People who shine Realize the Impact of Little Things (Shine Principle #5). If you watched last week's Free For All Friday Video, you saw evidence of this principle when I showed you the handmade treat that I received in the mail. Brittany, a thoughtful student I met one time, surprised me five months after meeting her with a handmade Ray Wattson. Her heartfelt gift packed so much more meaning than the actual cost of materials it took to make. To me Brittany's gift provides hope and affirmation of everything that is right about the message we are spreading through the House of Shine. It motivates me to keep plugging away. Little things can have big impact.

The same is true of the new image at the top of today's post. You might have noticed it is not the same picture you've grown accustomed to seeing over the past year and a half. I briefly mentioned to Cheryl, our resident artist, a vision I had for how the image might change to reflect our website's continued growth. I mentioned it once. In passing. And today I get to present to you the first, in a series of 12 images that will be presented over the next year. Cheryl's willingness to share her incredible talent, for the betterment of our website, might seem small in the grand scheme of world events, but to me and, I hope, the growth of the Yellow Envelope Project, her gesture is big.

Now Sylvia. Today's recipient of the Yellow Envelope Project. Her gestures are small. But generous. Frequent. And heartfelt. Read the simple nomination submitted by her friend:

Sylvia is a fabulous mom to two (one a newborn) and a incredibly supportive friend. She remembers every little interview, doctor's appt, child's milestone, or favorite item of her friends. She is the first one to prop you up but provide honest feedback and listen when you need an ear. She's also a heck of a lot of fun. Every holiday, she and her family donate their time to helping others through a charity event rather than buy lots of presents. She is always volunteering and giving back to her community. I'm just proud to call her my friend. Who knows what I would do without her!

The more I try to understand what it means to shine, the more convinced I am that the hardest part of shining is not performing the occasional act of greatness. Instead, it is living a life full of small, but regular acts of goodness. If you, like I, have ever had your day brightened by a small act of generosity (a card in the mail, a compliment by a stranger, an unexpected favor, genuine interest about something going on in your life) then you will agree that those are the small acts capable of turning a bad good or a good day great.

Please join me in celebrating Sylvia and Shine Principle #5, Realize the Impact of Little Things. 

And how appropriate that I should ask you to celebrate by doing a little thing that will have big impact. Write an anonymous letter of gratitude and send it in a yellow envelope. Ten minutes and $0.44.

It's that simple. Take five minutes to write Sylvia a short note of gratitude. Tell her you heard about what a thoughtful friend and community member she is and that you wanted to encourage her to keep on living a life that shines.  Then seal your letter in a yellow envelope (or a white envelope decorated with yellow markers and stickers) and send it to the address listed below. One more thing. We love the idea that there are people in the world who will give of themselves, even when there is no reward in it for them. For that reason we ask you to make your letter anonymous. Simply place the words, "Yellow Envelope Project" in the return address. Mail your letter by next Monday when we meet again to recognize our next worthy recipient.

Shining off until tomorrow...