Let's Make A Difference

It's time to play everyone's favorite game (which can easily become everyone's favorite way of life) .   .   . Let's Make A Difference!

 

So do we choose what is behind door number one?  Perhaps we would rather go to door number two?  What do you think?  Is number three the best choice?  Life isn't really a game, but we are faced with many decisions along the way.  Which ones should we choose?  Which ones are best for us, and best for others as well?

 

There are many ways to make a difference in this world, and it isn't just about trading that boiled egg in your purse for a new car (huh?  how many of you got that one?).  Think about it.  What can you do to bring positive change to this world?  What can you do that will be good both now and for generations to come?  What can you do that will really make a difference?

 

The clock is ticking.  It would be nice if we could all make it to the bonus round!  Let's do it!  Let's Make A Difference!!

 

(My guilty pleasure is watching old game shows on buzzr and GSN).

Are you rich?

It's amazing to me how so many people measure wealth. Do you own your house? How many cars to you have? What about jewelry? Stocks? Money? Do you consider yourself rich?

Okay, that might be an odd question to ask, but I want you to think about it for a moment.  Are material things important to you? Are you waiting for that big break? Do you dream of marrying a wealthy spouse? Are thoughts of a huge inheritance frequently in your thoughts?

I wanted you to think about this for a moment because if material wealth is always on your mind, perhaps its time to rethink.  Maybe you already are rich, but just in another way.  The everyday heroes we talk about here, are heroes because the put more importance on the everyday.  Perhaps rich is really a state of mind. Take a closer look at the blessings already in your life, and you will discover riches of a more important kind.

Not yet Christmas

You wouldn't know it from the tv advertising and the scenes in most retail stores, but it's not yet Christmas. Some people have been celebrating since September!  Really. Why the rush?

 

I hear people say it every year.  They aren't going to decorate early. Christmas is such a wonderful time, let us give it our all, but let's wait until it actually arrives.  Oh, and the twelve days of Christmas?  Let's go back to celebrating that way, but the 12 begins on December 25th - that's not when it ends!

 

I love the season of giving and the emphasis that is placed on helping folks who are without.  I love the parties and the joy.  I really do.  What I am not a fan of is the rush and the early start.  Some folks begin trotting out Christmas decorations or merchandise before summer is even over!

 

So, let us continue with our preparations and let the season build slowly.  Let's not let any stores or businesses rob us of this great celebration and let it continue on after the sun sets on December 25th too.  Oh, and happy holidays?  I have no problem wishing folks happiness for the several celebrations that happen to come near each other each December, but there is also nothing wrong with a specific wish for a happy Chanukah or Christmas or Kwanza or New Year's, but not yet!

Give today

Today is Giving Tuesday. It happens each year on the Tuesday right after Thanksgiving, which is today. Many organizations rely on this day for a huge chunk of their income, so we're talking big time giving here folks. I know that money doesn't grow on trees, but there are so many worthy charities out their that can use a hand, and I hope that some of you can oblige.

We have a wonderful sense of gratitude each year on Thanksgiving Day and then we turn to corporate greed on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Supposedly we are buying gifts for others, but how many of us really are and how many of us are spending money we cannot even afford? Besides money though, we can give of our time and we can share the information with others.

 

You would be amazed how much good you can do!  It doesn't have to be huge amounts either because your donations are added to those of others and together the collection can be quite impressive.  Not sure who is most deserving?  Check out the Giving Tuesday website at https://www.givingtuesday.org/ and see the many ways you can get involved.

 

Don't think you cannot afford to participate.  Giving Tuesday is not for rich people, it is for all people.  As I said, there are a lot of ways to participate and donating money does not have to mean donating large sums.  The important thing is involvement.  Join me, won't you?

World AIDS Day

Commemorating World AIDS Day is more important this year than ever because for the first time since its inception the US administration is refusing to acknowledge it. That does not stop us from gathering, sharing, remembering, mourning, and pledging to continue the fight to get to zero.

First, I want to invite you to share the names of loved ones in the comment section. Feel free to also comment with words of encouragement. We have come a long way, but there is still a long way to go.

I'm also going to personally remember by watching a movie later today. And the Band Played On is a 1993 American television film docudrama based on the best-selling 1987 non-fiction book of the same name by Randy Shilts.  For those too young to remember, it gives a good history of the early days of HIV/AIDS.  I think it is important to remember where we have been in order to get to where we need to go.

I participate in AIDS Walk every year, because it is still important.  We cannot forget.  World AIDS Day is important.  Just because our government isn't supporting it this year, doesn't make it unimportant.  Let us always remember and always continue working for the day when AIDS is only a mention in the history books.

How many

Hearing this same question several times in reference to the lgbtq community, I just HAVE to say something. In reference to same sex marriage, I heard it asked "Why should we be concerned about such a small group of the population?" This month I have heard two different people saw the same thing about our transgender sisters and brothers. Just yesterday, I heard someone on television ask why bathroom accommodations should be made when there are so few people involved. I can recall back in the early days of AIDS there was concern about the blood supply, and it was said that too few people were involved to make testing of the blood worthwhile.

How many does it take? When will we stop discriminating. Justification of our various prejudices has often been linked to numbers. If a race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion or any other group is in the minority, some folks think that is reason to discriminate. What about abused animals?  Are tons of dogs, cats, horses, or other animals mistreated in your community? It isn't the number that we should be concerned about, because any abuse, yes ANY, is too much.   "Not many of them, so they don't count."

WRONG!

Everyone counts. Everyone is important. I'm sorry if I seem to keep getting up on my soapbox, but I have to say this. In fact, I want to scream it from the rooftops! All lives matter. Everyone should be able to live a full and rich life without fear or intimidation. Everyone. It doesn't matter how many. Now let me be clear. I'm not saying that any action is okay. We aren't talking about what folks do, but rather who folks are. Discrimination based on identity is wrong.

let's make some good news

There has just been too much bad news lately. I'm tired of seeing so much hate. I am very tired of seeing innocent people dying. I am saddened by the recent celebrity deaths. There seems to be nothing but bad news. But, it doesn't have to be that way!

 

First a couple of things:  there ARE good things happening in this world, we just aren't hearing enough about them.  For some reason, the mainstream media tends to pay more attention to the negative stories than the positive ones.  We need to speak up and let them know we want ALL the news, especially those good stories.  Secondly, when we see bad things happening, let's all work a little harder to turn things around and get a more positive outcome.

 

Now I am not so naïve as to think that everything can be turned around overnight, but if we don't try, we might never know how much good we can do.  Of course we cannot put an end to the deaths of famous people.  Death is part of life.  We can work toward a world without suicide though.  We can have better resources available so nobody every has to think that is the only alternative.

 

There might not ever be a day when every single story in the newspaper is upbeat and positive, but I sure as heck want to work toward that day.  Don't you?