The Heart of the Matter

Seed of the Week: Use this week to be of service to others, and express how thankful you are for them.

Good morning world, it's Monday! We are ready to kick off an exciting week and we are glad you decided to stop by and join in on the fun. With such a short time before the end of the year, we want to get as much done as we can while spending times with family and friends. Here's to a safe and enjoyable holiday season ahead!

If this is your first time to the site, welcome! We are so glad you could join us. Anyone who has been to the site before can tell you we love making new friends. Take some time, look around the site and check out some of our other seed ideas and organizations we have spotlighted. If you'd like to subscribe to our blog, you can submit your e-mail address in our "You've Got Mail!" section on the right panel. To learn more about Project Grow 365, Inc., just click on the "About Us" button, tweet us at @OneSeed365, or e-mail us at oneseed365@gmail.com. We'd love to hear from you!

Thursday marks another Thanksgiving that we will celebrate with family, friends, loved ones and even strangers. While we gather around to feast at what wonderful foods have been prepared (and we are looking forward to it!), we will laugh, tell stories, and remember times of old. Truly a joyous time will be had!

Let us take this week to truly express what it means to be thankful. We have the fortunate opportunity to not be limited to just one day of the year where we can show thanks. Thankfulness is a quality that extends from the heart, and is evidenced by the selfless acts of love we demonstrate. It is the invaluable things in life that we should also bring to our tables this year: love, peace, kindness, understanding and compassion to name a few.

Share your stories of thankfulness with us! We appreciate all that you do to help us change the world, one seed at a time.

-The Project Grow 365, Inc. Team

It All Adds Up

Seed of the Day: Make a list of the things you are grateful for.

Good morning world, it's Friday! Are you as excited as we are that the weekend is upon us? We sure hope so! We trust you have had a good week so far and that things are continuing to go well. Had a rough week? We understand that too. Sometimes even in our best attempts to be productive or accomplish a hefty task list, things can come up to prevent us from doing so. Give it your best shot and don't let anxiety or stress get to you!

If this is your first time to the site, welcome! Anyone who has visited our site before can tell you we love meeting new friends. Take some time and look around the site, check out some of our other seed ideas and Spotlight organizations, and drop us a line at oneseed365@gmail.com or tweet us at @OneSeed365. Want to stay updated on what's going on? Subscribe to us by putting your e-mail in the "You've Got Mail!" section of our website. Stay informed!

The morning commute to work. The inbox that awaits you when you get to work. The drive back home or to a child's practice/event/recital. The rush to get dinner made, homework done, phone calls made, and heads in bed at a decent hour. We certainly have no shortage of things to get done throughout the day, and most of them require our full (or as close to full) attention as possible. What busy lives we have!

For today's seed idea, we want you to take 5-10 minutes out of your day and consider the things you are grateful for. Often we go throughout our day as a series of tasks, moving from one thing to another. When is the last time you stopped and took a few minutes just to breathe? We can be so busy at times trying to make a living, that we forget to appreciate life.

Share this idea with someone you know who may need a gentle reminder to relax, breathe, and be thankful for the small things in life. We all need positive encouragement from time to time. As always, thank you for helping us change the world, one seed at a time.

-The Project Grow 365, Inc. Team

Dirty Windows

Seed of the Day: Forgive someone who is in need of your forgiveness today.

Good morning world, it's Wednesday! We trust your week is off to a great start and if not, there is no better time than the present to get things going in the right direction! While the temperature certainly has begun to drop in certain parts of the country/world, we hope you find warmth and positive energy here with us. See what's in store ahead!

If this is your first time to the site, welcome! We LOVE having new visitors and friends, so feel free to check out the site, see some of our other seed ideas and spotlighted organizations, and drop us a line at oneseed365@gmail.com or tweet us at @OneSeed365. We look forward to hearing from you!

Forgiveness might be one of the toughest things we have to deal with in life. It takes character and maturity to look beyond the emotional response to an offense and judge the heart of a person above the effect of their actions. Often in times where we feel wronged, forgiveness is the last thing that is on our minds and hearts. We feel angry, hurt, mistreated, and a myriad of unpleasant feelings can flood us at once.

Yet there is something unique about forgiveness. It not only cancels the emotional debt we feel owed as a result of being wronged, but it frees us from carrying around resentment in our lives so that we don't see others in the wrong light. If you've ever tried to look outside through a dirty window, you know that what you see isn't an accurate picture of how things really are. That's what forgiveness does for us. It cleans the windows of our lives so that we can see people how they really are, and not through the "dirty window" of anger and pain.

Do you know someone who needs to be forgiven today? Perhaps it is you that needs to apologize to mend a relationship. For today's seed idea, be willing to both admit you were wrong if necessary, or forgive someone who has hurt you. We promise that this willful, intentional change of emotion will make a difference in your life.

Thank you for helping us make a difference, one seed at at time.

-The Project Grow 365, Inc. Team

Top of the Morning!

Seed of the Day: Greet people with a smile today

Good morning world, it's Tuesday! We hope your week is off to a great start so far. If not, today is the perfect day for things to turn around. If you found a parking meter to feed yesterday, thanks! We'd like to hear about it so feel free to drop us a line and tell us your story.

If this is your first time to the site, welcome! We're so glad you decided to stop by and join us. Take a look around the site, check out some of our other seed ideas and spotlight organizations, and drop us a line at oneseed365@gmail.com or tweet us at @OneSeed365. We love hearing from you so send away! Also, if you're interested in getting updates from us but don't have the time (or memory) to come to the site every day, sign up for our subscription through the "You've Got Mail!" section on the site. We promise no spam or junk mail!

Hello again and Good morning! How many times have you gone to greet someone and they responded with more excitement than you anticipated? It makes you want to join their level of enthusiasm (or wonder where they got all the energy from). In the same way, how many times have you gone to greet someone and they mutter some words of salutation in return, almost making you wish you had not spoken to them in the first place. Sometimes, people can be rude!

For today's seed idea, we want you to take to heart the picture above. As "hello" is spelled out in dominoes, the same effect can be had when we take the time to warmly greet people throughout the day. Our positive interaction can lead to a positive mood in others, more productive conversations, or just good relationship building with those around us. One small action can lead to great things!

Let us know how your seeds impacted those around you today. You never know how much the little things are appreciated. As always, thank you for helping us change the world, one seed at a time.

-The Project Grow 365, Inc. Team

The Value of Change

Seed of the Day: Help someone who may need some "change" by adding a coin to their parking meter if it's about to expire.

Good morning world, it's Monday! Ready to kick off another great week? We sure are! We trust you had an enjoyable weekend and are ready to be productive citizens in the workplace. With the holidays approaching and the year end just around the corner, there is much to get done. Don't let it overwhelm you though, just take your time and plan ahead for success. You can do it!

If this is your first time to the blog, welcome! We certainly hope you enjoy your visit and want to come back again. Take a look around the site, check out some of our other seed ideas and Spotlight organizations, and feel free to drop us a line at oneseed365@gmail.com or tweet us at @OneSeed365. We love hearing from you guys so hit us up!

There are few things that incite panic more quickly than coming out to your metered parking space and seeing that time has expired before you could return. Madly dashing to the front of your car, you hope that the parking meter patrons have graciously overlooked this fault and not given you a brightly colored invitation to hand over your hard earned money to the city. Should you be fortunate enough not to receive such a fine, you gladly get in your car and take off.

How much more would someone else appreciate you stepping in to help them in a similar situation? For today's seed idea, we'd like you to (where applicable) add some change to a parking meter about to expire, should you come across one. While the person you are helping may not realize that you have done such a kind deed, you will have the satisfaction of knowing that you assisted them. Sure, it may only be a quarter, dime or nickel that you deposit, but you can't but a price on positive change.

Thank you for helping us change the world, one seed at a time.

-The Project Grow 365, Inc. Team

Healthy Habits

Seed of the Day: Choose a healthier snack or meal option today.

Good morning world, it's Friday! We're so glad you decided to join us today. If you are excited as we are about it being Friday, then we hope you contain your excitement long enough to join in on the fun we are having here. The weekend is upon us, so get up and get moving!

If this is your first time to the site, welcome! We love having new friends stop by and check out all the great things we are participating in. Feel free to take a look around the site, check out some of our Spotlight organizations, learn more about Project Grow 365, Inc. and drop us a line at oneseed365@gmail.com or tweet us if you're so inclined at @OneSeed365. Looking forward to hearing from you!

We do lots of seed ideas around serving others and helping out as needed. We realized though that we don't want to overlook taking care of one more special person, you! The hectic work week can often leave us with little time to prepare healthy meal options, grabbing something from the fast food drive-thru on our way to another meeting, practice, or event to attend. Busy lives we lead!

While we can't make healthy meals for everyone (although it would be awesome if we could), for our seed idea today we'd like to choose a healthier meal or snack option. Get into the habit of having a healthier choice available when you get hungry throughout the day. Prepare meals for the week on the weekend and bring your lunch with you to work. Keep dried fruit or nuts at your desk to fight of those mid-morning or mid-afternoon hunger pangs. Re-fuel your body with things that will help it run at optimum performance!

Keep up the great work! Thank you for helping us change the world, one seed at a time.

-The Project Grow 365, Inc. Team

Bundle Up!

Seed of the Day: Donate a new or gently used coat to your local goodwill or clothing drive location.

Good morning world, it's Thursday! The weekend is just over the horizon so hang in there! We trust your week has gone well so far, and that you have been able to be productive in all that you had to accomplish. Be sure to rest when you can, the world needs you at 100% and part of that is maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Besides, we don't want you to burn out too quickly and not have a chance to participate in all the fun we are having here!

If this is your first time to the site, welcome! We trust that in any language, you feel right at home here with us. Take some time to check out the site, check out our Spotlight section, and drop us a line at oneseed365@gmail.com or tweet us at @OneSeed365 on Twitter. Nothing makes our day more than hearing from you!

With the impending winter season upon us, we decided for our seed idea today to invite you to donate a new or gently used coat to your local goodwill store or clothing drive location. While many of us will enjoy the warmth of a heated home this winter, there are many who will not have such a luxury to go to on those chilly nights ahead. Also, there are families  that cannot afford new winter coats, and have young children who may be in need of some protection from the elements this year. Someone needs your help!

This opportunity provides you with the chance to not only share the warmth of a new coat, but the warmth of one individual actively caring about the needs of someone else. Thank you for helping us change the world, one seed at a time.

-The Project Grow 365, Inc. Team

Help Wanted

Seed of the Day: Help someone you know who is currently looking for employment.

Good morning world, it's Wednesday! We are smack dab in the middle of another adventurous week, complete with challenges, tasks, deadlines, and the occasional surprise around the next corner. Hopefully, you are journeying through this week and handling things well. If you need some additional motivation, look no further! We have just the thing to get you started on the path to productivity. First, let's introduce our very special guests to the show...

If this is your first time to the site, welcome! We're so glad you decided to stop buy and join us. Whether you found us via search engine, word of mouth, twitter, or just happened to stumble across our party we have going on, come on in! We are always glad to make new friends so feel free to take a look around the site, check out some of our other seed ideas, and drop us a line at oneseed365@gmail.com or tweet to us at @OneSeed365 on Twitter. Look forward to hearing from you!

If you've ever had to look for a job (which is 90% of the population I am sure), then you understand how tedious of a process it can be. It's almost a full-time job in and of itself! We certainly wish there was a button available to press and just say "Find job" and instantly you would be taken to a new opportunity that suited your needs. Until that day comes, the search must go on.

For today's seed idea, we'd like you to lend a helping hand to those who are currently seeking employment. Perhaps you can offer to edit their resume' to appear more professional. Maybe your company has recently posted some openings that someone of their skill set may be a good fit for. You might even consider doing a "mock interview" with them, to coach them on presenting themselves well to potential employers. Whatever it is, they certainly could use your help!

Feel free to send us any job hunting tips that helped you land a position, and we'll be glad to share them in a future post. As always, thank you for helping us change the world, one seed at a time.

-The Project Grow 365, Inc. Team

The Cost of Freedom

Seed of the Day: Recognize a veteran you know and thank them for their service.

Good morning world, it's Tuesday! We hope your Monday got off to a great start and you are ready to hit the ground running today. With Thanksgiving and Christmas right around the corner, the retail stores have certainly prepared themselves for the shopping frenzy to come. Let's equally get in gear to finish out 2014 strong. We can do it!

If this is your first time to the site, welcome! We love having new visitors, so feel free to take a look around and see some of our other seed ideas. You'll find other organizations we have highlighted in the "Spotlight" section of our page, and a place for you to subscribe to our blog in the "You've Got Mail!" section. Interested in learning more about Project Grow 365, Inc.? Drop us a line at oneseed365@gmail.com or tweet us at @OneSeed365. We look forward to hearing from you!

Freedom has a cost. While rooted in the word "free", the lives of men and women who fought courageously to defend the ideals and rights we have today cannot be measured in value. We truly are thankful for those individuals in the different branches of service that defended country with honor. Without their sacrifice, we could not enjoy the lives we are able to have today.

Today for our seed idea, we would like you to recognize a veteran that you know and thank them for their service. We may never fully know the full extent of what it is like to participate as a solider in combat. Whether you shake their hand, send them a thank you card, treat them to a meal, or offer to help them in some way, we want them to know they are greatly appreciated.

Thank you for helping us change the world, one seed at a time.

-The Project Grow 365, Inc. Team

You Can't Buy Class

Seed of the Day: Thank a teacher, educator, mentor or other role model today.

Good morning world, it's Monday! Another start to a great work week is upon us, and we hope that this week gets off to an excellent start for you. Whether you home brewed your favorite java roast, picked one up on your way to work, jump started your day with a little exercise, or tuned into your sports radio station to recap this weekend's games, we hope you're pumped and ready to be productive. Go team!

If this is your first time to the site, welcome! Anyone who has visited our site  can tell you how much we love new friends. We are glad you decided to check us out, so feel free to take a look around the site, check out our various sections and posts, and reach out to us at oneseed365@gmail.com or tweet us at @OneSeed365. You can also subscribe to our posts by supplying us with your e-mail in the "You've Got Mail!" section in our right toolbar on the website. Stay connected!

Who remembers their first day of kindergarten? Too far back? Well what about your first day of high school? Ok ok, so remembering particular days in our formative educational years may be a stretch for some. Now think about a teacher, coach, mentor, or role model that stood out to you while you were growing up. Perhaps it was a teacher that took extra time to make sure you got the concepts she was presenting. Maybe it was a coach who was tough, but made sure to get the very best from you in competition. It might have even been a mentor or other community figure that was influential in helping you develop into the person you are now. Whomever it might have been, they played a key role in your life.

For today's seed idea, we would like you to thank that influential person, or perhaps another teacher, coach, or mentor for the work that they do. Often these positions can seem thankless with the amount of labor that goes into helping a child or adult develop their full potential. If you have children that are of school age, send a thank you note to their teacher, letting them know they have your support. You would be surprised at how far a little encouragement can go!

As the saying goes, "You can pay for school, but you can't buy class." There is no monetary value that replaces good character. We recognize that without these individuals, we would not be the people we are today. Thank you again for helping us change the world, one seed at a time.

- The Project Grow 365, Inc. Team

Watch Your Mouth!

Seed of the Day: Find opportunities to speak positively to others and encourage them.

Good morning world, it's Friday! Hi-Five somebody and say "We made it!"  Welcome back to Operation Grow 365, where anyone and everyone is welcome. We trust you had a good week and are ready to relax this weekend (or enjoy whatever fun activities you may have planned). Perhaps you are looking forward to watching your favorite college or pro team play this weekend. If you're the adventurous outdoor type, you might have a favorite trail you've been waiting to hike. For my artistically inclined readers, get those creative ideas flowing!

If this is your first time to the site, welcome! We're so glad you're here. Take a look around, check out some of our other seed ideas and friends we have put in our "Spotlight". Feel free to leave us a comment, e-mail us at oneseed365@gmail.com, or tweet us at @OneSeed365. We love hearing from you!

Have you ever been in a conversation that felt like this picture? A lot of words were being exchanged, but there was also a lot of confusion happening at the same time. It's quite common to have communication lines mixed up when two people are on different pages of thought. It's what helps us to develop our listening skills, rather than to go on the defensive when an opposing idea or thought is presented.

Knowing this, we'd like you to take the opportunity to speak positively to others around you today. Chances are, one of the biggest barriers of communicating effectively is the perception of the speaker. People are more likely to engage you in conversation, if you are willing to speak positively and convey a tone that is more receptive than combative. It's not to say that you won't ever have to have tough conversations with someone; we'd like you to get in the practice of watching what you say. It may make all the difference in the world.

Have a great start to your weekend, and thanks again for helping us change the world, one seed at a time!

-The Project Grow 365, Inc. Team

Thicker Than Water

Seed of the Day: Register to donate blood in an upcoming blood drive

Good morning world, it's Thursday! We hope your week has been progressing well. It's almost the end of the traditional work week, so keep pushing forward! If you have a non-traditional schedule, we haven't forgot about you either. Take your days off from work to relax and recharge....we need everyone as close to 100% as possible!

If this is your first time to the site, welcome! You've picked the perfect time to come join in on the fun we are having participating in Operation Grow 365. We've received stories of how people have given our Seed of the Day ideas a try, and how they have not only impacted others but impacted their life at the same time. It's been a great experience all around! Feel free to drop us a line at oneseed365@gmail.com or tweet us at @OneSeed365.

The saying goes, "Blood is thicker than water." We would be inclined to agree. While water is a very essential part of our natural composition and necessary for life, blood is equally as important to our well being. If you think about how hard your heart works around the clock, it's one job I don't think anybody would sign up for!

Now think about how much harder it is for a person who needs additional blood to carry out the same daily functions we do without a second thought. For those with blood disorders or other illnesses that require transfusions, they depend on the generosity of those individuals willing to donate blood. We can admit, the whole process can be scary at first if you've never done it, but we are willing to trade you the nervousness of the experience for the confidence in knowing you have helped someone else's life improve that much more. For today's seed idea, we'd like you to register to donate blood in your local area. As the picture above implies, it's safe, it's simple, and it saves lives.

Spotlight: American Red Cross: Check out the Red Cross's website at www.redcross.org or find them on Twitter at @RedCross. We are incredibly thankful for all they do to help with disaster relief, blood donation, and training individuals to be first responders in emergency situations. You rock Red Cross!

We'd love to hear from you about how you decided to donate; feel free to send us stories, comments, and photos about your experience! Thank you for helping us change the world, one seed at a time.

-The Project Grow 365, Inc. Team

Grin and Bear It

Seed of the Day: Smile more!

Good morning world, it's Wednesday! We are halfway through the traditional work week, so keep up the good work! With fall in full swing (or spring, if you're below the equator and reading this), sometimes additional motivation is needed to get moving in the morning. Trust us, we understand. Whether you need a few cups of java, some morning tunes to get your feet moving, or just a few laughs from your local radio station, keep on being productive!

If this is your first time to the site, welcome! We love having new people join the party already in progress. The great thing is, you aren't behind. You're right on time to check out what we are doing, so feel free to look around the site. Check out our "Spotlight" section as we have provided links to the organizations and services we have put in our Spotlight thus far. We also love feedback and input so please e-mail us at oneseed365@gmail.com or tweet us at @OneSeed365. Look forward to hearing from you!

 

Smiling! One of the greatest ways you can exercise your face AND send a positive message at the same time. Today's seed idea is around using this great communication tool more often. In an era where text messages can be easily misunderstood (because it's hard to interpret tone & inflection digitally), picture the person smiling as you read it. Changes how you interpret what is being said, right? In the same way, smiling communicates to others that we either (a) are happy to see them or (b) are glad to be in their presence. 

While we're not saying you should carve a permanent smile in your face ala The Joker in the Dark Knight, we do want you to get into the habit of smiling more. It might just change others around you into participating in it as well!

 Have an awesome Wednesday! And as always, thank you for helping us change the world, one seed at a time.

-The Project Grow 365, Inc. Team

Driving Me Crazy

 Seed of the Day: Make the extra effort to be courteous in traffic

Good morning world, it's Tuesday! We hope that your week is off to a great start. If this if your first time to the site, welcome! Take a look around, check out the scenery, and feel free to leave a comment or drop us a line in our inbox at oneseed365@gmail.com. Trust us, it makes our day to hear from you!

If you're one of our regular visitors to the site, welcome back! We want to make it more efficient for you to stay in the loop of what's happening, so feel free to subscribe to us (no junk or spam mail, we promise) in the "You've Got Mail" section on the web-based version of our site. In the busy swing of things, we don't want you to miss out on any of the fun we're having!

Morning (or evening) commutes can be a pain at times. Depending on the size of the area you live in, traffic can be a source of daily frustration for you. The hustle and bustle of the day can leave us weary, and often tempers and attitudes run short. Today, we'd like you to make the extra effort to be courteous in traffic today. Let others merge without less-than-happy glares. Use your turn signal. Brake in the appropriate amount of time. Put your cell phone away (including texting).

These small things will make a difference in your commute if you put them into practice and encourage others to do so. Driving is such a huge part of our lives, so the safer we can do it, the better we make life for everyone on the road.

Spotlight: It Can Wait: Check out AT&T's "It Can Wait" campaign to stop texting and driving at http://www.itcanwait.com/all

Thank you for all you do to help us change the world, one seed at a time.

Between the Lines

Seed of the Day: Take some coloring books or other needed items to the pediatric center of your local hospital.

Good morning world, it's Monday! Hopefully today marks the start of another productive week for you. We are glad you decided to stop by and start the week off with us. Thanks for joining in! Time is certainly moving rapidly towards the end of the year. If you haven't set your clocks back yet for the end of Daylight Savings Time, please don't tell us about the future (we don't want to spoil the "flying cars" surprise). If this is your first time to the site, welcome! Take a look around, feel free to check out the different areas of the site, and by all means tell a friend!

 For today's seed idea, we were thinking about some of our favorite people: kids! As you reflect now, you probably can remember a time when coloring was the highlight of your young world. Some of us were good at staying in between the lines, while others of us were more "abstract" in our approach to grade school art. In either case, it often brought smiles to our faces to  for a brief moment, become young Van Goghs or Rembrants.

Fighting illness as an adult can be tough so we can only imagine the battles some of our much younger loved ones and friends face. As a child, going into hospitals for treatment can be a scary time in life. While we know coloring won't cure the disease, but we do want to let them know that they are loved, supported, and thought of while they are fighting to get better. The message between the lines is that we hope they get well soon!

Spotlight: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital - check out St. Jude Children's Research Hospital online at www.stjude.org or on Twitter at @StJude. We thank them for all their efforts to make the world a better place for the children facing various illnesses and their families who love them dearly.

We'd love for you to share with us photos or stories about your donations to your local pediatric group! Feel free to e-mail us at oneseed365@gmail.com or tweet us at @OneSeed365 on Twitter.

Thank you for helping us change the world, one seed at a time.

-The Project Grow 365, Inc. Team