Something really exciting is about to hit the Treasure Valley...
My name is Michelle Niederer and I'm the founder and CEO of The Secret Gratitude Rock.com. We're a local, free online development center that helps people become their best selves and beginning on Tuesday, June 10th we're making a difference in our community in a BIG way!
But first, let me give you a little background...
On New Year's Eve, December 31st, 1993 I was sitting in the kitchen at my mother's house when she pronounced as her New Year's Resolution that in 1994 she was going to take an amazing journey. She felt that as a housewife, mother, and home daycare provider, she hadn't made an impact in the world and she was designating that this was the year she was going to make a difference.
The next morning, she drove to the hospital in eastern Idaho to be with
her father who had been admitted for problems with his pacemaker. Her
car hit black ice and she died on New Year's Day. Even amid our shock
and grief, we were amazed when people began pouring in from New York,
Zimbabwe, Texas, and elsewhere around the world. Calls, letters,
flowers, and food arrived in numbers we couldn't even fathom. And at
the service, the church was filled to overflowing, we ran out of
programs, and a police escort had to be called due to the number of
people in attendance. All this for a woman who rarely left the house, who had the undignified responsibility of wiping the noses and changing the diapers of other people's children. She died at the age of 49 never understanding the power and influence she wielded over the hearts and lives of so many around the world. She didn't have a big, glitzy lifestyle - and in fact, she rarely had more than two nickels to rub together; but she made a difference. In small and simple ways, she stood for something bigger than herself. She showered everyone she came in contact with, with love; and they left her presence feeling better, stronger, and somehow greater than when they arrived.
In 1993 Dorothy Niederer made a resolution; and she did take an amazing journey. Tuesday, June 10th marks her birthday, and will be the day we honor her with a special message to every community member we can reach - that no matter how small and insignificant they believe their contribution has been - they DO matter and they HAVE made a difference, and most of all, that they ARE loved.
A special Pass Along Love (PAL) card has been created, and on Tuesday, June 10th, we're going to begin flooding our community with these cards. The message is simple; give the card to the one person you most admire; then ask them to do the same.
We want to hear all about this special person, so please scroll to the bottom of this page to share you story.
Our goal is that within the next 100 days, every single person in our great state will touch or be touched by these cards. If you need a card, please print one by clicking the picture to the left - and although the program originated in Idaho, please share the love worldwide!
We've created a website to record the stories, and will be publishing a book this fall (just in time for Christmas!) that will raise money to build a children's learning lab in her honor.
