In all honesty, I don’t know how I can write a blog worth reading after Denise’s post from yesterday. Man, it has me thinking, feeling, and just plain wishing I could do a little more. I know ‘a little more’ seems rather vague, but I’m just not quite sure how, what, or where I can add a little happiness or positivity to this world. I guess the first start would be here, at MJC.
You may or may not know I’ve kinda been having a rough time lately. Life just seems to be getting away from me. Or I’m getting away from life. Something like that. But when I read about Joe, hear about Chelsa, and learn the progress that Neilah has made, I feel like saying “SAM, SUCK IT UP. YOU HAVE NOTHING TO COMPLAIN ABOUT IN LIFE.” And it’s true, I don’t. I’m a relatively healthy person that reads too much into things, adds 10 layers of thought to every situation, and then bottles up my feelings for months. And that’s my problem, right?
Back to the point of this blog. I want to give more of myself to the world. I want to be more willing to spread the love, so to speak. I think I’m pretty good at sharing a smile, or giving a helping hand when needed but I think I need to do it with more of a purpose. Do you guys have any ideas? Probably seems like a silly question considering all the wonderful things I can be apart of here—Habitat for Humanity, Boys and Girls Club, our new Africa project… But it’s almost like I need to find MY passion to help. Actually, I’m really excited about working with Boys and Girls club on their Smart Girls luncheon in November! So that’s a good start.
Truthfully I think there is no wrong way to help, right?! So here’s to seizing the day tomorrow and finding at least one thing I can do to help the world become a better place. Ahh..have I told you that Carpe Diem is one of my mottos?
LOVE,
SAM
My apologies if I am about to write sounds completely off topic, but …: The way you describe yourself -especially the “reads too much … my problem, right?” part!- …, that was me until I decided that the best thing I could do to make a difference -big or small- was to try my very best to just be happy. I now actually let myself gaze at the stars -gasp!-, turn up the stereo while driving, etc., all because I want to! This has led me to be much more content & pleasant to be around (yep, people have actually told me this!), & that alone, I think, has made a difference in the lives of my family & friends. This has also given me the energy necessary to do even more volunteering than before, particularly working with young children, which I absolutely love. Linda P. is absolutely right; there are *so* many (& so very unfortunately) who never get a hug or a “Good job!” Sometimes it’s hard because they just don’t get enough love & attention elsewhere, so they become so attached to you, but it still is very much worth it 🙂
PAM! WHO POSTED ABOVE…I ALSO LIVE IN BRANDON, MS! SMALL WORLD.
Sam! Been there. The BEST ever experience in my life was when I volunteered to be a mentor to abused children. I was assigned to Amelia, and 11 year old little girl who was molested and abused by her stepfather AND mother. This little girls mom was put in jail and she had to move in with her elderly grandparents. What a sad little life. I spent every spare dollar and moment with her! We went to the pool, we got pedicures, we made crafts! I gave her a tiny bit of normal. This girl was DESPERATE for some normal. I was in the Air Force at the time, and got to take her on base to see the jets and visit a few squadrons. It was the best time. You have tons to offer a kid like that…but be warned..it will change you. I will never forget Amelia. I still wonder what she is doing today, 9 years later! She is a young woman now, and I hope I gave her some hope in humanity…consider that kind of volunteer work..they are so in need!
Just keep searching, and you will land where you are supposed to be. After adopting our girls from Guatemala, my husband and I felt a burden to start an orphanage there. The first building is being built in the complex right now! 🙂 Our non profit organization’s motto is ‘changing the world….one life at a time’. It doesn’t matter where ~ an orphanage in Guatemala, a hostile in Malaysia, a new community building in Gyanna, or serving food in a homeless shelter in your local town. We can all change the world… one life at a time. 🙂
Spending time with children has always made me happy. What about volunteering for a local orphanage helping out an hour or two a week? My sister used to do this with AGAPE and loved it! I like random acts of kindness. Making someone smile gives me that warm and fuzzy feeling. Sometimes it doesn’t take much to make someone’s day. You’ll find something right for you. 🙂
Maybe you should just make it a personal mission to improve one person’s life a little bit every day. One tiny pay it forward gesture a day. It will ripple out and even though it’s small, it’s not exhausting because it because it can be something different every day. Compliment a stranger, pay for someone’s coffee, stay at the door an extra long time just to open it up for the person in a hurry several steps away. Maybe through tiny things like that that brighten a stranger’s day, you can find something bigger that you feel super passionate about to give more of yourself to.
Where do you get your headbands? I love them ! Do you sell them?
My 9 year old daughter really wanted to do something to help her community. We are in the process of collecting Halloween costumes to donate to the children at our local homeless shelter. The director was so excited when we called because she said she takes the kids to a local Halloween festival every year and they never have costumes to wear.
I think you all do some amazing things!!! I live in Brandon, MS and the company my husband works for does this thing called “Random acts of Kindness” Everyday they will pick a customer at Random and give them something. It may be a gift card to a local restaurant or a movie theatre or something more. They are doing this for the next 100 days. I love companies like this and Matilda Jane that is always thinking of others
SAM-
I couldnt have said it better myself and girl you just described how I feel to a T…. lets challenge eachother PLEASE!!!
Sounds like a good book would help you clean out the cobwebs! “Battlefield of the Mind”, by Joyce Meyer. Great read and really gets you thinking! Once you set your mind straight, I’m certain you will know what path to take to keep yourself happy! Best wishes!
Love you Sam!
I think you just need to give it some time, eventually you will find something that YOU are passionate about and then when you find it, and you give back, you get back more that you could ever imagine.
I was going to say you just seem like the perfect Girls Club Big Sister! Is there a retirement or assisted living home close to you? Or a Sr. Citizen’s Club? I can just see your pretty smile making some special seniors light up with joy – it’s infectious, you know!