by Barrie Davenport
1-5 Minute Gaps
1. Visualize someone you know who is suffering in some way and send them thoughts of loving kindness and peace.
2. Say something kind or complimentary to the person who is serving you or waiting on you in a store or restaurant.
3. Help someone with their groceries or some other small service to assist them.
4. Pick up and throw away trash that you see on the street or in a park.
5. Send an email to someone to let them know you are thinking of them or to compliment something.
6. Find something in your house that you no longer need to give away to someone who can use it.
7. Forgive someone or ask for forgiveness.
8. Read something inspirational to create positive energy for yourself.
9. Take a minute to grab your own shopping bags to take to the grocery store.
10. Stop and give that homeless person some change and a kind word, even if you doubt their intentions.
15-30 Minute Gaps
11. Call your parents and tell them how much you love and appreciate them and all they did to raise you.
12. Really listen to someone, without distraction or interruption.
13. Empower an entrepreneur in a developing country with a $25 loan through Kiva.org to help eliminate poverty.
14. Write a letter to your congress person either to thank them or advise them of a concern.
15. Collect items for a care package to send someone serving overseas.
16. Take the care package to the post office and send it.
17. Walk to lunch or to the store instead of driving.
18. Research a cause that aligns with your values and make a donation.
19. Send a group of friends information on your favorite cause, and ask them to join you in supporting it.
20. Plant a tree.
1-3 Hour Gaps
21. Prepare a meal for someone for no particular reason and deliver it to them.
22. Watch someone's children for them just to give them a break.
23. Teach someone a useful skill - cooking, changing a tire, balancing a checkbook.
24. Recycle your books and take those you've read to a book donation center.
25. Drop by a nursing home and sit and talk with an elderly person who doesn't have a visitor.
26. Have a conversation with someone of another race, a different culture, a different religion, with different political views, and listen to their perspective openly without comment or argument.
27. Be completely present and engaged with your spouse, partner, and family members.
28. Plan and organize a group outing with your friends to plant a garden, clean up a community center, or work for a volunteer organization.
29. Educate yourself. Do some research on issues that impact you, your community, and the world. Awareness is the first step toward change.
30. Make a list of small things you can do around your house to conserve energy and water, stop waste, and recycle. Then start doing them.
At the holiday party on December 7th, I shared a piece from the liveboldandbloom.com website and the piece was quite well received. In light of the recent events in Connecticut, it feels even more important to share it. So many are vicariously feeling the trauma of the deep rend in that community. The sadness is deepened by the loss of so many youngsters during a season that is supposed to be one of delight and joy especially for them. Yes, it breaks our hearts and we will all respond in different ways. 
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