Happy Toangiving!

A very happy Toangiving to you all!  Huh?  You probably think I made a mistake.  Toangiving?

Today is of course Thanksgiving Day, a national holiday here in the United States and one of the most popular celebrations of the entire year.  It's a day for giving thanks and for families to gather and for folks to eat great feasts, watch parades and football on television, and begin preparations for more holidays yet to come.  It's also special for me because when I think of giving thanks, I think of this blog that I write each day and I also think of Toan Lam.

 

Probably more than any other individual, I have written here on many occasions about Toan.  My blog is about making a difference in this world, and Toan could easily be the posterboy for that.  he makes a difference each and every day.  His organization Go Inspire Go is such a feel-good group that every single thing I read about or see from GiG touches me very deeply.  Go Inspire Go does just what its name says - it inspires.  Toan Lam is behind that and he inspires both with that agency and just by being himself.  I'm convinced that the literal translation of Toan is inspiring.

 

I have so very much to be thankful for!  I have a loving family and many wonderful friends.  I have a new home and each day see new adventures.  We all have much to be thankful for of course.  Life is full of wonderful blessings.  We don't always see them though.  Some are more apt to dwell on the negative.  Toan seems to see all of the good, and just in case the rest of us don't, he freely points it out to us. He is as humble though as he is giving and will likely be embarrassed to find that I have written this.  On days when I think "oh I should skip writing my blog" or "I can't possibly keep on writing this," it's Toan Lam in the back of my mind that keep encouraging me.  I am thankful to know this kind and generous man and I give thanks that he came our way!

 

You can find out more about Toan and his wonderful organization at http://goinspirego.com/ and if you read some of his words and view some of his videos, you will better understand what I mean.  Thank you Toan Lam and thank you to everyone who makes this a better world!

Channeling concerns constructively

As you know, the grand jury deliberating the death of Michael Brown in Ferguson this summer, issued its decision last night and they decided not to indict the police officer who was responsible. Even before the announcement, protests had begun both there in Ferguson and in cities across the country. Some turned violent. Sadly, some Ferguson businesses were totally destroyed. This morning though I want to talk about another announcement that came last night - this one from the President of the United States,

Not long after the Ferguson Grand Jury announcement, President Barack Obama went to the White House Briefing Room and calmly spoke to the American people about that announcement. During his remarks, the President joined Michael Brown’s parents in calling on those who were protesting, to do so peacefully. Unfortunately, most of the protesters were already in the streets and not listening to the President.

Why was there looting? Why was there destruction of property? I would imagine that frustration played a big part. I remember the crowd in San Francisco when the Dan White verdict (charged with killing Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk) was read. People were outraged and they were frustrated. The "system" let us down again. Very much the same in Ferguson where it must have seemed like again a police officer was getting away with murder.

There things we can do. I spoke of this back in the summer when Michael Brown was killed. President Obama spoke of it last night. Political engagement and political reform were mentioned by the President, who also said he had instructed the US Attorney General to work with cities across the country to build better relationships between communities and law enforcement. The President urged people to not be violent and to not be destructive, but to make a difference and to work for change.

 

The President is correct, of course.  "There are ways of channeling your concerns constructively and there are ways of channeling your concerns destructively," is part of what he said.  All too often we are angered by events and we overturn newsracks and cars, and throw bottles, and smash windows.  Soon after it is business as usual and nothing has changed.  What President Obama is urging is that we channel our energies in to actual reforms to make sure that whatever bad thing does not reoccur.  We shouldn't move on and forget about it.  History will just repeat itself.  Let's all take the President's advice and get involved and make some positive changes for the good of all.

Be the light

The things that light up someone else's life aren't necessarily complex things. Walking down the street and bring greeted by a hearty hello is a sure way to give me a smile.

 

When I first began writing this blog about six years ago, I thought that I might possibly run out of things to say about making a difference in our world. Nope. That is not going to happen! There are so many ways! Having recently moved into a new community, I can see clearly the multitude of differences in my new town and of course, all the similarities as well. The really big and wonderful thing is that we can always help to light the path for others.

 

Now as you know, this blog is NOT about me, but nevertheless, I do from time to time sneak in little references to things I do and things folks do around me. This morning I just have to mention the friendliness of all these folks I have encountered in the past several days. "Welcome to town," I keep hearing people say to me. A kind lady at the bank told me about various parades and celebrations that take place here. Folks in the coffee shop have been telling me about local museums and galleries. I think I am learning something new every day.

 

I could walk about in darkness. Where is the closest drugstore? Are there any good sushi places in town? Is there an ATM anywhere close? I could ask a lot of questions and hope I find my way around. The thing is, I've mostly encountered people who are already friendly and helpful. How is it where you live? Do you ever take the time to be the light for others?

Always a good holiday gift!

Making out your holiday list yet?  Well a year ago I wrote here how sponsoring my friend Jason in AIDS LifeCycle makes a great holiday gift, and it's still true!  He did wonderful last year, but each year he tries a little harder to make a difference and each year he has an impressive fundraising total for this important cause.

 

By no means does Jason Villalobos do this alone though!  He needs me and he needs you and he needs his hundreds or thousands of supporters.  Every single donation makes a difference.

 

At this time of year we are bombarded by requests for money.  Many very worthwhile causes are hitting us up.  If you are like me, there is not a never-ending supply of funds and so choices have to be made.  Supporting Jason is a choice I make every year. 

 

As he once again hops on his bike for another 545 mile trek from San Francisco to Los Angeles to raise money for HIV/AIDS services in California, can he count on you? Click HERE to go to his secure fundraising page to find out more and to donate. 

Get involved

Election Day was this week and I am very happy to report that most of the people I supported were elected.  There is still a race that is too close to say for certain, but I am keeping my fingers crossed.  I was not nearly as involved in the contests this time around as I usually am.  I did a tiny bit of work for a couple of candidates and donated a modest amount of money.  Still, there was some involvement, and there will continue to be, even though I now live in another city.

 

The City Council meets at night here - I already checked.  It would seem to me that it would be extremely easy for folks to attend these meetings!

 

Attendance isn't all that involvement entails.  There are a lot of ways to be involved it what is going on around us.  Awareness is one of the really important things in the mix.  If you know what is happening and where it is happening, it is much easier to get involved in the whole process.  Don't like what your mayor just did or the way a legislative vote went?  Get involved!  Speak out.  Write some letters.  Perhaps it's even time for you to file papers and run for office yourself.

on the road

Getting up extra early to get in one last San Francisco walk before hitting the road. Oh and of course I wanted to make sure this was done, largely because there might be a gap after today.  I hope that the upcoming road trip is nice and smooth, but the matter of internet access is not something I am sure of.  If nothing new shows up here for a day or two, it is likely an internet issue, not my laziness.

 

Oh wait a minute!  It's possible that I will simply be exhausted.  That's not the same as being lazy.  (I'm a bit tired already and we haven't even loaded the truck yet!

 

So, thank you San Francisco for all the love over the many years.  I hope the good folks in Arizona will be as kind.  Of course this blog has little to do with where I live because after all, it's NOT about me!  You can make a difference in the world wherever you live and I will continue writing in the same manner, just from a different venue.  Until the desk is set up in that new spot, why not talk amongst yourselves.  Leave some comments below so I'll have something to read.  Oh and by the way, I will hopefully go back to writing this every single day once again (so weekends will return), just as soon as I am settled.

bits and pieces

Writing this blog only four days a week has given me the extra time I have needed for packing and preparing to move, but I have also gotten behind and missed a number of things I have wanted to say. This morning a few bits and pieces of various things to catch up a little. I think I should also resume writing this every single day!

So, just in case you haven't noticed yet, today is election day. I know it might be a big yawn for a lot of you, but did you know that midterm elections effect your life a lot more than Presidential elections? Get out there and VOTE! (Oh and there are some people I particularly believe in that I hope will get your vote today. I hope the good folks around Campbell, CA will be sending Evan Low to the State Assembly and I hope the people on the east side of San Francisco will do likewise with David Chiu. Also, someone I have written about here many times, Dan Choi is running for the San Francisco City College Board of Trustees and deserves your vote).

Yesterday I mentioned a new video by the Jubilee Project here.  My goodness!  Those guys are so popular that I had double the number of readers!  Maybe I should write something here about them every day.  They really do make a difference in this world after all!

 

Over the weekend a young woman with brain cancer ended her life on her own terms.  There has already been a lot said about this and People magazine and some other publications are devoting a lot of time, not only to her specifically but also to the matter of end of life decisions.  Oregon's Death With Dignity Law is getting a lot of attention because of Brittany Maynard, who died just short of her 30th birthday, and this attention can only be a good thing.  Regardless of where you stand on the issue, it is something that is seldom discussed and it needs to be.  Thank you Brittany for showing us the way.

 

Oh and one more thank you and this to the Wong Fu Productions guys.  I think they make a difference too.  They might not be trying to change the world.  I actually don't know if they have any kind of mission statement, but they have fun and they spread laughter, and that is certainly a good thing!  Click HERE to check out their attempt at putting together some puzzles (which reminds me of my quilt puzzle above).

 

Many important things in the news these days.  Stay on top of the struggle for democracy in Hong Kong.  Stay on top of the other things I have mentioned here.  Oh and most importantly, don't forget to VOTE!

what's going on this month?

We all know about Thanksgiving, and next week we have Veteran's Day, but what else happens in November?  You might be surprised at all of the observances. Here are just some of them:

It is Aviation Month, Good Nutrition Month, Hunger Awareness Month, Latin American Month, National Georgia Pecan Month, National Long Term Care Awareness Month, National Novel Writing Month, Vegan Awareness Month, and National Peanut Butter Lover's Month. It's also National Pepper Month, National AIDS Awareness Month, National American Indian Heritage Month, National Diabetes Awareness Month, National Epilepsy Month, National Stamp Collecting Month, and National Raisin Bread Month.  I can even celebrate "Getting to know my new town day."

Some are more fun than others of course and the purpose of all of them is to raise awareness, so now you know!