This Holiday Season, Share Your Gratitude With The World
On September 11, 2009 Jen Consalvo and Frank Gruber launched a little online project called thankfulfor.com. Described as a "collective gratitude journal," the site encourages you to consistently ask yourself one simple question every day: What are you thankful for? The duo's glass half full movement took off, with tons of people tweeting what they were #ThankfulFor. Just searching the term on Twitter continues to bring up a stream of new positive thoughts by the minute- from a 90 year-old showing her gratitude for something as simple as seeing the sun shine, to a class of eager preschoolers sharing thanks for food and family.
I am thankful for - had to add that in! - catching up with Consalvo and Gruber recently, to chat about their inspiring vision and how all of us can get involved:
If you really want to test yourself, sign up for their Gratitude Challenge. All you have to do is write a few things each day between now and the end of the year, and send them your stories. The gift of realizing how lucky and awesome life is for all of us goes a long way!
So, while we all take time to reflect this holiday season, here are 5 other ways to give back and bring positivity not only to ourselves but the world around us:
1) Charity: Water
Help bring clean drinking water to developing countries. Their personalized holiday gifts start at $24 and include everything from their signature bracelet to a DVD, to remind both you and the recipient of the positive impact being made.
2) Tweetsgiving
Tweetsgiving wants to create a global celebration this Thanksgiving through the power of gratitude. How? They are encouraging people to by tweeting #tweetsgiving and giving back through their site. Each $10 will help their goal to build a school in Arusha, Tanzania.
3) SillyWalks4Hunger
Sillywalks4hunger wants to bring one million meals to the hungry. You can help via your cell phone by texting FEED to 90999 and $5.00 will be put on your cell phone bill and automatically go to Feeding America. That donation equals 35 meals!
4) LA Times & Causecast's Do Good Map
If you're in Southern California, LATimes.com and Causecast.org have joined forces for a great and easy holiday volunteering map. Just type in your zip code to find volunteer opportunities in your area.
5) TOMS Shoes
If you want to makeover your style, TOMS is the way to go. Buy a pair of their shoes, and TOMS will give a pair of new shoes to a child in need.