Do Unto Others...

Yesterday (mid-morning), as I was running around like a crazy woman with a packed schedule, I realized I hadn't seen Melissa in a while. I knew she was going to be doing some yard work, so I peeked outside and she was nowhere in sight. As I continued to look for her, I realized she was in fact doing yard work...only it was in the neighbor's yard. She was working ever so diligently to make that yard in better shape for the little girls to play. I couldn't help but just smile. She does this without request, she does this out of the kindness of her own heart, expecting nothing in return. You see, she had a schedule to go by yesterday as well, but it didn't stop her. It suddenly slowed down the hectic pace of my day. I finally got to take time out of my busy schedule and enjoy something, even if it didn't involve me at all. I thank God for the ability to recognize the moment as one to ponder. It may sound petty, doing volunteer yard work for someone else, but if you saw the size of our yard and their yard, you would understand it is anything BUT petty. 

It kick-started my motivation for Joy Latte all over again. Doing good for others, just because....how delightful is that?! Seeing the simple act of someone doing for others, makes my cheeks pop with excitement. I am so so very excited about our upcoming JL project(s). More so now than ever. It has taken quite some time to fully develop the plan in its entirety, but I hope it will be well worth it. 

I encourage everyone to go out and do something nice for someone, whether it is someone close to you, or someone you've never met. And please don't engage in your generosity via social media...make it personal. Not just a facebook message, text or tweets. There is nothing like personal contact in this day in age. We get so involved in the lives of others through our phones, computers, tablets, etc, and we forget we have a life of our own in which we can do so many good things. So, instead of reading about someone's good day, be a part of that someone's good day. Start with a close friend, or a co-worker, a neighbor, your family. Start somewhere and let it be contagious! And if you decide to delve into this encouraging request, please tag #joylatte and tell us your story on how you made your little world a better place.

I ESPECIALLY encourage you to participate in these small acts of kindness if you are having a bad day. Nothing cheers me up more than being able to make someone else smile, laugh or feel surprised. It is the element of surprise that creates a whirlwind of emotions that can truly change someone's entire outlook on their day/mood...including your own. If there is not something good you can find in your day, create it. It's that simple. Don't let money be an issue either. I am not saying buy someone a vacation to Mexico. You can simply get a 6-pack of their favorite soda and wrap quotes around each can. You can bake cookies and bring them to work for no reason. You can simply tell someone they are awesome. 

If you every have trouble deciding what do to, always remember the golden rule.

So go now, and do unto others...

Peace and Joy,
Beth

Aftermath

I am not even sure where to begin with this entry. Several states just endured a 4 day monster that ripped through and brought devastation over many. I am used to hurricanes, I am used to unpredictable weather...this however...this was scary. There were over 130 tornadoes reported, lives lost, homes uprooted, hail damage and the flooding...oh my dear, the flooding. Needless to say, anyone in the path of these storms took a beating. I have never experienced hail like that, nor have I ever been so thankful for large closets, but all in all, we came out of it much better off than a whollllle lot of other people. I found myself suddenly realizing how many people I know that were in the line of destruction.

I am lost for words looking at all the pictures, videos, news casts and Facebook posts. Reading blogs and different perspectives of the same storm. It is crazy how your neighbor is left with nothing but a slab while your house is merely missing a few shingles. Seeing pictures of how Ono Island became Oh No Island. Pensacola is under water, as are parts of South Alabama.The damage in all states impacted...it is incomprehensible.

You see stories of parents protecting children, pets being found, boats being carried miles and miles away. You see household items floating down what used to be a street. You see cars filling up with water, you see shreds of wood from what used to be a house. You see vehicles in sinkholes, items impaled in trees and people literally kayaking down the street to help others who are stranded on top of their house or car. You see people trying to pick up pieces of their life, what little they can find of it. You see all of this and it makes you just want to cry, or understand or just scream.

If I had enough arms I would hug everyone who was impacted. If I had enough money I would help rebuild, replace and restore. If I had enough belongings, I would donate it all. I see communities coming together, I see volunteers risking their own safety to help others. It's a beautiful thing, really. It is almost contagious. So what do I have enough of, I ask myself. Well, hope is pretty infinite, and so is compassion and effort. I also have the beautiful power of prayer. Ideas start unfolding, enveloping my every thought, and suddenly I am compelled to do SOMETHING. I feel if I am able, I should....right?

So maybe it will be a fundraiser, maybe it will be an item raiser...maybe it will be a huge Joy Latte project. The fact that I can generate several ideas in such a short amount of time makes me realize there is really no reason to not help. It is about realizing you have a purpose in life, and utilizing that purpose for the better of the communities, people and support that surrounds tragedies such as this.

Most of you still have a house on a street that you can still drive down in a car that you still have with someone is the passenger seat that is still alive. Imagine if ALL of that was taken from you at one time.

I refuse to call this the aftermath.Think about it...what is the true aftermath of tragedy? Overcoming it, right? I believe the aftermath of this will be communities rebuilt with compassion, more pride for those communities and a new chapter for those involved. Everything may have washed away for some, but what is yet to come can be a beautiful thing. Strength, bravery, effort, love, commodore, hope and revitalization.....THAT is what defines the aftermath....THAT is what will be remembered.

Peace and Joy,
Beth