The Year of the Smile: Creative Ways to Make a Difference

My goal for 2012 is to spread as many smiles as possible through volunteering and random acts of kindness. I invite you to do the same.

Whether your actions are big (committing to volunteer weekly at a nonprofit) or small (paying for a stranger's toll), please promote kindness. Smiling is contagious, so spread it quickly.

Here are a few traditional and creative ways to get started:

• Pay for a stranger's morning coffee or highway toll. Twice in my life a stranger has surprised me with kindness. Once with free coffee, once with a free trip on the 73 toll road. It completely boosted my mood for the day. Since then, I've done the same and it felt even better to give.
• Donate time or money to a local charity. There are several nonprofits in Orange County that need our help. in Aliso Viejo works to bring smiles to children battling cancer. It donates DVD players, movies and game systems to children in the hospital. The organization is also actively working on plans for its organic ranch and community gardens. Coastal German Shepherd Rescue is another great organization. Its adoption events are frequently held in Town Center, near . Donations and adoption fees go toward vaccinations, spay/neutering, a microchip, a new collar and leash, and the cost for rehabilitating the dogs.
• Make a weekly commitment to volunteering. Many local not-for-profit organizations, such as the in Laguna Beach, require volunteers to commit to a few hours every week. It won't take too much away from your day, but it goes a long way to help the center. Visit volunteermatch.org to find more organizations near you.
• The Swan Project. This is a Facebook project created by a user in the Minneapolis area. This anonymous benefactor creates origami swans with messages and drawings on the wings. Each swan is left in a public place. The messages on the wings are meant to bring a smile or give hope to its finder. Recipients are asked to take a photo of themselves with the swans when they find one and upload it to the Swan Project Facebook page. The creator is also accepting requests for swans so people around the country can help distribute them. A swan is currently hiding somewhere in Aliso Viejo, waiting to create a smile.
• Make your smile pledge through social media. Use the support of friends and followers on Facebook and Twitter to make the year of the smile a success. Before Christmas, I wrote the following status on my personal Facebook account: "For every 5 friends who like this status, I will buy a gift for a family in need before Christmas. I'll upload pictures to Facebook." My husband did the same. Together we donated 20 gifts to the Spark of Love toy drive before Christmas. The idea caught on as friends and friends of friends made the same commitment.

Be creative, have fun and make 2012 the year of the smile.