Quotes with the Most…

“Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.”
– Dalai Lama

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”
– Margaret Mead

“When I was 5 years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down “happy.” They told me I didn’t understand the assignment, and I told them they didn’t understand life.”
– Anonymous

“We look forward to the time when the Power of Love will replace the Love of Power. Then will our world know the blessings of peace.”
– William Ewart Gladstone (1809-1898)

“Every act of kindness benefits the giver, as well as the receiver.”
– Katrina Mayer

“Worry is like a rocking chair, it will give you something to do, but it won’t get you anywhere.”
– Vance Havner

“The world is my country, all mankind are my brethren and to do good is my religion.”
– Thomas Paine

“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before beginning to improve the world.”
– Anne Frank

“To the world you may be just one person, but to one person you may be the world.”
– Brandi Snyder

“It is not fair to ask of others what you are unwilling to do yourself.”
– Eleanor Roosevelt

“Politicians and diapers have one thing in common. They should both be changed regularly, and for the same reason.”
– José Maria de Eça de Queiroz

“Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.”
– Robert Brault

“It is never too late to be what you might have been.”
– George Eliot

“No one has ever become poor by giving.”
– Anne Frank

“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.”
– Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none.”
– William Shakespeare

“Don’t look for big things, just do small things with great love.”
– Mother Teresa

“You must be the change that you wish to see in the world.”
– Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi

Can We Auto-Correct Humanity?

You need not delete your social networks or destroy your cell phones, the message is simple, be balanced, be mindful, be present, be here.

Give the gift that keeps on giving – really.

Okay folks, so the holiday season is upon us and gift-giving is in the air. But before you do all your shopping with plastic bags or wrap those gifts in paper, consider this:

1. Packaging of all kinds adds 29 million tons of non-biodegradable waste to landfills every year, only 5.7% of which is recycled plastic.¹ Yep, that’s 29 million tons.

2. During the holiday season, we generate an additional five million TONS of waste, four million of which is wrapping paper and shopping bags. That’s an additional 25% more waste generated between Thanksgiving and New Years – or a staggering one million more tons.²

Crazy!

So do you want to make a real difference in your own small way and contribute to our lovely planet on a daily basis? Here’s how: Offer a BCBK (Be Conscious. Be Kind.™) Anti-Landfill Device tote as a gift – for the holiday and for all occasions. Makes sense, right? A gift that holds a gift.   No additional waste and two gifts in one…who wouldn’t love that? It’s a win/win for you, your community and the environment!

If you’re interested in doing the same, please check out the three styles of tote bags available on the Be Conscious. Be Kind.™ website.

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[1] Recology Solutions

[2] Recyclaholics

Thank You, You’re Welcome: Gee, that wasn’t too difficult, was it?

Here’s a story I heard on the radio that’s unfortunately become part of modern life: A DJ was at a convenience store and held the door open for a man who had his hands full. When the man walked right through the door without saying a word or even nodding in thanks, the DJ said: “you’re welcome. ” Instead of acknowledging his oversight with a “Gee, I’m sorry, where was my head?,” the guy told him to “#%&@- off.”

Really?

Unfortunately, yes.

Why, dear reader, does this happen? Since when have we forgotten to acknowledge, with a simple gesture of gratitude, the small acts of kindness that come our way from strangers – and that make life that much more livable? Instead of owning their rudeness and correcting it, why do some people choose to lash out?

I’ve had many experiences like the DJ’s over the years, but this one stands out: Once I was with my mom and had this same exchange with someone for whom I was holding the door open (without the #%&@ off part). Instead of getting annoyed by the person’s lack of gratitude, my mom told me that if I was doing something nice and expected someone to say thank you, then I shouldn’t do it. In theory, she’s absolutely right. I should be happy just knowing that I did something good (a “solid” as my friend Dave says) and move on.

I totally agree with Dave that kindnesses should be done unconditionally and I don’t consciously do them to get a “thank you” in return; I just don’t understand when it doesn’t happen. This is something I continue to work on.

Thanks to “Unknown” for the following quote: “It’s not happy people who are thankful. It’s thankful people who are happy.”