Vanity goes beyond a sink and mirrors

It isn’t every day that you get to help clean a homeless shelter and as part of my Moving Difference project I was invited to help clean it with a group of people who do this every Monday. It isn’t an easy job and it isn’t a fun gig, but there is a lot of laughter and good hard work to help out a shelter that needs the cleaning people and the homeless people who needs the shelter.

Today, I join up with this Moving Difference cleaning crew, I was assigned the bathroom/shower detail. I was happy, I was going to be with three other people and I have visions of us as a team of those scrubbing bubbles with our sexy yellow arm length gloves and a toilet brush that had maybe four bristles on it with a wooden handle…. it was going to be …… wait for it….. legendary!!

Then as it happens, a reporter shows up wants to do a story on the homeless shelter and the Moving Difference project and because I am there, a few photos of “doing ” things at the shelter…. admittedly the people who run the shelter are excited because they only see reporters around Christmas, and they want – want – okay need this article to help them with their budget shortfall…. and yes, I do love reporters too, they are a great part of the community…. that is when I get informed that it “might be better” for me to dust or work in the kitchen with the founder of the homeless shelter for pictures-sake…..

I am visible in my disappointment because I was part of a team of cleaners and now I am being sent away… when I excitedly notice that there are two more pairs of these sexy yellow gloves that have no owners……

And if you know me at all by now, you know that the reporter, the founder and myself along with the three other people all cleaned that restroom to the best shine…

Ironically, I have been informed the photos taken will NOT make the newspaper, but the draft of article  highlights what hard work it was to clean a homeless shelter and a lot about those weekly cleaners and how it opened the reporters eyes to all of the stuff behind the scenes at a shelter. I will share the story when it is printed…

Personally, I am glad that I scrubbed with those three other people (and the reporter & founder), because I learned those three people do it because they love to clean and give of themselves in a small way weekly. They are funny, smart and wonderful people that use their time on this earth to do a little good.

At the end, I asked if it was okay if they all signed my yellow glove for a keepsake. Laughing, they did…. the best writing on it was

“Vanity goes beyond a sink and mirrors.”

So true…..

The Road not taken

Morning light brings many things into view.

Mostly, that I want food.

My adventures in the world of Moving Difference, has lead me to speak at several civic groups, pick up trash with youth groups, drive tons of miles, receive a lot of emails and volunteering at so many places across the state and now the country, well – it is hard not to want breakfast because the rest of the day is going to be busy.

This is my road not taken. I am not a morning person. In fact, mornings are for people that refuse to stay up overnight and properly greet the dawn with sneers. Okay it isn’t that bad, but it is bad. And no, coffee doesn’t work. And no, I don’t make everybody else suffer because I don’t like mornings.

In fact many people don’t even know this about me. I truly make an effort not to refuse doing something at 6 in the morning and be ugly about it.

So I am not the “bubbly change the world” person but I am present, briefly smiling and WANT FOOD.

Since the start of Moving Difference last June, I have done more mornings before 6am than I have done in the last five years alone.

I have discovered that if you don’t get breakfast when you wake up that early then your entire day is going down hill fast and before noon…..

I have also discovered that an orange cut in half and the guts eaten make a great cooking bowl for over-easy eggs and ready-to-bake cinnamon rolls. AND a banana with the ends cut off and grilled in peel makes a tasty treat with the frosting packet from the cinnamon rolls!!

Not bad for a healthy breakfast on the road and certainly an adventure to make when half-wake!!

My road not taken of early mornings have lead me to places and people that are beyond beauty, they are life-changing. So I will take this road not taken for a bit more and see where it ends before I wiggle back into the night schedule and remember the mornings of campfire eggs…..

So what is your road not taken?

A promise I can’t take back

Life is an awesome journey.
Reality of it is very short.
There are insects and cockroaches in this world that are older than Grandmother.
Yup, older than that.

Still every day we complain, whine and be a general bother not realizing that moments of life are whizzing past.

Interesting enough, nature doesn’t stop to hear our bitterness, it just keeps growing. Under, over and through.

It is Sunday afternoon, it has been a long hard hot weekend for me. I do have blisters, sunburn, several thousands in unread emails, and the knowledge that tomorrow is July 1 with all the deadlines of it due.

Then I saw these mushrooms and realized a promise I can’t take back within their simple beauty.

Sure, I am a “fungi” just like the next person, but the promise of helping people help people is deeper than all of my life’s work, even the emails and sunburn.

These mushrooms are gathered to do a job, it isn’t a pretty job, but they break through and do it anyways. They are a community and they are committed to their world and to making it a better place…. a promise to keep growing and going forward…..

Moving Difference is a promise you can’t take back from yourself. It is about who you are and what you do. And about how you keep going….

So with that, I look forward to an evening of reading your emails, writing back and keep going….tomorrow is a new day!!

and I hope that you realize that you are an amazing person and loved…… even if you are tired, hot and sick of summer already….

From the mail – Letter of the week.

This letter is from our mail bag, we share it with you in hopes that you understand the importance of Moving Difference even in the smallest way.

Dearest one, Greetings to You & Your Family. I am very happy to contact you in this manner, my name is Joseph Camara from Libya the Son of Late Dr. Mohammed Camara, who was killed by rebels during political problem in my country.

i am currently in refugee camp here in Ghana because of the war in my country. Thing are very terrible for me here and other children.I was rescue from UN and and they took me to the nearest refugee school where i will be safe not knowing that i have loose all my parent. I have not seen my mama for three years. I don’t know if she is dead.

I excited to learn computer and write all over the world. OUr teacher says that we can make a goal and do good everywhere. I want to be a fighter of fire when I grown up. I also want more food when I am bigger. And peace.

Best Regard
Joseph Camara

This letter was sent to us by the teacher of the refugee school, Mrs. Caan, along with her note thanking the Moving Difference project for existing. She informs us that the school itself will be receiving new computers and new mattresses for the kids as part of someone’s Moving Difference project. We reached out to that person (who doesn’t want their name published) and found out they organized two neighborhood yard sales with all monies going to the school. They raised over $6,ooo dollars last weekend and as neighbors logged collectively 70 hours on their Moving Difference project.

Hats off! Nice job!!

Two different shoes, smelt of piss and booze

It was hot. Walking didn’t even create a breeze. It was very hot.

In my travels, I have been uncomfortable before but this was a different level of hot and sticky. My skin wanted to leave me.

I am poaching from the inside out, drinking tons of water and trying to remember cool things in an effort of mind over matter.

That is when I met Joe. Over a serving line in a homeless kitchen. He had two different shoes and smelt of piss and booze, but before approaching the line for food, he stopped in front of a mirror, took a broken comb out of his pocket and attempted to tame the tussles of dirty sweat-matted hair. He got his tray like all the others and stood in line.

When he reached my station, I asked “what vegetable would you like? We got corn, peas, or green beans or I can do you up a medley of them but I can’t promise they will sing!” He didn’t answer, he didn’t look at me, he didn’t even smile. He just stood there. Awkward silence in a hot kitchen line. The line was starting to get grumpy at the hold-up. I was beginning to worry when a volunteer behind me said “Joe, the vegetables don’t talk, she was joking.” and as if the world came back on. Joe asked for the corn, got it and shuffle down the line.  I went back to serving vegetables.

I didn’t think about it again, until I was on water duty. Armed with two full pitchers of water, I dodged and weaved my way amongst the diners. Topping off glasses and chatting a bit. Joe was alone at a table, his water-glass was empty, his plate was empty and he was just sitting watching the people.

I hesitated to approached given what happened in the line. The what ifs were bigger and bigger because I was letting any smarts in my head go stupid. In a matter of a few seconds, I was completely caught up in my own stupidity. In a few moments after I was completely enraged at myself, because I was dumb and so prissy to think those thoughts that I was better than Joe because I didn’t fear singing vegetables. I was standing thinking all of those thoughts about being more together than someone who I was in fear of approaching because of singing vegetables. Oh the logic!! 

I must have looked like an idiot, because I don’t know how long I just stood there dripping sweat. But it was the voice of Joe that brought me back to earth and out of my head. The kindness words ever…. “You don’t have to worry the water only babbles.”

I thank him, poured his glass to the top and asked if he needed anything else.

“Just the check.” he said with a wink and a laugh.

I walked away realizing that I had learned something once again.

Sometime it is in our heads that we create the hugest crazy obstacles for ourselves before we even try.

So check yourself, make sure that you are actually doing life or even Moving Difference to the fullest, go behind the comfortable zone.

Let your vegetables sing a bit.

Monday, Monday –

The world is full of wonderful things and people, but Mondays don’t seem to bring that out in the news.

 

So on this Monday morning, here is what I hope –

You never lose your wanderment, even if you are stuck in an adult body now.

That you always know that you are loved.

and that doing a nice thing doesn’t mean you are weak, it means that you are strong enough to think.

That worms are cool, and cockroaches are okay OUTSIDE!

It is okay to say that you just don’t know.

And peace CAN happen, because it starts with you.

 

Now welcome to Monday, what are you doing to Moving Diffference hour on this week?

 

Time to get off your APP!

Apps!

The question is posed. Are there good apps out there that can actually help you be a Moving Difference?

So if you got one, send us a link!

Doing a bit of good on your computer!

You should check out something fun and easy to make a difference in…..

Courtesy of the fine blog Brandy and Summer Gloves

Check it out!

Here! and Freekibble.com

A few trivia questions and you can help out a few pets with getting a little dinner….

Remember if doing an hour of Moving Difference seems overwhelming to your schedule, break it down to minutes – how about a few minutes doing some trivia for some pet food? It is making a difference even in a small way…..

If you have a great idea like this, let us know. Facebook, Twitter, here or email….. LOVE to hear from you!!!

(“The Sleeping Dog” photo copyrighted by Gora Zoltan via WikiCommons)

C’EST LA FIN DES HARICOTS

Yesterday was the kick-off – and there wasn’t time to even think, it was so busy!!

Today has been going since very early and it will be all day and into the evening. Some of us are out in the sun helping others do huge clean-up projects and others of us are getting a tan in front of the computer!!

We got roughly 7000 emails in our first day – lots of questions, lots of suggestions, lots of lots and even a few hours logged.

Not everything has been opened and read and done yet – we are working on it….. I even know that there will be more today and in the weeks ahead –

KEEP THEM COMING – WE Will do our best! – AND we love the stories and suggestions and the hours logged.

 

However in an effort to have some fun and laugh, we have adopted a french phrase to say when we are a bit overwhelmed-

C’EST LA FIN DES HARICOTS.

Basically it means “It’s the finish of the green beans.”

Sure, we could scream, cry and pull our hair out but it is better to just yell C’EST LA FIN DES HARICOTS.

What? You didn’t know that the French truly loved green beans?

Well, I am sure that some people like green beans, but the phrase C’EST LA FIN DES HARICOTS is actually slang French for “It’s hopeless!”

Trust me – nothing is funnier than typing along and hearing “C’EST LA FIN DES HARICOTS” being shouted, followed up a bunch of giggles from the other room and more typing.

Remember the green beans may be finished, we are not!!

Enjoy the weekend – do your hour and love the sun!!!

Waiting for midnight

Yes, officially I have chewed all my fingernails off. And yes, officially, I have triple-checked my triple-check. As much as I can have humanly in place for the Moving Difference project, it is done, together and ready.

Basically, I am sitting here waiting for midnight. Actually 12:00:01am. That is the start point of Moving Difference Year 2.

I think it might be easier to watch sausage being made from scratch, than wait for the clock to hit midnight.

I have thousands of thoughts – will it work, do I have enough petro, can this actually be as good as last year, why am I doing this again, why are we already getting emails in with hours completed, is there a charity in toronto that I can suggest for someone and where is my other sock.

And then I see only 30 seconds have passed. It is still not midnight. I want pie!

So here it is – in a pie shell basically –
What I know –

1. I don’t know what this summer holds.
2. We are at the starting gate, summer is hours away!
3. There is a great staff of people working behind the scenes to log all the hours.
4. It isn’t midnight yet
5. I still want pie.

Soon I am going for a walk to welcome in this summer in the open air. A few stars, a few moments of reflection, and the stillness of the night as it slowly turns into the dawn.

There aren’t many ways to close when you are waiting for midnight.

So I will just give it to you as it is…
I got to go crunch an illegally entering cockroach and find my other sock.

Talk with you soon –
-J