Thursday, August 17, 2006

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen very easy, inexpensive or free things we can do this week to make the world a better place for a few moments. Pick just one. Two if you're feeling lucky and joyful.

1. Let someone into merging traffic--even if he's driving like an idiot and not waiting his turn.

2. Smile at him. The Bible says something about being nice is heaping hot coals on your enemy. Picture that when you arrive at the stoplight at the same time.

3. Pick up one or two pieces of trash--a plastic bag, candy wrapper, pop bottle, etc.--from the sidewalk or berm on your way to work or activity. What if millions of people did that?

4. Drop it in the nearest trash can. Create jobs for sanitation crews.

5. Put a quarter in the tip jar at the coffee shop.

6. Be classy instead of colloquial. Say "You‘re welcome," instead of "no problem" if someone thanks you.

7. Donate a jar of peanut butter to the local food pantry.

8. Or offer to volunteer on your day off.

9. Send a card to someone who is ill or shut-in or grieving.

10. If you don't know anyone like that, praise God and call a church or nursing home for a name and make a stranger happy.

11. If someone comes to visit, turn off the television and the music.

12. Hold open the door for someone whose hands are full.

13. If you pack someone’s lunch, put a happy note or cartoon inside.

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The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! Leave a comment and I'll add your name and URL.

1. Shannon, 2. Nyasha, 3. Tink, 4. Kailani, 5. TC, 6. Sugar Vamp, 7. Irish Church Lady, 8. Momma, 9. Knitting maniac, 10. . Zeus, 11. Jersey Scrapbooker, 12. Carmen, 13. Natalie, 14. Stephanie, 15. 5 time Mom, 16. Flattened Frog , 17. KT Cat, 18. Karen, 19. Another Karen, 20. Karla, 21. Amy, 22. Dane, 23. Kendra, 24. My two cents (really funny), 25. Buttercup, 26. Courtney, 27. Titanium, 28. Geekwif, 29. Wolfbernz, 30. Renee, 31.

35 comments:

Shannon said...

Excellent list. I am proud that I do many of these things already, but it's great to add a couple more to my list.

Thanks for visiting my site, too. Have a great Thursday!

Anonymous said...

very good list! it is important to have a positive impact on people's life - it will ultimately benefit us.
btw, you will have to tell me about your coffee in Copenhagen! Was it at Karen Blixen's coffee shop? yeah, stuff is expensive in this country i live in.... and i am a coffee addict, see my dilemma?

Tink said...

Wonderful list! I actually did 5 of these last week. Will keep the rest in mind this coming week.
My TT is about happy things this week.

Anonymous said...

There are some of those that I do try and make a concious effort to do often. I do need reminding sometimes, though. Thanks for the great list and for stopping by!

Twisted Cinderella said...

what a nice tt. great list.

Mine is up too.

Anonymous said...

People like you bring tears to my eyes, you are such a beautiful person. I believe this post has made my evening, thank you for that.

Just another Thursday Thirteener passing through :)

Irish Church Lady :) said...

I'm gonna do 3 and 4 today. Do you heart me yet?

Mary Jo said...

Awesome list! I've done a few of those this week!

My list is up too!

Knitting Maniac said...

EXCELLENT list!

Happy TT

Zeus said...

6. Be classy instead of colloquial. Say "You‘re welcome," instead of "no problem" if someone thanks you.

This is a lost artform, and it is very sad in my opinion. There's nothing wrong with "You're welcome" but so many people do not say it. For shame...

Happy Thursday! Feel free to read mine as well!

Gina said...

Wow, what a nice list...I feel so shallow after reading it (compared to mine):-)

Carmen said...

All good ideas to be nice. I'm always holding the door for people, I enjoy being nice (except in traffic. that's harder. ha)

Natsthename said...

I usually tip the coffee people, but some days it just seems so expected, at least at my local Dunkin Donuts. They don't even smile at me or anything. So I save those tips, now, for whomever looks me in the eye or smiles while they're pouring my cup or ringing me up.

But, I'm taking up your challenge, Norma. I'll do TWO of these things this week.

Anonymous said...

Love the list... and I always could use a little prodding to do more!

fivetimemom said...

great ideas... I always write a little note on my husbands lunch bag....

Froggie said...

I love your list! Great ideas. I try to let people in in traffic... I'm not in that big of a rush that I can't let someone merge. You've given some other great ideas I can try... thanks!

K T Cat said...

#6 was wonderful.

Thanks for posting this. I needed it.

My TT is up.

Anonymous said...

thank you for the wonderful list. I should print it and remember it!

Anonymous said...

What a wonderful, wonderful list! I wish more people would remember, and then act upon, these things. It seems like it's all about me, me, me nowadays. What happened to manners and common courtesy?

I had to smile at #6 - one of my pet peeves. And volunteering time, I'm a real advocate for that one too.

Thanks for the reminders, Norma!

Karla said...

Yes! On all accounts!
Okay, this IS the world wide web. Is there a place we can post this so that the WORLD will see it? There are alot of people out there who don't have a clue! :)
Common courtesy, folks!
Sorry, my "righteous indignation" got the better of me. It all starts with us, I guess. :)
Thanks for stopping by to check out my list today. :)

Anonymous said...

Great TT!! Reminds me I need to be a little nicer in traffic Mine is up here

Dane Bramage said...

A very good and helpful list, as always! If you get a chance today my T13 "States Edition" is up.

Kendra said...

That's so kind. I needed to be reminded about some of those. It's sad that people don't do these things naturally. Happy Thursday!

K said...

That's a great list!! I like to practice #1 on your list, and the others are all great suggestions that I can learn from also.

Have a great Thursday!!

Buttercup said...

That was a great list! Thank you. Today I helped an elderly woman carry her bag down the stairs at Penn Station. It was a little thing but it made me happy. You're right that if we all did just one more nice thing each day, it could change the world.

Courtney said...

What a wonderful list! I try to do a couple of these things often, but I could certainly do a lot more!

Natalie said...

That's a great list! You're right. If more people did some of those things every day, the world would be a much nicer/cleaner place. :)

Geekwif said...

Good list. There's some food for thought there.

Anonymous said...

Hi Norma, you are right we should all practice these daily. Sometimes it just feels good to do something nice!

Renee Nefe said...

I do 8 of those all the time...and when someone holds the door for me, I say Thank you and mean it. I can tell that some door holders are suprised to hear the thanks.

Jen and family said...

cool list
im going to do number 13 for my older son this week in his school lunch box :)

angela said...

My kids love the note in the lunch thing...when Mango couldn't read yet, we just drew a pciture...and I laways put in a hershey's kiss..

But you know, the real secret here is thinking of others. And I loved how you gave specific things that people could do that are so simple.

You are a sweet girl.:-)

Shandra said...

I love 11. This is a must do at our house!

crse said...

What a great idea! Im linking you up in my TT!

Kimmy said...

13 terrific (and simple) ideas! What a difference we'd all make by doing just 1 or 2 of those each day. It's sad really...

Happy (belated) Thursday 13! My list is up!