whatcha gonna do

THIS IS OUR WORLD

So you don't like what the President tweeted yesterday afternoon. What are you going to do about it?  The US is spending way too much on war and not nearly enough on poverty.  Are you just going to grumble?  Hate crimes and discrimination are still such a part of American life.  Will you just sit by and watch the hate grow?

 

The whole reason I began this blog twelve years ago was to encourage people.  I don't have all the answers, but I do know that we have the power to do some pretty incredible things.  I see great changes every day and it is heartwarming to know that people do can and that folks do want to get involved and make a difference.  Being dissatisfied with how things are does not bring about change.  That's just the starting point.  From there we need to get involved.

 

There are tons of good positive productive things we can all do every day.  This is our world!  We can get rid of the bad and we can build up the good!  How about it?  What are YOU going to do? Will you help make the world a little better?

This novel coronavirus - COVID-19

You cannot write a blog in March 2020 without saying something about this novel coronavirus - COVID-19.  I did write something two weeks ago, but there is much more to be said.  First and foremost I want to point out that this is NOT a news source.  COVID-19 is an emerging, rapidly evolving situation and I urge you to keep informed, but please do so with trusted official sources.

Your local city, county, and state governments will of course have information that is specific to where you live, but general information that we can all use can be found on the website of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/

 

There has never been a situation like this.  We don't know how long it will last.  As I said, it is a rapidly evolving situation and updates come along frequently.  Bad information is not helpful though to anyone, so please don't spread hearsay and don't listen to idle gossip on social media or wherever you may hear it.  Stick to the facts.  Again, the CDC is going to be one of your most trusted sources.  Follow the instructions given but health experts and our leaders too.

 

I have already heard stories about amazing people - everyday heroes, who have done amazing things.  I'm sure I will hear about a lot more.  Please feel free to share some of your good inspiring COVID-19 stories too.

Be Prepared

One thing I learned from my days as a Boy Scout, is to be prepared.  I also lived for many years in earthquake prone areas and we are told the same thing.  If a big quake hits, you make be on your own for awhile, so have food, medicine, and other supplies ready, in case you can't get out.  Good advise always of course, but we are hearing it more lately as COVID-19 spreads.

 

Being prepared doesn't just mean having enough supplies.  It also means having good information.  Already false reports are circulating on social media, and this does no good at all.  Get your facts directly, not from friends quoting a source.  Despite anyone's good intentions, it is also possible to misquote your source.  Right now, your state and local health departments, the Centers for Disease Control, and the World Health Organization are among the best sources.

 

Since I am not a health provider, you will not see me giving any medical guidance, and since information is rapidly updating, you also won't see me giving specific information on COVID-19 here either.  Yes, this is important, and I'm certain I will be writing more, but please know your best sources are those I mentioned above.  Since we really don't know what to expect, be prepared for whatever might happen.

 

Here is the CDC's webpage for the very latest information on COVID-19:  https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/

Pete Buttigieg gave us hope

"You have to give them hope.  Hope for a better world, hope for a better tomorrow, hope for a better place to come to if the pressures at home are too great.  Hope that all will be all right. Without hope, not only gays, but the blacks, the seniors, the handicapped, the us'es, the us'es will give up.  And if you help elect to the central committee and other offices, more gay people, that gives a green light to all who feel disenfranchised, a green light to move forward.  It means hope to a nation that has given up, because if a gay person makes it, the doors are open to everyone.  So if there is a message I have to give, it is that I've found one overriding thing about my personal election, it's the fact that if a gay person can be elected, it's a green light.  And you and you and you, you have to give people hope."  Those words spoken by the late San Francisco County Supervisor Harvey Milk back in 1977, still ring true today.  Pete Buttigieg gave us hope.

 

By now you most certainly know that former South Bend, IN Mayor Pete Buttigieg ended his presidential bid last night.  Buttigieg has made it clear for some time that he was not willing to run just for the sake of running.  He was indeed in it to win, but the numbers just weren't there, so he withdrew.  Still it stings.  I must admit that I cried.  Was it because Pete is gay that I cared so much or that he is proud of his faith?  There may be a little of that, but in the end I think it is because he spoke to me and to us ALL.  He made a difference.  We could relate to him.

 

Last night American Horror Story star Billy Eichner said: “As someone who’s dealt with fewer opportunities in my chosen industry for being openly gay years before that was welcome, I’m grateful to Pete Buttigieg and Chasten Buttigieg for ignoring the odds and assumptions and creating a path for LGBTQ in politics that simply did not exist."

During a campaign event last month, nine-year-old Zachary Ro wrote in a submitted question, Thank you for being so brave.  I want to be brave like you."  Pete invited the young boy onstage and told him, "I don't think you need a lot of advice from me on bravery. You seem pretty strong to me."  I have no doubt at all that Pete gave Zachary hope.

Tom Steyer, who earlier had also ended his presidential bid said "Pete Buttigieg brought a fresh perspective and sense of optimism to the race.  His call for inclusivity is laudable. As the first openly gay candidate to mount a major bid, he has proven we aren’t limited by who we love."  Indeed.

I don't pretend to see the future, but I am certain Pete Buttigieg can continue making a difference.  There are so many ways he can continue to be of service.  This morning though, I am just very glad he came our way.  He gave us hope.

Bonus Day

This year we get a bonus day.  It happens every four years.  Today is Leap Day.  One of the fun things about this day is that if this is your birthday, instead of saying how old you are, you can instead state how many birthdays.  For example, on your tenth birthday you would be forty years old!

 

Some folks use this extra day to do something special, and I think that's a great idea.  How about a day of extra kindness or a day where you give back to your community?  A day of volunteering is another good idea, or a day spent helping raise money for charity.  I wrote yesterday about how good it feels to give back, and what better time to do it than this extra day!

 

Of course you can also use it to rest and relax and enjoy something you might not otherwise do.  Go see a show or go dancing or out to dinner.  A quick one-day road trip is another idea.  Actually the ideas can be endless. 

 

So how will YOU spend this bonus day?  Let's hear some of your ideas!

Who are you?

For the past twelve years now, I wake up in the morning, and before doing many other things, I sit down with my tablet or my laptop and say a few things here. We have a counter that tell how many people visit the page and the number is fairly steady with big spikes when we write about someone or something that every search engine directs you to.

 

Who comes here?  I actually have no idea!  The counter shows numbers only.  It also shows search engine referrals, so I can see that someone came from a facebook hyperlink for example, or from a bing or a google search of a keyword I may have used.  It doesn't say who was referred though.  Even more important - I have no idea if my words were actually read, only that someone came to this page.

 

I only mention this because it is nice to know if you are making an impact.  Sometimes it can help with your direction.  So, who are you?  Please let me know from time to time.  You don't have to give your name, but an occasional comment (you can use the comments section below) helps a lot.  Are any of my ideas any good?  Should I go in a different direction?  Is there an individual or an organization that I should tell people about?  Pour a second cup of coffee, and let me know!

the way to feel good is to do good

It's been awhile since I wrote here about one of the nicest guys in the world, Jon Bon Jovi, and after seeing him on television, I simply had to update what I have previously written.  (The picture by the way, is from CBS news which did a report on him during their Sunday Morning program). 

I could tell you the story of his very special restaurants, but many of you probably saw the report.  I hope it leads you to get involved though.  Check out their website at https://www.jonbonjovisoulfoundation.org/ and see how you can help.

It's not just what Bon Jovi is doing that inspires me.  I also paid close attention to what he said during the tv interview and was greatly encouraged by the words describing his work in his Soul Kitchens.  "It can obviously never compare to performing or writing songs," he said. "But what it does do is it gives you the same sense of fulfillment, I think, when I leave here at night and you see the lives you touch.  I have left here, you know, after a long night of volunteering and said, 'That makes you feel the same kind of good.' You know? And that's what I say, the way to feel good is to do good, you know?

"Find your good – and do it."  Excellent advice for us all!