Search Results for: gifts

Give It Away

Backstory

My friend opened her closet to reveal hundreds of T shirts in every color imaginable, collected over 30 years of travel, concerts and music festivals. She now needed to down-size and this was the challenge she faced.

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Give It Away – #609

“If you have not worn it for two years, give it away.” When you see your closet bursting at the seams, it’s a theme worth remembering.

Lots of people can benefit by the clothes you give away. Families on limited budgets really appreciate thrift shops. Young people love trolling through the racks and creating wardrobes from vintage finds or interesting combinations they can afford.

A friend of mine donates clothing often to thrift shops, and just as often makes purchases herself while she is there. One day, she showed up at my door with a beautiful designer blouse. She explained she had found this in a local shop, it was my size and she just HAD to get it for me. Turns out it was the blouse I had donated the day before.

A caution though, as you begin choosing clothing giveaways. Take a good look and make sure the item you are sending off is worth the wearing by someone else.

We tend to treasure things we’ve enjoyed over the years; comfortable outfits worn often. They may have been worn TOO often to give away though. If the clothing is worn, give in and toss it, rather than have it become a thrift shop reject.

Look for the things that have had little wear. Anything that does not quite fit right, does not feel right on you. It may be the wrong color or something that makes you look fat or is a gift you would never have chosen. Send it on its way into grateful new hands.

P.S.

Local thrift shop went an extra step. As cold weather began, they set up racks for coats and jackets outside the store – available free to anyone who needed one. Our local Rotary Club provides new coats and jackets to school age children who need one, before Christmas each year.

[Show #609]

Advice From My Mentor

Backstory

The biggest gift a mentor can give is to provide you with words to live by; advice that serves you well for a lifetime. This is the treasure received from mine.

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Advice From My Mentor – #309

I once had a mentor when I appeared frequently as a guest speaker. We were talking about leaving lasting impressions; something every speaker hopes to do. He said, “People may not remember what you look like, or what you wore, or even what you said. But they will always remember how you made them feel.” How true.

What a gift is given by the person who makes you feel good. It can happen in front of a large audience or with a silent touch of a hand smoothing a child’s hair. Grasping the fingers of a loved one, giving private comfort or nurturing to someone in pain.

Treasure each time you have the opportunity to make another person feel good. Not only does it help the recipient, it’s good for the giver as well. That ethereal feeling that today, even in a minuscule way, you have made the world a better place for the way you made someone feel.

The rose is lovely, the cloudless blue sky is a delight. But the best and most beautiful things of this world can’t be seen or touched. They must be felt by the heart.

You can be the person who feels such a touch, or one who gives such a touch. Better still, be a giver and a receiver both.

P.S.

Here’s how to start out, making people feel better – Smile. Smile at people first. Smile at strangers. Smile in elevators. Then – generously give compliments. Sincere ones, but don’t be shy about admiring a lovely necklace, beautiful hair, a friendly dog. Like smiles, compliments work wonders – and they’re free.

[Show #309]

The Calamity

A Letter to My Friends
by Annette Petrick
March 18, 2020

Read in two minutes or less

Just a few weeks ago, we applauded and welcomed 2020. Now here we stand, self-quarantined with calendars devoid of activities and events and a very uncertain future.

Now that it’s all sunk in, we realize our lives have changed dramatically and will be even stranger in the weeks ahead. Let’s take stock of our capacity to cope. Some are faced with energetic kids and distraught teenagers. Meanwhile the elderly are reminded incessantly of their vulnerability in all this.

We might learn from our parents and grandparents how they faced hard times like the depression and the last global war. Food, luxuries and choices were in short supply and the future was ominous. They will tell you how they set out to make the most of what was – with an understanding and appreciation of how much worse it could be.

First figure out how you can most help those at home. Sooth feelings of panic. Give reassurances that events will be rescheduled or re-celebrated, new opportunities will arise or be created. The sun will come up tomorrow.

Got more than enough TP? Share some or deliver rolls to doorways. Neighbors need a spice, a cup of sugar, a new book or the latest magazine or DVD? Offer to leave it outside your door for them to pick up.

Once you’ve inhaled enough news about the pandemic and how best to survive it, make a plan for how to spend the next few weeks interned. Reintroduce the treat of an afternoon drive, to get out of the house – and then home again. Figure out where to walk while staying your distance from others. Undertake some of those home projects for which you never have time. Have everyone pitch in.

Build in loving time with friends and relatives. Get on the phone and call friends who might be frightened or alone or sick or old. Call parents and grandparents. Call grandchildren. Stay close. Use all those great digital tools to stay in touch – not just once, but frequently. Start using new gizmos, like video conferencing with one of the free apps.

As the days go by, small acts of reassurance and consideration will become vital. Call on your emotional and spiritual strength to figure out what to do next. Get enough rest, provide yourself with quiet time to evaluate and plan and stay healthy.

Human kindness may seem invisible – or may be found in unlikely places. Give it freely and be an example to others, particularly the young’ns, of how it’s done.

Be ready to switch gears on a moment’s notice. Know for a fact that things will change, in the days ahead. Decisions will require clear heads. Base your decisions on fact, rather than rumor or fear. They all look to us to be the anchor; the glue that holds it all together. We can do this. We’ve done it before and we can again.

For inspiration in this time of crisis, reach out to – https://www.heartspoken.com/newsletters and read Elizabeth Cottrell’s March 2020 edition. It is packed with heartwarming and comforting ideas, thoughts, quotes and suggestions – all in a read of 5 minutes or less.

For a 90 second pick-me-up, please listen to or read this special Consider This show – https://considerthisradioshow.com/peace-within/.

See dozens of our radio shows any time at https://considerthisradioshow.com.

To receive Annette’s 90 second radio show – in print and audio, each Sunday morning, sign up at https://considerthisradioshow.com/join/

Domestic Tips

Backstory

Our moms were so good at grabbing something right at hand to solve any kind of household emergency. Let’s keep that knowledge going and growing, with the following ideas and suggestions.

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Domestic Tips – #204

Today we’ve got some domestic tips that sounded so effective that we wanted to share them with you.

When you purchase a new bike, put your child’s photo inside the handlebar before placing the grips on. If the bike is stolen and later recovered, there’s your proof of who owns the bike.
Use a wet cotton ball to pick up little pieces of broken glass. Fibers catch pieces that you can’t even see.
To keep squirrels from eating your plants, sprinkle them with cayenne pepper. It doesn’t hurt the plant and the squirrels won’t go near it. Just be sure to wash well before eating.
When you throw a birthday or baby or bridal shower, buy a pack of Thank You cards. During the party, pass out the envelopes and have everyone write their name and address on one. When it’s time for the bride or the new mom to send thank yous, the envelopes will already be addressed.

If you have any household hints that you would like to share, or comments you would like to send in about the show, there is now an email address where you can write.

Send your comments or suggestions to annette@considerthisonline.com. That’s annette@considerthisonline.com. I’d love to hear from you.

P.S.

Even better, you can scroll down right here, and leave your tips under COMMENTS. Your messages are always appreciated. And you might enjoy reading comments left by others besides. Thanks for stopping in.

[Show #204]

Great Love

Backstory

I can remember the day I turned to God, begging Him to give me a sign about which way I should go. I was facing a big decision with seriously conflicting pros and cons. I heard a voice in my heart reassuring me and promising, “When it’s right, you will know.” And I did.

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Great Love – #164

Its been said that great love and great achievement both require a great risk. Certainly true. When you love greatly, you are most vulnerable. Your heart is open to joy and also heart break. Who knows which it will be? But as someone once dear to me said, “I would not have wanted to miss the dance.” Well, that too requires opening yourself to scrutiny.

Consider what the candidates went through in the recent election campaigns. How many of us would be willing to put our entire life’s history on the line for interpretation by anyone who wants to voice an opinion. It takes courage and determination, to say nothing of the risk that it may be, all for naught if you’re not chosen.

Do you have the courage to take great risks? The payoff could be great love or great achievement.

P.S.

When it turns out you made the right decision, be sure to appreciate the outcome. Don’t ever take it for granted. Treasure it each day and give thanks for the gift of wisdom that guided your decision. And if it does not work out, have the courage to make a change again. This time too, the outcome could be great love or great achievement.

[Show #164]

Told to Donate Blood

Backstory

It was a trying time for the whole family. One child desperately ill, the other anxious beyond words to help his little sister. Then he found out he could help.

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Told to Donate Blood – #169

Betsy was just a little girl. She suffered from a rare and serious disease.

She desperately needed a blood transfusion and her five-year-old brother was the right blood type. The doctor explained that what they were going to do and asked the little boy if he would agree to give his blood to his sister. Looking lovingly at little Betsy, he replied, “Yes. I’ll do it if it will save her.”

As the transfusion progressed the little boy was happy to see smiles on his parents faces as they looked at the color return to the little girl’s cheeks. He looked up at the doctor and asked with a tiny trembling voice, “Will I start to die right away?”

Well, the doctor was taken aback. Then he realized, the child thought he was being asked to give all his blood. He was willing to die to save his sister.

Unconditional love. It’s all around us. Sometimes more visible than other times.

P.S.

It doesn’t necessarily take such a dramatic incident for unconditional love to surface. It shows when care giving requires repetitive work, and it’s done with patience and smiles, yet again. It shines through endless lunch sandwich making or vegetable slicing or encouragement about squeaky, off-key notes during practice. It’s all unconditional love, probably unrecognized but hopefully appreciated, even if not for years to come.

[Show #169]

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