Make the Road a Safer Place

The project:
Help spread the word about the danger of texting while driving.

Time:
45 minutes

Why bother?
It's incredibly dangerous, yet people still do it. It costs people's lives every day. Someday, it could be one of my loved ones lives. Isn't public education that could save a life worth the time?

Worth it?
Yes!

Listen to Someone Else's Child

The project:
Listen to someone else's child tell a story.

Time:
15 minutes

Why bother?
Everyone wants to be heard, particularly children. But not every parent has time at any given moment to listen. Today, I actively listened to a young boy we know tell me about one of his interests (motorcycles) and his most recent escapades.

Worth it?
Yes. Though I confess I just wanted to relax and read my book, this boy really wanted to talk, and there I was, without my own kids to distract me, just a book in hand. SURELY I'd want to listen.

And, yes, I agree that adults need their own time, too, but by listening to him for a few minutes, he was happy (he'd been heard) and went on his merry way to live new story-worthy experiences while I got in some reading relaxation.

Meal for Church Potluck

The project:
Make a hot dish for church potluck in honor of the pastor's anniversary with the congregation.

Time:
15 minutes to prep, 60 minutes to bake, 90 minutes at the potluck with friends and acquaintances

Why bother?
Potlucks can be pretty amazing things. Everyone brings just a little something, and there's abundant food for everyone. Somehow it just multiplies.

Worth it?
Absolutely