1 Megan megsmizzle@gmail.com 1 2009-09-29T17:31:04-06:00 1003 346 When I was only four years old my mother died. It was hard for all of us in such grief. My dad's mom (my grandmother), as the loving person she is, came from her house eight hours away to take care of us. At first, my brother and I hated her. I would call her mean things and scream at her, and make her go up and down stairs just for a cookie at night. I would be just as hateful as a four year old can be but my grandma was patient and kind and straightened us out. My grandma acted as my mother and helped me in every way my mom would have: she taught me how to cook and to be polite and encouraged me to be all that I can be and to never give up. After seven years my grandmother left our house because my dad got re-married. Its been hard on me to let my grandma go since I can only see her once a year but I'm thankful for everything she has done for us, and for her selflessness and loving attitude. She has to be the kindest person I've ever met and I love her. 2009-10-02T12:59:37-06:00 1 Emily E. 2009-09-28T16:05:03-06:00 1001 345 I am going to be honest. I am only ten years old, but why can't I make a difference too? I have been told many things in my life so far, simple things like "Eat your salad" and "Don't climb that." Half the time I don't even know those things are making an impact on my life. And sometimes, it's the other way around. Like my grandmother, who used to tell my mother, "Can't never did nothin'." I always try to work hard and remember those few words, however much bad grammar she had. 2009-10-02T13:08:19-06:00 1 Randy G. gollay@comcast.net 1 2009-09-11T12:19:38-06:00 995 339 What I’ve learned from my wife would astound you! It’s theoretically simplistic, emotionally hygienic, morally sincere, and spiritually uplifting. She never went to college and reading books is not her passion. Her repertoire doesn’t consist of greed, disrespect, or ego. Bridget can’t stand up. She can’t walk - not even a baby step. She can’t even hold a baby in her arms. She has MS. The damage done to her body has no known reversible cure. As the disease progresses it exacerbates the devastation physically and emotionally, not only to her, but also to her loved ones. Nevertheless, she’s a terrific role model as a mother of an eleven-year-old (going on eighteen!) and wife to a man who’s been accused of selective hearing! All the excruciating pain, the hospital surgeries, pharmaceutical pill popping, daily needle shots, drug infusions, multiple doctors visits, lab and blood tests, physical and occupational therapies, etc… only temporarily circumvents what some octogenarians experience before they pass on. She’s half that age. Her disease has been present for half of that. One minute you’re healthy and the next… Things you take for granted, like: driving, shopping, bathing, baking and even going to the bathroom, can’t be done by herself. I can go on, but I'll spare the specifics because it’s not appealing. It’s not fair that a lady as sweet as she is would be burdened with this type of challenge. In LIFE, anything can happen. So what have I learned by being married a quarter century to this angel? No man is an island. God put all of us here for a reason. If we can’t count on each other, there’s no hope for mankind. If we abandon our ways in adversity, we have our work cut out for us. If we deal with complications by avoidance or irrationality, no positive gain is inevitable. Faith, love, and honest hard work are our only hope! Muscles, money, and luck will only carry us each so far. Kisses, smiles, hugs and handshakes can carry us a lot farther. There are many frail-appearing "Bridget’s" that you will refute or embrace on your journey through life. Those opportunities you engage will not only enrich your bloodstream, but assist you in understanding what strength really is!! That wow factor is what our daughter and her generation has to have from us. Nothing short of that will do. 2009-09-12T00:00:17-06:00 1 Jack R. jack@schooloflifefoundation.org 1 2009-09-10T17:06:17-06:00 994 338 Sixteen years ago I set out on a path of writing a life skills book for young people and creating a foundation to donate this book to youth organizations and schools. As a high school basketball coach my “Mission” was to teach and inspire kids around the world to “Achieve Straight A’s in the School of Life!” I recently turned age fifty and the book is now published in English as well as Spanish; plus, the foundation is launched. The organization is called the School of Life Foundation and the book that we give to kids is called Learn to “School” Your Toughest Opponent. Over the past two years we have placed this curriculum in the lives of close to 20,000 youth across sixteen states and eleven countries. The School of Life Foundation continues to grow each week. The “Straight A’s in Life” system contained in the workbook has ten steps as follows: • Appreciate – Have more gratitude in your life • Assist – Serve others everyday • Attitude – Choose yours each morning • Aim – Learn to focus by setting goals • Associate – Make good people a part of your life • Align – Get organized • Action – Make things happen or watch and wonder • Avoid – Stay away from things that will harm you • Adapt – Turn every challenge into an opportunity • Always – Remember to pray and ponder each day My heart and soul is touched everyday as I learn of a new story of a young person’s life improving by using this journal workbook while “Living the A’s” in life! I am now “Living My Dream” of making a difference in the world. I chose to not give up over the past sixteen years when obstacles and discouragement got in the way. You have to perform with passion! Your mission in life may be large or small, but is vital to all of us no matter what it may be. What are doing today to find it? Are you living your dream? I am simply the guy next door encouraging you to get started today! 2009-09-12T00:00:17-06:00 1 Jordan R. jordangalloway@yahoo.com 1 2009-09-05T12:55:38-06:00 986 337 Three friends and I were driving on the highway, my close friend being the driver. While we were going at least 50 miles per hour, we passed a car stopped on the side of the road that had broken down. My friend slowed down, made a U-turn, and pulled up behind the other car. He got out of the car and before I knew it he was helping the other person push the car down the road to a spot that wasn't so close to the passing cars. From the way they were pushing the car, it looked like my friend my pushing the entire thing by himself, which was quite a distance for something like that. He even gave the stranger an extra pair of jumper cables he had, even though they had someone coming to help already. I thought my friend helping a complete stranger like this was a great thing, and I won't forget his good nature or character. 2009-09-12T00:00:17-06:00 1 Travis C. travis.collins23@yahoo.com 1 2009-09-03T00:10:20-06:00 985 336 Growing up wasn't easy for me - I was a very mean and aggressive person because of my disorder. When I was twelve years old my counselor gave me medication to help me with my behavior, but I still lacked one thing and that was motivation. I did not have anything to look forward to. That all changed during my freshmen year in high school. An autistic kid had enrolled in our school district and after a while he and I became real close friends. Because of him I volunteered in the Special Olympics and I even wrote a book on autism while still in high school. During my senior year I decided I wanted to be a Special Ed. Teacher and it was my autistic friend who showed me my true role in life. I love working with special needs kids! 2009-09-12T00:00:17-06:00 1 Linda V. lvaughn@flintschools.org 1 2009-09-02T12:06:44-06:00 984 335 My name is Linda and I decided to go back to college at age 60. I now have a 3.8 grade point average and I am so excited about my accomplishment. I never took school seriously when I was younger because one of my teachers in the 5th grade used to say that I was dumb and stupid. But I used that as my motivation - every time I prepare to take a test or write a report, I think of her and I persevere. Funny how things that are said to you as a child can sometime be a deciding factor in your successes or your failures. My children have inspired me and my parents are very proud of me, but the gift to myself was getting up the courage to take the first step and I am now attending Baker College in Flint, MI. I guess now I just want to encourage others - if there is something that you want to do, and it is important to you, then regardless of what people say about you and think about you, YOU have to live with you, so be good to yourself! 2009-09-12T00:00:17-06:00 1 Chris L. chrisladner56@yahoo.com 1 2009-09-02T09:55:27-06:00 983 334 My name is Christopher, and for 10 years I've been a member of the children's service club called Optimist International. I will become the volunteer Governor of the Illinois District in October, and hope that my leadership will increase the Illinois membership. In July, Illinois Optimists spend a day at a camp in Lake Bloomington for children undergoing cancer treatment. We sponsor a day of games and fun so they can be just kids again - not kids who battle a serious illness. The first event I assisted with was a relay race. The boy I was helping had a brain tumor and was blind. I thought he'd pass on the race, or ask for help. Not so - holding his cane like a lance in front of him, he took off at full gallop. He may not have run the fastest or straightest race, but he ran with the heart of a lion. He later said he was tired, because he had chemo that morning. What a hero! Suddenly, my own issue of unemployment seemed small, and I was reminded again that it is giving that we receive. 2009-09-12T00:00:17-06:00 1 Dana C. 2009-09-02T09:24:36-06:00 982 333 The day was a typical summer day - sunny, bright sky, and so much fun...you would think. Unfortunately, I was stuck working. I worked at a amusement park and wasn't really excited about working there that day but it had to be done anyway. Well while I was working I had this huge family come up to me and ask to get their picture taken. So I took it and one of the guys of the group waited while the picture was printing out. I asked him where he was from and he said California. I have always wanted to go to California and get a good job and a nice place there. So I started talking to him about it. After awhile of talking about my future and what I planned on doing his picture finished printing out and I gave it to him. He smiled at me gave me a huge tip and said "I'll see you in California one day." I told him you gave me way too much tip and he said "I know" and walked away. Even though it was simple it made me feel amazing. Those three words "see you there" is all it took to know that I am going to be there one day! 2009-09-12T00:00:17-06:00 1 Jennifer T. jathieme@gmail.com 1 2009-08-31T21:56:57-06:00 980 332 Setting: My son Joel's bedroom. About 9:30 pm on a Wednesday night. I'm there to tuck him in. He's been in bed for at least 15 minutes before I get there. Joel: I can't stop thinking about the wolves. Mom: What wolves? Joel: The wolves in The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe. I keep thinking about them chasing me and attacking me. Mom, pensively: Hmmmm. <i>I'm wondering how to help him over this. I remember being that age, when things like this are very real. I spend several minutes thinking about it, to no avail. I decide to "go fishing," to ask him questions and see if his answers can help me help him.</i> Mom: How do we make the wolves go away? What can we do? Joel: I don't know. I just want them to disappear. <i>A swing and a miss. Spending more time thinking about it, an idea springs to mind:</i> Mom: Is my love stronger than the wolves? <i>This is an honest question: I do not know what is true for him. I want him to answer honestly.</i> Joel: Yes. <i>This is spoken without hesitation. Slightly puzzled, I proceed:</i> Mom: Is Daddy's love stronger than the wolves? Joel: Yes. <i>Again, spoken without hesitation. I need to know if this is his truth, or if he's just telling me what he thinks I want to hear.</i> Mom: Are you sure? <i>This time <b>he</b> looks puzzled.</i> Joel: Yes. <i>Inside, I hope he's told me the truth, because if he has, I've found the key.</i> Mom, with determination: Ok, I want you to remember something: love is stronger than the wolves. Love always wins against hate, because love is stronger. It always wins. Always. Can you remember that? <i>He nods his head and sets it on the pillow. I wait by his side, my hand on his arm. Without saying another word, he's asleep within five minutes, and stays in bed all night. Next morning...</i> Mom: So, how did you sleep? Joel, smiling: Fine. Mom: What happened to the wolves? Joel, puzzled: What? Mom: The wolves. Remember, last night? Joel, still smiling: Oh yea! They went away. Mom: Wow! That's pretty cool, isn't it Joel? <i>Joel nods his head, still smiling. I say a silent prayer of gratitude. The wolves have never returned.</i> 2009-09-12T00:00:17-06:00 1 Stephen A. stephen@drivenidealist.com 1 2009-08-28T13:47:58-06:00 977 331 My friend, Brent, told me an interesting story this morning. Like most people who need that morning pick-me-up, you most likely wait anxiously for that sometimes bitter… sometimes cavity-breeding sweet, dark, hot, liquid crack. When you see the barista pour the steamy (or frozen) concoction, it does something magical to your senses. It has a way of instantly waking you up and making you want to jump on a table and say, “I’m alive! I’m awake! And I’m ready to take on the world!” For those of us who don’t indulge in coffee (such as myself), you’ll just have to pretend you know what it feels like to be falsely awake — it’s akin to being able to breathe with no air. And yes, I just channeled some Jordin Sparks for those of you who didn’t catch the reference. Haha. Imagine for a second, that the person ahead of you wasn’t able to pay for their morning jolt. What would you do? Would you laugh? Would you ignore the situation? While I’d like to have complete faith in my fellow man, I feel that our society has become driven by self-motivated interests. We fail to look at the bigger picture. Our perspectives have, in a way, been blown out of proportion. These macro-size ideals overlook the details… the little things. For people like Brent, taking a more micro-size approach to a situation can prove to create the biggest impact. You see, while the woman ran to her car to get cash (her card was declined), Brent moved into action and paid it forward. He selflessly gave of himself to help someone else without expecting anything in return. As a matter of fact, the exchange was so quick, that upon reentry into the store, Brent had already paid for the coffee, left the Starbucks, and the woman had no idea! And who says chivalry is dead?! :-) Paying it forward is a simple concept. I had no prior knowledge of it until I saw the movie as part of Resident Assistant Appreciation Week. As part of the many things the university did for us, they treated us to a free, off-campus movie — Pay It Forward. While I don’t think it was a box office hit, it delivered a powerful message. What would happen if everyone paid it forward? After Brent told me about his experience, it made me think about other related concepts. If you’re still not quite sure what it means to “pay it forward,” here’s a definition: The expression “pay it forward” is used to describe the concept of asking that a good turn be repaid by having it done to others instead. During my year of service with City Year, we “put our idealism to work.” It’s a pretty profound slogan, and I didn’t quite understand its meaning then, but now… I totally get it. Among the many topics taught to us, we learned about “Ubuntu.” I’ve posted a few explanations/definitions of this concept below. "Ubuntu is an ethic or humanist philosophy focusing on people’s allegiances and relations with each other. The word has its origin in the Bantu languages of southern Africa. Ubuntu is seen as a classical African concept." And also… Archbishop Desmond Tutu further explained Ubuntu as follows (2008): "One of the sayings in our country is Ubuntu – the essence of being human. Ubuntu speaks particularly about the fact that you can’t exist as a human being in isolation. It speaks about our interconnectedness. You can’t be human all by yourself, and when you have this quality – Ubuntu – you are known for your generosity." And to sum it all up: we’re all connected through humanity, and through that my humanity is tied to yours. Powerful, right? The other is the concept of “ripples.” In 1966 Robert F. Kennedy delivered his “Day of Affirmation Address” in Capetown, South Africa. Excerpting from it, he stated: “Thousands of Peace Corps volunteers are making a difference in isolated villages and city slums in dozens of countries. Thousands of unknown men and women in Europe resisted the occupation of the Nazis and many died, but all added to the ultimate strength and freedom of their countries. It is from numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is shaped. Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.” Going back to Brent’s experience, whether he realized it or not, he created a tiny ripple. Hopefully, that woman will recognize the generosity of a complete stranger and emulate his actions for another complete stranger, and that stranger will then help another… and so on and so on… A few months ago, I challenged myself to pay it forward every day for an entire month. I met my challenge, but I oftentimes wonder about the number of ripples I’ve created during my time here on Earth. I wonder how much impact they’ve had, or if I’ve unknowingly created a ripple that eventually became a wave. I wonder what would happen if everyone paid it forward… 2009-09-12T00:00:16-06:00 1 Scott L. chaplain@eamc.org 2009-08-27T12:30:15-06:00 972 330 I serve as a hospital chaplain. During Nurse's Week we have a Blessing of the Hands ceremony. The Blessing of Hands ceremony invites any and all people who like to receive a blessing to come to our chapel where we pour water on their hands and have a small prayer that they would be blessings. This year as I was was preparing to leave one evening to participate in our evening ceremony for our third shift nurses, Dorie - my five year old daughter - was in the kitchen playing. She said, "Daddy, come here." I was focused on the ceremony ahead so I did not think much about what she was doing. She said, "Let me have your hands." She turned on the water in the sink, filled a cup and poured the cup of water over my hands. She next took a towel and pat my hands dry then said, "May you be blessed." She then turned around and went back about her business of playing. I of course broke down crying. I was focused on what was to come later and not on the present. I had never been so blessed and honored before in all my life. She gave me one of the greatest gifts I had been given. Thanks for allowing me to share. 2009-09-12T00:00:16-06:00 1 Elizabeth D. nyparkchic21@yahoo.com 1 2009-08-18T08:41:49-06:00 967 329 In 1985 I was adopted from Seoul, South Korea. I was 3 months old and was given to Caucasion parents. Every family gathering I was reminded that I was different even though nobody wanted to tell me why. Finally my parents told me what it means to be adopted and my birthmother was from Korea. I spent so much time looking on the internet for ways to find my mom, without spending money. Ever since I was 13 I wanted to know who she was and if I looked like her. On my 21st birthday I decided to give up. I was in the military now and decided to be content with the fact at least she let me have a better life than I might've had with her. When I was 23 years old I got stationed in Korea. I tried one more time to try and find her through my old adoption agency that was there. Three months went by and I checked my email everyday for any sign that they found her. I decided that I should accept that perhaps she did not want to be found. About 6 months later I received an email from my social worker that said she found my mother. She also attached a picture of her and a letter she had written to me. To make a long story short I have met her and still keep in touch through email. In fact I am learning how to write in Korean to make the language barrier much easier. Persistence is truly key.... 2009-09-12T00:00:16-06:00 1 Richard A. richardaxell@hotmail.com 1 2009-08-03T11:06:52-06:00 963 328 My Grandmother had lived her life of more than ninety years without taking a breath to think of herself and her needs. Rather, she found her love and grace in tending to the needs of others and in giving of herself to anyone in need of love, comfort or understanding. Having survived the great depression with her family on a cattle farm in rural Nova Scotia (Canada), Jennie made many sacrifices to ensure the health and happiness of others throughout her life, and to this day is remembered so fondly by all who had the pleasure of knowing her. Upon her last day on this earth, her final act of love and appreciation was to a nurse who had come in for morning duties. Jennie looked at the girl and stated quite simply what beautiful blue eyes she had. At that selfless and graceful moment, my grandmother left this earth and moved on to a greater glory than any of us have known. 2009-09-12T00:00:16-06:00 1 bethogrady@yahoo.com 0 2009-07-29T02:13:27-06:00 961 327 Growing up, I always enjoyed school and the process of learning. I was a non-athletic &#8216;nerd&#8217;, whose only exercise was running up to my room at the end of my school day to read a book. I carried the deadly &#8216;teacher&#8217;s pet&#8217; stigma that resulted in extra mentoring from the teachers, and brutal teasing from classmates. Nonplused, I continued to enjoy my moments of being asked to read before the class despite the &#8216;not again&#8217; huffs and puffs around me, and continued to wait after the bell rung to talk just a bit longer with my teachers about the subject of the day. \r\n\r\nI especially loved College where classes were no longer ruled by taking attendance and being quiet, but centered around discussions, ideas and opinions. Of all the lessons I learned, the hardest was from the paper that I received a &#8216;D&#8217; grade for from a notoriously difficult English Professor who explained he gave me that grade because he knew I could do better. After a sleepless night of re-writing my essay trying to purge the old words out of my head and replace them with new ones, I submitted a revision. A few days later I got the paper back with the grade of &#8216;A-&#8216; followed by a note that simply read &#8220;now Beth&#8230;.&#8221; I still have that essay today and smile when I remember how that teacher took the time to not grade me in comparison to others, but in comparison to what he thought I was capable of.\r\n\r\nBut all my classroom lessons could not teach me what I learned after my brother Stephen was killed by a drunk driver in the fall of 1999 at the age of 30. I was 39, recovering from an early diagnosis and treatment for breast cancer, and I had no idea where to start the healing process. Then one day I invested in a pair of sneakers, and decided to try running. \r\n\r\nBecause old habits die hard, my first shot at running was to do something that was familiar to me- I read about it. I read everything from Running for Dummies to 26 miles to Boston. I read before work, during lunch, and at night. But the real learning did not start until I finally laced my sneakers up and headed outside. \r\n\r\nI started with fast walking, then run/walk, and finally a slow but consistent jog. I celebrated the first time I could run a mile without stopping, which soon became five miles. I ran during lunch with co-workers, sometimes talking about work, sometimes talking about life, sometimes not talking at all. I ran at night, through dark streets where inside lights reveal quick glimpses into the lives of others. I ran through weather so cold my eyelashes nearly froze shut, rain so hard that I labored to run through ankle deep puddles, and roads so slippery with ice that each step became a prayer not to fall. \r\n\r\nI ran through the same neighborhoods for so many years that I saw their children grow up, knew their dog&#8217;s names and what time they watered their lawns. I passed other runners on their own journeys, so consistently that I worried for them when they were absent from my running route for more than a few days.\r\n\r\nI ran through a range of emotions so strong that I&#8217;ve found myself crying during some of my runs. I ran through memories so deep that I&#8217;ve found myself at home after a long run, barely remembering the steps it took me to get there. \r\n\r\nSomewhere along the way I got the crazy idea I could do a marathon in memory of my brother Stephen, raising money for the Boys &amp; Girls Club of Greater Salem where he served as the Executive Director and the Stephen M. O&#8217;Grady Foundation, a scholarship foundation established in his memory. One marathon turned into two. Two marathons was upgraded to four, then this former non-athletic bookworm found herself setting a goal to complete 10 marathons by my brother&#8217;s 10th anniversary in 2009. My goal is to raise $40,000 in honor of what should have been his 40th birthday. At the verge of completing this goal, I can&#8217;t imagine what the past 10 years would have been like had it not been for the catharsis of running. \r\n\r\nI&#8217;ve run through cities around the country, taking in sites that could never be experienced from a car, nor would they be so vividly remembered. I&#8217;ve experienced the joy, first of simply completing a race, then bettering my time with each attempt. \r\n\r\nThrough running I met my fiance Doug and joined the Wicked Running Club of Salem which introduced me to what I am sure will be lifelong friends who help me continue my running education. I transitioned from the reflective years when I ran alone, sorting through my thoughts with each step, to the interactive years, looking forward to my long weekend training run with friends, where conversation flows easy as the miles pile up. When I return from my long run, Doug will ask me &#8216;so what did you learn today?&#8217;- a question that never fails to elicit an answer as long as he has time to listen. \r\n\r\nThe thought that I have come this far and am so close to my goal is one that both excites and frightens me. I credit my 10-marathon education as being my emotional rescue for the first 10 years of missing my brother, and sometimes wonder if I have been running from my grief instead of running through it. The one thing I do know is that running has redefined me. It has improved my physical and mental health and shaped me into a stronger person, inside and out. \r\n\r\nAlthough my goal for my brother will end this year, my running education will continue. Perhaps I&#8217;ll set a new goal- a goal just for me, not tied into grieving for my brother, but tied into living my own life with hope and curiosity for where this running journey will take me. Perhaps that goal will be chasing races in states I&#8217;ve never visited, chasing PRs when possible and chasing after happiness once again, running just a bit faster than the grief that always threatens to catch me. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n 1 2009-09-12T00:00:16-06:00 1 ESMERALDO docpineda2001@yahoo.com 0 2009-07-28T22:08:21-06:00 960 326 My two sons, Miguel (15) and Kristian (11), are in high and elementary school respectively. I have been teaching them on how to preserve the environment. Aside from the values they learned from their schools and from our own home, I teach them to love God above all and His creations. I have been telling them that if they will not preserve the environment in their childhood...soon the next generation won't find clean things and everything will be dirty and toxic. This is the situation: Every time my sons eat something, they don't just dispose the wrapper or waste anywhere. They understand that their trash can destroy the environment and it is ugly to the eye. If they cannot find a waste container, they just put the wrapper in their pockets instead. One day our house helper was getting ready to wash my sons' clothes. She was surprised to find candy wrappers, plastics, etc. in their pockets. When she asked me about this I told her "I teach my sons to love the environment. I tell them to put their trash in their pockets instead of throwing it anywhere if they can't find waste container or thash cans." The she responded "Very smart boys." That's how I teach my two sons to preserve the environment. 1 2009-09-12T00:00:16-06:00 1 smettler@casso.com 0 2009-07-27T16:39:13-06:00 958 325 When my daughter Peyton was 7, she decided that she wanted to be a "Change Bandit" for the Duke Children's Hospital annual donation radio-thon. She enjoyed raising money to help the sick children in the hospital, and she hit up everyone she knew for loose change. In a short period of time, she donated more than $200 in coins. When she turned 8, she decided that she wanted to raise money for the Duke Children's Hospital again, using her birthday party as a fund raiser. In lieu of birthday presents, she asked her guests to bring donations for the hospital. She raised more than $200 at her birthday party, and she donated the money at a horse show/charity auction for the hospital in Raleigh. Today she inspired me me become more "green" and generous by converting an empty apple juice bottle into a piggy bank to raise money for the hospital. I used a black marker to make some tic-marks on the side of the container so we could measure our progress this year. I made the 100% mark where the bottle begins to taper towards the top, and I told Peyton that we would donate the change when we reached 100%. Peyton promptly urged me to make a "stretch goal" of going past my marks and filling the bottle to the very top! Like many families, we have had a difficult year economically, and we are fighting foreclosure on our home. Just when it would be easy and "natural" for me to batten down the hatches and save every penny for my own family, Peyton has inspired me to do the opposite - to open up and share with others in need. We are all in the same boat in the long run, and I feel humble and grateful to be a parent of a young person like Peyton who reminds me to keep my heart open, even in troubling times. 1 2009-09-12T00:00:16-06:00 1 loraw81@yahoo.com 0 2009-07-23T13:25:35-06:00 954 324 My mother died twice in August 2005-- once on her 75th birthday at a crowded restaurant, surrounded by her closest family members-- and finally, the next day at a hospital. Eight months later, I began to come out of the fog of grief and depression to find a new purpose for my life. Like many of my generation, I had lived only for myself-- traveling, acquiring possessions, rising to a position of importance and reaping financial rewards. I was "charitable" and "volunteered" for various causes, but really didn't give of myself. In the spring after mom's death, I found myself waking in the middle of the night with one persistent thought. I felt compelled to offer myself as a living kidney donor. My husband Robb had received the gift of life through a kidney/pancreas transplant from a deceased donor in 1999, so I was familiar with the tremendous need for donors and knew several people who were waiting for a lifesaving transplant. I decided to offer myself to be matched with the most compatible person on the waiting list at my local transplant center. I was paired with a 71 year-old grandmother from New Jersey who had survived for six years on peritoneal dialysis. At her 70th birthday, her family threw a big party as they did not expect her to live much longer. Dee has become my very good friend and confidant. Almost two years after our surgeries, I was privileged to celebrate her 50th wedding anniversary with her husband, their five children and their extended family. In donating my kidney, I extended myself in a way far beyond what I ever believed was possible. I did so in honor of my mother who sacrificed so much for me and my sisters, and in memory of my husband's donor who extended her life through him. I encourage all who enjoy the gift of good health to share with others, either as a living donor or by designating organ donation upon death. By extending yourself through organ donation, you will live on through others in a miraculous way and give comfort to your loved ones. 1 2009-09-12T00:00:16-06:00 1 marmoposta@yahoo.com 0 2009-07-22T05:36:07-06:00 951 323 A 66-year-old male in relatively good health and no risk factors for heart disease came to me with a sudden onset of signs and symptoms of a heart problem. After he was diagnosed and treated, walked past me and hesitated, as if he wanted to say something more. I asked him what he had on his mind that he wanted me to know. He said six months ago his grandson who lives out of state and whom he loves so dearly came down with a heart condition. This man prayed to God to give him, instead, this problem. He smiled then, a most beautiful smile, and said "A couple of days ago my grandson's heart problem disappeared." 1 2009-09-12T00:00:16-06:00 1 lpelegrin@pelegray.com 0 2009-07-19T07:42:55-06:00 944 318 New neighbors are building their "dream house" on our street. They had sent a note to everyone introducing themselves when the construction started a year ago, but we had not met them yet. We bought a small plastic basket, filled it with candy and attached it to the temporary fence with a note saying �Welcome to the neighborhood, your home is beautiful and the workers have been exceptionally courteous. Thank you.�\r\n\r\nThey came by to say that that small act meant the world to them because they had been experiencing an overwhelming amount of problems with the construction and were at the end or their rope with it all.\r\n\r\nSome times the smallest things have a big impact.\r\n\r\nThink it. Do it. You may just make someone's day.\r\n 1 2009-09-12T00:00:16-06:00