Tis the season...

of giving, reflection of the past year and making the change.

I was cleaning and organizing this weekend and when I went downstairs to put clothes in the community laundry I saw a few boxes with signs on them for the food pantry.  I thought to myself, "that is nice; I wish I had something to give."

Coincidentally, I was cleaning out the pantry.  As I was cleaning out the pantry and finding food in there that had been in there a while, I was reminded of the boxes in the laundry room.  I decided to put a few cans and boxes in the wash basket.  As I was doing all of this and deciding what to donate I also recalled a short video of Dani Johnson I had watched earlier in the year called, "War on Debt."  I was reminded to simplify my life.

As I was going through the pantry and putting some food in my basket to donate, I was looking at expiration dates on the foods.  I ended up throwing out a few cans of food and and some other miscellaneous foods.  One of the things I learned from Dani Johnson was to not overbuy.  This goes for food at the grocery store and clothes at the department stores.  I realized that the food I was throwing in the garbage wasn't just food; it was money that I was throwing away.  Have you ever thrown expired food away?  How about found clothes you have never worn with tags on them still?  All of this is money you are throwing away.

The great thing about all of this is that I was able to donate to those who are less fortunate, remind myself what I need to do to stay on the road to financial freedom and, of course, clean up.  For those of you that are wishing you could donate, but don't have the money, this is perfect for you. 

My recommendation:  Clean out your pantry and give away some of the food to a food pantry.  Anything that you have to throw away because it is expired, realize that it's money you are throwing away.  I would seriously considering purchasing "War on Debt" because it can really help you get on a good path.

What have you done this holiday season to help yourself or others? 

Part 1: Principle 3: Arouse in the other person an eager want.

"Tomorrow you may want to persuade somebody to do something.  Before you speak, pause and ask yourself: "How can I make this person want to do it?'"

So how would one go about this...hmmm...?  Now, read the quote again.  If you actually do this, it will help you take your time and think about the other person.  Have you ever heard that everyone's favorite subject to talk about is themselves?  So if you start by talking to the other person about them or what they want, you will build a relationship.

The question you might be asking yourself now, is: "What if it is a stranger or somebody I don't know?"  If this is the case, start by asking the other person questions.  Have you ever hear of the "F.O.R.M." technique?  Family, Occupation, Recreation, Money or Message (depending on who you ask).

God gave us two ears and one mouth for a reason.  We should listen more than we speak.  So this next week, let's focus on listening and really getting to know people.  You may find a new friend or maybe you will find yourself learning more about your current friends and/or family.  Enjoy listening! :)

Part 1: Principle 2: Give Honest and Sincere Appreciation

"Dr. John Dewey said that the deepest urge in human nature is "the desire to be important.'"



 What a bold, yet true statement.  So in the simplest terms, if you want to get someone to do something for you, make them feel important.  How do you make someone feel important?  Appreciate them!  You can't just do it to blow smoke though.  You have to actually mean it!

"We often take our spouses so much for granted that we never let them know we appreciate them."

This statement really hit home for me.  I really like this statement because you can interchange the word, spouse for brother, sister, mom, dad or even friend. 

One of Jarrod's (my husband) "jobs" in the house is to do the dishes so I can get to work on business or volleyball right after dinner.  He does dishes so often that sometimes I go a whole week without saying "thank you" to him for doing the dishes.  Even though dishes are pretty simple, it is something worth appreciating.  If you really think about it; isn't it the small things that are done all the time, the things that make our lives easier.  It is easy to thank someone for a gesture done out of the ordinary, like a gift, because it is unexpected.  But doesn't everybody do that.  We are trying to be unlike other people.  If you are the only one at work saying thank you on a reagular basis, do you think you might be the first to get a raise or a larger bonus...?  It may not, but this is something so easy to do and also easy not to do.  Therefore most people don't!  What if this did work...?  This may not get you the raise or the bonus, but it is a start; and if you start small and grow from that, the next thing you do might be the tipping point for what you want.

Make a concious effort to make this change.  It will make you feel better :)