Today is a New Day

I'll admit it, I'm not a huge fan of the hoopla around New Year's. I know that the new year brings a new beginning, new opportunities, a new start. I have some great New Year's memories (most notably our trip to Times Square in New York City to watch the ball drop from 1999 into 2000, when Craig and I were standing as close to the ball as the police barricades would allow). But the whole idea of resolutions... I'm just not a fan. They seem so big, so intimidating, so impossible. I make them every year and I find myself disappointed about my ability to see them through. Sometimes, it's due to sheer lack of willpower on my part. Sometimes, it's because I choose such BIG things to tackle. Sometimes, well, I don't know... I'm just not a fan.

This year, I'm not going to make any resolutions. There are some things I would like to do better in 2009, some things I want to focus on more intentionally, some things I want to change in my day-to-day life. But this year, they will be just that. Nothing earth shattering, nothing to write home about... just some things to focus on more in my day-to-day life. Key here, my friends, is the "day-to-day" part.

I will aim to do my best each day. And to know that no matter how long the to-do list might be, my best is good enough.

I will aim to make the world the best possible place it can be for my children, both now and for their future.

I will aim to make a difference each day, no matter how small it may seem, to make the above two items happen.

How will I do this? I will take one day at a time. I will focus on what I can control, what I can do, and not what I can't. And I will look to my really cool friends to help me out.

I've blogged here before about my friends over at Cool People Care. Their motto is "Saving the World, 5 Minutes at a Time." After all, who can't find 5 minutes to make a difference each day?

The Cool People have just released their second awesome book, called Today is a New Day!. This book is filled with small things that make a big impact, things you can do in only 5 minutes each day, things to help make the world a better place for yourself, your family, and all the world around you. Between the two of them, their two books (the first one was New Day Revolution)contain more than 365 ways you can make a difference in 2009 and beyond, in only 5 minutes a day. How simple is that? As Sam said, "It's time to save the world. Every little bit of inspiration can help."

If you do decide to order something from the Cool People Care Online Store, don't forget to enter the code LADYBUG when you check out. You'll get a 5% discount on your entire purchase, and another 5% of your purchase price will be donated to one of Dancing with Ladybug's favorite causes, The USO.

What are your dreams for 2009? Your goals? Your hopes? Your challenges? I'd love to know what you're planning in the new year. Leave me a comment, let me know how you plan to make the world a better place in 2009.

Sometimes, making a big difference doesn't have to be intimidating and in 2009 and always, I'm thankful to have such really cool friends to help show me how.

~*~*~ May you always remember to dance in the rain, and may you have plenty of ladybugs beside you! ~*~*~

Blessings,
Kat

Cool People & The USO

I've always had a soft spot in my heart for the men and women who proudly and bravely serve our country. These are people who do a job that most of us wouldn't dream of doing. They leave their families, they put their lives on the line, and they do it with a bravery and dedication that most of us can't claim. Supporting them is not about politics, it's about patriotism.

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One of my heroes (and I don't have many) is retired Brigadier General Joseph L. Shaefer (who I lovingly refer to as "General Joe.") His patriotism and friendship is unparalleled, and I'm proud to know him. He served 36 years in the US Army (PSYOP and Special Forces) and the US Air Force (Intelligence), both active and reserve.

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I'm always looking for ways to support our troops, so I asked Joe which organization might be best suited to put my donations to good use. He recommended to me the USO.

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The USO is a private, nonprofit organization whose mission is to support the troops by providing morale, welfare and recreation-type services to our men and women in uniform. The original intent of Congress — and enduring style of USO delivery — is to represent the American people by extending a touch of home to the military. The USO currently operates more than 130 centers worldwide, including ten mobile canteens located in the continental United States and overseas. Overseas centers are located in Germany, Italy, the United Arab Emirates, Japan, Qatar, Korea, Iraq, Afghanistan, Guam, and Kuwait. Service members and their families visit USO centers more than 5.3 million times each year. The USO is the way the American public supports the troops. (Quote taken from the USO website)

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I've blogged here before about another one of my favorite organizations, CoolPeopleCare. The goal of this organization is to show us all how we can make a true difference in this world, every single day, in 5 minutes or less.

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So when the CoolPeople offered me the chance to support both their organization AND a non-profit of my choice, and to also bring a benefit to my friends, family and readers, I jumped at the chance.

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Starting today and continuing for forever, Dancing with Ladybugs has it's very own coupon code, which can be used to purchase merchandise from the CoolPeopleCare store. Using this code, you'll receive 5% off your purchase, and 5% will be donated to the USO. Their store offers t-shirts, eco-friendly products, books, stickers and fair-trade coffee, just to name a few items. I personally own pretty much one of everything, and I personally stand behind the quality of their products.

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If you're in the market for any "green" items, if you'd like to support the USO, or even if you're just curious, go check out the CoolPeopleCare store. If you make a purchase, be sure to use the code LADYBUG at checkout, to receive your 5% discount and to make sure the 5% donation gets routed to the USO.

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If you have any questions at all about the program, send me an email: DancingWithLadybugs [at] gmail.com.

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~*~*~ May you always remember to dance in the rain, and may you have plenty of ladybugs beside you! ~*~*~

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Blessings,

Kat

Really Cool People

Growing up, "cool" was pretty much the last adjective anyone would have used to describe me. I was a teacher's kid, a straight-and-narrow, A student. A geek, a nerd, a dweeb.

Last year, though, I "met" (virtually) a guy named Sam Davidson. He and Stephen Moseley have completely redefined what it means to be "cool" and this time, it includes me! Sam and Stephen started an organization called Cool People Care, who's mission is to change the world, 5 minutes at a time. Though I've never met them in person, I've read their book, I wear their t-shirts, display their and stickers and poster (both at work and at home) and drink their own special brew of coffee from my really cool travel mug.

So many of us think we "just don't have the time" to do good things for each other, our community and our planet. But wait, we do! Cool People Care shows us all how we can make a true difference every single day in 5 minutes or less. Who can't find time for that?

If you have kids, know kids, or even just act like a kid, you'll also want to check out their sister site, Cool Moms Care. This site has the same concept, except that it's aimed at parents (and aunts, uncles, grandparents, cousins, friends, etc.) with children ages 0-12. Michelle Andrade is the Mom-in-Chief over there, and if you look around a little bit, you might even find some articles I've written!

These guys (and gal) fall under the category of doing good in the world, not only themselves, but promoting "good" to others, and giving us all the simple tools and information we need to do good ourselves.

Cool doesn't even begin to describe them, they're downright awesome! Check them out and learn how you can increase your own "cool quotient" in 5 minutes or less!

CoolPeopleCare - Saving the World, 5 Minutes at a Time
CoolMomsCare - Saving the World, One Kid at a Time

~*~*~ May you always remember to dance in the rain, and may you have plenty of ladybugs beside you! ~*~*~

Blessings,
Kat