Down or Up?

Guys, sometimes it’s the small things that count the most. For the women in our lives, let’s make a point of putting the toilet seat down afterwards. As Mr. Manners concludes in his article on toilet seat etiquette:

So clearly when considering Natural State Theory, the normal state of the toilet seat is down. Therefore the work of putting the seat up and down should be that of the man who is the one taking the toilet seat out of it�s natural state.

For extra credit, put the toilet seat lid down too. If you put the lid down, the issue of what to do with the seat becomes moot; it also keeps the dog from drinking out of the toilet.

Posted 28 November 2003 | Link to This Entry | View Comments (2)

Turkey & Gravy Soda

Imagine the smiles and chuckles on Thanksgiving day if you arrived with a bottle of Turkey & Gravy Soda, instead of a nice crisp Chardonnay. I first heard about this from Seth Godin. What a great idea! Bring a bottle of wine and get a nice, polite “thank you.” Bring a bottle of Turkey & Gravy Soda and you’re guaranteed to make someone’s day.

The best part of the story is that the folks at Jones Soda are donating all of their proceeds for this flavor to Toys for Tots. What a nice way to bring joy to the Thanksgiving table and to kids in need.

Posted 26 November 2003 | Link to This Entry | View Comments (0)

You See What You’re Looking For

A movie recently made my day. I saw “Love Actually” with my wife. The movie begins saying that “love actually is everywhere” and shows moving scenes of real people meeting each other at Heathrow Airport in London. It inspired me to begin looking for signs of love and I soon saw love expressed among the people leaving the theater, at the grocery store, at the book store. Everywhere actually. I like how things just show up when you start looking for them. Made my day.

—Scott J., Boulder CO

Posted 25 November 2003 | Link to This Entry | View Comments (0)

Catch and Release Reading

I released my first book into the wild today. I gave my copy of Creating Your Future to a friend who is in the process of making a career change. But there’s a catch: when he’s finished reading it, I’m asking him to set it free so someone else can have the opportunity to find the book and read it.

You see, I’ve registered the book with the good folks at bookcrossing.com so I can track the journey of this book as it randomly makes it’s way from person to person. Along the way, each recipient can go to the the web site, enter the book’s ID number, and make a journal entry. Neat idea, eh? And a very clever way to make a lot of people’s day with very little effort.

Posted 24 November 2003 | Link to This Entry | View Comments (3)

Listen, Really Listen

I love it when I’m talking with someone and they are really paying attention to me. I know they may not agree with what I’m saying, but when I know they’re listening carefully and giving me their full attention, man that makes me feel good. To give someone your full attention is a great way to make someone’s day.

In Falling Awake, Dave Ellis expands on the meaning of the word listen and explains how it can be much more than what we do when someone else talks:

The American Heritage Dictionary defines the word listen this way: “To make a conscious effort to hear; to pay attention; to heed…” Listening fully means paying exquisite, close attention.

When you pay attention, your world gets bigger. Listening means receiving whatever the world is “sending.” And at any given moment, the world is sending plenty—thousands of tastes, sights, aromas, sounds, textures, ideas, and bits of information just waiting to be noticed.

Give others the gift of your attention and listen fully during the next conversation you have. You’ll be amazed at their positive reaction.

And give yourself a gift by choosing what you listen to. For example, if you’re watching the news and tire of the same old negative stories, just switch it off. Read a good book instead or listen—and I mean really listen—to your favorite music.

Posted 21 November 2003 | Link to This Entry | View Comments (0)

Anonymous Donation Multiplies

If you had $2,500 dollars to give away, could you have the impact of the anonymous donor described in this Seattle Times article:

It started one Sunday when Linda McCoy, pastor of a free-spirited church called The Garden [in Indianapolis], preached about kindness — or as she put it, sowing seeds of love. Then she held up 50 envelopes. An anonymous donor had filled each with a $50 bill. Anyone could take one, no strings attached. All the donor asked was that the money be used for good. “We can make this world a better place,” McCoy told her congregation. “What a wonderful adventure.”

Many who picked up the envelopes spent weeks pondering how best to spend the $50. Teachers and plumbers, therapists and nurses found themselves driving the streets of Indianapolis, studying the worn faces they passed, looking for a need they could meet.

“I wanted to make a difference in someone’s life,” said Loretta Johnson, an insurance underwriter.

As it turned out, the envelopes made as much difference to the givers as to the takers. The middle-age, middle-class members of the congregation found themselves listening to strangers’ hard-luck stories with empathy instead of skepticism. The donor had trusted them to use the money wisely. They took that trust and passed it on.

The people in this story really cared about how they used the money. Many increased the size of their gift by getting friends and family to contribute. Simply amazing. The effect on the givers was real.

When we see someone do a good deed — such as an anonymous donor filling 50 envelopes with cash — it elevates our view of human nature. That elevation can produce physical changes: the proverbial lump in the throat or tightness in the chest. It also triggers altruism. Once elevated, people often feel inspired to do good deeds, according to Jon Haidt, a University of Virginia psychology professor who has spent years studying this reaction.

Jon Haidt’s first book is Flourishing: Positive Psychology and the Life Well-Lived and has a page about positive psychology on his web site.

Posted 21 November 2003 | Link to This Entry | View Comments (0)

72 Ways to Make Someone’s Day

From iVillage.com, here are 72 Ways to Make Someone’s Day. The article adds:

Doing something special to make someone’s day almost always means making your own day better too. The time required is often short, but the effects are long lasting. You’ll be inspired by the many ways iVillage women like to spread joy — to family, friends, coworkers, even strangers.

I especially like #6:

Be corny: “It’s corny, but I like to leave notes where I know my kids will see them during the day. I write simple things like ‘I love you’ or ‘Ha, ha, you’re in school and I’m not.’”

This sounds similar to some “Little Window Message Cards” I bought a while back. Each card conceals an inspiring quotation or loving insight. Nice to give; nice to get.

Posted 20 November 2003 | Link to This Entry | View Comments (1)

Some of My Favorites

I love it when the unexpected happens. Here are a few things that have happened recently to really brighten my day:

• An old friend called me out of the blue


• A music reviewer wrote a wonderful review of my CD


• Having lunch with my 12-year-old daughter and creating her life plan


• Having my buddy dive into creating a new website


• A couple gave me $10,000 toward my next CD


• A stranger was truly interested in what I was doing


• My wife surprised me with a massage

Posted 19 November 2003 | Link to This Entry | View Comments (0)