never about grapes or lettuce

Diego Luna did a marvelous job directing a just released film about the life of American labor leader César Chávez, who cofounded the United Farm Workers. You may have already seen the movie - if not, I urge you to. I also urge you to learn more about this man whom many will be honoring today.

Cesar Chavez's birthday (today), is a state holiday here in California, and also in Colorado and Texas. Even thought it is not a federal holiday, President Barack Obama proclaimed today as Cesar Chavez Day in the United States, urging us to "observe this day with appropriate service, community, and educational programs to honor César Chávez's enduring legacy."

Chavez was one of those people I write about here every day - he was someone who made a difference - he was someone who gave back! He used nonviolent means to bring attention to the plight of farm workers, leading marches, calling for boycotts and going on a number of hunger strikes. Chavez also brought awareness to the dangers of pesticides to the health of farm workers. He is quoted as saying "The fight is never about grapes or lettuce. It is always about people."

 

Making the difference in the lives of so many people, it is fitting and proper that we honor him today.  What an excellent time also to find out more about him and to build on his leadership and make a difference ourselves.

We've come a long way

If you are over the age of thirteen, you can remember the days when marriage equality did not exist anywhere in the world.  We've come a long way since then.  It has been a slow process but minds are changing and more and more people are realizing that all people should have the same fair and equal treatment.

In 2001, The Netherlands became the first country in the world to allow for same-sex couples to legally wed. Two years later, Belgium and two Canadian provinces (Ontario and British Columbia)joined them. It wasn't until 2004 that gay couples could marry in the United States. San Francisco go the ball rolling with the winter of love. Massachusetts had already passed a law and it was just a matter of months before same-sex marriages began there.

 

Across the United States, seventeen states and the District of Columbia have marriage equality now.  Only positive results have come from these new laws - 38 percent of Americans will live in states where same-sex marriage is legal and the world continues to spin.  Yes, equality actually makes people happier.  Only 17 of 50 still is a very low number. 

 

When will everyone see equal treatment under the law?  What do YOU think?  Get involved!  You really can make a difference.

Mom's year's mind

It's been a year since Mom died and I miss her as much today as I did that night.  Later on today I will be going to visit her final resting place, which I don't get to as often as I would like.  It's a beautiful area which Mom always enjoyed seeing in the months before her death.  Of course I can think of her and feel close to her, not only there, but everywhere I go - especially when there is someone around that she knew, or if there is a teddy bear.

 

My role model for making a difference in the world, for giving back to community, was Mom.  She did it in the way she raised my sister and I and the way she cared for the sick in her work as a nurse and in her volunteer time at her church and at school and then many things she did.  She gave back too by always being pleasant and smiling.  I still see her smile in my mind every day.

 

A few years ago Mom did something that I think is pretty incredible.  She gave me an envelope with a small attached package.  "Don't open this until after I am gone" it said on the envelope.  I followed her instructions and kept it hidden away until a few days after she passed away.  My sister had gotten a similar package and envelope.  We both remembered the packages and (separately) opened them up a night or two after Mom died.  Wrapped in white tissue paper was a book titled "This Too Shall Pass" about dealing with death and other difficult moments in life.  The attached note said I had been the best son a mother could have.  It said she hoped the book would help and then wished me a good life.  "We'll be together again someday" was how she closed.

 

On Mom's year's mind, I think back to that night at Seton Coastside and thank God for the best sister a guy could possible have, who was there with me that difficult night, and thanks too for the wonderful friends who offered comfort and support and who continue to.  I think too of Mom of course, who gave me life and taught me how to live.  Mom made a huge difference.  Thanks be to God!

the beauty of fog

Almost every morning, I start the day by taking a walk.  It is so refreshing to begin with exercise and to see the city as it wakes up.  Of course San Francisco takes longer in some neighborhoods to wake up than in others.  It's the fog that seems to make a difference - that lovely fog.

 

Now I know there are those who curse the fog.  I can make things a bit chilly and it certainly obscures your view.  I might even agree that it is a nuisance if it is delaying my plane from takeoff or landing or if it is blocking my view of a fireworks display.

 

San Francisco has many charms.  I happen to think fog is one of them.  Of course some folks say I can find beauty anywhere.  Why not?  The more wonder we see, the more enjoyment we have!  Give that fog another chance.  It really can be beautiful!

Who else inspires you?

I'd love to see some of you respond to yesterday's post.  I made a few statements here, but I certainly don't have all the answers!  If you were to make that list, who would you put on it?  Seriously.  Give it some thought and then share with us in the comments section below.

 

It might be easy to say that your fifth grade teacher or someone you work with inspires you.  Perhaps you are inspired by a famous athlete or entertainer or politician.   Someone in your family might inspire you, like Mom or Dad or that special aunt.  Who else inspires you though?  Maybe just the little things that someone does can inspire others.  It doesn't always have to be huge. 

 

Okay, so we are finding people who inspire us.  Do we ever inspire others though?  Should we?  Do you want to live a life that others will find inspiring?  I'd love to hear your comments on that too!

Toan has another story to tell

Go Inspire Go is such a wonderful idea that I have written about it often here.  Last year their Chief Inspirator Toan Lam had this crazy idea of spotlighting 50 heroes in 50 states, and after a successful fundraising, they set off to do just that.  I have told you here about the results too and I am happily watching for each new development, which I hope you will enjoy and get something from. 

Their first hero in the 50 stories in 50 states campaign was 16-year-old  Matthew Kaplan, founder of The Be O.N.E. Project, a life-changing program he started for middle school students in Arizona to stop bullying behavior before it even begins.  

Next came a truly incredible story as Tony Tolbert, a UCLA lecturer and attorney loaned his house out to a homeless family of five for a year.  A twelve-year-old, Thomas Ponce, is an animal rights activist in Florida with a special gift of inspiring people, and he became the third 50-50 profile. 

If you haven't seen these first three stories yet, or this is the first time you are hearing about Go Inspire Go, I urge you to head to their website where you can not only find links to all the videos, but also find out more about them.  You can get involved too.  At the end of each video you will find ways to do something.  There is also the very easy option of spreading the word and letting others know about them.  Of course you can also donate money.  There website is at http://www.goinspirego.com/

Toan has another story to tell of course.  Many more!  Just recently posted though is the latest 50-50 tale and this one will change the way you think about hip-hop. Toan and crew traveled to New York City for an inspiring story of how hip-hop is saving lives and creating humanitarians.  I know you are going to be moved by this one!  Click HERE to view 50-50 story number five.

Oh, the Places You'll Go!

Theodor Seuss Geisel left a huge mark on this world of ours and I could easily write here about the 46 children's books he penned as Dr Seuss, but today's post actually only references one of his books, which was given to a very loved daughter.  I just heard the story of a girl who was given a priceless gift at her high school graduation.

 

Imagine being a teenager and having your father give you a copy of the Seuss book Oh, the Places You'll Go!  That is exactly what happened to this lucky young lady who smiled open receiving it, but soon had tears in her eyes.  When she opened the book she found something unique.  There was a note from her kindergarten teacher.  That's not all though.  The book was filled with notes!

 

It seems this father had planned this for a long time and every year he got the teachers and coaches and principals to write a little something in the book he would be giving to his daughter.  A thirteen year labor of love that really made an impact!  It's like reading an old yearbook, but better.  Thoughts from all of your past teachers - imagine that. 

 

When I heard about this I had tears in my eyes.  What a lucky girl to have such a loving father.  What a wonderful way to make a difference in someone's life too!

About Stephen

Let me tell you today about an inspiring British teenager.  His name is Stephen Sutton and he has cancer that doctors say is incurable.  Stephen didn't retreat to his bedroom and throw himself a pity-party though.  He decided to raise money to fight the disease so that even if he lost his life, eventually others might be saved.  Along the way Stephen has decided to enjoy life as much as possible.

 

Last year he started a facebook page where 16,000 people follow him.  Pretty incredible, huh?  He decided to share his story there with the whole world.  His story is a sad one to be sure.  One of the things he wrote early on though is that "this is not a sob story, this is Stephen’s Story."

 

His birth and early years were very much the same as any other British male these days.  Stephen had friends and had fun.  He went to school and studied hard and had a goal of becoming a physician.  It wasn't until he was fifteen that his world changed so dramatically.  Cancer was diagnosed, but not to worry.  It's treatable.  A few years later, he found out that he still had it and it was not going away.  That's a very simplified version and I apologize for not going in to greater detail.  There simply isn't space here.

 

I mentioned that Stephen is on facebook, well he is also on twitter and youtube and he has a website and he is very connected.  He tells his story well and as he enjoys whatever time he has left, he encourages others in a way I have never before seen.  Click HERE to watch him tell his entire story.  I have to warn you - have a box of tissues ready!

 

How wonderful it would be if the whole world had a spirit like Stephen's!  To find out more about this remarkable young man, I invite you to visit his website at http://stephensstory.co.uk/

A politician making a difference

People in political life we may hope will do great things and bring about positive changes, but the reality is that few elected officials ever measure up to what we generally hope for. Yes there are the Kennedy brothers and Lech Waselsa, and Nelson Mandela and Winston Churchill but it would be rather difficult to come up with another six names. That's why I have such strong feelings about the President of San Francisco's Board of Supervisors, David Chiu. 

David has passed more legislation than anyone serving on today’s Board of Supervisors and there is a good reason for that. David is fair and honest and has worked tirelessly to build consensus and to look at things from all points of view. He has been a hard worker for San Francisco and I am excited that he may be soon representing us in the state legislature. I know it may seem odd to be writing about someone in elected office, after all what I write about here each day is making a difference in our world. THAT'S why I am writing about David Chiu. He makes a difference every single day.

Representing one of San Francisco's eleven districts, David has been chosen by them to be their president an unprecedented three times. Turning around our city's economy and creating more jobs has been David’s top priority as President of the Board of Supervisors. As someone who doesn’t even own a car, he has been able to champion a number transit successes. He has worked to clean up our environment, always stands up for our neighborhoods, and continues to work hard and to standing up for tenants and for affordable housing.

Back in 2005, David worked alongside San Francisco LGBT leaders on a successful effort to adopt marriage equality in the official platform of the California Democratic Party. In fact The Bay Area Reporter observed that he “championed the cause with gusto." Indeed. I have seen firsthand David's commitment to the LGBT community from his regular participation in local LGBT events like the annual Pride Celebration to his advocating for the reunification of LGBT immigrant families and his support for increased funding for HIV/AIDS programs.

David Chiu makes a difference as a political leader here in San Francisco and I am excited that he is running for the District 17 Assembly seat. At noon today he will officially open his campaign office at 549 Castro Street here in San Francisco and I hope many of you will come by. Take a closer look and I am confident you will agree that David Chiu is a political leader that can inspire us all.