Be a bucket filler

I have recently learned of a concept that really does make you happier. Everyone has a bucket that needs to be filled daily. Each of us have our own bucket, and  the only way to fill it is by doing something kind to someone else. When you are playing sports, or competing, against someone else, did you think to tell others that they did a good job? Sometimes it is called being a good sport, but being a bucket filler goes beyond the high five for winning. 

You can write a note, deliver a treat, or just be really happy for someone who does really good at something. If you are frustrated with yourself, or possibly you don't perform as good as you would have liked, you can be happy for someone else. 

I know that when I go out of my way to fill someone's bucket, I suddenly feel happier. If you are in a funk, go and do something nice for a friend, your mom, or sibling. I promise it will make you feel better. 

When your own bucket is full, you are happy and confident. Your thoughts are positive and you are more friendly. Have you ever felt better after someone smiles, writes you a note, or does something nice for you? This is the ripple effect. I love random acts of kindness and I have been the recipient of this. It does make you happier! 

If your bucket is empty you feel sad, angry depressed anxious and sometimes physically ill. Its easy to believe that life is too hard and that nothing will help you be successful. An empty bucket needs to be filled. You get to decide if you do random acts of kindness to fill your own bucket.

Today is a great day to get out there and do something nice. Open doors, smile, say hello, and go give your mom a hug. You can help without being asked. You can write notes, visit with a neighbor or friend.  Filling you own bucket takes practice and action. 

You matter

In a world where all we do is compare ourselves to others, I sometimes need to remind myself that I am doing great. I am better today than I was yesterday and that is good enough. It makes me sad that we don't think that we are good enough based on what someone else is doing,. If we place too much value on material things, it will never bring happiness. There have been friendships broken, and families torn apart due to people in these relationships that are jealous or want something of a material nature. I have been a victim of this. I have had friendships go bad because of someone being jealous. It is not fun at all. I remember when this happened in my life, and I didn't think I could go on. It was difficult to navigate through. Comparing material things is not healthy and does not bring you up to a higher level. Take the time to see the good in you! beautiful you! Every single person can make a difference. You have a unique set of gifts that you can use to help others.
There is a story about how we all have a bucket that we are trying to fill each day. The only way to fill up our own bucket is to help fill up someone else's bucket by being kind, or doing acts of kindness. Think about this for a minute. When you are sad, and have a pity party, you take away from what is inside your bucket. You can look around for someone who needs a friend and as you reach out to them, you realize your own bucket is getting fuller. There will be times when your own bucket is filling up due to others reaching out to you. It is an amazing cycle. Be happy for others. Look for the good in everyone, and be a bucket filler!

The best way to be happy, is to not compare yourself to others. You have wonderful qualities and you are amazing just the way you are. You were created by a Heavenly Father who loves you. He knows you, and sends others to help you along the path. Look for the opportunity to be there for someone else. Don't compare your weakness to someone else's strength. 

Just say hello

I watched an Oprah video titled Just say hello. It talked about how saying hello and looking someone in the eye, fights loneliness. I have tried this and added it to my routine daily. It's funny how once you start thinking about things and you have that idea in your mind, you see it everywhere. It seems like all I hear about is just doing something simple to make someone's day.
I love making a difference. I am passionate about it. I talk about it all of the time. Today at work we had a training on being nice. It had a challenge to do 5 things a day to be nice to someone by doing random acts of kindness. They spoke about how someone put a note on the candy machine with a random act of kindness card. I think I know who this was ;) I want to take the challenge and see what 5 things I can do each day for one week. I printed out some random acts of kindness cards and I am going to put some of them in my car and take some to work so I can meet the challenge. It is awesome that America First is trying to promote others to do random acts of kindness. Here is the link to some of the cute random acts of kindness cards. Are you up for the challenge?
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B5tymN19fC2YS1hVeTU4d05wTU0/edit

Our Young Men and Young Women are making a Mormon message about being Heavenly Fathers hands. It is so awesome to hear all of their stories each week and it is even more exciting to watch it as it becomes a video. The youth are amazing. They reach out to others every day. It is just a way of life. The youth in Pleasant View 4th ward are all about serving others and making a difference.

There was also a story on KSL about 2 young boys writing nice notes to people and handing them out at the mall. Everyone wondered what it was all about, some said no thank you, and some took them and read them while walking. The notes said things like "you matter",  "you have a pretty smile", "have a wonderful day". Something just as simple as a note made someone happy. If you want to read the story here is the link to the awesome article.

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=1286&sid=28857305

Now is the time to go and make a difference! Reach out to others. 

Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier.
Mother Teresa

Reaching out to others

I recently read a blog post about a mom who has to stick up for her kid because of a bully. I hear a lot about bullies. I have been bullied. I am sure every person at some point in their life has been bullied. Sometimes it is at work when you are an adult. Kids tease, sometimes adults tease. Sometimes it crosses the line, and makes you evaluate who your friends are. You might be in a situation where bad behavior keeps happening. You might have to decide if you want to reconcile a friendship, or just forgive someone for their bad behavior.

This post is about what to do when you are in this situation, and what to do if you witness someone being teased or bullied.

There will always be people that don't like you. Some people don't like me, and some people might not like you. It's just the way it is. But that voice in your head that says, “Sometimes I feel like the whole world hates me”? That’s Satan. And that’s a lie. Not everyone hates you. There are way more people who love you than people who don’t.

Kids are mean for a reason. Sometimes, it’s because it makes them feel strong. Sometimes, they are going along with the crowd to be accepted. Sometimes, it’s because no one ever told them it was wrong to treat people that way. Sometimes, it’s because someone has been mean to them. Sometimes mean kids are always mean, even when they are adults, But almost NEVER is it because of you. Don’t ever define yourself based on the opinion of the Mean Kid, or adult.
 
Don't ever be the mean kid....EVER!!! When you see another kid, or person being picked on for the love of all the is right and good, go rescue that kid. Go put your arm on that kid's shoulder and tell him you are on his side. Tell the mean kid to stop it!!! It might be awkward, really awkward, but it is the best feeling ever. It takes courage! Lots of courage. If you can learn this when you are young, you can use it your whole life. Sad to say that it happens to adults too. Sometimes we are used as another person's punching bag. The rude comments don't ever seem to stop. It is ok to stick up for yourself, or to tell the mean person to stop.  It usually takes just one person to stop someone from the continued behavior.

Some kids may be getting picked on at school AND at home. Some kids might have parents who abuse, verbally and physically. They may not have a mom and dad who love them and empower them to deal with bullies. These kids have to push others down to bring themselves up.The cycle is a tough one to break. Trying to stop bad behavior isn't easy.   
 
You could change someone's life if you stick up for them. You might be the only one who sticks up for him! Be THAT kid. Be the one who sees the hurting, downcast kid and RESCUES him. You can be the answer to a mothers prayer. You might not think you are too small to make a difference. Have you ever spent a night with a mosquito?

Have you ever met Karma? What goes around comes around. You reap what you sow. I have found that is it lots more fun to do random acts of kindness and reach out to others. You will find yourself surrounded by others doing the same to you and for you. I love to look for opportunities to make someone have a fantastic day. This small and simple thing might just be the key to happiness. You will attract friends who value the same things you do. Heavenly Father will see to it. Heavenly Father is on your side, and He is depending on you to be his hands. Reach out to others to make a difference.

It all comes back to love

Yesterday I went to the dentist to get my teeth cleaned. As many of you know I am lucky enough to have a close friend that is my dentist. "James N. Jones DMD" Just in case you haven't heard me say it enough....Anyway when I get my teeth cleaned I am also lucky enough to say that my hygenist is my close friend. We love the same things. Her name is Leslie. We always have the greatest conversations about everything. Leslie is so easy to talk to and because we love the same things we always have something to talk about. I make her job a little more difficult because I am always trying to talk while she is cleaning my teeth. I know that is hard to imagine....We started talking about life and how we all have hard things going on in our lives. She said that in her own life she is trying to start each day with more love in her heart. What an awesome way to start a day. With each and every person that we come in contact with, we can just have love in our heart and it will show in everything we do. Each and every one of us came to earth, there is a plan, and we have a Heavenly Father that loves us. We can be his hands, and be the answer to a prayer. We can show more love, and kindness, especially if we know that we have a Heavenly Father that loves us. How can we serve and be more like him? It all starts with love. During this Christmas season we are all trying to show others that we love them. We do more random acts of kindness than at any other time of year. I love being able to interact with people and I love random acts of kindness. Here is something else to think about.

Think about how this could changes lives. To truly be able to be more understanding and compassionate with every little thing. I know I can try more and more every day to be kinder, and to have more love in my heart. I am truly grateful for the amazing family and friends that surround me. I am thankful that I have opportunites to serve and I am thankful that I can start over each day. I know that I have a Heavenly Father that loves me, and that I can show others love and compassion and that I can be his hands, and be the answer to a prayer. Thank you Leslie for the amazing example of love. Thank you for being my friend, and reminding me the greatest gift I can  give is LOVE.

Sunrise and sunset

The other day Karlee left for school, and shortly after she called me. She said "Mom you should go and look at the sunrise", (she really said sunset, and we laughed because it was the sunrise). She said it was really pretty and that it reminded her of me. Anyone who knows me at all knows that I love to watch the sunrise and the sunset. I often take pictures of them and send them to friends. I stop the car and make whoever is with me look at the beauty. Here is the picture of that morning Karlee had me go look at the sunrise.

 

 

Later during the week, Kiersten called me and she had seen my post to Instagram, it was a sunset pic. She said that she was driving and she was going to call me to look at the same sunset that she saw on my Instagram. It too reminded her of me. It made me so happy, that the sunset made her think of me. Here is the picture of the beautiful sunset.

 

 

 

 

My whole life I have loved sunsets. I have pictures that I have taken from when I was young. I still pull over and take pictures of the sun. I have lots and lots on my phone.  The sun makes me happy. It reminds me that my Heavenly Father loves me and that he wants me to have joy in my life, and that he created this beautiful world to bring me joy. Life doesn't just have to be endured, it is to be enjoyed. I am so thankful to each and every one of you. Thank you for bringing me joy, and for helping me to see the beauty that surrounds me. Reach out to others, and make a difference:) It only takes one small thing....a kind word, a smile, open a door. Write someone a note. Make a treat. Call your Mom or Dad, a friend, or your Grandma, or Grandpa. Be a good friend! Look for opportunities to take the ugly out of someone's day. Just like the quote says. I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you make them feel.

 

 



 

 









Halloween and a little gratitude

If you know me at all, you know I love candy. I decorate with candy and I have candy on my desk. (You are welcome James N Jones DDS). My love of Halloween started with my love of candy. I found a sign a while ago that said "I love you more than candy". I send a picture of it to Troy or my kids, and then they know that it is a special day. When I was a kid,  I would go trick or treating for hours. I would eat all of my candy within a couple of days. I trick or treated until I was 30. It isn't an age limit, it is a height limit, so in that case I can trick or treat until I am really old. I am over trick or treating after going last year with Karlee and her friends, but I love trick or treating. The other day Troy and I were talking about my candy decorations in my house. I had just filled them up, and they looked really cute. Troy said "You really do love Halloween. Is that why you have all of those jars of candy, so you can celebrate Halloween all year?".

 

This year I dressed up two times. I went to our ward party as a biker chick per Nicole Wheeler's request. One of the cute little girls in my ward totally noticed that I was a biker chick a different year. I think she was only 11, but she remembered. After she reminded me that I already wore that costume, she said I was totally rockin it.  Lizzy Poll was so scared of my fake tattoo sleeves. It took her a minute to see that they were fake.  All of the young women leaders wore some type of biker chick costume.

 I went as that last year, and so I wanted to be something different at work. I wore my baseball uniform from 1987.

 

 It brought back some awesome memories. I was thinking about the good ol days in Riverdale growing up and trick or treating with my friends. I thought a lot about Dena because we were on a lot of softball teams together and we always went trick or treating together. I don't know what it was about Riverdale, but it seems like we all loved Halloween. I am so grateful for good friends.
 

Halloween has evolved through the years. I would go trick or treating with my kids and when they would yell "MOM" I would have to remind them that most mom's aren't trick or treating and they should let me trick or treat without getting busted:) I am not even sure why I would go trick or treating, other than I love candy and I love a challenge. I am sure I thought I was funny because until last year no one questioned why the old lady was trick or treating. I finally decided trick or treating is over-rated, and I think I have officially retired.

As an adult I painted pumpkins for years and years. I figure I painted around 5000 pumpkins. I started to find joy in giving someone a little something without an expectation.  I have learned something about myself along the way. I love little random acts of kindness. I can surprise someone around Halloween and they don't expect it at all, but it makes them really happy. It is a holiday that you don't have to give someone something back because it isn't expected. I notice lots of others do the same thing. Families and friends gather. It seems like if you let it, Halloween can be the start of the holiday season.

 Halloween has turned my heart to gratitude. It is the last holiday before Thanksgiving. Our hearts are automatically turned to being grateful during the month of November and so for me Halloween is just where I start. 
 

I recently read an awesome article from Oprah. It talks about how to have more gratitude in your heart.

Every day you should have gratitude meditation. This should be about 15 minutes. Sit still and thank the world (Or your Heavenly Father) for every single thing that you can think of. The wind, the trees, the gas in the car, the brief breeze in the hot day, the gift of touch, smell, taste, sight and you get the idea. Fill up your core with gratitude.

One gratitude gift a day- Reach out to someone different each and every single day and say thank you.
 

Pay it forward- Let someone go ahead of you in line, pay for someone's drink or food at a drive up or gas station. give the gift of listening, do something for someone else.....put this on the list for each day. Small acts bring big results. Change the world with just being the change.
 

FOCUS ON THE POSITVE- Be the positive force in the world and turn away from the negative.
 

When you live in gratitude it reminds you at every twist and turn of your day how amazing life can really be. When you focus on the positive it changes everything. Take the time to pay attention to your life and fill yourself up with gratitude. When you are unleashing the wave of gratitude into your life you are living the best life.