I'm re-tasking the blog post from my SendOutCards blog.

Start your new year with simple ways to make a difference

Many use the start of a new year to reflect and rejuvenate. While many people focus on adopting a healthy lifestyle or setting business goals, improving yourself can be as simple as a kind thought, a caring word or a sweet note for someone else. Being gracious is often overlooked when, in reality, it is one of the simplest ways to initiate a better you.

 Think of all the interactions you have on a daily basis. At the dry cleaners, on the road, at work and with family and friends. How easy it is to get bogged down in the daily grind and forget that everyone around you is doing the same thing, just trying to get by. Today, take a few extra seconds and say thank you, praise a good job or fill out a compliment card for your pharmacist. These small tasks, which many consider trivial, can turn just another day into a great day–for you and for someone else!

Consider others’ emotions. Do you know someone who is going through a tough time? Waiting to hear back about that dream job? Under the weather? Or were they just on your mind? Send a card with a genuine note and see how far a few little words can go in transforming someone’s day.

Finally, remember no act is too small. Offering encouragement through acts of kindness makes a world of difference. Something as simple as complimenting your spouse can change the trajectory of their day. Whether it is a small please or thank you or a big hug, being gracious requires only one thing, a few seconds of your day.

Improve yourself by helping uplift and encourage the ones around you. So pay it forward, and see how much it pays off!

Join my email list to get my monthly blog posts at rickscardpage.sendcere.net

Interesting days

Today - https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/tempura-day/ With California rolls and beef teriyaki, please

Tomorrow - https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/bubble-bath-day/ Sounds pretty relaxing to me

Next Wednesday - https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/hot-pastrami-sandwich-day/ Who makes the best sandwich in the Tri Valley area?

February 7 - https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/send-a-card-to-a-friend-day/ and  https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/ice-cream-for-breakfast-day/

Goal Setting

There was a lot of activity around goal setting today. The SendOutCards Leadership call with Steve Schulz and Vanessa Hunter talked about it. Steve said "Goals should scare you a little and excite you a lot". 

Vanessa also sent out a video today "Setting Goals Using the Smart System".

And here is the link to my blog post that wrapped up my series on vision, mission and goals .

Interesting days

Today - https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/cuddle-up-day/ Time to cuddle up with a warm book

Tomorrow - https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/tempura-day/ I think I'll see if my son Danny wants to get some

Next Tuesday - https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/rubber-duckie-day/ See what Ernie has to say

February 6 - https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/bubblegum-day/ Who can blow the biggest bubble?

In my wanderings though the Internet, I found my old blog posts from Empower Network. I don't have access at the moment to look it up, but I'll see if I can find it later. That will give me many more blog posts that I can re-task for my current blog. But for today, we'll just have the

Interesting days

Today - https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/whipped-cream-day/ Pretty much everything is better with whipped cream on it

Tomorrow - https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/cuddle-up-day/ Time to cuddle up with a good book. And maybe a cup of hot chocolate, with whipped cream!

Next Monday - https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/marzipan-day/ Now you tell me! You can check out the recipe for Chocolate-Covered Marzipan Cherries

February 5 - https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/nutella-day/ and https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/chocolate-fondue-day/ How about a Nutella Fondue Day?

Interesting days

Today - https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/trivia-day/ This blog celebrates trivia everyday 

Tomorrow - https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/whipped-cream-day/ I think hot chocolate with whipped cream may be in order

Next Sunday - https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/learn-your-name-in-morse-code-day/ 

Dit dah dit   dit dit   dah dit dah dit   dah dit dah

February 4 - https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/homemade-soup-day/ Yum! And https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/thank-a-mailman-day/ Thanks for delivering the millions of holiday cards sent last month through SendOutCards

Interesting days

Today - https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/drinking-straw-day/ There's a pretty good chance that I'll be celebrating this sometime today. And it's also https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/chocolate-covered-cherry-day/ Be sure to check out the recipe there for Chocolate Covered Marzipan Cherries (what the heck is a marzipan?). And let's not forget https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/fruitcake-toss-day/

Tomorrow - https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/trivia-day/ I used to love Trivial Pursuit (when it comes to useless information, I'm full of it!). And in a similar vein, it's also https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/pop-music-chart-day/ What were the Top 20 songs exactly 50 years ago? (See below)

Next Saturday - https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/bittersweet-chocolate-day/ My favorite kind. Also, https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/peculiar-people-day/ My favorite kind

February 3 - https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/carrot-cake-day/ Now that's a vegetable I can eat

Top 20 from January 3, 1965

Check out this link

Re-tasking a post from my SendOutCards blog:

You are special every day

“Erase from your vocabulary the word ‘someday.’ Do not save things for ‘special occasions.’ Take into account the fact that every day is special. Every day is a gift that we must appreciate and be thankful for. Wear your attractive clothes, wear your nice perfume, use your fine silverware and dishes, and drink from your expensive crystal glasses…just because. Live every day to the fullest and savor every minute of it.” Rodolfo Costa

If you are anything like so many other people, there are lots of things you intend to do; you just have not gotten to them yet. Or maybe you are waiting for the perfect time.

What if that perfect time were now? As Rodolfo Costa asserts, every day is special, just as you are. Each morning think of at least one positive thing about yourself; then set out to celebrate that.

As you begin to celebrate yourself, you will find it easier to celebrate others. After you’ve gotten in the habit of celebrating yourself, you can begin to share that joy more easily. Each day, choose one person to celebrate by picking out something you appreciate about that person. Then let that person know by sending a card designed especially for them. Sendcere allows you to quickly and easily choose a card, write a personal message and send it.

Spreading joy will give you even more reason to celebrate YOU. Break out the crystal!

Interesting days

Today - There are a lot to choose from today, such as https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/buffet-day/ I may hit Hometown Buffet for dinner tonight, https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/cream-puff-day/, https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/personal-trainer-awareness-day/ and https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/55-mph-speed-limit-day/ I don't know about you but I can't drive 55

Tomorrow - https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/chocolate-covered-cherry-day/ and https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/fruitcake-toss-day/ How many of you got a fruitcake this year?

Next Friday - https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/apricot-day/ Are they even in season right now?

February 2 - Seems to be a great day for celebrating varmints. Not only is it Groundhog Day, but it's also Hedgehog Day (Any Sonic the Hedgehog fans?) and Marmot Day. It's also https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/sled-dog-day/ and https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/play-your-ukulele-day/

I think I'm going to re-task an old Facebook post, just to start the year off right!

Men's Rules for Happiness

These are our rules! Please note... these are all numbered "1" ON PURPOSE!

1. Learn to work the toilet seat. You're a big girl. If it's up, put it down. We need it up, you need it down. You don't hear us complaining about you leaving it down.

1. Sunday sports. It's like the full moon or the changing of the tides. Let it be.

1. Shopping is NOT a sport. And no, we are never going to think of it that way.

1. Crying is blackmail.

1. Ask for what you want. Let us be clear on this one: Subtle hints do not work! Strong hints do not work! Obvious hints do not work! Just say it!

1. Yes and No are perfectly acceptable answers to almost every question.

1. Come to us with a problem only if you want help solving it. That's what we do. Sympathy is what your girlfriends are for.

1. Anything we said 6 months ago is inadmissible in an argument. In fact, all comments become null and void after 7 days.

1. If you think you're fat, you probably are. Don't ask us.

1. If something we said can be interpreted two ways and one of the ways makes you sad or angry, we meant the other one.

1. You can either ask us to do something or tell us how you want it done. Not both. If you already know best how to do it, just do it yourself.

1. Whenever possible, please say whatever you have to say during commercials.

1. Christopher Columbus did not need directions and neither do we.

1. ALL men see in only 16 colors, like Windows default settings. Peach, for example, is a fruit, not a color. Pumpkin is also a fruit. We have no idea what mauve is.

1. If it itches, it will be scratched. We do that.

1. If we ask what is wrong and you say "nothing," we will act like nothing's wrong. We know you are lying, but it is just not worth the hassle.

1. If you ask a question you don't want an answer to, expect an answer you don't want to hear.

1. When we have to go somewhere, absolutely anything you wear is fine...Really.

1. Don't ask us what we're thinking about unless you are prepared to discuss such topics as baseball, the shotgun formation, or monster trucks.

1. You have enough clothes.

1. You have too many shoes.

1. I am in shape. Round is a shape.

Thank you for reading this. Yes, I know, I have to sleep on the couch tonight; but did you know men really don't mind that? It's like camping.

Interesting days

 January - https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/get-organized-month/

Today - Happy New Year! https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/bloody-mary-day/ Which seems appropriate!

Tomorrow - After you eat your cream puff(s), it'd probably be a good idea to see your personal trainer

Next Thursday - https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/show-tell-day-at-work-day/ I got fired the last time I did that

February - https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/hot-breakfast-month/ Yum!

February 1 - https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/working-naked-day/ Hmmmm...I'm sensing a trend developing. It's also https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/car-insurance-day/