Love Is One

"Love Is ..."

"If you've got love you've got life, if you can love you can live". -Kim Casali

A comic strip called Love Is has been around since 1970. I remember reading the panel every time I picked up a newspaper. New Zealand cartoonist Kim Casali created these from love notes that she drew for her future husband Roberto.

Kim was actually born Marilyn Judith Grove in Auckland, New Zealand, in 1941 and at the age of 19 travelled to Europe and the U.S. She worked in various jobs, including being a waitress in a London teashop, before moving in 1967 to Los Angeles, where she met Roberto Casali, an Italian computer engineer, at a party.

She created the "love notes" during her courtship with Roberto in Los Angeles. As Kim said to an interviewer "I began making little drawings for myself to express how I felt . . . It was a little bit like keeping a diary that described how my feelings had grown."

They were married in 1971 but unfortunately lost their jobs and were now living illegally in the U.S. They were trying to find jobs that would keep them "... one step ahead of the Immigration Department" here in the United States.

In 1972, they moved to Britain and had two sons, Stefano, now 24, and Dario, now 21. In 1975 Roberto was diagnosed with cancer and died a year later. However, a third son, Milo, was born through artificial insemination in 1977, nearly a year and a half after his father's death.

In 1975, Bill Asprey was chosen by Kim Casali and her husband Roberto to take on the writing and drawing of these daily panels. Even though Robert passed away in 1976 and Kim more recently in 1997, their love continues to be shared with readers around the world.

Love can be a very enduring part of our life. Love can be shared and inspire others beyond the natural part of our life. Love is ...

Get by Giving

"Don’t be overly concerned with what you are or are not “into.” Don’t dwell on whether or not you are “feeling” it. Push on and benefit anyway." -Jim Crumbley

Here it is, day five of our "week of giving" during the Christmas season. The idea of giving is sometimes interpreted as "giving only in terms of getting something in return." People will give only when they see a tangible return that will be received.

My thought is that you should give of your time, talent and monies even when you don't see a clear benefit. Many times the benefit is not felt until you actually advance with your giving. That is what selfless giving is, giving without expectation of anything in return.

What does happen is that benefit will happen to both parties involved. The person receiving the gift will gain whatever is given. The person giving (YOU) will find benefit in ways never thought of.

So you can give your money by donating to one of hundreds, even thousands of worth-while causes. You can give to the Quinn House, to Childrens Healthcare of Atlanta, Compassion International, the Salvation Army and maybe any local charity that exists in your community.

You can give of your time and talent to any one of these or many organizations. You can help cook a meal or deliver a meal. You can deliver gifts to children or visit retirees living alone in a home. You have a car and can offer rides to the doctor for those in need. You can volunteer at the hospital as a greeter, or collect monies for the Salvation Army ringing a bell.

Life has many opportunities for you to participate in or give to. The benefit to you should not be of concern to you. The benefit will come to you in ways you will least expect. So stop worrying about what you will "benefit" and just get on with "giving" to others. As the saying goes, "...tis the season." Everyday of the year it is the season of giving.

Stay inspired my friends.

Message of Kindness

"Wherever there is a human being, there is an opportunity for a kindness." -Seneca

Day four of my week of giving during the Christmas season brings us to doing something simple but has a great impact. Today I am talking about spreading a little bit of encouragement and kindness, all from the quiet and easy keyboard on your computer.

The Childrens Hospital of Atlanta where more than 1200 children (1280 to be exact) will remain hospitalized through the holiday season. These are kids that have varying medical issues that prevent them from being home with their siblings and parents. While I am sure they will have visitors and presents to open, not being able to wake up Christmas morning and running downstairs to the tree would be missed by anyone under these conditions.

So what you can do is go to Childrens Hospital of Atlanta and write a message of encouragement and hope. Simply let these kids know that others know they are in a hopsital, unable to attend the Christmas program at school, attend Christmas Eve service, or sit around the Christmas Tree unwrapping presents. A message to offer hope and encouragement that there will be plenty of Christmas Days in their future.

Along with sending a message, watch the video and Verizon will donate $1 for every message sent up to 25,000 messages.

The monies will go to benefit programs in support of children at CHOA (Childrens Hospital of Atlanta). Then write your message and starting on December 15th, the hospital will be delivering your messages during the last two weeks of the year and sharing them with the patients over closed-circuit TVs throughout the hospital.

The idea of a few simple kind words will light up the face of a child with smiles and give them greater strength to overcome. It will brighten their Christmas just knowing that others are thinking of them. Remember each time you see your name on the television or in a newspaper, if even for the smallest of things, it was and is a big deal. Now think of a child in the hospital, battling for health, battling for a return to a normal childhood seeing their name on the television.

A simple act of kindness from a stranger can be powerful to them. A simple act of kindness given from you.

Stay inspired my friends.

Christmas at the Quinn House

"Let us touch the dying, the poor, the lonely and the unwanted according to the graces we have received and let us not be ashamed or slow to do the humble work." -Mother Teresa

The third day of our 'giving back' week during the Christmas season is here and today I am highlighting the Quinn House in Lawrenceville, GA. This organization is involved in assisting individuals and families on all levels in Gwinnett County of Georgia. It is quite like many different organizations throughout the area, state and country. These folks genuinely care for those that need an extra hand in life.

And like many others, they are in need of many items for their food pantry. And even though they do provide food to those in need, they also provide clothing, and shelter to the homeless. So your tax deductible donations are greatly needed as well.

I tell you this not only because it is the Christmas season and people tend to be in a much more giving mood. I tell you this because even the homeless and needy exist during this time of the year as well as the rest of the year. They not only survive during the summer heat but have to survive during the cold winters. Families scraping to get by due to circumstances of life still want to have a warm place to sleep. They want to feed their children and themselves a hot meal once in a while. They want to have a joyous Christmas.

Sounds familiar to each one of us, those basic needs in life that we some times take for granted. So while you are out buying presents for family and friends, pick up an extra gift for someone in need. While out buying all of that food for a grand Christmas dinner, buy some extra food and donate it to the Quinn House food pantry (see the list link above). And finally while paying bills during this final month of the year, write a check to an organization that helps those in need.

A little bit from a lot of people goes a long ways. Help out those organizations in your community during the Christmas season. Then let it become habit and help them out throughout the year. Your small gesture of kindness and giving will have a huge impact on others. It will have a huge impact on your own heart as well.

Stay inspired my friends.