Local Duo Gives Free Room Remodel to Cancer Patient

Home fashion fads come and go, but Deborah Norton, owner of Encinitas-based Deborah Norton Interiors, and Sam Goodwin, president of Carlsbad-based , are determined to make kindness a trend that never ends…by design. These two proactive professionals have innovated a Make Kindness Your Business (MKYB) program incorporating an active empathy that reaches out to others in the community. 

Norton, a residential and commercial color consultant, explains, “Sam and I created an inspiring model that encourages businesses and individuals to engage in purposeful acts of kindness. We believe that no matter what kind of business you’re in, you can make it a kind business.”

Norton says the inception of her vision was quickly transformed into reality through a snowball effect of energetic positivity. “I shared my concept with Sam, who immediately came on board as my MKYB partner. I contacted North County Cancer Fitness (NCCF), a Carlsbad organization that helps breast cancer patients recover, to find a person whose room and life we could enhance. NCCF recommended Magi Pledger of Vista, a heretofore upbeat woman who had recently lost her job and much of her self-confidence, personal buoyancy and tranquility to cancer. When we contacted Magi and asked if we might help her, she began crying out of pure joy. We immediately knew we were in the right place doing the right thing.”

The MKYB team leapt into action. Norton visited Pledger’s home to begin the process of transforming her 168-square-foot bedroom into a healing sanctuary at absolutely no cost to Pledger. Together, they chose warm, earthy, calm, gingery hues. Goodwin’s HOCOA provided a painting contractor and Sherwin Williams of Encinitas supplied the paint. While the room was being repainted with the furnishings removed, Norton says, “I ‘shopped the house’ and redesigned the bedroom to make the energy flow better. By doing so, we honor and celebrate Magi’s naturally light, bright spirit and maintain a positive, healing energy in the space.”

That energy is already at work, says Pledger who is in the process of applying for her dream job. “Your bedroom is the place where you feel most safe,” she says. “That is especially true for someone going through a difficult time. Deborah’s and her team’s gesture has been a true gift; a total transformation that has warmed up my room and is uplifting my life. I feel so thankful to be alive and experiencing this act of kindness. The warmth is in my room and in my heart. When something is sincere and real, it’s infectious in a positive way. I hope this concept spreads.”

The Pledger transformation was completed in late April 2011, and the process continues and grows. Upon learning of MKYB, Encinitas photographer Nathan Padilla Bowen offered to document the makeover and Lee Hubbard of Encinitas-based Bella Bella Salon offered to give Pledger a free facial. Pledger herself, who did not undergo chemotherapy, had previously donated 12 inches of her hair to Locks of Love, an organization that helps children who have lost their hair due to cancer treatments.

Now, Norton and Goodwin challenge others to promote the ‘caring is sharing’ active compassion of their MKYB program. They say, “We want to inspire others to incorporate kindness into their everyday personal and business dealings. The gesture can be as simple as sharing a smile with a stranger or as large-scale as offering your professional services on a complimentary basis to someone whose life you can improve at little financial cost to yourself.”

Norton and Goodwin  invite people to submit their experiences of kindness to dnorton.interiors@live.com. They say, “If you have given or received an act of kindness, please let us know. We plan to compile these accounts, so we can share them with others and keep the inspirational cycle moving forward. “

They confide, “Our goal is to spread our Make Kindness Your Business concept to as many businesses and individuals as we can. We hope to start locally and explode globally!”