Mollie Marti
  • About
  • Blog
  • Get Started
  • Speaking
  • Research
  • Books
  • Contact

Pay it Forward February

Posted by: Mollie Marti , January 31, 2020
Posted in Blog |
31
Jan 2020
act of kindness

A few months ago, I received an email from Christa Nelson, owner of Epiphany, a local public relations and marketing firm.

In honor of her upcoming 50th birthday, she decided to dedicate 50 weeks to giving back and acts of kindness. She was looking to highlight the work of some of her favorite nonprofit organizations and said this included the National Resilience Institute, the organization that I founded and direct.

Christa has been a passionate partner in bringing others to our mission of thriving, helping them understand how to donate time, talents and treasure and help more people together. So while it didn’t surprise me that she wanted to encourage others to find creative ways to help meet our needs and bolster our work, it did delight me.

I quickly settled on the month of February.

Why?

It is the month I was born – shared with others I hold dear.

In my country, it is a month that dedicates a day to celebrating love and another to great leadership.

And housing the day of my cancer diagnosis, it is the month that marks the beginning of my journey as a cancer survivor.

As part of her half century birthday celebration, Christa asked if I also would personally shape an act of kindness to do together. Oh, the possibilities…

Want to join us in paying it forward in your community? Purchase your own FREE HUGS shirt and start hugging. A portion of the proceeds will benefit NRI. If you’re local and want to join our event, email [email protected] for details on days and times.

With her request running in the background of my mind one day, I set off for a follow-up appointment with my oncologist. I’m not sure if this impacted how I was viewing those around me. Perhaps it simply was the point in my healing – somewhere in the murky waters between focusing on surviving and desiring a state of thriving. For whatever the reason, I felt profound compassion rise time and time as I took in the women around me.

As I parked my car, I watched a woman tenderly shuffle across the parking lot and I saw myself in her as I recovered from the surgery that removed the cancer and rearranged my body. As I walked through the front doors, I saw a woman walking out with a dazed look on her face and I recalled the absolute overwhelm of my doctors talking through options and procedures and treatments. As I checked in for my appointment, my eyes settled on a woman sitting around the corner getting her blood drawn. I recalled sitting in that same chair to start the genetic testing and detailed discussions of risks and prognosis for an earlier death than I had previously entertained.

All I wanted to do was hug these women. Each and every one of them. Not tell them I understood. Not make suggestions. Not even give them an assurance that they were stronger than the challenges they were facing. But simply to remind them that they are precious and surrounded by others who see and care for them far beyond any diagnosis or life situation.

So on some days this month, you will find me, Christa and other lovely people at the Hall-Perrine Cancer Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa wearing FREE HUGS t-shirts. Our home base will be the McIntyre Patient Resource Center on the first floor, a space that provided me with both respite and resources during my cancer journey.

We will be sharing some mementos of inspiration if people want to take one home. But mostly, we’ll simply be offering love, holding a space of care, and reminding others that despite walking a path that only they can walk, they most certainly are not alone.

Resource: To follow along or join on our Pay It Forward month, connect on twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook or Instagram.

Recovery from loss takes time, often much longer than people expect it might. Watch my Resiliency Matters TV show with grief expert Hope Edelman for tips — and a dose of compassion.
Previous
Next
Mollie Marti
Mollie Marti, PhD, JD, is a psychologist, lawyer, researcher and humanitarian relentlessly dedicated to helping you thrive and strengthen others. She serves as CEO of the nonprofit Worldmaker International.

Recent Posts

Making decisions in a ‘worldmaking’ way

Last month, I was chatting with a colleague...

October 24, 2022
24 October, 2022 at 5:40 pm
An Ode to a Trusted Adult

The first week of September was the season-opening...

September 20, 2022
20 September, 2022 at 6:17 pm
Moving through setbacks and adversity with kindness and grace

It has been a slog. Planning (and replanning)...

July 19, 2022
19 July, 2022 at 3:52 pm
Improve team communication, cohesion and problem solving with this relationship-based resilience tool

Amidst all of its challenges, the Covid-19 pandemic...

May 9, 2022
9 May, 2022 at 7:10 pm
3 tips to help you navigate the mental health impacts of a virtual workplace

The first step in managing influences is being...

April 1, 2022
1 April, 2022 at 6:52 pm
Worldmakers are Dreammakers
Worldmakers are Dreammakers

“It makes my heart sing to see how...

August 4, 2021
4 August, 2021 at 10:21 pm
Being Human is Not a Solo Sport

Maybe it was my birthday turning the calendar...

February 26, 2021
26 February, 2021 at 9:07 pm
are you OK
Telling Our Stories Helps Us Share Our Losses and Heal

In a recent NY Times Opinion titled, “The...

December 28, 2020
28 December, 2020 at 8:21 pm
In the moment blessings
“In This Moment” Blessing

Years ago, I interviewed Marci Shimoff upon the...

April 9, 2020
9 April, 2020 at 8:24 pm
act of kindness
Pay it Forward February

A few months ago, I received an email...

January 31, 2020
31 January, 2020 at 12:44 am

Topics

Blog Community Resilience Infographic Leadership Mental Health Military-Connected Resilience National Resilience Institute Past Events Preparedness & Response Psychology Research Resilience Resiliency Matters TV Speaking Student Resilience THRIVE Model of Resilience Trauma Informed Care Video Visual Aid Wholemaker Worldmaker

Join my THRIVE community.

Sign up. Get newsletters, resources, offers and good stuff that I only share with my THRIVE community delivered to your inbox.


Recent Posts

Making decisions in a ‘worldmaking’ way

Last month, I was chatting with a colleague...

October 24, 2022
24 October, 2022 at 5:40 pm
An Ode to a Trusted Adult

The first week of September was the season-opening...

September 20, 2022
20 September, 2022 at 6:17 pm

More…

New Here?

Books

Research

Press & Media

Terms of Use

Privacy

Contact

© 2002-2019 Mollie Marti, PhD. All rights reserved. By using this website, you consent to the Company’s Privacy Policy. Unless otherwise noted, any materials reprinted must contain the following copyright notice: “© 2002-2019 Mollie Marti, PhD. All rights reserved.” All usage is governed by the Company’s Terms of Use.