A Week Of Positive Blogging - Day 7

Today, the final day for A Week Of Positive Blogging, we are to write about other bloggers who participated and their words that inspired us. This is the easiest post by far. The bloggers involved this week have posted a lot of amazing thoughts and stories.

Yesterday we were asked what advice would we pass on to the next generation. The blog What Tami Said gave very thoughtful advice in her post. Here is an excerpt;

"Be you. You are the product of the wisdom of the Universe--imperfectly perfect just the way you are. There are lots of rule books for the way things should be. Your family has one. Your friends have one. Society has one. But rules that work for some, won't always work for you. That's okay. If the world says women should be dainty, porcelain skinned, flaxen haired, quiet and uncomplicated, and you are statuesque, mahogany toned, kinky haired, loud and difficult? Embrace it. If the world says men should be hard, stoic and aggressive, and you are soft, emotional and calm? Revel in it. It the world says war, but you say peace? Celebrate it. Learn to listen to yourself, too. Be still and quiet sometimes. That's the best way to hear your own voice. Once you hear it, follow it."

Read the rest of her post here.

On the first day of A Week Of Positive Blogging the post was to be discussions of positive memories, writings, thoughts, and images that you have come across in your life. It could be a place, it could be a photo, it could be a film, it could be anything. The blog just lisa (one of my favorite blogs) wrote a moving post about the influence her dad has had in her life. Here is a part that really moved me;

"If only all little girls could feel the warm and fuzzy bubbles that turn to the type of empowerment and fortitude that can fight a grizzly bear from the REAL love of a good daddy"


Today is Lisa's birthday... HAPPY BIRTHDAY LISA!!!! Have a wonderful day!

Read the rest of the post here.

For day 3 we were asked to ponder having $30 million dollars and what we would do with it in three months to change the world. Chrissy Jo at the blog Rainbows and Butterflies wrote a nice post about how she would spend the money, here is an excerpt;

"How can you not be saddened after seeing a homeless person laying behind a building? No warmth, no safety, no food, no family? It's the American dream to own your own home, but to not even have a place to stay? I couldn't imagine going through that."

Read the rest of the post here.

On day 1, Ehav of the blog Hochmah and Musar wrote about a place that is special to him. Here is part of his post;

"First off, in 2004 my life was falling apart piece by piece. Everything that could go wrong went wrong. I was having financial problems, spiritual problems, and personal problems. At the peak of it all I got a feeling as if God had abandoned me at the worst possible moment. I went through a phase of hating God, and not wanting to live by any kind of spiritual code. Yet, within a week I had a feeling like I needed to go to Israel immediately."

Read the rest here.

Miriam at Live From Israel writes about some of her heroes for day 2. Here is a bit of her post;

"Another hero came about the time when I moved away from home. I had been very sheltered at home and was not prepared for the onslaught of life. Guys seem to be dripping with perversions, women all seemed hateful and jealous and unhappy. At that time, I listened to mainstream news a lot. Too much. That too made for depression bouts. Enter Rabbi Capers Funnye."

Read more here.

Overall it's been a fun and interesting week of blogging. I have truly enjoyed the experience. A Week Of Positive Blogging has been inspirational. I thank all the bloggers who took part and added greatly to my week. I have enjoyed so much everyone's posts.

And a special thanks to Ehav at Hochmah and Musar for organizing A Week Of Positive Blogging!

A Week Of Positive Blogging - Day 6

Today for A Week Of Positive Blogging we are to write an answer to the following: What words of wisdom would you want to impart to the next generation?

What I would tell them is not complicated or long. I would tell them to do as little harm in the world as possible and as much good as you can. I think if we all tried to do that life would be better for everyone.

Also I would tell them that people who live on the periphery of life are oft-times the most interesting.

Stop by and check out today's great posts from What Tami Said, just lisa and Hochmah and Musar!

Link: A Week Of Positive Blogging

Photo Attribution: Eric Lafforgue

A Week Of Positive Blogging - Day 5

Today for A Week Of Positive Blogging, we are to write about a time in our life when we helped someone.

It was a Friday afternoon. I left work early because I was in a really bad mood, I was tired and the weather was getting bad. The rain had begun to fall and I was just wanting to get to the train before rush hour. I didn't feel like the crowds and pushing and having to stand up all the way home.

The last thing on my mind was helping anyone but myself. I was thinking about a nice hot shower, something to eat, my bed and a good book.

As I left work for some reason I decided that I didn't want to take the train like usual. I guess I just didn't feel like being underground. So I walked to the bus instead. I went a sort of back way. I guess I was trying to save a few steps.. It was fall so it was already getting dark. As I walked I remember thinking that it was really stupid of me to walk this way because it was kind of deserted. But I kept walking.

I could see someone sitting in a door way as I walked. I should have crossed the street but I didn't. As I approached the person in the doorway it appeared that they were homeless. I saw the outline of a person with a blanket wrapped around them. When I got to the doorway the person asked for some change. I didn't look at them directly and I didn't respond. As I passed the person said that they were trying to get food.

A rush of thoughts went through my head all at once. I thought a person in this outrageously wealthy city is sitting in a doorway asking for food. I just stopped walking, I turned around and walked back to the person sitting in the doorway.

The person was a man, with a scraggly beard, he looked young and old at the same time. I had a friend that used to say that he felt too old to start his life over again and too young to give up. I thought about that as I looked at this man in the doorway. I told him that if he wanted something to eat that I would buy him some food.

He didn't hesitate, he got to his feet and said thank you. he told me that he would eat whatever I bought him, that he wasn't picky.

I told him to come with me. I suppose I was thinking that I would buy him a burger and some fries. There were a few fast food places in the area. So we walked. We walked in silence. I really didn't know what to say. I felt sort of awkward waking down the street with this stranger and a homeless stranger yet.

I finally asked him his name. He said it and I had to ask him to repeat it. He did and I still didn't understand. Finally he said it very slow, Hoo-shang. I repeated it, Hoo-shang. Yes he said, that's it. He told me he was Persian, from Iran. I told him my name and asked how long he'd been homeless. He said that he had been on the street for about eight months. That he was a cab driver but lost his job because he got into arguments with his fares and enough of them complained that he was fired. He went on to say that after he was fired that he felt bitter about it and just sort of sat around for a couple of weeks being angry.

He told me that when he finally went looking for work it was already too late, because his rent was due and he was afraid to give his land lord the little bit of money he had. So instead he just packed a few things and left his apartment. He said he left all of his belongings in the apartment.

I heard the sadness in his voice when he said that.

I can't imagine what it must be like to leave all of your things behind. I told him that I lost a picture of a friend that was no longer a friend once. I didn't know if I would ever see or talk to that person again so when I lost their picture it was heartbreaking.

He looked really sad.

We walked to a nearby Wendy's restaurant. I asked him if Wendy's was okay. He looked at me and laughed and said 'what are you kidding me, Wendy's is great'. He smiled.

So Wendy's it was on a rainy Friday evening, me and my new friend Hooshang.

When we got to the counter to order I told him to get whatever he wanted. He looked at me with this incredulous look. Like he was thinking is she serious, doesn't she know I'm starving! I smiled and said really, get what you want.

He ordered a couple of burgers, fries, a frosty, a salad and asked for water. I ordered a frosty. I'm not sure if I had really planned to sit with him. I don't think that was my original plan but I liked the guy. He had a genuine smile and although I'm sure many a serial killer had a nice smile, I felt relatively safe sitting in Wendy's.

The food came and we sat down. The rain was really coming down outside. I thought about getting soaked on the way to the bus and that I had walked a few blocks out of my way.

After we sat I asked him about Iran. He told me he was from a little island on the Caspian Sea. He said that when he was a little kid he didn't even realize that he lived on an Island. He told me about his family. He said he had brothers and sisters, I can't remember how many. He said that he was the oldest and that he came to the U.S. for college in the 70's. He told me a bit about his college days in Sacramento or Modesto, I can't remember which. He said that his family sent him to go to college so that that he could help them, being the oldest.

He was really open with me. He said that he had flunked out of school and was too embarrassed to tell his family. He told me that he was drawn in by the party atmosphere in college and missed class a lot.

I was shocked to hear that he had not spoken to his family since then. That after he flunked out of school he moved to San Francisco and had never gotten in touch with them. He told me he was living with a lot of guilt and shame.

I asked him if he had ever been married. He told me that soon after he moved to San Francisco, years before, that he had met a woman and was in love with her. He said that he wanted to marry her but he felt that it would be wrong to start a family since he was estranged from his own family.

I though to myself, wow, this guy is in a strange country, homeless, guilt ridden and all alone.

We talked a little more. He asked about me, where I was from, was I married, stuff like that. After about thirty minutes I felt like I needed to go. I sort of hesitated. I didn't really know how to express what I was thinking and feeling. I just felt so bad for this guy. I just couldn't imagine being so alone in the world and having to live on the street on top of that.

I finally asked him if he would let me help him. I told him I knew someone that worked in social services and maybe they could help him get in to a shelter or find a job. But he declined. He said that I'd already done a lot for him. I told him that I hadn't really done anything, just bought a meal for him, no biggie.

He said that it wasn't the meal. It was that I talked to him like he was human. That I looked him in the eye. That I asked him about his life. He told me that he had not felt like a real person in a long while, but that he did then as we talked.

I said goodbye to my friend Hooshang, from a little island on the Caspian Sea. For a long time after that I walked to the bus the way that I walked that night hoping to see him. I never did. I hope he's okay.

Link: A Week Of Positive Blogging

A Week Of Positive Blogging - Day 4

Today's post for A Week Of Positive Blogging is to be what we would do with 30 million dollars in three months to change the world.

My first assumption is that we won't have to pay any taxes on this money.

After trying to figure out what to do I came up with one idea that I think although might not change the entire world, may certainly alter it for the better.

I would make loans of $1000 or less to 30 thousand people in developing nations and regions. People would either start their own business or expand one that is already operating. Then when those 30 thousand re-pay the loan I would make 30 thousand more loans and so on.

I'm not sure how many times this could be done in three months but I think it would make huge difference in the world. Instead of giving money that will not be replenished, this money would be recycled time and time again. If all went as planned, millions and millions of people could benefit from such a loan program.

Obviously the time restriction might be a problem but possibly Ehav would give an extension.

Here is link to the blog What Tami Said, she has a nice post for A Week Of Positive Blogging about family. Click here

Link: A Week Of Positive Blogging

A Week Of Positive Blogging - Day 3

I found this article and included it in another post, but as I sit here on my lunch break I think that it fits nicely into today's theme of good things happening in the community.

African-American woman power, on land and at sea

By Betty Bayé

Today, thousands of African-American women are members of, and even lead, their professional associations. It can rightfully be said that they've come a long way, baby!

But many, perhaps most, haven't cut ties with the sororities and the clubs, some founded more than 100 years ago, with the specific purpose of nurturing black women's educational, business and professional aspirations.

These organizations saw black women through the toughest times; the times when a man who called them names was more likely to be promoted than to be condemned.

Black women, then as now, need to be organized against the onslaught. They still need the safe havens that were created back in the days when black women were banned from membership in the other women's groups in their cities and towns.

Mention such names as Links, Chums, Girlfriends, Moles, NCNW, AKAs, Deltas, Zetas or Sigma Gamma Rho, and most African Americans will know exactly who and what you're referring to.

These aren't secret organizations; they have hundreds of thousands of members who annually raise and distribute millions for scholarships and projects nationally and within their local communities.

When I hear people claiming that African Americans do little or nothing to help themselves, I realize that such ignorance is possible because organizations founded by black women, and black men, still largely go unmentioned in the mainstream media.

Yet, they persist, both out of need and tradition.

I'm just back, for example, from the Chums convention, which this year was held aboard Royal Caribbean's Enchantment of the Seas.

While others were lolling in the sun and enjoying platters of food served up in the ship's informal Windjammer restaurant, Chums' leaders were three decks below taking care of business, including honoring those among Chums' 40 chapters who were most effective fulfilling Chums' long time objective to "Listen to the Children."

In recent years, Chums locally have focused on projects intended to help raise the academic performance of African American children on national tests, but especially in math and science.

Chums was founded reportedly on a "cold, rainy night" in Norfolk, Va., in 1946 by three college girlfriends -- Mary Barnes, Theodora Jackson Cora and Joyce Tate Brown -- while they were sitting in a red Thunderbird convertible.

Brown came to town when the Louisville chapter, founded by the current national Chums president Marie Lewis, was installed in 1989. Over the years, Chum Joyce regaled us at national conventions with tales of the club's early days. She would giggle like a girl, remembering the fabulous hats they loved to wear, the hundreds of dolls they collected for needy kids and the naughty things they sometimes did, which, quite frankly, hardly seem shocking today.

Now I know women who would say they'd never belong to an all -- female organization. And to be honest, I've had my moments with Chums. But even when we sometimes stray from our organization's noble creeds (some of us can indeed be petty and jealous), I'm nevertheless in awe of organized women's potential to change the world.

And speaking of sisterhood, my blood sister, Debbie, cruised as my guest. She's not a Chum, but she's my chum. My little sister is so supportive of everything that I do and she loves me unconditionally, the way our parents instructed us, no matter what.

When we weren't being rocked to sleep by the waves -- we didn't know we were so tired -- Debbie and I laughed and talked about the good old days.

The only thing better would have been if our other sister, the youngest, Georgeann, could have come along.

Maybe next year.

Betty Winston Bayé is a Courier - Journal columnist and editorial writer. Her column appears on Thursdays. Read it online at www.courier -- journal.com/opinion.

A Week Of Positive Blogging - Day 3 - Third Rock From the Sun

On day 3 of A Week Of Positive Blogging we are to write about something good that has happened in our community in the last three months.

I was at a loss about what to write for this post. I'm sure that all sorts of good things are going on around me all the time. Unfortunately, to be honest I'm not paying much attention. Not because I don't care but because I tend to think that good things happen more than bad.

I'm not as they say some sort of cock-eyed optimist, quite the contrary, I'm a pragmatist. I think that when it comes to bad things happening mostly we all are being sold a bill of goods. If you as I do watch, read or listen to the so-called news it seems as if on any given day the world is falling apart.

Chaos in Pakistan, War in Iraq, floods in Mexico, genocide in Darfur, the disease of the day.

Yes all these things are happening but are those things really representative of what's going on in the world? Or has the media simply figured out that by reporting the worst we will tune in?

Everyday billions of humans survive another day on this rock in the middle of a universe that is on fire. That astonishes me.

Despite our collective precarious situation as tiny creatures on this outpost called earth we have managed to survive for millions of years.

There is love and happiness on this planet that goes severely under reported.

People are falling in love as you read this, babies are being born and billions of people all at once are laughing and smiling and feeling joy.

The entire world is my community. I belong to this earth and it belongs to me. I claim all humanity as my kin and share in the victories that we all have everyday.

So there! (smile)



Link: A Week Of Positive Blogging

A Week Of Positive Blogging - Day 2

Today for A Week Of Positive Blogging we are to write about someone who inspired us to excel. As I thought about who inspired me I realized that it was not one person, but many. And that those people that truly inspired me never even knew it.

The most inspirational people in my life have been people who have given their all even when no one was watching. That has always impressed me. The simple act of striving for excellence at all times. These efforts have not been what anyone would consider heroic efforts, just the opposite, they were everyday type things.

On one of my first jobs as a teen (at a fast food restaurant) there was a guy who was assigned clean-up duty. Over time I noticed that whether the manager was around or not, this guy never missed any details. He did his work exactly as he was supposed to. And he would even go beyond what he was required to do. Some of the other employees would laugh at him. Saying that he was a fool because he worked so hard. But I was impressed, because eventually I figured out that he was not doing all that extra work to gain favor with the manager, he did it because he valued himself and took pride in his work, no matter how mundane.

To this day I have never forgotten that. I don't even remember the persons name but on many occasions I have thought of him when I was faced with a task that I did not have any real interest in doing.

Paying just a little extra attention to my work has held me in good stead through the years.

That experience has also made me aware that all of us have many opportunities to inspire others that we will never be aware of. So be careful of the example you set, someone is probably taking note.



Link: A Week Of Positive Blogging

A Week Of Positive Blogging - Day 1

In the day Washington Square park waits for night, in the winter Washington Square park waits for summer. It's only on summer nights that Washington Square park becomes Washington Square park.

Washington Square Park is a special place located in New York City's famed Greenwich Village.


And it was on many, many summer nights in Washington Square park, that as a teen I learned not to just tolerate the differences in people, but embrace them. As we start A Week Of Positive blogging I am reminded of a place that taught me so much about appreciating people for who they are and who they choose to be.

I'm not sure if there is something in the air or an altered gravitational force, but once people walk into Washington Square park they feel free to be.

I started going to Washington Square when I was about sixteen. My friends and I would take the subway from Queens and walk around Greenwich village. We'd grab something to eat, window shop and talk. At some point someone would suggest that it was time to head to the park and off we went.

As soon as one enters the park on a summer night you feel the air of freedom. People from every spot on the globe congregate to take part in the summer's night extravaganza of individuality.

On any given night you may find lone singers, dancers, bands, comedians, drag kings or queens, roller skaters, you name it. There would always be music echoing through the park and voices rising above the beat. There always seem to be some sort of unspoken order to it all. The number one rule being live and let live.

During my time spent in the park I learned to love the differences in people, to celebrate those willing and brave enough to live outside the box. In the world we live in there has been a push to make the boundaries of our existence more constrained. There are people who are constantly trying to make others live by their rules.

I love differences in people. Whether it is different culture, different ethnicity's, language or points of view. Being around people different from me opens my world. It allows me to explore different thoughts and ideas and to feel comfortable doing so.

I think that in our formative years, which I believe extend well into our teens, we form a foundation of acceptance or one of non-acceptance. So I feel extremely fortunate to have been exposed to such openness while a teen. I meet people all the time that come from very constrained backgrounds and it shows in the way they segregate themselves from others that don't share their point of view. So I celebrate the openness I in part learned from the Washington square experience.

It was on those hot humid New York summer nights that I began to really form a basis for my desire to live in a world free of hate. A world that didn't just try to tolerate difference but tried to embrace those differences.

Who wants to be tolerated? To be tolerated is an insult to one's humanity. To be embraced as a free and unique human is a wonderful gift to everyone. It provides a platform for loving one's self and for that elusive thing we call self-esteem.

So as we begin this week of positive blogging I look forward to reading about life from differing perspectives, from places all over the globe. This week as bloggers we celebrate freedom, individuality and the wonderful experience that we call life.


Link: A Week Of Positive Blogging

Photo Attribution: BT Jones

A Week Of Positive Blogging!

Ehav Ever of the blog Hochmah and Musar is organizing A Week Of Positive Blogging. I think there is a lot of focus on whats wrong in the world so this is a great oppourtunity to focus on whats right with the world! A lot of bloggers are already on board. I think this is going to be fun!

Would you like to take part? If so or if you want to know more follow the link below to Ehav's blog.

Link: Hochmah and Musar


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