Yellow Envelope Project: Florida

In the next six weeks we will be celebrating two birthdays in my house.

Jack turns four next weekend. Thankfully, he still doesn't fully understand the relationship between birthdays and presents. Birthday cake he gets and ice cream he gets, but birthdays and presents still hasn't computed.

Matthew, on the other hand, turns seven in April and he has the whole exchange mastered.  Lobbying for his birthday gift usually begins shortly after Christmas when he takes inventory of what Santa didn't bring and accounts for all of his new interests. So far this year, his birthday list consists of a sleeping bag, a computer so he can start his own blog, a rope ladder for his tree house, a road bike, his own home office, and a sewing machine (don't ask).

No where on his list of birthday wishes, however, does Matthew have listed clean drinking water for people living in developing nations who are currently doing without.

Not so for this week's recipient of our Yellow Envelope Project.  This week we honor Aidan, an eight year old boy in Florida, who we learned about from a fellow blogger.  She found Aidan's website and, was moved enough by the compassion of this little boy, to pass his story along to us.  Our nominator sought approval from Aidan's mom before submitting his name and she shared these words from his mother: 

"About a month ago, 20/20 aired a special called Be the Change: Save a Life. My son Aidan sat down to watch it and was especially taken aback by the number of children that died before the age of 5 because of a lack of clean water. He was impressed with the work of Charity:Water, but didn't mention it again until the next Tuesday night when he asked if he could donate his birthday this year. So this year, instead of presents, his goal was to raise $800 for Charity:Water. He asked the kids in his class and neighborhood to help.  It turns out Aidan blew right past his goal, and at the time his nomination was received, had raised $2078. How amazing is that?! I'm sure most 8 year olds want video games or action figures for their birthday. Aidan wants children to have clean drinking water. He explained, 'Water is more important than toys I will get on my birthday. There are kids who do not even get to turn 5 years old because they have dirty water. This makes me sad. So, I don't want presents this year or a big party. Instead, I want everyone to give $8 because I am turning 8 years old.'"

Aidan is exactly the kind of person we love recognizing at the House of Shine.  Charity: Water wasn't his brainchild and his motivation for participating was not solely to elevate himself or his cause.  He didn't need to be the leader to find motivation for giving.  Aidan's motivation resided in a youthful, but wise, observation that something is terribly wrong when good people are dying because a basic human need, like clean drinking water, is left unmet.  That and he is compassionate beyond his years.

I am sure Aidan received lots of checks made out for $8.00, due to his birthday request.  What I am quite certain he hasn't received is a mailbox flooded with yellow envelopes, each remarking on his truly selfless and generous birthday wish. Flooding his mailbox with anonymous letters of gratitude is something we can do to reinforce his generous spirit, even at such a young age.

Participating is easy.  Simply write a short note to Aidan and seal it in a yellow envelope (or a white envelope decorated with yellow markers or stickers).  No need to put your return address, for the same reason Aidan didn't demand his name be attached to the water well he's helping to pay for in Africa.  Instead, write the words, "Yellow Envelope Project" in the return address.  Then, commit to mailing your envelope to the address listed below sometime before next Saturday when we meet again to recognize another worthy recipient.

One more note:  This week I have to decided to involve my boys in the fun, since Aidan is close to their ages  I will have them visit Aidan's website and let them watch the Charity: Water video he has posted (http://mycharitywater.org/p/campaign?campaign_id=12487).  Then I will let each of them create something to be included in my yellow envelope.  With some luck my boys will learn a little something about the lack of clean water in developing nations and a whole lot of about how good it feels to encourage others to SHINE.

Join me, won't you?

Yellow Envelope Project: Arizona

Yesterday was a great day.  I spent time talking to a woman who was willing to share her experience with the Yellow Envelope Project.

She told me of her visits to the site and seeing our Saturday nominations.  She earnestly shared why she continues to tune in, but has not yet participated in our Project.

"Maybe if it didn't have to be mailed in a yellow envelope.  Then, maybe, I would be more inclined to do it."

Nope, I replied.  The extra effort required to put it in a yellow envelope, or a white envelope decorated with yellow stickers and markers, is part of what makes the Project shine.  When we shine, we realize the big impact of little things.  The yellow envelope is a symbol of that.

"Well maybe if there was a way I could send an email or an e-card.  Maybe then I would do it."

Nope, I said.  Tell me something.  Tell me how it feels when you get a real piece of mail in your mailbox.  "Great, she said, but it hardly ever happens."  Exactly, I replied, and that is precisely why our mail has to arrive the good old fashioned way.  It's rare.  It's personal.  It takes effort, and real mail leaves an impression that electronic mail cannot duplicate.  The fact that our recipient receives the gift of real, good-old-fashioned-snail-mail, is another part of what makes our idea shine.

"Maybe it's that I don't feel connected to the person, because all I am reading is a one or two paragraphs of what he or she accomplished."

"Maybe," I replied, but here is the way I look at it.  The world is full of good people who are doing good things.  Why not recognize as many of them as we can as often as we can?  We do not benefit by being stingy with words of admiration and gratitude.  I know what it feels like to be thanked for work I have done and it is one of life's greatest and most simple pleasures.  If I can give that feeling to someone else, just by spending ten minutes of my time writing a heartfelt note, then it's the easiest decision I will make all week long. 

"But I send the letter and I never get a response back," she lamented.  "I will never know if the person got my note and liked it.  Maybe if there was a way to get feedback."

Smiling ear to ear and resisting the urge to jump out of my chair, I bounced back, "But, that's the point. It is an anonymous letter of gratitude, mailed to another human being with no strings attached.  That is exactly what makes your note a gift - a selfless act of generosity."

Then I said one more thing.  I said, "Promise me something.  You have listed quite a few legitimate deterrents to sending a yellow envelope, but you have not stopped thinking about the experience long enough to just give it a try.  Promise me that sometime in the next four or six weeks you will forget all the reasons not to send an envelope and you will try it.  Know that nothing bad will come from participating in the Yellow Envelope Project and trust that something good could...will come from it.  If not for you, for the recipient."

You-know-who, if you are out there then consider making this the week you send your first yellow envelope.  Trust that by carving out ten or fifteen minutes of your week, you can give a gift that will leave you feeling every bit as good as this week's recipient, Toni.   Read the short paragraph below, describing Toni's contribution, and don't worry if it her story doesn't connect with you completely.  See Toni's contribution for what it is  - a commitment to using her talents to make the world a better place.  Why wouldn't we recognize that commitment in as many of our fellow citizens as is possible to do in our life time?

"Toni is the greatest health assistant ever! She has worked at Islands Elementary for 6 years. In those six years she has been a home away from home for students of all ages and situations. She embraces our special needs students whole heartedly and makes them feel like they are the most important person around! Students who struggle with their social skills learn quickly how to greet Miss Toni! Students who typically do not become attached to people become very attached to Miss Toni because she takes time to get to know them and is always warm and loving to them. She is continuing her education to become an RN and will be the best RN ever! She is being moved to a different campus in our school district and is very sad about this but is primarily focused on training the new person to take care of "her children". She will be dearly missed because of her ability to always SHINE! Islands Elementary Dolphins LOVE Miss Toni!"

This week it is nurse at a public school in Arizona.  Next week it could be a business owner in Montana, a waitress in West Virginia, or a computer programmer in Rhode Island.  The story of our weekly recipient isn't entirely the point, since ultimately we want to recognize every person who Shines.  The real point is to cultivate in you an awareness that by freely sharing and giving gratitude, you will be presented with more reasons to be grateful.

I can't convince you that what I am saying is true.  I can only invite you to participate, convinced that your logical reservations will be replaced by an illogical feeling of euphoria.

I say, give it a try.  Here is her address:

Shining off until Monday... 

Yellow Envelope Project: New York

I don't know what you were doing when you were in your teens, but I'm pretty sure I was pouring over Teen Beat magazines and waiting for Scott Baio to finally proclaim his love for me.  What I was not doing was searching out a need in my community and then actively doing my part to fill it.

This week's recipient of the Yellow Envelope Project is impressive, because already she has discovered the rewards of using her strengths to help others - the essence of what it means to Shine.  Take a look at what her nominator had to say:

"Krysten is always happy.  She loves to laugh and is the most unconditional person I have ever met.  She loves all kinds of people and believes we are all special in our own way.  Krysten has a way of making you believe in happy endings.  She volunteers with kids through Girl Scouting.  She recently earned her Gold Award for starting an art program for children that have no other means of getting art classes.  These classes were weekly for three months and all the snack and art supplies were provided free of charge.  Krysten makes everyone in her path happy and expects nothing in return."

The other reason I am partial to this week's recipient of the Yellow Envelope Project is because of her on-going commitment to participate in Girl Scouts.  Just last week I learned that, according to some peers and parents, Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts is considered an "uncool" thing to do.  I don't know how or when the virtues of friendship, community, and service to others became "uncool," but, I - for one - applaud any young person whose sense of self is so strong, that she willing to prove it by joining a group.

Encouraging this young woman to continue brightening her corner of the world for the next 70-80 years is simple - and, for us, the payoff is exponential.  Simply write Krysten a short note, letting her know you learned of her recent Girl Scout project.  In fact, if she is the talented artist it seems she is, consider sketching her a drawing, painting her a picture, or composing a poem to tell her of your admiration.  Thank her for using her own resources to provide art lessons for children who would otherwise go without.

Once your note is written, seal it in a yellow envelope (or white envelope) decorated with yellow markers and stickers, and send it to the address listed below.  Our anonymity is what makes the Yellow Envelope Project magical, so instead of revealing your name and return address, simply use the top left hand corner of your envelope to place a question mark or write the words, "Yellow Envelope Project."

The last step is to mail Krysten's envelope sometime before next Saturday, when we meet again to recognize another worthy recipient.

Shining off until Monday...