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Welcome
to the December Newsletter Inside: Authentic
Happiness Comes to Arizona Peak Performance: Jodi's Story Jodi Kay Gooding, whom I've worked with since June, was nominated for the Paul L. Singer award. This award is given to individuals who put forth their time and volunteer efforts to make the community and in this case the world a better place to live. Jodi was nominated for making over 250 "Jodi Blankies". She started crocheting blankets in the summer of 1999 and she has yet to stop! It all started when Jodi was attending a church meeting were they discussed the suffering of women and children. The organization showed a film of women giving birth with no medical supplies, no sheets, no blankets - newborn babies were being wrapped in newspaper or burlap sacks to be kept warm. They were presented to their mothers in the equivalent of meat wrappings. Jodi's heart broke. Instantly she recognized a talent that she had that she could deploy to help in this situation. Jodi's mother had taught her to crochet at age twelve. She decided to crochet baby blankets and send them to the women and children in the village pictured in the video. That very day Jodi went to Wal-mart and purchased Red Heart Brand yarn. Yarn of many colors. And, lots of white yarn to use as her "signature trim". The first year Jodi made 20 blankets. Today Jodi has Jodi Blankets all over the world. They are in Russia, Pakistan, Iraq, Mexico, Africa and some even stayed in USA and went to New Jersey when a children's hospital burned down. In 2003 Jodi made 75 blankets, while working full-time and raising her three young daughters alone. Jodi says "I love making Jodi Blankets, this gives me great joy. And, I love helping the different communities around the world. I will make Jodi Blankets until I can crochet no more!" To donate Red Heart yarn to Jodi Blankies contact Jodi at 928.773.1940 or 928.779.5587. Jodi's story highlights her "signature strengths", the universal virtues, the core characteristics endorsed by almost all religious and philosophical traditions that capture the notion of good character. Jodi's Top Five Signature Strengths 1. Love of learning 2. Citizenship, teamwork, and loyalty 3. Appreciation of beauty and excellence 4. Honesty, authenticity, and genuineness 5. Hope, optimism, and future-mindedness The AH Pearl From The Story Martin E. Seligman says "I do not believe that you should devote overly much effort to correcting your weaknesses. Rather I believe the highest success in living and the deepest emotional satisfaction comes from building and using your signature strengths."
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