***This post is sponsored by Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen. All opinions are 100% mine.*** #inspiregoodness
“The roots of all goodness lie in the soil of appreciation for goodness.” –Dalai Lama
It’s easy to get caught up in the daily hustle and bustle and not necessarily recognize the goodness in our lives. While writing this post, I thought about how amazing it is that we ALL have the power to inspire goodness. So, why don’t we take this privilege to speak into people’s lives and inspire goodness. A smile, a kind word, a gentle touch… goodness is all about how we treat other people.
Let’s appreciate the fact that we have a heart, soul and mind and use it towards kindness, integrity, honesty, and generosity. All it takes is the right attitude.
Recently, Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen reached out and asked if I was interested to be part of their #InspireGoodness campaign and share a story about the person who inspires me. I jumped right in, because we need to be reminded (daily) of how much goodness people have to offer. When you think about it, there’s goodness in every facet of our lives: it’s in our families, our jobs, our friendships and our hobbies. It’s even in the foods we eat!
I find goodness and comfort in sharing a delicious meal with my children. On my daughter’s recent visit to Nashville, we stopped at Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen where we enjoyed yummy food, great company and lots of laughter. This was our first time at Cheddar’s, and we loved it. Did you know Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen has been serving up scratch-made goodness since 1979?
Aside from my children, who not only inspire me daily for their true dedication in everything they do, their generous hearts, their ability to reach out to people and really “see” them, as well as their love for family, friends, and pets – my sister, Melanie, comes to my mind.
She has inspired me my entire life. Her gentle soul, her generosity and kindness have touched many lives.
Three years ago, in a orphanage in Nepal, Melanie and her husband adopted a little girl they later named , Nina. After several miscarriages, failed IVF treatments and unsuccessful surrogates, the couple decided to adopt. After years of waiting and numerous trips to some of the poorest countries in the world, they had found Nina.
Nina is their light… their princess. But they are also the only parents Nina has ever known. They are her world. Today, Nina is a happy, healthy girl who loves the color pink. Not only does Nina live in a beautiful home, travels all over the world, and has an abundance of cute clothes; for the first time in her life, she is experiencing stability, safety, and lots of love. #InspireGoodness
A few months after Nina was adopted, a powerful earthquake devastated Nepal. The orphanage Nina used to live in was severely damaged. I truly believe God sent my sister and her husband to “rescue” Nina before anything could harm her. Also, my sister and Nina both share the same birthday. They have so much fun celebrating together.
Although at times, life was hard on my sister, she never gave up. She never looked for the easy way out; she wanted it done the right way, no matter what. Nina has been blessed with a wonderful family, with parents who love her more than life itself.
#InspireGoodness
Who inspires you? Share your story and win $1,000 each!
From now through August 20, 2017, you can help inspire goodness by joining the conversation. Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen is encouraging people to use the form on their site to share stories about someone they think inspires goodness – each website submission enters both the nominator and nominee for a chance to win $1,000!
Here’s how it works:
- Nominate someone by telling a story about how they inspire goodness
- Continue spreading the goodness using #inspiregoodness, and sharing stories on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram