I Challenge You To Give Back - Of Yourself

I just came back this evening from a fundraiser for cystic fibrosis. My daughter has cystic fibrosis, and I have tried to raise money for research to find a cure for this deadly genetic disease because of its impact on my family. However, until tonight, it really was a "condition" that "affected" my daughter, but didn't really "touch" my family because she is still very healthy. We are truly blessed in her good health.

However, tonight at the fundraiser I met two mothers with children with CF - one mother has a son who is 25 and very frequently seriously ill as a result, and the other, a young mother in a panic because her two children both have CF. Then, I met a mother whose 15 year old daughter died two years ago from CF. This mother spoke eloquently and painfully of never having the chance to teach her daughter to drive, never having the time to buy her a prom dress, never having the chance to see her dance at her wedding, and never having another chance to hold her and love her and kiss her goodnight. I have a 15 year old who is learning to drive. I have a 15 year old who wants to go shopping. I love my 15 year old and I love to kiss her goodnight.

There are thousands of worthy causes in the world. There are causes to save children, to rescue whales, to foster lost Shar-peis and bring rabbits or bee hives to farmers in Sri-Lanka. There are people working for world peace, to bring education to young girls in Afghanistan, and to slow global warming. EACH cause is valid. EACH cause needs your help. BUT.... You can only save one piece of the world. Pick that one piece that you care about and try to save it. Lend your voice to that one cause and make a difference.

Each of those causes, children in need, homeless puppies, AIDS patients, polar bears on a melting ice floe, and tsunami victims, needs your help. You can't save them all, but you can save one. What are you going to work for? Who are you going to try to save? You are so blessed living in this country, enjoying the freedoms that we do, and having the career that we all love. Pick something and give back.

ACTIVE RAIN HAS SO MANY VOICES AND SO MANY PEOPLE. CAN"T WE PUT OUR VOICES TOGETHER AND CREATE A CHORUS? A RAINBOW OF GOOD WILL AND HOPE? We don't have to agree on the cause - just go out individually and make the effort for something that matters to you. No approval needed - no commitment - no promises. Just the effort and the change.

Think of it as "Paying it Forward."