Hello, This is a bit of a departure from my usual crafty posts, but I real want to get these thoughts down while they are fresh! Be warned it is a bit wordy!
Last night we attended a fundraiser for my brother in law at our local hall. It was an amazing night for many reasons. Around 150 family, friends, neighbours, workmates and local business people all came together to support Michael and Clare and their trip to Russia for Michael's MS treatment.
This morning I have been thinking a lot about how great it is to be part of a community.
It is so easy these days to feel overwhelmed by terrible things happening to people all around the world. I think that by acting on a local level, in our own little communities, spreading kindness and practically helping someone you know or are acquainted with, is a powerful way to spread goodwill and to counterbalance the helpless feeling you get when reading the daily news.
Everybody that attended our function last night not only had a fun social time but also came with a purpose to help Michael and Clare, whether by practically doing things on the night, financially supporting the fundraiser, donating goods and services, or emotionally supporting them just by sending goodwill and love. I have to tell you, there was a lot of love in the room!
It really gave me hope for the human race.
Imagine if everyone could get together to help people in their local communities who need a hand, or even just say hello to each other. The random act of kindness between people at a local level has never been such an important human interaction, to put a smile on someone's face makes both parties feel good. There have been many times while organising Michael's functions that the kindness of strangers in our community has amazed us, people really are great.
I think by acting in our communities, at a local level that is real and tangible, our faith in each other can be strengthened and restored. It is so easy to lose faith in the human race when faced with violence and terrible news. Yes, bad things are happening that are out of our control, but by focussing on the good, helpful, thoughtful, considerate, and kind things that are going on in our local worlds, we can counterpoint the despair. The ripple effect of goodwill has to be a powerful thing, I think it gives us hope that we can make a positive difference in peoples' lives.
Last night was about more than just raising money, it was about kindness, generosity and the goodwill of a group of people from all walks of life, spreading love and supporting a common cause. It was about building connections and being part of a community. And we all had a fun time doing it!
It is a great feeling to contribute to an evening where everyone goes away feeling good. There are still a lot of problems in the world but we were able to help our friend/relative/workmate to solve one of his. It is empowering. People really are ace. I am an optimist and I am feeling good about our little part of the world today !
Ok that's the end of my little happy rant. :)
I hope you have had an inspiring/ fun/interesting weekend too!
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The human race at its best is brilliant, as your fundraiser showed. Best wishes to your brother for his treatment; you didn't say if he raised a lot or enough?
ReplyDeleteThanks Angel Jem, yes people are amazing! They raised nearly double what they were hoping for at this event, and are nearly at their goal, which is great news. Thanks for stopping by and commenting, have a great weekend! Julie xx
DeleteIt never ceases to amaze me how communities can pull together to help someone in need. When my sister-in-law was ill her community (we are talking a population of about 1900 people) got together and held a fundraiser to help pay for her treatment and arranged working bees to renovate her house so she would have a comfortable space to live in. Amazing and inspiring.
ReplyDeleteHi Priscilla, it is wonderful what people can do when they all work together isn't it, glad your SIL community was able to help her too when she needed it! Inspiring indeed! J xx
DeleteHow wonderful that a community have come to together to help, we had a similar event recently in our village when a child was knocked of his bike by a car and brain damaged. The campaign was to make wearing cycle helmets law. A petition has been sent to the government. Hope all goes well with your Brother in law.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your petition mamsmercantile sounds like a good cause, thanks for the well wishes for Michael, J xxx
DeleteWow that is just wonderful, so pleased that your brother-in law is nearly at his target and fingers firmly crossed by us here in my little house that the treatment helps with his MS. An event like this in a little community really does fill your heart with hope for our human race.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your well wished crazydaisycrochetcottage, it was such a positive night! xx
DeleteWhat a lovely post. It certainly does restore my faith in mankind. It is so often the small acts that really can help. One day a few months ago I was really struggling with my two small ones, a baby and a toddler, I was getting them out of the car and the baby was alseep, it was a normal everyday struggle to get them out of the car and back home and keep the baby asleep and keep the toddler from getting run over, an older man sat and watched me and as I passed him he said quietly to me 'You're doing a really good job', and when I got home and managed to finally sit down after getting the baby in the cot, I just cried with gratitude that for that one moment I believed him and could acknowledge that I had done something right that day.
ReplyDeleteI really hope your B-I-L gets his treatment. Is there a fund raising page online for him? x
Hi ES, Yes, it is remarkable how a few kind words from a stranger can really change your day, I remember the juggling act with toddlers and babies, I'm glad that man took the time to encourage you, smalls acts do count! :) My BIL is all booked in for his treatment next year, so it is all systems go! They do have a fund raising blog with info about the treatment and how the fundraising is going. I think my sister will update it this week to include last nights efforts. http://mick2moscow.com
DeleteLovely post Jules, everything you say is so true. We too feel very fortunate to live in a small community where everyone is willing to help each other at any time of need - its a very special thing isn't it ?
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the rest of your weekend,
Kate x
Dear Julie, I could attach my signature to every single word you wrote. When I've been on holiday this summer I didn't read any newspaper nor did I look at any other news. I was so burdened with all the terrible things that have happened in the world the last months that I needed some rest and distance from it all. But your news is a good one, something that helps to believe in mankind again. We all have to care for those who surround us, that's the only thing we can do to make the world a teeny tiny bit better. Hope that your brother in law will get a good treatment, I'll keep my fingers crossed for him! Enjoy the rest of the weekend, Viola
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful!!!! Glad the fundraiser was a success!!! Good wishes from our side to you brother in law!!! I know just how wonderful people can be but after what just happened to my sister and niece, I have lost faith in human kind again!!! They are so traumatized and are having a difficult time coping with what happened!!!! The words "I am going to kill you" that he uttered over and over, is what gets her the most!!!! WHY? It was so random!!!! t's affected all of us badly but we have to remind ourselves all the time that there really are more good than bad people out there, that's the truth!!!! have a happy creative week!!!!
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AMarie xxx
My sentiments exactly, very well said.
ReplyDeleteAnne xx
Heart warming
ReplyDeleteIt's such a shame your brother has to go to Russia for treatment. I wish he had access to it here. So great to hear the fundraising went well.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful post, you hear so many horrid things in this day and age, it is so nice to hear about people coming together to help someone they care about.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Meredith
It's great to hear about such an encouraging event.
ReplyDeleteSo glad it was so positive and I'm sure Michael felt the love and support too. Best wishes to him. I think in today's world we've all become a bit too disconnected locally with community and with family and friends.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great outcome from a lovely night.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry to hear your brother in law has MS. Did you watch "Catalyst" on ABC last week,? try to catch it on line, there is a second part on this week, there have been good results.
Such true words Julie. The flow on effect of acting locally makes more of a difference than we know. The world seems a big, scary place right now but when it is broken down to our own little community we can make a big difference by small (or large) acts of kindness. What a lovely post. xx
ReplyDeleteIt's easy to give money. Many give that when they can well afford it and they consider themselves charitable. They don't and won't give their time which is more personal and achieves more. When people ask, they put their hands in their pockets, but they still walk on by. Even families. Sometimes money is a necessary part of loving and caring but it should not be all. Doing shopping for a sick person, walking an elderly person's dog, doing shopping or gardening for someone who can't themselves. There is so much to do, but everyone thinks that everyone else should be doing it and that they personally don't have time. The true gift is the making of time. Some people do, and many people don't. You would be surprised to know that often the busiest people are those who stretch themselves just a little more. I have met some good people lately.
ReplyDeleteThe best example of love in the community I know of is looking after an old lady so she didn't need to go into a home. Neighbours and friends of friends - not even people she had previously known well, did that and they enabled her with love and care, to stay in her home for 3 years, visiting every day, cooking meals, dog walking etc until she died. I was touched to be a part of that. It was a rare gift and no money ever changed hands, just lots of care and attention and good will. She had family but they were not there.
This is true that time is equally valuable if not more valuable than money. The love and care that goes into giving time and energy is more meaningful than dollars, but dollars make a difference too when so much of the world and access to support depends on dollars.
DeleteThere are many people who want to make the world a better and happier place. People who enjoy helping others and are just looking for opportunities. These are the amazing people who show up in times of need. It's a matter of letting people know where the needs are,sharing stories and news and looking for unmet needs and finding ways to fill the gaps where other services cannot.
ReplyDeleteI don't have a lot of money due to unemployment and I don't have energy due to illness but, like ES's comment about kind words, I try to help the world by giving praise and support when I can. People are quick to complain in this world and slow to compliment but it makes a big difference to let people know how much you admire them, or appreciate them and find value in what they are doing.
It is not about giving kind words for the sake of kind words. That is empty. It is about giving genuine praise when it is due and deserved.
One week at the supermarket, I received excellent service from one of the employees. As a regular customer, I know that this employee is very diligent about their job and giving customer service. On this particular day, I was so pleased when the employee went beyond the course of their normal duties to help me, that I rang the manager later that day to let him know. While I was at it, I also mentioned how good the whole staff were - consistently friendly, working as a team and competent at what they do.
That manager told me that my call had "made his day". It had been 'one of those days', a difficult day where lots of things were going wrong and difficult issues arising. He said he nearly didn't pick up my phone call for fear it would be another problem to deal with. He was delighted to receive my positive feedback and I hope that my words of encouragement helped him get through the day.
Some people think I am silly for making such phone calls - "why waste your time and money phoning someone you don't know? You don't NEED to make a call for that." - yet the response I got told me that it certainly WAS WORTHWHILE and made a difference to someone, and I felt good for following my heart's yearning to express my pleasure about good service. We need to give compliments when people are doing things right so they know and can keep doing things right!
Finally, all the best for your B-I-L s travel and treatment. MS is no fun. :-(
ReplyDeleteIt's wonderful to see people getting together and caring so much for the ones we love. It's very touching. I will be praying that everything goes well and for much health for you. BIL. I have Juvenal diabetics myself and know how hard it's to live with something that affects you every day. Prays and good thought for him and his family.
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