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  esawyer 8:55 am on June 9, 2011 Permalink | Reply  

  30 Good Deeds in (Approximately) 30 Days: Reflection 

  So about a month ago my friend Negin challenged a group of artists to do 30 good deeds in 30 days.

  I accepted the challenge.

  A few days later, the project was postponed.

  I did them anyway. These posts were the result.

  Here are five things I learned:

  1.) I’m more conscious of re-using (rather than simply recycling) than I was before.

  2.) I can still be better about bringing my own cup to coffeeshops.

  3.) Kiva is amazing. I knew this already, but I was reminded.

  4.) That good begets good. And keeping a public blog helps.

  5.) That I do more than I think. (This is a powerful realization.) I’ll bet you do too.

   

   

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  esawyer 4:46 am on June 7, 2011 Permalink | Reply  

  Day 30: I bought my friend a GRE review book. 

  My good friend is applying to grad school for a program in conflict-resolution and she called me tonight worried about the Math section of the GRE. “Do you tutor Math?” she asked me. “I don’t,” I said. “But I’ll tell you what I can do, “I said. “What’s your address?” She told me. “I’m sending you a GRE review book. Right now.” (More …)

   
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  esawyer 11:44 am on June 6, 2011 Permalink | Reply  

  Day 29: I used a Groupon to take four friends out to eat. 

  So I got this email a couple days from Groupon that read, “Reminder: go use your Groupon!”

  Apparently I had a Groupon for dinner for 4 at this rad pizza place that was about to expire. So we went last night.

  And it was delicious.

  And we had the coolest waitress–whose name I can’t remember–with the most beautiful Australian accent.

  Thanks, Groupon!

   

   
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  esawyer 10:10 pm on June 4, 2011 Permalink | Reply  

  Day 28: I gave a co-worker a ride to a teacher training. 

  It was on my way, so no big deal, but she appreciated it (turns out she doesn’t drive on freeways). We had a great chat, plus we saved gas. Boom. Double bonus.

   

   
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  esawyer 9:56 pm on June 3, 2011 Permalink | Reply  

  Day 27: I emailed a former professor on behalf of a friend to ask a favor. 

  My friend James is leading a Paratheatre workshop and he’s looking for a space to hold the rehearsals/meetings. So I emailed a former professor to ask if we could use a space that would be absolutely perfect for this kind of work. (Oh, she holds the key to it; that’s why I emailed her.) (More …)

   
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  esawyer 1:17 am on June 3, 2011 Permalink | Reply  

  Day 26: I listened. 

  She needed to talk.

  So I listened.

   
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  esawyer 2:02 pm on June 1, 2011 Permalink | Reply  

  Day 25: I took an active step toward strengthening a partnership between the SAT-prep company I work for and a local church that works to help under-represented students get into college. 

  Okay, not quite as pithy as I’d have liked, but there it is.

  (More …)

   
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  esawyer 7:35 pm on May 30, 2011 Permalink | Reply  

  Day 24: I helped my friend get a job. 

  I don’t want to say too much about this one, but it does count as a good deed and part of this process (I’m seeing) is taking ownership of each good deed. (I tell others this all the time; it’s important I practice what I preach.)

  So there, I said it: I helped my friend get a job.

  (Just to clarify: this friend was absolutely qualified for the job and could have gotten it without my help; I simply made the connection.)

   

   
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  esawyer 8:20 pm on May 29, 2011 Permalink | Reply  

  Day 23: I’m helping my brother with his college essays. 

  My little brother Nick is applying to college this fall. He wants to study film. I’ve helped him do some research into the best film schools and have given him a sneak peak at some of the essays. (I get paid to do this, but with him it’s free.)

  We’ll spend the summer working on his college essays. I’d like to post an excerpt or two, but I should wait until after the Jan. 1 deadline. It’s going to be fun. Writing college essays is the best: helping students find a narrative for the past 17 years of their life? I think it’s the most fulfilling job I’ve ever had. (More …)

   
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  esawyer 8:29 am on May 29, 2011 Permalink | Reply  

  Day 22: I donated to Kiva. 

  I know I said I would try and make most of my good deeds free, but because I so value what Kiva does, I wanted to draw people’s attention to their website: http://www.kiva.org. (More …)