Ok so as far a July’s Spread the Love went. I think I did rather well. Truth be told I never realized how annoying and opinionated I was prior 
lol
I literally found myself holding my tongue a lot more than I anticipated. There were other times on facebook when people talking about issues really near and dear to my heart had my blood boiling, but then I’d realize, what is me commenting going to do – nothing. So I never posted.
On the flip side there were a few times I posted things and of course a reaction responded and then I found myself having to apologize for coming across in a way that was not intended.
I also let a few FU fingers slip towards a few random drivers and glared at a woman that slammed a door in my face. I yelled at my neighbours dog <—- a yappy little thing. Sometimes I want to buy a little dog just so I can show people it’s possible to have a small dog behave as well as a big dog but that’s neither here nor there.
I wish there was a way to have your opinions come through and remain honest with your feelings without everyone fighting you!
What’s that Logan in the bath?? There is??
That’s when I realized there is a way – the only way to remain true to yourself, while potential changing others and feeling good about everything you do – is to be the change you want to see in others (hmmmm maybe a spread the love Sept??)
I made the theme for August all about getting to love ourselves because I think you have to have a good relationship with you before you can have ones with others. I hope you’ll all join me this month as we try to build ourselves up 
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I also wanted to tell you why I wanted to start Spread the Love in the first place. Maybe that will encourage more of you to want to participate.
A while back I kept hearing these commericals on the radio – the people for good – I was super excited about it! FINALLY there was a movement dedicated to improving our love of humanity that seemed easy to join and become a part of.
The commercials were similar to my Spread the Love description, stating that they’d be changing the world, holding a door for one person at a time.
I go to their site and find this. A huge screen of people that have pledged to be a part of this but nothing much else that encouraged me, the new member. They had a list of nice things you could do, you could even add to it. However the problem was people could just leave the page and forget about it. There were no newsletters, no way others could update their own feedback, nothing to motivate me to change.
That’s when and why I decided to try and take on Spread the Love. I know lots of people think positivity is lame, forced, not genuine. Well I’m here to tell you that that’s not true. I happen to love everyone I meet. Yes, I am human and judge, get angry, make fun of people and do stupid crap all the time. However, I have the desire to change!
I wanted to provide a space for people with that same desire could share ideas and become a part of something bigger.
That’s why I am asking you – PLEASE! if you like this idea, if you want it to be great, if you want it to work I need your help. I need others stories, others input and ideas! One person can’t see as clearly as multiple individuals. SO please contact me, submit an idea, a confession, a story and let’s make Spread the Love a great thing to be a part of
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I’ve updated the Monthly Challenge page as well and my blog’s side bar. So if you have a challenge you’re running this month let me know and I’ll post it up!
I hope you’ll all join me for the Plank it Up August Calendar I think it’s going to kick my butt! I’ve been having some technical difficulties with the vid so it should be posted by tonight
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Questions:
1. is this a loss cause?? why don’t people want to change for the better?
2. any ideas on how to make STL better?
3. Confessions for July???
I could us a plank it up challenge and a spread the love campaign. I will be joining you on both for sure!
thanks Alex
xo
Ahhh the little dog thing! So, I have a tiny tog (like under 5 lbs) and she behaves just like a regular, large dog. People who meet her are always so impressed and I swear everyone who meets her falls in love-she is the best!
PS-I love the tiling in your bathroom in that photo of L
Ali that is so cool that you have a well behaved little dog…it is a rarity
I want one 
and thanks…that tile was there when we moved it
I agree that people need to be reminded. I might take on a challenge and then totally forget about it for 10 days and by then it’s too late to start it up (in my mind)
I would love to take on this challenge! If I can just remember:)
P.S. just printed off Plank it up August to put on my fridge, so I would remember to do it:)
Thanks for bringing this up. I just don’t know how people would want to be reminded. Maybe I’ll try posting about it at the top of each blog post. or facebooking it
I don’t even try to argue with people on Facebook anymore…especially in regards to politics or religion. I just hide their comments and move on – it’s not worth it!
totally true….people go crazy online!
I agree with Hiker mom! Reminders are good… somewhere along the way, I missed the first announcement… summer is a trickier time (for me) to stay on top of blogs. I love the idea!
hmmm I’m wondering if people would sign up for a newsletter
Oh gosh, be careful you you show that finger to! In traffic situations, in the past, I have been followed several times… once I had to stop in front of the police station and actually went in and filed a report and they did follow up… told the guy that he cannot go around scaring people like that… other times less aggessively, but still. I don’t do it anymore. Too many oddballs around these days! And I don’t honk the horn either!
I think all of the little kindnesses we show people are passed along and it does make the world a nice place. Sometimes there have been times when I think I might be the only person who spoke to someone on a given day, or smiled at them on the street. It is all important in my mind and no act is too small. Spread the Love, Ali!
I can’t believe that Elle!!! I would be scared
I’m glad you went to the police station and nothing bad happened. No act is too small…smiles go a long way 
Before I agree to the plank challenge, I need to look them all up because I do not know how to do half of them by name alone!
I made a vid…..but I have yet to upload it to youtube….but I will by tomorrow
I think that overall, people do want to change and be more loving/kind to others, however old patterns are hard to break, just like poor eating. Acknowledgment is the first step.
I completely agree. I just wanted to have an easy way to relate our experiences and try to do better. So far it’s an epic fail! To be honest, with the lack of interest in it – I don’t know if it’d be worth my efforts
….sounds bad but maybe I should just continue to work on me??
I keep asking for suggestions on how to make it more assessable but not many people have answers, so maybe I should make it a separate website all together? I just don’t know.
I try my best to hold in the f bomb……really really try. I do. Especially when my kids are around. But sometimes it does leak out. Ewww. & I am 100% in on your plank challenge….did day 1!
I have a stressful and crazy month and have been feeling down – I think I NEED this loving myself challenge. Email me at the end of the month and I will let you know how I did.
I did your plank challenge today. I hate planks. Mean.
After the two years I worked at the bank I learned a lot about the power of a smile and a kind word. One of those two things could easily turn a nasty customer into one that would wait in my line so they could talk to me. Even though I don’t work at the bank anymore I make it a point to smile at strangers, hold doors open for people, and say thank you to EVERYONE in customer service I come across. Looking forward to another month of Spreading the Love. Thanks for making this month’s theme loving yourself. Now I can justify the massage I’m getting in 3 weeks!
Ah! No f-bombs/fingers in front of the boy!
I used to get really mad at other drivers…not so much now that I’m not in Miami/Los Angeles. But sometimes after getting really mad and calling them a name, I’d feel so guilty. I’d think, “Hey, God made that person. They don’t deserve to be called names!” and then I’d feel soo, soo guilty!
It’s good to be kind and try to care for others!
Oh girl, you would go NUTS if you met my MILs dog. It may be by far the MOST ANNOYING little thing EVER. They came to visit the hubs & I @ our last place and brought it along. We both wanted to just shoot it. I know that sounds terrible, but ughh. lol. OH & have no shame about getting some drivers the FU. Sometimes it’s just needed, and they should totally be aware that they are crappy drivers
well, I can always use a little reminder to spread the love
. Definitely not my strong point.
I really need to do the plank challenge. My mid-section could really use it!