the ties that bind

this morning was the aids walk in ny. i was out doing my 6 miles as people started showing up in the park. they were arriving by car, by car with driver, van, public bus, private bus, stroller, wheelchair, scooter and bicycle. it was incredible to see how many people were going to walk and see the smiles and excitement on everyone's face.

but what struck me the most were the different types of people who made the commitment to walk. they were young, old, male, female, black, white, asian, latin, disabled, gay, straight. to think back a few decades when aids first appeared and it was labeled the gay disease. and to now see how it's a disease many are living with and many are seeing the need to raise funds to support these people and also for a cure. 

so what i saw today and what touched me so is what i've been saying for a long time - give people a common goal or dream and that desire rises above the differences people may have. here is a cause many people have been touched by and can see there is the need to help. that need is the commonality people share. i watched the people getting ready to enter the park at the base of the giant keith haring balloon. the balloon of the baby with a heart...and i saw all the people there with just as giant a heart.

wwcd: if we can focus on the similarities, the differences don't seem as great

the betty effect

to all the people who think facebook is a waste of time, i think betty white and her fans may disagree. after a much publicized and successful campaign to convince snl to have betty host, she did an amazing job last saturday night. at 88 1/2 she's still as fiesty and irreverent as i remember and loved her on mary tyler moore and the golden girls. i hope i grow up to be just like her!

but this isn't me gloating or feeling good about being a part of the facebook campaign, it's about what a friend of mine posted today that i wanted to share and let you think about.  she wrote: 

i am happy i had some small part in getting her (betty) there when i joined that facebook group.  go betty! now what else can we make happen?

i love the idea of a grassroots effort succeeding. obviously, there are much more important things we can achieve if we work together than getting betty a hosting job. we can look at issues that are large or small, important or humorous, and challenging or easy.  a problem with a solution. there are certainly enough problems from which to choose. start small, start local...find one where you have an emotional tie. start in your house or in your city. be a role model for your child or be a mentor to a child you don't know.  

wwcd: what are you willing to do to improve a situation?

what comes first?

it's been over a week since i've had or made the time to write. busy at work and busy at life. seems like this time of year is hectic for everyone. i've made it to most events i planned on going to, but unfortunately a couple were casualties of my exhaustion. with all of your commitments, what gets your attention and what falls off the chart?

i remember a few years ago when a friend's husband was thinking about going back to school to get his masters degree and he was on the fence about making the commitment. when he asked his mother-in-law her opinion, she said, "the two years will pass whether or not you go to school." she was right. he went back to school, the two years passed and instead of wishing he had the degree, he had it. he made it a priority.

my 40s were a challenging time, but i made a couple of very good personal and career choices. the irony is that while making most of these choices i didn't put myself first....ever. now at 50, i'm making me more of a priority. it's been an interesting challenge putting myself first and not letting everything else fall through the cracks. 3 months ago i was finally inspired to change my unhealthy lifestyle. i've changed how i think, breathe, eat, move and laugh. the 3 months have passed and all the changes have just become what i do now. 

wwcd:  the pitfalls and success stories next