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5 WAYS TO ADD HOPE AND JOY 

Everyone has feelings. Feelings are wildly contagious. And that can be wonderful news when there are people like you in the world. This week, in spite of news reports, we have an opportunity to share hope and joy with a world that needs it. And it can spread like wildfire. The light is stronger than the dark. And hope is stronger than fear.

March 7 - 11

• Monday -  Do your best to calm someone’s fear.
• Tuesday -    Use your social media or email to let people know about a friend’s or acquaintance’s small business, blog, or website.
• Wednesday -  Give someone the benefit of the doubt.
• Thursday -  Check out One Simple Wish and ask a friend or two to join you in giving a bit of happiness to a kid impacted by abuse and neglect.
• Friday - Really listen to someone’s point of view that is different from your own.

Is Facebook a good thing or a bad thing? It depends on the faces! Specifically, it depends on the people and the words and kindnesses they share. A tool that connects hundreds of millions of people can magnify the effects of our social connections in a powerful way. This week, our simple helps are focused on using that tool for good! Because, ironically, we can use Facebook to help people without being face-to-face with them. We can be the faces -- the people -- that make Facebook a good thing.

"BE THE CHANGE YOU WISH TO SEE..."

You've probably heard the quote, "Be the change you wish to see in the world." It's attributed to Gandhi. Here's why that's interesting: there's no record of him ever saying it. It didn't show up in writing until 26 years after his death, and even then, it wasn't referenced to Gandhi. But here's why that matters: Gandhi epitomized the idea. He owned it. It's not about the quote, it's about the actions. "Being the change" is loving, encouraging, and serving. It's done in life and not on paper. So everyone remembers Gandhi, and no one knows who coined this phrase. This week, let's go be the change we wish to see in the world.

• Monday - Pass along a little wisdom that you’ve learned from someone else. 
• Tuesday - Ask someone to tell you about one of their best days ever.
• Wednesday - Jot a little note of thanks to someone who will be surprised by it.
• Thursday - Respect others’ schedules, show up on time.
• Friday - Ask someone you don’t know, “How’s it going?”

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LOVE

The week of Valentine's is here, and heart-shaped decorations are all around to remind us. It's easy to remember (for good or bad) the romantic love that Valentine's Day celebrates. But that's only one kind of love, and it's rarely that kind of love that changes the world. This week let's celebrate the kind of love that makes life better for everyone around us. Giving our time, encouragement, and simple help will fill this week with more love than heart-shaped decorations ever could.

• Monday - Wish everyone you see a Happy Valentine’s Day!
• Tuesday -  Treat everyone the way you want to be treated.
• Wednesday -  Apologize to someone. You know who.
• Thursday -  Give someone a second chance.
• Friday -  Give a good word to someone who is having a bad day.

It's good advice to follow your heart. It's even better advice when we know that we weren't meant to wall off our heart to avoid ever sharing it with those around us. Hearts aren't meant to be focused on themselves. This is true of our physiological heart supplying life to the rest of our body. It is true also of the metaphorical heart that we're meant to follow. Life, both physical and metaphorical, becomes abundant when our hearts give effortlessly where it's needed. This week let's have a heart for those around us. And then, let's follow our hearts.

- You can reference Simple Help using "@gohelpsomebody" on FB, Twitter or Instagram.

- Add the hashtag "#simplehelp" to any related post on social media. Use it, and the whole tribe of helpers can easily see ways we are making a difference!

For the week of February 7 - February 11

Actions: The Simple Helps to remember

• Monday - Give someone a thumbs up.
  “No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.” – Aesop
• Tuesday - Pack up what you don’t need/use/wear, put it in your car, and donate it the next time you drive by a Goodwill or used clothes receptacle.
  “Helping others is the secret sauce to a happy life.” ― Todd Stocker
• Wednesday - Ask the person behind you in line if they'd like to go ahead of you.
  “There is nothing more beautiful than someone who goes out of their way to make life beautiful for others.” ― Mandy Hale
• Thursday - Smile at someone who looks like they could use a boost.
  “A kind gesture can reach a wound that only compassion can heal.” ― Steve Maraboli
• Friday - Send someone a Valentine.  - I'm like the kid in kindergarten; I really do send valentines to everyone. ― Susie Bright

Be awesome. Make someone's day. Share this with your friends. Join the rest of us this week and go help somebody! To see each day’s Simple.Help in your Facebook feed Monday through Friday click here and hit “LIKE” or follow Simple.Help on Instagram!

WORDS ARE WIND

Maybe you've heard the phrase, "words are wind." It's meant to have the negative connotation that words can't do much. Whoever first said "words are wind" probably wasn't thinking of tornadoes or hurricanes. They definitely weren't thinking of big ships powered only by the wind in their sails. Words (and wind) have power, whether or not we are choosing them wisely. This week, our simple helps revolve around a central idea: words chosen wisely. It's a chance to breathe life into those around us, instead of accidentally knocking them down.

Don't Forget:

- You can reference Simple Help using "@gohelpsomebody" on FB, Twitter or Instagram.

- Add the hashtag "#simplehelp" to any related post on social media. Use it, and the whole tribe of helpers can easily see ways we are making a difference!

For the week of February 17 - February 21

Actions: The Simple Helps to remember

• Monday - Write a positive online review of a business you like.
• Tuesday - Tell someone you love that you are proud of them.
• Wednesday - Don’t interrupt anyone today.
• Thursday - Give someone the space they need.
• Friday - Use a kind voice all day.

Be awesome. Make someone's day. Join the rest of us this week and go help somebody! To see each day’s Simple.Help in your Facebook feed Monday through Friday click here and hit “LIKE” or follow Simple.Help on Instagram!

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END OF AN ERROR 

We're entering into the last month of 2021. It was a year with so many oddities that it sometimes felt like living through an historical error. It wasn't only error, though. There were bright spots of love and kindness. At times, 2021 held periods of discouragement. But times like that make every act of simple help shine that much brighter. This year may have had some errors, but we're balancing the ledger every time we choose to help. So let's go help somebody this week!

5 REASONS TO CELEBRATE 

One of the great traits of humanity is our capacity -- our nearly irrepressible compulsion -- to celebrate. Halloween, Thanksgiving, the holidays as a whole... people just agree with each other, "we should celebrate this day!" The earth revolved around the sun another time since you were born? Celebration! Bring out a big dessert and put candles on it! This week, the goal is to tap into our innate celebrative nature. There are holidays that you may or may not know about this week, leading up to a denouement of World Kindness Day on Saturday, November 13th! We have so much to celebrate.

- You can reference Simple Help using "@gohelpsomebody" on FB, Twitter or Instagram.
- Add the hashtag "#simplehelp" to any related post on social media. Use it, and the whole tribe of helpers can easily see ways we are making a difference!

For the week of November 8 - November 12

Actions: The Simple Helps to remember

• Monday - It’s National STEM Day! Thank someone who is working hard in the field of science or technology or engineering or math!
• Tuesday - It’s World Adoption Day! Cheer on an adoptive parent.
• Wednesday - It’s Forget-Me-Not Day! Let someone know that even though you haven’t been in touch lately, you care.
• Thursday - It’s Veterans Day! Thank a man or woman who served in the U.S. armed forces.
• Friday - It’s Chicken Soup For The Soul Day! Thank someone who brings  you comfort.

Be awesome. Make someone's day. Share this with your friends. Join the rest of us this week and go help somebody! To see each day’s Simple.Help in your Facebook feed Monday through Friday click here and hit “LIKE” or follow Simple.Help on Instagram!

TWO WRONGS DON'T MAKE A RIGHT

Of course they don't! We know this because we've heard it a million times. But, why did it become a phrase in the first place? It's because when someone wrongs you, it feels like the right response to wrong them in return. Reciprocity is built into us, for better or worse. For worse, it's the temptation toward two wrongs. At its best, it's a source of a positive reinforcement loop for us to love each other with increasing ease. Two rights make more rights. The Simple Helps we perform this week will show kindness to those around us and help kindness show up in those around us.

• Monday -  Think of something you have that you don’t need. Who do you know that would love to have it? Give it to them with this note, “I think this should belong to you.”
• Tuesday - Be on time. 
• Wednesday  Let someone besides you be in charge of the TV remote or car radio today.
• Thursday -   Don’t interrupt anyone today.
• Friday -  Dare to care. Engage in a short conversation with someone who is clearly disregarded by others.

Be awesome. Make someone's day. Share this with your friends. Join the rest of us this week and go help somebody! To see each day’s Simple.Help in your Facebook feed Monday through Friday click here and hit “LIKE” or follow Simple.Help on Instagram!

5 SENSES

We've got five senses designed for us to take in the world around us. All the good and bad in the world, we all take it in through each of these five senses. What if we were to target ways to use our senses to make more good and less bad? That's the goal this week! We can focus on the world around us with each of our senses, and find ways to make it better.

• Monday - When you SEE someone who could use a boost. Give them one.
• Tuesday -  Take a moment to TOUCH someone with a pat on the hand or the back.
• Wednesday - HEAR what someone says, but consider what they mean before responding.
• Thursday -  Give someone something that SMELLS really good.
• Friday - Give someone something that TASTES delicious.

Be awesome. Make someone's day. Share this with your friends. Join the rest of us this week and go help somebody! To see each day’s Simple.Help in your Facebook feed Monday through Friday click here and hit “LIKE” or follow Simple.Help on Instagram!

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DO YOUR BEST, BE YOUR BEST

Sometimes we feel our best. It just seems like everything is falling into place. While we don't have complete control over that feeling, we can tip the odds in our favor. Being at our best is easier when we are doing our best. That includes helping other people and making the world a better place. Doing our best is the action. Being the best version of ourselves is the result. This week let's do our best and be our best.

• Monday -  Relay an overheard compliment.
• Tuesday - Make good on a promise.
• Wednesday - Send someone you love a fun photo of him/herself, or of a time you were together.
• Thursday - Make it possible for someone to take a break.
• Friday - Check out this way to help someone who is blind: bemyeyes.com

Be awesome. Make someone's day. Share this with your friends. Join the rest of us this week and go help somebody! To see each day’s Simple.Help in your Facebook feed Monday through Friday click here and hit “LIKE” or follow Simple.Help on Instagram!

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THERE YOU ARE! 

A very wise person once said, "There are two types of people. Those who walk into a room and say, 'here I am' and those who walk into a room and say, 'there you are!'" That second type of person is the best! And we have the choice to be that type of person, it's not a trait decided for us at birth. The simple helps this week are all practical ways to say, "there you are" with our actions. When we focus on others instead of just ourselves, our world gets bigger and so much better.

- You can reference Simple Help using "@gohelpsomebody" on FB, Twitter or Instagram.

- Add the hashtag "#simplehelp" to any related post on social media. Use it, and the whole tribe of helpers can easily see ways we are making a difference!

For the week of October 4 - October 8

Actions: The Simple Helps to remember

• Monday - Follow a charity working on a cause you love and share their post.
• Tuesday - Compliment a stranger.
• Wednesday - Tell someone “I miss you.”
• Thursday - Say thank you to someone who rarely gets thanked, e.g., a bathroom attendant, a toll booth attendant, ...your spouse. :)
• Friday - Before taking the last piece of anything, ask if anyone else wants it.

Be awesome. Make someone's day. Share this with your friends. Join the rest of us this week and go help somebody! To see each day’s Simple.Help in your Facebook feed Monday through Friday click here and hit “LIKE” or follow Simple.Help on Instagram!

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THE WORLD NEEDS YOU 

Doing good things to help other people feels different in real life than it looks in the movies. For one, there's no one there to film it. The inspiring music is missing. And it sometimes doesn't seem like there's a big, heartwarming moment during those moments that you're helping. Life isn't like the movies. But you know what? Life is better than the movies. Because when you do good things in life, you are helping real people. You are making the real world better. And the world needs you.

- You can reference Simple Help using "@gohelpsomebody" on FB, Twitter or Instagram.

- Add the hashtag "#simplehelp" to any related post on social media. Use it, and the whole tribe of helpers can easily see ways we are making a difference!

For the week of September 27 - October 1

Actions: The Simple Helps to remember

• Monday - When you want to say something unkind today, don't.
• Tuesday - Contact a relative, one you don’t see often, just because.
• Wednesday - Do whatever next right thing you know to do for someone.
• Thursday - Thank someone who is working hard.
• Friday - Make a “HOW I SEE YOU” list of someone’s best qualities and give it to them.

Be awesome. Make someone's day. Share this with your friends. Join the rest of us this week and go help somebody! To see each day’s Simple.Help in your Facebook feed Monday through Friday click here and hit “LIKE” or follow Simple.Help on Instagram!

"BE THE CHANGE YOU WISH TO SEE..."

You've probably heard the quote, "Be the change you wish to see in the world." It is attributed to Gandhi. Here's why that's interesting: there's no record of him ever saying it. It didn't show up in writing until 26 years after his death, and even then, it wasn't referenced to Gandhi. But here's why that matters: Gandhi epitomized the idea. He owned it. It's not about the quote, it is about the actions. "Being the change" is loving, encouraging, and serving. It's done in life and not on paper. So everyone remembers Gandhi, and no one knows who coined this phrase. This week, let's go be the change we wish to see in the world.

• Monday - Listen to someone tell you about their day.
• Tuesday - Keep an eye out for someone being kind and let them know that you noticed their effort.
• Wednesday - Step out of someone’s way.
• Thursday - Tell someone who ought to know - “You made my day.”
• Friday -  Return something you borrowed.

Be awesome. Make someone's day. Share this with your friends. Join the rest of us this week and go help somebody! To see each day’s Simple.Help in your Facebook feed Monday through Friday click here and hit “LIKE” or follow Simple.Help on Instagram!

IT GETS EASIER 

The first day of a diet is hungry work. The first trip to the gym is hard work. But the first steps towards being a person who tries to find ways to help? It can be exhausting work. But it gets easier. It's not just that forming a habit makes it easier to continue. It's the good feelings, the happy memories, the positive reinforcement! It's more fun to do something... fun! There are few things more fulfilling than helping those around us. It's hard to start, but it gets so much easier the more you do. 

• Monday -  Tell someone “don’t give up!”
• Tuesday - Help someone resolve a frustration they have with a person or situation.
• Wednesday - Tell someone that they have a beautiful smile! 
• Thursday -  Let someone else have their way without putting up a fight about it.
• Friday -  Do your best to calm someone’s fear.

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