GOOD Idea is a regular feature for Critically Acclaimed that focuses on service projects and positive ways to impact the world around you. Read more about it here.

Earlier this week, I found this fantastic article about an Act of Kindness Day event created at New Mexico State University in honor of a student there who passed away late last year. Emily Lein was 19-years-old, very enthusiastic, kind, compassionate, and living with autism in college. She was apparently very active on the college campus and supported as many sporting events and programs as she could. The event was created to honor Emily’s life and to leave a legacy of her kindness that she provided to others on the campus. Her freshman year suitemate Madison Marritt said of Emily, “She didn’t care how people acted, she just knew that people needed kindness. She knew they needed to be helped, and she wanted to help them.” What an incredible woman!

The Aggie Day of Kindness was advertised throughout January and February, with the official day taking place yesterday, February 9, 2012. Participants were encouraged to perform acts of kindness to others all day in honor of Emily, and to share about their experiences with the day on facebook.

I am inspired by the beautiful way the university decided to honor Emily, and by the incredible impact her life has left on their university community. The story also brings to light the importance of giving everyone a fair shot and treating each person you meet with dignity and respect - just as it appears that Emily did - and unfortunately in contrast to the way people frequently respond to people who live with physical, mental, developmental, and emotional disabilities.

Wouldn’t it be great if every campus honored Emily through an Act of Kindness Day? Perhaps we could make that happen. :) 

(Source: nmsu.edu)

GOOD Idea is a regular feature for Critically Acclaimed that focuses on service projects and positive ways to impact the world around you. Read more about it here.

While sharing my joy with fellow Rams on facebook about Colorado State’s win against the CU Buffaloes last night, I discovered Sustain Myself - a blog on simple and effective ways of sustainable living created by my outstanding friend, Amy Bergstrom. Her most recent entry (which admittedly wasn’t-so-recent - here’s hoping this inspires an update or two!) identifies five easy changes people can make in their everyday lives to help the environment. The (paraphrased) five changes include:

1. bottled water!
2. “Paper or plastic?” Neither!
3. BYOM - Bring Your Own Mug
4. Think before you print
5. Electronics: Unplugged

In the post, Bergstrom elaborates on each ‘pretty easy change’, providing quick facts as to the resource impact of each change from Ideal Bite, and helping Average Joan understand how sustainability can be simple, significant, and fun! Other posts highlight organizations that provide tips for energy efficiency, recycling options, shopping and dining advice, and other things simply Green.

Bergstrom has identified a fantastic concept. In her initial post, she tells of her inspiration for creating the blog.

I think a lot of people are on the extreme sides when it comes to the environment. They are either extremely into living a green lifestyle, or they think being earth-friendly is too much of a burden on them and so they do nothing. Living green then to me was about finding a way to make simple changes in everyday life…finding middle ground.

In a later post, Bergstrom links her personal values of sustainability with her spirituality, providing a riveting rationale for religious folks to follow suit.

Amy Bergstrom holds a Bachelor’s degree with a joint emphasis in Print and Broadcast Journalism from Colorado State University’s School of Journalism and Technical Communication. She is passionate about sports, journalism, reading and the environment, and lives and works in Seattle, Wash.

GOOD Idea is a regular feature for Critically Acclaimed that focuses on service projects and positive ways to impact the world around you. Read more about it here.

Yesterday, Calidre and I were enjoying some quality time at Starbucks - she on her laptop, and I finishing Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. The night before, Calidre was contemplating the various ways to donate used items, and realized there isn’t a one-stop-shop for information about how to donate a wide variety of items. (Example: Styrofoam. Did you know it can be donated and reused?)

So Calidre, being the fabulous and amazing woman she is, came up with an outstanding idea of creating a tumblelog to address such queries. Where To Donate is a new web resource that provides insight into the many ways one can donate or recycle used items - helping make the world just a little bit Greener.

I must say, I certainly have some extraordinary friends!

GOOD Idea is a new regular feature for Critically Acclaimed that focuses on service projects and positive ways to impact the world around you. Read more about it here.

My good friend and colleague introduced me to a new concept that I will be implementing into every future birthday celebration: the BirthDay of Service project.

As part of the 30th birthday festivities, my friend invited a large group to participate in a service project in order to give back to the greater community. This year’s project: planting trees around Miami with TREEmendous Miami.

I am encouraged by my friend’s fantastic decision to impact the world, and excited to follow suit next February, starting my own annual BirthDay of Service.

About this year’s BirthDay of Service project site:

“TREEmendous Miami consists of a dedicated group of people who like to plant trees so that we can make Miami-Dade a greener, cooler, healthier and more enjoyable environment in which to live. Our environment is our number one concern. Our mission statement describes us as volunteers united to build community pride by planting, protecting and preserving trees in Miami-Dade County.”

How will you celebrate your birthday?

GOOD Idea is a new regular feature for Critically Acclaimed that focuses on service projects and positive ways to impact the world around you.

It is inspired by GOOD, “a collaboration of individuals, businesses, and nonprofits pushing the world forward. Since 2006 we’ve been making a magazine, videos, and events for people who give a damn.”

100 percent of the fees paid for a subscription to the quarterly GOOD Magazine supports a social action project of your choice. Fantastic company - I highly recommend you check them out, and see what’s GOOD.