I’m writing a post on Thanksgiving morning and it feels more than a little cheesy. Am I that blogger that uses every holiday or current event to dramatically illustrate a point and tug at your heartstrings? Please, no. And yet, here I am. And believe it or not, it was not Thanksgiving that inspired me at all. It was you.
I’ve mentioned this before, but I have been blind-sided over and over again at the outpouring of love and support from my community of friends, family, and complete strangers. You might even say I’m thankful (*eye-roll*). Although, grateful seems more accurate. Look it up.
Before all of this craptastic cancer fun, I had always strived to be charitable and giving. My income is very limited, but I had a few key charities that I would try to donate to when I had the chance. I would pay a dollar to hang an oddly shaped piece of paper with my scribbled name on it at the grocery store. Round up my change at goodwill. Throw a few quarters into the salvation army can. Just little things. But I never really felt like it added up to anything. In fact, there have been many times I DID NOT donate to something, purely because my contribution felt insignificant. I have seen GoFundMe pages where I didn’t donate because the amount I could spare felt like an insulting gesture. My $5 donation towards your $80-bajillion dollar head transplant would seemingly do nothing. And then I’d feel guilty spending $25 taking my kids to see a movie. Better to pretend my donation wouldn’t have mattered.
Stand-by for obvious moral of the story.
Now that I’m on this end of the equation I can tell you for certain, all of it matters. I have received some extremely generous donations. I have received donations of $5. I have gotten cards in the mail with just a few kind words. They ALL matter. Sometimes the small ones matter even more. Because I get it. Times are tight for many of us and it is in those times that it is most difficult to give. Please know, that with every little gesture, the feeling of love comes through.
Please don’t misconstrue this post as a plea for you to support my cause. That is not at all my intention. I hope to inspire you, the way you have inspired me. Keep doing the little things. Nobody is judging you for not doing the big things. Sometimes we can do very little to help those around us, and sometimes we can do a little more. Part of me wants to take all of the donations I’ve received and start using it to help others now that I know first hand how much it matters. But don’t worry, I know you are all counting on me to kick this whole cancer thing first.
A little story…
I was recently given a check from the Oxford Hills Middle School Student Council to put towards my cancer recovery. A school in Maine that I didn’t attend as a child, but some of my very first performances were in that region. I’m not sure how the current students at the school were aware of my struggle, or who decided that I should be considered a worthy cause, but the fact that they as a group decided to donate (to me!?) was beyond unexpected. I hope the students there understand the immense impact that gestures like this do to foster love in our communities. I can’t tell you how much this means to me. Thank you.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to get all weepy and munch on a turkey leg.
