Sunday, March 31, 2013

ONE MORE DAY (guest post)

by Angela, of the Wishadoo! Community

It's Easter morning -- the most important day of the year for Christians.  

Even those of us whose faith is tenuous find it in ourselves at Easter, and come together in houses of worship to praise and be thankful for salvation.   Although I was raised in the Christian tradition, and still hold in my heart many of those tenets (Love Thy Neighbor, Do Unto Others as You Would Have Them Do Unto You,  What You Do For the Least of These You Do For Me, etc.), 

I consider myself more of a "sampler" of religions -- I find what speaks to my heart and adopt that as my "religion".  Many people take issue with that, but in my humble opinion, religion is a personal choice.  It is a way to communicate with God/Spirit/The Universe/My Higher Self, so why shouldn't it be personalized to what works for me?  (AND, I'm off on a tangent)   Regardless of your religion, however, it's still a lovely time to be with family and celebrate and be thankful for the return of springtime.  After a long night of rain, we're seeing a glimpse of sunlight and hearing the lilt of birdsong, so our fears of a wash-out were unfounded.

I awoke around dawn this morning, went to check on my elderly mother -- my beloved mama -- and made the coffee.  She was still sleeping peacefully and looked so warm and cozy that I didn't have to heart to wake her, so she's still asleep, and I get One More Day with her.  We had talked about going to church today, and that could still happen, but right now she's so peaceful, I refuse to interrupt her slumber.  We have so few peaceful nights that I consider this a heavenly gift, and I will not ruin it by forcing her to get up and get ready for church.  She doesn't do well when she's rushed or being forced, so we'll see how the day goes.  We may make it to church, and we may not.  Perhaps we'll pack a picnic lunch and go to the park.  What better way to give thanks for creation than to be in nature (or as close an approximation as we can get in the city) and appreciating it for a while.  It's supposed to be very warm, finally, so she'll enjoy being out in the sun and watching the kids.


This is my first time blogging on Wishadoo.  Dena asked me to write about my experiences being a care-giver, and until now I haven't had to energy or time or nerve or whatever to do it, but this morning seemed like a good time for a new beginning, given the symbolism of this day.  So, here's it is -- my very first blog entry.


In the past few years, I've weathered challenges and hardships I would never have thought I'd have the strength to face, but face them I have, with as much Grace as I could pull from within myself.  And you know what?  When I had no more Grace myself, someone would always come along to share theirs with me.  There are angels among us -- I have absolutely no doubt about that -- from the kind gentleman who helped me when I broke the heel of my shoe and fell into the road in heavy traffic, to the kind lady from the animal shelter who gave us cat food when we couldn't afford to buy it, to the kind online friend who generously offered to help me find work-from-home employment so that we can have some sort of income, to dear friends who have helped us with financial and moral support, to kind strangers who have helped us out financially, to my sweet cousins who have helped us out with tangibles and with loving support, to the compassionate and loving soul who created Wishadoo so that we'd have a place to gather.  Plus, there are so many people who've crossed our path, helped us in some way, and gone on their way -- sometimes without telling us their names -- and I have no way of thanking them personally.  These are angels among us.


I know that her condition is degenerative, and will eventually take her from us, so my concern for now is making what time she has left on this planet as pleasant and uncomplicated for her as possible.  People say to me "you've given up your life to care for her.  why don't you put her in a nursing home?" and I understand their concern is for me, but as I've tried to explain to them, my life will continue long after she's gone and there may come a time when I can no longer give her the care she needs, but for now I can, and I get ONE MORE DAY.  And for that I am thankful.

Thursday, March 21, 2013

NIKOLA TESLA + FRED ROGERS = WISHADOO!

Sometimes a simple graphic conveys an organization's entire mission.  Here are two which give a better feel for Wishadoo!'s intentions and reason for being.  (click them to enlarge)

I miss Mr. Rogers...and his neighborhood. What a kindly gentleman, what a big heart. ♥

I think Mr. Rogers would have loved Wishadoo! -- don't you? :)

Please join us at Wishadoo!





Watch A Deep And Awesome View On Life From A 9-Year-Old Video

"It's an endless quest without knowing what your quest is." 

Must see video.  I've added this to Wishadoo!'s Video Library as well.  Please visit Wishadoo! and the library for more inspiration. 



Tuesday, March 19, 2013

WE NEED A GLOBAL BOATLIFT


boat-lift-9.11


3/19/13 | 12:30:05 PM; by Dena Patrick; Founder, Wishadoo.org

“They were feeling helpless, and that’s the worst feeling in the world.  I told my wife, ‘I have to do something.  I am going to take the Amberjack to the city and help.  I have to do what I have to do.  Nobody can stop me right now.  Even if I save one person or rescue one person, that’s one person less who will suffer and die.'”   Vincent Ardolino; Captain, Amberjack V

On September 11th, 2001, as hundreds of thousands fled south from the burning towers, people quickly discovered something we often forget: that Manhattan is an island. As officials closed all bridges, tunnels and commuter lines linking Manhattan to the rest of the world, people were trapped.

The little-told story of what happened next is the focus of a documentary short film (see video below), BOATLIFT, narrated by Tom Hanks. The film premiered at the Center for National Policy’s 9/11 Ten Year Anniversary Summit, in Washington, D.C.

BOATLIFT is the story of the largest maritime evacuation in history.

On 9/11, over 500,000 people were rescued from Manhattan’s seawalls in just nine hours.   This is the story of the resilience of the every day people at the scene that day, and the brave community who sail the waters of New York’s Harbor.

As the buildings fell, hundreds of boats of all types rushed towards the disaster. They did so at great personal risk.  These heroes pushed their boats into the harbor, and filled over and over with dazed passengers.  That the evacuation was unplanned and unrehearsed is remarkable. But what is even more impressive is that not a single person was injured in the process.

The story of the 9/11 boatlift is a reminder of the sense of shared purpose and resilience that pervaded New York – and the world – in the immediate aftermath of the attacks.

It is also a reminder of how helping one another, even in the face of seemingly overwhelming suffering is how we survive and thrive.  One person, one step at a time.  As Mr. Ardolino said:  Even if I save one person or rescue one person, that’s one person less who will suffer and die.

Many around the world are frightened and feel alone, in despair.  The world does not feel safe; they don’t know how they are to survive from day to day.  This is true in the United States and all countries around the world.

We need to come together for a global boatlift. 

In these modern times, with myriad forms of communication at the fingertips of so many, there is no need for anyone to feel so desperately alone and hopeless.

We each have something to offer the world, even if we are suffering ourselves.  Every single person has the capacity to offer empathy and moral support.  That is priceless, and it may open the floodgate to the many other ways we can be of service to one another without realizing it.

It is a choice.  Do you choose love or fear?  The mariners shepherding survivors on 9/11/01 chose love and compassion, in spite of their own fear.

One person at a time.  Reach out to one person at a time, and allow others to reach out to you as well.  Surely we can come together to rise above the current challenges and create a new way forward, a way of compassion, cooperation and authentic community.  We must embrace the better angels of our nature and be of good courage, knowing we are not alone.

I invite you to join others who believe in the power of community and have faith in Humanity, and know that we can do better. 

Are you ready?  Please visit www.wishadoo.org





Good All Around


I'm passionate about finding, sharing, and creating as much GOOD as possible!

This is a brief post to introduce you to several of the outlets I've created which serve this purpose:

OUR COLLECTIVE GOOD -- An online magazine curating all manner of GOOD.

WISHADOO! -- Where we gather and put GOOD into action!  (see our other social media outlets when you visit the site)

FACEBOOK:   CURATE GOOD (finding and sharing good)

THE DO-GOODER NETWORK on Google+


PLEASE FOLLOW AND JOIN US AND SHARE THE GOODNESS!  




Monday, March 18, 2013

Make Happiness a GLOBAL PRIORITY!

 

A profound shift in attitudes is underway all over the world. People are now recognizing that "progress" should be about increasing human happiness and well-being, not just growing the economy at all costs. March 20 has been declared as the International Day of Happiness - a day to inspire action for a happier world. Join thousands of others around the world and make a personal pledge to bring more happiness to others - through positive actions in your life.

 LEARN MORE ABOUT THE DAY OF HAPPINESS and SIGN THE PLEDGE!

#happyday

ALSO, to find joy and happiness, read stories of inspiration, innovation and imagination at OUR COLLECTIVE GOOD.

Then put all manner of GOOD into action by joining us at WISHADOO!




Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Six Degrees of Compassion

(My sincere apologies for not keeping up with this Google Wishadoo! Blog once the site launched.  I will do my very best to post blogs here, as well as at the Wishadoo! site, henceforth.
By the way, please join us -- there are so many tools being put to use to put empathy, compassion, cooperation and community into action at Wishadoo!)


Six Degrees of Compassion

COMING SOON...

or INSERT EMAIL BELOW TO RECEIVE UPDATES!