Back in the Saddle….almost

The last few days has been busy – tons and tons of Moving Difference hours have been logged…..

And I am so impressed…

Hours and hours – you people are amazing….

After a very busy weekend, there is much to do in the last remaining weeks and I am personally tired and excited…

 

I will be away from the computer for roughly ten days here, on the road and swamped with local projects and speaking engagements and other craziness.

 

But I am looking forward coming back and writing up a storm…. the Moving Difference project is in full swing and I am hoping that you and your family & friends are enjoying the summer!!

 

Cheers!!

BUSY –

Somewhere in the last two weeks, I forgot my name, my backpack and all of my brains at least once.

Bottom line it has been busy – very busy.

With the busy comes only so many “wishes”…. the main one is I wish I had more energy and more time.

The truth is though – an amazing summer like this is going to be busy….

Today I have the honor to go cheer on some “older” students testing for their GEDs, they have spent most of the summer in a hot church basement studying for the GED. And I say “older” out of respect – these students had to drop out of high school for a variety of reasons, now between the age of 26- 62, this is their moment to shine.

So far this summer from this tutoring class, 44 people have gotten their GEDs and another 62 are slated to attempt it today…and there is roughly 100+ still studying for their chance to pass the GED.

I am proud of these students.

They have worked hard, studied in impossible heat with the responsibilities of family and jobs, to advance themselves.

Their background is spanish, mexican, german, native american, polish and american, they couldn’t finish high school at the time, but they are making the time to do so now.

They are among the bravest people I know because it is not easy to admit failure and then years later face that failure head on and fix it with almost every one of those students having kids watching….jobs to have to work and the real possibility that they could fail again.

That is courage. The courage to go back and get an education – or even to go back and learn a new skill or trade should ALWAYS be encouraged.

You are never too young or old to the right thing, and you are never too young or old to learn. PERIOD.

Yes, even I learned something from these students – that I might suck at advance math but that I am smart enough to figure it out when I apply myself.

So off I go to scream my head off and clap like a crazy person with family members as the students PASS their GEDS today!!

And one other thing, after this event today – I will see you all on Monday – I am not going to be around this weekend, yup – surprise – I am taking a few days off. There is someone special in my life and I want to spend some time because I really haven’t been able to. And well, you can still email in your hours and do your Moving Difference projects and life goes on…. there is an amazing staff in place to answer your questions and help if you need it….. so don’t panic – keep it going and I will see you all on Monday….

Cheers!

Turn the page….

I truly love music, all types and all volumes….. the musical scene in Twister (the movie) is how my road trips are in real life with the only exception that I listen to the entire song before blasting into the next one….. classic or rock or pop or new world or whatever…

I love music…

I am a big fan of Bob Seger – yup – old school…

I think the words to “Turn the page” are the closest thing to how it feels to be on the road…..

Here have a listen – Turn the Page  

If you have ever been east of Omaha, you know. Even if you are east of home, you know.

Another one of my old school favs is Dust in the Wind

I like new version of old stuff to like The Boxer by Mumford and Sons.

And Mongolian throat singing – here: or here:

Then there is the blues – Blind Lemon – my fav – One Dime Blues

and of course – one blues song that I always listen to twice – Buddy Guy’s Skin Deep

Then I love the sound of River Whyless Pigeon Feathers

I know all the words to “Come on Eileen” and “I am a good old Rebel”, and have on ocassion been know to belt out Big Mama Thorton’s “You ain’t nothing but a hound dog”

as well as Salt’n’Pepper’s None of Your Business.

And Lost boy has to be loud …..

and so does Stay around A little Longer by Buddy Guy and BB King

and the haunting beautiful version of Bird on the Wire by Kathy Sagal

and something from an overseas friend – Turkish

And that is side 1 – so what is the music that is keeping you moving this summer?

Feel free to share – please put “music” in the subject line if you email us or tag us with your favs on Facebook……

I have to try, just because

This week has been extreme hard on me, the physical and mental demands of keeping up has been rough.

Moving Difference is a part of me, a big part over the summer and littler parts over the rest of the year. There are many parts of me that people don’t see.

The hours on the road, the hours at the computer or on the phone or both or all or the hours next to someone talking and helping are just part of everything.

Well, I am human and today I broke…I cried – actually it was more like sobbing in a chair in front of a computer for twenty minutes without a napkin.

It wasn’t a pretty sight.

 

I looked a fool and still look a fool as I write this dripping snot.

I don’t know why I care so much about Moving Difference or the world or even my neighbors…. except that I have to try .. just because…

It is something in me that I have to do, and I struggle, I suceed, I fail and I try again. Over and over again.

I look around at the last few weeks and what Moving Difference has quietly done, it did it just because.

 In this moment, I feel like a huge failure, I can’t get to everybody that needs help, and I can’t even help myself with lunch, I am so far behind and struggling… even the people that are helping this year with the emails are overwhelmed….

Moving Difference is a living breathing thing….which we are all thankful for….but there are moments of personal failures and not enough hours in the day….

Now I feel like a fool having cried, and I found a napkin so my face is swollen but dry, and my blackberry which I had conveniently thrown in the bottom of the trash container is now ringing…. hold on….got to get it….

Okay – I am back – Ironically it is a telemarketer….

I guess I write this to all of you out there to show you that we are human, we have limits and moments of overwhelm. I know that I do, I am not superhuman.

So if you are struggling on whatever is happening in your life, know that you are not alone –

I know the feeling, and I am going to do the one thing that I am good at – try again – just because…..

You are welcomed to join me if you wish.

It isn’t easy, but then again what is…

Phone is ringing again and I got to go, lots of activities this weekend and hopefully some time to write and have a home-cooked meal….. keep OUR chins…

P.S. This doesn’t mean I don’t LOVE Moving Difference, I do LOVE it!! Every day, in every way and even in these crazy moments of life……

Tuesday again

Hi everybody – In case the clock on the wall stop – it is Tuesday again – and it is still a very busy summer.

I am amazed daily at the amount of people still in the throws of their Moving Difference project, in fact I am very thankful for them.

This weekend was extremely busy for me on many different levels and it was exhausting, however everytime I wanted to give up or delay, I thought of the hundreds of emails, even read a few to inspire me to keep going….

See at the end of the day, or the week or even the end of this summer, the people that really inspire me everyday are the people doing Moving Difference and giving of themselves….

I close with my recent favorite line from the emails…..

“Getting is good. But Giving is better. And once you understand that, it is when you become a Moving Difference.”

No wiser words have been spoken!!

Best Intentions

Hi Everybody, I had the best intentions all week to write more but altas my body can only do so many things and well, typing at the computer after a long day isn’t in the cards to smart sentences.

And today is swamped and this weekend is killer – but all in a good way – busy is good.

So I solemnly promised that I will be back in full fun writing mode by Monday!!

(I know that some have emailed and asked if the website is down but no it is me!! and I can only do so much…)

I got to go right now and I am writing this on my phone on a bus off to teach some kids that the world can be a better place……

I hope that you all continue your MDY2 project over this weekend, feel free to email as we are still running solid there and we love to help….

That ding is my stop, so until next week…

Keep smiling…..keep doing good….

Finally Tuesday!!

WOW! WOW! Wow!

It has been a busy holiday weekend!! And not all of it spent by the pool soaking in the sun!!

I personally am still recovering from everything and I see that many of you are too…..

We got LOTS of hours reported and many more emails to still read – I am impressed by the vast nature of a single hour across the world.

Did you know that your family and friends are pretty amazing people?

The amount of trash picked up, the hours of helping a neighbor, a great number of garage sales to behalf charities, and the list goes on and on….

It is shaping up to be another amazing summer – MDY2 style….

Out of the many things this weekend has taught me, it is that the power of thank you is understated…..

So thank you for your hours, present, past and future. Thank you for being a difference.

Another hot summer day and things to do – see you on the road!!

BUSY four day weekend

I am so happy to see all the emails and Facebook messages about the happiness that is happening this weekend.

It looks like people have planned to vacation and do a bit a good at the same time –

It is amazing to think of how generous people are when they put their minds to it.

I am truly proud of those that are dragging their families to help out too.

There is an email from Nancy of Michigan that is very funny – She writes that the first day of the Moving Difference project, her kids were not happy to have their summer “ruined by Mom’s ideas to get us to work for free.”

It took a few weeks, but her kids age 12, 13 and 14 finally come around to “some” of the ideas.

Then yesterday morning, Nancy arose to very loud noises at 6am, she discovered that her kids had gotten up eaten breakfast and was attempting to “quietly” get the lawn mower out of the garage. They had arranged secretly with all their neighbors to cut their lawns for free to help prevent firework grass fires and if there were any tips the kids were going to donate them to the Arizona’s firefighters fund in memory of those 19 firefighters that died last week.

Figuring the kids were helping a few neighbors and give up as it was to be a hot day, Nancy went back to bed. Got up later, still no kids in the house. Again at lunch no kids still. At 2pm, Nancy with her husband went out looking for the kids. They found them working hard on a neighbor’s yard about two miles away – the kids had mowed themselves to beet-red sunburn and exhaustion and still working.

The parents tried to get the kids to stop and have lunch but the kids still wanted to finish. So Nancy and Dave finished mowing so the kids could eat in the AC car. After lunch, the kids were recharged so the entire family mowed the rest of the afternoon away.

It is pretty amazing to think an entire day of mowing by three kids….

Nancy reports that they called it around 6pm. The kids hit the showers and pizza was ordered. Everybody was completely tired and drained eating quietly at the table, it wasn”t until one of the kids got their backpack and they started counting the donation tips that the fun began again….

The kids raised $1875 dollars for the Arizona’s firefighters fund.

Nancy mentions that it is the quiet Fourth of July evening on record. Her kids crashed out on the couch sleeping so deeply that the fireworks didn’t even wake them.

That is amazing and a moving difference!!

I hope whatever you and your family and friends have planned this weekend is wonderful.

And we, at moving difference, love your emails, your hours and stories, keep sending them in!!

And with some many projects going this weekend, I will talk with you all on Monday!!

Be Safe and thanks a million!!

 

Happy Fourth of July

Hello Everybody,

I know a lot of you are resting up for fireworks and picnics today – and some of you are in the middle of your Moving Difference projects – yard sales, trash pick-ups, dog washes, car washes and all of the other really cool idea to help your community!!

I salute you for your efforts and time!! (don’t forget to send in your hours after the weekend either!!)

So because we all have places and things that we are suppose to be doing, I am keeping today short and sweet with a funny photo….

Happy fourth of July and please be safe out there- J

Dreams – Then and Now.

One is a 17th century painting, the other is 21th century photograph.

Don’t ever stop improving yourself and believing in your dreams….

You have the power within yourself to change the world….

Come on being a Moving Difference – lots of summer left to enjoy….