Week Three of The Artist's Way has you doing a little exploring of the side of yourself you show the world versus what you really feel inside. (It reminds me a little the Friends episode where they say "What does Rachel claim is her favorite movie?" Dangerous Liaisons. "What is her actual favorite movie?" Weekend at Bernie's)
One of the exercises is listing people who admire.... like Oprah, Ellen DeGeneres, or Anderson Cooper. Now stop. Who do you really admire? Like Russell Brand (who, let's face it, just puts it all out there, unapologetically. And who is actually really smart if you listen to him.) or Adam Sandler (for pretty much all the same reasons) or Jen Lancaster. (who is just about the funniest person on the planet) Apparently, being funny is pretty high on my list of admirable characteristics. I thought I'd have more athletes on that list.
Now, name three people who have died who you wish you had met like Hellen Keller, or Theodore Roosevelt, or Margaret Thatcher. Ok, but who would you really like to have the opportunity to spend some time with in the afterlife? Like Gertrude Stein, Oscar Wilde, and Mark Twain.
You know that famous question about having the opportunity to have a dinner party with whoever you want, living or dead? I'd want a dinner party that had good conversation, smart banter, and above all, a lot of fun. Since its a hypothetical scenario, I wouldn't have to clean up. How great would the conversations be at this table?
1) Oscar Wilde
2) Dorothy Parker
3) Gertrude Stein
4) Adam Duritz from the Counting Crows
5) Russell Brand
6) Adam Sandler
7) Mark Twain
8) Ernest Hemmingway
9) Margaret Thatcher
10) Oprah
11) Larry Flint
12) Janeane Garofalo
13) John Stewart
14) Stephen Colbert
15) Anderson Cooper
and just to make sure there's never a dull moment at this table:
Bill O'Reilly.
I'll be at the end of the table, watching the fray with the Dali Lama. Because I think he'd really get a kick out it, too. (though his translator would have a really hard night!)
Showing posts with label charity. Show all posts
Showing posts with label charity. Show all posts
Saturday, October 26, 2013
Thursday, August 2, 2012
Olympics and Charity
I am thoroughly enjoying the Olympics this year, especially women's gymnastics! Right aroud now is when my family and friends from childhood say "Oh, remember when you competed in gymnastics?" Yeah, I do. The gymnastics I did looks like a completely different sport than the crazy shit they do now! I'm amazed and inspired.
Which got me thinking to another flash of inspiration I had a long time ago.
Quite some time ago, I read about a person who inherited a sum of money and decided to give it all away to charity. She started a blog and featured a new charity every day for a year. I thought that was just fantastic! And though I certainly could not afford to give to charity ever single day of the year, I started to research and pick and choose charities to support and blog about.
Then life got in the way.
But life is better now. And thanks to those amazing Olympic gymnasts, I am inspired again.
Today's charity is Locks of Love.
Locks of Love is an organization that donates prosthetic hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children who suffer from medically caused hair loss. Diagnoses include alopecia areata, severe burns, skin disorders, and radiation treatments.
Donations to Locks of Love can be in the form of a monetary donation or a donation of hair. Hair must be 10 inches minimum and in a pony tail or braid. Dyed and layered hair is accepted, as well.
The cost of the wigs provided to the kids is quite high; oftentimes, hair donations that are not deemed to be quite what they are looking for are sold to offset the cost of making the wigs.
About a month ago, I sent a 16" braid to Locks of Love for my little contribution. Now I look like rock-n-roll Tinkerbell.
I think I got the better end of this deal!
Which got me thinking to another flash of inspiration I had a long time ago.
Quite some time ago, I read about a person who inherited a sum of money and decided to give it all away to charity. She started a blog and featured a new charity every day for a year. I thought that was just fantastic! And though I certainly could not afford to give to charity ever single day of the year, I started to research and pick and choose charities to support and blog about.
Then life got in the way.
But life is better now. And thanks to those amazing Olympic gymnasts, I am inspired again.
Today's charity is Locks of Love.
Locks of Love is an organization that donates prosthetic hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children who suffer from medically caused hair loss. Diagnoses include alopecia areata, severe burns, skin disorders, and radiation treatments.
Donations to Locks of Love can be in the form of a monetary donation or a donation of hair. Hair must be 10 inches minimum and in a pony tail or braid. Dyed and layered hair is accepted, as well.
The cost of the wigs provided to the kids is quite high; oftentimes, hair donations that are not deemed to be quite what they are looking for are sold to offset the cost of making the wigs.
About a month ago, I sent a 16" braid to Locks of Love for my little contribution. Now I look like rock-n-roll Tinkerbell.
I think I got the better end of this deal!
Monday, November 28, 2011
Think Locally Act Thankfully
So it was a busy weekend filled with lots of warm weather and lots of activities. (Though blog posting was not one of them!) How wonderful to have 60 degree weather at the end of November in New England?
Also wonderful...to have the opportunity to donate to charities that are worthwhile. Last week I commented on a charity that operated out of Africa. Today I'm going to talk about a couple closer to home. Not only closer to my home, but closer to just about everyone's home as there are local chapters all over for those who like to think globally and act locally.
Two of the booths at the Alternative Gift Fair were taken by: Habitat for Humanity and the local food pantry. Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit organization that seeks to provide affordable homes for needy families. They build a number of homes in areas with donated materials and volunteer labor and assist the families with reasonable mortgage payments and affordable loans. The goal being to keep at risk families above the poverty level and prevent homelessness. Habitat operates worldwide. The other nice thing about Habitat is that in addition to monetary donations, volunteer opportunities exist for those of us who want to give back but have financial issues of our own to contend with.
Food pantries also exist all over in local communities. The food pantry in this area operates by accepting donated food and then putting together and delivering boxes to homes in the area. Most food pantries are especially in need of baby food, baby cereals, and formula. They also accept canned items, boxes of cereal and oatmeal, pastas and sauces, and juice boxes. Some organizations accept fresh produce, others cannot. Its important to check with local agencies to see what they are most in need of. Volunteer opportunites also exist for these organizations, as well. I have worked in the past "out back" sorting food according to category, getting rid of expired products, stocking shelves, and putting together boxes. It sounds rather boring, but in fact, its kind of nice, almost meditative. It's especially nice if you deal with people all day long and just want to chill out and decompress after work while simultaneously doing some good. I spend a couple Thanksgiving and Christmas mornings working in soup kitchens, as well. We made soup, mashed potatoes, rolls, veggies, etc. We served turkey and ham dinners to homeless folks (who always seem to be really, really funny. It's like having a great sense of humor is a needed coping strategy or something) We put together care packages of socks, granola bars, lip balm, sun screen, soap, wet naps, and little first aid kits that all the folks could take when they left. It was a good way to start off a holiday.
I haven't done the soup kitchen thing since returning home where the family lives, but that doesn't make lot of sense, does it? Maybe I need to look one up for this Christmas.
Exercise
Fri 11/25: 30 min walk and abs-- 3 points
Sat 11/26: 12 mile run --12 points
Sun 11/27: 30 min bike and arms--4 points
Today: 0 points :(
Friday I was thankful for:
the fact that my car trouble was totally minor (up and running!)
Saturday I was thankful for:
the unseasonably warm weather
Sunday I was thankful for:
a restful day. they don't come along very often
Monday I was thankful for:
Carol, a former co-worker who is moving on to another job in Florida. She is great. Florida is lucky to be getting her!
Also wonderful...to have the opportunity to donate to charities that are worthwhile. Last week I commented on a charity that operated out of Africa. Today I'm going to talk about a couple closer to home. Not only closer to my home, but closer to just about everyone's home as there are local chapters all over for those who like to think globally and act locally.
Two of the booths at the Alternative Gift Fair were taken by: Habitat for Humanity and the local food pantry. Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit organization that seeks to provide affordable homes for needy families. They build a number of homes in areas with donated materials and volunteer labor and assist the families with reasonable mortgage payments and affordable loans. The goal being to keep at risk families above the poverty level and prevent homelessness. Habitat operates worldwide. The other nice thing about Habitat is that in addition to monetary donations, volunteer opportunities exist for those of us who want to give back but have financial issues of our own to contend with.
Food pantries also exist all over in local communities. The food pantry in this area operates by accepting donated food and then putting together and delivering boxes to homes in the area. Most food pantries are especially in need of baby food, baby cereals, and formula. They also accept canned items, boxes of cereal and oatmeal, pastas and sauces, and juice boxes. Some organizations accept fresh produce, others cannot. Its important to check with local agencies to see what they are most in need of. Volunteer opportunites also exist for these organizations, as well. I have worked in the past "out back" sorting food according to category, getting rid of expired products, stocking shelves, and putting together boxes. It sounds rather boring, but in fact, its kind of nice, almost meditative. It's especially nice if you deal with people all day long and just want to chill out and decompress after work while simultaneously doing some good. I spend a couple Thanksgiving and Christmas mornings working in soup kitchens, as well. We made soup, mashed potatoes, rolls, veggies, etc. We served turkey and ham dinners to homeless folks (who always seem to be really, really funny. It's like having a great sense of humor is a needed coping strategy or something) We put together care packages of socks, granola bars, lip balm, sun screen, soap, wet naps, and little first aid kits that all the folks could take when they left. It was a good way to start off a holiday.
I haven't done the soup kitchen thing since returning home where the family lives, but that doesn't make lot of sense, does it? Maybe I need to look one up for this Christmas.
Exercise
Fri 11/25: 30 min walk and abs-- 3 points
Sat 11/26: 12 mile run --12 points
Sun 11/27: 30 min bike and arms--4 points
Today: 0 points :(
Friday I was thankful for:
the fact that my car trouble was totally minor (up and running!)
Saturday I was thankful for:
the unseasonably warm weather
Sunday I was thankful for:
a restful day. they don't come along very often
Monday I was thankful for:
Carol, a former co-worker who is moving on to another job in Florida. She is great. Florida is lucky to be getting her!
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Alternative Holiday Gifts
Today was a bright, beautiful, sunny warm day. An unexpected surprise on November 20th! It was a great day for a long run along the canal. Not fast, by any means, especially since I was battling cramping the entire way but still a good day.
Today was also one week since my visit to the Alternative Gift Fair last Sunday. A great idea and a nice reminder to me of my oh-so-optomistic vision at the beginning of the year to highlight and donate to a different charity each week of 2011. 2011 sucker punched me right in the head to knock those wonderful thoughts right out of it. But I'm happy to say cynicism won the battle but not the war. 'Cause as of today, I'm reinstating the weekly charity post.
One of the charities at the fair last week was an organization called Touching Tiny Lives. This organization aims to provide medical help and support to children in the small African country of Lesotho. It is estimated that 30% of Lesotho's population is HIV positive.
Touching Tiny Lives has set up a medical clinic to house and care for up to 20 children at a time, as well as providing visits to more remote villages for primary and follow up care. Their booth at the fair included two possible "gift items": $20 to provide a month's supply of food/formula for a child or $35 to supply fuel for 8 medical visits to remote villages.
If anyone else, like me, is feeling that sometimes we get a little too materialistic during the holidays and is looking for their own "alternative gifts", I urge you to visit their website and make a donation in a friend or loved one's name for the holidays.
Today's exercise: 16 mile long run = 16 points + 1 hour of playing "Just Dance" with my neices = 2 points.
Today I was thankful for:
a beautiful warm sunny day
Today was also one week since my visit to the Alternative Gift Fair last Sunday. A great idea and a nice reminder to me of my oh-so-optomistic vision at the beginning of the year to highlight and donate to a different charity each week of 2011. 2011 sucker punched me right in the head to knock those wonderful thoughts right out of it. But I'm happy to say cynicism won the battle but not the war. 'Cause as of today, I'm reinstating the weekly charity post.
One of the charities at the fair last week was an organization called Touching Tiny Lives. This organization aims to provide medical help and support to children in the small African country of Lesotho. It is estimated that 30% of Lesotho's population is HIV positive.
Touching Tiny Lives has set up a medical clinic to house and care for up to 20 children at a time, as well as providing visits to more remote villages for primary and follow up care. Their booth at the fair included two possible "gift items": $20 to provide a month's supply of food/formula for a child or $35 to supply fuel for 8 medical visits to remote villages.
If anyone else, like me, is feeling that sometimes we get a little too materialistic during the holidays and is looking for their own "alternative gifts", I urge you to visit their website and make a donation in a friend or loved one's name for the holidays.
Today's exercise: 16 mile long run = 16 points + 1 hour of playing "Just Dance" with my neices = 2 points.
Today I was thankful for:
a beautiful warm sunny day
Monday, April 11, 2011
I'm feeling so behind! In so many ways. Mostly with the whole one charity a week thing. When I last posted, I was on my way to the Caribbean and talked about donating to the Red Cross in reference to the earthquake in Haiti last year. Then, while I was on vacation, another earthquake hit in Japan. Followed by giant tsunami. And a problem with a nuclear power plant. Oh, those poor people! Can you imagine? And where the heck do you go to get away when you are on an island? So once again, the Red Cross it is, earmarked for Japan relief. Also, a while back, I had mentioned that I may have a chance to run the Boston Marathon for a charity event. Alas, I did not win out in that lottery. But one of my co-workers did. So I'm donating to her fund raising effort. Money goes to Spaulding Rehab for a patient fund. In other news, I've been doing the vegan thing for one week. A couple slip ups: I went out for mexican and my veggie burrito with salsa and guac only ended up with a little cheese in it. (I didn't send it back. I just ate it) Plus, I have a few protein bars left that have whey in them. I didn't throw them away, I ate a couple last week. But I'm one pound lighter than last week. So there's that. Finished book #1 yesterday. And taking the training up a notch. Yeah, I'm feeling like I'm back.
Friday, March 4, 2011
charity times two
Tomorrow, I am heading out to the Caribbean for a vacation. I'll tell you all about it upon my return!
For the past couple weeks, I've been saying "It doesn't really matter what island you pick, eh? Any island in the Caribbean is going to be great."
With one exception, of course. (well, half and island as the exception) I'm talking, of course, of Haiti which is still in turmoil after the earthquake last year. Progress has been made in cleaning up the mess, setting up schools and medical centers, and getting food and water to the people of Haiti. But there still is no real infrastructure. And chaos continues.
So as I embark on a trip to that beautiful area of the world, my charity (for the next two weeks) is a charity that specializes in disaster relief like that of Haiti. I doubled the usual weekly 25 to 50 and chose the Red Cross.
You can read about their efforts at their website. They also provide relief more locally and to military families who need assistance.
Check it out and have a great week!
For the past couple weeks, I've been saying "It doesn't really matter what island you pick, eh? Any island in the Caribbean is going to be great."
With one exception, of course. (well, half and island as the exception) I'm talking, of course, of Haiti which is still in turmoil after the earthquake last year. Progress has been made in cleaning up the mess, setting up schools and medical centers, and getting food and water to the people of Haiti. But there still is no real infrastructure. And chaos continues.
So as I embark on a trip to that beautiful area of the world, my charity (for the next two weeks) is a charity that specializes in disaster relief like that of Haiti. I doubled the usual weekly 25 to 50 and chose the Red Cross.
You can read about their efforts at their website. They also provide relief more locally and to military families who need assistance.
Check it out and have a great week!
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Charity and whining
Even though I began last week with lots of enthusiasm to post and exercise and work like crazy, things fizzled. I was fighting a cold all week and I decided to just go with it and rest. I didn't want a repeat of last December with the month long cold that turned into bronchitis and laryngitis.
Anyway, a week has passed and I think I've gotten this cold beat. So that's good.
But the exercise and daily posts? Not so good.
And here I find myself once again on Saturday thinking, I gotta post my charity of the week.
I also had great plans to do this cool charity race thing today called FIGHT FOR AIR CLIMB. It is a stair climb in a public building to benefit the American Lung Association. My sister in law and I were both going to do this event together.
But then she got the flu and I got a cold (I think I may have actually caught the cold from her kids. I talked to my brother this week and said "Your children are a menace. Sure, they look cute. But its all just a ploy to lure you in closer so they can infect you with their germs." He responded: "Tell me about it. They always get me with 'Daddy, can you tuck me in to bed?' ")
So anyway, we were both recouperating from our perspective illnesses and decided to forego these events. And even though I did feel better this morning and I probably could have gone and done the challenge as a last minute thing, I think the FIGHT FOR AIR may have been a bit too literal.
Instead, I'm just going to make a donation to the American Lung Association.
This is probably a good indication of how I'm feeling now: Climbofyourlife.org, lung cancer, research, asthma, blah blah blah. Go check it out on your own. I'm getting a cup of tea.
It'll put me in a better mood. I promise
Anyway, a week has passed and I think I've gotten this cold beat. So that's good.
But the exercise and daily posts? Not so good.
And here I find myself once again on Saturday thinking, I gotta post my charity of the week.
I also had great plans to do this cool charity race thing today called FIGHT FOR AIR CLIMB. It is a stair climb in a public building to benefit the American Lung Association. My sister in law and I were both going to do this event together.
But then she got the flu and I got a cold (I think I may have actually caught the cold from her kids. I talked to my brother this week and said "Your children are a menace. Sure, they look cute. But its all just a ploy to lure you in closer so they can infect you with their germs." He responded: "Tell me about it. They always get me with 'Daddy, can you tuck me in to bed?' ")
So anyway, we were both recouperating from our perspective illnesses and decided to forego these events. And even though I did feel better this morning and I probably could have gone and done the challenge as a last minute thing, I think the FIGHT FOR AIR may have been a bit too literal.
Instead, I'm just going to make a donation to the American Lung Association.
This is probably a good indication of how I'm feeling now: Climbofyourlife.org, lung cancer, research, asthma, blah blah blah. Go check it out on your own. I'm getting a cup of tea.
It'll put me in a better mood. I promise
Monday, February 21, 2011
Two worthy causes
There is something about February. It should be called "Febru-weary". It's the shortest month that feels like the longest month. It's the winter doldrums.
Its the month I let blogging slide. (along with eating right and exercise, I'm sad to admit) Plus, I'm fighting a cold right now.
Fortunately, my present job gives us Presiden't Day off. It's the only job I've ever had where we get this day off. I did a lot of sleeping today, sleeping, drinking tea, taking cold medicine and catching up on things.
Including blogging!
So one of the big ideas for this year in blogging was the weekly charity donation thing. But I seem to have dropped the ball.
So in honor of this Presiden't "catch up day", I'm honoring two charities today. Two related charities.
A few years ago, I worked at a big medical center in Boston. A number of our patients were homeless. During a particularly cold winter like this one, homeless shelters are often booked over capacity with little funding.
When I lived in San Francisco and walked to work every day, I'd pass the same homeless people every day in the same spots. They'd say hi and I'd say hi and if I had a granola bar, I'd give it to them and if the light was against me, we'd talk before I crossed the street. It's much harder to think of homeless people as "less than people" when you see and talk to them every day.
So this week, I'm honoring two local homeless shelters for all the work they do.
The Pine Street Inn provides food, shelter, counseling, job training, and emergency assistance to homeless men and women.
Rosie's Place focuses on poor, homeless, and abused women. It provides food and shelter, advocacy, counseling, mental health and substance abuse treatment, housing assistance, job placement, and health care. They also have a nifty program where the women make and sell crafts that are worth checking out.
I encourage everyone to check out the above websites and also to learn about local shelters that you can support with a donation or by volunteering.
Have a great week!
Its the month I let blogging slide. (along with eating right and exercise, I'm sad to admit) Plus, I'm fighting a cold right now.
Fortunately, my present job gives us Presiden't Day off. It's the only job I've ever had where we get this day off. I did a lot of sleeping today, sleeping, drinking tea, taking cold medicine and catching up on things.
Including blogging!
So one of the big ideas for this year in blogging was the weekly charity donation thing. But I seem to have dropped the ball.
So in honor of this Presiden't "catch up day", I'm honoring two charities today. Two related charities.
A few years ago, I worked at a big medical center in Boston. A number of our patients were homeless. During a particularly cold winter like this one, homeless shelters are often booked over capacity with little funding.
When I lived in San Francisco and walked to work every day, I'd pass the same homeless people every day in the same spots. They'd say hi and I'd say hi and if I had a granola bar, I'd give it to them and if the light was against me, we'd talk before I crossed the street. It's much harder to think of homeless people as "less than people" when you see and talk to them every day.
So this week, I'm honoring two local homeless shelters for all the work they do.
The Pine Street Inn provides food, shelter, counseling, job training, and emergency assistance to homeless men and women.
Rosie's Place focuses on poor, homeless, and abused women. It provides food and shelter, advocacy, counseling, mental health and substance abuse treatment, housing assistance, job placement, and health care. They also have a nifty program where the women make and sell crafts that are worth checking out.
I encourage everyone to check out the above websites and also to learn about local shelters that you can support with a donation or by volunteering.
Have a great week!
Sunday, February 6, 2011
American Heart Association
Since this week was the first week of February, I decided to go with a heart theme by choosing the American Heart Association as this week's charity. Like diabetes (and intrinsically related to diabetes), which we talked about last month, cardiovascular disease is one of the greatest health care risks in America. The American Heart Association aims to reduce cardiovascular disease through education, lifestyle changes, rehabilitation, and funding for research.
The have a fantastic interactive website, featuring risk calculators for heart attack, stroke, and other conditions, information and online communities for lifestyle changes such as starting a walking program, tools for finding CPR classes in your area, and lots of links for caregivers, health professionals, and family members. There's also a shop if you want to get one of those nifty little red dress pins that you see everywhere in February.
Since I just dropped $100 this week for a new pair of running shoes this week for my own cardiovascular health, I think its only fair that I can drop another $25 to promote cardiovascular health elsewhere. Check out their website and then go for a walk (or jog, or bike ride or do an exercise DVD while your kids are napping) Your heart will thank you.
The have a fantastic interactive website, featuring risk calculators for heart attack, stroke, and other conditions, information and online communities for lifestyle changes such as starting a walking program, tools for finding CPR classes in your area, and lots of links for caregivers, health professionals, and family members. There's also a shop if you want to get one of those nifty little red dress pins that you see everywhere in February.
Since I just dropped $100 this week for a new pair of running shoes this week for my own cardiovascular health, I think its only fair that I can drop another $25 to promote cardiovascular health elsewhere. Check out their website and then go for a walk (or jog, or bike ride or do an exercise DVD while your kids are napping) Your heart will thank you.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
The Life is Good Foundation
Last summer, I went to the Life is Good concert, which benfits the Life is Good Foundation. I originally went just to see the bands and have a good time. But I did a lot of reading up on the foundation it supports and was very impressed.
The Life is Good Foundation was founded by the clothing company of the same name -- you know the Tshirts with the stick figure guy, Jake, and the fun, happy little sayings. I have about 7 shirts from this company as well as a spare tire cover for the jeep that says "Life is Good" with a little hippy flower.
The foundation is interesting in that it focuses on giving kids who have life threatening challenges (violence, poverty, illness, natural disasters) a chance to play. I find it rather unique that the focus is PLAY. Oftentimes, we forget about the chance to have fun and be joyful in the face of bigger problems. But for children, play is their work. Play is how they grow and mature and learn how to interact with others and how they learn. I love that this charity focuses on helping kids to play.
Two areas they are actively involved in are Haiti and the states bordering the Gulf of Mexico. And, yes, people there need food and water and clothing and shelter. But the kids also need some joy in their lives. The foundation also works in poverty stricken areas in cites, and homeless shelters.
Go here if you want to learn more about the Life is Good Foundation. You can donate or buy a shirt or a coffee mug or something if you wanna.
The Life is Good Foundation was founded by the clothing company of the same name -- you know the Tshirts with the stick figure guy, Jake, and the fun, happy little sayings. I have about 7 shirts from this company as well as a spare tire cover for the jeep that says "Life is Good" with a little hippy flower.
The foundation is interesting in that it focuses on giving kids who have life threatening challenges (violence, poverty, illness, natural disasters) a chance to play. I find it rather unique that the focus is PLAY. Oftentimes, we forget about the chance to have fun and be joyful in the face of bigger problems. But for children, play is their work. Play is how they grow and mature and learn how to interact with others and how they learn. I love that this charity focuses on helping kids to play.
Two areas they are actively involved in are Haiti and the states bordering the Gulf of Mexico. And, yes, people there need food and water and clothing and shelter. But the kids also need some joy in their lives. The foundation also works in poverty stricken areas in cites, and homeless shelters.
Go here if you want to learn more about the Life is Good Foundation. You can donate or buy a shirt or a coffee mug or something if you wanna.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
wounded warrior project
So, this week's charity is the WOUNDED WARRIOR PROJECT
Last fall, the rehab hospital where I work hosted a Wounded Warrior Weekend with the intention of getting disables vets exposed to adaptive sports such as bicycling, kayaking, fishing, and camping. Though my involvement in that project was limited secondary to prior commitments, it is something I feel very strongly about. And it was a great success! I am a big believer in the importance of recreational endeavors as part of a balanced life.
In addition to support for recreation, the WOUNDED WARRIOR PROJECT provides support for injured service members and their families for counseling and psychological support, occupational training, peer mentoring, and supports advocacy for injured vets, as well.
No matter what your personal views about the wars we, as a country, are fighting, I think we all owe it to the servicemen and women to support them upon their return.
If you would like to learn more about the WOUNDED WARRIOR PROJECT, go here for more info!
Last fall, the rehab hospital where I work hosted a Wounded Warrior Weekend with the intention of getting disables vets exposed to adaptive sports such as bicycling, kayaking, fishing, and camping. Though my involvement in that project was limited secondary to prior commitments, it is something I feel very strongly about. And it was a great success! I am a big believer in the importance of recreational endeavors as part of a balanced life.
In addition to support for recreation, the WOUNDED WARRIOR PROJECT provides support for injured service members and their families for counseling and psychological support, occupational training, peer mentoring, and supports advocacy for injured vets, as well.
No matter what your personal views about the wars we, as a country, are fighting, I think we all owe it to the servicemen and women to support them upon their return.
If you would like to learn more about the WOUNDED WARRIOR PROJECT, go here for more info!
Friday, January 14, 2011
Friday's Good Vibes
As I was going through my paperwork of charitable organizations, I noticed that I had grouped them together by category. I was sort of going through the paperwork in order, but then I realized that it may end up looking like: "January's diseases", "February's environmental causes", "March's armed services". And that just seemed too tacky for words! So now I just mixed all the paperwork together in no particular order. It's absolute madness in an accordion file!
Anyway, now that the categories have been obliterated, I can feel free to talk about something that is close to my heart: Our National Parks.
I truly feel lucky to live here, where we have such wonderful natural diversity in our landscape and such a great National Park System. The National Park System was created in 1872 to preserve out natural and cultural heritage, setting aside millions of acres of land to preserve and protect some of our most valuable and --may I say -- magical land. Unfortunately, our park system is subject to political volleying with many urging opening the parks to "land development" projects such as logging, mining, and, of course, the famous Alaska oil pipeline.
Additionally, the parks themselves operate with significant budget deficits, leaving maintenance of roads, shelters, and trails insufficient. Parks have needed to cut back on rangers and other staff, putting visitors at greater risk of injury when visiting parks. And in many parks, local pressure has led to allowing ATVs, snowmobiles, and power boats in the very places created to protect against these vehicles.
Some of my most fond memories in my travels have been of hiking and camping in Olympia National Park in Washington, Yosemite National Park, and King's Canyon Park (pictured above).
I am always in awe of these magical places; and in awe of the thought that this is public land: I OWN this place! You OWN this place! We all collectively own these places. They belong to us and as such, I truly feel it is our duty to protect these places from disrepair, abuse, and mismanagement. (I've often wrote in this blog how I can't understand how obsessed people become about their lawns. But I can totally understand and obsession about their public land)
So this week's charity is the National Parks Conservation Association, which serves as a watchdog group to monitor the parks and ensure preservation, protection, and adequate funding.
To learn more about National Parks (and to find one in your area to visit -- please make that one of your goals for this year!) go here.
And to learn more about the NPCA go here
Now go outside this weekend!
Anyway, now that the categories have been obliterated, I can feel free to talk about something that is close to my heart: Our National Parks.
I truly feel lucky to live here, where we have such wonderful natural diversity in our landscape and such a great National Park System. The National Park System was created in 1872 to preserve out natural and cultural heritage, setting aside millions of acres of land to preserve and protect some of our most valuable and --may I say -- magical land. Unfortunately, our park system is subject to political volleying with many urging opening the parks to "land development" projects such as logging, mining, and, of course, the famous Alaska oil pipeline.
Additionally, the parks themselves operate with significant budget deficits, leaving maintenance of roads, shelters, and trails insufficient. Parks have needed to cut back on rangers and other staff, putting visitors at greater risk of injury when visiting parks. And in many parks, local pressure has led to allowing ATVs, snowmobiles, and power boats in the very places created to protect against these vehicles.
Some of my most fond memories in my travels have been of hiking and camping in Olympia National Park in Washington, Yosemite National Park, and King's Canyon Park (pictured above).
I am always in awe of these magical places; and in awe of the thought that this is public land: I OWN this place! You OWN this place! We all collectively own these places. They belong to us and as such, I truly feel it is our duty to protect these places from disrepair, abuse, and mismanagement. (I've often wrote in this blog how I can't understand how obsessed people become about their lawns. But I can totally understand and obsession about their public land)
So this week's charity is the National Parks Conservation Association, which serves as a watchdog group to monitor the parks and ensure preservation, protection, and adequate funding.
To learn more about National Parks (and to find one in your area to visit -- please make that one of your goals for this year!) go here.
And to learn more about the NPCA go here
Now go outside this weekend!
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Something New!
While looking through a magazine last month, I came across and article on this chippy! She had an amazing idea to give away $100 a day every day for a year to charitable organizations. I thinks that is just fantastic and inspiring and overall just, well, good.
Reading her blog, I thought: "The world really needs more people like her."
And then I thought: "I'm a person. And I want to be like her."
Of course, financially speaking, there is no way I can commit to giving away $100 a day. But I took a serious look at my finances and where my money goes. And I figured out that with a little tweaking, I can commit to giving $25 a week to charitable causes. In my journal, I have dubbed the year 2011 "The Year of Better Choices". And I think that the tweaks I've made (or have pledged to make) with my spending in order to give more money to worthy causes really is a better choice.
So, every week, I'll be talking about a charitable organization and why I wish to give money to its cause. (Plus, I encourage anyone to tell me about any organization they feel strongly about in the comments session.)
This week's charity is:
The American Diabetes Association
Right now, approximately 24 million Americans (about 8%) of the population has diabetes. This figure continues to grow every year. It's the 7th leading direct cause of death in the US, and contributes to the development of many other medical conditons including heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, neuropathy, blindness, kidney disease, and amputations (it is the #1 cause of lower limb amputations in adults)
The American Diabetes Association funds research studies aimed at diabetes treatment the search for a cure. It also focuses on educational resources for people living with diabetes. Since type 2 diabetes is a largely preventable disease (and since lifestyle changes are a key factor in the management of type 2 diabetes) education is very important.
On a personal note, my Nana on my mother's side died of uncontrolled diabetes. She was diagnosed only after she died. I can't help but think if she had access to some educational information, she would have been able to take better control of her health.
If anyone else wants to learn more about diabetes, The American Diabetes Association, or wishes to donate, go here!
Reading her blog, I thought: "The world really needs more people like her."
And then I thought: "I'm a person. And I want to be like her."
Of course, financially speaking, there is no way I can commit to giving away $100 a day. But I took a serious look at my finances and where my money goes. And I figured out that with a little tweaking, I can commit to giving $25 a week to charitable causes. In my journal, I have dubbed the year 2011 "The Year of Better Choices". And I think that the tweaks I've made (or have pledged to make) with my spending in order to give more money to worthy causes really is a better choice.
So, every week, I'll be talking about a charitable organization and why I wish to give money to its cause. (Plus, I encourage anyone to tell me about any organization they feel strongly about in the comments session.)
This week's charity is:
The American Diabetes Association
Right now, approximately 24 million Americans (about 8%) of the population has diabetes. This figure continues to grow every year. It's the 7th leading direct cause of death in the US, and contributes to the development of many other medical conditons including heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, neuropathy, blindness, kidney disease, and amputations (it is the #1 cause of lower limb amputations in adults)
The American Diabetes Association funds research studies aimed at diabetes treatment the search for a cure. It also focuses on educational resources for people living with diabetes. Since type 2 diabetes is a largely preventable disease (and since lifestyle changes are a key factor in the management of type 2 diabetes) education is very important.
On a personal note, my Nana on my mother's side died of uncontrolled diabetes. She was diagnosed only after she died. I can't help but think if she had access to some educational information, she would have been able to take better control of her health.
If anyone else wants to learn more about diabetes, The American Diabetes Association, or wishes to donate, go here!
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