As I sat down to write about the importance of insurance and the products we offer, I received news that would change the direction of this newsletter. Over the years, many of our clients have become more like close friends and family than simply customers. Recently one of those clients called to tell me his wife had been diagnosed with cancer. After hearing this devastating news, I could only think of this special time of year and how much our clients and all the people in our lives mean to us. This woman is an inspiration and I am overcome by her positivity and enthusiasm. I know she will fight for her health, all while lighting up the lives of those around her with a big smile and her electric personality. Typically when I send a newsletter, I try to give you valuable insurance information so you are best prepared to handle the unexpected. This month I would like to reflect on appreciating what we have and enjoying time with our family and friends to the fullest. Some of you may have seen the speech below, Jimmy Valvanos famous speech of appreciation, persistence, and love. It is one of the greatest speeches I have ever heard and helped teach me the importance of attitude. We all have a choice in the way we approach our daily lives. I hope this video makes you laugh, smile and cry - but most of all, I hope it reminds you to seize each day. https://youtube/watch?v=6IV5qAjBOPw _______________________________________________________ The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, the education, the money, than circumstances, than failure, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company... a church... a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past... we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude. I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it. And so it is with you... we are in charge of our Attitudes. Charles Swindoll In the spirit of giving, please try one or more of these 60 selfless acts that will be sure to make the season special for you and those around you! 1. Hold the door open for the person behind you. 2. Introduce yourself. Make new colleagues, classmates, etc. feel welcome. 3. Clean out all your old clothes and donate them to someone in need. Your old is someone elses new. 4. Write a positive Yelp review about a local business you like. 5. Listen intently to peoples stories without trying to fix everything. 6. Donate blood. One pint of blood can save up to three lives. Locate your nearest blood drive. 7. Volunteer at a hospital, homeless shelter, nursing home, etc. Get outside of yourself and help others. Check out Volunteer Match. 8. Buy house warming gifts for new neighbors. 9. Inspire others online. 10. Share your umbrella with a stranger on a rainy day. 11. Check up on someone who looks lonely. 12. Let someone with only a few items cut you in line at the grocery store. 13. Spread good news. 14. Replace what youve used. For example, fill up the copier or printer with paper after youre done using it or start a fresh batch of coffee. 15. Give words of encouragement to someone about their dreams, no matter how big or small they are. 16. Stop and buy a drink from a kids lemonade stand. 17. Help someone get your parking space in a crowded parking lot when youre leaving. 18. Babysit for couples or single parents who dont get out much so they can have some alone time. 19. Look for ways to save a few extra bucks a month and then donate it to a good cause or charity. 20. Shop at your local charity thrift store. The money you spend there helps others. 21. Help someone get active. Theres a coworker or acquaintance in your life who wants to get healthy, but needs a helping hand. Offer to go walking or running together or join a gym together. Check out your local Active activities. 22. Check out FreeRice - a site that gives to those in need just for you playing a game. 23. If someone you love really likes something (a meal, a favor, etc.) give it to them when they least expect it. 24. Make a difference in the life of a child. Give them your time and undivided attention. Read Raising Kids Who Will Make a Difference. 25. If you shop online, make your purchase through Give Back America. 26. Pay for the person in line behind you. 27. Drop off your old eye glasses at your local LensCrafters as a donation to the OneSight program. 28. Create a care package and send it to an active duty military unit. 29. Redirect gifts. Instead of having people give you birthday and holiday gifts, ask them to donate gifts or money to a good cause. 30. The next time you see someone pulled over with a flat tire, or in need of assistance, stop and ask how you can help. Read How to Be an Everyday Philanthropist. 31. Become a mentor or tutor to someone in need. 32. Help the weary shopper in front of you who needs that extra two or three cents to avoid breaking a 20-dollar bill. 33. Come to the rescue. If you realize someone is sick, bring them some hot tea, soup, etc. 34. Be a courteous driver. Let people merge in front of you. 35. Put some change in an expired parking meter (where its legal). 36. Offer your seat to someone when there arent any left. 37. Listen to someones pain and help them find a path through it. 38. Hug a friend. Let them know how important they are. 39. Think twice before you throw something away. As Jack Johnson once said, Reduce, reuse, and recycle. 40. Help an entrepreneur with a Kiva donation. 41. Bake cookies or brownies and share with a neighbor or colleagues. 42. If you have a good book youve read thats just sitting around on a book shelf, give it away to a friend. 43. Become a member of Freecycle, and participate. 44. Clean up litter in a park or open space nearby. 45. Look into co-housing. 46. Borrow and lend things in your neighborhood by using Share Some Sugar. 47. Send a nice email or handwritten card to someone you know, unexpectedly. 48. Leave encouraging post-it notes in library books and other random places. 49. If you see a couple taking a self-pic, offer to take the picture for them. 50. Setup a donation box at your school, work or place of worship and ask others to make canned/dried food contributions. Then deliver the donations accordingly. 51. Join efforts to preserve and protect the environment. 52. Donate cat and dog food to an animal shelter. Call and ask what is needed. 53. Compliment someone who deserves it. 54. If theres been an accident or a potentially hazardous situation presents itself on the road, report it to the local authorities. Your phone call could save a life. 55. Collect and donate prom dresses for underprivileged youth. Check out the Princess Project. 56. When youre getting fast food, buy an extra meal for a homeless person. 57. Stand up for someone. Lend your voice. Often the powerless, the homeless, the neglected in our world need someone to speak up for them. 58. Take the time to teach someone a skill you know. 59. Teach others how to make a difference in this world by setting a good example every day. Read 29 Gifts: How a Month of Giving Can Change your life. 60. When someone wants to repay you for something, ask them to pay it forward. Spread joy and love this holiday season, and appreciate those around you. Sincerely, Mike Michel R.S. Gilmore Insurance
Posted on: Tue, 16 Dec 2014 15:56:50 +0000
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