my story

Changing the World One Day at a Time

Deep breath…    Count to 3….   Feet together….. and jump!

My first blog. I’m doing it or I’m at least trying. I have decided to take some good advice from a friend – keep it simple stupid. So here I go, I hope this will explain 365give.

Do you every think about what inspires you? What makes you tick? What would make you get up in the morning, jump out of bed and go to work? Lucky for me I do. I actually have for a long time and I have even been practicing my passion for a lot of years.  I like to think of myself as a modern-day Robin Hood (I love his boots what can I say). I take from the rich and give it to causes that need it. I have met some remarkable people along the way and worked for some truly inspiring organizations. I am now addicted to giving. I can’t shake it and no matter how much money I probably could make in my “real job,” I always go back to what I love – helping other people.

I am an adoptive mother of a beautiful little 3 year old boy (and waiting for number two as we speak) – raising him is one of my full-time jobs. I have my own small business raising money through special events – this is my second job. I have a wonderful husband that supports my crazy ideas and two big black labs (more work than the kid most days). I am resident head chef, gardener, cleaning person, nurse, Mrs. Fix-it and, like everyone else, I am really busy. I get up at 6:00 am every day or earlier just so I can find an extra hour in my day to get a few things done. I have an ongoing “to do” list in my head that never stops. As an event producer, I manage everyone’s life around me (not always by their choice just ask my husband).

But (there is always a ‘but’),  I also live in one of the most beautiful places in the world, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. I wake up to a view of the ocean and my son and I can walk to a beach everyday –where the water is clean enough to swim and surf.  I hike with my dogs in the rainforest, run the seawall if I want (with the baby jogger) and live in a neighbourhood where I feel safe. I am a very blessed woman.  When I think about all the many people in this world that need so much, I wonder “Where do I begin to help?”

I have always wanted to do something huge - pull a Bono and aid Africa, open an orphanage like Oprah, or save the planet like Al Gore. I have a lot of ideas but they are always so big I can never get them started. I always have the excuse – too busy, have to work, raise the kid, walk the dogs, clean the house, make dinner, buy groceries, or…I’m just plain scared.  My excuse list could go forever and to top it off, I always need $250,000 just to get an idea started.

So this is my idea – it’s simple; I call it the “Julia & Julia” theory (yes, named after the book and the movie). Start a blog on a topic you are passionate about and write about it every day for 365 days. Be committed, be honest and don’t give up until it’s complete. Hence 365give. I am passionate about giving and I figure that if I can actually show you how I find the time,  the energy and the creativity to give every day, 365 days of the year, then hey, maybe you can find some way to give too .

I can already see you shaking your head “Nope, I really don’t have the time, the energy or the money to give every day.”

I disagree (and for the record, I’m sure this will be my first blog controversy). I think we all have something to give if we just open our eyes. The opportunity is there, you just have to see it.  Remember the last time you walked past garbage on the ground that you could have picked up? Thirty seconds of effort could help the planet. Remember the time you didn’t help the Mom with the baby stroller down some stairs because you were busy running to your next meeting, texting or on the phone? That’s about 1 minute of your time to help another person feel like they have some support. Remember how you walked by those people holding up their map and looking really lost? Could you have offered them 2 minutes of your time to guide them?

I’m not trying to make you feel guilty – we have all done this stuff, myself included.  I am just asking you to think about it differently next time. Don’t walk past it, over it, around it or avoid it. Stop and do something about it. Two minutes, maybe only 3 seconds, but you did something.  I am planning to do something…

Starting on September 29, 2010, my son’s birthday, I plan to give back in some way for 365 days. I will blog about it every day. I don’t know what all the “gives” will be yet but here we go.  I have never blogged in my life, I’m not a writer, I don’t even have a website for my business and I am about as technical as my 3 year old who seems to be able to work my iphone better than I can. But I have passion, I have discipline, I have a burning desire in the pit of my being that this is what I am supposed to do so – I am doing it – I am learning to blog, and I am asking for help where I need it. If nothing else comes of this besides having a diary of what I gave back to the world  for 365 days  then I will still be a happy camper.

But  (I never stop with the “buts”) I’d prefer to do more and I need your help to make that happen. Here’s some ways you can lend a hand:

1. Reccomend a Give

Help keep me going on the days when I don’t think I will have the time or the energy to give back. Send me an idea for a give for a day. Something you have done or an idea you have, a charity or organization you work with.  Leave me comments, suggestions or just cheer me on.

2. Share Your Give

I want to hear your stories. Send me picture, tell me what you did today to give back, a YouTube video. I want to see all the gives you do every day. This isn’t just about me but everyone doing one thing to change the world one day at time.

3. Commit today.  Sign the 365 Commitment.

You don’t need to start a blog, a Facebook group or a Twitter account or capture your every give on YouTube to do this . You just need to commit to giving back. Go to” 365 Commitment” page and scroll down to Sign the Commitment. I am not technically inclined and not sure how to put in some plug-in to generate a form yet -so just print this page. Tape it on your fridge, your office desk, your bathroom mirror. Start with a week, move to a month and before you know it you will be committed to 365 days of giving.  Document “the give” in a diary, through a camera lens, on a post-it, or whatever… just keep a record of it somehow. I’m hoping that you’ll share some or all of your giving adventures  with me and give me permission to share it with other 365give readers. Just go to the contact page to find the number of ways to send me a message, Tweet, YouTube or Facebook your gives.

365give is simply an online diary of one woman’s actions and impact in changing the world; 365give has the potential to create a movement of giving and a community of committed “givers” that can educate and inspire future generations. I have no idea where it will end up but just maybe if we all do something, anything, big or small every day, we will change the world. Collective power, collective energy. You don’t have to be religious or spiritual to believe that it works. You can join on Day 1 and you can join on Day 364. Every “give” will change the world.

Deep breath… count to 3…  Feet together and JUMP!

**Please help me spread the word about 365give. If you like this post or any others please share it so together we can inspire people to give more in their lives. You can Tweet (@365give) it, like it on Facebook or email it to your friends and family. Remember to subscribe to my daily GIVES from the main page so you can be inspired to GIVE every day.

Together we can change the world one day at a time.