Blessings, Phone Calls and Random Acts

Greetings Friends:

Today is September 11, 2009. The horror we experienced eight years ago is still fresh in most of our minds. To not reflect or shed a tear is insensitive and un-American. At the same time, there is nothing we can do to change the past. We can not go back. We can only be thankful for today. And, we can find ways to move forward.

The idea for this blog came a few weeks ago when my friend Sandy and I went to see the movie Julie and Julia. The film is based on the true story of a young writer who decides to start a blog. The premise of her blog is to cook her way through the entire Julia Childs French Cook Book. The movie was a hoot -- I loved it. On the way out of the theater, my friend said to me, "You should start your own blog. You love to write. Why not start a blog?"

Why not? I agreed. But what on earth would I write?

I began thinking about what matters most to me. What really matters is serving the community -- and encouraging others to do the same. That's when the idea of RANDOM ACTS was born. Yes it is very much the "pay it forward" idea. Imagine if each of us devoted the entire next year to doing some random thing every day just to make the world a better place or to reach out to improve somebody elses life! Wow, what an earth-shattering paradigm shifting idea. To think that each of us has the powerful potential to become agents of change! We do have that potential within us, we just need to act on it. Get up off the couch, step out of the box!

I decided to start the blog on September 11th because eight years ago we all seemed to step up to this very same idea. Immediately following the terrorist attack on our nation everyone worked really hard to be kinder, gentler and much more loving people. Sadly our efforts didn't last and we were quickly back to our old ways. I decided this day, today, to give it another shot. For the next 365 days I will do my best to commit at least one random act of goodness each and every day. I hope those of you reading this will join me.

So what did I do today? Today I made nine phone calls to the nine people who matter most in my life. All but one were family members. I just called to tell them how much I care. I also bought a package of thank you cards and made a list of eleven people to send notes to. These are people who a) had a profound impact on my life this past year; or b) they are folks I simply take forgranted. In the morning I'll mail out those cards -- just to say thanks and to let them know they have been a big blessing.

How can we respond to 9-11? The answer, I believe, is not to dwell on the past or to live in fear of the future. The answer, my friends, is to count and appreciate our blessings and then to begin this day to do something different and new. If we all become personally engaged in working toward a better future, I am certain we will see some positive change.

What can you do if you are reading this at the end of the day or on September 12th? You can understand it is never too late. Just pick up the phone and call the people you love. Count your blessings. Give thanks. Start afresh by finding simple things you can do to make the world around you a little better than it was yesterday. Commit a random act.

Life Matters,
Cindi (aka Poetic Justice)