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Judging vs. Empathizing

There is an easy way to predict if an imperfect action will be met with empathy or judgment. Who are we asking? If it's us who did it, we'll usually have a great reason. We have a lot of empathy for ourselves, because we know about all the mitigating factors that led to a decision. ("I hate to cut in traffic but I'm so incredibly late!") If it's us who've been inconvenienced, we're quick to judge whoever did it. We have a lot of judgment for others, because we usually don't know a single factor that led to their decision. It's a simple idea to treat others the way we'd want to be treated, but that doesn't mean it's easy. It's hard because it requires empathy (to get inside the feelings of others). And that's exactly what we get to practice with this week's simple helps!

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 May 18 - May 22

Actions: The Simple Helps to remember

• Monday - Deal with the faults of another as gently as your own.
• Tuesday - Don’t nag anyone about anything today.
• Wednesday - Encourage a senior citizen with a letter. www.lovefortheelderly.org
• Thursday - Encourage someone who is having a rough day.
• Friday - Congratulate a graduate.

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!

Practice makes perfect

When we see a star athlete performing at the top of their game, we can think "they make it look easy." And they do. But it takes years and years, and thousands of hours, to make it look easy. And that practice benefits the future goal, even though it doesn't benefit anyone too much while it's happening. Helping people gets more effortless with practice too! We can start to make it look easy when we get enough practice in. One huge difference: the practice we put in now benefits the people around us. Whether we are practicing kindness or have become champions of kindness, the world is better for it.

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 May 11 - May 15

Actions: The Simple Helps to remember

• Monday - Ask a mom what the best thing was about her Mother’s Day.
• Tuesday - Tell someone who ought to know, “You made my day.”
• Wednesday - Send an encouraging text message to someone you haven’t contacted in a while.
• Thursday - Thank a teacher.  Whether written or spoken, you will be thanking someone who doesn’t hear it enough.
• Friday - Designate your favorite charity to receive .5% of what you spend on smile.amazon.com. Can’t decide which one? How about Community Resource Network - preventing family homelessness in Central Florida?

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!

Two ears and one mouth

If we ask a parent why we have two ears and one mouth, it's because we should listen twice as much as we talk. If we ask a biologist, however, it's because two ears provide useful stereo for locating the sound source. And because we can project and direct our voice better with just one mouth. Then we'd realize the parent was right all along, because we would've never learned those biology factoids without listening! This week is about listening first and second, then speaking third. It's a simple way to help make the world better. And bonus, our ears and mouth were built for this.

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 May 4 - May 8

Actions: The Simple Helps to remember

• Monday - Listen to someone without having to add your own story to what they’ve said.
• Tuesday - Learn something new and share it with a friend. You can start here.
• Wednesday - Let someone have their way without rolling your eyes or sighing.
• Thursday - Ask someone to tell you about their pet.
• Friday - Lighten the mood; engage someone with a joke. Don’t know any? Here you go: JOKES

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!

Us vs. Them

Group affiliation is natural. We've got loyalty to a family, or a country, or 100 other kinds of groups. It's an instinctual and super helpful trait. "Us" is almost always better than "me." But it gets us into trouble when we change our sights to "us" being better than "them." Groups can unite or divide people. This week, our Simple Helps are from members of "us" who get these emails. We get to join in and do these actions as part of that group. If you think about it, the only difference between us and them is... you.

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 April 27 - May 1

Actions: The Simple Helps to remember

• Monday - While making dinner or a snack, make an extra plate and share it with a neighbor. - submitted by Dianne Brown
• Tuesday - Sweep/leaf blower the drive or sidewalk of a neighbor: maybe even an elderly one. - submitted by Becky Brown
• Wednesday - Give random compliments to people throughout the day. - submitted by Hope Duncan
• Thursday - Write a letter or email to someone telling them how much you care about them. - submitted by Lauren Pence
• Friday - Take a walk around the neighborhood; say “Hi!” and wave to everyone you meet. - submitted by Carol Boldman

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!

Home vs. Away

We're all still staying home, and there are two ways to look at that when it comes to helping others. A glass half-full that's out of reach or a glass half-full that's right at hand. (Yes, the glass is always half-full... this is Simple Help!😃) Helping others is going to be simple or complicated depending on how you look at being stuck at home. In sports, playing away games is harder for lots of reasons: unfamiliar settings, unpredictable crowds, or maybe just being tired from the trip. And that's where we have some good news! Helping other people this week doesn't have to be an away game. From the comfort of our own homes, we can brighten people's lives with this week's Simple Helps. We've got home field advantage to make this week count!

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 April 20 - April 24

Actions: The Simple Helps to remember

• Monday - Check in with someone who is alone.
• Tuesday - Keep helping everyone by staying home, practicing social distancing, and washing your hands.
• Wednesday - Thank a person who makes your life easier.
• Thursday - Clean up someone’s mess today.
• Friday - Email your Simple Help suggestions to info@simple.help. Suggestions should take less than 5 minutes and cost less than $5.

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!

Mental energy

As the weeks continue with social distancing and extra precautions, it's understandable feeling a little more drained than usual. It takes a lot of mental energy to deal with such a radical change in lifestyle. Here's some encouragement on that front: mental energy has a lot in common with physical energy. The greatest athletes in the world are capable of doing tremendous physical feats for incredible amounts of time because they put hours and years of practice in. Mentally, the ability to create joy and intentional kindness is enhanced by the same kind of practice. Need more mental reserve? Sometimes the best answer is to simply help someone else.

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 April 13 - April 17

Actions: The Simple Helps to remember

• Monday - Play Freerice.  Answer questions to donate rice, to people in need, through the UN World Food Programme. Ten grains of rice are donated each time you answer a question.
• Tuesday - Make someone smile today; bonus points for making them laugh.
• Wednesday - Use your social media to recommend a great book you’ve read or excellent Netflix series you’ve watched.
• Thursday - Respond to everyone with your kindest voice.
• Friday - Thank someone who is helping others during this COVID-19 crisis.

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!

Easy + Time = Hard

It's easy to put in a little extra effort at work, or to stay home and put in a little extra effort there. It's hard to do that over and over again. The difference between us making the world better or leaving it the same is rarely made in huge leaps. It's in consistent steps, time after time, moving onward through the easy days... and continuing on through the days when it gets hard. But we're all in this together. This week, when it's hard to do something simple to help, just know those are the moments that really do change the world.

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 April 6 - April 10

Actions: The Simple Helps to remember

• Monday - Check out auntbertha.com to learn about social service offerings in your area.
• Tuesday - Before bed tonight, write down a good thing you witnessed today and tomorrow let that person know that you noticed their effort.
• Wednesday - Write a thank you note to your mail carrier and put it in your mailbox. Simple Help bonus points: include $5.
• Thursday - Cut someone some slack.
• Friday - Make that overdue apology today.

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

Keeping our distance

It's odd hearing that the nicest thing we can do for our neighbors right now is to keep our distance. That may be true, but it is also true that it isn't the only nice thing we can do! There are many ways to serve and help those around us, brightening their days, without having to be within six feet of them. This week, our Simple Helps are aimed at keeping the distance geographically, but keeping people closer to our hearts. Kindness isn't bounded by time or space, it can thrive anywhere.

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 March 30 - April 3

Actions: The Simple Helps to remember

• Monday - Ask someone to tell you about one of their best days ever.
• Tuesday - Encourage someone on social media today.
• Wednesday - Tell someone you are thankful for them and tell them why.
• Thursday - Do a chore around the house or outside that you wouldn't normally do.
• Friday - Give someone a genuine compliment.

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!

Isolation

Strange times these days. The people whose job is to keep us healthy and safe are telling us the best way to care for one another is to keep our distance. It's probably the simplest way to help of all. Certainly not easy, but simple. We're never really in isolation though. You're reading this on a device that connects you with the rest of the world. Even when we are apart, we are connected. This week may require some extra patience, but at least we've got some time to care for those around us, and around the world, in isolation.

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 March 23 - March 27

Actions: The Simple Helps to remember

• Monday - Be extra patient with people.
• Tuesday - Write “Thank you!” on the outside of an envelope, put $5 inside, and tape it to your garbage can for the trash collector.
• Wednesday - Visit www.moreloveletters.com. Check out a few stories, then take five minutes to make someone’s day.
• Thursday - Don’t complain about anything to anyone all day.
• Friday - Thank someone who has helped you along the way of your life.

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!

Technical difficulties

This email was delayed by technical difficulties... a bit apropos of the days ahead we are all facing together. There will be difficulties, technical and personal, hindering our ability or motivation to care for each other this week. Difficulties like that can go one of two ways: they can act like stairs or a wall. What's the difference? Steps! The height of the obstacles in our way are surmountable or impossible depending on how many steps we can take to overcome them. This week, let's choose to take each next right step to overcome the technical difficulties. Each step may not always be easy, but we can make it simple just by choosing the next right thing.

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 March 16 - March 20

Actions: The Simple Helps to remember

• Monday - Surprise someone with an uplifting text or call.
• Tuesday - Buy only what you need, leaving enough on the store shelves for others.
• Wednesday - Replace handshakes and hugs with waves and thumbs up.
• Thursday - Encourage someone raising children.
• Friday - Tell someone about something that you have discovered that changed your life for the better.

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!

Contagious

It feels like we can't go five minutes without hearing more about Coronavirus. Sorry about this email continuing that trend! But there's a reason it's worth bringing up in regards to Simple Help. You know what's immeasurably more contagious than Coronavirus? The idea of it, and all the feelings of fear and uncertainty that go along with it. Feelings are wildly contagious. And that can be wonderful news when there are people like you in the world. This week, 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.

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 March 9 - March 13

Actions: The Simple Helps to remember

• Monday - Do your best to calm someone’s fear or understand their anger.
• 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.

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!

"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.

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 March 2 - March 6

Actions: The Simple Helps to remember

• Monday - Pick a cause and start saving all your loose change to make a donation. (Been doing this awhile? Then donate it today.)
• Tuesday - Dare to care. Engage in a short conversation with someone who is clearly disregarded by others.
• Wednesday - Wear or use a gift in the presence of its giver, or send them a text to say thanks!
• Thursday - Check out The Freecycle Network - a nonprofit movement that lets you give stuff you don’t want/need to people who really do.
• Friday - Follow up with someone who’s been going through a rough time.

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!

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.

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 24 - February 28

Actions: The Simple Helps to remember

• 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. 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!