Brick Woman Issues Challenge: Inspire Goodwill With Gratitude

BRICK, NJ — If you've ever been around Colleen Finnegan, chances are you've noticed one thing: she's always smiling.

Even in the most stressful moments, such as trying to make certain everything is running smoothly at the Brick Hero Awards, she never seems to lose her cheery nature.

Finnegan, a Brick Township resident and the owner of Enspirited Projects, puts a lot of energy into promoting positive messages. She's involved with the Brick Youth Council and the Society of Influencers and Game Changers, a Brick Township High School organization that aims to promote positive behavior through peer-to-peer interaction. She's helped promote the message of #BrickUnited, in an effort to bridge and reduce the bitterness that had become a hallmark of the rivalry between Brick and Brick Memorial high schools in recent years. And she is the force behind the Brick Hero Awards, which have honored people from all walks of life for their positive contributions to the community — large and small — over the last two years.

"Enspirited specializes in the design and implementation of programs that cultivate creativity, positivity, kindness and self-esteem," Finnegan, the company's founder and imaginator, says on her company's website.

Her most recent project, The Gratitude Challenge, is an outgrowth of that mindset, she said.

The science of gratitude and its positive effects on lifestyle and emotional health have been studied and researched in several centers in recent years, Finnegan said, citing a Forbes article from 2014. Among the benefits are improved physical and psychological health as well as making people more resilient during times of stress.

The University of California, Berkeley, has awarded several grants to individuals studying the scientific ripple effects of gratitude, she said.

Finnegan's goal is a ripple effect of a different sort.

“The Gratitude Challenge is a package of 30 cards that you can purchase from our site. The challenge part is that you need to send at least one card a day to someone that has made a positive impact on your life. It’s a great way to say thank you—even to people you may have not seen in a while," Finnegan said.

By sending the cards, Finnegan said, she's hoping recipients will in turn thank others who have helped them.

“It’s a great way to encourage a pattern of thankfulness in all ages,” she said.

Enspirited Projects focuses on creativity, community and love through a myriad of programs and after-school engagement opportunities. It is involved in a number of New Jersey schools and is launching a teacher affiliate program this month to expand Enspirited's reach into different New York City neighborhoods, she said.

In addition to the cards, Enspirited has created a Facebook group for participants to share stories about things that make them feel grateful.

"It changes your whole energy and outlook on life when you focus on the good people who have made their way into yours,” Finnegan said.

If you're interested in participating in The Gratitude Challenge or you want to learn more about Enspirited Projects, check out the website at www.EnspiritedProjects.org or email Finnegan at colleen@enspiritedprojects.org.