Homelessness, Family Well-Being & Youth Empowered for Success @sfcla

This is @sfcla's logo.
I've borrowed it from their site

Respect.  Non-judgmentalism (one of the few -isms I support! ::grin:: )  Helping each person create their full potential.

These are things that I look for.  In my actions and words towards others.  In their actions and words towards me.  And in organizations I feel you need to know about.

If you haven't met them, I want you to take a moment and read St. Francis Center's "About Us" web page.  Then go take a look at their Services page.  "Start by doing what's necessary; then do what's possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible." -- Saint Francis of Assisi

On the twitter stream, you can find them at:

https://twitter.com/#!/sfcla

This is their FaceBook page:

http://www.facebook.com/sfcla

8 Simple Things You Can Do To #MakeADifference in the world, today.

In no specific order:

1)  Go smile at someone.  Anyone.  In fact ... do something drastic:  smile at EVERYone you see or think about today.


2)  Spread this thought:  "Nothing is so contagious as an example.  We never do great good or great evil without bringing about more of the same on the part of others."  Francois de La Rochefaucauld


3)  Peruse Kickstarter.com -- just look, you don't have to give anything.  Read about the many ways to Fund & Follow Creativity!



4)  Go spend some time exploring JustCoz.org; pick a cause to donate a tweet a day.



5)  Consider this possibility:  "An entirely new system of thought is needed, a system based on attention to people, and not primarily attention to goods ..."   E. F. Schumacher



6)  Re-read Desiderata.  Ponder it.  Here's a few links to get you started: http://www.fleurdelis.com/desiderata.htm or  http://strider333.blogspot.com/2005/10/desirada.html or read what I find to be an interesting set of thoughts on it: http://www.fleurdelis.com/desidera.htm


7)  Add your Vote today and once a day until the 28th of March here: http://www.youtube.com/nonprofitvideoawards?x=us_showcase_4653_50 to help my street peers and to give a chance to bring Robert's story to @YouTube's homepage by having it win a DoGooder award! 



8)  Breathe.

8a) Now ... take that a step further, whenever you are in a state of tension, anger or distress of any kind today, especially when you are kept waiting ... breathe and focus for a few moments only on your breathing.  The sound or silence of it.  The inbreath.  The exhale.  The slowness or fastness of it.  How many complete breaths you participate in during one minute.

Then return to whatever it is you are doing along with your breathing, letting your breath subside once again into the rhythm of your day.

Don't have orange 3D glasses?

In the midst of all the racket and row that contribute to the circumstances of our lives -- it is our heart vision that ultimately defines how we perceive things.


Yesterday was a chef d'oeuvre.

#ArtNightPasadena -- March 9, 2012 6-10pm WHOOT!

ArtNightPasadena logo

Tonight is gonna be blazin'!

12 venues in Pasadena (13 if you count the City Hall Transportation Hub) will be sending FREE vibes throughout the city!

If you are in or near the area it's so-o-o-o-o-o-o worth your time!

Find out about the event here:

www.artnightpasadena.org

Tweet much?  Then send word to your friends with this hashtag!

#ArtNightPasadena

On Facebook?  Well, like, check them out here!

https://www.facebook.com/artnightpasadena

Join in the Awe and the Fun!

Apprenticeship on the Streets - Invisible People

Being an apprentice is an excellent way for me to learn.  It gives me time to repeat experiences and absorb them.  I'm fortunate in that one of the non-profit foundations I believe in and support heavily is now facilitating what I call an "Apprenticeship Program."  I'm taking advantage of that, and have enrolled as an apprentice.

::preens:: You could call me an "early adopter" in the program.  ::chortle::

Had the opportunity to share stories on the street yesterday.  Not something that happens for me often, since my health imposes a few more limits on me than I like at the moment.

I want to share a bit of those stories with you.

What would help you get through this moment?

Graphic copyright JaguarWoman
purchased use rights by Rd Plasschaert
purchased long ago, doncha think it's gorgeous?

I find it sometimes overwhelming to be on the listening end to so many people that are:

having difficulty getting disability benefits from “our social system” when they are disabled;

having difficulty getting housed;

having difficulty getting fed;

having difficulty being treated with respect, love and non-judgmental encouragement.

The overwhelm is not from listening, it's from my feelings of "what can I do?".

So this is a reminder to me, and perhaps encouragement to you …