What, another year has gone by?

I have been wondering about things, things like Darfur and hunger and people that live on the street. I hear stories about poverty and people living without water and power. I think, why do they not get together and create something better for themselves? Why do people insist on waiting for the government? Is it that they do not know any better?

I believe that it is up to us to make our situation better or different. We need to do this on a personal level and a global level. I have friends, and no doubt myself included at times, that have no tolerance for street people. It’s the “pull up your bootstraps” mentality. Although I believe, strongly, in personal accountability I struggle with the idea (and my agreement with it) that it is time for all us to stop being so “self” focused. So where does personal accountability meet asking for help? I think that’s it actually. If you were personally responsible then you would ask for help when you need it. No shame in that. I suppose for the rest of us the challenge is ensuring that help is there when someone asks for it.

For me, this is the year I stop telling myself “I don’t know how”. It’s a destructive action impairing little voice inside me that has prevented me from creating and being what I want to be. For example: Darfur. I wonder what I could do to make a difference. It troubles me that people are being slaughtered while I enjoy my latte (do not confuse this with guilt, I do not feel guilty that I can have a latte I do not think we have to give up our accomplishments or success’s to care for or assist those around us). I would like to help, make a difference stand and be counted in some way. How? Should I go there? How would I do that? What difference would it make to go there? Maybe if we all went there and saw it for ourselves we would all get up and take a stand and make a change, but how?

That’s a large issue; the “I don’t how” voice impacts me in little ways as well. I want to get into doing some educational seminars for dog owners. How do I do that? Where would I get the money? I don’t know how. I would love to create a charity that pays for people to educate themselves. Not in the OSAP (is it still called that) kind of a way. I believe that any education, any course a person wants to take is of value. However, for many of us we simply do not have the funds to pay $400.00 for a baking course at George Brown. Try to getting funding for a baking course. I am pretty sure funding for a course you want to take here and there does not exist. I think it should. Take the course and we will pay for it, or pay for part of it. If someone wants to better themselves I would like to help them out, but how? The Educational Fund Charity has lived only in my thoughts. I have a partial mission statement and have no doubt that getting funds would be the easy part. For me it’s getting past that voice inside me that keeps insisting, “I don’t know how”.

This year, 2007, is the year to look in a different direction. It’s time to leave the Pirate cookies (can I really leave them? I love them and they love me ohhh so much) and get up off the couch. It’s time to believe that I not only know how, but I can. It’s time to take a page out of Wayne’s notebook and persist and create despite the easier route of giving in. In the morning when I want to stay in bed I need to think of my friend Wayne. Wayne is dealing with impairments suffered in a motorcycle accident. Wayne has not once complained to me about his situation. He expresses his frustration but he also shares his determination. The other day he told me about his plans. He has decided to take a new direction; he accepts that he has too. It may be unfair, it may be frustrating, but it is required. A simple fact based on a catastrophic even that occurred through no fault of his own. I draw my inspiration from his determination and no doubt I can gain my own power and strength to create from his. 2007 is going to be the year of knowing how. 2007 is going to be the year of accomplishments and being in service of others. 2007 is the year of knowing and taking action. I challenge you all, and ask you all, to join me.