A New way to Give

I don't know about you, but I love coupons. I also love helping people, in whatever small way I can. Combine those and you have Groupon's G-Team. Now, you might be wondering why I'm talking about Groupon since everyone and their mom knows about it, right? Well because I didn't know about this G-Team thing. In fact, the only reason I even saw it was because I accidentally scrolled down to the very bottom of the page and there it was - the cause of the day. And sadly, at least from what I can tell thus far, it's not even a "cause of the day" thing. I tried looking for it on two other occasions and there was no cause being featured.

My point is this - If you're looking to do something nice, check this out. Money is tight right now for everyone, but this is a new, unique way to give. Plus, I learned all about a new group that seem amazing. The cause that I donated to the other day was Packages From Home. They take donations of food, clothing etc., package them up, and ship them overseas to our troops...at no shipping cost to them. Have you ever tried shipping overseas? It is HARD. I tried once to send a goodie box to some friends in a tiny little town near Russia and when I went to the shipping place they told me it was going to be $700. Needless to say the package did not get shipped and I was majorly bummed out.

At Packages from home you can donate items, money, or time. All of which are incredibly important, especially to people who are facing things we don't have to - for us, on our behalf, for our well being. I would make a horrible soldier, horrible, but at least I can do this. I just signed up to volunteer some time packing boxes up...and just that little thing there makes me feel good to the core. Now it's your turn.

Get some good Karma coming your way. Give.

What causes do you support? 
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To Every Soldier Out There

I'll be the first to admit that I don't know much about politics or the inner and seemingly crazy workings of our government. I don't know who's telling the truth, who's lying, who's good, who's bad, or who's just plain crazy. What I do know, what I can trust in, is the people out there who believe in their home, their freedom, their country and because of those beliefs, are willing to sacrifice a lot of things to go out and protect it- to protect us. How incredibly brave, how selfless they are- that is something I do know.

As I mentioned in the past, there's a wonderful non-profit company, Packages From Home,  that helps show our soldiers how much we appreciate them. When I was on their website recently I noticed something. Not only do they accept packages and donations and actual volunteer help, but they also accept letters.

Personally, I know that it makes my day when I receive an actual letter in the mail from someone. Email is convenient, but letters show effort and time and compassion. They require a little something more. Words written out are almost so old fashioned these days that they're beautiful when you see that someone took the time to write them to you, for you. And the right words, well, they can make all the difference in the world.

So, I ask two things of you.

1. Pass this on if you agree and want to thank the good military folks who keep us safe every day.

2. Write a letter. Send them a little gratitude in an envelope. You won't just be giving them a warm and fuzzy feeling, you'll feel warm and fuzzy for having done it.

Details on where to send letters can be found here.


I'm going to write a new letter to send out, but here's the original one I wrote that I want everyone to have because...honestly, I will never be able to thank everyone, every single person, for all they've done. So this is how I'm going to try.

Dear Amazing Stranger,

I don't know you.

I don't know what you've given up or put aside or what family and friends you've left behind so that you could protect your country. So that you could protect me, someone you also don't know.

I have absolutely no idea what it's like to put my life on the line for anything really, anything that matters. I don't know what it feels like to be in the midst of danger constantly, to not know if I will see tomorrow or the next day, or even if I will have a comfortable bed to sleep in each night.

I don't even know what possesses a person to do something so selfless like that. Something so wonderful. To give up the comforts of life so that strangers you've never met can enjoy their own comfortable lives. I don't know how you do it because I don't know if I ever could, but I admire you for it tremendously.

I admire you for your strength and courage and the will to get up every day and do the thing so many of us can't. I admire you for being brave in ways most people will never know, never understand. I admire you for facing fear head on - Every. Single. Day.

I don't know you, but I do know this: You are a remarkable person.

You are kind, wonderful, and brave beyond measure. You have inside of you a hope and a determination that makes you stand up and fight for what you believe in. You not only say that you believe in something, you go out and stand behind that belief.

You are a hero. To me. To millions.

This letter will never be able to express my gratitude fully, but please know that with these two last words, I speak for all of us back home when I say...

Thank you.

If this inspired you even a little bit - GOOD. Now go out there and do something about it. Write the letter. Tell someone thank you for something they did that matters to you. Pick up some trash on the street. It doesn't matter what you do, just do something.


Make a difference.


Go.


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