Tag Archives: driving mitzvahs

A ride to the airport

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This past week, my family and I have been the recipients of several wonderful offers when we needed rides to the airport. When a ride to the airport occurs at an early hour like 5 or 6 am and a friend offers to drive you – it is certainly considered going out of their way to assist you.

In addition, when someone spends more than a half an hour driving you to the airport, I think that is considered a significant gift of their time. Last week, an acquaintance did just that by offering to take me to get some lunch and then drive me to the San Jose airport from Berkeley, California more than an hour drive away. He introduced me to Cafe Gratitude which he assumed I would like considering my mitzvah project. He was right it was a unique and special place, which they tell me might be moving to the Portland area sometime. Perhaps this shout out letting them know we would LOVE them here might help! Not only did our lunch and drive allow us to have some time connecting and getting to know each other, we got so busy talking that we missed the first exit to the airport.

The benefits as I see them when you offer someone a ride to or from the airport.

You connect with someone in a meaningful way.

You save someone the hassle of a taxi ride through unfamiliar locations.

You save them money.

I am sure there are others too. These are all wonderful ways to show someone you care about them and certainly a more personal way to travel than in taxis and shuttles. If you know someone who needs a ride to the airport this week or this month, perhaps you can offer them a ride.  You might be surprised how this simple mitzvah makes both of you feel.

If you’re home tomorrow morning, check out my segment on AM Northwest at 9 am. Come celebrate at my book launch on Wednesday night, November 2nd at Powell’s Cedar Hills Crossing at 7pm. I’ll happily sign your book.

A sudden snow storm

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Apparently, snow brings out the best in people. At least that’s how it was felt today in Portland, Oregon. We had a SUDDEN and unpredicted snow storm that dumped several inches of snow on our city in a few short hours. When the storm started mid-afternoon my daughter and I were beginning to do our grocery shopping and gather a few party supplies for a New Year’s Eve celebration. In the course, of our driving to our two destinations, we saw at least four  people helping strangers with vehicles struggling in the snow. Portland, as you can imagine, is ill-equipped for snow storms and very few people have proper snow tires or four-wheel drive to get around. Even my daughter noticed everyone helping each other and said,” Snow makes the worries of the world disappear.” Well of course unless you really do have to drive in it, but for today we will just enjoy the beautiful white snow that fell and the people we saw helping each other get around safely.

A few simple mitzvahs this week

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531) Held the door for a man with several packages in his hands entering a building. I also had three items piled in one hand but had the other hand free. I literally saw the smile on his face as he laughed while one encumbered person held the door for another.

532) A class my kids attend was canceled today (note on the door) once we arrived, I immediately called a friend whose daughter attends the next class so she wouldn’t need to show up to read about the canceled class too.

533) Today, I did a crazy thing. I stopped by our local fire station and gave the firemen all small gifts from the products I distribute. I thanked them for what they do and told them about the silent prayer my son and I say when we hear the fire trucks or ambulances.  It was fun and I enjoyed saying thank you for the hard work they do each day.

534) Sorted all of our glass recycling today and brought the ones good for a deposit to the store to be donated for the bottle drive for our elementary school.

535) I know I haven’t written about this in a while, but since I started this blog I have gotten so good at remembering my own reusable bags where ever I go. I feel really great each time I reuse one of my bags and know that I continue to do earth mitzvahs each day. I try to make it the rare exception when I actually need to use a new bag from a store.

536) Wrote to thank a colleague for a job well done this week.

537) I am working each day to be the most polite driver I can be. I let people in whenever possible especially when I see others not doing that. Portland, Oregon is a world away from Boston, Massachusetts where I grew up and usually other drivers here are polite to each other. I know when I am not rushing through my day it is easier to allow others this opportunity but when I am late I know that my manners as a driver go out the window.   Another good reason to slow down our pace of life when possible.

Friday’s mitzvahs

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519) Held the door for someone with a walker going into an office building.

520) Helped the UPS driver in the door too.

521)  Volunteered to help at a luncheon for my networking group.

522) Our networking group had our holiday lunch at a wonderful culinary school. The manager came by to see how everything was going. I asked for some business cards and walked around and passed them out so we could call and come back again sometime.

523) Helped one of the other members carry some items out to her car at the end of the meeting.

524) Gave some gifts away at an event I went to in the evening.

525) Sent a condolence card to a man in our community whose father recently passed away.

526) Called to see how our Rebbetzin was doing.

527) The traffic has been horrible this week after a storm, I have tried to be extra kind with my driving and let people merge or go before me when I can. This week I have done it several times.