Today is Day 244 of 365 Days of Goodness.  I am definitely over the halfway mark.  I have 244 Acts of Goodness under my belt, something that I feel very proud and excited about.  And I thought it was time to reflect a little bit.

When I started my quest of “365 Good Deeds in 365 Days,” back on January 1st of this year, it was a personal challenge.  Sure I knew I was in way over my head, but I was ready.  This blog started as a personal journey, but through the last 244 days has grown into so much more.

I have learned so many valuable life lessons during this 365 experience.  I have felt that indescribable wonderful feeling of being able to help those in need.  I have gone the extra mile for others and I have spent quality time with friends, family, and loved ones.  Not because I had to, but because I’ve genuinely wanted to.  365 has reminded me, or rather brought me back to where I want to be in life.  365 continues to have a profound impact on the person I am, and the person that I strive to be.

I know when we volunteer in Peru and Costa Rica and get to experience helping those in need, that will add another level of importance to my life.  I anticipate it having a strong and positive impact on this 365 “journey.” (Of course I will be updating all of you on our travels once we leave on Oct. 19th.)

But even with all the goodness that comes with helping those in need and going the extra mile for others, that quote by Clare Booth Luce, “No Good Deed Goes Unpunished,” still rings true.  I never really understood what that meant, until now.

I’ve had several experiences in the last couple weeks where no matter how good the intention was from my end, it still was read as the opposite.  I find that when you have to “justify” your acts of goodness, it makes them feel not quite so “good” anymore.  It makes you feel icky, it makes you second guess yourself, and it makes you reassess and ask yourself why you want to do these acts of goodness in the first place.

But, once you can step outside the dark clouds of that misunderstanding, of that “need” to justify your true intentions, you can feel secure again on your path.  (This has been my experience.) If you can remember that you can only work on bettering yourself, you can stay on your path of goodness.  People may not always appreciate what you do, and they may even misread you completely, but if you stay true to your intention of coming from that place of love and goodness, you will always be on the right path.

We have to remember  that we can’t control how others choose to view or perceive us.  We can, however,take charge of ourselves, utilizing everyday lessons and experiences to improve ourselves everyday.  And “IMPROVEMENT starts with “I.”  If I am consciously working on making myself a better me, then I know I am on the right path.

So, this post shares with you a little more depth than others, but I wanted to share with you all some of the personal things that I have experienced recently on my “365 Journey.” Maybe you can gain a little insight from my experiences too?!  Anyways, this concludes my “Deep Thoughts” section of the blog, stay tuned for further updates as they arise

All the thoughts of bills, to-do’s, and missed opportunities started to flood my mind this evening, and then it stopped.  And a bright little light went off inside me.   And I allowed my mind to find the goodness.  I thought about the sweet little animals I got to spend time with last week, my last day with Ms. Good’s class, and all the other inspiring people I’ve met and all the amazing charities I’ve learned about this month.  I felt good.  I felt appreciative.  I felt… present.

I know every one of us has these moments where time just catches us off guard–it’s the moment right before we shout aloud some rendition of “Wow!  Where has the time gone?!”  We all have them.  Sometimes daily.  And it hit me this evening, that this time-induced panic is a little alarm clock coming from the depths of our souls.  I know I may sound a little “woo woo” here, but stick with me for a second.  I really think there is something to these moments.  Something that breaks us out of our passive everyday routine and awakens us to the present moment.  Just like the alarm that awakens us in the wee hours of the morning, the alarm inside us blares and awakens us to the fact that we may have been walking around “sleeping” most of the time.

Life is precious and often we find ourselves walking through it, not necessarily present.  And as we are here on the “Goodness” site… I will specifically speak to the presence of goodness.  It’s easy for us to see the negative, the fears, the “un-accomplishments”, … the bills.  In fact, these are the first things that went off when my internal alarm sounded this evening.  But after taking a moment, we can center ourselves and gain presence–become aware and conscious of our present moment.  And in that present moment we can choose to insert goodness.  It’s a tiny little opportunity to think about the goodness in our lives.  And if nothing comes to mind, switch it.  Turn it around.  Think about the goodness you give to others.  Or better yet, the goodness you have the power to do — for the planet, for those in need, for animals, or even for yourself.  It only takes a moment.  It can be tiny.  It can be easy.  It just has to be “good!”

*I want to thank my amazing husband, Matt, for helping me write this article.  He has a way with words that is unprecedented!

When I started this journey, I didn’t have a fully detailed plan.  I didn’t know exactly how to build or maintain a blog.  I didn’t know if I could come up with an act of kindness or some sort of good deed every day.  I didn’t know  how others would respond to my quest– and I didn’t know how to respond to others’ responses.  I just knew that I wanted to take on the challenge of “365 Days of Goodness…”  whatever that meant.  And now that I’m 151 days into this journey, the one thing I do know, is that I’m still learning.  Every day, seems to bring on some sort of new challenge.

There have been times when I have felt blocked.  Where I have felt frustrated, anxious and overwhelmed.  And then I ask myself,  “And I said I was going to do 365 of these?  What the heck was I thinking?!”  And then, a light bulb goes off.  Maybe it’s a suggestion that someone emailed me.  Or a message on a billboard.  Advice from a friend.  Or a simple intuitive response to someone or something in need of some “goodness.”  I get back on track and feel aligned with my highest self… journeying to bring smiles, happiness, laughter and goodness to as many people as I can.

I’ve received tons of beautiful and loving comments about the site and my journey– from family, friends and strangers.  But once in a while I receive an email or a negative comment on the site.  Just this week someone ( a stranger–who I didn’t know) wrote me a whole email basically chastising my journey and suggesting that many of my “acts of goodness” are not good deeds at all.  Anger boiled inside me.  Who was this person to judge me?  Why would they take time out of their life to write such a condescending email to me?

And then it hit me that there was a lesson here.  That “aha moment” (thank you Oprah) went off inside me… I understood that it was okay for this person to say anything they wanted.  I understood that they can feel any way they want to feel.  Because, at the end of the day, I can’t change this person, nor is it my job to.  But, I can change myself.  I released the anger and negative energy and instead was reminded of my purpose here–to share my journey of goodness.  I’m not always going to be perfect.  Heck, I’m as human as anyone else… but I’m making a conscious effort to go above and beyond my norm to spread some of that goodness to others. And as Aesop said: “No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.”

Though I’ve had my share of challenges and frustrations, I’ve had plenty of enlightening moments.  I’ve felt more like myself than I ever have before.  As I said above, I feel a true alignment with a higher purpose, like I’m on the right track in life.  The more I seem to share and give to others, the more happiness, fulfillment, and overall goodness I seem to get.

So I want to thank you all who are taking this journey with me here at 365 Days Of Goodness.  It’s an ongoing trek to 365, but I am so appreciative to have all of you –for the all the help you give, the lessons you share and the love you give.

THANK YOU!

Here are some highlights from the month of April:

My friend Kristen and I spent an afternoon perserving the Ballona Wetlands

I returned to Ms. Good’s class with “The Good Deed Program”

I helped my 87 year-old Grandpa prepare a Passover meal for 8

I celebrated my 100th Good Deed by donating 100 items!

I continued with my Recycling Program and was able to help the same woman in need I helped last time!

I gathered Get Well cards for a woman I’d never met

I interviewed my 91 year-old Grandfather (a Holocaust survivor) about his experiences in Auschwitz on Holocaust Remembrance Day

I planted 6 trees on Earth Day in the comfort of my own home, thanks to Everywun.com

I donated to a scholarship fund that was created/named after my Grandmother who passed away

I learned a very important lesson at Barnes & Noble

I bought 20 years of clean, safe, drinking water for someone in an underdeveloped country in honor of my parents anniversary

By playing this game online, I was able to donate food to those in need

I had a fun shopping day with my friends and supported the Lymphoma and Leukemia Society at the same time

I helped my 87-year old Grandpa run errands

I was the “Meter Fairy!”

I continued with my Recycling Program and helped a woman in need

Matt & I baked cookies for people working in our neighborhood

I donated $5 to the Tap Project which gives 200 days of clean, safe, drinking water to a child in an impoverished country

Matt & I donated blood for the 2nd time this year, making it a combined total of 12 lives we have saved this year so far

I cleaned out my pantry and donated canned goods to a food bank in honor of another good deed blogger

• I surprised my 91 year old Grandpa by taking him out to lunch on his birthday.

• I was the “Coupon Fairy!”

• I have continued with “The Recycling Program” and got a free recycling bin from bottlesandcans.com that we are using at our building

• I helped “Adopt a Family” who couldn’t afford to have a Christmas.

• I honored “Random Acts of Kindness Week while I was in New York by writing Thank You notes to the pilots and crew of my flight, buying a cup of coffee for a taxi driver, and sending Valentine cards full of loving words to my friends and family (amongst other Random Acts of Kindness while in NYC)

• I’ve continued with “The Good Deed Program” in Ms. Good’s 2nd grade class
  

• I left “Free Wishing Pennies” for people at a fountain.

And many many more!

I thank all of you for your continued support in my second month of goodness!  Please become a 365 Subscriber! Click on the subscription button on the top left corner so you can get your daily dose of goodness!  Also, please let me know your ideas for good deeds!  I am always looking for some new ones!  You can leave me a comment here or email me at: AlliDSeigel@me.com

And as an FYI, we have more than doubled the hits on this website since last month!  Please spread the goodness and help keep 365 growing!

Thanks and I love you all! (Especially you!)

.  Matt & I saved 6 lives by each donating a pint of blood

. My Mom & I helped a shelter dog find a home

. My Sister & I “crashed” dentist offices & got over 200 tubes of toothpaste to donate to the Pacific Clinics

. A friend & I attended an “Action Fair” where we showed our support for equality in marriage

.I have helped feed the hungry, give free mamograms to women, help children attain literacy & healthcare, save the rainforest & feed rescue animals all with the click of a button! (This is a VERY SIMPLE good deed that you all can and should do!)

.I left a kind note & money for parking on a stranger’s car

.I started a recycling program in my complex and at Matt’s work with the “proceeds” going to the needy

. I started a “Good Deed Program” in Ms. Good’s 2nd Grade Class

.I honored Dr. Martin Luther King by helping beautify a school on his birthday

And many many more!

I thank all of you for your unbelievable support in my first month of goodness!  My heart is warmed by all of you and your “good deeds” as well!  I have heard from countless people how they have been “inspired” to bring a little more goodness into their lives and the lives of others. Waking the world up to go that extra mile and to reach out to others is my overall hope with this blog!

Please let me know your ideas for good deeds!  I am always looking for some new ones!  You can leave me a comment here or email me at: AlliDSeigel@me.com

And as an FYI, we’ve had 2,770 unique hits  on this website in the first month, and I hope to keep growing!  Please help spread the goodness!

Thanks and I love you all! (Especially you!)