Do you ever just think about all the ways that your life has made the world a better place? If you haven’t, I recommend that you do so. It’s not a moment based in ego but instead a reminder of the power you have to change the world and the reminder that you are already doing it. I had the opportunity to go on a road trip with my mom over the holiday weekend. There’s a wonderful energy that road trips provide. They allow you to really live in the moment and connect with the pe

Last Saturday I met one of my closest friends and her family for brunch. As is want to happen in New York, the subways were delayed and it would have taken me quite a long time to get there, so I opted to call a Lyft. As soon as I got in the car my driver started a conversation about his life. He mentioned that he had so many good intentions but it was hard to have discipline. He specifically wanted to be more consistent with how he saved money. He had it coming in but spent

The old adage states,“You can’t pour from an empty cup. Take care of yourself first.” In as much as this makes sense, it also feels like it’s counterintuitive to the process of Giving Back. The idea of taking care of self first feels selfish and intrinsically egotistical. As caregivers. changemakers, volunteers and the like we shine our lights in service of others so often that we tend to forget about our needs and feel guilty when we do focus on ourselves. I’m here to remind

Let’s be honest, there’s a lot of need in this world. It can be overwhelming to say the least. We see it on a daily basis. It’s on the news, radio and everywhere that you look. The trick is to not let the overwhelming nature of the whole stop you from doing your part to make the world a better place. So how do you honor your intention to Give Back if you can’t in that moment? First and foremost, acknowledge your intention to Give Back. That’s the perfect starting point. Then

I lost my younger brother to leukemia when he was 13 years old. The years since his passing have been a rollercoaster of pain, anger, uncertainty and disbelief. There’s no blueprint for grief. No instructions on how long the pain will last or how to answer questions that come from a good place but make you feel the feelings all over again or support you when you feel guilty in the moments when you’ve found a modicum of happiness. In the first few years after he passed, I was

I like to think that Halloween is the one day out of the year when volunteers can dress up as the Superheroes that they are each and every day. Stan Lee describes a Superhero as follows, a Superhero is a person who does heroic deeds and has the ability to do them in a way that a normal person couldn’t. So in order to be a superhero, you need a power that is more exceptional than any power a normal human being could possess, and you need to use that power to accomplish good de

When people ask me about Giving Back it’s usually because they feel overwhelmed by the idea of where to start. They are also often concerned with whether or not the good that they will do will really make a difference. I want to tell you right here and now, unequivocally: WHATEVER YOU DO MATTERS...NO MATTER HOW SMALL THE ACT. Never mistake your inability to do everything with your ability to do something to make the world a better place. You are a powerful presence for good o

cra·zy ˈkrāzē/ informal adjective extremely enthusiastic. synonyms: passionate about, (very) keen on, enamored of, infatuated with, smitten with, devoted to; Hi, my name is Gail Anderson and I have the crazy idea that I can change the world through service. I happen to be a little crazy, a lot passionate and pulled by the powerful vision that I can help make the world better by inspiring others through acts of service. It takes a little bit of crazy to look at the worl

The world is full of opinions and let’s face it, we each think that ours is the only one that counts. It’s an entirely human response to question/judge the world around you. The only problem with that is that it’s limited thinking. All you have in fact is your opinion. You get so stuck thinking about all of the ways that the world doesn’t work, that you aren’t able to really see the possibilities for change through action. Consider for a moment what would be possible if you t

It's a really scary notion to step into your YES. Yes to saying "I have a crazy idea that we can change the world through service." Yes to being open to where that vision might take me. Yes to all of the ideas that pop up when I think about how simple it is for us all to be good to one another and Give Back. I'm so grateful for all of the new subscribers who have said Yes to being a part of this Giving Back Movement. Your support means the world to me. My life's purpose is to