One to warm your heart

Rarely do I watch news on the TV. It's always depressing. More recently, I've begun to read the local newspaper that's delivered every Friday (courtesy of the former owners who obviously forgot to cancel their subscription). And until I get the bill, I'm going to continue enjoying decent coupons and the ability to flip through the pages at will. However, even if I do get a bill at some point, I think I can pay the $24 a year for stories like this one:

A six-year-old boy receives allowance for doing chores. That in itself is not so newsworthy. But this six-year-old boy takes half of his money and puts it in a savings account in the bank. This is where you sit back and think, "Aww, that's a smart investor, that young'n. He's being wise with his money and for a reward he surely spends the rest on some little toy or game or candy." Nope. The other half of his allowance goes into a "Sharing Jar." Okay, seriously, that in itself gladdens your heart tenfold. But wait, there's more. When this little boy has enough money in his jar, he heads off to Fred Meyer and buys canned goods, which he then donates to a local food bank. He does this a couple times a year!!

Your heart is about to burst, isn't it? Hold onto your socks, folks, we're not done yet. Every year for his birthday this philanthropist insists that instead of presents for his birthday, guests bring food to donate to the food bank instead.

He found out about this specific local food bank when he was attending day care. He is now in first grade and for the past two years, with his grandpa, he has been helping serve food to needy families every Thanksgiving and Christmas. That, to me, is such a touching image: grandpa and grandson working side-by-side to serve others.

The boy was honored for his service by Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey Circus. His reward? A $500 gift to the charity of his choice. And where do you think that went? Yup. Right back to that same food bank. What an inspiration! Seriously, if you don't have a hand pressed against your chest to keep your heart from bursting out and aren't smiling that absurd "awww, that is the most touching thing I've heard in a while" smile, then ... I don't even know what to say to you.

This child does more for the community and humanity than most of us will ever do in our entire lives. Let's take a page from his book and remember to give back.

I challenge us all to do more. Whether it's something small or something grand, take that extra hour you've saved from not being sucked into all that technology ;) and pick up some litter in your local park or take the extra change from your coffee and drop it into the Salvation Army buckets that are soon to be in season. For that matter, forgo your coffee every now and then and put that money into it!

There are so many ways to reach out. Be creative! And come back and leave a comment telling me what you've done, small or big!

In fact, let's start right now. I just received a Heifer Project pamphlet in the mail. Would anybody be interested in starting a fundraiser and helping garner funds to donate a "Gift Ark"? It is $5000 but that translates to FIFTEEN pairs of animals from cows to chickens to guinea pigs.

Give me your feedback. I'd love to do this but I certainly can't do it on my own and am terrified of "fundraising". Perhaps it's a bit ambitious, but I think we can make a virtual "Sharing Jar" and find a way!

Meanwhile, I think I will pick up an extra can or two of food each time I go grocery shopping.

Are you a tech junkie?

*Ring* *Ring*

"Hello?"

Ah, instant gratification.

Technology is great. Isn't it? There is just something about being able to pick up your own personal phone, log into your e-mail, sign into Facebook and instantly be connected with friends, family, colleagues, and complete strangers. There are so many perks to having the ability to stay in touch with all those you love (and those you don't love quite so much). But when does all this technology become a crutch?

Sometimes I physically have to remove myself from the computer, otherwise I get sucked into hours of checking my e-mail ("Really? Nobody has e-mailed me anything in the past twenty minutes? How can that be?!"), "Facebooking" (yes, in society nowadays it is everyday vernacular), or who-knows-what, and suddenly three hours of the day have been lost to cyberspace.

But it's not just the internet. It's my cell phone, the TV, video games, so on and so forth. I feel the urge to check and answer as soon as possible any text message I receive. I get so excited when my phone tells me somebody has thought about me. There are times when I hold up a finger during mid-conversation with somebody in the room to answer a phone call. Wait a second, don't I have a thing called "voicemail"? Therein lies the rub.

Although I quite enjoy living in the age of instant connection, immediate answers, and constant contact, there comes a point where I need to disconnect. Sometimes I need to remind myself that while the convenience is there, I don't have to rely on it. It will, theoretically (barring any apocalypses or severe power outages), still  be there when I need it.

Let voicemail pick up the phone call. If the person is important enough, they will leave a message. Or they'll call back twenty times in a row so that you know it's urgent (or maybe they're just annoying, in which case it's even better to not answer!). Turn off the TV and go for a walk or sit on the deck and sip a cup of coffee or go talk to your neighbor. Shut down the computer and actually play a board game or read a book.

In this day and age, I think we sometimes forget what life actually sounds like without the whirring of computers or some random song-melody emitting from a cellphone. Not that we need to delve back into the dark ages, but it would certainly be a nice feeling to go into a public bathroom and use it without having my business be privy (pun intended) to eleven other people who aren't even there because the people in the other stalls are talking on their cell phones! One of these days, I'm bringing in a whoopee cushion.

Enjoy technology and its usefulness. It's there; it's great; it's convenient. But remember to take a break and reconnect with the real world. Every now and then I open my mailbox and find a postcard from my dad when he's been on a business trip or a card from a good friend or a twelve-page letter from my great aunt. Now that is much more personal and exciting than any quick sugar-rush e-mails.

Life is all about balance. Technology is fascinating. It changes daily, which is a phenomenal thing. It can certainly makes our lives better. But do yourself a favor and disconnect every once in a while. Go without a cell phone or a computer or a TV for a week, even just a day or so. Honestly, it feels good.

(End note: I have written a personal essay on this subject. If anybody is interested in reading that, please let me know and I will send you a copy.)