At first I didn't follow this note, but now I do.
My friend Justin tells me his first $100 donation from way back didn't go through due to some credit card mix up, but he has since resubmitted his donation with an extra $50, so I can add that to the tally.
Drum roll please....
As of today, we've raised a total of $30,333.57 for Raising Malawi!
Thank you, Justin!
In other news, I am no longer a one-man show with this fundraising project. Raising Malawi put me in touch with a few other like-minded peeps who also want to help this great cause but aren't sure what to do. We've met twice already and the ideas are flying.
I'll introduce the new team on this blog later this week.
Oh, and I just finished my interview with the Clinton Foundation. I hope that pans out. Very cool to be asked :)
Monday, March 31, 2008
Friday, March 14, 2008
Thank you Justin and Aunt Eileen
My friend Justin from New York sent a note around some time ago to help raise awareness of Raising Malawi and the fundraising I am doing. His lovely Aunt Eileen was inspired by the effort and donated $25. Thank you Justin and Aunt Eileen for your help! It makes a difference. May this good energy come back your way.
New total: $30,283.57
New total: $30,283.57
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Make a Commitment to Give!
Last Fall I wrote a post on MyCommitment.org. It's such an awesome idea and great site designed to inspire people -- no matter what your circumstance -- that you, yes you, have something to give and can give it.
I was feeling a little stuck with my lack of fundraising ideas and success back then, but fortunately not stuck in my commitment. So, I posted my story. (see below). Cool thing is, the Clinton Foundation just contacted me for an interview!! There is a good chance that I will be included on their website as part of an effort to inspire more people to make commitments.
Pretty cool! Here's my original post from September. I'm going to send a blast email around now to see if I can stir up a little more momentum (uh, cash) so I have something more to say in my upcoming interview.
=MY POST=
Fundraising Malawi
In February, 2006 I asked myself a question. I asked, "What am I up to?" I'm doing well in my career. I've run a few marathons. I'm a good person. I'm there for my friends. But I didn't have a good answer to that question. So I found a worthy cause and made a commitment.
I am educating myself, and others as I go, on how to end extreme poverty. I'm wholly inspired by the possibility of it. The more I learn, the clearer I am that we can do this! We can crush poverty. I vow not to sit on the sidelines and wait for others to kick it into gear when *I* can make a difference right now.
I'm working with Raising Malawi, a thoughtful and committed charity that has managed to sidestep a great deal of bureaucracy and effectively direct its funds straight to the local CBOs that are demonstrated to work. Raising Malawi supports one of the Millennium Villages (Jeffrey Sachs), as well as other programs that will help break the cycle of poverty.
I have raised $30,000 thus far, and will not stop before I reach my goal of $101,000.
This is a new thing for me. I am blogging about my journey and appealing to others to join me or, if you can, point me in the right direction. (www.jsilka.blogspot.com). The road is long and lonely at times, but I know it ends happily.
I'm feeling a little stuck at the moment. I plan to buy ‘Giving’ for ideas and inspiration, as I greatly admire President Clinton's work. I don't pretend to know what I'm doing (especially in the area of fundraising), but as long as children's lives are at stake, my heart's in it 100 percent.
Once I reach my fundraising goal, I'll set a new and bigger goal till there's no longer any need. Who knows, I just might be the little butterfly who changes the order of things.
Hope to see you at the finish line.
jsilka.blogspot.com
I was feeling a little stuck with my lack of fundraising ideas and success back then, but fortunately not stuck in my commitment. So, I posted my story. (see below). Cool thing is, the Clinton Foundation just contacted me for an interview!! There is a good chance that I will be included on their website as part of an effort to inspire more people to make commitments.
Pretty cool! Here's my original post from September. I'm going to send a blast email around now to see if I can stir up a little more momentum (uh, cash) so I have something more to say in my upcoming interview.
=MY POST=
Fundraising Malawi
In February, 2006 I asked myself a question. I asked, "What am I up to?" I'm doing well in my career. I've run a few marathons. I'm a good person. I'm there for my friends. But I didn't have a good answer to that question. So I found a worthy cause and made a commitment.I am educating myself, and others as I go, on how to end extreme poverty. I'm wholly inspired by the possibility of it. The more I learn, the clearer I am that we can do this! We can crush poverty. I vow not to sit on the sidelines and wait for others to kick it into gear when *I* can make a difference right now.
I'm working with Raising Malawi, a thoughtful and committed charity that has managed to sidestep a great deal of bureaucracy and effectively direct its funds straight to the local CBOs that are demonstrated to work. Raising Malawi supports one of the Millennium Villages (Jeffrey Sachs), as well as other programs that will help break the cycle of poverty.
I have raised $30,000 thus far, and will not stop before I reach my goal of $101,000.
This is a new thing for me. I am blogging about my journey and appealing to others to join me or, if you can, point me in the right direction. (www.jsilka.blogspot.com). The road is long and lonely at times, but I know it ends happily.
I'm feeling a little stuck at the moment. I plan to buy ‘Giving’ for ideas and inspiration, as I greatly admire President Clinton's work. I don't pretend to know what I'm doing (especially in the area of fundraising), but as long as children's lives are at stake, my heart's in it 100 percent.
Once I reach my fundraising goal, I'll set a new and bigger goal till there's no longer any need. Who knows, I just might be the little butterfly who changes the order of things.
Hope to see you at the finish line.
jsilka.blogspot.com
Thanks Lee!
One of my best friends from high school just donated $100 to Raising Malawi.
Random, but wonderful.
Thank you, Lee Ann Sierecki!
New tally: $30, 258.57
Random, but wonderful.
Thank you, Lee Ann Sierecki!
New tally: $30, 258.57
Friday, March 07, 2008
Home of Hope Orphanage Gets Dental Care
Philippe VanDenbossche just posted this update on Raising Malawi. It's news from the Home of Hope Orphanage. If you scroll down a few posts where I give that interview--birthday-girl fundraising--that's where I was when I took that picture of myself with the little girl. Anyway, here's the very cool and inspiring story of what's going on at the orphanage:
"I was sure she was going to hate me after I was done."
Dr. Sam Merabi is speaking about his dental patient, Lisa (not her real name), an HIV positive thirteen year old girl at the Home of Hope Orphanage in Lilongwe, Malawi. Dr. Merabi had good reason to think that Lisa would be angry after an arduous and painful procedure to extract several decayed teeth.
Lisa was one of four hundred children at the orphanage screened by Dr. Merabi and his team of three dental residents, a dental assistant, and a faculty member from the Harvard School of Dental Medicine this past October.
Dr. Merabi, DDS, is President of Child Dental Relief, Inc., and Clinical Instructor at Harvard. The trip was sponsored by Raising Malawi, and was a follow-up to a previous trip made in August by the team.
On the follow-up trip, all 400 children received fluoride treatments and oral hygiene education (demonstrations in tooth brushing, etc.). In addition, 258 children received full screenings, which resulted in 89 receiving restorations, and 26 having extractions.
In the developed world, dental care is often sought for cosmetic reasons, but in Malawi it can be life saving. Because of Lisa's HIV positive status, her decayed teeth left her vulnerable to many opportunistic infections.
Even for those with healthy immune systems, oral hygiene is important for all around health and quality of life. According to the orphanage, dental pain is the number one reason kids miss school. Yet, despite its importance, dental care has been a low priority in many aid programs.
Dr. Merabi observed that Raising Malawi is unique in its understanding that oral health is an essential cornerstone in overall health. He added that "many international dental aid programs are poorly designed because dental providers will work in Africa as a 'feel good' trip with no follow up."
For most of the children at the orphanage this was the first dental care and oral heath education they’d ever received. In the past, the only oral health care offered to those in the vicinity of the orphanage was the hospital in the Mchinji District, many kilometers away.
Dr. Merabi’s second trip to the orphanage was just the beginning of his and Raising Malawi's long range plans to boost the dental infrastructure in Malawi.
To further this goal, Harvard donated $70,000 worth of dental equipment to the local hospital in the Mchinji District. It's a critical donation as the hospital has only the ability to perform extractions because supply shortages prevent them from offering anything other than tooth extractions. There are also plans to offer more advanced training to the dental staff at the hospital.
Dr. Merabi said he's "very impressed with how adept Raising Malawi is at absorbing different ideas," adding that the organization’s commitment to prophylactic oral prevention "is a very smart move and will have major ramifications."
Hopefully, Malawi will be an example of how other NGOs can offer dental care throughout the rest of the developing world.
Once Dr. Merabi finished working on Lisa she surprised him with a warm hug. She understood that while it was a scary experience, it was for her own good. To top it off, Lisa had absolutely no pain the next day.
"I was sure she was going to hate me after I was done."
Dr. Sam Merabi is speaking about his dental patient, Lisa (not her real name), an HIV positive thirteen year old girl at the Home of Hope Orphanage in Lilongwe, Malawi. Dr. Merabi had good reason to think that Lisa would be angry after an arduous and painful procedure to extract several decayed teeth.
Lisa was one of four hundred children at the orphanage screened by Dr. Merabi and his team of three dental residents, a dental assistant, and a faculty member from the Harvard School of Dental Medicine this past October.
Dr. Merabi, DDS, is President of Child Dental Relief, Inc., and Clinical Instructor at Harvard. The trip was sponsored by Raising Malawi, and was a follow-up to a previous trip made in August by the team.
On the follow-up trip, all 400 children received fluoride treatments and oral hygiene education (demonstrations in tooth brushing, etc.). In addition, 258 children received full screenings, which resulted in 89 receiving restorations, and 26 having extractions.
In the developed world, dental care is often sought for cosmetic reasons, but in Malawi it can be life saving. Because of Lisa's HIV positive status, her decayed teeth left her vulnerable to many opportunistic infections.
Even for those with healthy immune systems, oral hygiene is important for all around health and quality of life. According to the orphanage, dental pain is the number one reason kids miss school. Yet, despite its importance, dental care has been a low priority in many aid programs.
Dr. Merabi observed that Raising Malawi is unique in its understanding that oral health is an essential cornerstone in overall health. He added that "many international dental aid programs are poorly designed because dental providers will work in Africa as a 'feel good' trip with no follow up."
For most of the children at the orphanage this was the first dental care and oral heath education they’d ever received. In the past, the only oral health care offered to those in the vicinity of the orphanage was the hospital in the Mchinji District, many kilometers away.
Dr. Merabi’s second trip to the orphanage was just the beginning of his and Raising Malawi's long range plans to boost the dental infrastructure in Malawi.
To further this goal, Harvard donated $70,000 worth of dental equipment to the local hospital in the Mchinji District. It's a critical donation as the hospital has only the ability to perform extractions because supply shortages prevent them from offering anything other than tooth extractions. There are also plans to offer more advanced training to the dental staff at the hospital.
Dr. Merabi said he's "very impressed with how adept Raising Malawi is at absorbing different ideas," adding that the organization’s commitment to prophylactic oral prevention "is a very smart move and will have major ramifications."
Hopefully, Malawi will be an example of how other NGOs can offer dental care throughout the rest of the developing world.
Once Dr. Merabi finished working on Lisa she surprised him with a warm hug. She understood that while it was a scary experience, it was for her own good. To top it off, Lisa had absolutely no pain the next day.
Monday, March 03, 2008
This week's energy
Whenever I make a donation to Raising Malawi, my teacher Yehuda A. reminds me to do it with the right consciousness. The consciousness of bringing light to the world to help not only the orphans of Malawi, but children everywhere. This light is not limited.
At the same time, when I've shared my frustration with him about not raising enough money -- empty promises, providing a service to someone with the agreed to, but unmet expectation of receiving a donation for charity in return -- he reminds me to let it go. That $1,000 or whatever it was going to be wouldn't have helped much anyway, because the person giving it would only be giving it with the consciousness of making a donation of money. And money, we well know, runs out.
There are two reasons I haven't sent around an email blast lately in another fundraising attempt:
1. I am careful not to fall into the easy trap of focusing more on my goal than on what my goal is about
2. I am not asking for 'money', but rather the higher consciousness of a giving energy, and that's hard to explain when you hold your hand out.
I am meeting with a new group soon to do some brainstorming for fundraising, but as you can see, these are big criteria.
Of course, the door is always open. If you find yourself reading this post and getting that consciousness I'm talking about, then I do ask you to click the donate link above and drive some energy into this movement. When you do, let me know how much so I can include it towards this goal :)
Since the time of Creation, a different energy is revealed each week. This energy gives us information, knowledge, and support to tap into so that we can grow and change. All this knowledge is revealed in the Zohar, the ancient, sacred text of Kabbalah. The Zohar decodes the Torah’s hidden meanings so we can understand the spiritual significance of its messages. Quite simply, the Zohar is our manual for life. It helps us understand the laws of the universe so we can live in harmony with them – all for the purpose of finding fulfillment.
Every week, my friend Rachel B. from New York sends me notes from some of the lectures that teachers have given over the years. Here is Michael Berg, a Kabbalah teacher at the LA Center with a more spiritual explanation of the energy of this week.
THE PORTION OF PEKUDEI: THE POWER OF THE "GOOD EYE"
In this week’s portion the Torah recounts the process of the building of the Tabernacle. The Torah carefully counts and sums up all the exact measurements of the materials used, and of all the parts built.
This raises an interesting question. The Talmud[Ta’anit 8b] and the Zohar both state, “blessings do not rest upon things that are counted and measured”. Paradoxically here at the building of the Tabernacle the Torah goes to great lengths to count and measure everything. How can we reconcile these two things?
Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berdichov[In his book Kedushat Levi] answers this conundrum by explaining that there are two types of “looking”. One type is like that of the Evil prophet Bilam, of whom it says, “anywhere he looked, a curse would come upon it”[Zohar Chadash 68a]. Bilam had the quintessential “evil eye”. Rabbi Levi Yitzchak explains how and why this evil eye manifested: “Whenever this evil person looked at something he detached and separated it from the supernal source of the source of life. He desired, and therefore focused on the physical object. The object was important to him but he did not look at the power of Hashem, blessed be He, which is inside the object.”
This truly is an amazing lesson. The Kabbalists teach that everything in this world is imbued with the Light of the Creator. As a matter of fact it is the Light of the Creator that sustains every thing in this world. It is also the Light of the Creator that gives everything its positive features. It is the Light off the Creator within that makes food tasty, flowers beautiful and pleasantly smelling, and this is true of everything in this world. When we enjoy something we are actually enjoying the sparks of the Light of the Creator that are within it.
Here Rabbi Levi Yitzchak teaches us that we have the ability to actually influence the connection of everything to the Creator. When we look at something and desire only it, and do not think of the Light of the Creator that is within it, we separate it from the Light of the Creator. This very common thought process devoids the object of the Light of the Creator.
This is the true meaning behind “evil eye”. The scary realization is that you do not have to be an “evil” person to bring about “evil eye”. Unfortunately we all do this albeit unconsciously, often, without realizing the consequences.
This explains why wherever Bilam looked “a curse would come upon it”. For he would consciously focus only on the physical object thereby separating it from the Light of the Creator. Once this occurred, once it become void of Light then darkness and curses automatically came upon it, for wherever there is no Light the is darkness and curses.
This also explains why the Zohar and the Talmud say, “blessings do not rest upon things that are counted and measured”. For when a person counts something, money for instance, he is focusing on the physical object alone, thereby unconsciously separating it from the Light of the Creator, the source of all blessings.
Conversely there is also a positive looking and counting. When a person looks at something but thinks and focuses not on the object itself but rather on the Light of the Creator that is within the object, he strengthens its connection to the Creator, to the source of all blessings. Through this consciousness he connects it to its supernal source and draws to it blessings and a flow of Light from its supernal source. This is the explanation of the verse, “your eyes are like pools of blessing, by counting.”[Shir Hashirim 7:5] For, when a person gazes with this consciousness, his eyes become like pools and wells of blessing even when something is counted.
This why in this weeks reading the counting was not a problem. Further it filled the Tabernacle with more and more connection to the Creator the source of all blessings and this is because Moshe who certainly had the above consciousness was the person who was counting.
This is again a lesson for us to utilize always. Whenever we look at, enjoy, or eat something we should never lose sight of the fact that it is the Light of the Creator that is within that gives the enjoyment. With this constant consciousness we can draw more and more Light and blessings into it.
It should be clear that this lesson is all encompassing. Let us use one more important example. When we look at children, whether they are our own or not, we should consciously think that their beauty their joy and their Light is of the Creator. By doing this we strengthen their connection to the Creator, and fill them with more and more Light. What a beautiful concept.
At the same time, when I've shared my frustration with him about not raising enough money -- empty promises, providing a service to someone with the agreed to, but unmet expectation of receiving a donation for charity in return -- he reminds me to let it go. That $1,000 or whatever it was going to be wouldn't have helped much anyway, because the person giving it would only be giving it with the consciousness of making a donation of money. And money, we well know, runs out.
There are two reasons I haven't sent around an email blast lately in another fundraising attempt:
1. I am careful not to fall into the easy trap of focusing more on my goal than on what my goal is about
2. I am not asking for 'money', but rather the higher consciousness of a giving energy, and that's hard to explain when you hold your hand out.
I am meeting with a new group soon to do some brainstorming for fundraising, but as you can see, these are big criteria.
Of course, the door is always open. If you find yourself reading this post and getting that consciousness I'm talking about, then I do ask you to click the donate link above and drive some energy into this movement. When you do, let me know how much so I can include it towards this goal :)
Since the time of Creation, a different energy is revealed each week. This energy gives us information, knowledge, and support to tap into so that we can grow and change. All this knowledge is revealed in the Zohar, the ancient, sacred text of Kabbalah. The Zohar decodes the Torah’s hidden meanings so we can understand the spiritual significance of its messages. Quite simply, the Zohar is our manual for life. It helps us understand the laws of the universe so we can live in harmony with them – all for the purpose of finding fulfillment.
Every week, my friend Rachel B. from New York sends me notes from some of the lectures that teachers have given over the years. Here is Michael Berg, a Kabbalah teacher at the LA Center with a more spiritual explanation of the energy of this week.
THE PORTION OF PEKUDEI: THE POWER OF THE "GOOD EYE"
In this week’s portion the Torah recounts the process of the building of the Tabernacle. The Torah carefully counts and sums up all the exact measurements of the materials used, and of all the parts built.
This raises an interesting question. The Talmud[Ta’anit 8b] and the Zohar both state, “blessings do not rest upon things that are counted and measured”. Paradoxically here at the building of the Tabernacle the Torah goes to great lengths to count and measure everything. How can we reconcile these two things?
Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berdichov[In his book Kedushat Levi] answers this conundrum by explaining that there are two types of “looking”. One type is like that of the Evil prophet Bilam, of whom it says, “anywhere he looked, a curse would come upon it”[Zohar Chadash 68a]. Bilam had the quintessential “evil eye”. Rabbi Levi Yitzchak explains how and why this evil eye manifested: “Whenever this evil person looked at something he detached and separated it from the supernal source of the source of life. He desired, and therefore focused on the physical object. The object was important to him but he did not look at the power of Hashem, blessed be He, which is inside the object.”
This truly is an amazing lesson. The Kabbalists teach that everything in this world is imbued with the Light of the Creator. As a matter of fact it is the Light of the Creator that sustains every thing in this world. It is also the Light of the Creator that gives everything its positive features. It is the Light off the Creator within that makes food tasty, flowers beautiful and pleasantly smelling, and this is true of everything in this world. When we enjoy something we are actually enjoying the sparks of the Light of the Creator that are within it.
Here Rabbi Levi Yitzchak teaches us that we have the ability to actually influence the connection of everything to the Creator. When we look at something and desire only it, and do not think of the Light of the Creator that is within it, we separate it from the Light of the Creator. This very common thought process devoids the object of the Light of the Creator.
This is the true meaning behind “evil eye”. The scary realization is that you do not have to be an “evil” person to bring about “evil eye”. Unfortunately we all do this albeit unconsciously, often, without realizing the consequences.
This explains why wherever Bilam looked “a curse would come upon it”. For he would consciously focus only on the physical object thereby separating it from the Light of the Creator. Once this occurred, once it become void of Light then darkness and curses automatically came upon it, for wherever there is no Light the is darkness and curses.
This also explains why the Zohar and the Talmud say, “blessings do not rest upon things that are counted and measured”. For when a person counts something, money for instance, he is focusing on the physical object alone, thereby unconsciously separating it from the Light of the Creator, the source of all blessings.
Conversely there is also a positive looking and counting. When a person looks at something but thinks and focuses not on the object itself but rather on the Light of the Creator that is within the object, he strengthens its connection to the Creator, to the source of all blessings. Through this consciousness he connects it to its supernal source and draws to it blessings and a flow of Light from its supernal source. This is the explanation of the verse, “your eyes are like pools of blessing, by counting.”[Shir Hashirim 7:5] For, when a person gazes with this consciousness, his eyes become like pools and wells of blessing even when something is counted.
This why in this weeks reading the counting was not a problem. Further it filled the Tabernacle with more and more connection to the Creator the source of all blessings and this is because Moshe who certainly had the above consciousness was the person who was counting.
This is again a lesson for us to utilize always. Whenever we look at, enjoy, or eat something we should never lose sight of the fact that it is the Light of the Creator that is within that gives the enjoyment. With this constant consciousness we can draw more and more Light and blessings into it.
It should be clear that this lesson is all encompassing. Let us use one more important example. When we look at children, whether they are our own or not, we should consciously think that their beauty their joy and their Light is of the Creator. By doing this we strengthen their connection to the Creator, and fill them with more and more Light. What a beautiful concept.
Saturday, March 01, 2008
Dr. Randy Pausch - from Oprah
My mom sent me this video. I usually don't bother reading or watching what she sends. Not because it's from my mom. But, knowing that it's from my mom, I expect it to be some schmarmy 'love jesus and thy neighbor and forward to everyone in your life that you love if you want 10 times more love in return' type stuff that moms and your more cheesy friends send around. (Apologies to my mom and all my other cheesy friends.)
Anyway, this isn't that. Since I had some time to kill at the Orlando airport yesterday, I pulled on my headphones and took a listen. It sure puts life in perspective when your days are limited. More than anything, and if you're anything like me, it'll make you ask that big question, "what is my life's purpose?" I already know mine. This lecture inspired me to want to live it -- harder.
First class checked in full, so I couldn't upgrade. I flew in the middle seat for the next 5+hours back to LAX, without a peep of complaint.
This morning on my way out for a run, first song on my iPod was Alanis Morrisette's, "Thank You" (lyrics below). I always loved this song. I really get it. But today, it reminded me how frequently I forget to be grateful. Worse even, how often I am asleep. [Sidebar: Me and David are signed up for a 10-week online lecture to hear Eckhart Tolle take us through, "A New World: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose." Class is free and starts tomorrow. You can still register, click here].
How about getting off of these antibiotics
How about stopping eating when I'm filled up
How about them transparent dangling carrots
How about that ever elusive kudo
Thank you India
Thank you terror
Thank you disillusionment
Thank you frailty
Thank you consequence
Thank you thank you silence
How about me not blaming you for everything
How about me enjoying the moment for once
How about how good it feels to finally forgive you
How about grieving it all one at a time
Thank you India
Thank you terror
Thank you disillusionment
Thank you frailty
Thank you consequence
Thank you thank you silence
The moment I let go of it was
The moment I got more than I could handle
The moment I jumped off of it was
The moment I touched down
How about no longer being masochistic
How about remembering your divinity
How about unabashedly bawling your eyes out
How about not equating death with stopping
Thank you India
Thank you providence
Thank you disillusionment
Thank you nothingness
Thank you clarity
Thank you thank you silence
yeah yeah
ahh ohhh
ahhh ho oh
ahhh ho ohhhhhh
yeaahhhh yeahh
THANK YOU MOM for this inspiration and your recent $50 donation to Raising Malawi! It means a lot to me personally that you are giving to a cause that I love so much. The gesture says everything. I love you too.
This last donation bumps our total raised so far to: $30,158.57
Anyway, this isn't that. Since I had some time to kill at the Orlando airport yesterday, I pulled on my headphones and took a listen. It sure puts life in perspective when your days are limited. More than anything, and if you're anything like me, it'll make you ask that big question, "what is my life's purpose?" I already know mine. This lecture inspired me to want to live it -- harder.
First class checked in full, so I couldn't upgrade. I flew in the middle seat for the next 5+hours back to LAX, without a peep of complaint.
This morning on my way out for a run, first song on my iPod was Alanis Morrisette's, "Thank You" (lyrics below). I always loved this song. I really get it. But today, it reminded me how frequently I forget to be grateful. Worse even, how often I am asleep. [Sidebar: Me and David are signed up for a 10-week online lecture to hear Eckhart Tolle take us through, "A New World: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose." Class is free and starts tomorrow. You can still register, click here].
How about getting off of these antibiotics
How about stopping eating when I'm filled up
How about them transparent dangling carrots
How about that ever elusive kudo
Thank you India
Thank you terror
Thank you disillusionment
Thank you frailty
Thank you consequence
Thank you thank you silence
How about me not blaming you for everything
How about me enjoying the moment for once
How about how good it feels to finally forgive you
How about grieving it all one at a time
Thank you India
Thank you terror
Thank you disillusionment
Thank you frailty
Thank you consequence
Thank you thank you silence
The moment I let go of it was
The moment I got more than I could handle
The moment I jumped off of it was
The moment I touched down
How about no longer being masochistic
How about remembering your divinity
How about unabashedly bawling your eyes out
How about not equating death with stopping
Thank you India
Thank you providence
Thank you disillusionment
Thank you nothingness
Thank you clarity
Thank you thank you silence
yeah yeah
ahh ohhh
ahhh ho oh
ahhh ho ohhhhhh
yeaahhhh yeahh
THANK YOU MOM for this inspiration and your recent $50 donation to Raising Malawi! It means a lot to me personally that you are giving to a cause that I love so much. The gesture says everything. I love you too.
This last donation bumps our total raised so far to: $30,158.57
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
