Be kind in December, and every other month too

Before you get too busy this holiday season, Action for Happiness has a great idea to help you experience the best of the season. The first thing it recommends doing is to share this calendar, and I do this now, with you. There are thirty more days to be kind this year. Use them wisely, friends and optimists. Many cheers to you!

The ROI of joining an Optimist Club

So often, when asked to join a membership association, people will ask, "What's in it for me?"

They wonder:

• Will it advance my career? 
• Will it make my workload any easier? 
• Will it give me more time to be with my family or friends? 
• Will it help me make more friends? 
• Will it give me influence?
• Will it help me make more money? 

The questions continue, both verbal and nonverbal, while someone weighs the value of giving their time to a particular group as the membership recruiter struggles to point out how wonderful it is to associate with a group of like-minded individuals for yes, all of the above will happen if you allow it to happen. Yet despite all the fine attributes of joining, the decision often defaults to no.

How sad it is that in a world where individual advancement is valued so highly, the concept of return on investment is missed by so many. When you invest your time by giving of yourself in service to others, you are rewarded with a positive understanding of self-worth. It makes you feel good about being you.

Flora Edwards said, "In helping others, we shall help ourselves, for whatever good we give out completes the circle and comes back to us."

Kindness begets kindness. Be kind and join an Optimist Club today and share your kindness through service.

Click here to find an Optimist Club near you or contact me and I'll help you organize a new Optimist Club in your community.

"Trying to make the world better one tweet at a time"

We hear so much about the dangers of cyberbullying. How would you like to hear about social media being used by teens for a good purpose instead? That sounds much more optimistic to me!

This video introduces us to Jeremiah Anthony, a junior at Iowa City West High School. Jeremiah started the Twitter account @westhighbros to tweet compliments and encouragement to friends. Recent tweets, as of this post, included such things as "You are really unique and talented," "You make the best of everything that comes your way," and "You are smart and can find the humor in every situation."

His Twitter bio says, "Trying to make the world better one tweet at a time." I think he's doing that, don't you?  Good job, Jeremiah. Find out more. 

How to grow optimism

Today's message: Be kind.

When I considered the message that I wanted to share with you today, my mind went straight to flowers for the graphic display. Depending on when they are given, flowers might symbolize love, hope or respect. They might be a sign of sympathy or gratitude. Flowers are even used to say I'm sorry.

Tending to flowers in a garden requires a gentle touch and enjoying them growing in the wild suggests a gentle nature even in the gruffest of characters.

I don't think there is any doubt that each of those actions are done with kindness.

However, before I was able to post my thoughts, I saw the following quote on Twitter, attributed to B.D. Schiers, "Kindness is the greatest wisdom." I'm always amazed at how the right words, ideas and actions appear just when you need them. I incorporated those words right into my Share Optimism message today.

Be kind and just like a flower, your optimism will unfold and blossom. Now go ahead and share that feeling with friend. Use this poster to share optimism today.

Experience Optimism is providing a "Share Optimism" poster every day this week. Based on the positive tenets of the Optimist Creed, we hope that you will find a favorite (or two) and share some of your optimism with others today. (4 of 7)