Fall Giveaway - Nominate a Giver

"There is no exercise better for the heart than reaching down and lifting people up." -John Holmes

Its a Fall Giveaway

Do you know someone who gives from the heart consistently... with no promise of reward or even being able to afford the time or money? 

Nominate them today.  

The Winner will be randomly selected and will receive a mystery gift box.

You can share their story in the comments box below or hashtag their story/pic on Instagram with #starfishstories

      If you want to feel good, then do good!! "Scientific studies show that helping others boosts happiness. It increases life satisfaction, provides a sense of meaning, increases feelings of competence, improves our mood and reduced stress. It can help to take our minds off our own troubles too." 

     Kindness and caring is also contagious. When we see someone do something kind or thoughtful, or we are on the receiving end of kindness, it inspires us to be kinder ourselves.  In this way, kindness spreads from one person to the next, influencing the behavior of people who never saw the original act. Spreading Love is the key to creating a happier and more fulfilling life. 

What are you Doing Today: Creative Ideas to Pay it Forward

"Remember there's no such thing as a small act of kindness.
Every act creates a ripple with no logical end." - Scott Adams

What are you doing today? 

Kindness is Addicting and Contagious. Try it today and I promise your day will change for the better instantly. Here are a few creative ideas for you.

 

Have you ever watched the movie, Pay it Forward?

Here is a short clip from the inspiring movie - based on the novel by Catherine Ryan Hyde.

Watch it here

www.youtube.com/watch

Kindness Wins Everytime: Giveaway for Kindness Agents

 Give to those you love; give to those who love you, give to the fortunate, give to the unfortunate — yes, give especially to those you don’t want to give. You will receive abundance for your giving. The more you give, the more you will have!– W. Clement Stone

DID YOU KNOW: In the book, The Healing Power of Doing Good"  it lists the effects of kindness can include a greater sense of calmness and relaxation, which may also ease pain (from headaches to back pain) and may even reduce high blood pressure. It also suggests that other effects of kindness may increase your energy level!!

"All your words and actions define the world you want to live in." -Thaddeus Golas When we focus on kindness, our world becomes kinder; we become kinder.   Kindness can lead us wherever we want to go: to a happier life, to enlightenment, to making a difference in this world, to raising loving and kind children.

 "Kindness begets kindness, openness, health and reduces the effects of stress on our bodies and our hearts.  When you are kind to others, the impact of your action doesn't stop there.  Many times the recipient of your kindness and others who see or hear about your kindness are inspired to be kinder.  The ripples of kindness are truly endless."

 

So lets share our stories and inspire each other.

OCTOBER GIVEAWAY: Acknowledging and Encouraging Acts of Kindness.

Do you know a Kindness Agent that you would like to nominate?

Did you perform an act of Kindness? 

Did you see someone else perform an act of kindness? 

Were you the recipient of a kindness deed? 

Share your story below and be entered into a giveaway. OR you can hashtag your photo/video on Instagram #starfishstories. Deadline is 11.06.13

(Win a DEAP bracelet, Mercury earbuds, gift cards and more...)

 

 NOTE: In order to be entered into the drawing you must be following on IF (ariellecaputo)

Gift Items:

"Dream Endless, Actively Pursue" bracelet cuff. Available in copper, nickle, brass, aluminum silver . The proceeds from each bracelet purchase go towards a RAK of your choosing.

Mercury Innovation Earbuds -Designed to deliver a clear, rich audio experience, the Waterproof Sports buds are ideal for an active lifestyle. Whether swimming, running, or working out, the cork screw ear-tip and activity loop ensure a secure and comfortable fit.

Gifts cards: AMC movies, Visa card, Best Buy... 

Random Act of Kindness is: “a selfless act performed by a person or persons wishing to either assist or cheer up an individual… There will generally be no reason other than to make people smile, or be happier.” 

DEAP Cuffs: Buy one and Donate to a RAK of your choosing

“So many of our dreams at first seem impossible, then they seem improbable, and then, when we summon the will, they soon become inevitable.”
- Christopher Reeve

"Dream Endlessly, Actively Pursue" Bracelet Cuffs are now Available. Join the Movement and make a commitment to Pursue your Dreams while Helping others Accomplish theirs.

Purchase a bracelet and the proceeds go to a RAK (random act of kindness) of your choosing. 
RAK Options:
1.) Warm Blankets for the Homeless
2.) Any Act of YOUR choosing. (the recipient will be notified of your kindness deed, and I will post a pic/video of the act in your name if you so wish)
3.) A Kindness Act of MY Choosing. (I will choose a deed for a lucky recipient and will post a video or pic in your name)

This is a 1/4" cuff bracelet hand stamped with the message "Dream Endlessly, Actively Pursue. It does have some bend to it, so you can adjust it to fit. Comes in Brass, Copper, Nickel, or Aluminum Silver (nickel free)

Please note this item is hand stamped and sometimes letters don't always line up completely straight or perfectly. (Some pieces have whimsical looking letter placement on purpose!) This should not be considered a defect, but rather part of the charm of handmade.

 Order yours now for $22 which includes shipping and handling.

Ready to ship in 3-5 business days

Payment Method: PayPal  Send Payment to: rel87@ymail.com as a GIFT and write in the notes which RAK you would like me to do. 

 

Place your order, chose your RAK, watch acts of kindness ripple all over the world, and sit back and reap the wonderful benefits of sweet Karma.

"Help others achieve their dreams and you will achieve yours." -Les Brown

The Universe Has Your Back - Take action in the direction of your dreams

"Match the frequency of the reality you want and you cannot help but get that reality." -Darryl Anka

Sometimes we want change but we don't know how to initiate that process to get the ball rolling in that positive direction. Here are four practical ways to take action in the direction you want. Mount these posters up all over your home, car, or work place as constant reminders. For me personally I have my Vision Board on my bedroom mirror, a Gratitude Board in my hallway, an inspirational quote on my car mirror, and then a little sign on my desk at work.

Vibrating it, is as simple as thinking about it, remembering it, listening to someone else talk about it, imagining it, speaking it, writing on it, looking at it – or reading about it.

So tune into the Vibrations you want in your life through any or all of these practical methods.

Success Log 

A success log is simply a written tally of things going your way.  It could be an ongoing list of happy manifestations, a journal of wins and triumphs, or however else you want to capture in writing the experiences and things you appreciate.

Income Journal

Keep a little notebook in your purse, night stand, back pocket and write in it daily. Write down every positive income. For instance, I received a $5 coupon on my receipt from CVS. I got a credit adjustment on my At&t bill. I received my wonderful hourly wage for today's work.... By constantly writing down our bills we focus on a negative money frequency, so switch it up, write every positive income you receive on a daily bases. You will notice that you are receiving money in places you didn't even realize and that in turn generates more creative areas to generate wealthin your life.

Vision Board

This is any goal, wish, or aspiration you may have. It can be, I want to lose 15 lb or just tone up. I would like to receive a raise. I would like a new job.  I would like to take a vacation to... You can cut out magazine clippings or print out picture, and write inspirational quotes or words.

Gratitude Board

I write one thing down everyday that I am grateful. This is a reminder of how blessed we truly are. And by doing this you can physically start to see things you have wished for on your Vision Board  come true!!

We get what we focus on. These methods all about training our attention towards success. Its easy to focus on everything that is going wrong or not coming to pass fast enough. So these methods will help redirect your attention back to generating wealth and success. So take action in the direction of your dreams. The Universe has your back!

Pay it Foward: One of the many definitions of this term

  Thank to everyone for their amazing submissions. It was VERY hard to pick one. Many of you put a lot of time and thought into your submissions, and I am very grateful. I will be combining so many definitions into a up coming blog post.

"Paying it Forward (PIF) means many things, from giving someone the shirt off your back, to a friendly nod, simple smile, or a few kind words. To pay it forward is actually another form of a random act of kindness. If someone is having a bad day you can PIF simply by telling that person how great they are :)  Paying it forward is showing someone a kind gesture and not expecting anything back in return. It's doing a good deed to restore the faith in humanity, it's telling your brother that he's not as annoying as you say lol. You can interpret any random act of kindness from your heart as paying it forward.  

The biggest reward though, is that you're really paying it forward to yourself! You PIF because you want to and don't need to think why am I doing this. People were born to pay it forward, sometimes they just need a little help understanding exactly what it is. It's true that when you pay it forward it gets passed along! For example, someone smiles at you, you smile back, you then go on to smile at someone else and they smile at someone else and so on. Well that one simple smile just PIF to a whole group of people. Like I said, PIF to me means helping restore the faith in humanity by doing something completely selfless without thinking about it!" - Nikki P

By the way...

We Want to help you help your neighbor.

Nominate an unsung hero or family in need by filling out the form below. Tell us their story in 250 words or less, and you just might get the chance to reward them with $500 cash. We`ll pick a new nominee every week.

http://www.newschannel9.com/news/features/pay-it-forward/

What's PIF anyways?

“Well, I made a difference to that one!” The old man looked at the girl inquisitively and thought about what she had said and done. Inspired, he joined the little girl in throwing starfish back into the sea. Soon others joined, and all the starfish were saved. - adapted from the Star Thrower by Loren C. Eiseley

What does "Pay it Forward" (PIF) mean?

"Paying it Forward" and performing random acts of kindness has become the norm for my daughter and I. It is our lifestyle, who we are and how we go about our day interacting with people.  We keep hand written letters and spare change in my car at all times so that in whatever we are doing we are able to spread love easily and abundantly. As we are driving to and from school my daughter will spot a homeless person on the street side and ask if we can give him a letter and spare change. And since we have them already written, we can! Thus making it so we are able to impact more people. Paying it forward is our way of life. But as we have passed out letters, flowers, or change we quite often receive puzzled looks. It has made me realize that not everyone knows what this term even means and this saddens me. My life is permeated with kindness, love and happiness. I start my morning off with yoga, then I listen to my latest inspirational podcast and head to class. We make it a goal to spread love to at least one person before we arrive at our destination. I never thought that others would have no clue as to this treasure, this amazing gift we experience on a daily basis by giving to others. So how do we insight people on the gift of Paying it Forward? What does this term mean to you?

So I am starting another Giveaway!! How would you describe the meaning of "Pay it Forward" to a complete stranger? Or define the term "Pay it forward" in your own words

Enter your answers below in the comments box or post it on facebook.com/deap. You will automatically be entered into a giveaway. Deadline is 9.27.2013

Keep Spreading Love

Kindness Giveaway Winners

"My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness."
Dalai Lama

WINNER #1 - Jamie Lago

WINNER #2 -  Autumn (theycallmeautie)

 

WINNER #3 - Jackie (ringgoldja) 

WINNER #4 - Ashleigh (ash_pack)

I received nearly 100 stories and pictures for this giveaway. And they were all amazing stories and pictures. Some that made me laugh, smile and others that made me cry. I am so inspired by all of you. And so grateful to have met you all and proud to know you. I can not wait to compile everyone's ideas and stories for you all to read and hopefully be inspired as much as I have been. 

I believe no story is "better" than the other - kindness is kindness in any shape or size. So I compiled all the stories from my blog, instagram and email. I wrote everyone's name down and picked them out of a jar.

I received some Awesome Donations from several amazing people. So HUGE thanks to them, I was able to pick two winners of this kindness giveaway! And then I have to smaller winners that will receive a little gift of love as well.

Our Amazing donators are:

Brian Koyama
(facebook.com/brian.koyama.)

Jennifer Hammerberg

(www.etsy.com/shop/jhammerberg)

OfLovelyThings

(www.etsy.com/people/oflovelythings)

Lani LD

(www.etsy.com/shop/LittleDistractions)

Kristyne

gold-soul.com

So Thank You Thank You THANK YOU to are amazing donators !!! You are the ones that made it possible. 

Stay Tuned! I will post stories, pictures this weekend!

THE WINNERS and their stories/pics

Giving Back to Those that Give -Updated

"The surest way to happiness is to lose yourself in a cause greater than you." 

Only a few days left!!!  

You are allowed to submit as many stories as you want.

Submit your kindness story below to be entered in to win a free box of gifts in a random drawing. The Giveaway goes til Sept 13, 20013. (It can be an kindness event you performed or witnessed.) 
(Share your story in the comments box below.)

I have been receiving so many amazing stories. I cant wait to share them all. I love the creativity, time, energy, and love you are all pouring out to others in your own way. So thank you all for sharing with me. The more love and positive energy you put out in the world, the more love and positive energy will come to you in your own life. 

“If you send out goodness from yourself, or if you share that which is happy or good within you, it will all come back to you multiplied ten thousand times... The more love you give away, the more love you will have.” ― John O'Donohue

Contest Details:

If you see someone performing an act of kindness take a picture or better yet capture it on your iphone cameras and send the video to me. If it is on youtube already, send me the link.

If you would to like to tell me your story, you are welcome to leave a voicemail and I will save your recording.  (send me an email and I will give you a number to leave a voicemail)

Or if you are a recipient of a good deed, send your story as well. Picture, video, email or via instagram. You can tag #starfishstories

And if you have just performed the deed yourself, send me your story as well. Again, it can be picture, video, email or via instagram.

My email is: rel87@ymail.com

Instagram is :ariellecaputo

Thank You !!

Easy Ways to Spread Love

“Sail beyond the horizon; fly higher than you ever thought possible; magnify your existence by helping others; be kind to people and animals of all shapes and sizes; be true to what you value most; shine your light on the world; and be the person you were born to be.” Blake Beattie

 

Here are some super easy and creative ways to pay it forward on a daily basis on any budget. I hope some of these pictures and ideas inspire you.

 Leave flowers anywhere; on cars, at bus stops...

Handwritten notes can make anyone stop and smile.

  

Leave random bills and coins; redbox, gas stations or on the street.

 Gift cards are fun and easy and there are tons to chose from.

 Randomly pay for the person behind you or next to you.

 Hand out water bottles. Or leave coins at a meter.

If you have more ideas, feel free to send them our way or post them up in Instagram. Tag #starfishstories or #deap. You can also download my Starfish Story Letter on the side of my blog to leave for people whenever you decide to pay for the person behind you. 

“And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.” -Nelson Mandela