac” Long could be overheard saying the following to her children whenever they would ask her what she’d like for her birthday, Mother’s Day, Christmas, or whatever:
“A kind word…all I want is a kind word.”
One year for Christmas, motivated by her mother’s words, one of Mac’s daughters, Marti, gave her a beautifully decorated box full of little cut outs…of the word “Kind”!
And, remember…Feed Your Good Dog, so your good dog always wins!
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Kindness: How Good Deeds Can Be Good for You!
Source: Random Acts of Kindness Foundation
Entire article here
People who perform Random Acts of Kindness generally agree that doing a kind deed for someone else makes them “feel good.” But apart from sheer niceness, why should people be encouraged to commit Acts of Kindness? Are there any other concrete benefits that would motivate more people to become kinder?
The answer is an overwhelming “yes!” A number of scientific studies show that Acts of Kindness result in significant health benefits, both physical and mental, for those who perform them.
One of the most compelling studies of altruism was performed by Allan Luks and documented in his 1991 book, The Healing Power of Doing Good: The Health and Spiritual Benefits of Helping Others. Luks is the former executive director of the Institute for the Advancement of Health and executive director of Big Brothers/Big Sisters of New York City.
The volunteers in Luks’ study testified to feeling a rush of euphoria, followed by a longer period of calm, after performing a kind act. This feeling, which Luks calls “helper’s high,” involves physical sensations that strongly indicate a sharp reduction in stress and the release of the body’s natural painkillers, the endorphins. This initial rush is then followed by a longer-lasting period of improved emotional well-being.
This reduction in stress is vital to the health improvements reported by so many study volunteers. (In fact, more than 90 percent of Luks’ volunteers reported that regular volunteering produced feelings which are a powerful antidote to stress.) Why is stress reduction so important? Because stress can be the root cause of so many maladies, according to Hans Selye, a Hungarian physician who wrote a groundbreaking book called The Stress of Life in 1956.
Selye’s findings on stress are cited by Luks because many of his study volunteers had stress-related health problems that improved after performing kind acts.
And, remember…Feed Your Good Dog, so your good dog always wins!
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MUSIC THAT SURELY WILL CREATE YOUR WEDNESDAY WIDE SMILE!
From the award-winning documentary, “Playing For Change: Peace Through Music”, comes an incredible track written by Pierre Minetti performed by musicians around the world adding their part to the song as it traveled the globe. “Don’t Worry” is the follow up to the classic “Stand By Me” and the second of many “songs around the world” released on the “Songs Around The World” CD/DVD.
Sources: 365 of Goodness and YouTube
And, remember…Feed Your Good Dog, so your good dog always wins!
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SOMETHING TO CONTEMPLATE THIS WEEKEND AND CONSIDER DOING IN THE NEAR FUTURE
Consider participating in a volunteer activity at your child’s school in any way you can…the smallest gesture can make the biggest impact with your child. Talk to neighbors and friends, contact the school or a PTSA representative, or go to the school’s website to find out ways in which you can help. Try and volunteer for something that gives you visibility … whether they show it or not, the kids love to see parents working on their behalf. Be There provides us with reasons why your involvement in your child’s education is a good idea and research to back it up:
Parent involvement research can now document:
1.Create a home environment that encourages learning
2.Express high (but not unrealistic) expectations for their children’s achievement and future careers
3.Become involved in their children’s education at school and in the community
Parent involvement research can now document:
These benefits for students:
1. Higher grades and test scores
2. Better attendance and more homework done
3. Fewer placements in special education
4. More positive attitudes and behavior
5. Higher graduation rates
6. Greater enrollment in postsecondary education
These benefits for parents:
1. More confidence in school
2. Teachers have higher opinions of parents and higher expectations of their children, too
3. Greater confidence in themselves as parents and in their ability to help their children learn at home
4. Greater likelihood that the parents will enroll in continuing education to advance their own schooling.
Read the research, and find out more about Be There here
And, remember…Feed Your Good Dog, so your good dog always wins!
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CHARITY:WATER CONTINUES TO DO GREAT WORK…BRINGING CLEAN AND SAFE DRINKING WATER TO PEOPLE IN DEVELOPING NATIONS.
charity:water uses a different approach to bring clean and safe drinking water to Cambodian families.
Scott Harrison from a February 8, 2009 charity: water blog post: Most of the projects charity:water funds around the world deliver clean water at the
community level. Deep and shallow wells, spring protections, rainwater catchment systems, etc.
In rural Cambodia, we’ve got a different approach. Water is abundant here, but rarely clean. We always look to find the most appropriate technology to solve water problems, and here we’ve found that’s the household BioSand filter (BSF) which can serve a family of up to 10 people.
Here are photos, that further explain BioSand filters.
Source: charity:water
And, remember…Feed Your Good Dog, so your good dog always wins!
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JOIN “ TEAM TREY”
AND, ON MARCH 13, “JOG FOR A CAUSE”
FIGHTING CHILDHOOD CANCER
IN HONOR OF TREY ROOD
A 5K /10K Race 8AM
A 1 Mile Fun Run 9AM
The 10K Is A Peachtree Qualifier
Rain, Shine or Snow, Come Run With Us
Dogs Welcome
Each person who registers will receive a high quality moisture-wicking shirt (a/k/a “dry fit”.) These shirts usually retail for about $30 so you’re actually saving money by running! You can also register but not run, thereby making a donation, and get a shirt as well!
Jog For A Cause will benefit The Justin Gaudineer Fund, The Kylie Barry Fund, The Keira Grace Foundation, and The Trey Rood Fund. To learn more about these charities click on the respective link.
Registrants can now create their own fundraising page for jog for a cause. Form your own fundraising team if you wish. There will be prizes for the top fundraising individual and team. Help raise funds for this great cause by clicking here.
And, remember…Feed Your Good Dog, so your good dog always wins!
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