Franchised!

Daniel and Felipe Caltabiano

 This blog has been franchised!  After finding this site, a pair of brothers in Brazil by the names of Daniel and Felipe Caltabiano were inspired to take on the same challenge.

Not only that, but they've gone worldwide, with the goal of 10,000 deeds in one year.  You can post your own deeds on their Facebook wall to add to the count!

Follow them on their website, Holistic Self-improvement, or on Facebook.

Final post: 365 DAYS OF GOOD DEEDS COMPLETED!

Today's post completes one full year of good deeds. A year ago, when I got the idea for this blog, I wasn't sure I'd be able to keep it up. I wasn't sure I would come up with enough ideas. And in the last month or two, my Internet connection was so terrible that I couldn't record deeds on a daily basis and ended up with many very short and colorless posts. But despite all that, I completed the blog.

Was it worth it? Absolutely. It made me happier each day to know I'd done my part. My favorite deeds were serving food to the homeless at House of Charity, organizing the Genocide Prevention Ritual, and of course my signature deed: picking up trash.

So am I giving up daily deeds? No way. This blog is done, but the deeds go on.

Thank you to those who gave me support this year!

To browse this blog, search using the LABELS menu in the right-hand column below. Check out the "essays", "poetry", and "prayers" labels for special features on Martin Luther King Day, Darfur, the Iran controversy, Obama's inauguration, and more.

No bag please!

I've started requesting "no bag" whenever I get food to go from McDonalds. They also stuff it full of napkins that I don't use, and the bag itself is a waste of paper. Why not go easy on the environment?

ONE GOOD DEED: Get food without the bag, thus saving paper.

Apple Cider for R's Family's Thanksgiving

I got to go to the Thanksgiving of the family of my girlfriend R today. They are such an easygoing bunch! It was a nice change from the awkward tensions of my own family. I was deeply greatful that I could share the holiday with them.

ONE GOOD DEED: Bring apple cider for R's family.

Philanthropedia

Please check out this website for its value in choosing causes. They rank nonprofits based on opinions of networks of experts in appropriate nonprofit sectors.

ONE GOOD DEED: Raise awareness for Philanthropedia.

Listening to R

My girlfriend R was going through an emotional rough patch tonight. She was frustrated with herself, and it was difficult for her to communicate what she felt. I just listened and offered the best responses I could. It made me sad to see her in pain. I wanted to just fix all her problems for her, but I also knew that wouldn't help. All I could do is support her in her own struggles.

ONE GOOD DEED: Listen to and be there for R in a tough time.

Apple Cider for Thanksgiving

I love Thanksgiving. You just get to see people and enjoy food without all the pressure of giving and getting gifts. This year, my girlfriend R came to my family's Thanksgiving. Grandma and everybody were very welcoming of her.

I brought one of my favorite recipes: apple cider made by wrapping ingredients (cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, orange peel, etc.) in a cheese cloth and letting them infuse the juice with spicy goodness.

ONE GOOD DEED: Bring apple cider for everybody at Thanksgiving.