Pay It Forward Friday

**Please note, this entry was supposed to be posted on Friday, but was not – so please enjoy now on Monday!**

What a crazy week I’ve had–so many things going on in so many “buckets” of my life right now.  Does this sound like you? Utter chaos is what it feels like, actually!

My poor little girl was home sick this week for two days.  Having said that, I couldn’t wait for today to have a day to myself to catch up on work, do some writing and spend some time tweeting my inspirational online friends.

I participate in a twitter activity called, “Follow Friday” where you recommend people in your tweet stream that resonate with you.  I was so honored and humbled today to be recommended by so many people on twitter as someone to follow.

One of the tweeple in my tweet stream, @HolisticMamma, has a wonderful social networking site called HolisticTwitter.  One of my favorite tweets from her is:

“You ATTRACT what you think/tweet!  Look at your tweet stream.  Are you spreading, POSITIVITY, HOPE, LOVE & JOY?  Impact our world for good!”

I just love this one because it’s so TRUE!  When I look at the tweeple that I attract in my tweet stream, it’s amazing how much in line they are with my niche, beliefs, and thoughts.  The Law of Attraction is at work on Twitter! I’m proof.

As I jumped on twitter for a few quick moments this morning, I noticed the following post from @themojocoach:

“It’s #pifwdf (pay it forward Friday).  Post your random act of kindness to encourage another person to PIF!  Who’s got a PIF act to post?”

I love random acts of kindness and often practice little ones daily.  This morning for example, I was off to do a quick errand.  I was driving along a main road and stopped to let another car out on to the road.  I often do these little acts, but felt like that just wasn’t enough for me this morning.

I decided after my errands to get some tea at Starbucks.  Thinking about random acts of kindness, I thought to call my mother-in-law, who was home baby sitting my niece and nephews all under the age of 5, to see if she wanted me to bring her a cup of coffee or tea.

I wound up bringing her a cup of coffee and decided to spend some time with her and chat.  We wound up talking for nearly two hours while the kids created some chaos – my not yet two year old nephew unrolling the toilet paper down the hallway, and so on. It was nice to have the quality time and I’m sure that she enjoyed the adult conversation as much as I did.

The bottom line is that I left there feeling good about myself! I touched someone with a random act of kindness.

What can you do (and it doesn’t have to be big or cost money) as a random act of kindness in your life?

Join the Twitter #gratitude Party!

Join the Twitter #gratitude Party! Sunday Feb 8, 4:30 PM Pacific.

New studies reveal that regular practice of gratitude can increase your happiness by 25%!  Gratitude helps combat stress, heals the heart, and helps those who practice gratitude to notice the good things in their lives.

With Oprah and many other gratitude enthusiasts at the helm, gratitude journals, gratitude blogs, and gratitude practice of all sorts are sweeping the country.

And it’s not just a popular movement, but a scientific one, too. Many hospitals and heart health programs recommend keeping a gratitude journal as part of treatment programs for recovery from heart disease, heart attacks, and heart failure. Study after study is finding the proof that supports the practice.

There are so many reasons to practice gratitude! And so many ways to do it, too!

I invite you to join us for a gratitude celebration on Twitter! Sunday February 8, 4:30 PM Pacific time. It’s easy! All you need to do is show up at Twitter with your gratitude, and tweet it out, early and often. And, remember to put #gratitude in all your tweets.

Curious about how the #gratitude movement got started on Twitter?  Click here to learn more!

Oh, and just to make it a little sweeter, we will have many fun gratitude themed giveaways….so be sure to join us.

If you’d like to follow the Gratitude Circle on twitter, just click here.

Grateful for Social Media

I thought I would keep today’s post a little light (well, sort of) and short.

As you’ve heard me mention, I stumbled upon the world of social media a little less than a year ago.  I started simply with Facebook, to catch up with old friends and maybe meet some new ones.  Several months after that I began to realize what an impact social media can have on my business.  I am now active  on Twitter, Savor the Success, and Twittermoms.

I love social media for so many reasons!  Personally, especially with Facebook, I have re-connected with long lost friends–from grammar school, high school, and college.  Honestly, people I probably never would have had the opportunity to see again.  What I am amazed at is how much I am re-learning about these people.  I am so excited for the “new” relationships with them that I am creating.  It is honestly fascinating and incredibly heartwarming.  My heart is full of gratitude when I think about it!

From my business perspective, social networking is invaluable! I am meeting people and learning from them each and everyday.  Not to discount traditional networking, but I have to be honest it has been a piece of cake to find like-minded people virtually.   Of course, that doesn’t take away importance of “P2P” (person-to-person & traditional networking) as my friend MJ of Positive Impact Consulting says, but what a great tool to add to your marketing toolbox!

There are so many social networks out there.  I encourage you to spend sometime online to find the one that’s right for you!  You will be amazed at who you find or who finds you.

To all of my friends new and old on all of my networks–I thank you, cherish you, and look forward to being on a journey with you.

In gratitude,

Twitter, GNO (Girl’s Night Out), and Feeding America

I’ve been talking a lot about twitter lately.  Twitter has been a fabulous tool for business, fun, and all sorts of good stuff!

Last night I participated in my second GNO party.  It’s a fast paced chat with lots of gals (and some guys, too:-).  The topic last night was gratitude (which was very fitting) and the GNO gals hosted a virtual food drive for Feeding America.

I am so excited that the Gratitude Circle Blog was featured on the night’s wrap up post.  Click here to check it out.

The GNO gals have a goal to hit $1500 by Friday.  Would you be able to help out?  Even $5 makes a difference!  Donating is easy and you can do it securely through paypal.  Simply click below and then click the donate button.

Gratitude for Twitter!

Have you heard of twitter?  Well, it’s another fun social networking site.  I’ve made some really nice friends there!

I’m thrilled to share with you that we inspired a blog post this week of one of my twitter friends  that I follow.  Check out her blog and the post by clicking here. 

It’s an amazing feeling to inspire people to share (and feel) gratitude!  It’s spreading and it’s so exciting.

I absolutely love the sharing, inspiration, and connecting that happens with online social networking.  It’s a wonderful medium. 

Today I am grateful for crisp autumn air, sunshine, and german chocolate cake coffee!  How about you?

In gratitude!

Deanna

Follow us on twitter by clicking here.