christmas

25 Days of Spreading Love – A countdown to Christmas: Dec. 13

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12 Days till Christmas – spreading love through donating.

As I was thinking about how to spread the love today, I remembered reading an article about charity donations and how much one gives to them actually makes it to those in need. I remember reading how some charity organizations paid their CEOS salaries in the high six figures and was outraged at the thought.

Today, I researched it more. It turns out the article that was circulating years ago about this was highly inaccurate and places like The Goodwill got a bum rap. So I did my own due diligence and researched nearby charity organizations that accepted donations of used things.

Using the website charitynavigator.org, I was able to research various charities in my area to find out their effectiveness. Turns out Goodwill of Southern California has a 91.2% rating with solid financial information and transparency so I decided to give a donation to them.

My husband and I went through our apartment and gathered things to donate. We ended up with two filled bags, mostly of clothes and household items.

I’m thinking, rather than simply throw something away, why not assess if there’s still value left in it and if so, pass it on?

One’s man trash is another man’s treasure. (Not to mention recycling used items is helpful to the environment!)

Spread the love. #spreadthelove

25 Days of Spreading Love – A countdown to Christmas: Dec. 12

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13 Days till Christmas – spreading love through cooking.

I am one of those who believe in the power of food.

I’m Sicilian and my family has incorporated food into our very way of being, from the passed-down recipes to the regular Sunday afternoon dinners where pasta is the first course. Perhaps it’s in my blood but I adore real food and I adore it most when I am enjoying it with others.

Fresh vegetables and lean protein are two of my husband’s favorite things. He’s had a long week and has been working very hard.

Today, I want to spread the love toward my new husband through cooking. I know what he likes and I decided to put my love into food and prepare for him one of his favorite meals – beef stew. I’m also making some chocolate chip cookies for him to have as a treat over the weekend.

Showing one’s love through food is an excellent way to nourish both the belly and the soul. And when you do it for someone you love, it’s a win-win for everyone involved.

Spread the love. #spreadthelove

25 Days of Spreading Love – A countdown to Christmas: Dec. 11

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14 Days till Christmas – spreading love by undo’ing a wrong.

Back in September, I left the restaurant I was serving at to go to another one. I had worked there for three years, the same lunch shifts, and had gathered a little collection of regulars.

One of them was a very kind elderly woman who would treat herself to a nice lunch every few months. She would dine by herself and I often chatted with her. When the shift was slow, we would talk for a quite a bit and I enjoyed seeing her. I knew what she liked, how she liked it and I made sure she got it.

Unfortunately, I didn’t get the chance to see her in the weeks before I left. A few weeks after I was gone though, a former co-worker from that restaurant texted me to let me know this sweet lady had been in and asked about me. She gave him her number to pass on to me so I could tell her where I am now.

Such a sweet thing.

And I never called her.

In my defense, I was about to be married and then go on my honeymoon but that’s no excuse. I messed up.

Here it is now, over three months later, and I decided that today I would spread the love by undo’ing a wrong.

I found the text with her number on my phone and called her. No one answered so I left her a message with my number. I hope she calls me back.

Mistakes will be made; but it’s what we do about them that matters.

Spread the love. #spreadthelove

 

***UPDATE***
She called me back and we had a lovely conversation. I apologized for the delay in the call. She graciously understood. We caught up a bit and then she told me how much she appreciated my call and how happy it made her. I told her it made me happy too and I meant every word of it. And she can’t wait to come visit me at the new restaurant I’m at… #spreadthelove

 

 

 

25 Days of Spreading Love – A countdown to Christmas: Dec. 7

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18 Days till Christmas – spreading love by helping a co-worker

A week or two ago, I was asked by a co-worker if I could help cover some shifts for him right after Christmas. I told him it was a little early to know what my schedule would be like at the time but that I’d get back to him.

Flash forward to now and I know what I’ll be doing around the holidays. Though I wasn’t planning on working right after Christmas, I’m going to be in town and my schedule allows it.

For today, I spread the love by helping a co-worker. I told him I’ll be able to cover both of his shifts and wished him happy holidays. He was happy. And it felt good to help someone out.

Helping others puts positive energy in the world that not only swirls all around you but feels good for everyone involved. I really need to do this more often…

Spread the love. #spreadthelove

 

25 Days of Spreading Love – A countdown to Christmas: Dec. 6

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19 Days till Christmas – Spreading love with a child’s birthday

Is there any better sound in this world than a child’s laugh?

I don’t think so. It’s music, really.

I have two nephews and they mean the absolute world to me. I had never experienced unconditional love before meeting them. And I decided when the first was born that I would see them at least every week for as long as I am physically able to (and they let me) to let them know I’m here for them, I love them and they can count on me.

Let me back pedal a moment.

My favorite movie in the entire universe is a small film called “You Can Count On Me.” It’s a story about two siblings who are very different from one another but lost their parents early on in life and since then, they went their separate ways but always remained true to the promise they made as kids – that they could count on each other. No other film has touched me the way this film has and continues to, for many reasons that I won’t get into here, but I bring it up because one of the things this beautiful film explores is the idea of people counting on each other, truly being able to count on each other, and I found it a rare and beautiful thing.

And it’s my pledge to my nephews.

Today was one of their birthdays. So I decided to spread the love by making sure the four year old had a wonderful birthday, along with his father, grandparents and uncle. Judging by the sound of his laughter, I’d say we achieved that.

Is there any better sight than seeing a child smile?

Spread the love. #spreadthelove

25 Days of Spreading Love – A countdown to Christmas: Dec. 5

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20 Days till Christmas – spreading love by loving myself and the one closest to me. 

Life moves fast and often times I move fast right along with it. My husband though is a little different. And he helps me take time to be in the present moment.

So when this morning, as we were waking, he asked, “Want to start the day with a walk on the beach?” I said yes immediately, something I don’t normally do. But I know how much he loves these walks and how much he loves when I join him, so rather than say no because of the list of things I wanted to get done before work, I replied yes. For him. And for me. (The stuff will still get done; it’s simply a matter of shifting my hierarchy of what comes first and examining exactly how I use my time…)

Walking hand in hand, my husband and I breathed in the fresh ocean air as we talked about life. We even made a friend.

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Today I chose to spread the love by being in the moment for my husband and myself.

Loving oneself and those closest to us is not something to do yearly or only on birthdays. It’s something to do everyday.

Spread the love. #spreadthelove

 

25 Days of Spreading Love – A countdown to Christmas: Dec. 4

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21 Days till Christmas – spreading love with holiday cheer

For our first Christmas as a married couple, my husband and I decided to upgrade our Christmas tree. Instead of the grocery store three-footer we normally get, we drove to a lot and picked out a grown up tree. We went to one that was run by a Kiwanis Club, an organization that helps its local community, and all the proceeds go to charity.

Holiday cheer may seem simple. And it can mean different things to different people, depending on the holiday one is celebrating. To some, its purpose may be religious. To others, it’s a frivolous affair. And even to others, it’s a time to eat good food and be around people they love.

Whatever the reason, holidays have a way of bringing people together and well, isn’t that a beautiful thing?

So this year, my husband and I went all out. We strung lights, hung decorations, made gingerbread cookies and are now about to retire to bed to watch Chevy Chase flex his hilarious holiday muscles as he takes us on a vacation…

Happy Holidays!!

Spread the love. #spreadthelove