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Thankfulness plays powerful, self-affirming roles in our lives. Our favorite quotes of simple appreciation inspire us, and reflecting on the good in our lives builds mindfulness and a sense of well-being. For many, gratitude meditation serves as a fulfilling way to build upon this mentality of giving thanks. But what are the benefits of this practice? And where can you find the best guided meditations on YouTube and elsewhere? What is gratitude meditation? Guided meditation can play an important role in practicing appreciation. As with any meditation, you may practice for a few minutes or longer at the time of day that suits you . What distinguishes gratitude meditation is that your guide will help you feel grateful. This mindfulness practice focuses on giving thanks for the good things in life, including positive aspects of yourself, your experiences and the positive people and opportunities in your life. What are the benefits? Meditation improves our lives both at the physiolo...

Finding the perfect gift for everyone on your holiday shopping list is challenging, especially when it comes to coworkers , your child’s teacher or babysitter and other service professionals. So, to help you find the perfect holiday present for everyone on your list, we’ve gathered some of the best $50 gift ideas available this season. From tech and food surprises to beloved travel products and home goods, these $50 and under gifts will help you get your holiday shopping done so you can enjoy more of the holiday season with (slightly) less stress. 12 gift ideas that are $50 and less 1. JBL Clip 3 Wireless Speaker  $39.95 from Amazon This small wireless speaker (just a half pound) has surprisingly good sound for such a small device. It’s an ultra-portable, IPX7 waterproof speaker with a carabiner clip, making it easy to attach to a beach bag, backpack or belt loop for on-the-go streaming. It offers wireless control from a tablet or smartphone, and with noise- and echo-canceli...

Volunteering abroad allows you to make a difference—all while traveling and exploring a new locale. The experience is particularly ideal for between jobs, gap years and post-graduation—and even during spring break. And program options to volunteer abroad abound: You can visit just about any country in the world, and there are all sorts of ways to do good, including conservation, community building, education and more.  Sign on to this adventure and not only will you make a positive impact , but you’ll open up your own world, gaining skills, making friends and getting to know another culture. But, of course, like any big adventure, getting started can feel a bit overwhelming. This guide to volunteering abroad will help get you started, with nitty-gritty details on what you need to know before you sign up, recommended programs and much more.  What it means to volunteer abroad  When you volunteer abroad, you’ll work—without getting paid—in another country. During your ti...

Going Places is one of five nonprofit organizations SUCCESS magazine is spotlighting during the week of Giving Tuesday . Early in November, we posted on our social media accounts asking followers to nominate a charity they felt was making an impact in their communities. We tallied up the nominations and are pleased to highlight the hard work these organizations are doing behind the scenes to better the lives of others. A viral start for Katie Blomquist In the fall of 2016, when Katie Blomquist worked as a first-grade teacher at a Title I school in South Carolina, a boy in her class asked her for a bike for his birthday. She wanted to help him out, and after asking around the community, she realized that most kids in her school didn’t own a bike. Her own happy childhood memories of riding a bike made her want to help her students , so she created a GoFundMe page. By the end of the year, she raised enough funds for all 650 kids in that school to each receive a bike. Blomquist’s stor...

The Making a Difference Foundation (which encompasses Eloise’s Cooking Pot Food Bank), is one of five nonprofit organizations SUCCESS magazine is spotlighting during the week of Giving Tuesday. Early in November, we posted on our social media accounts asking followers to nominate a charity they felt was making an impact in their communities. We tallied up the nominations and are pleased to highlight the hard work these organizations are doing behind the scenes to better the lives of others. In 2003, Ahndrea Blue went on a mission trip to Chile and Peru, where she built schools and helped feed people in need. When she returned home, she had a fire in her soul.  “I realized that we can all impact people’s lives,” says Blue, an attorney who also considers herself a missionary. Her trip inspired her to create the Making a Difference Foundation , which provides housing, food and words of encouragement to people who are struggling. The Joy Box Ministry offers caring words in a time of...

Choosing the best corporate gifts and thoughtful holiday presents for employees isn’t always easy. But if you’re a Secret Santa trying to find Christmas gifts for coworkers or need to get a small item for a white elephant gift exchange, you face additional challenges. You want to give a great gift that is also budget friendly. Here, we provide our top $10 gift ideas for friends, family and coworkers. Some cost even less! Yet, each one is unique, memorable and makes an ideal holiday present. And with shipping made easy, you can even spread holiday cheer with gifts for those who work from home . So put on the carols and dive into our affordable holiday gift list!   $10 gift ideas for self-care 1. Prajna Tibetan Singing Bowl Set $9.99 at Amazon Handcrafted to provide the perfect sound for calm and healing, this brass singing bowl comes complete with a delightful cushion and wood striker. 2. Shower Steamers   $10 at Etsy In the midst of holiday hustle and bustl...

Giving back to your community or causes near to your heart creates a meaningful sense of purpose and can even improve your physical and mental health . Whether you’re looking to meet new people, get involved in a charitable cause or even advance your career skills, finding places to volunteer is a great way to make a difference in your life—and the lives of others.  In just about every instance, community service doesn’t require extensive experience (although some technical and health care-related volunteer opportunities might require certain work or education criteria) and offer on-the-job training.  7 places to volunteer year-round So where should you channel your charitable energy? While you might find places to volunteer through chit-chat with coworkers or neighbors, there are volunteering ideas as individual as you. But no matter where you choose to give back, volunteering is important for the community! From your local food bank, homeless shelter or place of religiou...

Having a well-organized resume can help you land your next job, but knowing what to include might be confusing. You need to showcase your relevant work experience, education and technical skills while ensuring your personality and accomplishments are front and center, all while keeping within one to two pages. With limited resume space, you might think avoiding mentioning non-essential subjects, like volunteer experience, is best. But sometimes, including volunteer work on your resume can help you stand out from other applicants, especially if it’s enabled you to acquire skills that your paid work hasn’t. Below, we look at how to list volunteer work on your resume and offer tips to include your volunteer experiences effectively. Should you list volunteer experience on your resume? Including volunteer experience on your resume can be a good idea if it helps you highlight why you’re the right person for the job. There are a few circumstances where listing your volunteer work makes ...

The giving season is here. And that doesn’t just mean bountiful gifts to friends and family. GivingTuesday, held the Tuesday after Thanksgiving in the United States, inspires the public and businesses to donate to charitable organizations. This hashtag-driven holiday generated $3.1 billion for U.S.-based nonprofits in 2022, according to GivingTuesday Data Commons. It’s also a popular season to sneak in tax-deductible donations before year’s end.  Companies that give back to the community Businesses are significant philanthropic supporters this season and beyond. According to the Giving USA annual philanthropy report, corporate giving totaled $29.48 billion in 2022. While some companies opt for one-time gifts, social enterprises build giving back into the fabric of their operations . From leaders in the field to emerging businesses, meet four companies that give back to the community and were founded with impact in mind. Bombas When they learn the most requested item in homeles...

The Bautista Project is one of five nonprofit organizations SUCCESS magazine is spotlighting during the week of Giving Tuesday. Early in November, we posted on our social media accounts asking followers to nominate a charity they felt was making an impact in their communities. We tallied up the nominations and are pleased to highlight the hard work these organizations are doing behind the scenes to better the lives of others. The Bautista Project knows how to help the homeless. Its founder, Marla Bautista, found herself homeless at the age of 18, and vowed that she would help others in her situation when she got back on her feet. Years later, she founded The Bautista Project, a Florida-based 501(c)(3) providing essentials and educational resources to help homeless members of the community, including veterans, reintegrate.   A rough start By the time Marla Bautista was 10 years old, she had lost both of her parents. Her next guardian was abusive, and when she was 18, Bautist...