One Winter NIght

The story for me this year has been two-fold.  I have personally gotten to know a few of our homeless men and heard about their struggles. I wanted to raise awareness for their plights. Plus the actual night that we stay on the street collecting donations I have been touched by the empathy of children who want to help the homeless.  I have to say that those children have had the biggest impact on me.  Last year, one of my preschool students and his family volunteered to stand on the corners with signs asking cars to stop and donate.  I have no idea of their success, but they felt that it was worthy of their time.  They stayed three hours and this was a family of five with the children ranging in age from 3-13!  They even came back this year to volunteer in a different way, but were there nonetheless.  Those parents are really teaching their children the value of helping those less fortunate that you cannot learn in any textbook!

The other child that touched me this year was a boy who later I found out was named Edward.  Edward is eight and not even from Champaign.  He was there with his mother standing on the corner with his sign, too.  Then later he got a big ziplock bag that the participants were given to collect donations and he and his mom walked up and down the sidewalks along Neil.  When I first met Edward he was so proud to tell me that he had about $40!  From then on any money that I collected I waited for Edward to add to his donations!  Eventually, he raised about $100!  That was awesome!  The pride that he showed was the love that he had inside for those that he was trying to help.  About 11:00 he came by my box and asked where the other girls were that had been with me.  I said I didn't know, but that one had already left.  He said that he would then sit and wait for the other one!  I don't know why he wanted to wait, but it was so sweet that he had made friends while collecting. We convinced him that it was a bit chilly to wait and maybe he should turn in his donations as it was getting late! I didn't see Edward any more that night.  But his kindhearted soul and his mother's willingness to follow him as he did what he felt was the most he could do will stay with me. 

It is with Edward's spirit that all of us could bring to life that which can make a difference in anything that we set our sights on.  We don't always have to have the most or be the biggest or be the first.  It's getting out there and just doing what we can with who we are that will make the difference in the lives of others.  And it might just make a change in you, too!

More on New Chapters...

One thing that I do best is think!  And I have been known to "overthink" things!  Nooooo!  But those who know me know this is true!  Well, something happened while I was thinking today.  I came to an understanding about how to accept New Chapters.  As difficult as it is sometimes to move forward, I found that remembering the good things worked!  At least for today.....

New Chapters

The exciting part about life is change.  Change keeps life from becoming dull and routine.  Change can produce the whole range of emotions.  We cannot predict change.  We cannot know how someone else's change is going to affect us.  What we do know is that we have to ride the waves of change.  Know that we cannot change anything but ourselves.  Change is going to happen and how we deal with it when it happens makes the difference.  Know that if we are open to accepting the change that happens around us or to us, act on the change if we need to, and do what we can to move forward positively will make all the difference.  I continue to appreciate those in my life who produce these emotions about change.  Without them I would be just routine.  Sometimes the change aches, but it's better to feel.

So.... bring it, change!  I'll deal with it!

It's not about the past, and it's not about the future, its about taking this moment you're living in right now, and making it count.

True Connections Are There Whether We See Them Or Not...

Wow!  I think I can finally see Spring around the corner!  Walking today reminded me about how in winter trees and the nature world look dead...no leaves, no flowers, so cold.  But today is the first day I see so many signs that our neck of the woods is coming out of dormancy...warmth, buds on the trees, daffodils, crocus, hyacinths, and birds singing!  They may look dead in winter, but actually there is a lot going on that we can't see on the inside or underground! I can hardly wait for spring and see the full bloom!

This all got me to thinking of how my connections can lay dormant for a period of time and I don't see activity.  Have I missed an email?  A text? A call?  I could not function without those connections!  And some dormancy can last for a day, two days, a week, a month or more before I need to pick up the activity. 

Today reminded me that even though I connect at different times with different people and may not "see" activity, connections are still active and I need to be patient!  A period of "winter" can be any time before "spring" comes and the connection is in "full bloom" again!

And that makes me happy!

Who's Your Catcher?

     At the funeral of one of my best friend's mother, the minister spoke about how he researched trapeze acts at the circus.  They always fascinated him and he wanted to know more.  You don't hear much about trapeze acts in a funeral message, so it intrigued me.  What he learned was the interesting part to me!  One would normally think that it's the fllyer doing tricks in the air that is the most important part of the act.  But, in reality, the catcher is the most important person.  We may all gawk at the flyer for his/her abilities to tumble in mid-air.  But if he/she doesn't have a person on the other end to catch him/her, it is all for naught.  They have to trust that that person will be there to catch them.  Trusting is the key word here.

     I find myself being the one who is "flying through the air" taking chances.  And I am so grateful for those around me who "catch" me!  I may go out on a limb, but, fortunately, it hasn't broken!  Learning to trust has been a process and doesn't come easily. Luckily, trusting is a two-way street and I hope those I trust know that I hold their trust just as securely. I cannot go through life sitting still.  I need to keep swinging on that trapeze.  So this post is dedicated to those who are at the other end "catching" me and holding my trust.  We can't go it alone.

     May we always be open to be the "catcher" when someone is flying through the air and has "let go"!  They may not be expecting you to be their "catcher", but do it anyway.  You never know when it is going to be your turn to be the "flyer"!  Sometimes the best friendships are made that way!

My Take on Excellence

     Wow!  The summer has flown past and I have loved all the sunshine!  I am totally looking forward to Fall and the new school year.  Summer has been a little laid back for me, but I'm gearing up for the future!  It has provided me with the opportunity to set new goals for myself.  I usually don't plan too far ahead, but now it's different.  And exciting!

     Back to the present...I heard a quote yesterday about "excellence" that said it can be obtained "...by caring more than others think is wise.  By risking more than others think is safe.  By expecting more than others think is practical..."  (There isn't anyone attributed to this quote, but it hit home to me.)  "Excellence" doesn't mean perfection to me.  People are never going to be perfect.  But when we lead our lives in ways that show caring, risking, expecting then there are opportunities for excellence to show through.  We can have those attributes in our daily lives without being trapeze artists or The Evil Knevils of the world.  Sure, some professions are naturally going to have more risks, but that doesn't mean that all of us can't stick our necks out if an opportunity presents itself and we need to act on it.   

     I want to go through life with no regrets or what ifs.  Life provides too many opportunities to form friendships and meet new people to miss anything.  Even a "Good Samaritan" act like making a food delivery can be a springboard to friendship.  In order to receive, one must be out there.  You have to "break out of your cocoon"!  "Serendipity" is another word used to describe experiences that happen from the unexpected.  All these cliches and phrases help form my life.  And it is those around me that make it happen!

     Strive for excellence!  Take that risk!  Care!  Expect that great things will happen for you!  Trust me, they will!

    

Get out of the rut!

Something that was said by the priest at church yesterday rang true to me.  Sometimes we get in a rut and don't think that life has anything new to offer us.  I have not really followed that line of thinking because each day provides new opportunities to reach out or to connect.  But one has to be open to those possibilities and be ready when it happens.  Sometimes the opportunity happens when we aren't looking!  And those can be the most fun! 

Being on Council has provided me with more opportunities than I can count!  Social media opens doors for connecting that I never would have dreamed of.  But the communication has to be a two-way street.  There is no connection if you are not open to new ideas or thoughts or people.  New people come into your life and can bring new perspectives that totally make life exciting!  Life has so much to offer past the four walls of your comfort zone.  Taking a chance exploring outside those walls is what keeps me going!  There is so much to learn and so many teachers out there for me to learn from!  (And I'm not talking about the classroom!) 

Open up!  Make yourself available!  That new "Best Friend" could be out there just waiting to meet you!    Get ready for the adventure and you will be surprised where that path can lead....

The sky's the limit!