If you were to have asked me two years ago if I’d ever start a blog, I would have laughed and told you what a waste of time they are. That everyone’s too busy producing one to have time to check out anyone else’s.
…That crunching sound you hear is me eating my words.
The change? I started reading, and participating in, a select few and I began to realize the power of community and interaction that probably anyone reading this already appreciates.
Two things inspired this blog: One being my husband, a man so honest and true blue that doing good deeds is part of his very DNA. (And so humble, if he knew I was writing this about him, his head would probably explode.) Putting himself in others’ shoes is so second-nature to him that I probably only see a fraction of the good deeds he performs every day, cause he’d never boast about them or even think they were anything to boast about.
My other inspiration came from the remarkable music of David Archuleta*, the 2008 American Idol runner-up. I first heard David sing the evening of a close friend’s funeral. I was in a sad, dark place and was flipping to different channels on autopilot, just trying to zone out. Then something amazing happened. I became mesmerized watching his dynamite performance of “You Better Shop Around.” There was a light and a joy from this performer, along with his rich, beautiful voice and stunning musicality that somehow lifted my sorrow from me and allowed me to get to sleep that night.
I eventually found my way to several blogs, where I read many similar stories of how this singer’s pure voice and humble, caring nature had inspired others to be kinder and gentler in their own daily lives.
I felt moved to do the same — if I could make a point of doing at least one “good deed” each day, however small, to make a positive difference of some kind, others might also want to give it a try. If you do (or have any ideas of what more I can do) please share by dropping me a line at Deb416 @ gmail.com. — Deb, Toronto, Ont.
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* David Archuleta is such a huge talent that I’m including a sample below for those of you who haven’t had the pleasure of listening to his amazing voice. It’s a song from his newly released Christmas From the Heart CD. Canadians can order it from Amazon.ca here. Enjoy!
10 Comments
January 6, 2009 at 6:12 am
Hey! Thank you so much for mentioning me on your blog! Just wanted to let you know that I really appreciate it!
- Advait
January 6, 2009 at 11:13 pm
You’re welcome, Advait. You are very talented!
January 16, 2009 at 7:31 pm
Thanks for stopping by my blog! It’s so great to “meet” like minded individuals on my quest to do “good deeds”. Being on day 210 is it?! You must be quite the pro! I am loving the experience so far! Please let me know if you have any ideas for good deeds/ acts of kindness as I still have 349 days to go!!! Best, Alli D. Seigel
http://www.365daysofgoodness.com
February 5, 2009 at 4:11 am
[...] credit is due. This idea, genius as it is, was not mine. A fellow good deeder and blogger, Deb (http://gooddeedaday.wordpress.com) did a similar “good deed” up in Canada where she is from. Check me out as the coupon [...]
February 17, 2009 at 4:05 am
Hey there,
Pretty text, your husband sounds amazing. And so does that David guy, I don’t know him yet but I’m on it! (I live in Denmark).
If you can say that making people smile is a good deed you should go visit this site:
http://colormekatie.blogspot.com/
Maby you already know it?
Have a great day:)
-Brinja
February 17, 2009 at 10:38 pm
Thanks, brinja, I will check out that site!
April 10, 2009 at 1:46 pm
It’s amazing what inspires each of us to become conscious of our own possibilities. For you it was a song sung by a wonderful and talented artist, for me it was reflecting after my father died and deciding to do something meaningful in his memory. I am also a fan of 365 Days of Goodness and guess atleast one or two of her ideas were really yours ie. the coupon fairy. Did you also come up with the meter fairy?
Glad you had to eat your words and begin your blog. It’s powerful!
Linda
June 11, 2009 at 9:54 am
Thanks for browsing my blog! We were so lucky to have been (dare I say) blessed with Sister Mary Joseph right when we needed her.
I’ve enjoyed reading through your posts. Keep up the good deeds! You’re a role model for us all.
rosemary
July 2, 2009 at 3:43 am
Luke Jerram’s public pianos were a great hit here in Sydney last year. You may like to read a story about them, posted at http://english.ohmynews.com/articleview/article_view.asp?article_class=5&no=385007&rel_no=1
October 24, 2009 at 11:59 pm
[...] stumbling my way through some good story links I ran across this marvelous woman who has had a blog going for about a year and a half in which she [...]