My Sister Did What?

“Sorry I didn’t call you back earlier. It was a bit of a busy day.”

“What did you have going on?”

“Just a few volunteer things but not a big deal.”

“You downplay everything. Whose life did you change today?”

“Yeah, right! Just a few things to help out. First, I did my soup kitchen stint which was always fun. Then, I helped out Urban Ministry [helps homeless people of Charlotte, NC] by hosting a table at one of the schools to help educate the kids about how they help people.”

“That’s all??” 

“Well, actually, I then went to Duke hospital to welcome a family. Fred [brother-in-law who is teaching in CT] told me that one of his special-needs students was traveling to NC to have a special surgery at Duke. So, I wanted to make sure they were comfortable.”

“And what did you make them?” [What DIDN’T she get for them??]

“They didn’t know anyone here in NC, so I just met up with them and put a little basket together with water, a few snacks and baked some rugelach.” [A yummy time-consuming Jewish baked good that is not exactly Jill the Health Coach approved but always made with love.]

This is a day in the life of my sister, Susan, one of the most giving people I know. She will do more in one week for others than most people do in a year.

And she only tells me if I ask her. She hates any acknowledgement…, or the spotlight (and I’m sure this will embarrass her to no end, but sometimes ya gotta torture your little sister in a good way:))

Susan has always been the nicest, kindest, and most pleasant person I know her whole life. In fact, I talk about her a lot in my courses. When we were kids, she claimed she wanted to be like me, her older sister.  But I wanted to be more like her.

You see, my sister was ALWAYS happy. No kidding, she went to bed with a smile on her face, she slept with a smile on her face and always woke up smiling and sooooo cheerful. No, I did not exactly appreciate her always sunny disposition-especially in the morning!

My sister’s natural positivity and giving nature continued to explode over the years being an active volunteer for a plethora of incredible organizations and has even sat on maybe a dozen or so boards over the years and has made a difference in countless people’s lives.

She is ALWAYS delivering food or making meals (especially her irresistible baked goods which is clearly her love language), in charge of large fundraising events, volunteering at events, attending meetings to assist the countless organizations, ALWAYS helping out her large group of friends and family, hosting dinners and brunches and so much more.  I can’t even keep track.

In fact, Susan was the one who inspired me to volunteer for many years for our Literacy Volunteers of Somerset County when we lived in New Jersey. I hadn’t realized until I became a tutor, the impact of helping so many to read, write, get jobs and so much more.

One of Susan’s first volunteer opportunities was being a literacy tutor when she first moved to Chapel Hill, NC.  Being a schoolteacher, she saw the impact of helping so many hardworking people to read and write.  She is still on their Board to this day and was even selected as this year’s Leaders in Literacy Award Winner by the Durham Literacy Center which is a rare honor for a board member! (Please feel free to donate to this incredible organization that helps so many people).

Of course, this is just one honor she has earned over the years and I really am so proud to have such an incredible sister who does so much for so many people consistently and truly expects nothing in return. I am beyond inspired by her every day and hope that this inspires you also.

So often we get so caught up in our own worlds. I know I am so guilty of this. However, every time I volunteer or help someone or even just hold a door or smile at a stranger, I know it causes a ripple effect.

Good deeds or acts of kindness are contagious.  So often, one leads to the next which makes others feel good which then may inspire them to do something for someone else and so on and so on.

The best part is that it just feels good and is one of the best ways I know to feed your soul.

So, make it your mission to do one act of service or kindness today. It doesn’t have to be big.  It just has to impact at least one person.  No, you don’t have to be like my sister. Few people are. But let her inspire you to just imagine what our world would look like if everyone did just one thing every day, or even every week.

“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.”

-Winston Churchill

Xo

P.S. It just so happens to be Susan’s Birthday on Monday.  No gift could be greater to her than hearing about others’ acts of kindness.  Please share in the comments an act of kindness you did or experienced and maybe we can create our own ripple effect here:).

“It is our choices that show what we truly are far more than our abilities.”

-Louise Hay

Live well and love more,

Jill Gordon

CHHC, MHt, MNLP, MTT, MSC, CLC

Certified Holistic Health Counselor, Master Certified Clinical Hypnotist*, Master Practitioner of Neuro Linguistic Programming*, Master Certified Life and Success Coach*

*Board Certified with IBCP (International Board of Coaches and Practitioners)

www.JilltheHealthCoach.com

All material in this newsletter is provided for information only and may not be construed as medical advice or instruction. No action or inaction should be taken based solely on the contents of this publication;instead readers should consult appropriate health professionals on any matter relating to their health and well-being. The information provided has not been approved the Food & Drug Administration and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any illness or disease.