“Spirit within me”

           spirit-within-me.jpg

Picture courtesy of my dear friend Ceeque (Charles)

I invite all to join together with me. A group of friends doing our part to make the lives of others better. With every act of kindness, we do in fact make the world a little bit better. We do this simply because we can, because we care about others, all others people all people, we care about the world.

I once heard what I consider to be a very good definition of insanity: “Doing the same thing, in the same way over and over again and still being upset or disappointed when the results come out unchanged.” This applies to our very lives, if we day after day continue to do the same thing, in the same way, how can we expect there to be any change. Change of any sort must begin from within, within each and everyone of us. As people change, so will the world.

I invite and encourage all to join my very non-exclusive group of friends. All are welcome, no restrictions of any kind. I have read in many places that people become more committed to something if they have signed a document of commitment. So in that regard I have set up this new page title “Spirit within me”. The word “me” should be read as applying to each individual and definitely not me, as in Bill. It represents the spirit contained with each of you. I hope people will sign up and take membership in the group as a serious commitment.

OK, what is the group about. It is just a group of friends joining together to try in any small way to bring about changes within themselves, within the lives of others and ultimately to the world.

Is there a cost to belong to this group? YES, but not a monetary cost. The cost is something much more precious that mere money. The cost is spending some of your precious time. How much time? Five minutes a week. I don’t care how busy anyone’s life is, there is no one that can honestly say they couldn’t squeeze in 5 minutes a week. How is that 5 minutes of precious time to be spent? Actively looking for and performing an extra act of kindness. It is to be preformed for another, to whom doesn’t matter, the size of the act doesn’t matter. What matters is that we all take the time, even just 5 minutes a week to look for a way to perform an act of kindness.

Second, requirement. If any thanks is offered we decline to accept it. Instead state only that the only thanks you require or request is that this person, repay you by passing on another act of kindness be passed on to yet another. Think of the ripples we are creating.

Benefits, unlimited, gained from the peace and love to be contained within our hearts. That warm fuzzy feeling that comes from knowing I did something good, not because I had to but simply because I wanted to.

Please join my group of friends.

50 Responses to ““Spirit within me””

  1. Selma Says:

    Sign me up!

  2. Mel Says:

    *looking for the pen*

    *scribbling on the dotted line*

    :-D

  3. Sage's mommy Says:

    Signed,

    Bill’s daughter:

    ~ Billie ~

  4. ceeque Says:

    Totally in and signed up with this utterly great idea! What a great way to put this idea across, happy to be a member.

  5. mel Says:

    Checking in, sir!
    But I’m crediting you with the idea. After reading your post of the George Carlin email I decided it was way past time to meet and greet the neighbour who’d moved in last fall.

    So, I did!
    WITH a pie–cuz I can make pies without burning down the house. LOL

  6. Jo Hart Says:

    Ok I am here on this one too. Thinking of what this weeks 5 minutes will be???????

  7. healingthroughlove Says:

    A sweet five minutes for certain! What wonderful ripples these will be for everyone.

  8. liezel Says:

    long awaiting a group like this… this is what I live by everyday.

  9. Sillygeuse Says:

    Pay it Forward! I live by this principle as much as possible, and yet, I find that there are many souls out there who will ungraciously abuse those of us who do. It amazes me the number of selfish people out there.

    Now I must state that I feel you’ve already given your five minutes by hosting this group. What a wonderful way to connect with others and secure a sense of accountability. Well done! I am even more pleased that I stumbled across your blog!

  10. mel Says:

    More participants! YEAH!!

    And this week’s five minutes–a ’stop and converse’ thing at the grocery store.
    Okay…doesn’t sound like much–but you haffta know how much I detest grocery stores for this very reason! I’m a ‘go in, get it, get OUT’ kinda gal. And this time I stopped to converse with one of the gal’s on the block that’s been having a tough go since her husband went home to G-d.
    AND we’re gonna have coffee this week, too!

    Actually, I feel really good about this one….cuz it meant giving up selfish little MEMEME time!

  11. Henri Says:

    Time’s a gift to be used on earth

    In preparation for eternity

    And what we do within it’s span

    Determines our soul’s destiny

    Sign me up :)

  12. Autumn Says:

    Bill, I’ve been a little MIA blogreading-wise of late, hoping to be back completely asap and to catch up on posts that I have missed. Am very glad that I passed by today and saw this one.
    Sign me up please. :-)

  13. Ulla H, Sweden Says:

    I am here, please sign me up.
    This was a very good suggestion
    to do this. Love to be a member in
    this.

    In Inspiration,
    Ulla H :-)

  14. Roads Says:

    Please count me in, Bill. And spirits up.

  15. Mel Says:

    (((((((((( Henri ))))))))))))

    Aren’t you just a wise one!
    Thanks for putting that up for me to read, Henri.
    Sometimes things fall out of this ‘too full’ brain!

  16. Ron Says:

    Awesome idea, Bill!!!!

    Please consider me a WARM FUZZY member!

  17. enreal Says:

    This is a wonderful task Bill! You are doing a very good thing…or should I say “we”

    Namaste

  18. lwayswright Says:

    This is fabulous. Random acts of kindness! One thing I always try to do is to take my grocery cart to the cart return thing at the grocery store. Sounds corney or simple but here in Phoenix when it is 110 the clerks who have to walk through the parking lots to round them up really appreciate that simple little thing. it’s amazing the thank yous I get for that little thing. Ilove this idea. Good one. Consider me one of the group!

  19. Lori Says:

    I’m in what a great idea Bill. You are a wonderful man and I hope to have some of your greatness rub off on me :-)

  20. lymeaway Says:

    Wow Bill what a great idea, I know I try to do acts of kindness, such as a hold the door for people or let someone on the road out in front of me, but it is amazing to me how many people probably do not do things like that because of selfishness or because they are in a rush. This is a wonderful idea! SIGN ME UP!

    ~ALI

  21. Jenny Says:

    Pay it forward. I have tried for many years to live my life with this principle and hope that I have succeeded.

    Great idea, and only 5 mins!!

    Sign me up please.

    Jenny

  22. Lonnie Says:

    These are the words my cardiologist gave me after he asked me if I was being a better person with my second chance ”some day you will be asked for help, God wants you to give it freely with out question and your debt will be payed”. I have a mission to do good with my second chance.
    God Bless you,
    Lonnie

  23. Jo Says:

    Jo Hart Says:
    June 27, 2008 at 6:05 am edit

    Hey Bill & Billie,
    My Random Act of Kindness. I sponsered two children who are Autistic to attend there annual camp. It’s through the the Rotary Club. It just so happened they rang yesterday at work, as work every year sponsor two children. I added my own and sponsered another two, so 4 children got to go away, and hopefully have a little bit of happiness. I did specify that the children know that it was from Billie all the way over in Canada….. I did explain the Random Act. So thankyou Billie, two littlies are going to be very happy.
    Hope you had a great birthday Billie.

  24. Mel Says:

    Mel Says:
    June 26, 2008 at 4:13 am edit

    <– packed up boxes of kitchen ’stuff’ for a family that’s the victim of the flood and have it in the car to deliver tomorrow

    But! In honour of Billie–there are flood clean-up tubs that are premade for the donation. I’ll make the donation in her name tomorrow.

    *sigh*
    It’s such a mess over here–and I can’t think of a more loving thing to do at this moment.

    Happy Birthday to Billie!
    And what a special gift you brought to the world, Bill…..and continue to bring…
    And I ain’t just talking the kiddos, either.

    *hugs!*

  25. coloredmind Says:

    colouredmind Says:
    June 30, 2008 at 5:51 am edit

    What a wonderful idea. In honour of the birthday girl when I saw two cold homeless men today in my very small town I bought two take out cups of tea and gave it to them, they looked so pleased to have something warm to drink. I think this is something I am going to try and do more often. Hannah x

  26. Irene Says:

    Dear Bill,
    Just have a few minutes to drop you a line to say Hi! and to wish Billie a great, big Happy Birthday. My random act was to help a collegue pack away her classroom at the end of the year. That felt really good and it was done in honor of the birthday girl…Thinking about you often, Wiseman.
    Irene

  27. Marita Says:

    Dear Bill

    I’m with you, you’re with me. I do a Buddhist meditation every day (tonglen) that sends good energy to everyone, for healing, comfort, upliftedness, regardless of belief or any other criteria.

    Marita

  28. Kathy Brunner Says:

    Sign Me up….
    KB+

  29. Juanita Says:

    I want to thank you for helping me want to go on living. Your words, on this site, has done more for me than anyone. From your words I have been given hope, encouragement, and love. I had forgotten that there were loving people in the world, but more than anything I had forgotten I was one of them. Thank you for giving me back my life. You will always be one of my hero’s and always in my prayers.

    Dear Juanita, I thank you so much for your so kind comment. I feel very honored indeed. If my words help you or anyone, then it makes all my time spent sitting at the computer so very worth while.
    I believe the world is just full of good and loving people, I know you are one of them. Give yourself the credit you deserve and possibly spread some of the goodness around.
    As I said I am honored at your comment and thank you so much.

  30. Estrella Says:

    Firstly, I would like to say that you are an amazing writer and God has truly blessed you with a gift of being able to touch the souls of your readers. This is done by your bravery in telling the truth about life and its great encore, death. The title of your blog is “A Dying Man’s Journal,” but it is my belief that you can quite possibly cure your body of its illness with a holistic approach(along with God’s amazing power.) It is the belief of many scientists and medical practitioners that the body is a functioning machine, designed by God not to break down and self destruct, but to run efficiently and healthfully if we just fuel it correctly. Many of the common illnesses people have can be cure holistically. I had cancer as well as a bad heart and through following an all natural plant based diet was healed. Go to this website: http://www.drmcdougall.com and read what the doctor has to say. He does not try to sell anything or have this website for his personal gain, but hopes that people learn more about how to take the healing process out of the insurance companies/medical practitioners hands and put it back into the patient’s hands. He belives that diet, one consisting of heathy, natural, healing foods such a vegetables and starches like potatoes can cure almost any infirmity. Please keep an open mind. I tell you this not to try to sell you a product or promote any personal interests… I just wanted to to share with you that you can heal yourself without the expensive medical bills and frequent doctor visits. Read his arguments for a low fat, animal food-free lifestyle and also read the Star McDougallers testimonies. You will be amazed at the power that cleaning your body of toxins and eating health promoting foods will have on your body and your heart. By having a vegan lifestyle your body WILL heal itself. Please consider what I am saying and keep an open mind. Dr. McDougall is also open for inquiry as well as myself. God’s blessings and I hope you consider what I have written here. It is possible that you may change this to a “Living Man’s Daily journal” with God’s grace and the utilization of “medicine” that God put upon this Earth for us but many of us have forgotten to use… healthy foods, sunshine, exercise, and happiness.

  31. Sister Julie Says:

    Dear Bill,

    It’s been too long since I stopped by to say hello and see how you and Vi are doing. My apologies. I love this column that you have created. You’ve always been a great proponent of random acts of kindness — I learn much from you.

    Blessings to you, Vi, your family, and blog community.

  32. Charlene Says:

    Hi Mr. Bill,

    I have just read a few of your blog entries and the comments that some of your faithful followers have written and I am so happy I happened to stumble into your blog. Personally I was (am) afraid of death hurting when I go, not necessarily dying. See, my mother passed away Sept. 4, 2004 and we buried her on Sept. 11, 2004.

    The thought of death did not bother me until after my mom passed because we were so close. I thought that my mother and I would grow old and die together even though she was 31 years older than me. Silly I know but I did. She was my everything. I am embarrasted about that because God should have been my everything but was not. My mom was my everything.

    I was told on several occassions that “I was grieving to death” but I just couldn’t get off the dang merry go round of fear and regret and sorrow until after I got into the word. Believe it or not, my son was born at 7 months gestation and had to live at the hospital for about a month before he was able to come home. I believe that God was in total control of this because 1) My husband and I was not using any protection for eight years, and then all of a sudden I became pregnant after I gave up control over my life to God 2) I was grieving terribly over my mom 3 years later even after receiving mental help 3) My daughter was losing her mom 4) My husband was losing his wife 5) Even though I was walking around, my family was losing me 6) If God did not see fit for me to get pregnant I think I would still be on that road to death.

    God has brought me a long way and reading I was thinking that even though God has brought me this far and will not leave me that how blessed I was in finding your blog. God bless you and your family and readers of your blog

  33. Charlene Says:

    Even though I was long winded and rambling, my point was that even though death is in all of our futures, it is how you live your life, how your thoughts affect your mood, etc. I feel I was the living dead because of my out look on life. I recently ran into one of my mother’s friends and she commented how different I looked now than I did a few years after my mother passed. She commented in all honesty that I looked “baaaaadddd” Her emphasis, not mine. God was my life changing answer. I was reading your blog for wisdom. I found it in your words and your readers comments. To you all, Thanks.

    Welcome to my site, I thank you for taking the time to leave a comment. You really said it all in your comment: “that even though death is in all of our futures, it is how you live your life, how your thoughts affect your mood, etc. I feel I was the living dead because of my out look on life”. That is so well put.
    I am glad you found your way through your grief, it is such a terrible thing to have to deal with. Welcome back to the land of the living.
    Please stop by again
    Bill

  34. pamela Says:

    reading this is comforting to me. i have faced a lot this past year with death.. death in a matter of weeks, and other life changing experiences leading to not have those 5 minutes. You are exactly correct and an inspiration to all!!! Stay Positive!!!! I believe our lives are determined by our outlook. I haven’t read any posts yet except 9/17/08… i just want to say enjoy nature.. go on a picnic… as i have started to mellow this year after everything… i am finding many things can be explained in nature (a park..woods) when there is no one around. Enjoy the Fall it is truly beautiful!!!

  35. Sharon Says:

    Bill

    I keep popping up in the most peculiar of places and POP, here I am again. Sign me up, if only more people thought the way you do…..

    love

    Sharon xx

  36. vicki Says:

    “Beam me up Scottie”
    I’m in :-)
    Vicki x

  37. Quiet Says:

    I’ll join too. Thanks for the reminder. Thanks for your blog as well.

    Welcome, glad to have you on board

  38. myway Says:

    I stumbled on this in a different way. And I am proud to say a great big thanks, to YOU!!!. I have always felt that one act of kindness passed on will be repaid more than 3 fold. And I too have always felt that if one person DID pick up ONE piece of litter, etc; recycled one bottle, or “save a plastic tree” (my favorite saying at the local market as I refuse the plastic bag), will have great impact on this nation. Keep up the work and I will try to come back when I find some time. A big heartfelt THANKS again to all the LITTLE people that just Keep DOING what comes NATUREally to them!! and a big thanks to TamiSpencer who I was searching for and found you all. ……….myway

  39. Dan Says:

    Hi there,
    I want to send a message to say “Thank You” for the time spent posting your journal on the net. I am 37 and was diagnosed with terminal cancer in July. Although much time has been spent trying to slow down the progression of the disease, chemo and radiation has left little space for soul time. I was just writing in my own journal about what to do with all that lies between now and that final day when I realized that the time in between is really all anyone has. Everyone dies and the moment we are born we grow closer to that final day. The answer to life is what you do with the time in between. I have felt so lost with what to do and how to cope and that is why I am so glad I found your web journal. Family and friends have asked for a Christmas list and an act of kindness will make the perfect gift for anyone!
    Sincerely,
    Dan

  40. Steve Says:

    A challenge to do for others what they can’t return to you is accepted. Last week we visited with some residents ( some feel they are prisoners) of two nursing homes. we also took some of our excess clothing to a local shelter. I felt better, but realize that is only a token effort. Most of my time and resources are spent on myself, my family and friends. I will attempt to do something meaningful on a weekly basis.

    I have had two melanomas that thankfully hadn’t spread. That brought me closer to the reality of death, but for the present I have been spared. I am more aware now that I must make each day count. Even though I am aware, I don’t do a very good job of using my time wisely. Your blog is the encouragement that I needed to do better this year.

  41. Diane B. Says:

    I’m in. Sign me up.

  42. Heidi Says:

    Count me in!

  43. Heidi Says:

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    Color by COLOURlovers

  44. Denise Says:

    Count me in! I too suffer from congestive heart failure and partial complex seizures so I can relate to knowing our days are numbered, but I know it is He who does the numbering. :-)

    Blessing you abundantly Bill!
    Jeremiah 29:11

  45. richard Says:

    The Spirit within us is the most profound discovery anyone can make. I was driving to work this morning after my metitation and was looking around at people and what was going on. It dawned on me how everyone I saw was working, moving and just going through another day. My GOD, I thought, I have been doing this my whole life, no wonder I have had such a screwed up life. I never even realized that I never stopped to look at life with all its glory, beauty and abundence, I was just surviving day to day.

    My new plan for today is I will look at all the beauty in this world and express more love to my fellow man/women than I ever have. I love all of you and I hope we all wake up to the promises of GOD and take full advantage of these promises.

  46. Gerald Tumbling Says:

    Don’t die god has more plans for bump what the doctor says in the name of jesus just call on the name of th e lord and see won’t he give u a miricle god bless u.

    Gerald Tumbling

  47. Karen Says:

  48. Linda Catcheway Says:

    I can appreciate joining this group.I am a single Gramma raising four grandchildren alone.
    At times I have almost caved in, then a small miracle happens!
    No one came forward to assist in raising them, and I did’nt want them separated from each other so now we are together, living in happiness, and we are all learning daily niceties, not because we have to because we want to.
    I have seen and been part of the wellness, they went through.It has’nt been easy, tho the rewards are many.
    The Creator,God has been in our lives, and we know from doing good deeds we are rewarded.
    I was feeling very depressed a few years ago, and I wondered what my obituary would say one day.
    Since that time my life has been uplifted, and happiness reigns, and you can bet, my obit will be long!
    I traded in my singledom, to totally commit to my grandchildren, and I see everyday the impact I have had on them. My Children are my everyday flowers, thank-you for being able to talk about this.I hope all has a great day!

  49. Molly Says:

    I’m in. :)

  50. Cat Says:

    Count me in!

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