Give a Book - Take a Book!

We are heading into week 2 of the new year and I have another Pay It Forward Project to share with you! 

I have to admit, and some of you may be really disappointed when you hear this, but, I am not an avid reader. I know! I know! I read to gain knowledge. I read to learn something new and to grow myself. I will read articles, newspapers, columns, research articles, devotional books, spiritual growth literature and I read the bible every morning to start my day, but, for me to actually take the time to sit down with a good book and read it for pleasure is like building a snowman in the summer. 

It simply doesn’t happen.

I use to read for pleasure all the time, but as I got older and more involved in other passions, reading for pleasure went by the way side and now, when I do try to sit down to read a book, I find myself day dreaming and thinking about the laundry that needs folded, the dishwasher that needs emptied, and all the other things I could be doing. 

So, I don’t pick up a book all that often, and this year, I have decided I would like to try to change that! After all, I am writing a book so what kind of hypocrite am I if I don’t read much!

This past month, my friend Katherine Hull, who owns Hull’s Produce Stand with her husband, John Hull, gave me a wonderful stack of books to read and I have to say, I was so excited when she gave them to me! All of the books she gave me had something to do with my passion of outreach and giving back to others and I felt so special that she had thought of me and took the time to pay it forward! 

So, as you may have guessed, that is what this week’s pay it forward project is all about!

Take a look at your stack of books at home and find the one that you have read a hundred times (or if you are me, just once) and slap a sticky note on the front that says “A free gift for you. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did”. 

The next time you are in town, leave the book somewhere for someone else to find! What a sweet and lovely surprise for someone! 

I am ready to dive into these books from Katherine and I will certainly pay them forward once I am done! 

If you find a book around town this coming week, shoot me a comment and let me know and let’s pay it forward through words and books this week, one page and one book at a time.  

xoxo,

Brenda

New Year's Resolutions - Let's Get Organized!

New Year means New Year’s Resolutions and another year older for me! I am excited to ring in another birthday with you all as we start another year together as we welcome the year 2019! Can you believe I just said 2019? Who remembers 12/31/1999 when we were all holding our breath and freaking out, wondering what would happen to the banks and computers and worried the world would implode at the strike of midnight. But alas! Everything was just fine and we are now 19 years older and holding it all together.  Sort of.

It’s a new year which, for some, means New Year’s Resolutions. 

Do you have a New Year’s Resolution this year? 

For anyone wondering…. I do! I have a few actually. I am going to work on getting healthier (which is the polite way of saying I need to start exercising and I need to quit eating past 7pm). I have a few other goals this year like working on the book I am writing, I want to try my hand at a little painting (not boring painting like on walls but artistic painting on canvas and cards), and I would like to work on ideas to serve others and pay it forward in our community.

New Year’s Resolutions are sometimes hard to stick with. For a lot of us (yes, me included), New Year’s Resolutions start out strong January 1^st and then by January 17^th, everything goes to pot and we end up either forgetting them or wondering why we chose that specific resolution to begin with. 

I didn’t want that to happen to you, or me, so I thought of a pay it forward idea that is easy and practical and will keep us going strong all year long. Are you ready to go with me on this journey? 

Let’s do it.

This New Year’s Resolution will be an easy one for you to stick with this year. 

Each month, donate one item (or one bag of items) to charity. 

Now, if a light bulb just went off in your head, you are a winner! 

This pay it forward idea doesn’t just help others, but it helps you, too! 

We all love the feeling of getting rid of clutter and organizing ourselves, our lives and our closets, and this pay it forward project will help others throughout the year and it will help get you organized, too!

Now, here’s a little tip to help you keep this resolution on track. 

Don’t start with a big project! 

Don’t start by clearing out your basement that is fuller than your stomach after Thanksgiving dinner. Do not start out in your garage because the sight of mouse poop will make you quit right away. And whatever you do, don’t start in your linen closet. There are expired medicines and stuff hiding in there that will stop you dead in your tracks. 

Start easy. Something like your coat closet or dresser will be a good start. Tackle those small jobs first, fill up a bag, and donate it to charity this month and you will be well on your way to paying it forward and keeping your resolution. 

I am so glad you are joining me this year! 

I have some closets to organize and some items to donate to let’s stay strong and stay on track together! Happy paying it forward friends and Happy New Year!  

xoxo,

Brenda