Monday, April 13, 2009

"To Do" List for This Week

This week, Join me in doing eight things to change the "structure of the Universe." Each act will be different for each individual. You will know what it is that you should do when it comes to mind.

1. Do something that may not be the easiest thing to do for you, but is the RIGHT, the ethical, the moral and the just thing to do.
" Have the courage to say no. Have the courage to face the truth. Do the right thing because it is right. These are the magic keys to living your life with integrity." W. Clement Stone

2. Perform a generous, totally selfless, yet completely anonymous act. Make sure that no one knows who has done this.
"We are formed and molded by our thoughts. Those whose minds are shaped by selfless thoughts give joy when they speak or act. Joy follows them like a shadow that never leaves them." Buddha
"Through selfless work, love of God grows in the heart. Then through his grace one realizes him in course of time. God can be seen. One can talk to him as I am talking to you." Ramakrishna

3. Visit an elderly person, and do something for that person, like write a letter, spend some time, do yardwork, etc.
"I can't help myself, every old person in the street has my number.If it's not a morning paper, bread or milk I’m delivering, it's usually a little job needing done in their house.I'm always having joke with them and just a wee bit time of day costs nothing." Anonymous

4. Volunteer for 2 hours (apart from what you do in number 3.) (This could be at a soup kitchen, an animal shelter, etc., and is different from any other act on this list.)
"If you help others, you will be helped, perhaps tomorrow, perhaps in one hundred years, but you will be helped. Nature must pay off the debt. It is a mathematical law and all life is mathematics." G. I Gurdjieff
"At the center of the universe is a loving heart that continues to beat and that wants the best for every person. Anything we can do to help foster the intellect and spirit and emotional growth of our fellow human beings, that is our job. Those of us who have this particular vision must continue against all odds. Life is for service." Fred Rogers

"You must be the change you wish to see in the world." Gandhi

5. Cook a healthy, tasty vegan meal, for you, your family, and invite someone to this meal. (There are millions of websites and recipes on the internet. ) If you like, make it a vegan potluck with friends at your house. This vegan meal will cause no harm, lessen global warming, and will be kind to other creatures.
"Ultimately, living with compassion means striving to maximize the good we accomplish, not following a set of rules or trying to fit a certain label. From eating less meat to being vegan, our actions are only a means to an end: decreasing suffering.
What we choose to eat makes a powerful statement about our ethics and our view of the world -- about our very humanity. Whenever we choose not to buy meat, eggs, and dairy products, we withdraw our support from cruelty to animals, undertake an economic boycott of factory farms, and support the production of cruelty-free foods.
Regardless of any other beliefs we hold and however else we choose to lead our lives, each of us can decide to act with kindness and compassion. Making humane choices is the ultimate affirmation of our humanity." Matt Ball



6. Forgive someone for something, and (tactfully, and without pride or ego) let that person know, in some way, that they have been forgiven.
"Forgiveness paints a picture of a world where suffering is over, loss becomes impossible and anger makes no sense. Attack is gone, and madness has an end." "Fear binds the world. Forgiveness sets it free." (from A Course in Miracles)

7. Do something, (anything that is ethical and moral, and does no harm, of course), that noticeably, symbolically, demonstrates to yourself and others blind optimism for mankind, -- something that will serve in your life as a symbol of optimism for the human race -- without fear of what anyone thinks, what anyone might say.
"People deal too much with the negative, with what is wrong. Why not try and see positive things, to just touch those things and make them bloom?"
-Thich Nhat Hanh

8. Express heartfelt gratitude to someone for something they are or have done. This should be something for which you've not expressed gratitude before.
"When you are grateful, fear disappears and abundance appears." Anthony Robbins
"Good men and bad men differ radically. Bad men never appreciate kindness shown them, but wise men appreciate and are grateful. Wise men try to express their appreciation and gratitude by some return of kindness, not only to their benefactor, but to everyone else." Buddha


I would love to hear about experiences you have while accomplishing this "to do" list.

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