"A Cat Socializer"

hi everyone!
i thought i'd share this lovely moment i had today with my virtual world of helpers! i decided that i wanted to create a space in my life for the human-animal bond. it is a relationship that i never directly experienced in my life but considering the fragmented and often emotionally disconnected ways in which we live our lives, i think there is therapeutic value that can be generated from the bond between human beings and our companions in nature which could perhaps help to heal these man-made divisions. in fact, i've never been a pet owner, but for the past year, i had started to fall for the idea of having my own cat---but i couldn't explain why. initially i thought it would be low maintenance to have a cat rather than a dog, since cats are more independent and cleaner and i could go on vacation without them feeling too sad. lol. however, before i could become a cat owner, i realized that i need to know how to be responsible for one. i felt it was important for me to learn about them first---not just play with them and cuddle them, but also learn how to feed and clean them, and slowly begin to understand their world. on top of that, i feel that it could be another opportunity for me to cultivate more compassion in my life, so that while i can give my affection to the kitty, i could build gratitude into the experience by seeing the ways that the kitty could be giving to me. so i stopped into petsmart today, but the 'adopt a cat fair' was over and i couldn't pet the cats unless i was seriously considering adopting one!! instead, the lady told me about 'the humane society of silicon valley' in santa clara and said they need people who want to do exactly what i was looking to do---" be a cat socializer!" lol!
so, there i went---off to the animal shelter and discovered a cute little world of creatures i had never known much about. i talked to a woman, breanne, who said, all i had to do was sign up, attend an orientation, and come whenever i was available. after following the 'paw tour' throughout the shelter, catching a glimpse of kitties, rabbits, some grown-up doggies, and having a pleasant conversation with a nice lady (with a cool european accent) who worked there as a 'dog socializer,' and meeting a friendly asian couple who told me about the two cats they adopted and the rabbit they also had, i was so excited to jump into this new role!! i tucked a smile card and two 1 dollar bills into the donation box and picked up the volunteer sign-up sheet and drove off with a smile!!!
just thought i'd share the little joys of today with you all! :)

"Smiling Subway Sandwiches"

it's lunchtime!! it was going to be a quick one today, so with great determination, i stepped into 'subway' with the intention to secure my sweet onion teriyaki sandwich order with the deli ladies and make my swift exit. as i neared the cashier, i instead, turned to the portly asian man standing beside me, and asked him, "can i do something for you?" as he gave me a peculiar look which included a slight frown, i then said, "i'm part of this group which spreads kindness in the world, so can i buy you your sandwich?" his face softened, his teeth began to show again and he was reading the smilecard that was now in his hands which were also lightly gripping the plastic bag which showcased his lunch! the cashier looked at me a bit puzzled as well when i told her i was buying his sandwich for him---but then, i got a smile from her too! lol! the man, while perhaps still processing the experience, added, "hey thanks," and i scurried off and ran back to my smile-mobile as i made my escape from subway sandwiches! :)

"A Jumpstart to Easter"

i saw a man in the distant parking lot of san jose,
right off of first street near 'le boulangerie,'
he was lifting boxes and muttering words,
his skin was golden with experience,
and his eyes were dark and likeable,

wrapping his fingers around the cardboard and crouching down to lift each box
he continued to put little pieces of himself into each lift and onto each stack,

one by one
box after box,

he lifted them until he heard:
an, "excuse me sir,"

and when he paused and i walked,
he watched me approach him with a brown paper bag suprise,
and say, "since you're working hard, would you eat cookies?"

smiling with an "oh thank you," he received a thick, green-frosted easter egg cookie with sprinkles all over the sides
i had no idea the spirit of easter was already upon us but it just so happened to be that day at least on the inside! :)

"A Dedication to the World"

i was listening to some soothing tunes on the radio last night. to be exact it was 98.1, which captures easy R&B listening in the Bay Area. there was a listener out there who made a request, which i thought i'd share. usually, when listeners call in, you know, they make their request for the dj to play a song for their sweetheart, or their best friend, or their parents, or a warrior overseas. while these requests of course capture a love that we share for those most immediately connected to our lives, this man took that notion a step further. he collected this love that we each share for our respective families and friends, and made a special request, when he said, "hey brother, i'd like to make a request," and the dj said, "sure," and the listener, said, " i want to dedicate this song to the whole world." the dj, a bit taken a back, said, "the whole world?" i think the dj was perhaps thinking in strictly literal terms, and mentioned how that was not realistically possible. (i.e. that a song on a radio can only reach those listeners within the local geographic region which covers that frequency). yet, i disagree with that. here, came this listener who took himself out of the limitations we impose upon ourselves to love only those who we are supposed to love, and extended a heartfelt dedication which reached further than his own brother, his own child, his own wife, or father. he sent a song to the universe. i say, the waves of generosity are more powerful than the vibrations of sound...

"Cinema Smiles"

my nephew and i thought we'd have a relaxing evening at the cinemas. following the recommendation of my loving elder brother, ( the film connoisseur who knows the sentimental needs of his baby sister), we went to see "definitely maybe." i of course, had to have a mixture of my sweet and salty fix, so i got my coke, my popcorn, and my sour strawberry belts while my nephew humbly kept to a bottle of red-colored gatorade. :) as we neared the cashier, i pulled out a couple cards-one being a credit card for payment and another being a smilecard for a different kind of transaction. :) i explained to the cashier that i wanted to pay for the two young girls behind me, and he said, "um, sure, ok." as my nephew let me take the lead, i turned around to the girls and for me it felt a bit brave to ask them "can i do something for you? can i buy your popcorn and your drink for you?" they looked at me with a variety of emotions which included--shock, confusion, humour, and said "uhh, okay." after that, i handed one girl the card and started explaining how the act, the card, and kindness all fit together. still a bit perplexed, one of the girls looked at me and said so innocently, "wait, so you guys just do nice stuff for people? that's so cool. thanks!" "i was like, yeah, that's kinda the idea to spread kindness." we parted from the girls and left hearing one of them say: "oh we definitely have to check this (meaning the website) out"-. i then returned to my smiling nephew and we scurried over to the film since it was almost show time! i laughed out loud during the movie, i cried softly in it too, just the way my brother had planned it! :) btw, i totally recommend the movie--well and of course, increasing smilecard transactions!!!!! SMILE! :)
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"A Week of 5 Dollar Smiles"

so, this week i decided to up the smilecard notch a bit more. i usually would affix a $1 dollar bill to the smilecard prior to tagging the recipient, but this week, i felt moved to increase the monetary value and see if that increased the value of good feelings that arise within us when we give!
so, on my way home from work, i cruised up the onramp to 880S and looked for the homeless man who stands alongside the cars right before the traffic signal--- there he was. i rolled down my window, connected with the eyes of this middle-aged latino man, and handed him a 5 dollar bill...then in the middle of the week during lunchtime, as i exited le boulangerie cafe in downtown san jose, i began to head back to my car to go back to the office. however, when i saw anti-war sentiments smacked onto a neighbhoring car in the form of two bumper stickers, i felt compelled to express my resonance with this driver's thoughts through a tag. making sure the coast was clear and the driver was nowhere in sight, i took out a smile card from my wallet, wrapped a 5 dollar bill around it, and carefully tucked the wrapped card behind the windshield wipers on the dashboard of the car. Luckily the wind wasn't blowing that day :)....To put a friendly close to this $5 dollar week, I went to my weekly spot at the "It's A Grind" cafe this evening and after purchasing my moroccan mint tea, i asked the cashier if i could give her something...surprisingly, the smilecard transaction flowed so naturally, as i simply explained that i was giving her something called a "smile card "(after which she automatically started smiling :), along with 5 dollars which is for the next customer to use..she safely secured the "tag" beneath her register, before i left, seeming to have so seamlessly kept the concept of kindness spreading."
i realized that it was not so much the increase in monetary value this week but rather the belief that i personally felt i had more capacity to give, that deepened my experience this week and expanded those positive feelings inside! just thought i'd share the good news! :)

"A Homeless Man Was My Valentine!"

i launched on to the ramp yet again today on 880 south and this time i was looking for my new friend who stands alongside the highway. with his eyes worn with life, and his wrinkles lightly carved into his face, he stood there with a cardboard sign, and still he had hope, a glimmer in his eyes that someone somwhere might care...not knowing what i would have for him today, i just pulled out what i had from the insides of my lime green wallet. it wasn't much but it was a dollar, and as i automatically rolled down my window and greeted my old friend, i gave him the dollar and i gave him my smile. i then, gleefully added, "happy valentine's day." he smiled back and pointed to me with a grin saying something i didn't really hear very well since i had my radio tunes blaring too loudly in the car! Lol! however, the words we exchanged mattered less than the expressions we saw reflected on each others' faces. i knew one thing though- that when we both connected in a shared moment of fully extended smiles, that meant more than the small token i had reached out to give him in the first place. today, i found my valentine and I hope you found yours too! :)
happy valentine's day! :)