Back to School

This week has been a HUGE week for a lot of friends, family and pretty much everyone I know and don't know. Kids of all ages are headed back to school. On Facebook, I have seen photos of many kids standing outside their home front door, classroom door, in front of the locker, or sitting at their desk. In these photos I have also seen new books, new clothes, and new shoes. I have seen new school supplies, new bag packs, and new lunch boxes. I have seen tennis balls on school chairs, new folders and new computers.

With all of this "new" going on I have to wonder where is the old and what is being done with it? As you are reorganizing your closest or classrooms (for all you teachers out there), please consider making a difference in a young child or teenagers life. Pass those clothes on that don't fit anymore. Donate those supplies to an orphanage where kids of all ages and use them for their studies.

Have a great year of school!
Thanks for listening!
Sheryl

Patience and Taking Turns

Remember in kindergarten when we had to line up single file and take turns at the water fountain? It's funny how we were being taught those skills at such a young age so that we could carry them through life but somehow, we lose them along the way. I left Atlanta yesterday and went through 4 states in 6 1/2 hours. I have to say that Kentucky has the nicest drivers. They really do follow the rules of driving on the right and passing on the left. When getting on and off the highway, they take turns and are polite to let others in. I am a control freak when it comes to being behind the wheel but I have definitely learned a lesson for the rest of my trip.

Have patience on the road. Be nice and let others in.

Thanks for listening!
Sheryl

Hundreds of Gulf-area pets homeless

Many of you know my love of animals. I do not believe that they are just animals but are a part of the family as well. I do have a tendency to treat my dogs as humans, however, to be fair they do behave better than some humans out there. When a disaster happens to a neighborhood, town, or even a region, it is important for us to remember that it isn't just the humans that are affected. Because of the oil spill in the Gulf, there are hundreds of animals that have no home, or have died. Below are a few links to check out. Copy and paste them into your browser and who knows... you might be able to find $5 to donate or quite possibly even have a new member of your family.

Thanks for listening!
Sheryl

www.Facebook.com/DawnSavesWildlife

www.volunteerlatinamericablog.com/volunteer-at-gulf-oil-spill-animal-rescue

www.gcwr.org

http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2010/07/15/reporters-notebook-oil-and-the-family-pet/?on.cnn=1

Extra books?

Summer is here and a lot of extra reading is getting done. Not only are you reading more while on vacation but perhaps your children are on the summer reading program. As your children grow up, what can you do with their baby/children's books? Certainly you don't want to keep all of those books cluttering up your house. Whether you have extra books that are yours or your child's, take them to a local orphanage or even a nursing home.

Things to include would be books, magazines, newspapers, and even catalogs.

Thanks for listening!
Sheryl

Take a Chance

In two weeks I am heading out for LA. I am getting in my car and driving across the country to take a chance. I am doing an internship with a charitable foundation that The Cheesecake Factory started. There I will be working with the Director learning how to start and run fundraising events. I made a commitment to myself this year that I was going to help others more. I have started and continued this blog. I have rode a bike for MS. I have done many volunteer "jobs". I have collected shoes for the people of Haiti. I have collected soda tabs that turn into money, and more. This I believe to be my greatest commitment thus far.

When I return from LA, I will be working on projects to raise money for groups such as The Ronald McDonald House, Make-A-Wish Foundation, and more. I have never done this before but believe that we can all do a little more to help others. And wether or not you realize it, when you are helping others, you end up helping yourself too.

Take a chance and volunteer. Just one day a month is a great place to start. Below is a website where you can go to find somewhere to help others. Make it fun and bring the family.

Members Project / TakePart Social Action Network: Important Issues, Activism, Environmental, Human Rights, Political News
http://www.takepart.com/membersproject

Thanks for Listening!
Sheryl

Mistakes and Change

Over the last week or so I have been watching a lot of sporting events. Not that that is really different than normal but now I have added on the World Cup and the US Open. With the World Cup there are many teams that fell victim to bad calls from the refs. When something is called wrong, you can see the teams are now even more stressed and mentally it is much harder to get back in the game. What would have happened if the calls were made right? Would it bring more fans to the sport? Would it make a difference in peoples lives?

Now heading to the US Open, many times you are planing for yourself. There has been the longest game in history (3 days). What would have happened to John Isner if they would have given his body a full day of much needed rest before his next match? Maybe he would have not gotten creamed. Maybe he would have lost still but don't you think that much like a pitcher in baseball, rest is needed. There have also been many upsets. The Williams sisters are out of the doubles, and #1 Roger Federer literally just got beat by the #12 seed. What a boost this gives #12 Tomas Berdych from Chech Republic!

With all the hype for the big players in whatever sport it may be, change is good. Change brings new and exciting drama to the sport. Change brings new/old talent up for more recognition. Change brings interest and intrigue. If the same team/person were to win each and every year, it would get boring.

The same is said for our own lives. Change is good. Change doesn't have to be big or elaborate. Maybe it is a date night with your honey. A special day with your kids. A change in wardrobe, hair, or shoes. Change could be a different place to eat out this week. Change could be making a phone call instead of sending a text or an email. What if you took that day with your kids and you went to the local food pantry and bagged food? What if the place you went out to eat was donating a percentage of your bill to help the children's hospital? What if the change in your wardrobe meant that while you were getting something new for yourself, you were donating your old stuff to the homeless? What if by calling someone you brightened their day just because they heard your voice and they passed along the happiness to others?

Change is good. We all need change.

Thanks for listening,
Sheryl

Today the US soccer team came back in the 91st minute to win the must win game. Even with the bad call last week and the same bad call today, they still believed. They believed in themselves. They believed in their bodies. They believed in the fight. The fight for a title for the USA. When you think the referees and the world are against you, fight for yourself. Believe in you. Landon Donovan believed and followed through. Keep believing.