CRUSADE No. 22 ~ Pay It ForWard

So this is a Crusade that is a bit of a departure - not like previous challenges where you had to try something with supplies or materials in your studio. This month I would like to get you to think creatively. Think about what you are grateful for - a kindness of some kind that has been directed your way, and then think about how you can honor that kindness by paying it forward to someone else.

It can be the smallest thing that someone did for you....or something really big. Make a blog post about being grateful to someone for this particular kindness and then 'pay it forward' by doing something for someone else. You don't have to tell us what it is you are doing because sometimes it's better to keep it a secret - especially if the recipient happens to read your blog. If you have an idea that will inspire others than give us some details. For the Crusade all I want to know is that you've given it some thought and that you are going to do something.

If you've been reading my main blog then you're up to speed on my latest project which falls under the category of 'paying it forward'. You can read about it HERE and HERE. I chose to invite others to participate and I was blown away by the response. The moral support for my idea has meant alot and the incoming packages containing pink socks totally rocks. The unexpected bonus was hearing from readers who have been touched in some way by my post. For instance, there was a nurse who read about my thing....and while she won't be getting a pair of pink socks, she feels validated in her job knowing I am showing appreciation to the nurses who cared for my sister. The pink socks haven't even left NJ and they are already making a difference. How Cool Is That?

We have another Street Teamer who is involved in an ongoing project that counts for Crusade No. 22 - see what Monica is doing with her Pink Artist fundraising HERE.

Please don't think you have to come up with something epic. Even the smallest of Gratitude Gestures will start a ripple effect of Goodness. Make an unexpected phone call. Send a 'just because' email or card. Share some of your garden vegetables with a neighbor. Cut someone's lawn. Walk a dog. Volunteer. Donate. Smile more. Wink more. You may never know the Ripple Effect of your Gratitude Gesture but it doesn't matter. If you give from the heart I have no doubt the Goodness will spread.

(what the blazes are all these ??? doing in the post?? typepad is going wonky again. sorry)

You know the drill.....Crusade No. 22 ~ Pay It Forward DUE DATE: September 1st.

 

EDIT:  Archived links have been moved from sidebar to here.

CRUSADE No. 22

• Amy McIntire
• Anne Hartman
• Chris Miser
• Diane
• Elizabeth Woodford
• Hanna Andersson
• Hedwig
• Inge Bekaert
• Jan
• Janine Davies
• Janine Davies (more)
• Julie Prichard
• Kathryn Antyr
• Kathryn Antyr (more)
• Kim Mailhot (Kimbo)
• Lydia Fiedler (C21)
• Maj Corita Hoenborg
• Marylinn Kelly
• Michelle Ward
• Monica Magness
• Pam Carriker
• Rosie Rowe
• Sarah Woolley
• Suze Perrott

 Late addition:  Karen Davis

Comments

[Chris]

Thanks for reminding us to Pay it Forward, Michelle! I loved contributing to this crusade, and I look forWARD to seeing others' stories!

[Janine]

Yet another fabulous crusade M.... Looking forWARD to seeing everyone's story! xoxo J

[Janine]

Sorry, forgot the link! http://janinea.blogspot.com/ xoxo

[kim mailhot]

Hi Michelle and fellow Crusaders !

I think this is the most important and very best Crusade ever ! Imagine what our world could be like if we all did the pay it forward crusade each and every day ? Talk about ripple effects !!!

It blows me away too, how this all came at a time where I have been feeling so grateful for the close connections I have in my life and looking for ways to express that gratitude and bring more of it into my life. Again, the universe provides !

On with the Crusade ! Big smiles and winks everyone !
Love Kim

[Carmen]

What a great idea Michelle!

Much love,

Carmen

[Kathryn-collage diva]

Wow Michelle,

We are on the same wavelength. I've been sending little handmade care packages and little silk gems to many, many people. In fact, three more were mailed out today. For some {wink, wink} they didn't even see it coming! Each Monday I blog what I call my "Dry Sink Vignette." On my dry sink in the kitchen different things from the week collect there. I then photograph and write about them. I have found that it has been a "gratitude" dry sink. It has been a fun place for me to do show and tell. I LOVE your challenge for this month. I can't wait to see what the creative lovelies here come up with. thank you! Kathryn

[michelleinfantino]

Oh, I'm totally into this.

I have some stories to share already. Super challenge and a great reminder that we should be doing these things daily.

[Sarah]

This is a wonderful idea for a crusade.

I do try to do little "random acts of kindness" as often as I can - I'm trying to think of something extra special I can do specifically for this crusade....

[Monica]

I'm in!
I have both feet ready to GO ..one..two...JUMP'N RIGHT IN!

Thank you Michelle for MAKING IT COUNT and for BEING involved in the pink artist project.

That I did for my family, my NEXT move I do for YOU. I'll be sure to stick inside a lil note that reads your message...

THIS is what it is all about!

oh, the RIPPLE effect... it will be GINORMOUS!

[budding gardener, aka sarah]

This crusade was perfectly timed, as I've been thinking a lot about this lately. You've just provided the little push I needed to leap from "think" to "do." Thanks!

http://www.buddinggardener.com/?p=388

[Marylinn Kelly]

With a no-art-yet, infant blog I'd like to be part of this Crusade. There are so many reasons to be grateful...

[Kathryn-collage diva]

Hi Michelle, Here is a link to my post on the subject of paying it forward:

http://www.collagediva.com/Site/Kathryns_Blog/Entries/2008/8/12_Entry_1.html

I hope you are doing well and your abode is filling up with lots and lots and lots of pink socks!

{wink} k

[Julie Prichard]

I learned a lot about myself on this crusade. Thanks, Michelle!

http://lostluggage.typepad.com/the_land_of_lost_luggage/2008/08/gpp-street-team-crusade-22-pay-it-forward.html

[inge Bekaert]

As my package with socks arrived today, I finally could write about my "PINK(e) WINK"...

I wanted the package to be a surprise, but now you can read about the crusade on :

http://web.me.com/pinkepinke/pinkepinke/Blog/Artikelen/2008/8/13_the_“PINK(e)_WINK”_and_“paying_it_forward”....html

XOXO
Inge

[Amy]

Hi Michelle,

What a very neat idea :)

I am helped out with Monica's Pink Artist project and I am also helping with making helaing Dorcas Dolls for 'The Dorcas Project' created by Mo @ Mo's Musings

I love the idea of all of those pink socks, what a neat sentiment of healing :-)

[Amy]

Here is the link to my Crusade: http://artfulheart.blogspot.com/2008/08/paying-it-forward-street-team-style.html

Pay it Forward ya'll :)

[Kathryn-collage diva]

I've made some *irRESISTible* mail to use when I pay-it-forward. My silk gems will now arrive in style.

Check it out:
http://www.collagediva.com/Site/Kathryns_Blog/Entries/2008/8/18_Pay-it-Forward_with_irresistible_mail.html

[kim mailhot]

Hi Michelle and fellow Crusaders !

The Pay If Forward Crusade is a wonderful reminder to make sure that we are grateful for what we have everyday and to make sure we share the love everyday. Thanks, Michelle, for the reminder to think "creatively" and the call to action !

Here's a story about how my neighbour and I have been taking up the challenge !
http://queen-of-arts.blogspot.com/2008/08/gpp-street-team-crusade-22-pay-it.html

And by the way, I am so grateful for the joy and sense of belonging that these Crusades have given me. Thanks and blessings on you all!!! Cheers !
Kim

[Elizabeth Woodford]

http://elizabethcreates.blogspot.com/2008/08/pay-it-forward-i-love-this.html

I think that this is the most wonderful thing that we can all do! Just think what we could accomplish if we could all do things for others with no strings attatched purely out of kindness, gratitude and love??
Thank you for this challenge Michelle!!
P.S.
I found SOX!! At TJ MAXX- none of the specialty stores had them, only boring white, but I found them at my last stop!!! They (4 pairs) go postal tomorrow!!
Hugs!
Elizabeth
Elizabeth

[Sarah]

hey Michelle, hope all is as well as it can be chez Ward

I'm not going to blog this month, call it the good old British reserve, but I kind of don't feel comfortable making a post saying I've done good deeds.

I know that passing on the message is part of the whole deal, and I understand that, but I kind of typed up the whole blog post and just couldn't hit publish, sorry!

We Brits are horribly, horribly repressed, we so need nationwide group therapy :)

So please don't enter me into the draw this month, but on the other hand I didn't want you to think I hadn't noticed / didn't want to partake in the Crusade.

So let me reassure you that, despite trying to live my life as a kind and giving person all of the time, I have SO upped the ante this month :)

There have been RAKs of crafting goodies flying out in the mail in all directions, and a somewhat larger more dramatic gift to one very deserving person, I have been carrying old ladies' shopping, and overall making extra special efforts to help all and sundry. I've pretty much had the Crusade in front of mind all month.

and hopefully, even without my blog post, some of that will ripple onwards and outwards

take care

Sarah x

[Rosie]

I loved taking part in the Pink Wink - it gave me a chance to be part of something really memorable. The people I've mentioned it to were very touched by Shannon's story and pledged to send socks too - I hope they remember. I have a good friend who struggles with pain every day, and because my own DH has similar problems, I know how it is to deal with that on a daily basis. I love her to bits and she's bringing her boys over next week to see us, although the drive will hurt. In the meantime, to take her mind off it a bit, I made her something to hang in her art space... I know what Sarah means about Brits being repressed, but I'm too much of a gipsy to feel that!!!

http://alteredartandstuff.wordpress.com/2008/08/19/dream/

Take care Michelle xoxoxo

[Janine]

Michelle, just another post... had another call out today and off I went to the beach as there was a report of a stranded dolphin.... Worried about the locality, logistics, etc., was relieved to find that it was in fact a seal! Once again, met a small number of lovely people whose generosity makes me smile! xoxo

www.janinea.blogspot.com

[Pam Carriker]

Hi Michelle,
I am so sorry to hear about the loss of your sister. Your challenge this month made it impossible not to join in, so I have shared some of my person RAL, (random acts of love) bestowed on me by my best friend, my DH. Our world gets so big at times that we lose sight of the impact those RAL's can have on those closest to us. The one's who know us best. Your blog is so inspiring, I always come away with something. Thank you for your generosity.
hugs,
Pam
http://thebagladysart.blogspot.com

[hedwig]

Hi Michelle,
being gratefull and paying it forward are a good couple, at least for me. Because I am so gratefull, so fortunate in so many ways, I hope I can forward it to others by small acts of kindness. Here's the link
http://belle2create.wordpress.com/2008/08/25/gratefull-paying-it-forward/
Hope you have a lot of people IRL too to share your loss with and to tell all the stories, anecdotes, funny moments and sad ones you shared with Shannon. And tell them again and again and again.
Hugs,
Hedwig

[Anne Hartman]

Michelle,
This is my first Crusade! Here's the link to my post.

http://annehartman.typepad.com/weblog/2008/08/paying-it-forward.html

Looking forward to the next one!
Anne

[michelleinfantino]

acccccccccck! i am just realizing the date. i am paying it forward as we speak i'll just be late in my posting. i'm on it.

[Diane]

Thank you, thank you, thank you for giving the extra push I needed to finish something I had intended to do almost a year ago. http://stoneangelarts.blogspot.com/2008/08/gpp-street-team-crusade-22.html
I also had to laugh when I saw your "Think Global - Act Local" statement. This summer I resurrected a 20+ year old t-shirt that I had from my college days that has that same phrase on it. Just goes to show that good things never go out of style! :-)
Diane

[dejavucreations]

Inspired by Moncia Magness's "Pink Artist" project, I've joined with a couple of on-line art friends to sponsor a similiar project - "Ties That Bind" - to support ovarian cancer research. The actual fund-raising won't take place until next year but artists' contributions are currently on-going. While I don't have a personal blog, the project blog can be found here: http://www.projecttiesthatbind.blogspot.com/
My part in this endeavor? I'll be constructing the doll. Thank you for this opportunity to impart our venture.

Jan

[suze]

Hello Michelle,
I completed my Crusade today, Monday on the deadline, but forgot how to get it to you.
Suze Perrott
www.pinkcrayonstudio.blogspot.com

[Sue Pieper]

It took me awhile to figure this one out, but I finally did, and I also hit on your Crusade Final Wishes. That one was tough! http://artfuladventures.typepad.com/artful_adventures/2008/12/be-grateful-pay-it-forward.html

[Karen]

Hi Michelle

What a great crusade

My journal pages are here....

http://littlecraftingmiss.blogspot.com/2010/08/pay-it-forward-crusade-no-22.html