Spread the Love!

This is a repost from February 21, 2012, really not that long ago.  However, this was a post I had such fun writing and when I re-read it today in anticipation of being away for a few days, there was a strong pull to share it with you again.  Enjoy!

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Spread love everywhere you go.
Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier.

~~ Mother Teresa

Starbucks isn't my usual coffee hangout.  The fact that my husband owns a commercial grade grinder and makes really good coffee keeps me happy and well served right at home.  BUT someone sent me a Starbucks card for my birthday, so the other day I was out and about and strolled into one of the multiple locations in my hometown and ordered my usual.

Once the barista had finished making my drink, she handed it to me in something other than the standard Starbucks cup . . . one might just say it was a "love" cup.  Printed on the cup was the image you see here.  The barista explained it was left over from Valentine's Day and they were to be used until gone.

Well, I must admit I left the coffee shop feeling a little lighter than when I'd come in.  As I read all the directions that love could take us on that coffee cup, my heart was lifted higher and higher.  How many facets there are to the action of love when it is sent in the direction of another!

How many times in one day do we send out the vibes needed to make another feel loved?  Likely not often enough to make a difference.  I've enlarged the image above so that you can read as much of the language from the cup as possible.  Most of these have a romantic hint, but if you take the time to focus on the word "love" and its many meanings, I'm sure you can list many more ways to reflect love in your daily life.

Q4U:  Do you have unique ideas about spreading love throughout your family, friends and community?  Won't you share them here?

Photo credits:

Starbucks

Glitters123

Improving the World Moment by Moment

Holocaust Research Project

The photograph here is probably one you've seen many times before.  Anne Frank is an image that reminds us of what horror and destruction was done to the world in the 1930s-1940s.  Hers was a story that none of us can even imagine, unless we had family who survived the Holocaust who shared stories with us.  In reading The Diary of Anne Frank, one can hardly fathom life under those conditions.


Yesterday I came across the following quote attributed to Anne Frank, and it has made consider the possibilities inherent in these words:

"How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single
moment before starting to improve the world."

Her words stopped my reading and my mind begin to swirl as if it were caught up in a tornado.  What could I do to improve the world?  That seemed rather heady -- me? change the world?  Huge assignment.  And like many others might do, I thought, "Not me!"  

Then it came to mind the hungry, empty faces of children everywhere with no food to eat, no medical care, perhaps only a few days left to live.  Or how about the children in the schools in my own area who go home at the weekend and because they're on the breakfast and lunch program at school, they may have nothing to eat at the weekend.  There are mentors needed to work with students who have trouble reading, in mathematics, and so on.  Volunteer for Meals-on-Wheels, check in on elderly neighbors especially in extreme weather, read at the library during story time.  Whatever you feel comfortable doing! 

So, my husband and I stepped out and volunteered to assist in a program that our church participates in to help feed local hungry children.  It's really easy -- take a backpack from the program leader, check out the list attached to it, and shop filling it up for $15 (a list of grocers is provided that offer pricing that can do this!).  Here's a link to the Facebook page of one of the programs in our area (Portland Backpack Lunch Program).  And there are so many other ways to make a difference.

Here's to each of us reaching out to improve our world moment by moment in 2012!