Brought to you by the letter G

Today's blog entry is brought to you by the letter G (as in good).  There is good all around us.  More and more people are doing good things!  Since that's what we write about here, it's really pretty exciting - we have so much more to talk about!

Along the way we always like hearing from you.  Tell us about the good in your lives.  Tell us what you think of all this good.  Share your stories of good in our world. 

I certainly don't know about all the people out there making a difference, so help me out and bring us your stories too! Tell us about some of those especially inspiring good people that you know.  We really need to share this good!

I could use a hand

When I first started writing this blog ten years ago, I lived in a major city and was involved in numerous community activities.  I was also a media person and had access to a lot of daily information.  I posted here initially every single day instead of just on weekdays.  These days I live in a smaller town, away from a lot of the things I write about and often don't hear about things in a timely manner.  Although I have no intention of stopping this blog, it has become a bit more difficult and I sure could use a hand!

 

Who is making a difference in this world besides all the major names we hear about in the national media?  How are the heroes who are giving back?  What stories am I missing?  Is there a hero in YOUR life?  Making our world a better place is something very important to me and I want to continue telling about folks who do that and offer suggestions about how we all can make a difference, but I am not the ultimate authority.  There is so much to say that just isn't occurring to me, so can you help?

 

Right below these posts every day is a comments section and you are always welcome to write something there, but right now I am especially asking for a word or two about the stories I am missing.  Take a moment and tell me some stories.  I am very interested in knowing about those hometown heroes who are doing good things and helping to make our world better, so let me know a little bit about them.  Thanks so much, and thanks for reading!

Live for something greater

Just what does it mean to live for something greater?  Think about it for a moment.  Are we talking about great accomplishments?  Are we talking about a greater power?  Are we talking about a set of values?  What do you think?

 

I write a lot about hometown heroes and to me, those are the folks who live for something greater.  It might not have been something they thought about or planned, but by their actions or by their words, they made a difference and it was something that endures.

 

Do you want you live to be infancy, school, work, retirement, and then death with no great milestones along the way?  Well most of us don't.  It's human nature to do new things and along the way to become more and more popular and to have more and more friends.  Although we know we cannot live forever, many of us want something we do or say to last beyond our time on this earth.  That's what motivates them to do great things.

 

The motivations can be many.  There need not be just one answer to my above questions.  How about if we all strive to live for something greater!

Adapt a shelter animal

Looking for an animal to add to your household?  Consider adopting a shelter animal.  I have written here a number of times about pet adoption, but you really cannot say enough.  It is one of those win-win situations - there are many advantages.  Click HERE for some general information from the Humane Society.

A word or two about shelters (which some refer to as the "pound," short for impoundment).  Animal shelters provide a safe and caring environment until the animal is either reclaimed by its owner or adopted by a new owner.  While we often hear about shelters euthanizing animals (and this does indeed happen in many public shelters when animals are not adopted with a certain time period), most private shelters are run as no-kill shelters.

Animals deserve love and affection though.  Just because they are not going to be euthanized, does not mean they should continue in a shelter.  Yes, they generally are well feed and provided for, but animals deserve more than that.  They deserve love and attention.  In return, they usually GIVE love and attention to their care-givers.

Ask your co-workers.  Talk to your friends.  Do a little reading.  I'm certain that everything you hear about adopting a shelter animal will say the same thing.  It will warm your heart and it will warm theirs too!