Day 242 or Remembering Why

Well, Sunday's post was less than inspirational. Thank you to all of you who commiserated with my "out-of-gas" mentality. I love blogging. It has brought me great solace, great friends, all around great things. And most of the time, I can't wait to pull out my laptop. But last week was just not that week. Thanks for understanding. It's nice to know that you guys are here on my bad days, as well as my good ones.

So yesterday I was dragging around in my less than inspired state and three things changed that. The first seems silly but maybe is not so silly after all. I got out of the house. I love thrifting which is something not easily done with children. So my husband watched the kids for an hour or so while I went to my favorite store (Savers! If you have one in your city, you must check it out!). And while a little retail therapy can do wonders, I really think it was getting out BY MYSELF! As moms, I think that we can forget how important it is to take time to be by ourselves. So silly, yes but no.

Secondly, I was contacted by Hotels Combined. They found my blog and saw my desire to help support Heifer International which makes me say "YAY!" They have a fabulous program where we as bloggers and tweeters can earn money for charities simply by spreading the word about their company. How much did this inspire me as a blogger? There is power in the word of mouth and I am thrilled to Spread the Word for Hotels Combined . You can choose from three great charities -- WWF, World Vision, and Make-a-Wish. While all three are wonderful -- World Vision is really in line with my goals supporting Heifer International. This made me feel like, yes, my blog matters. So thank you, Hotels Combined, you have no idea, how good you made me feel! And here's the great thing -- if you want to support a charity, it's so easy. Contact them at charity@hotelscombined.com. Or check them out at Spread the Word for Charity (http://www.hotelscombined.com/Charity.aspx).

I recommend HotelsCombined.com and sent $20 to World Vision!

You can shout and help too.

Finally, and most personally, I was reminded by my daughter what is real. What is true. And what I will miss desperately one day. And she reminded me why I have to recharge so I don't get burnt out, run-down, and "fried" and miss out on moments that will pass in an instant. She called me into the hallway where she had created her own version of hopscotch with her old crib quilt and imaginary stones. At first, when she called me away from my cleaning, I sighed. But when I listened to her and realized that her beautiful little three year old imagination had imagined a very detailed and specific game, I was entranced and enchanted. And I thought, "This is it, Traci! This is the life you don't want to miss!" And too soon, these days will be gone. I don't know that she will remember this game tomorrow but I will remember it for as long as I have breath in my body. And then I thought, "I have to blog about this!" and I knew that I was back. "Yeah, baby!"

So there it is. I am coming out of my funk. Can't promise that I won't fall back but I'm going to remember this. It's my blog and as several of you pointed out, it's supposed to be fun. So here's to more fun (Blogging and otherwise!) And I should be around soon because a LOT of the fun of blogging is visiting my friends!

Day 194 or International Women's Day -- Belated

So on Monday, I was lost in the world of this little woman and somehow missed that it was a day for Women of This World. I missed a day dedicated to celebrating the contribution of women especially in war-ravaged countries like Rwanda and Congo. A day that thousands of women met on the Brooklyn Bridge and UK's Millennium Bridge. A day that said as women we have the power to shape hearts and minds for peace. And yes, ladies and gentlemen, I missed it. So red-faced, I come to you two days later to tell you what I would have said.

I would have said that I have seen the power of caring women demonstrated through the generations of women that raised me. My mother is braver than she knows. She taught me right from wrong and as a Southerner taught me that God truly did create all people and to judge someone solely one their actions not their heritage. Her mother taught her that hard work mattered and she should never give up. Her grandmother taught her that life was for living and never backed away from a challenge (even one that involved a mugger but that story is for another day). These women shaped me and my world.

I would have said that I have seen the power of caring women demonstrated through this blog. How amazed I have been by the voices of women around this globe that I would never have "heard" had I not started blogging. Voices raising up their families, their cultures, their lives in a chorus that celebrates life itself. Voices that denounce ignorance, racism, and hatred, Voices that have meaning. Voices that have power. (Many of which who got the memo about Monday and spoke beautifully that day!)

I would have said that I hope to light my candle in the goal of enlightenment and peace. That I hope I am a contributor not a detractor. That I stand on the shoulders of the women who came before and I hope that my shoulders are strong enough for those who follow.

That's what I would have said. Instead I just bragged about getting my Oscar picks right. Not my finest moment. Nonetheless, today I say "yay" for women. Every woman. Everywhere.

Day 179 or I Had a Dream that Yes, I Can!

You know, we all have seen moments in history when sometfhing changed. A group of people come together behind a dream and there is a magic, a singular beauty to that place in time. There is a sense of being part of something momentous.

I think we all desire to be a part of a day like that. At the top of the wave moving with strength and power towards the shore. Rolling amongst thousands of like minded souls to the inevitable future success.

Well, how about being at the heart of such a moment? The person with the vision that brings that passion. Does it even have to be on a global scale? What if you had the moment for your life? Can you visualize yourself giving your passion, your life that kind of power?

That's what I want. I want to have that moment for my life. And I feel like there is an energy, a momentum moving that way. And with this blog, I have to say that I don't feel like I'm riding this wave alone. I feel you coming on my journey. And no, it is no March on Selma, but it is my march. My march for my life. And who says that changing my life won't change the world?

So what's your passion? Do you have a dream that you can see with such clarity that you can say "Yes, I can". Because you may not know it, but it could be you that changes the world.