Well this past monday I found out my American Bulldog Tanq has cancer and there is nothing they can do. After digesting that and quite a few tears I took a cpl days off to research altetbnative therapies and to make sure he has a drug therapy to keep him out of pain. some mite say "Why all the trouble?" "He is just a dog!" Well for starters.........I think the way we treat animals even as young children is an indicator of how we treat our fellow man. The unique characteristic of animals that i wish we could all achieve is UNCONDITIONAL LOVE. Our pets show their unconditional love every day regardless of anything. They just love us. I am reminded of their love every day i come home after a long day when they come running with their tails wagging and tongues ready for licking. I hope I will take as good of care of Tanq as he has of me over the past 10 years in these final weeks. I will BUMP IT UP! in every way I can by extra love and extra treats. JUST REMEMBER to think of all those we encounter just like our pets would...... UNCONDITIONALLY! BUMP IT UP! 

Welcome to the very beginning of a NEW YEAR and a new begginning to realize there are FAR MORE good things happening each and every day than bad. We just dont hear about it! So lets ALL get out there and do things on a daily basis to help make our homes; our communities; our cities; our nation; and the world a BETTER place for all. REMEMBER......" we are far more alike than deifferent" in the words of Dr Maya Angelou. So lets all do our part to make this year 2012 the best it can be....... just BUMP IT UP!

BUMP IT UP THIS COMING WEEK!!!!! and everyday!!!!!! Let's see if we can cause a RIPPLE effect with our acts of kindness big and small to friends, family, and strangers alike. It costs nothing and little time to say HELLO,open a door, let someone in front of your while driving and the list goes on and on! Help put a smile on someone else's face by a simple act of kindness! LET'S GET STARTED!!!!

How is that possible? EASY!!!! 1. Let someone hopefully in front of you or let them out when in traffic. Hopefully they will wave THANK YOU. If someone does that for you...YOU be sure to wave or nod THANK YOU! 2When at the grocery store....grab a cart from someone unloading and simply ask..."May I take that for YOU?" BOY does that shock them! 3 Anytime when entering a store or building LOOK to see if you can hold the door open for them and let them go first. And finally Just simply say HELLO to someone as you pass them! In this world of technology it is AMAZING how little we communicate person to person. So get out there and BUMP IT UP!

I heard a saying on the radio which So rings true in this day and age of Hurry, Hurry, Hurry and DO, Do , Do,,,because inevitably we seem to com[lain about ALL the things we have to do!!! Now understandably this mindset happens to ALL of us. But what happens when this is how we think on a daily basisi? Instaed of complaining about the things we HAVE to do...imagine being GRATEFUL for the things we get to do. I'm sure many people who due to health, injury , finances or just plain circumstance would love the oppeortunity to have all these things to do. So think about it next time before you get all worked up! and by the way.....don't forget to BUMP IT UP! amidst all you have to do and make someone's day!!!

Funny how often in life in everyday conversation wesay things which ALL of us do that in retrospect we wonder WHY we said that. Imagine in conversation we hear of someone who loses thier car and we think or say, "At least I'm only one car payment behind." or Someone has a utility cut off and we think, "my electric is only $50 bucks behind." You can imagine lots of scenarios in everyday life when we think we have it bad then you have the reaction of at least......" And I get this...done it myself before.....BUT hopefully we DO NOT get in to the mindset of "judging the quality of our lives by the misery of others!" In a time of tough economice challenges, layoffs, rising gas prices etc... NOW more than ever we need to be kind to one another. There is truth to the saying..."EVERYONE NEEDS A HELPING HAND NOW AND THEN! So lets ALL BUMP IT UP! and extend our hand whenever we can!

How many times a day do u string these 5 letters together to say HELLO to someone you pass on the street or encounter in a store or during a transaction before you voice your request? Today I passed three people within 30 seconds walking to my car. Two of the three never even made eye contact while the third was so busy with ipod in her eye and talking on the phone while drinking her coffee ...that she would not have known if I told her she won a MILLION dollards. The point of this is....you cant say hello to everyone all the time but try it once in a while. PS a smile after the hello  is a nice touch as well. Who knows....if we ALL start saying hello to one another before you know it we mite start opening doors for each other; returning carts at stores for one another; picking up something for someone when they drop it....you get the point. BUMP IT UP! and just say HELLO!

It seems ALL of us are in a hurry every waking hour wishing for more. Many times we find ourselves complaining or whining about the many tasks before us each day. The other day I was listening to the radio and a saying caught my attention and STUCK! " Instead of complaining about everything we HAVE to do be THANKFUL for the things we GET to do! Many people who are physically, emotionally, or financially unable would WELCOME the opportunity to have OUR many tasks to do ...if only they were able. Boy have I said this saying to myself several times since I heard it! BUMP IT UP!

I was listening to an old Oprah rebroadcast from 1999 about a family of three. A wife ,a husband, and a 6 year old daughter. The mother was diagnosed with cancer and was given only six months to live. In the midst of EVERYTHING she was going through with her terminal diagnosis she somehow thru her love for her family looked "OUTSIDE" herself and her own pain and sorrow to imagaine the pain and sorrow her husband and daughter would be going thru in the months and years ahead of them after she was no longer physically with them in person.

She had the love and the wisdom to realize there were many moments and occasions she would not be a part of in the coming years for her daughter so ERIN in the midst of it all set out recording audio and tapes for her daughter from everything from how to apply make up to the qualities in the men she would date that would steer her well in finding aman to love and respect her. She even made tapes dealing with as many questions as she could think of dealing with matters a young girl needs to ask that a mother could give her wisdom.

She EVEN made a tape for her husband telling him she was praying for a woman to come into his life once she was gone to so that he would not be alone the rest of his life.

Talk about selflessness and love for family. It is truly amazing ERIN MADE time in the midst of all of her illness to look after those she would not be able to in person in the months and years ahead.

Her husband returned to the OPRAH SHOW this week and shared ERIN'S final message as she died only a week after taping it. Did she say "WHY ME?" or express anger or resentment at an illness that would take her physically from her family at only 36. NO. She expressed only THANKFULNESS and GRATITUDE for her husband, daughter , extended family and friends for all their love and support. Her words and message were amazing!!!!! And yes I had a kleenex as I listened to the entire segment. BIG DEAL i had a ton of things to do beginning my day. ERIN makesme realize and hopefully others each moment is a gift and while we all run ourselves ragged from task to task that in our final moments we TRULY realize it is our family and friends and our giving back that make this life meaningful. Not the things but the life experiences. I hope I am able as ERIN to make sure I spend time with family and friends and when it is time for me toleave this earthI am able to express the same thankfulness and gratitude that ERIN did.

Erin's husband has since remarried with two sons and Payton her 6 year old daughter is now a freshman at DUKE where in her room is a picture of the three of them when she was just a little girl.

Erins memory and tapes live on..... BE thankful for your busy days....BUT be more thankful for your family and friends. They're waiting to spend some time with you or receive a call or a note or an email or a text or........

" Be the change YOU want to see in the world!" ........BUMP IT UP!

It has been a few weeks since Japan was devasted by an earthquake then a tsunami. Recovery from this is ongoing and will be in the coming months and evn years ahead. Many outlets are asked for your change to help the victims of this horrible disaster. BUMP IT UP! with your spare change. If everyone does a little the goodwill will be exponential in much needed funds for these people to just BEGIN to get back on their feet! So DONATE your change ! Make a ripple and create a wave of KINDNESS and GENEROSITY!

Funny how quickly people say to me," BUT in these times I don't have any extra money to BUMP IT UP!" I always reply, I didn't realize it cost anything to say hello to someone or to open a door for someone or let someone in front of you while driving or taking your neighbor's trash out or ,,,or...or. Sometimes we FOGET the smallest of kindnesses can MAKE someone's day. If people all over the world would take just a second to to do alittle something IMAGINE the wave of KINDNESS that would be created around the world!!!!! SO remember to BUMP IT UP! It costs YOU NOTHING!!!!

And if you have ANY spare change MANY places are collecting for the victims of the earthquake and tsunami in JAPAN. EVERYONES change can turn into MILLIONS of much needed dollars!!!!!

The Bump Experiment hits the road to California Feb 24 -28 so be on the look out for the car covered in BUMP IT UP! magnets!

Maya Angelou has said, "AS HUMANS WE ARE MORE ALIKE THAN DIFFERENT!" Great words to live by! Funny how how often in life we look at the things that make us different more so than looking at the MANY, MANY THINGS that make us all alike. Perhaps if we did that a little more often would would see that when all is said and done we ALL share in the same triumphs and joys in life. If only we could learn to respect and appreciate our differences and CELEBRATE our similarities.....HMMMM. something to think about! BUMP IT UP!

Some one just asked me, "in the spirit of "bumping it up" what do you do when you think the money you gave was misused?" GREAT QUESTION!!! When i was younger I would give money sometimes to a stranger who asked and then would see them go into the convenience store and buy cigarettes or alcohol . I admit.....I would feel taken when I thought they needed gas money to get back home. I did thoug QUICKLY realize that the most important thing was..... IT REALLY DIDN"T MATTER what they did with the money. My intent was to do a good thing and I was NOT responsible for what they did with the money. My heart told me to help and I do believe the responsiblity is on the other person to use as they see fit...regardless. However, I do believe there will come a time they WILL need the money for an intended purpose and no one will give perhaps because they have felt taken advantage of which is a shame. So my advice..... BUMP IT UP! whenever and however you can. Keep the bump experiment alive!!!!!

I wanted to thank everyone for their support and acts of kindness during the 2nd annual BUMP EXPERIMENT. I was out of the country the first half of the week and had an incredible time sharing the message of the bump experiment with people of several countries. 

I am continually amazed at ALL the singular and collective acts of kindness that take place on a daily basis all over the world. I wish many times the media would choose to promote these activities and events more than than the negative things that occur unfortunately in life. If this would happen it only seems logical our mindsets would be more positive and hopeful.

As Dr. Maya Angelou states," As humans we are MORE ALIKE than different!" If only we could concentrate more on the things that we share together instead of all the things that make us different. in doing so...it takes nothing away from our individuality and uniqueness.

SO..."if you are ever in the position to do something for someone be it of your time or money, do it without expecting anything in return!"

BUMP IT UP!

Hope everyone is fib
nding their own way to BUMP IT UP! this week! It doesn"t matter what you do....JUST DO SOMETHING! without expecting anything in return. Whether it  is a simple smile or hello; donating an hour of your time; give a dollar or give a Zillion. Just take the time to make a difference.

I had the opportunity to spread the message of the bump experiment in 4 different countries over the past week. I DO BELIEVE people care about making this world a better place. Each of us has a responsiblity to do our part.......so remember no act of kindness is TOO SMALL!!!!!

BUMP IT UP!