Happy News in the Media

April 30, 2018June 24, 2018 AuroraLeave a comment

Every once in awhile, I come across some really amazing and heartwarming stories on the internet. Below are a bunch I’ve posted on The Weekly Sparkle Facebook Page that have touched a lot of my followers. If you need a pick me up today, here is your dose of Positivity and human to human kindness going on around us ✨✨

Truck Drivers Save a Suicidal Man’s Life

Two Men From Different Walks of Life Enjoy an Impromptu Basketball Game

Lehigh Valley Couple Creates Give Back Tournament to Help Local Non-Profits Each Year- 2018 Benefactor Announced

Women Can Hear For The First Time And Gets Proposed To

Man Gets a Surprise Thank You From Children He Saved During the Holocaust

Will Smith Talks About Who You Surround Yourself With- Who is Fanning Your Flames?

Please send more videos my way in the comments if I should add them to a future post!!

✨✨- Aurora

Community Giving · Counseling · Dreams · Entrepreneur · Faith · Family · Friendship · Goal Digger · Goals · Motivation · Networking · New Year · Paying It Forward · Self Realization · Tribes · Uncategorized

Casting Your Insecurities On Someone Else

March 14, 2018 AuroraLeave a comment

I could really take this post so many routes, but I’ll stick with the title: Casting Your Insecurities On Someone Else. What does this quote me?

Blowing out someone else’s candle won’t make yours shine any brighter.

I’ve seen this thought so many times and always look to it as one of my favorites. How many times have we, or someone we know, put down something about others because it’s meant to downplay an insecurity that we or another have.

I’ve had a lot of examples in my own life lately that bring me back to this quote. I’ve seen people I’m close with put down a thought or an action of someone we know, because (in reality) it’s making them feel better about a shortcoming or insecurity that they have about themselves.

I guess when I think about this, my conclusion is, before we tear someone down or judge them, take a second to think inward. Nine times out of 10, critiques and negativity toward others stem from our own insecurities and things we want to change (or don’t like) about ourselves.

Can’t you think about a time where you blew out someone’s candle to make yours shine brighter? I bet you can.

To blowing out less candles,

-Aurora

Community Giving · Counseling · Dreams · Entrepreneur · Faith · Goal Digger · Goals · Motivation · Networking · Paying It Forward · Self Realization · Uncategorized

Why You Should Give Back- The Power of Small Acts

July 28, 2017July 29, 2017 AuroraLeave a comment

Tonight is the eve of our annual Give Back Lehigh Valley Softball Tournament and I am SO EXCITED… and a little antsy! My (now) husband and I created this event back when we were dating… we got engaged there and now are married. It’s been 4 years and I can’t believe how quickly the time to passed and how this event has evolved.

What does not amaze me, is how awesome it feels to have created such an amazing give-back event that continues to get bigger and bigger as the years go by!!! GIVING BACK IS EASY… and it doesn’t have to be something big or something that grows… it can be small acts that make a difference in the life of another.

We began our Give Back Event to help me fundraise for our local Cystic Fibrosis chapter a few years back when I was named a Lehigh Valley Finest Under 40 honoree. That was with 4 teams, a few donations and some cool T-shirts. The event tomorrow is anticipated to have anywhere from 150-200 people and over 100 participants. 😳 IT’S amazing!… but truly, it also takes a village.

Each year, I use the all social media outlets to plug the event, solicit sponsorship and to shed the light on how YOU can give back and together, all of our small efforts make a BIG impact. For example, this year alone, strangers have reached out to me to become a part of this and volunteer; friends from grade school that I haven’t spoken to personally or seen in years have donated product for the event; and some incredible Lehigh Valley businesses stepped up to be big name sponsors of the event. I know this has built over the years, but it doesn’t change the pure awe that I feel when I see so many people coming together. I can tell you, that as our 4th Annual event, we became completely sponsored by businesses and individuals who want to give back, right here where we live. Years ago- a lot of what made the event came out of our own pockets… which was something we were prepared for, but appreciate now that it’s changed. It’s a beautiful thing to see so many wanting to drive change and to be a positive force in the community.

So here we are, a few hours out from the big day beginning, and I’m so excited I can’t sleep. This event is our little piece of what we’re able to put out into the world, and it feels amazing. If this day inspires a few people to give a little more than they do, then we’ve done our job. At the very least, we can provide some assistance for our local charities and organizations, and provide a positive, fun day for the community. In our last 3 tournaments we’ve raised $25,000 and hope to add another 10k to that number tomorrow for Nam Knights of the LV and Logan’s Heroes Animal Recue! 🐾🇺🇸⚾️

If you want to see more about our event, please visit GiveBackSoftball.com & please comment below if you need any inspo or help creating a Give Back event!

To helping those in your community… ❤️

-Aurora

Community Giving · Friendship · Goals · Military · Motivation · Paying It Forward · Self Realization · Uncategorized

10,000 Sparkles.

April 8, 2014 Aurora2 Comments

So amazing. When I started TheWeeklySparkle.com I never thought it would reach as many people as it has! With a little over a year of posting inspiration and trying to add sparkle in others lives, today, the site has reached over 10,000 views worldwide!!!!!! CRAZY!!!!!

My dream of this site was to inspire others to look inward as well as to spread positivity and to pay kind acts forward… And we’re doing it!!!
Every week I’m receiving messages about how some of my posts have inspired individuals, helped them make a change or feel connected when they needed it most. This is the exact idea of what I wanted from the site, and I couldn’t be any happier to see the outcome!

To celebrate 10,000 I’ve committed
to completing the #100HappyDays Challenge! This world wide project challenges individuals to recognize 100 consecutive things that make them happy! We all have something that makes us feel good everyday, why not take a second to identify and appreciate it!? Sign up and get more info in my last post! You won’t regret it! I’ve begun the challenge 5 days ago and already have been feeling even happier than before!

It amazing what happiness you find in your life when you’re actually identifying it!

While I have no end result or goal with this site, I can tell you that it will continue to build, grow and change as it needs to over time. Please continue to check back and share the site with anyone you think could use a burst of positivity!

THANK YOU for the incredible support! I look forward to the next 10,000 views and hope to continue delivering a positive experience each time you’re here!

✨ Aurora Beani

Community Giving · Friendship · Goals · Motivation · Paying It Forward · Self Realization · Uncategorized

It’s Not About You

March 26, 2014March 26, 2014 AuroraLeave a comment

It’s Not About You

Wow. These four words, while small, are extremely powerful. I had the opportunity of standing among some of the most motivated and inspiring people in the Lehigh Valley last night, and some of their words really stuck with me. At the annual Lehigh Valley Suits Awards, one award recipient started her acceptance speech with these four words. I’ve read them before from the book The Purpose Driven Life and was reminded that these are the very first words in the entire book.

This is what giving is all about. It’s not you. It’s not for you to get something from it, it’s not for personal gain, it’s not for praise or awards. You give and do good things, for others, for them. I love this. This honoree continued by stating that giving and helping others is about the reward and not the award. We do things to benefit others, and then see the amazing impact that was made and how others, communities, etc are changed. You propel the change by your good acts, and then the ripple affect begins! It really is amazing to think about.

How can you give now and immediately? The easiest everyday example of giving would be to smile at everyone you see. Think about it. What if each person you walked by, made eye contact with, passed in the office, etc. you consciously made the effort to smile or say hello to. It’s a small gesture, but I can personally attest to the power of a smile when feeling down or in a bad mood. The easiest thing to give, a smile. Simple concept, great reward.

The other speakers last night were nothing short of inspiration and their impact in our Lehigh Valley community is remarkable. I am proud to have been able to stand among them, and am honored to have received the Emerging Leader Award sponsored by the United Way.

The award ceremony last night made me appreciate the efforts of those right here in our community who are make positive changes and leaving their mark every day. My challenge for you is to see where you can make a difference, and go for it. The first step to volunteering and making a difference is to actually get up and go.

Find your passion, light the spark and make it happen.

And remember, it’s not about you.

Pay it forward ✨
-Aurora

Community Giving

Target Sparkles in the Lehigh Valley

January 27, 2013January 27, 2013 Aurora5 Comments

Over the last few years, I’ve had some of the most amazing experiences with Target and their commitment for being Best in Community through volunteerism and donations. As one of their local Community Captains, I’ve had the opportunity to meet many of our community partners in the Lehigh Valley, and watch as our partnerships change lives in our surrounding community.

From volunteering at our local food bank (New Bethany Ministries) in Bethlehem, donating food to the Northampton Food Bank, helping rebuild the brand new library at Calypso Elementary to raising over $30,000 in 3 years through our United Way program (from our team members alone), I can easily say I’ve witnessed first hand just what our Target team has contributed and how their presence has been felt by the community.

And we’re at it again!!!! We have some money to spend, and it needs to be done quickly, but must be given to those in the community who can really use it. In the budget for 2012, we still have some donations to give and want to make sure they reach nonprofit and social service organizations in the Lehigh Valley!

Donations are given in the form of gift cards to use in Target Stores (or online) and typically range from $20-$25. These are not the funds we use to help rebuild libraries, but rather something to aid in cutting costs for a benefit or fund raisers for non-profits, school program support, support for a police function, etc.

What organization are you from and how can you use a donation? For each donation we will need either a 501c3 number or a tax ID number for proof of your organization and for processing.

Target is here for the Lehigh Valley, and we’re ready to keep making a difference! Post your information below or click the link to contact me personally! Donations will be evaluated and considered by the order in which they are received. All organizations must be located in the Lehigh Valley!

Keep Sparkling 🙂

Aurora

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