Before you read any further here, read this and this.

Roger Ebert was a part of my life for a very very long time. I knew him with Gene Siskel doing the thumbs up or down thing and I was sad to hear he died earlier this year. Today I stumbled across those articles by chance. It stirred something in me, that this is my life philosophy as well. Although ‘kindness’ summarizes it really well, I prefer the fuller quote: “I believe that if, at the end, according to our abilities, we have done something to make others a little happier, and something to make ourselves a little happier, that is about the best we can do. To make others less happy is a crime. To make ourselves unhappy is where all crime starts. We must try to contribute joy to the world. That is true no matter what our problems, our health, our circumstances. We must try. I didn’t always know this and am happy I lived long enough to find it out.”1 day ago

I found myself signing up for all sorts of volunteering, so many that I’ve been combining my meetings with protegees with community education projects, etc. I feel good. I’ve donated money too and felt good about it.

Next: donate my hair to cancer patients.

After that: the November project! 1 week ago

I would still like to donate a percentage of my income but at the moment, I am between jobs. Once I start earning an income again, I will look at different causes to which I can contribute and make a difference financially.

I recently purchased a book that I came across, and it has various ideas for ways to make a difference in the following areas: Acts of Service, Quality Time, Giving, Physical Support, and Communication. What I would like is to focus on and implement one idea per week (doing it this way will give me over a year’s worth), rotating among the different areas. 1 week ago

I have made a difference. My best friend wouldn’t be who she is without me. I helped her through the hard times like she’s helping me. We have been through so much together, and that’s made us both better people. We know what it’s like to be on the wrong side of things, and to feel the wrath of other people. We understand. We try not to make other people feel that way. 3 weeks ago

and I am checking it off the list! I know I have made a difference in many people’s lives, I don’t know if I have made a difference in the WORLD, but I think the world would be different for many, had I not been in it.
I will continue to make a difference the best I can, to be the best me I can be and influence others to do the same. 3 weeks ago

I think I’m doing this. I want a larger scale than with who I’ve encouraged. I want to be able to say that I’m the reason such and such are still here. That I’m the reason they care. 4 weeks ago

I’ve recently met a woman recovering from ovarian cancer. She was self-employed prior to the diagnosis and so her income dwindle to nothing during the treatment. Today, she found out her car needs repairs and the cost is significant. I know from being unemployed the fear of outstanding bills and needing more than I can afford. I know from watching KT going through her cancer that if I can help I should. I can’t help her the way she needs so I’m putting this out to everyone. Help if you can. Share if you can’t. I think even a small amount from enough people would make a difference.

http://www.gofundme.com/rioj8 4 weeks ago

Like I said with the encouragement, I want to be the good in somebody’s life. I’ve been told I am. I have been told that I’m the only reason my one friend is still sane, or at least allowed in public. I hope that’s good enough. 1 month ago

I love to mentor young people and encourage older people to enjoy the simple and the not so simple things of life. I want to do this through writing a series of short books for each age group – from the readers point of view. I shall address family relationships, personal relationships, health and fitness, recreation activities, communication,learning and spiritual development 1 month ago

I’ve helped some people see that not everything’s about them. I think, anyway. Some people don’t suck as much, and I feel like I’ve helped them to become that way. Probably not, but hey, I can pretend! 1 month ago

I have made a donation to our local library and also joined the library board. Literacy promotion is important to me; the library also puts on a lot of fun events for families. I am excited to offer my talents! 1 month ago

I think I’ve made a difference in not just my friends’ lives, but my own as well. I feel like I’ve impacted my own life in a way that never could’ve happened without the Internet and people who support me(: although, that would be them making a difference, but the Internet is really a place where you can search on your own. Anyway, I feel as though I’ve helped. 1 month ago