Quiet Good Deeds
Settle in, this is going to be a long one! And you don't have to read it... but I find that sometimes getting the thoughts out of my head is helpful!
I thought this week was going pretty well. I was starting to think that in this messed up world there is still some hope. On the 4th of July, as I have done for several years in the past before Covid, I will be running (jogging, walking, struggling through) a 5K around the Statue of Liberty. I do this for two reasons; because the 4th of July is my favorite holiday and I love being surrounded by people dressed in crazy red, white and blue bedazzled attire in a special place, and more importantly, because the run benefits Special Olympics NJ and gives me a chance to participate in something good. On my fundraising page, I offer my friends, family and co-workers the chance "to be heroes" (that sounds much nicer than begging them for their monetary support of my favorite charity!) and as they have done so many times before, they stepped up and together we will be donating enough money to Special Olympics to send more than 50 Special Olympic athletes to the Fall Games. Some of these people are parents that my kids (now in their 30s) played soccer with back in middle school and I hope it makes them feel as good as it makes me feel to do some good in this world where all the news seems so bad. I could go on and on about this topic, thankfully, I won't!
Next, one of my friends at work had her beloved cat that she had for over 20 years pass away and she opened her home and heart to new kitten from a shelter, only to find out shortly afterward that the poor little thing has a heart defect that will cause it to slowly die of heart failure within 1-2 years, unless she can get it medical help which will cost $8000. Not having that kind of money, she was brave enough to put up a "go fund me" page to help raise the funds to save her kitty. I say "brave enough" because there has been plenty of talk about this being ridiculous... it's just a cat... just get another cat ...who spends that kind of money on a cat, etc... and I understand that everyone is entitled to their opinions and that is fine. Me, I took one look at that kitten's face and hit the DONATE button. And... I was not alone. Within 5 days, she has raised half of the money that she needs... not just from friends and family.... but from complete strangers... and I am thinking... well, look at that... maybe people ARE good afterall. That's the beauty of it, yes... it is a lot of money, but if a LOT of people come together to help, anything is possible... isn't that the way it is supposed to be? People helping others? Hmmmm...Faith in people slowly being restored. YeY!
Two weeks ago I went to the abandoned farm that I love and fixed a barn door that was hanging off the rolling hinges on top, figuring that if I didn't, it would end up breaking off, and I didn't want that to happen, because it's such a good spot for photos and because the old barn has stood for so many years that sometimes it just deserves a little help. So, I dragged a step ladder out there and struggled to get it back on the track. Tonight I went back there again to take another version of a photo that I took a couple of years ago, only to find that someone has now started ripping the barn wood off of the side of the barn. I couldn't even believe it. So, I walked around the back of the barn to see if there was any other damage and that's where I found that they had also dumped a mattress and boxspring. I realize that I do not own this property and technically I am trespassing there as well, but I would never break anything, ruin anything, dump anything.... etc. Last week, I found that someone had spray painted in red "Time to float" on the front of the beautiful old stone farmhouse. I tried to sand that off, and tried to get it off with a wire brush, with no success and will probably have to carefully paint over it if I want to make it go away. So, I am right back to square one, thinking that this world is pretty broken and that the good that is left is not going to be enough to overcome the bad people that are thinking only of themselves or pointing fingers and blaming others and telling them that they are wrong and stupid.... because that's all we hear about.... no one hears about the people that care whether a special needs individual is going to get to experience the thrill of being a part of a team or the people that think that a kitten that is loved deserves to live a healthy life for more than a year or two.... so that's why I am telling you... so you know... that these people are out there... quietly doing good without looking for attention and headlines... and thank God for that! ( I feel a little bit better now. Thanks! )
Quiet Good Deeds
Settle in, this is going to be a long one! And you don't have to read it... but I find that sometimes getting the thoughts out of my head is helpful!
I thought this week was going pretty well. I was starting to think that in this messed up world there is still some hope. On the 4th of July, as I have done for several years in the past before Covid, I will be running (jogging, walking, struggling through) a 5K around the Statue of Liberty. I do this for two reasons; because the 4th of July is my favorite holiday and I love being surrounded by people dressed in crazy red, white and blue bedazzled attire in a special place, and more importantly, because the run benefits Special Olympics NJ and gives me a chance to participate in something good. On my fundraising page, I offer my friends, family and co-workers the chance "to be heroes" (that sounds much nicer than begging them for their monetary support of my favorite charity!) and as they have done so many times before, they stepped up and together we will be donating enough money to Special Olympics to send more than 50 Special Olympic athletes to the Fall Games. Some of these people are parents that my kids (now in their 30s) played soccer with back in middle school and I hope it makes them feel as good as it makes me feel to do some good in this world where all the news seems so bad. I could go on and on about this topic, thankfully, I won't!
Next, one of my friends at work had her beloved cat that she had for over 20 years pass away and she opened her home and heart to new kitten from a shelter, only to find out shortly afterward that the poor little thing has a heart defect that will cause it to slowly die of heart failure within 1-2 years, unless she can get it medical help which will cost $8000. Not having that kind of money, she was brave enough to put up a "go fund me" page to help raise the funds to save her kitty. I say "brave enough" because there has been plenty of talk about this being ridiculous... it's just a cat... just get another cat ...who spends that kind of money on a cat, etc... and I understand that everyone is entitled to their opinions and that is fine. Me, I took one look at that kitten's face and hit the DONATE button. And... I was not alone. Within 5 days, she has raised half of the money that she needs... not just from friends and family.... but from complete strangers... and I am thinking... well, look at that... maybe people ARE good afterall. That's the beauty of it, yes... it is a lot of money, but if a LOT of people come together to help, anything is possible... isn't that the way it is supposed to be? People helping others? Hmmmm...Faith in people slowly being restored. YeY!
Two weeks ago I went to the abandoned farm that I love and fixed a barn door that was hanging off the rolling hinges on top, figuring that if I didn't, it would end up breaking off, and I didn't want that to happen, because it's such a good spot for photos and because the old barn has stood for so many years that sometimes it just deserves a little help. So, I dragged a step ladder out there and struggled to get it back on the track. Tonight I went back there again to take another version of a photo that I took a couple of years ago, only to find that someone has now started ripping the barn wood off of the side of the barn. I couldn't even believe it. So, I walked around the back of the barn to see if there was any other damage and that's where I found that they had also dumped a mattress and boxspring. I realize that I do not own this property and technically I am trespassing there as well, but I would never break anything, ruin anything, dump anything.... etc. Last week, I found that someone had spray painted in red "Time to float" on the front of the beautiful old stone farmhouse. I tried to sand that off, and tried to get it off with a wire brush, with no success and will probably have to carefully paint over it if I want to make it go away. So, I am right back to square one, thinking that this world is pretty broken and that the good that is left is not going to be enough to overcome the bad people that are thinking only of themselves or pointing fingers and blaming others and telling them that they are wrong and stupid.... because that's all we hear about.... no one hears about the people that care whether a special needs individual is going to get to experience the thrill of being a part of a team or the people that think that a kitten that is loved deserves to live a healthy life for more than a year or two.... so that's why I am telling you... so you know... that these people are out there... quietly doing good without looking for attention and headlines... and thank God for that! ( I feel a little bit better now. Thanks! )