C. Beth writes several inspiring blogs that I follow. One is called C. Beth Blog, Confessions of a Happy Mommy and is about the poignant and oftentimes hilarious life of a mommy of two adorable children. Makes me long for those days that I never got around to recording in the early lives of my own children (ages 8 and 11 now).
Beth is also the author of the One Minute Writer where she encourages her nearly 2300 regular followers (how exactly does that sort of thing happen? But I see that I am on my way!) to take one minute a day to write. "You have 1,440 minutes a day. Use one of them to write."
So begins the greeting in the header.
Today's writing prompt is this:
How have you inspired or motivated someone else?
Inspiration is the thing that I am passionate about in all its forms so you know that I had to post about that. Here is what I had to say (within the one minute time frame no less!):
I believe that inspiration is around us all the time. And a lot of the time we can be inspiration to one another.
Often we don't even realize the full impact that we have on another, whether they be our own children, our colleagues, our friends or the person standing behind us in line at the coffee shop. If you approach your day with the idea that you will be an inspiration to someone - perhaps even without you knowing it - you will approach the day with a lighter step, a kinder heart and a more accepting soul.
It is our duty to scatter joy wherever we can and by doing so we may be the inspiration that someone needs to pick themselves up, dust themselves off and keep living their own remarkable life.
I know that many of my regular readers have been inspired to go forth and do their own Blessed Bucks challenge. I hope that you are continuing to spread the love and scatter that joy wherever you may be. New places I have scattered the bucks...under the jelly packets at my favorite restaurant...in the donation jar at the bake sale fundraiser...inside the 'Monday' sock of a set of days of the week girls socks (because who likes Mondays?)...
I have a friend I call the "Candy Man". He took my challenge a bit differently (and especially appropriate to his locally owned confectionery shop). He has decided that the blustery gray days of March have gotten the best of all of us, so recently he dressed up in his most brilliant green shirt and headed out to do his morning errands armed with a Moonstruck chocolate truffle and a quest to find a person wearing that same shade of green. It didn't take him long. He performed a "Random Act of Chocolate" by bestowing that lovely morsel of yumminess on the girl behind the counter. I daresay that he was an inspiration to that person at that time. (And I wish that I had been wearing green that day!)
I would like to challenge each of my regular readers to the following:
Tell me one thing that you will do this week to be an INSPIRATION to someone either with or without their knowledge, one way that you will SCATTER JOY...
Will you write a letter to a long lost college roommate?
Pay for the meal of the person behind you at McDonald's?
Hold the door open for the mom struggling to wheel that bulky baby stroller into the store?
Let the person with one or two items cut in front of you at the grocery store check out?
Or just look people in the eye and say hello when you meet them?
Do tell!
And to reward those that SCATTER JOY (and leave a comment) I plan to have a GIVEAWAY! (My first!) I want to celebrate that I now officially have more followers than blog posts...something I never thought possible when I started.
You can get entries as easy as 1-2-3:
1::If you leave a post about your quest to be an inspiration and scatter joy, it will count as one entry.
2::If you want to encourage others to leave a similar comment, I will count their entry, and another one for you (provided they tell who encouraged them to write).
3::And if you post a link to this on your own blog or website (and share a link with me), I will enter you again!
What can you win? Well, how about one of my fabulous W.O.W. Pendants.
W.O.W. = Words Of Wisdom. It is like a fortune cookie for your neck since you will receive a pendant with your choice of initial and I will select a random inspirational thought for the back. How's that for a giveaway?
I will accept entries until Sunday, April 5th. Now go forth and SCATTER JOY!
"There is joy in all." ~ Anne Sexton
Check It Out::http://www.kathy-davis.blogspot.com/
Enjoy the day!
17 comments:
Erin, thank you for the wonderful shout-out! Your words meant so much.
I loved your TOMW response when I first read it this morning--It got me to thinking about how I can strive to "scatter blessings" to strangers. Just smiling at someone and making a nice comment ("Wow, that's a great color on you")--what a great way to give someone a little more spring in their step!
I'll post about this on C. Beth Blog. :) I know my sister loves her pendant.
Also--I'm so thrilled to see you now have products on your website! I've wanted that when I've checked it out in the past! I'll be looking at it. Not buying today--but maybe when I have a special occasion.
Very encouraging post for the day. I'm a SAHM and really spend most of my time with my kids, so I think I will focus on "scattering joy" by putting extra effort into encouraging them! That is always a good goal and I can use the extra push to do something like this. Thanks for the reminder! :)
C. Beth sent me over for the contest.
-Claire
ps- I love your jewelry, it's gorgeous!
Erin:
Hi!! I am a good friend of C. Beth's and saw your give away. I remember the pendant because you made that pendant for her sister Becki at Christmas and I thought I would love one of those. That is beautiful. I loved your post about scattering joy. I'm in seminary now but before I started school, I started a research project on the small ways people make huge differences. I will make a pointed effort to scatter joy this week. Giving a smile is a great way to start!! I will also put it on my blog, laureljeanne@blogspot.com.
Thanks so much again and blessings upon your day~
Laurel
What a lovely idea! I posted a link to here on my Dani and Jimmy blog.
I have a blog called Dani's Daily Drop and I made it for the soul purpose of trying to share my happiness with others. Randomly. Each day I hope to make someone smile in a different way. I want to help someone out there see the world a little brighter.
My other blog Golden Tears of Joy is where I hope to inspire others to write or create art from seeing my own. I also hope the posts on that blog can brighten a day or two.
Thank you for the inspiration that you are! I'm so happy to find you via C. Beth. She referred me. :)
Beth sent me your way!
What a wonderful post. This week I've been bombarded my negativity in the workplace - people gossiping, blaming, and complaining. To help scatter joy - instead of joining the complainers - I am going to be an ally with the poor targets of those complaints and help come up with a SOLUTION to the problem!
What a great idea. I love it! I'll have to think about what I can do ... and I'll try to post about it on my blog soon! : )
I love the pendant. I was saying to my partner the other day how unfair it is that men don't get to wear jewellery - she has so many beautiful things that would look weird on a bloke in his late fifties! When I worked at least I got wear a different tie every day but I don't even do that any more.
(Found may way here by Beth's blog - which I thoroughly enjoy - so if I win can you give it to her instead!)
First, let me give credit to C. Beth for pointing me here. As a mom, I really desire to scatter joy starting in my own home. I want to be an example of a joyful heart and raise up a son who will seek out ways to bless others.
What a beautiful post! I like to think of random acts of kindness as my way to scatter bits of joy around. A smile to a stranger at the grocery store. A compliment to a tired mom at the bus stop. A few minutes really listening to a lonely senior citizen. A show of enthusiasm when my kids create a picture. Thank you for sharing your inspiration. Dani was kind enough to send me over to your site.
j ust love your posts - your writings are all so heartfelt - you really do speak loudly to me and so many others I am sure...
Hmmm what fun it is to think of new ways to scatter joy - I will scatter joy this week by going to the coffee shop and buying the next persons drink - I have always wanted to do this - but I have yet to do it. i iwll also be thinking more about the impact we have on others - it's easy to hold a door, smile and say "beautiful day isn't it?" I will be more thoughtful of ways I can scatter joy...
Erin,
I love the idea of "scattering joy". I have always enjoyed bestowing random acts of kindness upon absolute strangers. That is how I will continue to "scatter joy". You just never know when an opportunity will present itself and that is what makes it so rewarding. Your positive thoughts are truly an inspiration to me.
Today I'm going to be scattering joy by visiting blogs and spreading some love and encouragement! Lovely giveaway idea, Erin!!
What a beautiful post and fantastic idea! I will be scattering joy this week by leaving little works of art behind on my travels for others to find. Leah sent me over, and I will post, too, so that we all get a chance to share the love! Have a great day...
What a fun giveaway Erin! Thank you so much for the opportunity.
I think to scatter joy I am going to contact a friend of mine in southern Wisconsin that I have not heard from in over a year!
While out and about running my errands I am also going to do some kind of random act of kindness. Not sure what it will be yet because I want to be able to be spontaneous and do something cool when the timing is right!
Hi, Erin,
C. Beth sent me your way!
Today I will gather two bouquets of roses from my rose garden and give one to a friend who became a widow a year ago today. The roses were planted in memory of my friend's dad and best friend, so that makes them even more special. I will also share a bouquet of roses with a friend who lost her job and her home.
Isn't it just like God to have beautiful roses blooming on a day when my friends need special touches of joy!
I will check back to see the results of your drawing.
Your blog is inspirational and your jewelry is beautiful!
Miss Etna
Erin, your blog is fabulous! I know I need to do more of this type of thing - Looking at your blog makes it a little overwhelming to me. Inspiration is everywhere and I see it especially in you. I am so glad that our paths cross several times each week!
To scatter joy more this week I will. . . . Hum???
I will give one random compliment to a co-worker each day this week. Work will be such a great place to be this week!
Thanks Erin!
Erin, Each day I will scatter "JOY" with little suprises for those souls that are not having particularily good days. If we remind each other that "Just Over Yonder" there is always someone less fortunate than ourselves, someone with deeper pain, and someone with more troubles, then we begin to see our blessings, learn to endure, and look for the sunshine in things. "JOY" can help us remember this. May your day be blessed.
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