Hello!

[jphaas]

Hi everyone -- I'm new here (although I've been reading Steve's and Erin's blogs for a while now), and thought I'd introduce myself! I'm 24, live in CT, work as a manager in a finance company, studied philosophy in college, am pretty nerdy (in the I-know-python-and-javascript-and-a-little-too-much-about-square-rpgs kind of way), and currently into learning tai chi and other martial arts.

I'm starting in the character & contribution forum instead of the general forum because the main reason I'm joining is I want to hang out and make friends with fun people who take responsibility for their lives and want to contribute to the world around them -- one of the big gaps in my life right now is I don't feel like I'm giving as much to the world as I'd like to be.

I'm thinking about how to contribute more at a serious level (e.g. what I want to be doing with my life), but as a fun brainstorming topic, does anyone have thoughts on quick, lightweight ways of making a difference? Here's one: go to a charity web page online and make a small donation (e.g. for the Haiti earthquake relief). Anyone have others? The more creative the better!

[cacheborn]

Hi jphaas

Welcome to the forum.

Impressed by your wide range of activities. There are so many ways you can contribute and make things better. Help a stranger. Smile at people, talk to them, it will make them feel better. Do something nice for someone you know, especially when they are not expecting it. On the internet there are a lot of sites where you can help.

For instance -

Click to Give @ The Hunger Site

FreeRice

My favorite way of getting someone a present is get them a subscription of National Geographic. (Provided I know s/he is interested in nature.)

[Tren]

Pay it forward everyday.
I grab drive thru coffee otw to work every morning. I pay for the ppl behind me or ahead of me. Leave an anon note for a co worker whom you appreciate for their work telling them you do so.
Send mail to grandparent, great aunts/uncles,random strangers in nursing homes. I sometimes think my grandparents prefer the mail (that isn't a bill or credit card approval) to my actual visits
On that note, everyone loves a nice card that says I think you're pretty cool.
Donate your stuff. There are ppl all over the world that need help and I agree, make that donation to Haiti and then look in your own backyard.
Womens shelters always have a need for household items and childrens and womens clothes. Mens shelters clothes and bedding and the like.
Donate your time and clear desire to sincerly help someone. How about a crisis line?
And I second the smiling at people and being open to them. You never know when that simple action will trigger a chain of positive events. And it all started with you

[Gene]

I absolutely agree with paying it forward every day. Not only is it beneficial to others but the person paying it forward benefits as well.

William Glasser said, "We learn ninety five percent of what we teach to somebody else." So when we help others we are also teaching ourselves the very same beliefs which help us live the lives of our choice.