You are invited

I’ve been intrigued by a recent phenomenon where friends offer a unique invitation on a special milestone birthday. They choose a favorite cause that they would like to support and invite their friends to join them in donating to that charity.  

I’ve been fascinated with the idea and thought about doing something similar on my next big “round-number year" because there are so many great causes I would love to help.

For example I used to think it would be great to provide clean water for a village in Africa and now I live in a city recovering from a water crisis.  Interesting.

I think of other grand ideas:

• Alleviate world hunger
• Discover a cure for cancer
• Remove the chains of oppression
• Save the planet
• Stamp out child abuse

Grand and noble causes, but how can I really make a difference?

On the other hand there are tons of other noble causes on a smaller scale.

• Words of compassion
• Gestures of kindness
• Gifts of generosity
• Volunteer opportunities galore
• Generally find ways to give more life
• Maybe check on friends and neighbors
• Maybe even write a real letter

You get the idea...  In fact, I bet you have even better ideas than these.

So anyway, here I am.

Yep, this is the year... 

... that next big round number birthday.

This is the week.

So here's what I think I wanna' do... 

I want to invite you to join me in thinking of something you can do for somebody.  

• To make the world a better place
• To promote life and health 
• To offer love instead of hate
• To speak hope rather than fear

I'm not gonna' tell you what it should be, but maybe I'll suggest a category.

Or maybe two.

How about life and love?

Yep, I like those.

Let's find ways to offer life and love.

One more thing...  

If you DO decide to join in on the fun, please leave a comment describing what you chose to do.  Hearing those stories would be such a fun birthday present for me!!!  

How are we doing?

How are you holding up?
How in the world are we all doing?
Not easy questions to answer, are they?
Part of me seems to be doing well when suddenly another part melts down.

• The introvert in me is doing quite well; thank you very much.
• The minimalist in me wishes I’d get my act together.
• The historian and the philosopher are working overtime making it impossible for the writer in me to even pretend to keep up.
• The multipotentialite in me still wonders how many things I can handle at once and the worrier in me still worries.  

• The mom in me would love to find a way to ease my daughters’ loads.
• The grandma in me is SO thankful for technology - that even four-year-olds can use.  Sort of.
• The daughter in me is scrambling pretty much every day trying to figure out how best to help my mom deal with the uncertainty.

• The neighbor in me hopes these wonderful young people are doing okay and gets excited when we get a chance to wave and holler across the street.  
• The Michigander in me is grateful for a governor who calmly does the research and makes the tough decisions to keep us safe.
• The global citizen in me is reminded that people all across the planet deal with terribly difficult stuff ALL the time.

How about you?

How are you doing?