Wanting to DO Something

Tonight’s post was going to be about travel pet peeves. Having flown quite a bit and doing so 6 times in 2 weeks this January, I definitely have a list of things that make my blood boil, and I will share it at some point soon. But there have been bigger things on my mind than my seatmate breaking out a container of salmon at 30,000 feet. (happened on Monday’s flight from Scottsdale to Boston btw).

The news from Haiti this week has been unavoidable. Even if you don’t follow many news sources, or like me, sometimes try to avoid all of the bad news out there, you really can’t miss the photos of the thousands of lives lost, children orphaned, already wobbly infrastructure destroyed, food and medicine supplies nonexistent. And yet, things like this are happening every day, all over the world. It might be easy to blame other governments, dictators, armies, or leaders, but at the end of the day there are people all over, in my city and 3,000 miles away alike, who are suffering in unimaginable ways. When things like job frustration or a late train seem like the end of the world, I wish I was better at remembering this. Not to say that it is not okay for us all to be frustrated or upset with things that disappoint us because it is only human nature to feel these things. As I mentioned way back in my entry for the Stonyfield Na-Moo-Ste contest, I hope to make one of the themes of my 30’s giving back and inspiring others to give and get involved with whatever cause means something to them, but to DO something.  In that spirit, I am pledging today to donate .50 per blog comment up to $50 to the American Red Cross for their efforts in Haiti or wherever it may be most needed around the world. Donating per comment might look like a good trick for me to increase blog traffic, but really I feel like there are so many positive, world changing ways that we can use the blog community and fundraising is just one of them. 🙂 I could also definitely use blog traffic hehe.

How do you use the blogging community to promote positive changes around you?

If you have any interest, please check out other charities I am involved in at the moment:

The ALLY Foundation

MSPCA

Greater Boston Food Bank

Also, a very belated announcement: the winner of the Skin MD Natural giveaway is Christine at Fresh Local and Best! This product has stood up to the whipping, wintry winds of Massachusetts as well as the dry desert air of Arizona and has helped with the worst of my dry, itchy skin! Christine, please email me with your contact details!

I am leaving for Ireland tomorrow, but I have a great lineup of guest posters and will be posting from time to time myself. Happy almost Friday to you all and thanks a million for reading and commenting! I love reading every single comment and email I receive!