Operation Smile Overview

Reflecting over this past semester I can say that I have never been so satisfied in my life. Doing these random acts of kindness in hopes of making others smile really changed my mood and how I lived my life. In hopes of transforming my city and nation to be a better and happier place, I transformed my own life. I can't say that every week was easy and unfortunately I didn't do a project one week but, I did successfully finish and I feel that I made an impact. Through taking cupcakes to the fire fighters, posting notes around the college, throwing a surprise birthday party, volunteering at different organizations, and passing out flowers, I feel that I learned how to truly love a complete strange. For just a few short seconds I was welcomed into their lives and able to impact how the rest of their day was going to be. Although I do not know in most of the cases that their days continued on happily or how the rest of their week went. But, what I do know is that I was able to get at least one good smile out of them. But it wasn't just making them smile that made the project special, it was the hope that they would eventually go on and do something nice for the people in their lives. That the smile they received, they would soon pass on to someone else. I may never know if it works but, I do not plan to stop my project. I do not plan to post every week. I plan on going on through my life making others smile and continuing to smile myself. I am beyond thankful for the opportunity that I had to start this project and I can not wait to continue on with it!

Operation Smile 5-1-14

Today I did the most courageous thing I have ever done in this project but, also in my life. I went to Kroger with my boyfriend and bought six bouquets of flowers to give out to people throughout the day. I was able to have my boyfriend, Zach, assist me and also two of the boys that I sit for helped! It was really interesting and terrifying to do. I only encountered one person who said they didn't want the flowers and walked away, I just think that she didn't understand why someone was doing that for her. But the more I thought about it the more it made sense. No one in our everyday society does things to make others happy. We are in this I need this for me mentality and I am not happy until I get it! Most of the women reacted as if they couldn't believe we cared enough to impact their lives! As I walked up to the women shaking and nervous, I simply handed them the flowers and told them that I just wanted to make their day just a little better by giving them the flowers. This project had pushed me outside of my barriers and challenged me to step outside of my four by four every day life that I live. I did not want to offend any of the women by taking pictures but, here is a picture of the flowers that we passed out. I went with crazy daisy's and pink roses because I feel that they symbolize happiness and beauty. Promoting that a small act of kindness can change our inner beauty and happiness. Although all I saw were there smiles, my life was completely changed today. I feel as if I am walking on clouds and that I have accomplished more in impacting others lives this semester than I have ever felt before.

Operation Smile 4-25/26-2014

This weekend I partook in two really awesome opportunities to impact others lives! The first thing I did was serve at a middle school after party the church that I attend and intern at hosts after parties after the school dances let out to ensure that the students are out having fun after but, in a safe and responsible way.

This evening we had a turn out of 200 students from Delhi surrounding schools of middle school students 6th-8th grade! They had activities that included a dance floor with a live DJ, nine square, corn hole, snacks, video games, and space to just hang out. I was the "chaperon" for the dance floor and spent my evening with about 70-80 students dancing and singing. Although I  didn't do this on my own or plan it, I was able to take an opportunity and add an extra adult so that the church could accept more kids at the door and ensuring that these kids were safe and having fun. I don't think I saw one kid not smiling, they had three hours to go crazy and have fun without having to worry about getting into trouble! 

Next the morning after I served at Matthew 25 Ministries which helps supply goods and supplies for people and countries after natural disasters occur. It was a really cool experience to see the work they have done and continue to do. Countries generally see a year of help or less from companies and non-profits and then are usually left to find more on their own later. M25M will stay anywhere that they are needed as long as they are asked. The continue to work on areas effected by Super Storm Sandy, Hurricane Katrina, the Japanese Tsunami, and Haiti to name a few. While spending time with this awesome ministry I did one of the simplest things in the world, folding bed covers. These covers are sent to clinics and hospitals in countries who are lacking in sterilization and are in need of clean and sterile materials. For two hours I did this small task and I legitimately could not stop smiling. And my smile became contagious everyone around me standing on their feet for two hours separating out bedding were just absolutely honored to be supporting our brothers and sisters around the world in need. 

This was a really cool weekend to do something different. It doesn't have to be setting something up every week, it can be as small as joining in with others to make a larger impact and to have fun while doing it. I don't think I will ever forget this weekend of serving and the lives I was able to impact by joining in with others to do so!

Operation Smile 4-20-14

This week has been one of the hardest weeks for me. One of my childhood best friends had a stroke and was rushed to the emergency room. They found out that she has Fibro Muscular Dystrophy, it is a condition that causes the smooth muscle in the carotid artery becomes hard like pearls and begins to constrict. They believe this has been going on her whole life and just never knew it. Jordan and I fell a part when we started high school and just hung out with different people. When her sister called me to let me know, it was like nothing ever changed. I left class early to rush over to her room to see her. On 4-18-14 she was released and they believed she was out of immediate danger of having another stroke. That night I went to visit her and sat with her for an hour or so. We reminisced about all the fun times we had and how much we missed being friends. On 4-19-14 she was rushed to the E.R. at 4:20AM with another stroke. She was rushed into emergency surgery where a stent was placed in her carotid artery. She was allowed no visitors besides immediate family. I was worried sick and just wanted to visit again, we are so young to be going through this. On Easter she was allowed to have visitors and I knew that it was my chance to go see her. To much surprise she was improving tremendously. She was able to begin writing her name again and eating with her right hand. I brought her a get well gift, nothing special, but I just wanted to see her smile again, like when we were kids. I spent a few more hours with her talking and reconnecting. Unfortunately it took something so traumatic for us to see how important our friendship is, but I would change the bond we now have together. Operation Smile was designed to make other people around me happy, but I can't begin to explain how happy it is made me. The smile Jordan gave me when I gave her the bear and balloon is something I will treasure the rest of my life.

Operation Smile 4-10-14

This past week I practiced pure happiness. I only did things that made me and the people I came into contact happy! I held the door this week for 60 people, only 40 smiled at me, and only 10 said thank you. I never stopped smiling, I was just doing what made me happy. I also was able to spend my off day with my nieces and nephews,  showering them for how perfect they are in my life. I, along with my boyfriend Zach, took all four out to enjoy pizza, juice boxes, ice cream, and a playground to ourselves. I didn't care what they did wrong that day with mom and dad. It made me the absolute happiest person along with the 5 people I spent it with! It's absolutely a necessity for people to take time every day to make themselves and those around them happy!This is Kara, Evan, Kade, and Charlie, they literally are the coolest kids to be around and taking them out to show how much I love them really was one of the coolest things I have ever experienced as an aunt!

Operation Smile 4-3-13

Today was one of the coolest experiences ever! Last night my boyfriend and I made white cake cupcakes with chocolate chips and dark fudge chocolate icing. It was a lot of fun to cook with him and be able to share my project with him. So today my mom and I went to Green Township Fire and EMT department to hand deliver the cupcakes. I met Mr.Gallagher who was very surprised by the cupcakes and our visit. He was really excited to show us the fire department and explain what exactly he does. There are only three guys on shift at this station and they work 24 hour shifts a piece, three days a week. Just hearing him speak with such pride of his work and his team really grew on me, just from baking cupcakes which cost me $3.57 to bake and just about 30 minutes out of my time! My appreciation for these men and women is beyond measurable and the fact that they are just so excited to do it everyday made baking these cupcakes worth so much more. After speaking with Mr.Gallagher he offered me the chance to do a ride-a-long this summer with the squad, so now I will be building a friendship and a different kind of appreciation for these individuals and I really cannot wait!

The last picture is of me and Mr.Gallagher, it is the start of a friendship caught on camera. I never thought that this project would really impact my life. I am so thankful for the opportunities I have experienced and will experience so far this semester. This rainy day was made bright after my visit to the fire department. Operation smile is really taking over and I can't wait to share this with my friends and family at the end of the semester and encourage them to be a part of this movement!

Operation Smile - 3-30-14

This Sunday I got to experience one of the coolest outcomes of the project so far. A sixth grade girl I have worked with all this year in the middle school youth group approached me about a problem she was having. She explained that she is not popular in her standards and that she has felt left out a lot lately at school and youth group. As much as this broke my heart to hear I knew that I needed to listen and then assess the best way possible. After explaining how much I thought of her and how much she was cared about by me and plenty of others, I got to see that play out the rest of the evening. A new student showed up and didn't know anyone, but the girl that I spoke to didn't skip a beat. She was the first one up introducing herself and getting the new student connected for the night! Not only did I notice her actions, but so did all of the other adults and even some of the other students. I was so proud that I was able to be a voice in her life during a hard time, but even more to see her be able to see it in herself after an evening of including someone else! Operation smile is really showing me how some of the littlest of things can be absolutely life changing and how much of an impact I am able to make on the people around me every single week!