Be more adventurous and do something new every month

Well, went geocaching today! I have wanted to do this for a while. I feel like a treasure hunter!! Hunted for three, found zero, lol. Maybe better luck next time. Clearly, I need to learn how to look for these things…. heh.

So, ran into a guy today I haven’t seen in a few years. His wedding ring is no longer…. He’s a contractor and we got along great. I saw him through the contractor’s office when I got there. Then after our meeting he made a point to step in and ask if I remembered him. Of course I did. :) He hugged me instead of shaking hands. We talked briefly and he told me I looked great. So, the adventurous thing…. this afternoon, I emailed him and told him it was great to run into him and we should do lunch sometime and catch up. ack! lol! He replied that he’d catch up with me after Christmas for sure and we’d certainly do lunch. Cool. Even if just a couple of old friends catching up, I took the chance to reach out and see what happens.

I am hosting Thanksgiving at my house.

ACK!

Went to a conference on a topic I knew nothing about and had a great time!

Went out on my first blind date. Didn’t work out but that’s okay.

Got a new dog so now I have two! I’ve never had two! And never had a french bulldog!

Bought a digital camera!!

Went with my nephews to the zoo!!

Got new sheets for my bed and they are steel blue instead of my usual white!!

I know, not exactly earth shaking exciting stuff, but it is what it is…. lol.

Work took over my life this month. Literally. Worked 80 hour weeks.

Went to NeoCon in Chicago. It is a big interiors furniture show at the Merchandise Mart. Our interior designers go every few years and this year I finagled an invite to go as well, lol. It was most helpful to see the furniture systems in person.

Unfortunately, my wallet was pickpocketed. ack. And the thieves used my debit card at Bloomingdales and cleaned out my checking account. Thankfully, that seems to be resolved now, but I missed getting to go see the Cubs play the Braves because I was at the police station filing a report. Needed the report for many reasons, not the least of which to have for the airport the next morning since I no longer had an ID to get on the plane… lol. So that is something new…. Not something I recommend, however.

S is a beautiful sweet girl I’m helping.

I’ve been thinking a lot about wanting to do something outside of my current life to help someone. Something that would have impact in a life. Something that was outside of my petty little crazy life.

I’ve seen the commercials about the starving children in Heaven-knows-where but those commercials just turned me off. They are so negative. They made me feel so helpless. They show so much misery and poverty and horrific horrible terrible conditions how in the world could I possibly make a difference? It looks like putting a dropper of clean clear water into a septic pond. What is the use of such a tiny amount?

Then, a few Sundays ago, a lady priest who is friends with our priest came to talk about the organization she works for: Christian Foundation for Children and Aging.

She was like magic. She was energetic. She was filled with light and joy and love and hope. She told incredible stories of children and elderly folk’s lives being radically changed by the gift and touch of their sponsors. About how the $27 of the $30 a month sponsorship provided tuition, clothing, books, medical care, food, housing, transportation, supplies, etc. and gave these children and their families hope and futures. About how the organization stays with each child until their educational needs are fulfilled – even through college if need be. About how once a child or elderly person is in the system, they are not abandoned.

How so many children in the world don’t just not reach their dreams, they don’t even have dreams. That’s how far away from possibility they are for them.

I did some investigating. They get top marks from all the charity watch dog groups.

And she had folders of some of the children and elderly people available for adoption.

S’s photo jumped out at me from the start. Such a sweet, serious face. She’s 12. She’s from India. She’s clearly dressed up for her picture in a beautiful red patterned dress/outfit. Hands in front of her. Clearly carefully posed. Her long hair in braids. A very serious hopeful look on her face. No smile. What was the kicker? Her favorite subject is Math and she loves to draw…. Maybe an engineer or architect in the making? lol! How could I resist?

So I signed up. Filled out the form and took her folder home.

I hope this brings her some excitement and opens up for her the real possibility of reaching her dreams in life. I hope this brings her parents some peace as well.

I am very excited. I just felt I needed something outside myself to remind myself that it isn’t always all about me. That as crazy and stupid as my life gets at times, it could be worse. And it is a pretty good feeling to hope I can help one little girl and her family breathe easier at night.

I am looking forward to getting the mailing information so I can send her my first letter. :)

I don’t know. It is super stressed and busy. Not sure I’m going to pull anything off this month. I’m tired. And that’s okay.