The Giving Challenge - Stephanie L. Jones

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MY MISSION

Empowering women to give their best life through giving to themselves and others, practicing gratitude, and pursuing one good goal, with a foundation of faith.

© 2021 Stephanie L. Jones, Giving Gal

Tune in to this week's episode of the Giving Your

Tune in to this week's episode of the Giving Your Best Life podcast as I chat about one of my favorite giving challenges-- giving the gift of a smile.

Everyone can take this challenge, even children!

I chat about the positive benefits for the giver and the receiver.

I share a story about the impact of a smile I gifted and how smiling can build our confidence.

When was the last time you gifted a smile?

LISTEN at the link in my bio!

In an instant, our lives can change. A horrific ca

In an instant, our lives can change. A horrific car crash, a divorce, or a job loss.

I usually think of “in an instant” as a bad thing. Like, in an instant, my friend Leslie, was gone after a battle with cancer (7-26-08).

She was 32.

In an instant, her death changed my life.

Her death came as I transitioned from a police officer to the corporate world.

I became a workaholic, making a lot of money, and wondering why the money wasn’t making me happy.

I lived the same day, every day, working long hours, seven days a week.

Was this what I was meant to do? To be? To work to make money?

Leslie’s death started me questioning my life. What the heck was I doing? How was I living my days?

I thought in an instant, it could all end and what would I have done?

Years earlier I created my dream list. Things I wanted to do, places I wanted to go, and things I wanted to learn. It was saved in a file on my desk. I only opened it when I had something to add.

Leslie’s death challenged me to live my list.

My husband and I had a come to Jesus meeting. I yelled, “What the hell are we doing with our lives?”

I wasn’t angry, but scared. Scared the day would come and I would have a ton of regrets and I wouldn’t be able to do the things I wanted to do.

We took our first step to living our lives with a trip to Hawaii. It had been five years since we’d been on vacation because we were “too busy.”

The trip was amazing. I learned to surf, took my first helicopter ride, and swam with dolphins.

We got up at 2:30 a.m. to drive up a mountain to see the sunrise above the clouds and then biked 20 miles down. I thought I was going to die, but I did it! I was living!

Since Leslie’s death, I’ve continued to live my list: learning to kayak, running a marathon with my mom, planted a garden and learned to make salsa, learned to knit, took ice skating lessons, swam with sharks, took my dad to D.C, and so much more.

July 26th is a day for me to be thankful for Leslie’s changing my life, to remember her family, and ensure I’m living the life she can’t.

Do you have a dream list? Are you living it? Life can change in an instant. You choose how to spend your days, choose wisely.

Check out my new podcast episode to learn more abo

Check out my new podcast episode to learn more about the 3rd Annual Summer Giving Challenge.

It starts on Sunday July 25th!

Are you in?

🏖 free printables and journal pages
🏖 daily challenges sent to your inbox
🏖 conversation starters for children
🏖 bonus inspirational stories

Join today for this free 7 day challenge to show kindness to those you encounter.

Listen and Sign-up = #linkinbio

For years I’d walk into a sporting goods store,

For years I’d walk into a sporting goods store, pick up a basketball, dribble it a couple of times, and put it back.

I wanted one but didn’t have a goal.

I kept telling myself I’d buy one when I got a goal.

Finally, I decided I didn’t need a goal to get the basketball.

I bought one and spend an hour or two dribbling up and down the driveway. It provides variety to my workout, bubbles up great memories, and just makes me happy.

I love basketball!

On Saturday, I spent the day with my dad. We went out to breakfast, spent hours on the trails, took a jeep ride, and wrapped up with a couple of games of HORSE.

If I hadn’t bought the basketball and had it in my car, we probably wouldn’t have played those games. A fun time, making great memories.

Sometimes accomplishing our goals look exactly like what we set out to do. Other times, it looks less fancy and not a big deal. But taking a step, a step in the right direction, often sets us up for an opportunity we didn’t expect.

Be okay with the small steps. The often lead to priceless places.

When was the last time you truely disconnected? I

When was the last time you truely disconnected?

In this week's episode of the Giving Your Best Life podcast, I share about the gift of disconnecting, how I've gotten to do that lately, and why it's so special.

LISTEN at the link in my bio!

Fun fact! Mike and I were first married (18 years

Fun fact! Mike and I were first married (18 years ago today) by the justice of the peace, in a ceremony attended by two people, one being a state trooper on his meal break:)

We had a church wedding three months later. Most of our guests had no idea we were already married!

I often joke, I've been married twice but never divorce.

Grateful for the opportunity to share my story on

Grateful for the opportunity to share my story on the @acupof_gratitude podcast.

We dive into everything from my childhood, marriage, being a police wife, speaking as an introvert, my latest project, and my passion to help women live the calling God laid on their heart.

Check it out!
#linkinbio

We intended to work today, but blue skies and kaya

We intended to work today, but blue skies and kayaks sitting unused called our name.

We told the bosses we’d be back later.

A trip up and down the river and lunch at a local dive is time well spent I’ll never regret.

The work will always be there.

Warm, sunshiny days won’t.

What are your plans for the holiday weekend?

What's the most uncommon gift you've received or g

What's the most uncommon gift you've received or given? I would love to know!

Tune in to this week's episode of the Giving Your Best Life podcast to hear me talk about uncommon gifts that you can give that cost little to nothing. I'll even tell you a story about one I gave recently!

LISTEN at the link in my bio!

#givingchallenge #givingyourbestlife #bebold #blessothers #uncommongift #gift #giftgiving #bravery #giving

We had a goal to spend a couple of days on the App

We had a goal to spend a couple of days on the Appalachian Trail.

Life happened and a trip to North Carolina turned to hiking trails closer to home.

We were in shape, prepared with our food and water.

After a couple hours of hiking, we realized we had a major problem, none of us could read a map.

We had been walking in a circle and every time we thought we figured out the trail system we were wrong.

Could you imagine if we had discovered none of us could navigate a map out on the AT?

We were not scared because we knew we’d figure it out and we were close enough to communities that worse case scenario we could hike off the trail to a house.

After way too many extra miles we could chuckle and say thank you God for protecting us from not going on the AT!

Sometimes we can be disappointed when our plans don’t work out, but sometimes we can reflect back and be grateful for the setback.

Bring on the heat, humidity, and the long sunshiny

Bring on the heat, humidity, and the long sunshiny days of summer!

At the beginning of each season, I like to look ahead to the next three months and ask what can I only do during summer? What fun activities do I want to do over the next three months? We need to ensure balance the busyness of everyday life with activities that fill up our cup and give us energy.

These questions ensure we are not just going through the motions. They can help us take advantage of our time, stay focused, and maybe embark on a few new adventures.

I challenge you to look at the next three months (July-August-September) and ask yourself:

(1) What do I want to do?
(2) What do I want to see and experience?
(3) Where do I want to go?
(4) Who do I want to spend time with and soak in the long days of summer?

For me, I want to tool around Lake Geneva with my hubby, go on an adventure in Georgia with new friends, take a solo trip for my birthday, continue weekly runs at the park and popping in on the farmer’s market, and enjoy a day or two at the Dunes, sitting at the beach relaxing.

What is on your list?

Blessings,
Stephanie

“Do you have a place to shower?” It’s a que

“Do you have a place to shower?”

It’s a question I asked to a woman I had only met twelve hours earlier.

She mentioned a water pump to wash off, but I’d piqued her interest.

“Why do you ask?” She inquisitively responded.

“I have an Airbnb 10 minutes from here with a nice big shower. You are welcome to use it.” I replied.

“Really?” She questioned.

Intentional acts of giving often are received with hesitation and disbelief.

If we back up to James 2:14 it discusses seeing a person in need of clothes and food and yet sending that person on their way without helping.

I’m convinced everyday God places people in our path to help, encourage, show love, and kindness. The question is, do you put your faith into action?

The lady I offered the shower to had a 14-hour drive and had just ran 10 hours in the sweltering heat. I don’t know about you, but I’m pretty disgusting after running 30 minutes in the heat. If the situation were reversed, I would have loved for someone to offer me a shower.

Wouldn’t you?

I don’t know if this woman is a Christian. What I do know is how she felt and the gratitude she showed after a long warm shower.

We don’t lead people Christ by just telling people about him, we lead people to Christ by showing them Christ through our uncommon good deeds, in a what’s in it for me world.

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