I’m in such a purging mood, may be as the year is coming to an end, I’m mentally ready to start anew.
Yesterday the basement received the benefits of my cleaning frenzy, today, not sure what to hit? Annie’s room is a good place to start.
Ever get this way? This undying urge to purge all the little knick-knacks. I mean really, when was the last time you needed three junk drawers? I bet I could just take each drawer and just throw everything away and no one would miss a thing. Well, maybe the scissors. But honestly, how much do we really need? Watching 60 Minutes last night was very telling of the times.
The program went from homeless children to Flavor Companies that create foods in a lab. Both made me frustrated, but nothing touched me more than the voices of the homeless children. 16 million children in this country live in poverty. They targeted Florida, as 1/3 of the nations’ homeless children live there. I’m not implying that they don’t live with their parents, they do. But as a family, they are living in cars, or motels, or shelters.
Imagine, a family of five living in a car, moving from parking lot to parking lot each night, just to feel safe. One family was down to their last orange, last tank of gas, and called every shelter in the area for an opening. Finally, they found one. These are the brave we speak of in today’s America. They are parents trying to not cry in front of their children. They are loving people hoping the state won’t take their children away from them. They are teachers to our future generation.
Around you there are kids playing their playstations and x-boxes. However, there is another land out there of children who struggle just to eat every day. Imagine, if you can, not having any roof over your head. No blankets to keep you warm. No food to feed your belly. No shelter to take you in. Then, look around you. What great things you have accumulated. All that food in your cupboards, your fridge, in your stomach. The clothes in your drawers, in the laundry, in the closets – look at all that stuff.
Now, go through your house. Really look at everything. I mean every little thing.
Now think.
Think about what you could give to a child or family in need. Old books? A stuffed animal? How about clothes, shoes, socks? And here, in the North East, coats, hats and mittens.
I started a charity site about a year ago. It’s called Positive Participation. I don’t ask much of you. I just ask that you be a participant in life, and leave your mark positively. Start by choosing a charitable organization, and see what they need. They need a lot more than just money. Time. Influence. Stuff.
Watching 60 minutes opened my eyes to a world in which I knew existed, but I never felt anything until I heard the children of the homeless speak from their hearts.
All I ask is that you help, each week. And stay healthy, be fit, and have fun!
