Small Things Count

We see it in social media all the time—postings urging us not to give money or services to the homeless or immigrants but instead give it to veterans.  That “illegals” not be given welfare (which they legally can’t get anyway) so that the money goes to “legal” American families. To put our concern toward our own children rather than those separated at the border. Even to set aside issues like the death penalty and domestic violence and concentrate only on ending abortion. ALL of these concerns are important ones that we need to address. There are enough people with a variety of talents and abilities, so no one has to take on all the tasks himself.  All the holy books remind us that each of us is given gifts to allow us to serve in our own way. When we see such media postings or feel criticized that what we’re doing to support the human family isn’t aiming our efforts in the right direction, it’s important to remember that this is not really an either-or world.

Get more involved.  Volunteer with an environmental group. Ask candidates for public office what they are prepared to do to pursue environmental justice.  Support efforts to preserve natural habitats in the United States.  Oppose toxic chemicals on fruits and vegetables.  Suggest and help organize an environmental awareness day at your work or church.  Jump in when you see a chance to help preserve our earthly home.

[For more easy, money-saving, Eco-friendly tips, download a FREE copy of Green Riches: Help the Earth & Your Budget. Go to https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/7000, choose a format, and download to your computer or e-book device. For a description of the book go to My Free Books).

Honor the early history and spirit of Mother’s Day in the U.S. (It actually goes as far back as the ancient Greeks.) On the first Mother’s Day celebration (1858) at a W. Virginia church, Ann Jarvis united mothers to fight infant mortality. During the rest of the 1800s women’s peace groups perpetuated the idea of bringing together mothers for just causes. After the Civil War, Julia Ward Howe called on mothers to unite against war and promote social justice. In 1872, Anna Jarvis suggested an official Mother’s Day. She got the idea from her own activist social worker mom, who, noticing that adult Americans were neglecting their mothers, felt strongly that all mothers should be honored for their contributions. So, Mother’s Day represents much more than greeting cards and flowers. It honors all the women who, even in the way they raise their children, have mothered our world toward peace and justice.

We all have them–those days when we think it wasn’t worth getting out of bed this morning. That’s a great time to remember and apply today’s Thursday Thought :

Someone suggested I post previews of my book The Women in Me: How They Helped Me Survive and Thrive. So I decided to give a short summary of a chapter once a week, on Wednesdays. For an overview of the book, about the authors, and where to find the book, go to www.smthingscount.com/women-in-me. Ch. 1 “Meet the Influencers” introduces the four main influencers of the author’s life so you can visualize them while reading: mother, grandmother, and two aunts. Their character traits–good & bad–will be echoed throughout the book.

June is Torture Awareness Month. It’s more prevalent than we’d like to think. Problem is, we don’t think. We tend to ignore it because we aren’t in close contact with it. As a result, we don’t recognize the damage it does, even to children. “Ten Facts About Torture” is an eye-opening article, worth reading.

Want a reason to kick the chewing gum habit?  Think about what it’s made of: high-tech plastic and potentially toxic ingredients, such as vinyl acetate, artificial sweetener chemicals, and the preservative butylated hydroxyanisol (BHA).  None of that is healthy for you–or for the Earth once you’ve spit out the gum.

[For more easy, money-saving, Eco-friendly tips, download a FREE copy of Green Riches: Help the Earth & Your Budget. Go to https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/7000, choose a format, and download to your computer or e-book device. For a description of the book go to My Free Books).

Rather than “interfering” in someone’s life, dive and and make waves. As today’s Thursday Thought quote indicates, it can make a big difference.

Today, on National Teacher Appreciation Day, I’d like to thank Mrs. Sweeney, now reunited with thousands of her students when she taught here on Earth. And all those other dedicated teachers who molded my life from 1st grade through college. From them I gained more than knowledge. I gained a love for reading, writing, learning, and exploring new ideas. They gave me understanding, helping me grow into the good things I am today (I don’t blame them for my faults, though). Thank you, all. I really DO appreciate you.

When I was a child, May Day was so much fun!  Our school put up a May Pole, and kids held onto long colorful streamers and wound their way around it.  We didn’t have a May Queen, like in England, although my friends in Catholic School celebrated the Virgin Mary as Queen.  We sang songs and did dances and enjoyed this traditional Spring festival.

We weren’t aware that May Day (called “Labour Day” by some back then) had been co-oped by Communists and Socialists into an International Workers’ Day in the late 1800s.  And we were many years away from today, when the labor movement has claimed it as its own, celebrating it yearly to point out injustices people face in the workplace.

When I was a child, I was blissfully unaware of prejudices and inequalities.  When I was a child, I was powerless to do anything about it.

Today, I am an adult and have power.