Imaniceperson.com

Goodness is Contagious

Goodness is contagious. One good act deserves another. If someone does a good act for you then you in turn will often do a good act for someone else. It would be like a tidal wave encompassing the world.

Just being nice

As you all know I like to give. Well by no surprise another opportunity came up. My dad is always thinking about me and since I go to school he thought I might be in need of Protein bars. So he bought me Two boxes of South Beach High Protein Bars however, I don't eat energy bars but I did not wanted to hurt his feeling; so I took them. Now I have two boxes of bars, what to do? Well, instead letting these boxes go to waste I decide to give some of them to my summer classmates. First I gave some to guy and he was so overwhelmed by joy that he was so excited and thank me like crazy. Another was in shock because he could not believe that I am just giving him something without expecting anything. I told him that I know he works out so I thought he might I appreciate some protein bars and he was thrilled as well as grateful. Then I share some of them with the rest of the class. I was just doing what I like to do, simply being nice. But I am glad I did it because it made them happy and show to others that you can be nice and do something kind to someone without a reward in return. It's nice to be nice and kind to others . So please I encourage you to be an example to be nice and spread kindness no matter how small it is. My gesture open doors for new friendships and brought sweetness to my life. Let's be just be Nice...............

Charity Profile: YMCA

The YMCA is a longstanding non profit which has offered a multitude of health and fitness related programs to communities throughout the World for over 100 years. Many people probably don't realize that the YMCA is solely supported through charitable donations and the generous donations of time by over 500,000 volunteers.

In fact, there are over 2500 YMCA locations throughout the US and over 30 countries who have YMCA facilities available.

The YMCA offers many programs to help children and adults through educational and excersize programs designed to improve the lives of the citizens of the communities which have local YMCA facilities.

Programs vary from fitness to reading to swimming to team sports. Over the past century many individuals have benefitted from this valuable non profit corporation.

There are plenty of opportunities to volunteer or donate to the YMCA. You can learn more about these opportunities or programs available in your area by visiting the YMCA website at CLICK HERE.

Have a NICE Day!

Teachers & Administrators Collect Money to Help Young Man Join Community Program

This is an awesome Nice Story about a group of teachers who believe in helping others. A member of our staff coaches football, and he is also on the Board of Directors for the local youth program. He recently received a call from an Asst. Principal from a local school who wanted to help a young man who they felt deserved a chance to participate in the sport.

According to the Asst. Principal, the young man in their school is a tremendous athlete who has always wanted to play football; but he has not been able to afford the registration fees because he lives in a single parent home with his father and other siblings.

The Asst. Principal and a group of teachers each contributed $10-20 to raise over $350 for the child to register. Once the money was raised the principal contacted our staff member and told him about their fundraising for the young man to participate in the upcoming football season.

Our staff member was very touched by this generosity and he made a few phone calls and was able to secure a scholarship for the young man which included registration fees and equipment costs. He then called the Asst. Principal and informed her of the Board's decision. He also advised her to use the money for other related expenses such as Dr's physical, practice equipment, and cleats.

The principal was overwhelmed to the point of tears when she learned of the generous act from the Association's board members. The young man got registered and he will now have the opportunity to participate and learn along with his peers.

In youth sports the competitiveness amoung teams and parents can sometimes take the fun out of the game. It's moments like these which remind us of the impact we can have on our children and our communities....good or bad. If we act responsibly and we look out for each other the World will be a much better place.

Have a NICE Day! :)
The ImaNicePerson.com Staff

Life is....

We received this inspirational message from a friend and we wanted to share it with you.

Life is an opportunity, benefit from it.
Life is beauty, admire it.
Life is bliss, taste it.
Life is a dream, realize it.
Life is a challenge, meet it.
Life is a duty, complete it.
Life is a game, play it.
Life is a promise, fulfill it.
Life is sorrow, overcome it.
Life is a song, sing it.
Life is a struggle, accept it.
Life is a tragedy, confront it.
Life is an adventure, dare it.
Life is luck, make it.
Life is too precious, do not destroy it.
Life is life, fight for it.

Mother Teresa

Have a NICE Day!

Understanding Happiness

Here is an interesting video on a scientific study of understanding happiness. In the lecture Dan Gilbert breaks down why we are happy (or unhappy) based on the methodology of the choices we make and the perception of those choices.

While the lecture doesn't necessarily give a true blueprint for achieving happiness it does make you think about how the mind works in the decision making process and the effects or repercussions of interpreting your own choices.

In our opinion we believe happiness is found through the acceptance of our choices (good or bad) and the belief that we are content with, or at least educated by, our choices instead of having regret from our choices. This still allows for us to set goals, and in reaching for our goals we believe happiness can be found in the effort we made as much as the results achieved. This can be related in the old saying, "Shoot for the stars, and if you come up short you reach the moon". This belief has also been interpreted through a Rolling Stones song...You can't always get what you want, but if you try sometimes, you get what you need.

While we believe "I wish" is healthy, we also believe "I wish I would have" can be a detriment to happiness. In other words, set goals, treat shortcomings as knowledge, and always move forward....and of course, be kind to others :)

You can watch the video we found on Ted by CLICKING HERE.

Have a Nice day.

12 Ways to Deal With Tough Financial Times

Ok, unless you are in the top 1% of people in the World, you are feeling the effect of the current state of the economy.

Gas and food prices are rising, the housing market and mortgage industry are in shambles, retirement funds are dwindling, and inflation is coming. We're not some self proclaimed economics experts nor do we care to be; but we do hear time and time again that many of our friends are struggling...us included.

ImaNicePerson.com is not a political site or a financial advice site; so we don't pretend to have answers to the problems at hand. We do, however, have dreams of promoting kindness, health, and happiness in this World; and therefore we do have a few suggestions of ways to weather these storms and still maintain happy and healthy lives.

Here are a few suggestions of ways to make the best of these difficult times.

1. Spend more time with your families. You don't have to take expensive trips to extravagant places to have quality time with your families. Pull out a deck of cards or a fun board game and play some games. Some great times can be had playing a challenging game of spades or a fun game of charades, or some of the popular board games like Life, Pictionary, Trivial Pursuit, etc.

2. Spend more time outdoors. If you have kids you can have fun playing a game of whiffle ball, volleyball, throwing the frisbee, or playing free games like hide and seek. If you have pets you could try to teach your pet a new trick or take long walks. If you have a nearby pond you could try a little fishing.

3. Plant a garden. You don't have to go out and buy a tractor. You can plant a few smaller items such as tomatoes, spices, watermelons, etc. It can be very rewarding to "reap a harvest" from your work in a garden. Plus, fresh vegetables can be much healthier and tasty compared to store bought goods.

4. Volunteer in a local charitable organization. Writing checks to charities isn't the only way to "give". Instead of spending hundreds or thousands on a vacation you could spend a few hours a month helping out a charitable cause which interest you. It's good for the soul to know you are helping others, and it can also be quite an eye opening experience to see that others have much greater needs than you or your family.

5. Concentrate on the "haves" instead of the "have nots". Try making a list of things you are grateful for...and keep adding as they come to mind. Focusing on the blessings in your life can lift your spirits and put you in the mindset of looking for the positives.

6. Reach out to some old acquaintances. It's always good to find and old friend and "catch up" and reminisce about the good times you had in the past.

7. Create a new food dish or have a theme dish night. Try making some new dish you haven't had before. It gives you a change of pace from your normal routine and can possibly replace going to some expensive restaurant. We've all got to eat. Getting creative with meal preparation can be fun and enjoyable. A "theme dish night" such as a luau or Italian night can be much more affordable than a trip to Hawaii or Italy.

8. Make a change jar. Get a jar and put your pocket change in the jar each day. Make a goal to do something for yourself (or others) with the money once the jar is full. This may give you a little time to be creative about what you will do with the money, and it could get you excited about filling the jar. A big jar of change can add up to somewhere between $100 and $300 dollars. Make a list of things you can do with that money and once you get there...pick your most favorite choice and do it.

9. Have a yard sale, garage sale, or start selling on Ebay. Clean out some of your old belongings and plan to have a sale. You can make a few extrra dollars and you can provide some essential items for the less fortunate to help them afford things they otherwise may not be able to afford. You'll feel better about your "cleaner" home and you may help others by selling off these things you no longer need.

10. Start a daily blog or journal. You can share your thoughts with others and you may create a legacy or "book" of your beliefs, advice, or journeys for your families to enjoy and/or learn from in the future. Blogging about your beliefs or ideas could potentially be helpful to others. For example, if you write a Nice Story on our site...you may touch the life of someone else. You should never underestimate that your life's experiences could possibly have a positive impact on another person. With the internet you have the opportunity to touch live's across the World. We have visitors from dozens of countries. It's kind of neat to know that someone in Austrailia or India could benefit from that which you have to offer.

11. Work on quitting a bad habit or starting a good habit. Try excersizing, quit smoking, quit drinking, cut back on the sweets, etc., etc. These are ways to potentially save a little money and potentially improve your health. Taking steps to improve your health can make you happier and more confident in your ability to do something you've always talked about but not taken action.

12. Get out your old pictures and organize them. Make folders of special times in your life and put your pictures in each folder. Going through old pictures is a great way to reflect upon the good times you've had in your life. If could help you remember a special loved one, a special time you had in the past, and it can help you appreciate the "haves" which you've had in your life.

These are just a few suggestions on ways to spend time without spending alot of money. Get creative and use your God given natural talents to do things which make you feel happy. You may develop some better relationships, more appreciation for that which you have to offer to the world, and you may find new ways to give back to the wonderful World which has given us the precious gift of life.

We all have plenty to be thankful for. Seek out these things and your soul may be lifted up, or you could be doing your part to "Make the World a Better Place"!!!

If you have other suggestions for finding ways to enjoy your life without overspending we would love to hear them.

Have a NICE day.
The ImaNicePerson.com Staff

George Carlin on Aging

In celebration of George Carlin's life we want to share
one of his famous philosophical works on aging. He brought much
laughter to this World and he will be missed greatly. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family.

George Carlin's Views on Aging

Do you realize that the only time in our lives when we like to get old
is when we're kids? If you're less than 10 years old, you're so excited
about aging that you think in fractions. 'How old are you?' ' I'm four and
a half!' You're never thirty-six and a half. You're four and a half, going
on five! That's the key.

You get into your teens, now they can't hold you back. You jump to the next
number, or even a few ahead. 'How old are you?' 'I'm gonna be 16!' You could be 13, but hey, you're gonna be 16! And then the greatest day of your life You become 21.. Even the words sound like a ceremony YOU BECOME 21. YESSSS!!!

But then you turn 30. Oooohh, what happened there? Makes you sound like bad milk! He TURNED; we had to throw him out. There's no fun now, you're Just a sour-dumpling. What's wrong? What's changed?

You BECOME 21, you TURN 30, then you're PUSHING 40. Whoa! Put on the brakes, it's all slipping away. Before you know it, you REACH 50 and your dreams are gone.

But wait!!! You MAKE it to 60. You didn't think you would! So you BECOME 21, TURN 30, PUSH 40, REACH 50 and MAKE it to 60..

You've built up so much speed that you HIT 70! After that it's a day-by-day
thing; you HIT Wednesday!

You get into your 80's and every day is a complete cycle; you HIT lunch;
you TURN 4:30 ; you REACH bedtime. And it doesn't end there. Into the 90s,
you start going backwards; 'I Was JUST 92.'

Then a strange thing happens. If you make it over 100, you become a little
kid again. 'I'm 100 and a half!' May you all make it to a healthy 100 and a half!!

HOW TO STAY YOUNG
1. Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age, weight and height. Let the doctors worry about them. That is why you pay 'them.'

2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down.

3. Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain idle. 'An idle mind is the devil's workshop.
And the devil's name is Alzheimer's.

4. Enjoy the simple things.

5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath.

6. The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person, who is with us our entire life, is ourselves. Be ALIVE while you are alive.

7. Surround yourself with what you love , whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge .

8. Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable,
improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.

9. Don't take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, even to the next county;
to a foreign country but NOT to where the guilt is.

10. Tell the people you love that you love them , at every opportunity.

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER :
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

The Sneeze

We recieved this story from a friend and we wanted to share it with you.

THE SNEEZE

They walked in tandem, each of the ninety-two students
filing into the already crowded auditorium. With their rich maroon
gowns flowing . and the traditional caps, they looked almost ... as
grown up as they felt.

Dads swallowed hard behind broad smiles, and Moms freely brushed away tears.

This class would NOT pray during the commencements----not by choice, but
because of a recent court ruling prohibiting it. The principal and several
students were careful to stay within the guidelines allowed by the ruling.
They gave inspirational and challenging speeches, but no
one mentioned divine guidance and no one asked for blessings on the
graduates or their families.

The speeches were nice, but they were routine.....until the final speech
received a standing ovation. A solitary student walked proudly to the
microphone. He stood still and silent for just a moment, and then, it happened.

All 92 students, every single one of them, suddenly SNEEZED!!!!

The student on stage.. simply looked at the audience and said, 'GOD BLESS
YOU , each and every one of you!' And he walked off stage...

The audience exploded into applause. This graduating class had found a unique
way to invoke God's blessing on their future with or without the court's approval.

Isn't this a wonderful story? Pass it on to all your
friends.........and GOD BLESS YOU!!!!
This is claimed to be a true story which happened at the University of Maryland.

Thanks to the Fathers

Here's an Ode to Fathers on Father's Day from our archives:

"Ah yes, fathers. The tough guys. The disciplinarians.

Today is the day we honor our fathers. Although I'm a father I'm going to use this story to honor my father and all of the other Fathers in the World who do so much for their families.

One comedian once said something along the line of...[Fathers don't get too much...they pay the bills, discipline the kids, play the tough guy, and what do they get?....The big piece of chicken!!!]

Today we're here to prove otherwise. Fathers have awesome responsibility in the family unit and in the world. They make many sacrifices for their families. Most do the physical work in the household. They fix things, they do the heavy lifting, they cut the grass, they work their tails off to support the family, they have to be the tough guy, they do the dirty work, they often make the tough decisions, they teach their sons how to be men and their daughters how to watch out for men. :). They often have to be the "bad guy" when the kids get out of line and drive Mothers crazy. They have to give up a lot of their family time to support the family. They quite often are the ones who have to keep their cool when things aren't going smoothly. A great phrase my Father in Law shared with me when he was laid up in the hospital with a tube down his throat was, "We stop the Bullet!". What a true statement. Most fathers would die for their family. Many have died for our familes or for our country in our fight for the Right to Freedom. (men and women have made these sacrifices but today this is for Fathers Day)

Many fathers miss out on a lot of their childs activities because they spend so much time at work. They still make time for their children when they can. Many coach our teams or teach us how to work hard to contribute to our team or society.

Personally, my father is quite special in many ways. He taught me how to ride a bike (and how to get up and try again when I wrecked!). He taught me to respect my elders. He taught me how to use my mind to make rational decisions. He taught me the value of money. He showed me that sacrificing time at work for the benefit of our family was most important. He taught me how to catch a ball. He taught me mental toughness. He taught me to give my best effort...and not to be complacent with my achievments as we all have room form improvement. He was the disciplinarian in the family and when he spoke...we listened. He taught me a lot about business, honor, trust in others and yourself, instinct, dependability, the value of a dollar, how to turn off the lights to save electricity and close the door when the A/C was running :) He gives me advice on the hard stuff...business, contracts, negotiation, etc. He pushes me to do better. He shows me how to be level headed. He has inspired me through his actions for his entire life. He is a rock. He is my inspiration. When the tough gets going........I call my father because I know he's going to give me his true opinion and his best judgement, and most of the time he's right.

Many Dads are great role models for their sons and daughters. They love their daughters and always look out for their best interest. They protect them, make them feel like princesses, and fix many of their mistakes.

Fathers so often get stuck with the hard stuff. Wrecked cars, bounced checkbooks, emotional kids who lost the game or failed the test. Most don't cave in...they toughen up.

Good fathers are a very important part of this world. They often don't get the recognition until the kids are grown up and faced with the challenges of the real world....and fatherhood.

I'm hear to tell you. Fathers....you are great and you are respected. You have earned much more than the "big piece of chicken". You have earned the respect of your sons, your daughters, your wives, your parents, and your friends.

Enjoy your Father's Day. You deserve it.

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY and thank you for being such great examples for the rest of us!!!!!!!!!!!!!"