Give, Give, Give some more!

I love reading magazines and subscribe to several. Somehow I stumbled on and received a free 1 year subscription to a magazine in the beginning of this year and guess what? It has become my favorite magazine, by far. Every month I look forward to the new issue of "body + soul". I find so many inspirational stories and ideas.

This week the November issue arrived at my door. Unlike with other magazines that I generally read cover to cover in one sitting, I take my time with body + soul, trying to absorb each article. I have now been reading it for 3 days! :)

Tonight I was reading another article in the magazine, written by Cami Walker. She talks about her struggle with MS and how a friends suggestion to give away 29 gifts in 29 days is what helped her along the way. Because of this Cami started a website:
http://givingchallenge.ning.com

She asks people to commit to the same prescription she followed, 29 gifts in 29 days. SO here I am, making another commitment in my life. I signed up. Now I need to commit to 29 days of giving. I know with the way today went that some days may be easier than others! :)

I did my first right now! A friend emailed out a bunch of people to borrow a digital camera to take pictures of things she is selling. I don't really feel comfortable lending mine out, especially since I don't have the money to replace it, but instead I offered to take the pictures, upload them to my laptop (which is faster than her computer) and email them to her. I even said I'd bring my laptop with me and do it all at her house for her. I haven't done it yet, but I am still counting that as today because I have given the offer of it.

I have a lot of ideas as well, but per the site, I'm not planning out what I am giving in one sitting. I have a bag of clothes I want to give away. I'm giving some to someone from work and the rest to Goodwill. I know I'll have more than the one trash bag I have already filled up. I have books I want to give away as well.

My 101 list had a couple of things on it too that I could add into this... like take homeless person to lunch and pay for the person behind me at a toll booth. Not sure if I am going to be driving on a toll road in the next month and I don't know if I'll be somewhere where I will see (or realize) a homeless person.

I am already excited about this. I have always said that I feel better about myself when I am doing things for others. I think this is a great project and I'm pretty excited about trying it. As with what the 101 list and with what my New Years resolution have shown me... I think I'll find a new side of me and some interesting results soon into the project!