NICE Assignment: Write a Letter to Santa

I've done this assignment the last two years, so I was excited about giving it a go again this year! Before writing my 2010 list, I had to take a look at last year's. I got about half of the things I had asked for, which is a pretty good percentage, I'd say. Gotta hand it to the big guy!

Now that Thanksgiving has passed, I'm ready to get into the holiday spirit. I actually don't really exchange gifts with anyone for Christmas. Rob and I will typically get a joint gift. This year he wants to participate in the Human Genographic Project, so our Christmas gifts will involve a DNA cheek swab. And for our families, we make charitable donations. It's awesome because I don't have the stress of holiday shopping and I feel good about helping those that are less fortunate. But just because there won't be any presents under my tree doesn't mean I don't have a few things that I'd love to ask Santa for!

Today's Assignment: Write a Letter to Santa

Okay, here we go.

Dear Santa,

Hey there! It's me again! First of all, thanks so much for the awesome gifts last year, particularly my dad's job. You rock! Also, the Pavement concert was pretty awesome. If you had anything to do with that, I greatly appreciate it. Since Christmastime is just around the corner, I thought that maybe I'd send you an updated list. Obviously you should focus on the wishes of children of the world, but if you get those done early and can squeeze in a few of mine, that'd be great! I promise I've been very NICE!

As I say every year, I'd love some world peace, a cure for all terminal diseases, and the end of global warming, but I have a feeling those things might be outside of your domain. So I'm going to stick with some more attainable requests.

1. Good Health for my mom - She's been sick for months now, and I just want her back to normal. Even if you can't give her perfect health, could you at least help her doctors give her a diagnosis?


2. Growth for Operation NICE - Getting in the top ten of the Positivity Project was pretty fantastic. Winning the grand prize would be a dream! But at the very least, I'd like to take Operation NICE to a new level. So could you help me out with that because I'm not sure what to do next.


3. Focus - There are so many things I want to do with my life. I need to narrow it down to a few and run with those. But right now, I'm all over the place.


4. A Christmas tradition - The holidays haven't been the same since my grandmother passed away. And my husband doesn't care too much about Christmas. I'd love to find a tradition that I can start so this season can feel special again.


5. A greater attention span - I want to learn, and read, and absorb information. However, I'm easily distracted and tend to give up on books, projects, etc. way too easily.


6. Better household habits - In particular, I'd like to be a neater person so I don't frustrate my husband as much as I currently do with my habitual pile-making.


7. Abs - I have never routinely exercised in my life. But if I'm going on a cruise with my friends in August, I want some abs, darn it! :)


8. A finished sketchbook - I'm putting this back on my list! I have so much fun drawing, and yet I think I did like ten drawings this year. I want to start drawing again, and I want to fill an entire book!


9. Self-confidence - I get a little better each year, but I could still use some more self-confidence so I can feel comfortable approaching people and sharing my ideas with others. And I want to believe that I can achieve something great, instead of being too scared to try.


10. Winning Powerball numbers - 'nuff said.

Okay, that's about it. You know, there are some other things that I'd love, like a new car or my own tv show or a vacation abroad, but ya know, I don't want to be greedy. :) Have a great holiday, Santa! Don't work too hard!

Sincerely,
Melissa


Your turn! Post in the comments here what you'd ask for, or if you write about it on your blog, post the link here. I'd love to read your letters to Santa!

Black Friday NICE Note Download!

I got this idea from Nicole, who had emailed me and asked if I ever thought about doing something for Black Friday. She wrote, "you see the worst in people, how petty they get over material things and such." So true. So I thought it was a great excuse to make another NICE Note download, specifically for Black Friday.

Here it is:


Personally, I avoid going ANYWHERE on Black Friday. I'll coop myself up in my parents' house because traffic, crowds, and long lines give me anxiety! But if you plan on going out that day, it'd be awesome if you printed out these cards and maybe left them on a shelf here and there, or stuck it in an automatic door. That's what I did in Home Depot with my World Kindness Day card. :) Let's remind everyone that the holiday season isn't about Xboxes or sweaters or power tools. And it's certainly not about trampling people to be the first one in the door at Kohls at 3am.

The craziness of Black Friday is enough to make anyone temporarily forget about being nice. So let's do our part to remind everyone!

Thanks guys!

NICE Testimonial: Discovering the Value of Kindness

Today's testimonial comes from Sonya in Mississippi. She shares a little story of kindness about her sweet husband, seen here with their adorable grandbabies. :)

My husband works overseas supporting the active military in their missions and is home for a short period. We went to our favorite casino/hotel for a getaway and the next morning we were standing in line at the Starbucks located inside. The lady in front of us was having a hard time paying for her coffee...her credit cards weren't going through and her comp cards were not accepted in the Starbucks, so I nudged by sweet hubby to walk up and offer to pay for her coffee. She was immediately relieved and told him she'd be sure to "pay if forward" for him and thanked him profusely. Here's the real story. My sweet hubby is typically male and was totally unaware of this concept and I was SO PROUD of him for doing it. I explained it to him as we were walking out with our own coffees and it really made his day. He felt his own goodness that day in being nice and paying it forward and it won't be a day he'll ever forget!

Is that cute or what?! Sonya was able to teach her husband about the concept of "paying it forward." And he realized that it's not only awesome for the recipient, but it's also pretty great for the person doing the kind deed! That's gotta be the coolest thing about being nice. It makes everyone involved feel good!

Do you have a NICE:Testimonial that you'd like to share? If so, click here to send me an email!

NICE Assignment: Give Thanks

As most of you may know, this Thursday is Thanksgiving in the U.S., so I've been thinking a lot about all the things for which I'm thankful. And you know what? There is SO MUCH!

It's easy to get so wrapped up in our own lives that we tend to focus on selfish things. "Ugh, my car sucks." "Why is my computer going so slow?" "My job is crushing my soul." And sometimes it takes another perspective to realize just how good you have it. Like when you find out a coworker's house burned down. Or your cousin is going on his 10th month of unemployment. Or you watch a documentary about the slums of Brazil. Part of being a positive person is feeling grateful for what you have in your life. And focusing on those things that make you happy can brighten your mood....even if your job really is crushing your soul. :)

So let's take this week to share with the world all of the things for which we're thankful! Call it bragging, if you'd like. But I guarantee that writing these things out will put a smile on your face.

Today's Assignment: Give Thanks

I am thankful for the following:
my wonderful husband, who makes me smile and laugh every single day • my caring and generous parents • my awesome friends, who keep my life filled with fun • hot cocoa • pork roll • good health (despite all the pork roll) • a good job with some pretty sweet perks • great coworkers that laugh at my terrible jokes • social media for letting me easily stay in touch with my friends around the world • soft pants • a warm comforter • the city of Philadelphia, which has any event/class/show I could ever ask for • a huge selection of good books • a wonderful home • my toys and gadgets (which sounds materialistic, but I really do love them!) • the fact that I can go on road trips and vacations multiple times a year • Starbucks • the amazing bloggers out there inspire me daily • NBC Thursday night tv • good, comfortable shoes • the men and women that fight for our country • people who hold doors and smile • the wealth of knowledge that is the interwebs • my freedom • people who are tolerant and respectful • brownies • health care • my retirement plan • artists who use their talents to better the world • the Amway Positivity Project • a really good lip gloss • all of you for visiting this blog and believing that niceness truly is valuable!

There's so much more. That's just a sampling. I know I lead a charmed life. I am very lucky. I promise to never forget this fact, no matter what obstacles may cross my path.

I hope you'll join me and make a list as well! If you do, I'd love to see it!

NICE News: Would-be bride donates reception to homeless

I received a tweet the other day from MyUglyKitty with a link to this story about a young woman in Colorado who had her wedding called off days beforehand. With a reception room booked and catered and not enough notice to cancel, she decided to do the most beautiful thing. She contacted the Salvation Army to organize an early holiday meal for a local homeless shelter.

I found this video on CNN and had to hold back tears:


This woman took a heart-breaking life event and turned it around into an amazing and selfless gesture.

NICE Assignment: Appreciate It

Where has this year gone? Is it just because I'm getting older that it feels like the year is passing me by at warp speed or has someone been messing with space-time continuum? How is it almost the end of 2010???

Well, maybe time flies when you're having fun, as the adage goes. I certainly can't complain. It's been a phenomenal year! And now that Thanksgiving is approaching, it's about time I reflect upon all of the things for which I'm thankful.

And that's where Appreciate It comes in.

Last week I saw a friend post this link in Twitter, and I couldn't bookmark fast enough. It's so lovely, simple, well-designed, and....well, NICE! You just share the one thing for which you are most appreciative, and it goes up there with everyone else's in one giant gratitude list.



Today's Assignment: Appreciate It

When I first saw the website last week, I couldn't commit to my entry. I even went back a few times, thought about it, and closed the window. But after yesterday, I knew what I most appreciated.

Melissa appreciates it.

So go ahead and add your own! And if you'd like, post the link in the comments here so we can all see what you appreciate!

We did it!!!

Guys, I can't even express how freaking excited I am! I just got the email this afternoon that I am one of the 10 finalists in the Amway Positivity Project! Woohooo!!!!!! And I couldn't have done it without all of your support and encouragement and voting! Seriously, when the voting began, I was worried that I would become an absolute nuisance, and you'd all stop visiting. But you continually voted and let me know that it was okay to pester you, and look! Now I'm actually going to have some funds to spread kindness and grow Operation NICE!

Okay, here's the deal. At this point, they know who the winner is. The person with the most votes. But they are keeping that under wraps until a December 13th ceremony in Maryland where they'll announce the grand prize $10K winner. So I have four long weeks of anticipation ahead of me. Either way though, I feel like the luckiest gal in the world! The fact that you all helped me out makes me feel so special, and I could never articulate how grateful I am for all of you.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you!

NICE Assignment: Celebrate World Kindness Day

This assignment is a little late this week because I was away for a few days, and then I realized I wanted to make something special for you guys.

This Saturday is World Kindness Day. "The purpose of World Kindness Day is to look beyond ourselves, beyond the boundaries of our country, beyond our culture, our race, our religion; and realise we are citizens of the world."

Despite being an incredible idea, it doesn't seem like World Kindness Day has really caught on globally. I couldn't find much information about the day, aside from this PBS article from 2008. So I thought that maybe it would be fun if we made folks more aware.

Saturday's Assignment: Celebrate World Kindness Day

I made up a little free download that you guys can use. Or feel free to make your own, of course! But what if we handed out some cards wishing people a Happy World Kindness Day? Or maybe we could sneak some on a few car windshields. Or hand one off to a toll booth collector. So many options!

Printable World Kindness Day cards!



World Kindness Day is my kinda holiday! And I'd love it if we celebrated together! If you'd like, take a photo of your card in action and I'll post it here for everyone to see. Let's spread the word about this under-appreciated holiday! What do you say?

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NICE Stuff: Uncommon Goods

One of my go-to websites for great gifts has always been Uncommon Goods. So I was delighted to see that their latest email newsletter, focusing on holiday giving, showcased "7 Ways to Give Gifts with Purpose."



From beautiful pillows that support a Fair Trade production process to soaps in the shape of landmines where $2 from each sale aids in landmine cleanup, there's something for plenty of people on your list.

And click here for even more gifts that give back from Uncommon Goods.

NICE Testimonial: Neighborhood Watch

Happy Friday, everyone! I hope you have delightful weekends ahead of you. I plan on taking as many naps as I can since I've been too busy the last few weeks. And Monday and Tuesday I'm headed to see my parents to celebrate my mom's 53rd birthday. Yay Mom!

Today's testimonial comes from Allegra in South Carolina. She tells us about an experience she had one night at her shop.

My mom and I own a shop -- Joli Home & Events -- in the Habersham Marketplace, locating in the beautiful Habersham community in Beaufort, SC. It's a pretty close-knit community, with the small group of merchants even closer. We try to look out for each other. Here's an example of just how awesome one of our fellow merchants is.

One night, while close friends were visiting from Philadelphia, we went to dinner at Maggie's Pub in the Marketplace. After dinner, my friend wanted to do some late-night shopping at our store. So we went over, turned on the lights, and started shopping.

Meanwhile, one of our neighbors (and customers) was eating at Piace Pizza across the street. She noticed the lights on and people in the shop, and said to Brian (the owner of the pizza place) and Dave (who works there), "Should people be at Joli at 10:00 at night?

Immediately -- like bats out of you-know-where -- Brian and Dave were out of their restaurant and at our shop's door. They were ready to protect our shop at all costs. Fortunately for them, it was just us. But knowing they had our backs like that make us so grateful for their kindness and loyalty. How wonderful to know that chivalry is not dead.

Yay for Brian and Dave! I think nowadays, a lot of folks would ignore something like that, not wanting to get involved. Think about how many people ignore car alarms. I admit, when I'm home and I hear one go off, I'll assume it's a technical malfunction. But to know that their store is in a community where people look out for one another, well that's pretty special!

Do you have a NICE:Testimonial that you'd like to share? If so, click here to send me an email!

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NICE News: Couple gives away $11.2M in lottery winnings

A friend of mine sent me a link to this article from The Toronto Star. It's about Allen and Violet Large, a Nova Scotia couple in their 70's, who decided to give all of their lottery winnings to friends, family, and organizations that they deemed worthy.

Click here to read the story.



This story is so lovely because Allen and Violet realized that they didn't need anything aside from each other. And it was more important for them to know that their winnings were being used for good. How inspiring is that??

I don't know about you, but I don't think I'd be that nice if I won the lottery!

EDIT: Found a video on CNN.

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NICE Assignment: Get thee to the polls!

The assignment for today is sort of country-specific. It's election day here in the U.S., and that means it's time for you to make your opinions, thoughts, and beliefs count. Okay, so you might not be able to rush into the White House spouting off your ideas regarding education or the economy or foreign policy. But what you CAN do, is support a candidate who can.

I have something to admit. I was never much of a voter. There, I let it out. I feel so much better! I had voted in the last two presidential elections, but I sort of let the midterm and local elections pass right by. My excuse? Well, I didn't know much about the candidates, and I wasn't just going to vote for someone I knew nothing about. But as a citizen of this country, it's my responsibility to learn about those candidates and make an informed decision. There are plenty of resources to help with that.

Today's Assignment: Get thee to the polls!
Sure, it's easy to just go home after work and get into your oversized footie pajamas like usual. (Wait, am I the only one who does that?) But today, take a little detour. My polling place is less than a mile from my house, and it takes a few minutes to hop into a voting machine and hit a couple buttons. Like everyone has been saying, you can't complain if you don't take the time to vote. So I figure at the very least, this gives me the right to complain. :)

It's more important than voting for Jennifer Grey or Brandy or Kurt Warner. And it won't even cost you standard text messaging rates.

.................................................................

Oh hey, and there's another person who needs your vote. ME!

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Promoting niceness in DC! (Follow up)

I had the most incredible time in DC this weekend! I actually didn't get to hear or see much of the rally. I had no idea that people like Kid Rock and Adam Savage and Tony Bennett were there on stage. Rob and I spent the day wandering the outskirts of the rally, interacting with the wonderful people there. I held my sign up proudly, trying to spread the message of niceness! And you know what? IT WORKED!

So many people took photos of my sign, and I was even interviewed twice while I was there! But the best part was passing by people and overhearing them say, "Aww, niceness is priceless! I like that!" Not once did I hear anyone say, "That's stupid," or "Pfffft." Actually, someone did tell me that my sign was boring, but it was my husband, so that doesn't count. :) But seriously, it felt awesome to know that lots of people there thought niceness was important, and valuable, and cool!


Even with hundreds of thousands of people there, which made walking down the street difficult, I didn't encounter any jerks and I didn't see any ugliness. No fighting or pushing or anything. Everyone was polite and happy and respectful. It would be awesome if the world could be like that all the time.

I found this photo of me taken by martha_jean in Flickr, and I just really loved it. This is pretty much how I spent my Saturday.

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Deadline extended for DonorsChoose giveaway!

Hi guys! I thought I'd extend the deadline for the DonorsChoose giveaway I'm holding, just to see if I could get a few more signups. This Amway's Positivity Project contest is going to be a close race, I'm sure, and the only way I'll get in the top ten is if you guys help me out by voting every day. It's super simple, doesn't require signing up or logging in or anything. It's just one click.

So in case you're forgetful like I am, I created a little email list where you can sign up and receive a daily reminder to vote, with the link right in the email. And to say thank you for your support, I'm entering every email address that I receive by midnight November 5th in a drawing, and I'll pick a random winner to receive a $50 gift card to DonorsChoose.org. Right now we're at 42 sign ups!

CLICK HERE to sign up!

I've already been fantasizing about all the things I could do with Operation NICE if I win! Please help me make that a reality! Thank you SO MUCH, guys!