"We Are In This Together"

 We Are In This Together 

I am one of the weeping citizens that Pres. Obama mentioned in his speech tonight.  I have cried frequently during the last 48+ hours and without hesitation carry as much of Newtown's sadness that I can bear.  I can tolerate the idea of loosing one of my nieces or nephew to such a tragedy for only seconds at a time.  That thought brings with it a pain that has no words.  It is a sensation that I can bear for as long as one can hold their hand in a fire.   But tonight so many are unable to remove their hands from this fire.

Since Friday 12/15 at about 2:30 pm I have wept, I have prayed, I've written; I've taken time to experience deep meaningful gratitude.  I have sat with an overwhelming sensation of gratitude for my family, my health, my abilities, and for the very full and influential life I have already led.

I have also, again, seen humanity at its best.

One individual's loathing of life has sparked an entire nation's appreciation of life.
One individual's poisonous hatred has ignited a nation's love, compassion, and sympathy.
One individual's fierce rage has quieted a nation for countless moments of reflective silence. 
One individual's malignant jealousy has filled a nation with gratitude and thankfulness.
One individual's incessant feeling of helplessness has caused a nation to act.
One individual's destructive evil has compelled millions to seek goodness that is greater than themselves.

If happiness, joy, strength, gratitude, compassion, hope and love can be experienced during times of struggle, adversity, and heartache then you have found each of their true meanings.

xo
Michelle

"The List"

UPDATED:  12/4/12

Even more ... CHRISTMAS/HOLIDAY!!! :)

There are VOLUNTEER opps in every community! Please see groups in location where you want to donate your time!  :)

Go through it carefully to find what you are looking for ... Hope it helps!

PLEASE ADD - any orgs or corrections I missed to the comments section below and I will be updating this post regularly! Thank you!!!

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Christmas/Holiday

http://www.facebook.com/OperationSandyRelief
http://www.facebook.com/OperationSandyClaus
http://www.facebook.com/pages/NJ-Hurricane-Sandy-Christmas-Giving-Connection/428784863841296
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Hurricane-Sandy-Adopt-a-Family-for-Christmas/262063393917218
http://www.facebook.com/pages/East-Rockaway-Hurricane-Christmas-Toy-Drive/460590717317120
http://www.facebook.com/ChristmasForHurricaneSandyVictims
http://www.facebook.com/groups/GiftsforGerritsen/?ref=ts&fref=ts
http://www.facebook.com/Santaclauseiscoming2town
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Hurricane-Sandy-Holiday-Toy-Drive/281511811951811?ref=ts&fref=ts
http://www.facebook.com/OperationSandyChristmas
http://www.facebook.com/SecretSandy
http://www.facebook.com/events/126448734177240/
http://www.facebook.com/HolidayToysForChildrenAffectedByHurricaneSandy
http://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/1XY8NPRI95GVY/ref=cm_sw_su_w

Thimbles ... They Matter.

 Thimbles ... They Matter

It's about 11:00 am on Saturday 12/1.  My mother just called me practically in tears.  "Its so so cold, I just brought cleaning supplies down to Guyon Rescue but what is that going to do? It feels like I was giving them a thimble when they have to bail out the ocean!" 

This is it - That is the fight -  Right here is the perfect example of where the true battle lies.  IT LIES WITHIN US. 

It is how we perceive the tasks in front of us that will determine success or failure.

My mother, who works at Staten Island University Hospital, who sees some of the most disturbing things on a day to day basis, a women I consider to be one of the strongest people I know was powerfully affected by the reality of the situation, again. (There's that reminding that I talk about us needing) It is okay to need to be reminded of the enormity of the situation or to be reminded that even the "smallest" acts of kindness are important.   The reminders are not wasteful if action comes of them.  So I humbly, graciously, and respectfully remind anyone who might need reminding (including myself):

We must stay strong. 
We must continue to give our thimbles of support. 
Please don't think it's too little or not needed anymore or not enough to bother.

Remember when you give anything (money, food, toiletries, cleaning supplies, time, etc) you are actually giving your thought, your concern, your awareness, your energy ... THESE things are what matter more then anything else! 

Please see "The List" and contact an organization in your area to see what they need and then gather your thimbles of help.   I guarantee it will be needed and appreciated!

We Refuse to Sink!

We Refuse to Sink!

(In response to a "It Is In All Of Us" nomination I received this morning)

Thank you for that beautiful nomination.  I will certainly call you and get the details.

I am so so sorry for what you are going through.  I can't tell you that I fully understand because the reality is ... I don't - I didn't lose my home.  You are going through this, you and your neighbors.  BUT we will be here.  We will be here to bear witness to your struggle; we will be here to support you and help you get your needs met; we will be here to remind the rest of the world that you are going through this; we will be here to acknowledge and foster leadership,  effective community organizing, and of course ... resiliency.  We will help you find the resiliency you need to recover.  We being: "It Is In All Of Us", "Cancel The 2012 NYC Marathon", ALL of the wonderful organizations that have been created,  ALL of the amazing volunteers, organizers, donators, leaders, friends, family, and neighbors ...  I  Promise.  (Btw - I'm the MWISSWIM kind ... that's a "Mean What I say Say What I Mean" kind of person ... ;)

So this is why we created "It Is In all Of Us" Spotlight!  Already there are dozens of nominations for the spotlight and I can't wait to do the first one!!  Remember,  we will be doing a spotlight once a month for as long as we are here so if you or your nomination doesn't get picked this month - keep nominating!  :)

Thank you!  xoxo

The People Who Were Killed By Hurricane Sandy

The People Who Were Killed By Hurricane Sandy

Like everybody else, I try so hard to navigate through that feeling.  You know, the uneasy, eery feeling of disbelief.  The slow moving 'am I seeing what I think I'm seeing right now' feeling.  The detached, 'is this a movie' sensation that quiets your thoughts right before the s*** hits the fan.  I found myself glued to the TV on Monday October 29th.  My brain was in a contorted advanced yoga pose as I watched the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel fill up with water like a toy being slowly submerged into a full bathtub.  Then I started reading posts on The New York City Firefighters Brotherhood Foundation facebook page.  There were calls for backup because a firehouse was flooding and the members were struggling to get out.  Then came the announcement that Breezy Point was on fire ... life over property was the next post.  Then all of lower Manhattan went dark as the streets filled with water.  Every story, every post, and every picture dragged me further and further from the safety of my pre-hurricane world.  

I had the "best" seat in the house and I watched nothing but Sandy coverage and read nothing but Sandy tweets until the power went out.  You would think that would be enough?  But still, I needed to drive through the streets of Midland Beach before I really knew what had happened.  Then and only then did the details come into focus.  I slowed my car, mouth open shaking my head.  Streets were littered with cars and boats; there were hundreds of people standing outside of gutted homes whose contents looked as if they had been vomited out onto the street. They were all struggling with THAT feeling.  It wasn't until I saw it that it became real.  And the reality is, Sandy wound up and then gave us a shot to the gut that brought us to our knees, gasping for air. 
 
We know that the coastline surrounding the tri-state area has been devastated.  We know that it is going to take many neighborhoods years to recover, if ever.  We also know that over 100 people lost their lives to this natural disaster...  Over 100 people.  Do we know that? Really? Or do we just have that information?  Whitney Hess, wants us to really know.  To the best of her ability she created a list with the names and the stories of each of Sandy's victims.  

Just as I had to drive through the decimated streets of Staten Island before I really understood the storm's full impact, I had to read about each and every individual that died in the path of Sandy before I really knew.  I know now.  My heart sinks for each family member and friend of those that were lost.  I am again humbled as I slow down, mouth open shaking my head ...

http://whitneyhess.com/blog/2012/11/05/the-people-who-were-killed-by-hurricane-sandy/

 

 

 

A perspective on the damage inflicted by Sandy

This will give you a new perspective on the damage inflicted by Hurricane Sandy... Roll over pictures to see after images.

It gave me chills ... 

 

http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/weeklynews/nov12/ngs-sandy-imagery.html

 

 

 

What do you do with "failure"??

 What do you do with "failure"??

I wrote this a while ago in my music blog but I think it belongs here - It Is In All Of Us,  because this is what we mean when we say that ...

 "Failure propels you toward success. If you let it, that is." ~Angela Jia Kim

Simply changing the way you perceive things in your life may appear to be a passive and maybe even silly approach to actually changing your life.  How can merely thinking differently CHANGE anything??   

Let's look at the perception of "failure".  

If something happens differently then you planned or wanted and you respond in a defeated manner you will be, well, defeated.  You see, If the belief that you are good enough, talented enough, smart enough, or meant to do great things lies precariously in the hands of external events/result/opinions, then if things don't "go your way" you will will recoil into the perception that you failed.  You may even caboose onto that the thought, "how could I have been SO Stupid"!.  If you perceive "failure" in that way you are likely to abandon the goal all together.

Now what would happen if these "unwanted" results were perceived and acted upon as learning experiences?? What would happen if you possessed intrinsic belief in your goals and that belief could not be swayed by the outcome of external events??  What would your life be like if you took up a "back to the drawing board mentality" instead of a "throw in the towel" mentality?  How would you feel if you could think of a "failure" as merely a bend in the road instead of a dead end??  I bet things would be different.... 

~Michelle Cleary