So, a couple months ago, I finally quit thinking that I would prefer to make our bread instead of buying it, and just got started with it. I love to make bread. There's just something relaxing about the smell of baking bread, and the healthier-food conscious mom/wife/gal in me likes all the things I know aren't in it. I usually do bread in to weekend, but with one thing and the next, it didn't get done told today.
The recipe is nothing truly special, although it is delicious. It's just the second one that I tried off of Pinterest ... Surprise that I would go looking there... Have I mentioned how much I like Pinterest? :) Probably nothing wrong with the first recipe I tried, but it just never turned out how I was looking for it to.
Tonight was also a great bread making night, because I got to use my new loaf pans that I just bought. :) It's the little things, I know. :)
Anyway, nothing huge or momentous from me tonight. I just wanted to share how happy baking bread makes me.
By the way, here is the recipe I use, in case you have a few hours and want to give it a shot. It's so worth it, and another chance to do something with the munchkins, what with all the pouring and mixing going on. :)
Whole Wheat Bread
Makes 2 loaves
2 3/4 cups hot water
1/3 cup olive oil (vegetable oil works well in a pinch)
1/3 cup honey
2Tbsp molasses
6-7 1/2 cups flour (I do 2 cups bread flour and usually about 4 cups whole wheat. Just not more than the 7 1/2.)
2 Tbsp yeast
Mix the liquids, then add two cups of flour (to cool the water to the right temp.) Add the yeast and the rest of the flour. Mix with a wooden (or other sturdy) spoon until the dough forms a ball. Wet a light weight towel with hot water, wring it out, and drape it over the bowl. Let raise for about an hour, but don't worry if you leave it longer, just don't completely forget about it. Butter two loaf pans, all over the bottoms and up the sides. Dip your hands in flour, then tap the dough so it deflates. Pull about half of it into a ball in your hands, and tuck the sides underneath. Turn a quarter turn, and tuck again. Repeat until you have a nice loaf shape. Lay it in one pan, and repeat with the rest if the dough. Re-wet and wring out your towel. Drape it over the pans again. In about 30-45 minutes, turn in the oven to 350*. When it is hot, gently slide the pans in on the bottom rack, making sure there is plenty of room in case the bread poofs up a lot during baking. (I had the bread bake into the rack above one time- not pretty...) Bake for 35 minutes. Let cool on racks or stove top for 5-10 minuets, then remove from pans and cool completely before bagging for storage.
These freeze well, however, I have noticed that they are less soggy after thawing if I out them top side down as they thaw. 😊
Have fun! This bread turns out super yummy!
Monday, April 28, 2014
Wednesday, April 23, 2014
Earth Day
I love Earth Day. Not that I don't give thought to how the choices I make and encourage in my family and friends affect the planet every day, but I love that there is a day dedicated to thinking about how we affect this planet we live on.
Now, I am not insistent that each and every choice be the most green/least environmentally unfriendly choice available. But I am glad that we do make the efforts that we do to use the resources we need with as little waste as we are able.
Some things we do:
1. Composting... I know it's not for everyone, and it took me a lot of thought to make the jump. But now, it's almost without thought that compostables go into a bucket to be taken out to our compost barrel. We are coming up on a nice batch of awesome compost to be tilled into the gardens to help our veggies grow.
2. Gardening and farmer's markets. This allows me to get as much produce as I can for my dollar, without having a lot of packaging to dispose of with it. Sure, there is one farmer's market that I go to that will put bushels of beans or tomatoes into garbage bags for me to transport them home.. But I need garbage bags anyway, so they are reused for that. Otherwise, they are sent for recycling.
3. Recycling. Helping keep recyclable trash out of landfills helps prevent piles of un-biodegradable trash from just sitting there, year after year. It also helps me to not need to purchase or use so many garbage bags, because we are able to use a single sort recycling cart.
4. Opting out of non-reusable trash where possible. If I don't bring extra trash home, I don't have to recycle it or throw it away. Both of which save room for the things I do need to dispose of, and makes our overall use less.
5. Getting the kids outside and using non-battery toys. I love being outside with my children. I will admit that there are days where my idea of being outside with them is me sitting in a lawn chair watching them play, but those days are balanced by the days that I go play with them in the sandbox or on the swings, or when we go for a walk or bike ride. Many of the toys we have don't use batteries, and several of the ones that do do not have working batteries in them- and my kids don't care! It's great that they will still use the toy as if it has batteries, but use their own imaginations for what the toy is saying or doing. :) Not relying on battery operated (or plug-in) toys decreases our need to dispose of used batteries, or having to buy rechargeable. I know that you may save with them in the long run, but I personally feel that rechargeable batteries need some tweaking and improvement before I really want to invest in them for the battery operated toys we keep working.
Getting outside and getting your hands dirty with caring for the Earth is a great way to teach children about so many things. Picking up trash along the road on your block invites the opportunity to talk about littering and the whys (besides the legal fine you could get) on properly disposing of your trash. Planting a tree can be a way to teach children about growing things, and the cycle of reliance between living things and plants (like the birds who will use the tree to support their nests, and the fruit or nuts you may be able to harvest). Planting a garden teaches children to appreciate where their food comes from, and allows them a part in getting it from seed to table.
Teaching children about reducing the waste they accumulate and reusing where they are able allows them to learn about really seeing what they have, as well as possibly encouraging them to share what they may not use with someone who has less.
Earth Day- and EVERY day- is a great opportunity to teach your child about caring for our environment, which in turn teaches them about caring for each other. There really is no learning about one without seeing the other in action.
Make every day Earth Day. Make every day count.
Now, I am not insistent that each and every choice be the most green/least environmentally unfriendly choice available. But I am glad that we do make the efforts that we do to use the resources we need with as little waste as we are able.
Some things we do:
1. Composting... I know it's not for everyone, and it took me a lot of thought to make the jump. But now, it's almost without thought that compostables go into a bucket to be taken out to our compost barrel. We are coming up on a nice batch of awesome compost to be tilled into the gardens to help our veggies grow.
2. Gardening and farmer's markets. This allows me to get as much produce as I can for my dollar, without having a lot of packaging to dispose of with it. Sure, there is one farmer's market that I go to that will put bushels of beans or tomatoes into garbage bags for me to transport them home.. But I need garbage bags anyway, so they are reused for that. Otherwise, they are sent for recycling.
3. Recycling. Helping keep recyclable trash out of landfills helps prevent piles of un-biodegradable trash from just sitting there, year after year. It also helps me to not need to purchase or use so many garbage bags, because we are able to use a single sort recycling cart.
4. Opting out of non-reusable trash where possible. If I don't bring extra trash home, I don't have to recycle it or throw it away. Both of which save room for the things I do need to dispose of, and makes our overall use less.
5. Getting the kids outside and using non-battery toys. I love being outside with my children. I will admit that there are days where my idea of being outside with them is me sitting in a lawn chair watching them play, but those days are balanced by the days that I go play with them in the sandbox or on the swings, or when we go for a walk or bike ride. Many of the toys we have don't use batteries, and several of the ones that do do not have working batteries in them- and my kids don't care! It's great that they will still use the toy as if it has batteries, but use their own imaginations for what the toy is saying or doing. :) Not relying on battery operated (or plug-in) toys decreases our need to dispose of used batteries, or having to buy rechargeable. I know that you may save with them in the long run, but I personally feel that rechargeable batteries need some tweaking and improvement before I really want to invest in them for the battery operated toys we keep working.
Getting outside and getting your hands dirty with caring for the Earth is a great way to teach children about so many things. Picking up trash along the road on your block invites the opportunity to talk about littering and the whys (besides the legal fine you could get) on properly disposing of your trash. Planting a tree can be a way to teach children about growing things, and the cycle of reliance between living things and plants (like the birds who will use the tree to support their nests, and the fruit or nuts you may be able to harvest). Planting a garden teaches children to appreciate where their food comes from, and allows them a part in getting it from seed to table.
Teaching children about reducing the waste they accumulate and reusing where they are able allows them to learn about really seeing what they have, as well as possibly encouraging them to share what they may not use with someone who has less.
Earth Day- and EVERY day- is a great opportunity to teach your child about caring for our environment, which in turn teaches them about caring for each other. There really is no learning about one without seeing the other in action.
Make every day Earth Day. Make every day count.
Saturday, April 19, 2014
On Grief
There is almost nothing so difficult as a loss close to home.... Unless it is a loss within your home and family.
Tonight, we are grieving the echo of a loss, and it is tough. A family I care about has lost a spouse, a parent, a sibling, a child. We will never see the care, the love, the pride directed toward the children left behind. Never see the partnership in the marriage. Never hear the laugh or see the smile. All it took was a moment in time.
I have no direct personal experience with this type of loss. All I do have is a great sympathy for the ones more directly affected than I, and a sense that there should be more that I can do for them. All I can do is offer my presence, my hugs, and my support, and hope it is enough. I can offer my thoughts and hope that they feel the strength and care I am sending their way.
Friends, hug the ones you love tightly every day. Never miss an opportunity to tell someone you care- love, friendship, pride in an accomplishment. Take every moment you are able to make memories with your family and friends. Commemorate the times you get to be together. And if you loose them, find the others who cared as well, and remember together. Find support, because you are never alone. Share your moments and stories, so that your healing can find the courage to begin.
Tonight, we are grieving the echo of a loss, and it is tough. A family I care about has lost a spouse, a parent, a sibling, a child. We will never see the care, the love, the pride directed toward the children left behind. Never see the partnership in the marriage. Never hear the laugh or see the smile. All it took was a moment in time.
I have no direct personal experience with this type of loss. All I do have is a great sympathy for the ones more directly affected than I, and a sense that there should be more that I can do for them. All I can do is offer my presence, my hugs, and my support, and hope it is enough. I can offer my thoughts and hope that they feel the strength and care I am sending their way.
Friends, hug the ones you love tightly every day. Never miss an opportunity to tell someone you care- love, friendship, pride in an accomplishment. Take every moment you are able to make memories with your family and friends. Commemorate the times you get to be together. And if you loose them, find the others who cared as well, and remember together. Find support, because you are never alone. Share your moments and stories, so that your healing can find the courage to begin.
Wednesday, April 16, 2014
"My child is a baby... I don't need a conference..."
Or do you?
So, it's that time again at the center.... Conferences. One of those dreaded times like hard teething and blowout poopy diapers. (Just kidding... I don't mind conferences. It's just a lot of extra preparation that I never think I will have the time for, but somehow manage to squeeze in around everything else.) :)
There is so much that we get to do with the littles, and so many ways that they learn and grow- especially in that first year. They go from a helpless newborn to a walking, talking diva in a few short months. It is insane how much they learn in those months. It is amazing, and I have so much fun being a part of it.
But, back to conferences. As a center, part of our requirement is that we provide the opportunity for conferences twice each year. I say 'provide the opportunity' because so many people fail to take advantage of this awesome time to spend with your child's teacher. Is it extra work for us? Absolutely. Is it extra effort on your part? Probably. But, trust me when I say that it is great for all of us.
Conferences are more than just your child's teacher giving you a rundown of all the things your child can do (although, there is some of that). Conferences are a time for a conversation about your child. What they can do is important in the context of where they are and where they need to go. What the teacher wants for them- all the ways that we can impact their learning and development. What the parents want for them- knowing that your child is on the right track, or knowing where to turn and having a plan to get the most out of these crucial early years is so important. Creating a plan for the child- together. Communication is such a huge key in creating success for each child, and having that conference gives you a window of time where no one is thinking about the traffic on the way to work, or the other children in the room and what needs to be done for the day. You get to focus on everyone's favorite topic: the child!
Early learning experiences are the foundational building blocks for future learning and growth in children. Having conferences, even for infants, ensures that all the efforts that teachers go through with planning, teaching, and observing children is helping them to grow into the best little people that they can. It allows for parent concerns to be addressed and allows for parents to find out about resources that they may not have otherwise known about.
Infants (and really, all children) grow and learn so much. Conferences allow you to hear just what your child's accomplishments mean for future growth and learning. Don't think that conferences for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers are less important than the ones for your kindergartner, middle schooler, or high schooler. They are just differently important.
Take advantage of your child's teacher's expertise. They went into the field they are in because they love children, and are interested in helping them grow to their fullest potential.
P.S. Wondering where your child is? Here is one great look at child development...
So, it's that time again at the center.... Conferences. One of those dreaded times like hard teething and blowout poopy diapers. (Just kidding... I don't mind conferences. It's just a lot of extra preparation that I never think I will have the time for, but somehow manage to squeeze in around everything else.) :)
There is so much that we get to do with the littles, and so many ways that they learn and grow- especially in that first year. They go from a helpless newborn to a walking, talking diva in a few short months. It is insane how much they learn in those months. It is amazing, and I have so much fun being a part of it.
But, back to conferences. As a center, part of our requirement is that we provide the opportunity for conferences twice each year. I say 'provide the opportunity' because so many people fail to take advantage of this awesome time to spend with your child's teacher. Is it extra work for us? Absolutely. Is it extra effort on your part? Probably. But, trust me when I say that it is great for all of us.
Conferences are more than just your child's teacher giving you a rundown of all the things your child can do (although, there is some of that). Conferences are a time for a conversation about your child. What they can do is important in the context of where they are and where they need to go. What the teacher wants for them- all the ways that we can impact their learning and development. What the parents want for them- knowing that your child is on the right track, or knowing where to turn and having a plan to get the most out of these crucial early years is so important. Creating a plan for the child- together. Communication is such a huge key in creating success for each child, and having that conference gives you a window of time where no one is thinking about the traffic on the way to work, or the other children in the room and what needs to be done for the day. You get to focus on everyone's favorite topic: the child!
Early learning experiences are the foundational building blocks for future learning and growth in children. Having conferences, even for infants, ensures that all the efforts that teachers go through with planning, teaching, and observing children is helping them to grow into the best little people that they can. It allows for parent concerns to be addressed and allows for parents to find out about resources that they may not have otherwise known about.
Infants (and really, all children) grow and learn so much. Conferences allow you to hear just what your child's accomplishments mean for future growth and learning. Don't think that conferences for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers are less important than the ones for your kindergartner, middle schooler, or high schooler. They are just differently important.
Take advantage of your child's teacher's expertise. They went into the field they are in because they love children, and are interested in helping them grow to their fullest potential.
P.S. Wondering where your child is? Here is one great look at child development...
Friday, April 11, 2014
A Lifetime of Learning... It's Not Over Yet!
I am so unbelievably grateful for all the opportunities for learning that I have had in my lifetime. I was lucky enough to have several early teachers who were able to encourage my interest in learning, as well as the natural classroom of the farm where I grew up. College brought some more awesome professors, who continued to encourage my love of learning something new, especially when it was on the topic of children and families- my chosen area for my professional training. I have also been blessed enough to have several 'unofficial' teachers along the way in the form of family, friends, co-workers, and classmates. I truly believe that everyone comes into your life to teach you something, be it something you want to learn more about or something you know you need to avoid.
Having all these opportunities for learning has allowed me to change my perspective and thinking on a lot of things, and hopefully they are moving toward the better for me and the people I interact with on a regular basis. :) Here are some of my most important lessons...
1. There is always time for doing good. Even if you are in a hurry, there is time to do something that will make someone else feel special, or just noticed. Doing the family shopping, it takes no time at all to give someone a smile, to thank someone for offering to help, to offer your help to someone who can't find or can't reach an item on the shelf. Paying it forward at a restaurant or drive through only takes a moment, and can let another person know you understand or care, even if only from a distance. A phone call to a friend, just to talk for the moment, or to plan something more. Volunteering your home for a family get together. Taking time to play Lego's with the children... All of these only need a little of your time, but can mean so much to the recipient.
2. Children truly are only little for a little while. They grow so super fast! It seems like yesterday that my little man was just a newborn, but now he can really read and do math and is such a sweet, independent boy. My dolly is such a sweet caretaker, and is learning and growing so much every day. And the super baby really isn't a baby anymore- he is very firmly almost a preschooler. While our lives are busy and sometimes hectic, I have never been one to schedule us for this, that, and the other thing every day, and so I have been able to spend a good amount of time with them every day. (This was definitely helped by my career choice and the awesome employers who made it easy for me to bring the munchkins to work with me!) However, there are times that a part of me wants to feel bad for taking time for doing things for myself (like sitting around with my nose in a book... Or my Kindle, which my husband insists is not a book...) But I do know that it is good for me to take some time for myself too. It is good to know the balance.
3. It is ok to change your mind, your perspective, and how you see the world. As you learn and grow, you have to incorporate the new information into what you already have. Sometimes, you will learn things that can contradict what you know or previously thought best. It can be so difficult sometimes to let go of being right in favor of learning to do what might be better in the situation for everyone. Trust me, I know.
4. People will move in and out of your life, and there isn't always anything you can do to stop them. There have been friends I thought I would never be without, who are no longer a part of my day to day life. I mourned when our friendships changed from what they were, but with time have learned that things worked out the way they were supposed to. I have wonderful people in my life now, people who challenge me to try new things, who are there to support me as a wife, a parent, a co-worker, an employee, a sibling, a child to my parents. I treasure them, and will for every day that I get to keep them.
5. There is always something new to learn. I work with children, and the research and knowledge is always changing and growing. All I have to do is look at how things have changed just since my little man was born to know how fast things can change. There are so many different things we know now than we did just a few short years ago, and that will change more. I am learning about food, nutrition, and diet, and the information available now is so different from what it was... and what it probably will be in just a few more years.
Learning and growing, to me, is one of the best gifts of my life. I love to learn new things- new crafts to do, new foods to make for my family and friends, new ways to improve my home and gardens, new ways to be the best mom and teacher that I can be. And all I have to do is ask the question.
It's that easy for you, too... :)
Having all these opportunities for learning has allowed me to change my perspective and thinking on a lot of things, and hopefully they are moving toward the better for me and the people I interact with on a regular basis. :) Here are some of my most important lessons...
1. There is always time for doing good. Even if you are in a hurry, there is time to do something that will make someone else feel special, or just noticed. Doing the family shopping, it takes no time at all to give someone a smile, to thank someone for offering to help, to offer your help to someone who can't find or can't reach an item on the shelf. Paying it forward at a restaurant or drive through only takes a moment, and can let another person know you understand or care, even if only from a distance. A phone call to a friend, just to talk for the moment, or to plan something more. Volunteering your home for a family get together. Taking time to play Lego's with the children... All of these only need a little of your time, but can mean so much to the recipient.
2. Children truly are only little for a little while. They grow so super fast! It seems like yesterday that my little man was just a newborn, but now he can really read and do math and is such a sweet, independent boy. My dolly is such a sweet caretaker, and is learning and growing so much every day. And the super baby really isn't a baby anymore- he is very firmly almost a preschooler. While our lives are busy and sometimes hectic, I have never been one to schedule us for this, that, and the other thing every day, and so I have been able to spend a good amount of time with them every day. (This was definitely helped by my career choice and the awesome employers who made it easy for me to bring the munchkins to work with me!) However, there are times that a part of me wants to feel bad for taking time for doing things for myself (like sitting around with my nose in a book... Or my Kindle, which my husband insists is not a book...) But I do know that it is good for me to take some time for myself too. It is good to know the balance.
3. It is ok to change your mind, your perspective, and how you see the world. As you learn and grow, you have to incorporate the new information into what you already have. Sometimes, you will learn things that can contradict what you know or previously thought best. It can be so difficult sometimes to let go of being right in favor of learning to do what might be better in the situation for everyone. Trust me, I know.
4. People will move in and out of your life, and there isn't always anything you can do to stop them. There have been friends I thought I would never be without, who are no longer a part of my day to day life. I mourned when our friendships changed from what they were, but with time have learned that things worked out the way they were supposed to. I have wonderful people in my life now, people who challenge me to try new things, who are there to support me as a wife, a parent, a co-worker, an employee, a sibling, a child to my parents. I treasure them, and will for every day that I get to keep them.
5. There is always something new to learn. I work with children, and the research and knowledge is always changing and growing. All I have to do is look at how things have changed just since my little man was born to know how fast things can change. There are so many different things we know now than we did just a few short years ago, and that will change more. I am learning about food, nutrition, and diet, and the information available now is so different from what it was... and what it probably will be in just a few more years.
Learning and growing, to me, is one of the best gifts of my life. I love to learn new things- new crafts to do, new foods to make for my family and friends, new ways to improve my home and gardens, new ways to be the best mom and teacher that I can be. And all I have to do is ask the question.
It's that easy for you, too... :)
Saturday, April 5, 2014
The Sweetness of Children
On Thursday, I became an auntie to another sweet boy. My younger sis and her husband had their second little man, and he is a little cutie. Congrats to them!
Since I wasn't feeling the greatest on Thursday, I had to wait until Friday to make sure I was well enough to go meet the new little man. It was hard, as I wanted to rush right over to see my sweet sister and her babe, but I resisted as I didn't want to get them sick. It was sure worth the wait.
Friday afternoon, after picking up little man from school, we stopped at home quickly for a backpack drop off, and headed over to the hospital. After parking, we made the necessary chain of hand holding to make sure no one got lost or distracted, and marched our way to the maternity floor. After checking in and finding the right room, we got settled for a nice visit. It was amazing and so rewarding to me to see my own sweet babies so excited to meet their new cousin, and their gentleness with him when it was their turn to hold him. Even the super baby was calm and careful (at least as far as a 2 1/2 year old can be) while taking his turn. And seeing my dolly rocking and shushing as the babe fussed and she watched the cartoon that her uncle had started for them so they didn't get too antsy... Almost brought a tear to the eye. It was wonderful. :)
Today, most of the rest of the family came over at our invitation for a potluck lunch and hangout. These are my favorite type of get together with my family. I am not the most fanatical of housekeepers, so some mess isn't going to get me too worked up to clean my house before my family (or really, any one else) comes over. As long as the cat box and diaper bin aren't smelling up the place, we are pretty good. It was a nice and relaxing day, with a few tossed grapes to keep things interesting. :) And I got the benefit of seeing my babies in action again, this time with my just past 6 month old niece. She is such a smiley girl! Little man got to help her with her bottle, and seeing my brother helping him learn about supporting her head up enough, and holding the bottle so she wasn't getting air was another pretty cool moment. And watching my baby doll and super baby playing peek a boo with her... . That's something that will never get old either.
These are the memories I will cherish. Time with my family, and seeing my children develop these memories and closeness with their cousins. Time to spend with my siblings, my parents, the family we have gathered together. These moments are the best.
My momma tells me that there are people who wish they had these moments too... Don't wait for them to happen. Make them happen! You don't want to look back on a lot of "I wish I would have's". Go for the "I'm glad I did's". You'll like them better!
Since I wasn't feeling the greatest on Thursday, I had to wait until Friday to make sure I was well enough to go meet the new little man. It was hard, as I wanted to rush right over to see my sweet sister and her babe, but I resisted as I didn't want to get them sick. It was sure worth the wait.
Friday afternoon, after picking up little man from school, we stopped at home quickly for a backpack drop off, and headed over to the hospital. After parking, we made the necessary chain of hand holding to make sure no one got lost or distracted, and marched our way to the maternity floor. After checking in and finding the right room, we got settled for a nice visit. It was amazing and so rewarding to me to see my own sweet babies so excited to meet their new cousin, and their gentleness with him when it was their turn to hold him. Even the super baby was calm and careful (at least as far as a 2 1/2 year old can be) while taking his turn. And seeing my dolly rocking and shushing as the babe fussed and she watched the cartoon that her uncle had started for them so they didn't get too antsy... Almost brought a tear to the eye. It was wonderful. :)
Today, most of the rest of the family came over at our invitation for a potluck lunch and hangout. These are my favorite type of get together with my family. I am not the most fanatical of housekeepers, so some mess isn't going to get me too worked up to clean my house before my family (or really, any one else) comes over. As long as the cat box and diaper bin aren't smelling up the place, we are pretty good. It was a nice and relaxing day, with a few tossed grapes to keep things interesting. :) And I got the benefit of seeing my babies in action again, this time with my just past 6 month old niece. She is such a smiley girl! Little man got to help her with her bottle, and seeing my brother helping him learn about supporting her head up enough, and holding the bottle so she wasn't getting air was another pretty cool moment. And watching my baby doll and super baby playing peek a boo with her... . That's something that will never get old either.
These are the memories I will cherish. Time with my family, and seeing my children develop these memories and closeness with their cousins. Time to spend with my siblings, my parents, the family we have gathered together. These moments are the best.
My momma tells me that there are people who wish they had these moments too... Don't wait for them to happen. Make them happen! You don't want to look back on a lot of "I wish I would have's". Go for the "I'm glad I did's". You'll like them better!
Wednesday, April 2, 2014
On Being A Daymaker
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| The book that inspired me... |
I was introduced to the concept of being a Daymaker by my older sister. One visit, she brought me my first copy of this book, and I read it cover to cover in a weekend. Then I read it again. And the more I thought about it, the more I wanted to incorporate some of the ideas in this book into my life. And so I did. :)
According to David Wagner (author, salon owner, Daymaker), the biggest positive impact on the world can be made through intentional acts of giving, as opposed to random acts of kindness. While both seriously beneficial, the biggest difference between the two is that a Daymaker looks for opportunities to make someone's day, where random acts are allowed to happen by chance. Simply setting the intention in the morning of passing on kindness and positivity creates the opening for intentional giving.
The book is divided into sections of the people in your life you can be a Daymaker for- your spouse and children, your extended family, your friends, your co-workers and classmates, the people you interact with in your daily (or weekly or monthly) commute or routines.
Being a Daymaker for my spouse has looked like this... Picking up a set of DVD's for him to watch during the downswing at work (he is overnight front desk at a hotel). Grabbing a treat when I am at the grocery store. Setting aside a portion of a meal that I am making before I add the ingredients I know he doesn't like, or not making some things in the first place. Encouraging an entrepreneurship in his hobby/interest area of collectible card gaming.
Being a Daymaker for my children has become.... Creating moments for my undivided attention for them. Including them in decisions for meals. Encouraging their interests. Exposing them to nature and the side of life that doesn't happen on the TV screen or with batteries. Leaving notes for them to find that tell them, "I love you." Creating for them with my sewing machines and crochet hooks and knitting needles.
Being a Daymaker for my family includes.... Getting us together to spend time together. Skyping with my family who lives just far enough away, and with different enough schedules to make getting together in person a little more difficult. Encouraging their interests and hobbies.
Being a Daymaker for my friends and co-workers is.... Asking about and actively listening to how their lives are happening. Encouraging anyone whose day is made by another to publicly acknowledge the action with a Daymaker Note in the break room. Contributing to treats to bring up positivity and morale. Being a listener.
Being a Daymaker for people in my greater circle became... Wishing people a sincere wonderful rest of the day. Saying "Thank you"... A lot. Helping someone with mobility issues (or height issues) reach items on a high shelf at the store. Allowing an individual to merge or pass in front of me at an intersection. Paying for the next person at a drive through. Leaving (or giving) a good tip for a service person. Becoming involved with Team Briley to fundraise for the CF Foundation. Perhaps even in writing this blog I am offering someone information or perspective they may need to make their day.
All of these things are relatively small things for me to do, but it took concentration and deliberate effort to include them in my day and routine until they became habit to offer to others. Being a Daymaker is listening with your heart, and being a link for someone between their dream and the opportunity to realize it. Maybe your encouragement, listening, or notice will let them get through another day toward their goal. Perhaps your allowing them to get to an intersection ahead of you will allow them to be prompt for the job interview of their lifetime.
Your positive involvement with the world creates one less space for negativity to grow.
Be the change you want to see!
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