Tuesday, March 20, 2012

I Got 99 Problems and Giving is One....

I figured I'd keep the title of this post in line with the current Jay Z theme. heheh....  Giving aint easy, lemme tell you.  I guess I had hoped that if I opened myself up to the possiblities of giving and helping my fellow man that the opportunities would just present themselves, but I find myself having to be way more pro-active than I had imagined.  Anyway, my food/ toiletry drive was a resounding success!   Well at least I filled up the two boxes that I had set up outside my office.  Once one person put some things in the box, then others followed suit (felt the pressure) and made their contributions as well.  It was very nice to see the boxes filling up as the days and the weeks progressed.  The next step is to bring it on down to Reading, PA.  I am interested to see what the most poverty stricken city in the United States looks like.
To keep the giving momentum going I am running a half marathon this weekend.  The proceeds of the donations raised will go to help build wells in Africa.  I got into the donation raising a little late, but hopefully I will at least hit the $100 dollar mark in donations. 

Sunday, March 11, 2012

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!

Friday, March 9, 2012

Posted by a love refugee

Allow me to re-introduce myself...my name is HOV!! wait that's not right...no I'm not a super famous rap mogul or a man for that matter lol...I am the cousin who has been doubted! And reasonably so...it is now March 2nd and obviously my team mate and I have not been eager participants.  I am however, 100% supportive of my cousin Rich and his team mate Crystal, although, unfortunately it looks like they're just competing against well The 'Lack of Good' out there in general or rather than competing, 'championing' a good cause...LOVE! I did want to say though, that I have been inspired, which I've already told Rich, but I wanted to show my support, here, in this forum. 
 
Quick story...a few weeks ago I was getting lunch in my Employee Cafeteria and the guy who makes all of our delicious sandwiches was talking to another employee about a local soup kitchen and how desperate they are for help...sooo...with this ‘seek out new ways to do good’ mentality in the back of my head…I said "I'll help!" and me, the other employee, and the sandwich guy are going to go on March 21st for the first time.  I hope it leads to a weekly engagement!  Also, just so everyone reading this doesn't think I call the guy that makes my sandwiches, 'the sandwich guy', I do know his name but I'm protecting his privacy lol
 
Soooo...Thank you Rich and Crystal for the ideas, inspiration and Loooove! Keep it up! xoxo
 
I may not be 'competing' but I'm your number one cheerleader!!!  With your sister being a very close second! ha