The World is Blogging About Poverty for Blog Action Day 2008, But Can We Talk About Abundance?
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My mentor, Gina Gaudio-Graves told me about Blog Action Day, and told me to participate.
I do what she tells me to do.
Well, my challenge was that I wanted to talk about solutions. Poverty is definitely not a solution for anything, accept possibly pride.
But hey, I can do this. So I wrote a post about what poverty causes and possible solutions I could think of.
After all poverty isn’t just about a lack of money.
I wrote a good post. Then just before I hit publish, to post it on my blog, I lost power for 3 minutes.
Usually I save frequently to avoid losing work. Nope, not this time. Oh well, I had to get out the door this morning to go to my good friend Terry’s funeral.
I would have to rewrite it when I got home.
Well, here I am ready to re-write that post.
Challenge here is that I realize I was very passive this morning, almost depressed.
I can’t rewrite that post. I don’t feel passive anymore.
For the past 3 hours I have shared memories with all the people who loved Terry. I wish I would have been able to see more pictures of her.
If you hide from the camera, then please make an effort to get at least one picture of you, looking lovingly into the camera, at least a couple times every year. The people who love you will have a memory that will comfort them in the years ahead.
The few old pictures that were captured of my sweet friend filled me with her spirit. It brought a smile to my face.
I don’t feel depressed anymore.
I feel passionate about being part of a solution.
We all know what poverty looks like. It is hard to actually look at it. But if you have ever seen poverty, there are no words to describe it better than the pictures it leaves in your memory.
It isn’t pretty. Many of my friends have statistics in their Blog Action Day posts about poverty that will tell you just how devastating and prevalent it is in the world today.
Many people around the world cannot even imagine the opportunities and comforts that we take for granted everyday.
You can’t create, what you can’t imagine!
You also can’t CHANGE what you can’t imagine, and what you don’t acknowledge.
Right here in the United States are a whole lot of people who are hungry, who have no hope. They have no vision for the future. They feel lost and forgotten.
What can you do?
You can give your money. You can give your time. You can lend an ear. You can share. You can care.
Heart Failure Solutions exists because there is a growing need for education. We are here to teach you what to do to beat heart disease, and live a happy healthy life.
Much of the advice you get here may be a challenge for you to put into practice if you don’t have the resources.
Knowledge is potential power.
So IS there money available to help individuals who need food, or who need their electric bill paid, or who just plain need support?
I looked to see what kind of help I could find for my patients over the years. It seems that, for the most part, what is available, is “too little too late”.
But let me ask you a question.
Don’t you think that with 543 million dollars to use combating heart disease that we would actually see a palpable change.
The best place to begin reducing the effect of heart disease on the poor, would be to supply local food banks with fresh produce.
How about giving whole grains and beans to community centers, and churches to be distributed to those in need.
What if there were more boys and girls clubs so that more kids could grow up being active.
Jump roping contests with prizes, in the schools, are a great way to encourage activity.
My 15 year old has had one American Heart Association sponsored event during the 10 years she has been in public schools.
Patients who can’t pay for their electric bill when they use home oxygen, would be less of a burden on society, if they were to receive support at the time they need it.
They will soon be hospitalized costing society much more than their electric bill would have.
543 million dollars is a lot of abundance that is readily available to make a HUGE impact on heart disease.
The American Heart Association claims to have “invested” over 543 million dollars from 2005–2006, first in research and professional and public education, and then in “advocacy” and community service programs.
Sounds like WE, the American people, need an advocate to represent US to the American Heart Association.
The drug companies do not need help, and the way to help more people is not through more and better surgery.
The American people need more help making diet and lifestyle changes. The volunteers sitting outside the grocery store to take our blood pressure are just not enough.
Why are we giving them our money?
If you want to contribute your money to a worthy organization, then find one to give your money to and hold them accountable.
Blog Action Day is doing good things.
Kiva is doing good things. They are an organization that takes your donation and the donations of others and loans them to specific entrepreneurs in developing countries.
I am in awe at the hard work and determination of these tenacious entrepreneurs, often living in harsh places.
When Your loan is repaid, you can lend it again.
I am very proud of what we are doing here at Heart Failure Solutions, if you choose to donate here, your money will be well spent.
Find organizations doing good things and support them.
Let us know about them and we will support them as well.
Many blessings,
Carrie
PS– Remember everyday:
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Relax and Release tension
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Take deeep breaths
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Be active in a way that adds joy to your life
Plus pure water ~whole foods~sunshine~and laughter
Tags: abundance, American Heart Association, Blog Action Day, Gina Gaudio-Graves, heart disease, Kiva, poverty, technorati
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October 16th, 2008 at 10:43 pm
You touched me with the story about your friend. I’m sorry for your loss. I promise to get out from behind the camera and let someone else take a picture of me.
I also promise to eat fresh vegetables today and to take a walk.
Thanks for all you do.