Let's choose to make a difference...

I think of myself as a giving, kind and compassionate person, who is truly grateful and appreciative for all I have - and I am. Yet, sometimes, out of the blue, something comes along and gives you a reality check. It tells you that though you are the things you think you are, you can still be so much more.

Last night was one of those times for me.

I found a website that re-focused the lens through which I see the world.

It's gritty, compelling, raw, authentic, and powerful. As appreciative as I am for what I have, I soon realized how much I take for granted. I suddenly felt awkwardly aware of how I have grown to let fellow human beings who are suffering, become invisible to my own eyes.

The website is http://invisiblepeople.tv. It is a vlog of interviews with people who are homeless. The man behind this project, was once homeless himself, and wants to now "make the invisible, visible". These interviews are with real people, who candidly and frankly tell their stories - unedited, and uncensored.

They are gripping.

I watched every single video interview on the website - these people touched my heart. At the end of every interview, each person was asked, "If you could have 3 wishes, what would they be?". Theirs answers floored me. I heard people who were homeless wish for things like peace on earth, no more hate, that everyone could have a home. And when they wished for something for themselves, it wasn't for riches or luxury, but shelter, a job, family or love. They wished for the very things that many of us take for granted - I was humbled.

I now see and embrace opportunities for me to help others that I didn't see before...

I hope that you will feel as moved and inspired as I do, to get out there and do a random act of kindness every day for someone you don't even know. Then please pass this along to people you know who might do the same.

We can all make a difference in the lives of our fellow human beings - and you know... it feels amazing!

Push your buttons

As dynamic as life is, we sometimes live our lives in a static fashion. Stuck in one way of doing things, as if on auto pilot. Day after day, driving the same route to work, eating the same thing for breakfast, even folding our hands the same way. We get locked in and boxed in. What, then, would happen if we thought of life as an elevator? Surely, if we got stuck on one floor in a real elevator, we’d panic, crave change, or at least be curious about what else exists.

So, why then, is it comfortable to get stuck in life?

Familiarity can lure us into a sense of security, and the more comfortable that place gets, the less likely we are to leave it. Because of this, there is a likelihood of complacency. After time, changes, even small changes, can become frightening.

Stepping outside your comfort zone makes your heart race, palms sweat and breath quicken. It’s fear and excitement all wrapped up in a tight package, and it makes you feel alive. Trying something new can be as exhilarating as it is scary, and if we excel at it we’re on top of the world and planning our next adventure! Self-confidence shoots through the roof, and we become empowered.

Think about how it felt, the last time you tried stepping outside of your comfort zone to try something new...

Life is precious. If you find yourself living it as if each day is a chore, something that is done on auto-pilot, without much enjoyment, perhaps it’s time to re-evaluate what floor you are on. The elevator of life can take you to many floors, some far down, others up high, but all bring new and valuable experiences .

Go ahead, press all the buttons on your elevator – see where you go next! Open all the doors on every floor, and peek inside – you may find something you can`t believe you ever lived without! Start small – little things like a new workout, trying a new food, or listening to music that is not your usual style. At first it may seem a little uncomfortable, but the more you practice, the more you enjoy, and the more you try!

Have fun in life, seek some new adventures and keep your life on the move!