Kindness and Paying It Forward

Sometimes one word can say it all. I remember challenging myself to think of just one word that I felt was the best trait in what I admired most in a person. I was surprised that it did not take that long to come up with the word, KIND. This simple four letter word covers so many situations. Kindness is always better in every situation! Being kind softens the blow in even difficult situations like saying, NO, firing a person from a job or turning down a request. And kindness makes good situations better. Kindness is doing good to others from the heart in thought, word, and deed. Kindness means you are concerned about other people. Kind people think about another person’s feelings and not just their own, They help someone who is in need and they are kind even when others are not. Kind people never expect anything in return. They just treat other people kindly because they want to help make someone’s life better. Kindness makes the world a nicer place because it makes people happier. Kindness is the virtue at the core of Pay It Forward Foundation and Pay It Forward Experience.

I had seen the movie Pay It Forward. The concept sounds simple but why are not more people showing kindness? I was able to talk to a person who has taken up the banner 100% to spread the word of kindness. I had the pleasure to talk with Charley Johnson, the public face and name for Pay It Forward (PIF), on the phone. As I talked with Charley, I could hear his passion, enthusiasm and sincerity about his mission.

Charley Johnson,

Charley first became a board member of Pay It Forward Foundation before his current positions as President of both Pay It Forward Foundation and Pay it Forward Experience. Because of his belief and conviction about Paying it Forward, he left his own company and career to change the world and how people view humanity. He is also the creator of the Pay It Forward bracelet, a physical reminder and a human connection, to do good. The way the bracelet works: once a person who is wearing the bracelet does a kind deed, that person gives his/her bracelet to the person who received the kindness. Now it is the responsibility of the new owner of the bracelet to do something kind. And the giving of that bracelet continues with each new person and each new act of kindness. These bracelets have been sent to over 1.3 million people in 117 countries (out of 196).

PIF Bracelets - physical reminder to be kind

As the new president, Charley launched the

“PIF Experience”,the website (www.pifexperience.org) responsible for collecting stories from all over the world of people Paying It Forward. It is updated several times daily with news of where Pay it Forward is headed and has also become the headquarters for all Pay it Forward bracelet requests from around the world. Charley also founded the “Pay it Forward Hall of Fame” in November of 2011. The First inductee was Catherine Ryan Hyde, author of the Pay it Forward novel that was turned into a major motion picture in 2000. Catherine, the founder of the Pay It Forward Foundation, is behind Charley 100% with his efforts to make sure all 7 billion people in the world know about Pay It Forward. With so many requests for the bracelet, sponsors are needed so that all these requests can be filled.

The world, in Charley’s words, is still a mess. Yes, there is a lot of goodness and kindness in the world, but not enough. If there were enough, then the world would be a much better place, free of wars, crime, cruelty, poverty and suffering. We’re all responsible for the state of  the world. The answer is simple: kindness. As Charley said, no one can argue that we shouldn’t at least give it a try! Little things become BIG things. Every act of kindness counts no matter how large or small.

PIF is based on reminding people what they already know and encouraging them to DO something – a random act of kindness – each and every day. The more people who do something new each day to make other lives a little bit better, the better the world becomes. It’s as simple as that.

As the guiding and driving force behind this “kindness movement”, Charley travels extensively to spread the word. He had just returned from trips to New York, Pittsburgh, and Ireland and was resting back home in Salt Lake City, Utah, when I spoke to him. His next stop is Brazil …..but really it is the  Whole World.

I don't have the bracelet to give it to you, instead I ask you, the readers, to use this article to pass on to some of your family and friends. By doing so, we are helping Charley spread the word of kindness.....and Paying It Forward

                                 Simplicity in a complex world”. - Charley Johnson

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The Question of Beauty

The Question of Beauty

When I was a little girl, I realized early on that I did not fit into the Western standard of beauty. I was an immigrant from the Philippines and definitely not the blonde blue-eye girl, the girl next door or the glamorous siren that so many admire. I remember, when I was in grade school I wanted to be a blonde like one of my classmates. Of course some things have changed over the years but I still know that I am not a stunning beauty. Is beauty really important? What is the definition of beauty?

Women who have been hailed as beauties include: Marilyn Monroe, Grace Kelly, Elizabeth Taylor, Sophia Loren, Angelina Jolie, Beyonce, and Jennifer Aniston. They are all quite different in their beauty. As for me, the way to become beautiful is to enhance the way I look physically through the magic of make-up, clothing, and hair. Or go through cosmetic surgery which I choose NOT to do. Instead, I need to dig deeper and go beyond artifice.

Over the years, I collected great sayings, poems and quotes which inspire me. The touching poem, Time Tested Beauty Tips crosses all levels of beauty and certainly timesless. It is attributed one of the most famous actresses and iconic fashion legends, Audrey Hepburn. We remember her glamor, her fabulous style, her distinctive beauty which she established in movies such as Breakfast at Tiffany's, Roman Holiday, Sabrina, and My Fair Lady. When she left to play less glamorous roles, she won more professional recognition. In The Nun's Story, she played a nurse who was also a nun for which she was nominated for an Academy Award. In Wait Until Dark , she played a blind woman defending herself from a man trying to kill her. For this film she won an Academy Award. Ms. Hepburn claimed she wasn't a great actress yet she is one of the few people who has won the Academy Award, Emmy, Grammy and a Tony Award.

In her later years she appeared in fewer films and devoted much of her life to help children through UNICEF. Her war-time struggles inspired her passion for humanitarian work. She worked in some of the most profoundly disadvantaged communities of Asia, South America and Africa. She was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in recognition for her work as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. Audrey Hepburn remains one of the world's most famous actresses and fashion icons of the twentieth century. Her humanitarian work revealed the beauty of her heart and spirit. She is a perfect example of the common belief that people are beautiful inside and outside.

Although the poem, Time Tested Beauty Tips is attributed to Audrey Hepburn, it was actually written by Sam Levenson, a Jewish immigrant known as an American humorist, writer, television host and journalist. He wrote this beautiful poem for his grandchild and Audrey Hepburn read it to her children. This poem is so deep and sensitive that it is easier to imagine a glamorous actress and humanitarian like Audrey Hepburn as the author instead of a short and somewhat portly Jewish humorist like Sam Levenson. When your read it loudly or in a whisper, it has a prayer-like quality. Many may be familiar with this poem. I have chosen this poem to define beauty.

Time Tested Beauty Tips

“For attractive lips, speak words of kindness.
For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people.
For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry.
For beautiful hair, let a child run his or her fingers through it once a day.
For poise, walk with the knowledge you'll never walk alone.
People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed. Never throw out anybody.
Remember, If you ever need a helping hand, you'll find one at the end of your arm.
As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself, the other for helping others.
The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the  figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair. The beauty of a woman must be seen from in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides.
The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mole, but true beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul. It is the caring that she lovingly gives, the passion that she shows, and the beauty of a woman with passing years only grows!” 
 -Sam Levenson

Thank you Sam Levenson for having the insight and sensitivity to write this poem and to Audrey Hepburn to give it world -wide recognition.

Finally, is beauty important and does it matter? For better or worse, beauty matters. How important, is a test of our values and ethics. Hopefully, the more we live and embrace the diversity of our world, the more generous and kind our definition becomes.

Relax     Refresh     Recharge

We know that stress and in particular chronic stress is detrimental to our health. Stress weakens the immune system which makes you susceptible to illness and disease. Despite our best intentions, we often put off relaxation until “more important” obligations are completed. Unfortunately these so -called important obligations can take days, weeks, months. And these months can turn into years. Why do we not accept that taking care of ourselves is important? Taking care of your own needs is the best way to ensure your ability to be fully there for others.

"Take a rest; a field that has rested gives a bountiful crop" - Ovid

Even though it seems impossible to take a break and pause from life’s many activities, that’s no excuse for giving stress the winning hand! The time to relax is when you don't think you have the time for it. The recommendations below are easy ways to handle immediate stress. Although, if done frequently, they can begin to help you handle stress better.

Ways to Relax, Refresh and Recharge

Stretch. - As a yoga teacher, I know how important stretch is to your body. Your body accumulates tension in areas like the neck and upper and lower back, which can turn into real and long-lasting pain. If you sit at a desk daily, you should stretch at least once every 45 minutes to an hour, That tension you carry will take much longer to soften and dissolve if you do not stretch.. Get up and take a short break, with a few easy stretches or take a brief walk outside. This seemingly simple act will increase circulation, decrease tension which promotes relaxation.

Just Breathe - Breathing techniques are an excellent way to increase energy and alertness which also soothes the nervous system. You can easily search breathing techniques that work for your life. I use yoga techniques for breath work. Two of the most popular breathing techniques are taught by Deepak Chopra and Dr. Andrew Weil. .

Drink a Cup of Tea - Drinking a warm cup tea just feels soothing. The Japanese have a very inspiring and entertaining tea ceremony devoted to tea! A warm and delicious cup of tea with its many health benefits is the perfect way to step back from a hectic day . Select your favorite tea (I recommend herbal, white, or green), With boiled water (filtered or better use alkaline water), brew the tea for a couple minutes. If you like, add a bit of lemon, honey, and a milk substitute like coconut, almond or rice milk. Sit back and close your eyes and enjoy this simple experience for a moment before continuing on with your busy day. A warm cup of tea is also great for winding down your evening at home.

Smile and Think Happy Thoughts-. I used to have a little sign that said, “Smile, it is a cheap face lift” . It could just as well said, : “Smile it is a life lift”. Do you notice how thinking about your last vacation or even the last time you stayed in and had a weekend just for yourself makes you feel instantly relaxed? That’s because smiling and visualizing happy thoughts cause a release of endorphins (neurotransmitters that produce a feeling of well-being). Endorphins are natural stress relievers. Whenever you feel tense, just close your eyes, think of a favorite place or a happy time and smile.

Aromatherapy with Essential Oils- have been used for a long time to improve mood and boost health. Essential oils come in small bottles which are easy to carry with you or leave in your workspace. Some of the best scents for stress-relief are basil, chamomile, tangerine, marjoram geranium lavender, and metalanguage. Take a long deep breath of the oil that most appeals to you, or dab a little on your temples for a longer-lasting sensation. When using essential oils it is recommended to dilute them. In a common carrier like grape-seed oil.

Another effective form of stress relief is through meditation. Meditation is a collection of skillful methods to work with the mind. If we understand and apply these methods, you can unfold or unlock if you will, the ability which we all have to experience inner peace, compassion and higher levels of wisdom. I will cover meditation in a later. It deserves its own post.

“Tension is who you think you should be. Relaxation is who you are.” - Chinese Proverb

A Lesson From Nature

When I visited my sister, Helen, in the San Francisco Bay Area this past June, she had a Night Blooming Cereus plant on the landing of her stairs with one gorgeous bloom. I had never seen one before and she told me that the flower would be gone by the next morning. When I woke up the next morning, sure enough the bloom was there but wilted and dead.

The Night-blooming cereus is the common name referring to a large number of flowering cacti that bloom at night. The flowers are short lived, and some of these species bloom only once a year, for a single night..The night-blooming cereus is also referred to as princess of the night and queen of the night. The plant without the flowers is not that beautiful. Without the flower, you might not even notice it.

My sister felt that the flower with its short life is a way to tell us that we should live the best each day and appreciate each day. Live for the present or even live for the moment. Ironically, my visit coincided with the passing of our young nephew. The next day my sister and I were traveling to see our older sister, the mother of our precious nephew and attend the funeral. Our nephew had not feeling well so his parents took him to the hospital. Within three weeks he was gone. His passing was totally unexpected. Life is beautiful yet fragile like the night-blooming cereus flower..

My sister, Helen's night-blooming cereus in bloom.

Throughout history, philosophers, religions, religious leaders , great minds and authors, have written about the importance of living for each day. We never really know how long each of us will “bloom”.

“With the past I have nothing nor with the future. I live now.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson

“ Forever is composed of nows.” - Emily Dickinson

Even Eckhart Tolle's book, The Power of Now, is all about becoming enlightened to live in the NOW

“ Yesterday is history, Tomorrow is a mystery. And today is a gift. That's why we call it the present.” -Alice More Earle

A New Beginning

A couple of years ago I had started writing a book. My life was in a major transition and had lots of emotions going on. As I was writing, my life went through many changes quickly and I had to stop because I lost focus about the purpose of my book. Because life changed and still continues to change, I decided that a blog was the best way to capture these changes as well as all I have experienced over my life's journey. Now what to name my blog. Daisyology was suggested by a friend. It may sound a bit self-centered...but the reality is that I can only write about what I know. Even if I research a subject which I have little or  no knowledge, it becomes something I know. To make my blog more expansive and interesting, I will be posting ideas of others giving them the due credit and I may even do a short interviews about these people.

My blog will inform or discuss on: healthy living, healthy eating, relationships, art, music, literature,metaphysical arts and philosophy, innovations,new inventions, the environment,.human rights, animal rights...some current events.....and will definitely do very little on politics and almost nothing on religion. Politics and religion become much too controversial and volatile. I prefer to stay more positive, fun and inspirational. I want my writing to bring me and others pleasure. If I get  comments on my blog, I may or may not reply. I have no desire to spend my time arguing with people.

Hopefully, you will see these types of improvements as I learn. I invite and welcome all of you to read my blog, Daisyology....A different point of view.