AIN'T NO LOVE IN THE HEART OF THE CITY!

Since we're quoting The Great Brooklyn Boy, I figured I'd follow suit! Thanks for the props "cuz"! It is truly a competition against the lack of love in the city...I ask ya, "where's the love"? It's there, but for so many it is dormant and suppressed (myself included). Part of life in NYC is desensitizing yourself to the misfortunes and trauma experienced by others and pushing the love to the back burner; storing it up and using it sparingly on select few. Part of this competition or shall I say campaign, is to bring the love forth and allow it to manifest in the form of giving! The hardest part of the mission to consciously spread the love is allowing it to flow naturally and instinctively; to recognize a need, draw on your resources and take action. This past few weeks giving has taken many forms. I've given of my time, my knowledge, my resources, and energy. But it comes easier when I allow myself to act with pure intention...not because there is a competition, or to get kudos but because I can, and because it improves the quality of my life and the lives of others in small and big ways! My last two giving experiences did just that! The first came from clearly seeing someone struggle needlessly. A woman I know recently and courageously left an abusive relationship. She explained how she will never look back on the life she had but described how hard her new found freedom comes with many new burdens...schlepping 4 young kids (2 are infants) back and forth on public transportation without a stroller. I thought, what can I do that would make her life easier? Then it came to me that it would cost me nothing but resources to ask around for someone looking to unload a stroller. Well one person I asked posted my request on Facebook and within hours we had found her not 1 but 2 strollers for FREE! That was quite the score! But even better it will improve her life and that of her kids. The 2nd act this week was much less complicated and involved just giving a stamp to the elderly woman in front of me at the discount store, who had a mini breakdown when she got to the cashier only to discover that the store did not sell stamps and never did! Distressed by this new news, she rambled almost incoherently in broken English, about the letter that she needed to send off to her daughter. I tapped her on the shoulder and asked how many stamps she needed. She said, "Just one...my daughter needs these important papers"! Before she could drag on her story, I reached into my wallet and gave her a stamp! She thanked me and tried to offer me money. I simply said good luck and walked away. A small thing for me,big thing for her! This is what it's all about..just allowing yourself to recognize the suffering of others and then taking action however you can to ease that pain. With giving experiences like that ... I will not lose, ever! This world of "lack love" will not triumph, and this cadence from JayZ will serve as inspiration to spread the love!