Positive Message For A Good Cause

Today I want to talk about a new endeavor.  The next step for what I hope will be the rest of my life.  My mission with this blog is to be real.  I want to share the chapters of my life, pass on some wisdom and send a positive message.  It is my sincere hope that others will benefit from my journey.  I also want to promote less judgment with more compassion and empathy.  Everyone, including myself, has stuff going on in their lives and sometimes it feels like the stress never ends.  Please know you are not alone in whatever circumstance you may be experiencing.

If you have been reading my blog, then you know I have had a lot of different life experiences.  I haven’t even gotten to the divorces, sexual abuse, etc… but I will!  Just this week, I could have written two more chapters on the ‘fun’ of being a  Mom so I have a long way to go.  No matter what the blog of the week entails,  I try to make sure I end it with a positive message.  With every story, there is always a lesson learned or a teachable moment to pass on.

Along with all of that, I feel we are bombarded with too much negativity on a daily basis.  I would love to see what could happen with a positive message being promoted.  Maybe if we all work together, we can get to a place where positivity outweighs the negativity.   Do I dare to dream that this could be a reality one day?  I have to believe. 

I also know how blessed I am and want to do my part to improve living conditions and the quality of life for so many others.  There are a lot of people out there who need support and I want to give back to and highlight some very worthy causes.

In that spirit, I have opened a store attached to this blog.  I have to get this mission moving fast because it seems like time is of the essence with the shit show going on in this world.  It is my hope you can and will help me.  I have designed three different #hashtags with each one giving back to an individual charity that is important and near and dear to my heart.  I spent the month of September raising money for leukemia and lymphoma and with a lot of help and generosity from my friends, we raised over $1000.  That is a lot, but I want to do better with more involvement.  I am just starting, so I have high hopes for this to become a bigger and better endeavor.

#BeKind

My first positive message design is #BeKind.  I originally designed this with proceeds going back to leukemia and lymphoma.  Moving forward, all clothes, accessories, and sundries with #BeKind will have donations going back to the National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI).

Statistics say 1 in 5 people suffer from some sort of mental illness disorder.  Mental Illness covers a plethora of diagnosis from schizophrenia to ADHD to anxiety.   I have already written two stories on my children with ADD and ADHD.   One story about it leading to alcoholism and addiction in my son.  The other;  how I am working to prevent it with another child.  Two of my most popular blogs to date as it hits home with so many.

I also have extended family members dealing with mental illness, and I know how difficult it is for them to find help.  Mental illness is on the rise, and the support available cannot keep up with the need.  Another area of concern is finding a program that is covered with insurance.  Sadly, even if you can find the right resources, it may be unaffordable.   How is this humane?

Click on the BeKind picture above and 25% of any purchases bearing the #BeKind, will go back to this worthy group fighting the stigma of mental illness.  Spread a positive message while giving back to a good cause.

Ellen DeGeneres ends every show with the message, “Be kind to one another.”   I want to be like Ellen, making a difference.   Let’s all start a kindness movement.

#ThinkGod

My second positive message design is #ThinkGod.  It doesn’t matter what religion you are or where you worship.  I just think if we, as a human race, thought about God before saying a mean thing to somebody or acting on a negative thought, we may proceed differently.   Would God do or say this?  If you have any question, don’t do it.   25% of the proceeds with #ThinkGod will be going back to Feeding America.

Did you know that 1 in 8 people suffer from hunger?  I have struggled financially many times in my life.  Freddy and I may never be ready for retirement, but that is ok.  We certainly aren’t starving, and we eat out once a week.  That is a luxury!   There are children, adults, and seniors who can’t even afford one meal a day.

In the 2016 elections, 6.5 billion dollars was spent on politicians so they can run around and campaign via private jets while spewing BS rhetoric.  But we have 40 million humans in this country who suffer from hunger.  That should not be.

Only once did we volunteer at a church and serve food to the homeless or hungry and I really have to do it again.  I noticed that several of these people suffered from some sort of mental illness.  Others, you would not have guessed were hungry and they were all right here in Westchester County.  They were beautiful, joyous humans with smiles on their faces – grateful for the hospitality.

I may not have any retirement, but I am doing better than most of this country.  I am blessed!  How is it that there are people worth millions and yet, people are starving?  It makes no sense to me.

I remember loving the George Burns “Oh God” movies.  In Oh God, Book II,  the expression “think God’ was his mission through a young girl named Tracy.  It seemed that fewer people were considering him and he was dismayed.   God spoke to Tracy and prompted her to spread his positive message.  In the movie, she was spray painting ‘Think God’ all over buildings and billboards as a reminder.

#ThinkGod is a positive message.  Make that contagious instead of the horrible political rhetoric that encompasses our lives.  I would watch the news again if they had even a 5-minute segment on something good going on in the world.  If we are lucky, we may experience a 30-second piece on a Good Samaritan.

Two very painless concepts – #BeKind and #ThinkGod.  Is that so hard?  What a fantastic human race we could be if we just used a couple of simple measures in a daily routine.  Can Y’all help me spread a positive message?   Just click on the coffee cup above to help spread the love.

Final Thoughts with a Positive Message

I am sure this seems like an impossible mission, but I want to try.  I think God wants me to – somebody is whispering in my ear and I am listening.

Maybe we can all #ThinkGod more so we can be reminded to #BeKind and live in a happier, more loving world.

One of the things that they tell you to get subscribers when doing a blog is to give a freebie. Well here is my freebie – I promise if I ever see anyone on the street, in a store or anywhere wearing one of my shirts or pair of my socks, I will give you a hug.  A FREE HUG!  What the heck is better than that!?  It is THE BEST feeling in the world.

Do you know what else is free?  Subscribing, sharing and re-posting this blog – help me spread the love with a positive message!   If you buy any of the products, take a picture and send it to me so we can all see the love.

Here again, is the link, Sunday with Sandy For A Cause.

Lastly, a couple of weeks ago, I was the benefactor of a wonderful gift from my friend, Kerry Ann Sullivan.  She gave me a book by Maria Shriver called I’ve Been Thinking, and I want to share this prayer from her chapter about starting a social kindness movement:

Dear God, thank you for the kindness, mercy, and generosity you show me every day, and I ask you to help me to see those around me in the same way – as people who are loved and treasured.  Please make my heart as tender as yours, so that I may actively reach out and show kindness and generosity to all the people in my life today.  Amen

Always grateful for the love and support!

Sandy

#enlighten #empower #inspire #educate #BeKind #ThinkGod