It's Gonna Be May

Thinking about Joey Fatone, Lance Bass. JC Chasez, Chris Kirkpatrick, Justin Timberlake this morning because of tomorrow.  Yup!  It's gonna be May!  (I have no idea who started that, but it's fun every year).

I want to say something else about these five guys who used to be the band nsync.  They bring a lot of happiness to the world.  Making a difference doesn't have to be about making the front page of the newspaper.  Making a difference isn't just those who make great scientific breakthroughs or who work hard for social justice.  Sometimes making a difference is about bring joy and happiness.  If you ever listened to an nsync song, you know there is a LOT of joy and happiness!

Since the band broke up, they have continued bringing that joy and happiness in their individual careers.  They also have done a lot of giving back and making a difference in their charity work.  Lance has been an especially outspoken presence for the LGBTQ community.

So beginning tomorrow it's gonna be May, this I promise you, and to April let's say bye, bye, bye!  

Adapt a shelter animal

Looking for an animal to add to your household?  Consider adopting a shelter animal.  I have written here a number of times about pet adoption, but you really cannot say enough.  It is one of those win-win situations - there are many advantages.  

A word or two about shelters (which some refer to as the "pound," short for impoundment).  Animal shelters provide a safe and caring environment until the animal is either reclaimed by its owner or adopted by a new owner.  While we often hear about shelters euthanizing animals (and this does indeed happen in many public shelters when animals are not adopted with a certain time period), most private shelters are run as no-kill shelters.

Animals deserve love and affection though.  Just because they are not going to be euthanized, does not mean they should continue in a shelter.  Yes, they generally are well feed and provided for, but animals deserve more than that.  They deserve love and attention.  In return, they usually GIVE love and attention to their caregivers.

Ask your co-workers.  Talk to your friends.  Do a little reading.  I'm certain that everything you hear about adopting a shelter animal will say the same thing.  It will warm your heart, and it will warm theirs too!

Can we all be superheroes

Do you have what it takes to be a Superhero? I think we all do. Too few of us act on that though. There are all kinds of things we can do though to make a difference in this world, and it doesn't require any special powers at all. This morning I was thinking about some fictional superheroes and somehow got thinking about the real ones too. Each year on April 28th, National Superhero Day honors superheroes, both real and fictional.

While the adventures of Alexander Lexington, Peter Parker, Julia Cornwall Carpenter, and Scott Lang may be a lot of fun, there are everyday folks who are superheroes, and I would love to see more said about them. Oh, and for me, the folks who do good after something good has been done for them, and special pay-it-forward heroes. A small act can be huge to another person.

Does a superhero have to be a famous person? Of course not! We are more likely to hear about them, but there are everyday heroes that nobody ever hears about, and they are so very important too. We all can be those heroes. We all can stand up and make a difference.

Who are the heroes in your life? A teacher perhaps, or maybe your parents? What about a famous singer or athlete? One of my heroes is rapper and activist Jason Chu who several years ago shared some powerful lyrics "But I’ve learned: a hero isn’t about being super. We become heroes because of what makes us human."

Before you kick it

I've always felt that having goals is a good thing. Lately I hear more and more people talk about their bucket lists. Are they really such a good idea though? Some people say we are rushing death (the term "bucket list" coming from kicking the bucket, a popular expression meaning to die) and others say we are creating lists with difficult to fill ideas. I'm thinking though that having defined goals, can't be a bad thing.

Some folks list very simple things, and some come right out of a thrill-seekers guide. What about you though - are there places you would really like to visit or people you want to meet of see perform or maybe some special things you want to do?  How about this:  don't just make a list but include other folks.  There are organizations that help fulfill the wishes of dying people, but how about if we all did something really special before someone else passed away - a shared bucket list if you will.  I think I could really get behind that idea!

So how many of you think that is a good idea? How many of you have a bucket list of any kind? Before you kick the bucket, is there something special you want to do for others?

more

More.  Some of us are never satisfied.  Some of us always want more.  How can we do more though?  What can we do to make more of a difference in this world?  Where are the folks that already are doing more? Day after day I write here, but do I have all the answers?  Of course not!  Together we have a lot of answers though, certainly more of them.  On this Sunday morning, it is important to have more answers and for us all to pitch in and do more.

 

So, what do YOU think?  There are more ways of doing things than I have written about here.  Can you share some ideas?  The more who contribute here, there more answers we will have in the end.  This is really a follow-up from yesterday.  Come!  Join in the discussion!

 

I want to change the world for the better and I am doing ________ to achieve this.  What would you put in the blank?  I hope we hear from many of you.  Share some more of your good ideas!

The answer is YES

Can I change the world? Someone actually questioned me about that. After reading this blog for a while, they sent me an email asking, "do you really think you can change the world?"

The answer of course is YES! I can and you can and all of us can if we get involved and if we do something and if we simply TRY to make a difference. Will sitting alone in a room and moaning about the things we don't like change anything? Probably not.

This blog does not give you all of the answers. I certainly don't have all of the answers. Nobody has all the answers. I never have pretended that to be the case. I don't think I am the authority on change or involvement or making a difference - I am just one voice. I do hope you will join me though.  It's amazing what can be accomplished when people come together.

I would love to hear your comments too. Occasionally I get an email, but you can comment right here too so that other readers can easily read your thoughts (and you can even do so anonymously). Changing the world for the better is something all of us should be interested in doing! Join us!

Watch what you say

When somebody mentions their doctor, do you automatically picture a man? How about secretaries, do we picture a woman automatically? If a man says he wants you to meet his spouse, do you immediately think he is referring to a woman? We need to change the way we think and they way we say things! If we really believe in equality, we should think about things like this.

I remember a television commercial for a deodorant, many years ago that talked about an airline pilot. Viewers were thinking of a man flying the aircraft, but in the last frame we see that it is actually a woman. Even those of us who fight every day for equality, can't get those images out of our head that we have been conditioned to see. When reading someone's biography, when we see that they are married, most of us still assume the opposite sex. Until recently many computers would try to correct us if we said "her wife."

Sometimes pronouns that refer to gender are misused out of ignorance.  Our transgender sisters and brothers should expect that they will be referred to with the gender they have transitioned to.  It is ignorant to call a man "she" and just plain mean to say "it."  Human beings are never it.  Oh and transgendered isn't ever proper even though many well-meaning people have used it.  I could go on and on about the many reasons that one is wrong. 

I was thinking that we need to watch what we say.  Perhaps we also need to watch what we think.  Is it conditioning or prejudice? Can we open our minds to see a bigger picture?

One person can make a difference

Seventeen years ago, when I wrote my very first entry here, I spoke of changing the world; of giving back to society; of making a difference.  The theme of this blog has remained the same throughout and I trace it all back to my childhood when John F Kennedy was the US President.  Kennedy challenged us to dream.  He challenged us to make a difference.

It has been more than fifty years since his words were spoken, but they carry the same encouragement now, as then. On January 20, 1961 at his inauguration at the US Capital, Kennedy said the line most often quoted: "Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country." The President was challenging every single American to contribute in some way to the public good - to make a difference. We still can answer that call!

I don't remember if it was Jacqueline Kennedy or John Kennedy who said this (it has been attributed to both, although Caroline Kennedy credits her father with the words in her forward to the anniversary edition of Profiles In Courage). "One person can make a difference and everyone should try." Indeed. Everyone.

 

I know this blog is NOT about me, and I don't know of my success here, but every day, through my blogs and activism, I want to do something that benefits someone else.  I hope you will join me.

Over the Years

Eighteen years ago, I thought about starting a blog, but I didn't want it to be like so many others.  It was not my intention to share recipes or travel news.  I decided it should be about other people, not me.  

At first, I thought about doing simple one or two sentence messages of inspiration.  Perhaps I could write about kindness.  (That kindness blog finally came into being nine years later and I still write that one too).  This blog ended up being about people and organizations making a difference.

Over the years I have written about a lot of people here.  Some folks have been mentioned more than once.  There are a few things I regret having written about.  It is my intention to continue writing this and maybe some of you have enjoyed this daily stories.  I must admit that on a number of occasions I have "borrowed" from other people, but I always have clearly indicated that.

There is still a lot of good in our world, even with all the craziness that exists in 2026.  Thanks for reading.  Keep coming back.  Perhaps someday I will write about you.

Love until it hurts

Mother Teresa once said, "I have found the paradox that if I love until it hurts, then there is no hurt, but only more love." Wonderful!  How can more love ever be a bad thing?

I remember that every time I talked to my mother, she said something about love.  She loved me and my sister but she also loved life and her friends and her everyday experiences, and it showed in everything she did!

I can remember a church in San Francisco where the members used to wear buttons (and hand them out to visitors too).  The buttons say "More Love." What a wonderful concept! I hope that church still has those buttons.

We write here in this blog each day about making a difference in this world of ours. Love is what that comes down to. You cannot do good deeds without love. Love brings joy to those who give it and to those who receive it. Love truly does help us make a difference. Mother Teresa made a difference in this world because of love.

Love is worth it!

how do you say thank you?

How many ways are there to say thank you?  I'm not talking about the many different languages, although putting together a nice graphic with those two words as they are said in other tongues can be a lot of fun and I'm sure would be pleasing to the person you are thanking.  What else though?  What can you do to convey that you are actually grateful for that something you have received?

 

We give thanks at different times for different things.  Sometimes a polite courtesy is almost taken for granted, but when somebody hold the door open for you or pulls out your chair or refills your water glass, say thank you.  When you receive a present or money, then most certainly thanks should be offered.  How about when you ask for someone to help you with a project?  Let me just say there is never a bad time to offer thanks. 

 

You are an awesome caring person and I'm sure you want folks to know you appreciate those things they do on your behalf.  Let it be known then! Let them see your happy dance!  Notes are always nice too.  I know many have fallen away from the habit of writing personal notes, but the most awesome people I know still write them and it means a lot.  I was just talking about this to a group of people, and every one of them agreed.

I know we can get back in the habit.  Say thanks in the way that works best for the particular occasion but say it!  I have so many reasons personally for saying it today.  That breakfast burrito I ate a little while ago and someone special made it happen.  Thanks!

Just because

"Why are you doing this?" I heard him ask. "Just because," was her simple reply. "Just because."

You can say you are giving back because you want to change the world or because you want to make a difference. You can say you want to see a smile on the face of others or that you enjoy doing things for people. You can say that random acts of kindness help make things better for all of us and you are simply passing them on. Of course, you don't have to give any reason at all! Just pay it forward .   .   . just because.

Oh, those wonderful kind deeds we do for other people. They sure do brighten up the day!

How many of those just because things can you think of? How about taking an acquaintance to dinner, sponsoring someone in a fundraising walk-a-thon, donating time at a senior center, saying something nice to everyone you meet during your day, or donating blood? What other random acts of kindness can you think of? Add your suggestions in the comments section below.

Be a blessing

We can all make a difference in the lives of those around us.  Let's get with it!  Don't hesitate!  Today will never come again.  We really shouldn't put things off.  Be a blessing.  Encourage others.  Be a friend.  Smile.  Share the love.  Take the time to care.  Make someone feel special.

Imagine how much good you can do just by caring!  Imagine.  It's doesn't need to take a lot of time.  It just takes an open heart.

During this summer, in the midst of a lot of bad news, we can still be a blessing to each other.  Things are never too bad for us to do good.  I won't sugar-coat it and say everything will be back to normal soon (although things have obviously improved from a year ago). great right away, but if we all pitch in and do good, we will see a difference. We might not ever see things the way they once were, but that does not mean things won't be good.  Let's make it so.

If every single one of us did something encouraging every day, the positive changes would be incredible!  Being a friend is one of the most powerful things we can ever do.  Starting off a brand-new month, let's all resolve to make this world a happier and healthier place in which to live.

Everyone smiles in the same language

I am convinced that there is just not enough happiness in the world. Why? No matter how bad anything is, there is always reason to go on. Things can always get better.

I know. Someone is going to say, "What if the doctor says you have only a few days to live"? Well, doctors can be wrong. I have heard many stories confirming that very fact. I even know a woman who was told just after her 60th birthday, that it would be her last. In fact, she was told she had only a few months to live. That woman is now 93!

We so often have trouble trusting these days. We have difficulty communicating too. Does he speak the same language as I do? Will we understand the meaning of our intentions? All of these things are valid of course, but one thing we seem to overlook. Happiness is easy to spot and easy to understand. Happiness is very easy to spread too. Happy people are more likely to make others happy.

Whatever part of the world you come from - whatever your race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, or eye color, one thing is universal. We all smile in the same language!

do the right thing

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was a great man, usually referred to with the honorific Mahatma, meaning venerable, and most often thought of as a leader of non-violence.  He is often quoted and had some wonderful things to say about doing the right thing.

It is easy to do the "expected thing."  Many folks do the "thing that will bring them the most recognition."  The "right thing though is often the toughest - frequently it is not the popular thing to do.

“It's the action, not the fruit of the action, that's important," according to Gandhi. "You have to do the right thing. It may not be in your power, may not be in your time, that there'll be any fruit. But that doesn't mean you stop doing the right thing."

 

Gandhi was so very wise.  He went on to say "You may never know what results come from your action. But if you do nothing, there will be no result.”

Blood

One of the kindest things a person can do is donate blood. Donating blood can save lives and has benefits for both the recipient and the donor.

To donate blood, you need to be in good health, at least 16 years old (17 in some states), weigh at least 110 pounds, have not donated blood in the last 56 days, and be able to pass the physical and health-history assessments.  Most of the population is eligible to donate yet sadly too few actually do.

Not sure if you can?  Check with your nearest blood bank.  In large cities, you can donate any day of the week.  In smaller communities, blood drives are held at hospitals, schools, churches, and other locations.  Despite all of our scientific advances, we cannot create blood in a laboratory.  When someone needs a transfusion, it comes from the blood already donated and on hand.  I had the privilege of coordinating blood drives in my city for a number of years, and it always warmed my heart hearing stories of what motivated people to come out and donate blood.

If you already are a blood donor, thanks so much.  Keep it up.  Think about reaching out to friends, family, and coworkers.  Blood is always needed.

A Life-Changing Story

I have to tell you the words below today are not mine, but this story, which has been circulating on the internet, really touched me. I have no idea of the author, but I am so glad this was written. Please read on -

Her eyes met mine as she walked down the corridor peering apprehensively into the kennels. I felt her need instantly and knew I had to help her.

 

I wagged my tail, not too exuberantly, so she wouldn't be afraid. As she stopped at my kennel I blocked her view from a little accident I had in the back of my cage. I didn't want her to know that I hadn't been walked today. Sometimes the overworked shelter keepers get too busy and I didn't want her to think poorly of them.

 

As she read my kennel card I hoped that she wouldn't feel sad about my past. I only have the future to look forward to and want to make a difference in someone's life.

 

She got down on her knees and made little kissy sounds at me. I shoved my shoulder and side of my head up against the bars to comfort her. Gentle fingertips caressed my neck; she was desperate for companionship. A tear fell down her cheek and I raised my paw to assure her that all would be well.

 

Soon my kennel door opened and her smile was so bright that I instantly jumped into her arms. I would promise to keep her safe. I would promise to always be by her side. I would promise to do everything I could to see that radiant smile and sparkle in her eyes.

 

I was so fortunate that she came down my corridor. So many more are out there who haven't walked the corridors. So many more to be saved. At least I could save one.

 

I rescued a human today.

Obituary: Common Sense

This is something that was floating around on the internet a while back. I have no idea who wrote these words, but they spoke to me, and I hope they have meaning for you. Even though this is an obituary, I happen to think it is not too late - we CAN save common sense - we just have to try!

"Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years.

"No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape.

"He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as:

- Knowing when to come in out of the rain;

- Why the early bird gets the worm;

- Life isn't always fair;

- and maybe it was my fault.

"Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in charge).

"His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place.

"Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.

"Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children.

"It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or an aspirin to a student; but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.

"Common Sense lost the will to live as the churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims.

"Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault.

"Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.

"Common Sense was preceded in death, by his parents, Truth and Trust, by his wife, Discretion, by his daughter, Responsibility, and by his son, Reason.

"He is survived by his 4 stepbrothers: I Know My Rights, I Want It Now, Someone Else Is to Blame, I'm A Victim

"Not many attended his funeral because, so few realized he was gone.

"If you don't remember him, join the majority and do nothing."

Start each day with YES!

Sometimes with all the negativity in the world, it can be difficult for us to stay positive, but I have found it helps to have a very simple resolve: start each day with YES!  Our minds are powerful tools though and sometimes just thinking something gives us a very good boost.  Having a yes kind of attitude can go a long way!

 

Now I won't make believe that there are not any problems in the world.  Certainly, there are many.  Can we solve every single one of them?  Probably not today.  We can make a start though.  We can do some good.  Of course, changing the world means believing in yourself and your ability and trusting and believing in other people as well.  It's a tall order I know.

 

Think about the opposite though for a moment.  You wake up in the morning and ask if it's going to be a good day.  NO!  Am I going to eat a nice, delicious breakfast?  NO!  Will the commute to work be an easy one?  NO!  If you begin each day with negativity, there is no chance there for a smile - no chance for a happy day.  Even when something bad happens, no matter how minor or how big, shrug it off believing that better things are coming.

 

Yes, I'm going to have a good Sunday and a good week ahead!  Yes, you are too!

Daddy may I borrow $25

Those heartwarming stories that circulate on the internet can be quite inspiring.  From time to time I have shared some of them here, although I always wish I could give credit to the writer.  Here is another author unknown tale:

A man came home from work late, tired and irritated, to find his 5-year-old son waiting for him at the door.
SON: ‘Daddy, may I ask you a question?’
DAD: ‘Yeah sure, what it is?’ replied the man.
SON: ‘Daddy, how much do you make an hour?’
DAD: ‘That’s none of your business. Why do you ask such a thing?’ the man said angrily.
SON: ‘I just want to know. Please tell me, how much do you make an hour?’
DAD: ‘If you must know, I make $50 an hour.’
SON: ‘Oh,’ the little boy replied, with his head down.
SON: ‘Daddy, may I please borrow $25?’

The father was furious, ‘If the only reason you asked that is so you can borrow some money to buy a silly toy or some other nonsense, then you march yourself straight to your room and go to bed. Think about why you are being so selfish.  I don’t work hard everyday for such childish frivolities.’  The little boy quietly went to his room and shut the door.

The man sat down and started to get even angrier about the little boy’s questions. How dare he ask such questions only to get some money?

After about an hour or so, the man had calmed down , and started to think:  Maybe there was something he really needed to buy with that $25 and he really didn’t ask for money very often.  The man went to the door of the little boy’s room and opened the door.

‘Are you asleep, son?’ He asked.

‘No daddy, I’m awake,’ replied the boy.

‘I’ve been thinking, maybe I was too hard on you earlier,’ said the man. ‘It’s been a long day and I took out my aggravation on you.  Here’s the $25 you asked for.’

The little boy sat straight up, smiling. ‘Oh, thank you daddy!’ he yelled. Then, reaching under his pillow he pulled out some crumpled up bills.  The man saw that the boy already had money, started to get angry again.  The little boy slowly counted out his money, and then looked up at his father.

‘Why do you want more money if you already have some?’ the father grumbled.

‘Because I didn’t have enough, but now I do,’ the little boy replied.  ‘Daddy, I have $50 now. Can I buy an hour of your time?  Please come home early tomorrow.  I would like to have dinner with you.’

The father was crushed. He put his arms around his little son, and he begged for his forgiveness.

Let us learn from this story and one of the lessons should be the importance of our children, of all our family and our friends!

Calling all heroes

Here in this space I write about all kinds of heroes.  Some are enduring heroes and some only for a moment for one action they did.  There is also a lot of disagreement about who is a hero.  I have written here that Colin Kaepernick is a hero, but I got a number of responses disagreeing with me.  Can singers and dancers be heroes?  What about an actor?  How about politicians?  Perhaps your big brother is your hero.

Who do YOU call a hero?  What is it that makes them a hero?  Is it one thing or many things that they do?  Did they perform some incredible act? Do we need heroes in our lives these days?  What do YOU think?  Let us hear from you in the comments section below.  Is there someone who is a hero to you?

Maybe there is a better word for it.  I'd like to know about that too.

Lets go back to bed

It is VERY windy this morning where I am, with sustained winds at 35mph with gusts to 50mph. The temperature is only 49 degrees, but that wind is making it seem so much colder. Oh and on top of that, it's just beginning to rain, and the sky is clouding up, making it look like the rain might stick around for awhile. Why the weather report? Well this is one of those days, where it might be so tempting to just go back to bed - but don't!

It's nice to get a little extra sleep from time to time, and there is certainly nothing wrong with that, but when we roll out of bed expecting perfection in our day, and want to return to sleep when we realize that perfection isn't coming, we're just setting our self up for more and more disappointment. How many of us really have perfect days? We can make them turn out pretty well though, if we just give it a little effort. Too cold? Wear a sweater or a jacket. Not liking the rain. Carry an umbrella or wear a raincoat. Remember the good that comes from the wind and the rain!

 

Did you ever try creating your own sunshine on a cloudy day?  It's pretty amazing.  Smile.  Project happiness to those around you.  Before long you will not only be making others happy, but you'll forget all about being bummed out about the foul weather.  It's much more productive too than going back to bed!

The Good and the Bad

It seems like every day I wake up to a mixture of good and bad news. There seems to be more and more of the bad news.

Although Israel signed a ceasefire one year ago to end hostilities in Lebanon, today began with the Israeli military attacking the southern suburbs of Beirut. Casualties have been reported.

As we prepare for the celebration of Thanksgiving Day in the United States, we also just remembered the murder-suicide of Johnstown back in 1978, the loss of so many transgender souls do to hate, the murder of President John Kennedy, and we are approaching the anniversary of the assassination of two San Francisco politicians. That is only part of it.

I won't dwell on the bad or even mention the good. I just want to remind everyone of what I so often say here. WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE. So no to hate. Spread kindness and positivity. Do good. Say no to things that harm others. I'm going to keep trying to convince people that there are so many reasons to be nice to one another.

As Thanksgiving week begins, I have so much to be thankful for, and I hope you do too. Let's make that list grow. Let is fill our lives with good and work hard to eliminate the bad.  I know we can make things better.

Bus driver with kindness

Being a bus driver for a city's public transportation system can be a thankless job.  You have to deal with fare evaders, bad weather, traffic slowdowns, unruly passengers, and all kinds of things that can take away your sunny attitude, but nothing would get in the way of a local driver in Kingman, AZ who drove her last shift this weekend.  A family emergency caused her to resign from her position, resulting in a lot of tears and hugs as she said goodbye.

My policy here has always been to not identify any private person who has not previously received press coverage, and so I am respecting the privacy of this woman but let me tell you - she is loved and will be missed!  She always greeted passengers with a smile, but there was so much more.  She had the patience of a saint.  A couple of her regular passengers are over 90 years old, and so patience really comes in handy!  She was always quick to give complete and accurate information to a newcomer or visitor.  She made you feel like you were part of the family.

I'd be wrong if I didn't acknowledge that several Kingman Area Regional Transit operators are above average - maybe they treat their employees right and the drivers pass that on to the passengers.  Whatever the cause, this particular driver is extra-special.  The City of Kingman might not want to know that she broke a few rules (nothing that would compromise safety) - things like waiting an extra few minutes for someone she saw running for the bus or letting someone out at a corner that wasn't actually a designated stop.  She was always thinking of the passenger.  She wasn't just the driver of their bus; she became their friend.  It's not often I get to say this about a bus driver, but this kind and caring woman truly made a difference!

Paying it forward

In his 1841 essay Compensation, Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote: "In the order of nature we cannot render benefits to those from whom we receive them, or only seldom. But the benefit we receive must be rendered again, line for line, deed for deed, cent for cent, to somebody."  In other words, instead of paying back the person who did this good for you, pay it forward to someone else.
 

The idea isn't a new one but it can certainly be extraordinary.  In his movie, Haley Joel Osment, tries to make a huge difference in the lives of others after his teacher assigns the class to think of something to change the world and put it into action. Osment's character begins a movement that is responsible for some pretty incredible actions.  (This film by the way is twenty years old so some you may not have seen it.  Take a look.  It's very uplifting).
 

I'm not just talking here about random acts of kindness, although sometimes they are the same.  There may be another movement these days because I have certainly been hearing a number of heartwarming stories. Even in the midst of this pandemic I am hearing stories of generous gift-giving and of restaurant servers receiving unusually high gratuities. 

 

Of course we may not all have the funds to be this generous, but we can still help.  Maybe a group of people will get together for a cause.  Several people working together will lower the cost.  The cost does not have to be high either.  Next time you are in a restaurant and you see a waiter heading to someone's table with their check, intercept that server and pay the check yourself.  Paying it forward will really make you feel wonderful.

Why go to church?

What are you doing today?  When I was young, the grocery stores in the small town where I lived were closed and in fact they all had signs on their doors that read "closed Sundays - see you in church."  Back then more Americans did go to worship services, on Sundays or on whatever day was most significant to their faith tradition.  Now more and more people are asking "Why go to church?"

In an interview with Ladies Home Journal back in 1917, Theodore Roosevelt, our 26th president offered a number of reasons for going to church. One of the things he said was "Church work and church attendance mean the cultivation of the habit of feeling some responsibility for others and the sense of braced moral strength, which prevents a relaxation of one's own moral fiber." I like that. It sounds a lot like the kind of thing I write about here every day.

The Bible calls on us to be the church and not just go to church. How can we be the church though if we are not there and are not participating?  How can we spread the Good News and feed and clothe the poor and work for justice and pray for peace and promote a better world, if we don't get off our butts and go?

I'm not going to convince someone in this small space that participating in their synagogue, church, mosque, or other place of worship is something they should do. The reasons for going are many. I suppose you could make a list for why NOT to participate also.  Just for a moment today though, think about it.  If you already have a faith community that you have been part of, think about participating more fully, and if you do not, take a look around.  See what's available to you.  Consider joining and making a difference.  Today just happens to be Easter Day.  What an excellent time to get involved!

 

Roosevelt also said "Yes, I know all the excuses. I know that one can worship the Creator and dedicate oneself to good living in a grove of trees, or by a running brook, or in one's own house, just as well as in church. But I also know as a matter of cold fact the average man does not thus worship or thus dedicate himself," the President said. "If he strays away from church, he does not spend his time in good works or lofty meditation. He looks over the colored supplement of the newspaper."

The beauty of the hyacinth

Look at this pretty pink hyacinth. I can just imagine the glorious fragrance! These bulbous flowering plants are native to the eastern Mediterranean (from south Turkey to northern Israel) and are signs of spring in Iran and Iraq. I can remember when I lived in snow country, seeing them poking up through the late winter snowstorms as they heralded the coming of Easter and springtime.

I often think of them at this time of year. How about you? Such a pretty plant is the hyacinth and just perfect for a celebration, and that smell is like none other.

Oh my! Imagine how much greater our world might be if we would only slow down and occasionally smell the flowers and enjoy the beauty of these wonderful parts of nature. Beauty is all around.  Happy Saturday everyone and smell the flowers along the way!

What do YOU think?

My thoughts and the ideas I put forth each day in this space, are not the only concepts out there. Yes, I make suggestions on how we might all help make this a better world, but are my ideas any good? Are there better ways? Your sentiments are worth hearing too, even if we might not agree with them.

I have said this before, and will likely say it many more times, but even though this blog is NOT about me, it is written by me, and therefore is heavy laden with my opinion. What about yours though? You much have thoughts on the subjects I post here. Do you agree with me or disagree? Let's hear YOUR opinion too!

Right under the last line I write each day it says "blogged by Michael Fullam at time." Right next to that you will see a place where you can comment. I'd really love to hear your opinion. I'm sure many people would like to look at the thoughts of others as well.

So, after all these years, you pretty much know what I think about a LOT of things. You have read countless suggestions from me and I've told you about good deeds and folks I consider inspirations to me. Now, take a moment or two and tell me what YOU think!

Change the World

Listening to Eric Clapton sing Change the World, I find myself thinking of all the many things I would love to do. Clapton's song is really a love song, but it's from the motion picture Phenomenon and the film was about someone who indeed changed the world.

 

A couple of wonderful scenes from the movie stick in my mind. In on of them, the lead character George Malley asks his love interest Lace Pennamin, "Hey, would you, uh, love me for the rest of my life?" Her response: "No, I'm gonna love you for the rest of mine." In another scene, George is trying to comfort the two small children of Lace, who have just learned that he is dying. George uses an apple as a metaphor, saying that no matter what, an apple will rot and die if thrown on the ground, but if you were to take a bite out of it, the apple would become a part of you, and you would carry it with you forever. I really love that way of looking at it. He is essentially saying that he will therefore live forever.

 

From a Clapton song to a major film, there are different ways of looking at leaving a piece of yourself behind, and of changing the world.  If we all do something that becomes a part of others, we will in a sense, live forever.  Of course, we don't try to do good or change the world, just so we will have immortality.  We do it to benefit our families and our friends and other loved ones.  We all can change the world!

Pranks a lot

Be careful. Seriously, be careful today. Is it real, or is it an April Fool's joke? Some people believe every single thing they read. Today might be the exception. April 1st is probably the only day of the year when people critically evaluate everything they read online, before accepting it as fact. Perhaps we should do that every day.

Jokes and pranks can be fun, if they are done in that spirit, but all too often they are just plain mean. There certainly is no humor in being unkind. I used to be a big fan of All Fool's Day. There have been some wonderful ones (one of my favorites was the Taco Liberty Bell back in the late 90s). There have also been ones that have caused great grief. Then, I am not a fan.

I write about positive uplifting things here, and laughter is wonderful medicine, but sadness and misery are not good things, and so when it comes to this day I really have mixed feelings. Be good. Have fun. Don't make anyone feel bad in the process. Maybe my first two words are a good way to go today: Be careful.