Love Is Two

Love

"One word frees us of all the weight and pain of life: That word is love." -Sophocles

I read a story recently about love explained in a way I never would have thought. The story goes that a woman asked a man if she was pretty, he said "No". She asked him if he wanted to be with her forever, he said "No". Then she asked him if he would cry if she walked away, he said "No". She had heard enough; she got up to leave.

As she walked away he grabbed her arm and told her to stay. He said "You're not pretty, you're beautiful. I don`t want to be with you forever, I need to be with you forever. And I wouldn't cry if you walked away, I would die."

Love is more than you can ask for. It is more beautiful than we can ever be. It lasts longer than we can exist in the natural. It dries any tears that we might shed. Love is everything in our lives.

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.