Get Involved!

Today I had an amazing opportunity to get involved!!!

But before I explain I want to say that everyone should find a cause and get active. There is something that happens to you when you get your hands dirty, face sweaty, and smile seen. Your heart opens and you get to see the world in a whole new way.

So today my hubby and I served over 200 people at a soup kitchen. And although this was not the first time for me I had forgotten how great it feels. So many of the people that came thought that line just needed someone to treat them like they were not an outcast. These are the people that had you seen them on the street you would look away, tighten your grip on your purse or simply avoid, but they are people. The only difference is that many of the just made some really bad choices. Others are ill and need help that others refuse to give. I guess my lesson heard tonight is that we all need to remember 3 things.

1. Remember to be thankful for all our opportunities and blessings. You never know what may happen in your future, so count each and every blessing.
2. Remember to SHARE those blessings. I don't have a lot of money and sometimes I feel like have I have even less time, but it is REALLY important to get out there are help your community. Find something ANYTHING and get active. IF you love animals volunteer at a local humane society, if you like people.. go to a soup kitchen, don't like people.. well other shelters need help stocking and organizing the donated items. It doesn't matter WHAT you do, but you need to DO something.
3. It doesn't matter HOW or WHAT you do. Just find something that matches your skills and passions and get active. I am a communication scholar so I use my ability to give the silent words but I also have a big heart and I love to share my compassion with others. We all need a smile and we all have an unlimited supply of them so why not share them with the world around us.

I am going to spending a great deal more of my time during my PhD working on AIDS activism and other forms of activism but I want to encourage everyone to get out there in this world of ours and really help in anyway you can. Even offering a smile to people you don't know on the street can help.

If you need ideas... let me know... I would love to help.

T minus one month....

This time next month I will have just gotten home from my first PhD class. I have one more book to order and then it all begins. In preparation I have been doing lots of reading everyday and writing a few pages everyday.

I have finished the Masters Thesis and now I am beginning two research projects and already have two maybe three in the window looking at me as a possible researcher. I met with a professor who may end up being my adviser and she was pretty excited about my ideas for my program of study. YAY!!! I have a few ideas for the research and the classes I will take but I will remain fluid.

I will have a great deal of work to do and I know I can do it. I just have to keep the faith and keep my head looking toward that graduation cap!

I have recently located few other blogs about PhD programs and I plan to keep an eye on them and maybe we can all bond together and create a support group! I am excited, a little scared, and a whole lot ready to get going!

We shall see how this all works... together!