WWE wrestling superstar, John Cena once said, “If you were given one wish, what would you do with it? I don’t know if ‘Hang out with John Cena’ would be at the top of my list. But the fact that that is on someone’s list is the coolest thing.” This is probably why he has granted over 650 wishes for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. His enthusiasm to help others encouraged us to add #53) Fulfill 1 Child’s Wish in Person through Make A Wish Foundation to our Helping Others Bucket List.

But how can someone who isn’t necessarily a superstar or independently wealthy go about making a Child’s Wish come true? Good news, according to their website there are multiple ways to get involved with Make A Wish. But perhaps the easiest way for most of us is to simply donate! That is why we are very excited to learn about Omaze’s latest giveaway where you can Win a Miami Dream House!

Win a Miami Dream House

Of course, we all know it is better to give than receive. But let’s be honest, sometimes it is awesome to donate and win a great prize too! That is why the latest giveaway from Omaze is truly remarkable. When you enter the Win a Miami Dream House contest, you have the chance to win a 7 bedroom, 6 bathroom home in the Kendall neighborhood, just south of downtown Miami. Equipped with a backyard pool you can spend your days lounging. Plus, with its great location, you can also explore areas like Little Havana, Biscayne Bay, or the countless beaches along the coast.

How can someone help a Make-a-Wish child’s dream come true? Perhaps the easiest way is to simply to donate through Omaze’s latest giveaway where you can also Win a Miami Dream House! #Omaze #MakeAWish #MiamiDreamHouse
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What if you already have your Dream Home?

Now we understand that some of you may already be living in your dream home. Maybe you won your Dream House in Austin, Texas. Don’t worry, because Omaze has a plan B if you win! Omaze offers you the option to choose a cash prize instead! Essentially, you become an instant millionaire with whichever option you go choose.

How does this Help Make A Wish?

This contest is special because 100% of donations raised by Omaze for this sweepstakes go to support Make A Wish.  When you Click Here to Enter To Win A Miami Dream House Or Cash Prize the donation you use to enter will help grant future wishes. For example, 9-year-old Khushi is currently battling cancer and it is her dream to become a princess. So, your donation will help her & countless other kids with critical illnesses fulfill life-changing wishes.

Where do I enter to WIN?

Are you wondering how to enter to win your Miami Dream House & help Make A Wish? Well, it is quite simple. All you have to do is Click Here to Enter To Win! Of course, you can enter without contributing anything. But for a minimum of $10.00, you can donate to Make A Wish and receive an additional 20 entries into the competition! Plus there are higher donation amounts that equal more entries to give you a better chance of winning. Just make sure your entries are received by December 18, 2021. The winner will be announced around January 5, 2022. Simply click the button below and go from there!

By the way, when you click on any of the links below & set up your donation for entries into the Miami Dream House Contest, make sure you also enter Promo code: AFF50 for 50 extra entries into any Omaze experience!

What Time is the Pool Party?

Is it on your bucket list to win this Miami Dream House? Or will you take the $1.8+ Million Dollar cash payout to chase other items on your bucket list? Either way, how good will it feel knowing that you were able to find a simple way to help others? If you do win, don’t forget to invite us over for your next house party! We will bring the daiquiris!

Don’t forget to Pin this to your Favorite Bucket List Contest Board!

Disclosure: This post, “Win a Miami Dream House” may contain affiliate links. Using the links doesn’t cost you any extra, and it helps keep the site free, fun, and community supported! Eric & Darcee will never recommend a product that we don’t genuinely believe in, actually use ourselves, have researched, and trust. Please see the disclosure policy for more information.

The post Win a Miami Dream House & Support the Make-A-Wish Foundation appeared first on The Bucket List Project.

It has been one month since I lost my mom, Lilian Madan Gamble.

I struggle to write this post for many reasons. Perhaps, it is because it doesn’t really feel like she is gone yet. Or perhaps, it is because I am not sure it is quite proper to share such a post on a Bucket List blog. But, after much consideration, I decided to share this to not only honor my mom but also to perhaps inspire others with her story.

Lili, my mother, lost a long a tough battle on March 13, 2020 and the past month has been a mixture of all kinds of feelings and struggles for me. I loved and still do love my mom as any son would! She was one of my biggest supporters of The Bucket List Project. She loved hearing all about Darcee and my adventures around the world. But, she especially loved it and rooted hardest, when we worked hard on our Helping Others Bucket List to help others fulfill their own bucket list dreams.

Because of her, I am the adventurer I am. She so loved seeing the world, trying new foods, and meeting new people herself.  It was one of her best traits that I personally am glad she instilled in me. She also loved seeing me personally grow and I only hope that I can become the man that she so longed me to be.

So with that said, I wanted to share the eulogy I gave my mom at her funeral mass with everyone. Hopefully, it can inspire everyone to learn to grow, love one another, and perhaps even find a bit of adventure in this short life we all have. I have never had to write a eulogy before, so please forgive me if it is a bit lacking. For a son to write a eulogy for his mom is a near impossible task that I don’t wish upon anyone. But if you will allow me, I wish to present it now to all of our family and friends.

A Son’s Eulogy For His Mom

On behalf of my Grandmother, Lilian Madan, my sister, Lilian Catherine “Lica”, my wife Darcee, and myself, Eric Rafael, I would like to first thank Fr Pineda, Fr O’Hare, and Fr. Whitestone (this was changed to Fr. Walsh & Fr. Rodriguez) and everyone who helped us prepare for this celebration of my mother, Lilian Madan Gamble. With all that is going on in the world, your thoughts, prayers, efforts, and love for my mother have meant the world to us.

I have never had to write a speech like this before, so please excuse me because I am not as elegant as some of my uncles nor as linguistically skilled as my wife or sister. So, in preparation for today, I essentially had to researched how to do this.

A Eulogy vs. An Elegy

In my research, I found that often people get confused during times like this between an Elegy and Eulogy. To be honest, I didn’t know the difference either. So, to clear things up, I channeled my inner Tio Rafael and dug deep into the origins of each word. Here is what I found:

An Elegy comes from the Greek root word Elegos which roughly translates to a Song of Mourning. While, a Eulogy is derived from two Greek root words, “EU” which means Good and “LOGOS” which means speech. Thus, when combined, Eulogy translates to a Speech of Good or a Song of Praise.

So, why does this matter today?

I bring this up because in the last year or so, people have approached me to discuss my mom’s state of life. Conversations about her were sometimes full of sorrow and remorse. Adjectives were used like, Tired, Weak, Frail, Sickly, and even Depressed. Now, of course, those people saying these adjectives not intending them to be hurtful. But, these kinds of words could easily lead our thoughts about her life toward regret or mourning.

And that isn’t how I wanted my mom remembered.

I wanted this speech…this service…this day to be a Eulogy to my mother! I want mine and every memory that each of us carry of her to be a true Song of Praise!

Lilian Madan Gamble, The Benevolent

Therefore, I am petitioning all of you to remember your Daughter, your Sister, your Tia, Your Mina, my mother with a different adjective. I petition her to be remembered as: Lilian the Benevolent.

Now for those who don’t have your dictionary handy, Benevolent is an adjective used to characterize someone who has the desire to help others by doing good in this world. Benevolent is synonymous with words like charitable, good, kind, gracious, helpful, and unselfish.

Now being her son, of course, I would praise my mother with an amazing word as benevolent. But to provide evidence to support my petition, I offer you the following examples:

• Lili gave Gifts with Intention

If you have ever been on vacation with us or to a Madan Family Christmas, you will recognize one of these bags! Poor Ali, Lica, and even Darcee have at one time been ”tortured” with the task of loading up bags like this for others on behalf of my mom. Often when receiving them, a person might see a random collection of bizarre trinkets and some were. But my mother didn’t see it like that. With these bags, she used whatever resources she had and tried to find items that matched something she thought you needed or could help you. For example, with her brother Ramon, she always insisted we overload your back with extra beef jerky and beef Slim Jims because in her mind she thought of you as strong! Thus, she wanted to make sure he had all that extra protein to keep you strong. And she tried her best to do that for everyone all the time. She always tried to give with intention even as silly as it seemed to us.

• Lili Gave us the Gift of her Faith

My mother, much like her own mother loved her faith. She often prayed for godchildren, her brothers and sisters, and anyone she could remember. To be honest, I probably gave her enough disasters in her life to fill her prayer intention card alone, but she always thought of who needed prayers and added them in as well. She worked hard to instill the faith in her children as well, and because of her efforts and prayers, I truly believe it helped both her and I find Darcee!

• Lili Gave her service as a Nurse to a countless number

In the first Epistle of Peter, chapter 4, verse 10 it reads, “As Each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s Grace”

My mother was given a skill for Nursing and thus used it to serve many people. For over 30 years, my mother was a registered nurse in New Orleans, Atlanta, and Virginia. She tended to the sick, the seriously injured, the elderly, the lost and forgotten, and even the dying. There was really no patient she wouldn’t help, and she would never say no to anyone in need of medical care. There are countless stories of her caring for the bedridden. She would often just take on the rolls of feeding them, cleaning them, or sometimes just tenderly holding them so they could feel connected again. This kind of gracious care can be seen in how she showed up and cared for her own father at the end of his life.

And Finally,

• Lili Gave the Gift of her time

My mother wasn’t the most mobile of people, so if you wanted to talk to her it was kind of easy to catch her. Now, I am sure there were times when she wished she could run away from us, especially if I or Franco decided to share one of our long-winded stories.

Now her absolute favorite thing to do, besides talking with her favorite child, Nico, was to just laugh with all of us! She had such a great laugh.

But to be honest, she loved hearing everyone’s stories! She loved sharing her time with each and everyone one of us. It brought her so much joy sitting with all of you to hear about your adventures, your travels, your dates, how your work was going, or what great things you were doing in the world! Perhaps, she did this because it allowed her to join you in your life. But I truly believe she did this so she could then offer you praise and support in your joys and dreams! It wasn’t uncommon after talking to one of you that she would call me to brag all about the new job you got, or the awesome party you threw, or even as simple as the recent accomplishments your beautiful children had just accomplished. It was how she praised and supported you!

Now I am sure there are a million more examples to support my petition to remember my mother as Lilian the Benevolent. And in the coming days, weeks, months, and years, I ask that you share your own Songs of Praise of her.

There are no words to describe how much I will miss my mother. I pray that she inspires me and all of us to be as gracious, charitable, helpful, unselfish and well Just benevolent as she was!

I wonder what she is putting in all of those bags she plans on giving away in Heaven?

Sadly, Life Goes On

Sadly, life never does stop after you lose a parent. It will never be the same for me and my sister. But, I know that we will always carry our mother deep within our hearts. Personally, I know she will forever join Darcee and me in all of our bucket list adventures. I am sure I will see her everywhere in life and hear her laugh whenever I do something absolutely crazy or goofy. During this time, I am so very lucky to have Darcee, my family, and all of our friends who have reached out to support us and offer their prayers and thoughts. She loved so greatly and hopefully, I was able to honor Lilian Madan Gamble with a simple eulogy from her son.

Lilian Madan Gamble was a big inspiration behind The Bucket List Project. See what she meant to us in her in a Son's Eulogy for his Mom. #Mom #ILoveMyMom #Eulogy #BucketList #PersonalGrowth
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As I chase the many items on my bucket list, it seems that friends come and go from my life. But I recently read somewhere that “Friends are like stars, they come and go but the ones that stay are the ones that glow!” This is so very true as I grow older. That is why several years ago, I decided to create something I call The Wizard of Oz Dinner. For me it was a way to take the time to take to gather a couple of close friends and tell them, “Thank You for your friendship!”

Disclaimer: I struggled with wanting to tell this story on my blog. Not because I am embarrassed to share my feelings, but because in no way do I want to brag about what I did. After much consideration, I am sharing it to hopefully inspire others to tell their friends and/or family that they love them while they still have time. Oh and if I haven’t told you lately, “Thank You for your friendship and I love you!”

Saying “Thank you for your friendship” is important

Why is it so hard for us to say to those loyal friends, “Thank you for your friendship?”  Is it a sign of weakness as adults to open up and showcase our real feelings to our friends?

I don’t think so.

In fact, I believe just the opposite. In my opinion, showing your sensitive side, especially in a public setting, is a sign that of strength and a big heart.

So, what does all of this have to do with The Bucket List Project? How did saying “Thank You for your friendship” end up on our Bucket List?

Well, when I created The Bucket List Project, I found it extremely easy to add Travel and Adventure Activities to my list. But when talking with older members of Generation X, one of their biggest regrets was not telling those close to them, “thank you for your friendship!”  With this revelation, I created The Helping Others List, as a way to not only help others with their bucket list dreams but also show them that they inspire me.

Why is it so hard to tell friends what they mean to us? It doesn't have to be! Several years ago, Eric gathered a couple of friends & did just that. Go Behind the Scenes of a Wizard of Oz Dinner! #WizardOfOz #Friendship #ShowYouCare
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Behind the scenes of the Wizard of Oz Dinner

If you are a member of Gen X or any generation, there is no doubt you have seen the Wizard of Oz movie. But did you know that the author, Frank Baum, not only wrote The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, but 14 other Oz Books? When I found this out, I immediately added reading all 15 Wizard of Oz Books to my Personal Growth Bucket List!

Whether you read the books or saw the classic movie, no one can forget the famous scene when Oscar Zoroaster Phadrig Isaac Norman Henkle Emmannuel Ambroise Diggs, aka: The Wizard of Oz, gives gifts to the four main characters. When I read this and then how their gifts were used, it inspired me to give similar gifts to the great characters in my life.

But how could I do it? Like Oscar said in the book, “I’m a very good man (At least I try to be). I’m just a very bad Wizard.” Still, how do I give away Brains, a Heart, Courage, or Adventure, to tell my friends “thanks for your friendship?”

Simple: I would choose 4 friends to become the characters of OZ, trick them into coming to dinner, tell them how much they mean to me, and give special gifts to highlight their unbelievable traits. Perhaps, this could be the best way I could say, “Thank You for your friendship!”

Dinner with the characters from Oz

It may seem cheesy to hold a themed dinner party, but if you know me at all, then you know I ooze cheesiness. I also found that it helped me express my feelings through the characters I read in the Wizard of Oz. Plus, it was weird how four of my closest friends seemed to match perfectly with the needs of the four travelers in the book.

So let us meet the four individual characters who joined me for dinner and see how I found ways to say, “thank you for your Friendship!”

1) The Scarecrow gets his diploma

“You don’t need ‘brains’. You are learning something everyday. A baby has brains, but it doesn’t know much. Experience is the only thing that brings knowledge, and the longer you are on earth the more experience you are sure to get.” ― Frank L. Baum, The Wizard of Oz

I met Mike when we both attended Holy Cross High School in New Orleans back in the early ’90s. He was a great guy who always looked out for me growing up. But even though Mike was from a Holy Cross legacy, he never finished high school. When he left, it really bothered me that my good friend wouldn’t finish with myself and the rest of the class. I was sure I would never see him again.

But something weird happened. He kept in touch. He took the time to always talk with me in good times and bad. I loved talking to him because he was always learning something new, trying new experiences, and discovering new passions. He went to culinary school and became a great chef. Then, he decided to work offshore where he became a Captain of a boat!

What was amazing to my small mind was he did all of this without a Holy Cross High School diploma. So I had to take action and show him how much his quest to grow, learn, and experience life always inspired me!

So how did this Bad Wizard give the Scarecrow “Brains”?

“Can’t you give me brains?” asked the Scarecrow. ― Frank L. Baum, The Wizard of Oz

Now, I cannot give nor did I try to give Mike “Brains”! Besides, he obviously has enough to go around. But I did want to express to Mike how much he inspires me; without performing a lobotomy.

In the book, the Wizard gives the Scarecrow a mixture of bran with pins and needles as a symbol of his “Bran-New Brains!” However, in the movie, the only thing separating Scarecrow from other great thinkers in Oz was a diploma  which the Wizard hands him.

Now, I can’t formally hand out diplomas, but at Holy Cross we have a very important creed, called the Holy Cross Man. It represents everything that the boys of Holy Cross in New Orleans strive to be as the grow into Men. To me, it represents everything Mike is and will forever be.

So, I took my own personal graduation tassel and framed it with a special copy of the Holy Cross Man and a picture of our old campus where our friendship began. At dinner, I expressed my gratitude in front of our other guests, presented him with the symbol of the Brains he always had, and hugged him!

2) The Tin Man gets his Heart

“Why, as for that,” answered Oz, “I think you are wrong to want a heart. It makes most people unhappy. If you only knew it, you are in luck not to have a heart.”
“That must be a matter of opinion,” said the Tin Woodman. “For my part, I will bear all the unhappiness without a murmur, if you will give me the heart.” ― Frank L. Baum, The Wizard of Oz

I have never met a more loving man than Joe. I met him when we both attended Holy Cross High School in New Orleans, as well. Though, it was strange. We were never “close” friends. But that doesn’t ever matter to Joe! With his large smile, he will walk right up to you and hug you so tight your ribs will beg for mercy while your heart overflows with joy. He is just that guy! You can’t not be happy when Joe is around. Plus if you ever get a chance to hear him sing anything, you will hear his love of life and music flowing from his voice.

Not only is he lovable, Joe also shows love towards others. One of the most amazing things he ever did was one day in January 2013, he and his friend friend Dane each ran 52.4 miles. or the length of 2 marathons! They did this because their close friend Nicole had it on her bucket list to run a full marathon. However, she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and couldn’t gather the strength to run. So Joe and Dane decided to raise funds for Nicole’s treatments and expenses and ran 52.4 miles. That is one marathon for themselves and one for Nicole Teague.

So how did this Bad Wizard give the Tin Man a “Heart”?

“How about my heart?” asked the Tin Woodman. ― Frank L. Baum, The Wizard of Oz

So how on earth does a guy like Joe possibly need a heart? From what I can already tell, his has to be at least 4 times bigger than anyone’s in the world!

Joe is a Holy Cross Man 100%. In fact, it was how I tricked him into coming to the dinner. I told him I needed a Holy Cross Alumnae that Mike, my Scarecrow, knows to help me present the Holy Cross Man to him. When I told him about my “idea” for Mike, he had to be there! Not long before this dinner, we had a Holy Cross High School reunion. Many of our classmates were there catching up and enjoying themselves, especially Joe. But he seemed a bit sad, which is very unlike him! When I asked his wife, Jeanne, what was wrong, she told me that Joe was kind of bummed seeing some of us wear our old Senior Class Rings. She proceeded to tell me that his original ring was stolen from his home not long after graduation and it devastated him. To think that this man who bleeds Navy Blue and Gold and could be the heart of our Graduating class was missing a piece of his heart.

So, I called our alma mater and asked them how to get an exact replica of my class ring. Then with a little luck, I was able to present him this symbol of his missing heart, for the price of a hug! For me, this was one of the best ways to tell Joe, “thank you for your friendship!”

3) The Cowardly Lion gets his Courage

“You have plenty of courage, I am sure,” answered Oz. “All you need is confidence in yourself. There is no living thing that is not afraid when it faces danger. True courage is in facing danger when you are afraid, and that kind of courage you have in plenty.”  ― Frank L. Baum, The Wizard of Oz

When I started working on The Bucket List Project, there was always one guy who would take the time to talk to me about my insane trips and adventures, Steve. I met Steve after he graduated college through his brother Dave. When I met him, we immediately clicked. Perhaps this was because of our mutual love for the outdoors that we both obtained through the scouts, regardless it is an easy friendship. Plus, Steve is a guys guy! He drives a truck, plays lacrosse, and likes winding down with a good cocktail or cold beer.

For me, Steve appeared during some tough times in my life. Yet, despite my struggles, he never walked away. He was always available to talk, deal with challenges, or just grab a drink and be present. His friendship has always meant the world to me.

So how did this Bad Wizard give the Cowardly Lion “Courage”?

“But how about my courage?” asked the Lion, anxiously.  ― Frank L. Baum, The Wizard of Oz

So first off, let me say that it pains me to use the adjective “Cowardly” when relating to Steve. I mean, he is a Guys Guy through and through! Plus, I really don’t want him to smack me with that lacrosse stick cause those guys are crazy tough!

When talking about our bucket lists, the number one thing Steve always talked about doing was going skydiving! Like I said, the boy is kind of crazy because if you have ever read my Anti-Bucket List, then you know that Skydiving is a big No-No on that list! But for Steve, he would go on and on about how he couldn’t wait to try it. So, when I found out and told him he could skydive at Gold Coast Skydiving an hour outside of New Orleans, I thought he was going to jump in his car and drive there immediately. But he didn’t.

So that is when I took action. I contacted Gold Coast and obtained ONE jump (cause Lord knows I wasn’t jumping too) for Steve. Then at dinner, I gave him this token of his courage and shared what he has meant being there in my life. What better way to say thank you for your friendship than helping a great friend fulfill his own bucket list dreams.

4) Dorothy goes on a trip

“if I ever go looking for my heart’s desire again I won’t look any further than my own back yard Because if it isn’t there I never really lost it to begin” ―  Dorothy, from the movie: The Wizard of Oz

I met Sarah at Loyola University New Orleans our freshman year so many years ago. We instantly became friends because we were both in the music program and she is absolutely one of the most fun characters I’ve ever met. When you first look at her and her beagle, Miss Betty, you may not think wild bucket list adventurer. But don’t let this first impression mislead you, she has had some of the coolest adventures around the world!

For me, Sarah has also been a mainstay when so many friends move on. But what makes her special is that she goes out of her way to try and maintain that relationship. Don’t get me wrong, trying to have a normal text message conversation with her gives me grey hairs as it sometimes takes forever to get a response. But, what I love is that she ALWAYS responds and is always suddenly there when you truly need her.

Perhaps, that is why it was easy to see her as Dorothy.

So how did this Bad Wizard give the Dorothy her “trip home”?

“Oh, I don’t think there’s anything in that black bag for me!”― Dorothy, from the movie: The Wizard of Oz

To be honest, the Wizard failed at getting Dorothy home in both the book and movie versions. So how could I tell Sarah, “thanks for your friendship” in a Wizard of Oz sort of way?

Well, let’s rewind a little bit. First of all I had to get Sarah to show up to help me with these gifts. To be honest, I am not even sure how this humbug wizard even convinced her to attend. But like she always magically does, she was there in full force. So I had to try.

In the story, the Wizard tries to get Dorothy home by flying her over the impassable desert via hot air balloon. But we all know that didn’t work and since I don’t have a hot air balloon either, I got her a Southwest gift Card from Raise instead. That way she could fly anywhere she wanted with a simple click of her heels and maybe some computer keys! So with that, an Elvis record, and a simple hug, I was able to thank her for always being a good friend.

“Home Again”

Fyi – “Home Again” is the final chapter in Frank L. Baum’s actual The Wizard of Oz.

So, lets bring you home again. If you have made it this far then you have gone all the way behind the scenes of a Wizard of Oz Dinner. Thank you for allowing me to share my story. I hope that this post helps you think of ways to tell your own friends, “thank you for your friendship!”

Have you ever told your friends how much they inspire you? Is it on your bucket list to be better at expressing gratitude? What is one way you recently showed a friend how much you appreciate them?

Let us know in the comments below what you think or what you did and maybe you will help someone else with their bucket list dreams!

Don’t forget to Pin this to your favorite Bucket List Board!

Disclosure: This post, “Behind the Scenes of a Wizard of Oz Dinner” may contain affiliate links. Using the links doesn’t cost you any extra, and it helps keep the site free, fun, and community supported! Eric & Darcee will never recommend a product that we don’t genuinely believe in, actually use ourselves, have researched, and trust. Please see the disclosure policy for more information.

The post Behind the Scenes of a Wizard of Oz Dinner appeared first on The Bucket List Project.

I am sure we can all agree that it is often better to give than to receive. In fact, a study from the Harvard Business School shows that finding ways to help others can improve both our mental health and physical self. But with so many problems in the world today, how can we really make a difference? How do we actually tackle difficult situations affecting those in need? How do we find ways to tackle The Helping Others Bucket List?

Well, what if I told you that there are simple ways to help others that anyone can do?

Here’s the deal. With a little creativity and a lot of desire you can easily tackle any of the 9 simple ways to help others we are sharing below!

1) Give your Money

Perhaps one of the simplest ways to help others is just to give your money. However, I find that people are often leery to just hand a check over or even give loose change to beggars on the street. I mean I get it. You work hard for your money and often you may feel stressed by your own financial challenges. But you don’t have to be a wealthy person donating millions of dollars to make a difference. Sometimes the cost of a McDonald’s combo meal can make a real difference to someone who is struggling.

Picture this:

A young woman, stressed out by her really bad day at work and starving, stopped by her local McDonald’s to grab dinner. But after ordering, she realized that she forgot her wallet at the office. Talk about having a bad day! So when she pulled up to the pay window, she had to admit that she forgot her money and needed to cancel her order. However, without blinking an eye, the worker, Jeremiah, replied, “it’s okay ma’am, I got you” and then paid for her meal with the cash from his own wallet! (Zeigler, A (2019, March 31). McDonald’s Employee’s 6 Little Words Leave Tired Mom Stunned At Drive-Thru).

I can’t imagine this fast food worker is wealthy. He just saw another person whom needed a little financial assistance and was willing to help!

So how can you give money to help others?

• Give money at your local church
• Donate to people’s online fundraising efforts
• Pay for the person behind you at a toll both
• Buy candy, cookies, or lemonade from kid’s fundraising efforts
• Give money to a local charity supporting a cause you care about

With a little creativity & a lot of desire anyone can easily tackle any of the 9 simple ways to help others shared by The Bucket List Project! #HelpingOthers #GiveBack #SimpleWaysToHelpOthers
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2) Give Your Friend’s Money

There is something fun about the idea that Robin Hood would rob from the rich and give to the poor. But we strongly don’t recommend you gather a bunch of Merry Men and start sticking up stage coaches in the forest!

With that said, collecting cash donations from your friends can be a fun and simple way to help others. There are many different activities you can participate in to benefit your favorite charity or cause.

So how can you give your friend’s money to help others?

• Sign up to Run an organized race on behalf of a cause you care about: A good friend of ours, Jason, recently signed up, raised funds, and walked the Susan G. Komen 3-Day in honor of his wife, Bev! He asked all of his friends to donate any amount and ended up raising several thousands of dollars for cancer research! Bev is doing it again next year & is already raising funds toward her $3,000 goal. If you would like to help her reach that goal you can visit her official Susan G. Komen 3-day fund raising page at www.the3day.org/goto/bevhippler
• Create a GoFundMe fundraiser on behalf of your favorite Charity: GoFundMe is a great platform to collect funds on behalf of a charity or person whom you feel needs financial help! Darcee & I were able to create a GoFundMe for our Rickshaw Run several years ago. We were able to collect over $5,500 in donations for both Angels’ Place and Cool Earth. But currently, for example, my friend Andrew is hiking the Continental Divide Trail (CDT) this Spring and Summer. The CDT is a roughly 3,000 mile trail that extends through Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana. He decided to do this for personal growth but also to raise awareness for Men’s Mental Health especially in cases of Military Veterans. Mental health care especially in a clinical setting is not cheap and it often times not covered by insurance. So Andrew will take the majority of funds raised and put it toward a grant for a former Marine (like himself) in need of mental health treatment. You can help Andrew and his cause at https://www.gofundme.com/continental-divide-trail-hike.

3) Give Of Your Physical Self

Helping others doesn’t necessarily have to cost you an “Arm and a Leg” but you can definitely find simple ways to donate of your physical self. We often hear stories of people fighting injuries or disease who are in desperate need of blood or a stem cell match. It is really easy to help if you are willing to volunteer your time.

So how can you give of your physical self to help others?

• Donate Blood: There are countless benefits to yourself and others when you donate blood! By taking an hour of your time giving blood, you can save the life of 3 PEOPLE! Plus, donating blood reduces stress, possibly lowers the risk of heart disease or cancer, and can improve your overall emotional well being!
• Sign up for Bone Marrow & Stem Cell Registries: CANCER SUCKS! But what is tragic is that often people with certain life threatening blood cancers, could be cured if they could find a life-saving bone marrow match. That is why enrolling in BeTheMatch.org is a simple way to help others.
• Be an Organ Donor: According to OrganDonor.gov, as of January 2019, there are over 113,000 men, women, and children on a transplant waiting list and 20 people a day die waiting for a transplant! That is why signing up at your state’s registry could possibly safe a life someday!

4) Give Your Stuff

Donating your stuff may be the most simple way to help others. We all have clothes, toys, books, or things around the house that we just don’t use anymore. So why do we keep it? Perhaps it is for sentimental reasons or “just in case.” But in reality, these unused items sit around collecting dust and benefitting no one. And as we all know from Toy Story 3, toys are meant to be played with and enjoyed!

So how can you give your stuff to help others?

• The Hanger Method: When it comes to clothes, I discovered a unique method to know what clothes I need to donate! I take everything in my closet and put the hangers backwards! Then I give myself 6 months. If during those 6 months, I actually wear a shirt, pants, or something in my closet, I return the hanger to the regular direction. At the 6 month mark, anything that is still hanging backwards is something I never really wear, so I donate it!
• Donate on Birthdays or Holidays: One of the best things my Aunt did is when her kids received new toys for their birthday or holidays, they had to donate an old one they didn’t use anymore. It is essentially a 1 for 1 trade that also teaches them generosity.
• Find a Little Library or Real Library: There is nothing like discovering a new book or listening to a new musician! But what happens to those old books when you finish reading them? They collect dust under your bed or on a book shelf. However, books are meant to be read & music is meant to be heard. So why not donate your books or music to those amazing Little Library Boxes or your local Public Library for others to enjoy for Free?

5) Give Your Food

It is sort of amazing to think that anyone is hungry in this day and age. But according to Feeding America, back in 2016 there were nearly 42 MILLION people suffering from hunger in America alone! In a world where we toss out so much food it just baffles me. However, giving food is so simple and can help so many. Plus you don’t have to be a chef or have crazy skills in the kitchen to offer relief to the hungry.

So how can you give your food to help others?

• Donate to your local Food Bank: With sites like FeedingAmerica.org it is easy to find a food bank in your local area where you can donate canned goods and less perishable items to help the hungry in your own community.
• Cook for your elderly or sick neighbors: You never know who in your own neighborhood is struggling to afford a good hot meal. So check on your neighbors and bring them extra food that you made or even better, invite them over to eat with your family.
• Make Snack Packs for the beggars: One of the coolest ideas I have seen recently actually came from an organization within our parish church. They created snack packs of granola bars, fruit, a bottle of water, and other items to hand out to those homeless who stand at the red light corners asking for help. Rather than tossing them random loose change or worse rolling up your window, you can just hand them a snack pack to give them a little nourishment.
• Work in a Soup Kitchen: Just because you can’t cook doesn’t mean you cant give food to help others. Local soup kitchens, also known as Food Pantries, can be found at FoodPantries.org and are always looking for volunteers as long as you can work with their schedule. So, roll up your sleeves, grab a hair net, and dish out some warm meals.

6) Give Your Knowledge

The Dalai Llama once said, “Share your knowledge. It is a way to achieve immortality!” There is no doubt that we all have something we can easily share to help others. Whether we are great chefs, unbelievable mathematicians, masters at backpacking, or can just drive a stick shift, there is something we know that we can share. Just think about your former teachers, scoutmasters, or business mentors that have been there in your life. Each of them took the time to share their knowledge to help you grow.

So how can you give your knowledge to help others?

• Become a Coach or Scoutmaster: Who better to teach then your own kids? Plus it is a great way to spend quality time with your children and their friends.
• Become a Mentor: There tons of at risk youth and foster children out there without strong adult role models in their lives. By enrolling in a BeAMentor.org program, you can help with homework, coach them about jobs, or just hang out and share positive stories about life.
• Become a Tutor or teach lessons: We all have amazing talents in various arts or skills. So why not help others learn those skills as well? Whether you teach piano lessons to kids, help a coworker on their sales skills, or help tutor me with the best way to learn Spanish, there is something you can share.

7) Give Your Ear

It is not uncommon for each and every one one of us to feel detached, sad, depressed, or just plain lost. Perhaps it’s just a side effect of being human. But sometimes the simple act of listening can be one of the greatest ways to help others. You don’t have to necessarily help the resolve any issues. But, allowing people to unload their challenges, pains, or concerns can be cathartic for them.

Another reason to give your ear is to help people who are lonely feel connected again. With all of the digital technology floating around, sadly, we have lost a lot of real life intimate contact with our friends and family. This can lead to a feeling of loneliness and depression.

So how can you give your ear to help others?

• Share the National Suicide Prevention: A simple Facebook post or tweet may save a life. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t want you to pass the buck. But suicide is a serious matter and sometimes a trained professional from the National Suicide Prevention should be the one listening! So if you or someone you know feels hopeless or like they have no reason to live, call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) for help and support.
• Invite a friend to lunch or drinks: We’ve all seen that movie scene where a kid at school eats lunch alone because he has no friends. There’s nothing worse than eating alone especially when you are dealing with other challenges. So call up an old friend, a neighbor, or a family member and meet them for drinks or lunch.
• Visit those in the Hospital or Nursing Home: I think one of the biggest fears we hear about with regards to nursing homes or long term hospital care is that no one ever visits the residents. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Most of these facilities have easy schedules for visiting and besides time, what does it really cost us to visit a loved one?

8) Give Your Support

One of the simple ways to help others is to just be there to support their bucket list dreams. It is hard to chase down dreams when you feel like you are doing it all alone. But when you have someone working with you to hit that goal, someone offering their own resources to aid your efforts, or just someone there cheering you on, you can feel invincible!

So how can you give your support to help others?

• Make someone’s bucket list item happen: One of my favorite bucket list items on my Helping Others List is #103) Fullfill 1 Bucket List Item for anyone who helps me with 1 of mine! But just because I’m the bucket list project guy, doesn’t mean I have an insider tool to help others complete their bucket list items. First, take the time to learn about their bucket list dreams. Then see what resources you have available and use them to help them complete an item on their list.
• Show up: The simple act of showing up can be one of the best ways to help others! I personally used to love it when my dad would show up to all my symphony concerts. There is just something about looking out into an audience and seeing a familiar face that can do wonders for your heart and soul. This is especially valuable to your adult friends too. So show up to their concerts, their sporting events, their art shows, their business events, or whatever. Just Show Up!

9) Give Your Smile

Steve Maraboli once said, “Smile at strangers and you just might change a life!”

We’ve all been there before. You are having a crappy day at the office, you forgot to eat lunch, and now you are stuck traffic just trying to get home. Then when you finally get there, you open your front door and the biggest smile is there waiting for you, erasing all the misery of the day instantly.

It’s amazing how the simple turning up of your lips and the flashing of your pearly whites can bring light to anyone who sees it!

So how can you give your smile to help others?

• Well duh…this isn’t rocket surgery….SMILE! I know this sounds a bit cheesy. But everyday, think of something that makes you happy and then emit that joy you feel to everyone and anyone you see through your smile!
• Be polite and courteous! Through simple acts like opening doors, saying thank you, giving up your seat to someone who needs it, you can remind people that they are noticed and appreciated.

So what Now?

As you can see, with a little effort and desire there are plenty of simple ways to help others! But no matter which way you choose to help, know that you will make a difference in another person’s life. So what are some of your simple ways to help others that you do? Is there some way you have found that really improves your community? Have you ever volunteered for a cause you really believe in? Let us know in the comments below and help inspire others!

Don’t forget to Pin these Simple Ways to Help Others to your favorite Bucket List Board!

The post 9 Simple Ways to Help Others appeared first on The Bucket List Project.

Editor’s Note: The 4 Leaf Clover Project: Sharing a Little Luck was originally published May 2016 and has recently been updated and revised for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

When I was creating my Bucket List Project several years ago, I remember being able to bang out 80+ things in the initial writing of my list in that old composite notebook. It came easy to put down travel, adventure, and even personal growth items on my list! But when I went to read what I had written down, almost off of them were about me! This kind of disturbed me a little cause I was raised to always help others whenever a situation presented itself. So I thought that I needed to make sure that I created a part of my bucket list devoted to trying to give back to the world or offering help to those who may need a little bit, hence The Helping Others List.

Now anyone could put “FIND THE CURE TO CANCER!” or even a bit more sensible, “#7) Do Missionary Work in a 3rd World Country” on their list like I did. But then I came across a quote that inspired me:

“I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.” ― Mother Teresa

Can you image, Mother Teresa admitting that? I mean she must have cared for more sick and helpless people in Calcutta than I can even imagine. But I stopped. I realized that it even if I cant do something major (like toss a boulder) then maybe I can manage small. Maybe, a little genuine project could be my little stones to cast! Right?

Therefore, I started dreaming of creative little ways to help, say thank you, or just give back to the world! Now this The Helping Others List is a work in progress but its hands down one of my favorite parts of my overall Bucket List Project because it allows me to come up with creative ways to accomplish the main goal of this category like:

141) Find a Leaf Clovers & Give it away to Someone Who Needs Luck!

Why Share a 4 Leaf Clover with Someone?

So why would anyone need a 4 Leaf Clover? How does that Help others & make ripples in waters of life?

Well sometimes we hit a bump in the road. We may pray for improvement & hope for a bit of Luck to carry us out of a storm! So my thought was that these 4 Leaf Clovers, I had found would hopefully assist people who needed some hope. It may or may not actually be Lucky but to me, they are Symbols that someone out there is rooting for, praying for, & Loves you!

Now according to lore, they Say that each of the 4 Leaves of a Clover stands for Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck! So whichever of the 4 someone needed (perhaps all 4), my hope was they got them!

Then when they had come to their Lucky Place, my hope was that they would “Gift” the 4 Leaf Clover to someone who truly needs it & if Possible, let me know where it is

A few years back, The Bucket List Project found SIX 4-Leaf Clovers in New Orleans! Of course it was hard but what they did with them was so EASY that even you can do it! Find out how you can Share a Little Luck with others!
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How to find a Four Leaf Clover

So is finding a 4 leaf clover totally dumb luck? I mean we all hear the stories of 4 leaf clovers but has anyone actually seen even 1 in person? I mean tradition holds that if you find a white clover that has four leaves, you are lucky. So am I trying to force the impossible? The answer is and was for me, not if you believe you can find them and then a little research.

In doing our research, we found that just 1 out of every 10,000 white clovers has four-leaves. If the odds of finding a four-leaf clover are truly 1-in-10,000, how much area do you need for 10,000 clovers and where do you find those patches? Well in New Orleans, after a little research, good weather, and “Luck”, I found four leaf clovers in two separate places!

The 4 Leaf Clover Project: Sharing a little Luck

So, as you can see, between the 2 areas, I was lucky enough to find six actual 4 Leaf Clovers (3 in each area).

Awesome, right?!?!

After bringing these 6 shamrocks home, it was time to create some magic! I went online and found these 3.5×5 Rustic Distressed Wooden table top frames from Amazon so that I could display them.  I wrote special notes for each frame discussing where I had found this specific 4 leaf clover, the idea behind our project to share a little luck, and what my hopes where with these special shamrocks.

But then the hard part came. Who out there needed me to send them this token of Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck?

To be honest, I struggled at first to figure out the who and the why! This was strange because I didn’t have issues like this when I was putting together my Wizard of Oz Dinner idea! I mean, like the famous Wizard said in the book, “I’m a very good man (At least I try to be). I’m just a very bad Wizard.” 

So I sat down and thought and tried to discover the inspiration behind these specific 4 leaf clovers. Perhaps where they were found could help me find the right people! 

The 4 Leaf Clovers of Hope

Now, with the two 4 Leaf Clovers I found by Flood St & Dorgenois St in New Orleans, I realized that they were coming up in vacant lots where homes were destroyed by the levee breach from Hurricane Katrina back in 2005. To me, these lucky little shamrocks reminded me that despite unbelievable devastation, life would find a way to bring beauty back! Therefore, I felt that these 4 leaf clovers embodied a spirit of Rebirth, Regrowth, & Renewal! So, I needed to send these 2 clovers with their story to someone who needed a 2nd chance!

The 4 Leaf Clovers of Strength

Next I found two 4 leaf clovers in Audubon Park next to the Famous Etienne de Boré Oak, or the Tree of Life. But for some reason these clovers gave me a different motive. See, the Tree Of Life is a famous oak tree here in New Orleans, that’s nearly 400 years old. It has seen New Orleans through its greatest and worst times yet still continues to Stand Strong and Grow! But to Celtic People, the Tree Of Life represents Wisdom, Longevity, & most of all, Strength!  So, I felt that these 2 needed to go out to people who were searching for strength.

So with these inspirations in mind, I went on a mission to find these 4 leaf clovers a home. It was a bit weird asking for people in pain or were just needing a bit of luck. But with a little effort, we gave away the last of my 4 frames in the Summer of 2015.

Perhaps these very, small “stones” that were cast across the waters can create many ripples.

Have you ever found a four leaf clover before? Do you feel that they are lucky? Would you be willing to share them with someone else who needs it more than you? Or More importantly, what Ways to Help Others do you have on your own Bucket List? Let us know in the comments below & perhaps inspire someone to make a small ripple today!

Don’t forget to Pin this to your Bucket List Board!

Disclosure: This post, “The 4 Leaf Clover Project: Sharing a little Luck” may contain affiliate links. Using the links doesn’t cost you any extra, and it helps keep the site free, fun, and community supported! Eric & Darcee will never recommend a product that we don’t genuinely believe in, actually use ourselves, have researched, and trust. Please see the disclosure policy for more information.

The post The 4 Leaf Clover Project: Sharing a little Luck appeared first on The Bucket List Project.