Life is all about living and I want to share what each day means to me through a special theme I deem for the day. Most days are created from emotions or events that happen throughout the day, but sometimes they may be sparked by something else! TODAY IS... READ MY BLOG DAY!
"You are the representation of God in your life." -- Iyanla Vanzant
"Life is a gift. Everyday you have another opportunity to make a difference."-- Carl David
Well we've made it through day three and I have to say that although I seemed to have more hunger pains yesterday, I realized how hungry I was today! I haven't eaten much over the past three days; we are supposed to be eating 8oz of rice and 4oz of beans for each meal, however the rice is so bland and dry and I have a hard time swallowing it and on a normal basis I have difficulties stomaching beans. So over the past three days I think I've eaten probably 12oz of food total. As I was talking to a dear friend this evening, she asked me how it was going, "Terrible" I replied. I went on to tell her that you cannot add any spices, sauces, or really any flavoring to this 12oz meal, so water has become my saving grace. She was astonished, she said she knew it was not going to be difficult but not having any flavoring... yuck! We talked about the struggles that I have faced in the past three days and then discussed what this must be like for children on a regular basis. Fatigue, headaches, weight loss, etc... No child should ever have to experience going hungry which is why I feel so blessed to be a part of this revolution to make ending world hunger a forefront issue. I have been amazed how much these 3 days have affected me, but what is even more amazing is the wonderful power of God and how he is working to get so many to sponsor us in this journey! Just received an e-mail that we have provided nearly 70,000 meals to children and are nearly 1/3 of the way to our goal. There is no other way to say that this is a God given miracle! I hope that people continue to get involved at www.25inchange.org and I hope that all of you that have sponsored an advocate know how much you and your generous heart mean to all the advocates and all the children across the world who would otherwise be starving. Let me not forget to thank all of those too who have been so supportive of me and the other advocates on this journey! I will be the first to admit, this is much more of a challenge than I was expecting and I know I could not go on if it were not for the other 24 advocates who are sharing in this fight with me, and all of those wonderful people who continue to support both financially and mentally! I love you all now let's get out there and change the world!
"Whoever saves a life saves the world entire..."--unknown
"Empathy is a quality of character that can change the world."-- Barack Obama
"You give little when you give of your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give."
-- Kahil Gibran
Exhausted
Hungry
Headache
Cold
Grumpy
Dreaming of food
Just a few of the symptoms I'm experiencing and it's only day 2!
God give me and my fellow advocates the strength to continue forward, and allow us to be your hands, feet and voice to all those who experience this and worse on a daily basis!
Please don't forget about why we're doing this... We cannot do this alone, we need your help! www.25inchange.org, click on any one of the advocates and give a meal for 101 people today and help end world hunger!
"What you do speaks so loudly that I cannot hear what you say."-- Ralph Waldo Emerson
"If you know something must change, then you know it is you who must change it."
-- Fierce Conversations
As I waited in line at airport security in Arizona, the anticipation was
building; my previously cooked, beans and rice-in-a-bag, that were frozen this morning (unknown to me) were
packed in my suitcase waiting for me to experience the first day of this
radical change in both my diet and my mindset. As I settled in at my gate, I
unzipped my carry on and pulled out my first meal. Bite one… a little dry,
bland, at least it’s all thawed out; it’s not so bad, I thought to myself! Bite 2, still
dry, still no taste, and much worse than bite one. Bite 3, I’m beginning to wonder
how I am going to do this for 25 days 3 times a day. Spoonful 4 goes in and I
can no longer chew and swallow on my own. I take a large gulp of fresh water
and swirl it around, hoping to move the contents from my mouth to my stomach…
After those few bites my mind goes to the children; this is what they eat every
day? I can barely stomach 4 spoonfuls of this and I am feeling full. I’m
feeling both sympathetic and panged by guilt as I think about the abundance and
exotic different foods that I have a choice to on a daily basis. My mind shifts
from being hungry for food to starving for affection. 25 days eating beans and
rice is going to be a lot harder than I anticipated not only because of what I am
eating but because of what I am feeling. I must remember that with these 25 days, and these 25 advocates we
are helping bring awareness and providing meals to many who would otherwise go
without. This team of 25 is hoping to raise enough money to provide 187,500 meals to starving children worldwide. Each time someone gives $25, 100 children receive a meal and an advocate gets to eat their rice and beans meal portion. We don't eat until you give nor do the children. So please help us help them by
getting involved and becoming an advocate for change! Follow me on Twitter @BucciAcb1884 and check out the 25 in Change website at www.25inchange.org
Together we can make a difference
Choose any one of the advocates to donate to and you'll be part of the 25 in Change revolution! http://25inchange.org/category/advocates/the-first-25/
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Driving home from the airport I had a moment and I knew I must include it in today's post... That little voice inside my soul whispered, as it so often does, and helped me realize that this opportunity is going to bring me much closer to my God. As my stomach grumbled, I knew then that I will have to find my fulfillment and my strength in God... these next 25 days are not going to be easy, but like they say... Nothing worthwhile ever comes easy! I thank God for this opportunity and I pray that he makes my cup overflow with abundance for his love and his desire to bring joy to all.
"It's not about where we want to go, it's about where God wants to take us."-- Dary Northrup
"Let us not be satisfied with just giving money. Money is not enough, money can be got, but they need your hearts to love them. So spread your love everywhere you go."-- Mother Teresa
"We are not just studying human history we are shaping it."--Kony 2012
"Nothing is more powerful than an idea whose time has come." -- Kony 2012
As he wept, I wept, although our tears may fall from different places, we cry for the same thing… Justice! "Who is Joseph Kony?" she asked. "Is he a good guy or a bad guy?" I responded honestly, "Who am I to say if he's a good guy or a bad guy, I don't know enough about him." That was before I attended a viewing of this video on Tuesday night. This made my heart ache and my blood boil. How could we be in this situation? How could we have let this type of cold-blooded murder occur for 20 years without doing anything? How could so many of us, including myself, not know who Joesph Kony is? HOW? Our television screens are filled with "more important" news like who is dating whom, fashion no-no's and other such feel good news, I hope that one day we'll know about these things before it's too late. "No government party... would do enough because it's simply not an important enough issue on the radar screen of American Foreign Policy." Rewind, did he say that it is not an important enough issue... children are getting murdered, raped, and slaughtered by members of their own family, however because it doesn't affect us directly here in America this suddenly is deemed unimportant! WOW!
That all was until a group of young people decided that this could no longer happen and they began to take action. "A bunch of little's can make a big difference." As he says in the film, "Where you live shouldn't determine if you live." We were all created by the same maker, whom I refer to as God. Needless to say, whatever your belief, I hope that you will agree that no matter who you are or where you live should not determine your chance to life. My hope is that you will view this 27 minute video and join the movement to STOP AT NOTHING! Because as they said in the film, if we fail, this is not just bad for the people of Uganda, this is bad for the world. What kind of world would we be if we just continued to turn our backs. We must do something. I hope you're with me. Help make Kony world news so we stop asking, "WHO IS JOSEPH KONY? and start teaching about "WHO WAS JOSEPH KONY?"
"Live a life that demands explanation."-- unknown
"The world is more malleable than you think, and it's waiting for you to hammer it into shape."
"Start on your dreams, your impulses, your longings, your special occasions today. Because this is your moment..."-- Mary Anne Radmacher Live Boldly
"In order to be irreplaceable one must always be different" -- Coco Chanel
If you read my post "6 Words or Less" you saw that my Hemingway inspired 6 word bio was created in less than six seconds. (That's record timing for my writing also the shortest thing you'll probably ever see me write) It reads:
"Defying status quo: DREAMING BIGGER!"
I make note that this only took me six seconds for two reasons, that's Usain Bolt speed in writing comparison for me, and I thought I was going to have to contemplate over those 6 words forever, but they came to me immediately, it was like they spoke my language. They bled from the soul dripping out into realism. At first I was amazed that I was able to create something so quickly, but the more and more I ponder over this peculiarity, I am beginning to believe it is because it is not only what I think, it is what I am. I am dreamer. I defy the norm because I'm terrified of becoming just like everyone else. I cringe on the thought of complacency and I tend to unravel when someone tries to tell me that I remind them of someone; a copycat I am not. I am an original. I am because we were. I cannot be defined by a status, or enclosed in a box, I must have room to expand, change and create. I am a dreamer. I am me! I am a child of God and God created this child for so much more than ordinary.
"Ever great dream begins
WITH A DREAMER
Always remember you have within you
The Strength,
The patience,
and The Passion
To reach for the stars
To change the world." -- Harriet Tubman
"... we're all here to contribute something unique... deep within each of us lies a special gift..."
"...dare to participate in the unbelievable."-- Mary Anne Radmacher Live with Intention
"Don't be like the rest of them darling."-- unknown
In the past few months I've been confronted with this idea of writing a bio in six words or less. The original idea spurred from Ernest Hemingway, after someone asked him to write a story in 6 words, to which he said: "For Sale: baby shoes, never worn." After reading about so many people who have done this too I decided it was time that I write my own; I thought I would contemplate over it for a while, but in less than six seconds I had my six words...
"Defying the status quo... DREAMING BIGGER!"
It's your turn. What would your six word bio be? I'd love to know. Leave your 6 word bio in the comments... I would love to read:)
"I learned... how to respond to 'You can't do that.' Why argue? Just do it."
-- Mary Anne Radmacher Live with Intention
"Don't let small minds convince you that your dreams are too big. They aren't." -- unknown
“I wondered what could
happen if the rich of the world would share with the poor… without holding
back, giving their all and believing that the Lord would provide more as
needed.” – Katie Davis ‘Kisses from
Katie’
“God wanted us to care
for the poor, not just care about them, but to truly take care of them, and
many of us were not doing so. God told us to love our neighbors as ourselves,
but so many of our neighbors were starving to death while our tables were
filled with abundance.” – Katie Davis ‘Kisses
from Katie’
When I come to a stop, I hunch over the steering wheel and
weep. How could we let this happen, how could I become numb to such tragedy? Watching
statistics scroll across a screen, my
mind goes blank, my heart becomes numb and I have found myself checked
out thinking it’s just a number, until I am slapped violently with the
realization that that number, is not just a number, but a child’s beating
heart, a babies starving cry, my fellow
brother or sister screaming for affection. I am saddened beyond belief and I am
mad as hell.
“For the first time in humanity over one billion people are
chronically hungry.” Please read this again, and this time, let your mind try
to wrap around what this means, “For the first time in humanity over one
billion people are chronically hungry.” If you’re like me, one billion people
is almost impossible to imagine, so think of it like this, every 60 seconds, 10
children die from starvation. I don’t know about you, but I cannot sit by
knowing that this kind of suffering is happening in our world. In a world where
we are more obsessed with celebrities, fashion, and the Prince of England’s
wedding than we are about injustices, world tragedies and the dire needs of
dying children. In America we are overly blessed with the abundance of food,
clothing, shelter, communication, entertainment, wealth; I could go on and on
we have so much stuff. We are a community that feeds off of greed. We never are
satisfied with what we have or content with having less, instead we stand in
line to buy the newest iPad, the greatest new video game, or camp out for the
limited edition electronics; needless to say we already have all of these we
just want the best of the best, because that’s what we deserve right? Well I hope that one day, and I hope that it’s
sooner rather than later, we’ll wake up to realize that all our material
possessions are just that, things that clutter our lives and take away from the
true values of what we have in our lives, like our friends and our families. Our
material possessions cannot be taken with us when we leave this world, and for
most of us, we’ll be wanting to discard of them soon anyway we when get word that
Apple is coming out with the iPad4. I long for the day that instead of camping
outside a movie theater to be the first to see the midnight showing of Hunger
Games, we’ll be sitting around with friends on weeknights staying up past
midnight, sharing in ways to end world hunger. Instead of athletes going on
strike because they are not making enough money, they will donate a large
amount of their money to take a strike against the injustices of the world. I
dare to dream that instead of waiting to buy the newest electronic device to be
put on the shelf the minute the next great thing comes out, we will question
what is truly best for the consumer here; and what is it that we should
actually be consuming. I would like to challenge each and every one of you that
takes the time to read this to think about what it is that you are starving
for? Is it food, or is it the idea that you’ll have everything you ever wanted
if you could just have X. Then before you go to buy that one item that will
make you the happiest you’ve ever been, contemplate what it would mean if you
decided to give up your material possession for something as wonderful as
filling the belly of a starving child; helping to end world hunger and making
that child the happiest they’ve been knowing that someone in the world cares
about them and they are loved. Just think, as you’re day dreaming of buying “X”
that young girl in Africa is daydreaming of eating a meal tonight. While you’re
in line, waiting for the newest toy to be released, that young boy in India
stands in line wondering if there will be enough food for him to eat. And as
you pull out your credit card to buy another useless item you don’t need, think
about using that card to help a child in need by using it to give more by
having less. Please don’t let the statistics be just that, a statistic, because
if we don’t do something about it now, sooner rather than later, you or someone
you know very well could be one of those statistics that the world turns their
back to, saying, oh it’s just another number. While you scream, I’m more than a
number I am a child of God. If it was your mom, your sister, your dad, your
brother, or Jesus standing on the street corner holding a sign that read, “HUNGRY,
PLEASE HELP” could you walk away? I didn’t think so, please don’t wait, they
need our help now. Your 60 seconds has started and I hope you're willing to say enough is enough; I'm doing something about this.
To learn more about ways to get involved in ending world hunger, please e-mail
change@25inchange.org saying "I WANT CHANGE". This is associated with Pathways Church in Denver, and their valiant effort to help end world hunger.
“Miracles aren’t what
other people do. They’re what each of us does. They’re what happens when
ordinary people take extraordinary action.” – Regina Brett ‘Be the Miracle’
“I wanted to give even
more. I wanted to do more for the people who needed help and I wanted others to
rise up and do the same. I didn’t want to simply care for these people, I
wanted to advocate for them. I wanted to raise more awareness for these
voiceless unseen children.” – Katie Davis ‘Kisses from Katie’
"Don't wait for people to smile. Show them how." -- unknown
'tinate' the Bari word for 'thank you'
This March weather has been so wonderful that today I
decided my transparent skin could use a little color so I got out for a short
walk to enjoy the rays as they beat down on my whitened shell. As I was walking, I see this guy start running at me from across the street... I'm looking
around thinking maybe he's charging to embrace his long lost lover but soon
realize he is making a B-Line right for me. I can feel my palms get a little
sweaty as I get a little nervous, unsure of his intentions. He stops
me, totally out of breath, and asks "Do you have a lighter?"
"Unfortunately I don't" I respond, trying to mask my fearful
chuckle... "Sorry," I say as I begin to back away. He smiles and
says, "You look... I mean... um... I really like your outfit." He
stumbles over his words as if there were stones lining the inside of his
throat. I smile, thank him, and quickly walk away trying to stifle my laughter,
hoping to get as far away before he hears me laugh out loud . Did
that guy just tell me he liked my outfit, I thought to myself? That's awesome:)
There I was nervous that this man was going to chase me down to hurt me, but
instead he did just the opposite, he had me grinning the rest of the walk back!
Laughing at the hilarity of the whole scene, I find myself replaying thoughts
just moments before. I had been begging God to give me something to smile
about, seeing as work is making me pretty drab; and not only did He listen, He knew
just how to deliver. Through comedic relief, God knows me so well and he loves
me so much that He told me a joke in such a way that I could appreciate. I am
grateful for this moment as it reminds me that even through the mundane, life
is always good for a laughJ Looks like the jokes on me!
"If you're not making someone else's life better than you're wasting your time." -- Will Smith
"Be happy -- it's the taste that lingers." -- Mary Anne Radmacher
"Every so often do one small thing to enhance someone else's life." -- Regina Brett 'Be the Miracle'
As I sat in church last night I listened to Gil, my pastor, talk about being "Bummed" in the sense of vision. He referred to this state as the state of your vision where you have not only come to the brick wall, but you've hit the brick wall at full speed. At the beginning of your vision, he explained, you are so excited, you're jacked up! You have this newfound purpose for living and you can't wait to get out in the world and make it no longer just a vision but reality. Before you are able to make this happen, you have to fully understand your vision. In doing so, we often question, is this a vision I created for myself or is this a vision from God? When we are certain that it's a vision from God, we must surpass the fear and jump into that purpose wholeheartedly! But as everyone knows, what goes up (JUMP) must come down (FALL) so although you may have taken the jump it's likely you might suddenly get the feeling like you're falling in every direction possible. But this is where it gets really good... God is making sure that you're committed to this journey no matter the struggles, disappointments or brick walls you may stumble upon. He wants to know that you're committed to pick yourself up and climb over the wall that moments before stopped you dead in your tracks. In my experience, I think this might be God's way of preparing me for a journey that I cannot even begin to comprehend right now; a journey that will be filled with many fumbles, stumbles and great brick walls, but in the end a journey that I'll be able to look back on with the world and know that I was created for it! As I listened intently to Gil sledge through this topic of being bummed something resonated... Do you have someone in your life, that as you struggle through the phase of being bummed, will tell you, "Get off your butt, wipe your tears, and get on with what you were created to do?" As cliche as it is, the lightbulb came on and I thought of my parents, especially my dad. What months before I saw as criticism and denial, I now recognize as his old fashioned way of handling situations when I was hurt as a child when he would say to me, "Walk it off!" So that is just what I am going to do, I'm going to get back on track, knowing that my vision lies before me, and the only way that I'll ever get there is to continue through the struggles, climb the walls, and be brave enough to "Walk it Off"!
"To live boldly suggest, that you can outfit your soul for the journey of your dreams or for the unusual demands of particular day." -- Mary Anne Radmacher "Live Boldly"
"I felt a sense of liberation and strength knowing that this was an effort worth trying with all my heart."
-- Lynn Hill
To check out Gil's sermon, please visit www.pathwayschurch.org or click on the link below:
"Word birds -- Winged thoughts that fly out of my daily experience and come to roost as poetry."
-- Mary Anne Radmacher "Live With Intention"
"I absolutely love to read, and when you love to read, the whole world opens up."
-- Regina Brett "Be The Miracle"
I spend a lot of my time reading, I love to read (this could quite possibly be the biggest understatement). A good book to me is words to my soul, fuel for my mind and the most powerfully inspiring tool that turns the cogs of passion inside my heart. Sometimes I'll read books and find myself so immersed in the pages that I become one with the book. I get so involved with books that I tend to write all over them, making them no longer a space of organized verbiage and thoughts, but instead a well painted upon canvas with my own ideas, questions, and underlined passages of inspiration! I recently stumbled upon this quote by a man named Stefan G. Bucher in his book 344 Questions, "...a tattered, busted-up book -- filled out, and scribbled upon -- means you've found out new things about yourself and you're inspired to take action." Those 25 words were so powerful to me, for they not only represented my relationship with books, but the kind of romance that I want my readers to have with what I write. As so many of you know, writing is a passion of mine. I write to respond to the life I so long to understand. I write because I don't know how to be silent. I write because I have thoughts, questions, comments and lessons I need to not only be able to say but share with all those who are eager to listen. I write because that is what I am, a writer with a capitol W. I write because I am inspired by others words and wisdom and I want others to be inspired by me. I write because my life is a classroom, and the only way I know how to share my lessons, is through the written words of my soul. I write because this is what God made me to do, he gave me the gift of the written word, and if I cannot write, than I cannot live.
What is it you were meant to do? What gift did God give that was only intended for you? Remember this, if you don't do it, it will never be done.
"My mission is to inspire and be inspired. Inspiration is the word of my mission."
-- Mary Anne Radmacher "Live Boldly"
"If we do everything else but one thing, we will be lost. And if we do nothing else but that one thing, we will have lived a glorious life." -- Rumi
P.S. A few months ago I read this short e-book called "The Writers Manifesto" by Jeff Goins. I was not only impressed by his words, but also intrigued by his willingness to share what it takes to be a writer in this competitive dog-eat-dog world. Recently he sent an e-mail to his followers, offering the first 100 people who responded to the e-mail two new free e-books about writing (with the agreement that we would share them too) So as promised, Jeff, I thoroughly enjoyed "Every Writers Dream'... very inspiring and motivating! "The world needs this. More than you know. We are waiting for your words. Longing to be changed by them." I loved that quote from it. And "Before Your First Book" had some great direction and lessons to be learned from you. Thank you again for sharing. For those of you that want to check them out, Jeff has given me permission to share this link with you. Enjoy http://goinswriter.com/get-published
"...We're done here. Now go do something that matters" -- Jeff Goins "Every Writers Dream"
