Going Without to Give Back. Yep, it really is that easy!

From a simple thing beauty blooms.

Here in the blogosphere there’s a movement happening… some bloggers have been going without to give back.

It’s rumored that super fabulicious Amber West started this whole thing and I’ve been excited to get onboard. But first, what exactly is ‘going without’, anyway?

Going without to give back is simple. You give up something for a week or more and give the money you would have spent to a charity or someone in need. It can be as big or little as you make it. A daily soda or latte, your weekly budget for eating lunch out, a cupcake indulgence, or even a candy bar.

This is where I got stumped. If you’ve reading the blog, then you know I’m on a journey to better my health, otherwise known as a diet. There isn’t much I can give up. I commented on Diana Murdock’s blog that I’d give up mani/pedis, but that didn’t seem like enough. I mean, how often do we get mani/pedis anyway? Once a month? Nope, I wanted to do more. Give more.

Then something my amazing trainer Nicole once told me popped into my head. She suggested every time I wanted a latte or fast food, to drop the $5 I would’ve spent into a jar and at the end of the week to treat myself to, well, a mani/pedi or cute clothes.

What a fabulous idea! Except, I’m not going to treat myself, I’m going to donate that money to Share our Strength. Here’s my plan: Every time I want to cheat on my diet and get fast food, a latte, or eat something that’s totally off limits, I’m going to put a marble in a jar. Each marble represents $5. Ouch for me, yay for Share our Strength!

I figure this is win-win-win. Share our Strength gets a nice donation, I don’t sabotage my diet, and every time I drop a marble in the jar, it’s a victory for me and my health. That visual alone will be worth all the money Share our Strength is going to get.

Before you start thinking this is not something you could possibly do (times are tough right now and budgets are tight), this is a two-part challenge.

Giving back is important, but so are Random Acts of Kindness. In her blog, Diana talked about how a hug made someone’s night and how it affected her as well. Just a simple hug.

Random Acts, or Gentillesse Gratuité as Patricia Sands refers to it, is free kindness. A hug, a kind word, even a smile given freely to a stranger or someone you know can have lasting impact. It costs nothing, go ahead, spread some free kindness today!

Natalie Hartford – a super awemazing lady, let me borrow this from her blog: this is what Amber has called the #gowithout Movement and here’s how it works:

1. Choose something to go without (as small or as large as you want) for a week.
2. Blog (or Facebook/Tweet) about what you are giving up and who you are giving your $5/$10/$20/whatever to.
3. Link your blog here and join the others participating in Amber’s #gowithout movement. The linky tool will be active for a month, so there’s plenty of time to join.

If you don’t blog, don’t worry! Anyone can participate in giving back.

• Leave a comment at any of the blogs taking part and let us know how you will join in the #gowithout movement.
• Post a photo on Facebook.
• Visit Twitter and Amber’s hashtag #gowithout and tweet what you’re giving up and which wonderful charity will get a donation from you.

It really is THAT easy. Give a hug, give up a latte, give to someone in need. A ginormous thanks to Amber for starting this and all the awesome bloggers out there who are making a difference in the lives of others. You all ROCK!

I’m going to keep my jar open until the end of the year and I’ll let you know how much I saved for Share our Strength. Now it’s your turn, what would you #gowithout?