So, I keep getting emails and verbal thank yous from people who saw me give a bunch of hygene products to the American Red Cross. I appreciate the thoughts, and I appreciate those who donated even more. (You know who you are, and you all rock! ) However, I want to be clear about the whole thing:
Instead of thanking me, go out and do something. Yes, I did a nice thing, but I didn't do it to hear praise, and it makes me a little squicky to keep hearing it. That which I did was small small very small. It makes me even a little embarrased that that was all I could do financially and timewise. However, life is made up of very small gestures. Tiny things that add up into big things. I'm not nacrissistic enough to think that my tiny bit of help would make anyone's life markedly better, but my little bit added to the little bits that the dozens of ARC volunteers I met in Battle Creek, added to the little bits made by everyone else, adds up to a lot of help.
I guess what I'm trying to say here is, even though your bit is tiny, do your bit. Knit a baby blanket. Cook a meal. Contact your church and see if there's a family who has moved into your neighborhood and see if there's some sort of Adopt-A-Family thing for them. You may not be able to help all million-plus victims, but if you reach out to just one family, one community, one person, you can help. It's just like any large project: If you look too hard at the whole, it'll melt your brain and send you catatonic and unable to help anyone, least of all yourself. Focus on one small bit, one extended hand, and know that it counts.
Posted by Jane