When I was a young parent, I relied on a local food pantry to help supplement the groceries going into my home. I was appreciative of the help that the food pantry provided. When my work schedule and my daughters school schedule aligned to provide me a few hours of free time on Fridays, I began volunteering at the food pantry on Fridays. It was important to me to be able to give back. I found the opportunity to help people very rewarding and have continued to look for ways to help people over the last twenty years.
When my children were young, we made a point to purchase socks and gloves at Christmas time. As a family, we took the time to carefully wrap each pair of socks and gloves with brightly colored paper and love. Filling a large bag with the gifts, we drove to the city where we knew there to be a large population of homeless people. Together we walked around handing out the gifts to homeless people, taking the time to look them in the face and tell them Merry Christmas.
As my financial capabilities have changed, I've spent countless dollars buying groceries for people who could not, providing rides to those who did not have transportation, and lending a hand when I saw a need for help. I have helped to coordinate the collection and re-distribution of re-usable items such as clothing and furniture helping to reduce waste and supplement those who are struggling.
As a member of the Norman Queer Alliance, I helped to coordinate art shows recognizing and celebrating Women and Queers in the Arts. As a member of the LGBTQ community, I have helped to coordinate the creation of a gender-questioning support group. I am currently an active member of Norman United, an local community coalition that works collectively to identify ways to help the LGBTQ community.
I am currently President Elect of the West Wind Unitarian Universalist Congregation. We are focused on making the world a better place, one step at a time. Our Social Justice Committee coordinates several different events that provide an opportunity to lend a hand within our local community as well as raising money for organizations that promote positive change globally.
I believe in the inherent worth and dignity of all life and I am passionately driven to provide loving support to people of all backgrounds. I have been told that I was heartless, that I was selfish, that I only care about myself. I have also been told that I let people take advantage of me, and I should stand up for myself and be more selfish. These opinions have come from different people at different times, and oddly enough, have come from the same person in different circumstances. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. I understand that peoples perceptions are affected by their own experiences.
My experiences have taught me that sometimes taking care of myself means that I have to say no to other people, that I have to close doors. You must help yourself first, in order to continue to help others. But in the end, I cannot break my own rules of having love and compassion for others, even when they misinterpret it as a weakness. My strength comes from my consistency, and that is not a weakness. Conversely, I believe it is representative of my strength.
I do not need any more money or material possessions than necessary to provide a healthy environment for my family. The only reason why I am concerned with selling artwork, and establishing myself as an artist and writer, is in preparation for the days when my body is too worn out to work a regular job. I envision my retirement as a future of slowly plodding through my days writing, painting and gardening, subsisting on what meager revenue I generate with my creative projects. In the mean time, any surplus I may have is only there for me to share.
I am more anxious about the safety of my beloved community than I am about whether my bills will be paid. My children have expressed concern that I spend too much time and working on church and volunteer projects. I only wish there were more hours to give.
When my children were young, we made a point to purchase socks and gloves at Christmas time. As a family, we took the time to carefully wrap each pair of socks and gloves with brightly colored paper and love. Filling a large bag with the gifts, we drove to the city where we knew there to be a large population of homeless people. Together we walked around handing out the gifts to homeless people, taking the time to look them in the face and tell them Merry Christmas.
As my financial capabilities have changed, I've spent countless dollars buying groceries for people who could not, providing rides to those who did not have transportation, and lending a hand when I saw a need for help. I have helped to coordinate the collection and re-distribution of re-usable items such as clothing and furniture helping to reduce waste and supplement those who are struggling.
As a member of the Norman Queer Alliance, I helped to coordinate art shows recognizing and celebrating Women and Queers in the Arts. As a member of the LGBTQ community, I have helped to coordinate the creation of a gender-questioning support group. I am currently an active member of Norman United, an local community coalition that works collectively to identify ways to help the LGBTQ community.
I am currently President Elect of the West Wind Unitarian Universalist Congregation. We are focused on making the world a better place, one step at a time. Our Social Justice Committee coordinates several different events that provide an opportunity to lend a hand within our local community as well as raising money for organizations that promote positive change globally.
I believe in the inherent worth and dignity of all life and I am passionately driven to provide loving support to people of all backgrounds. I have been told that I was heartless, that I was selfish, that I only care about myself. I have also been told that I let people take advantage of me, and I should stand up for myself and be more selfish. These opinions have come from different people at different times, and oddly enough, have come from the same person in different circumstances. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. I understand that peoples perceptions are affected by their own experiences.
My experiences have taught me that sometimes taking care of myself means that I have to say no to other people, that I have to close doors. You must help yourself first, in order to continue to help others. But in the end, I cannot break my own rules of having love and compassion for others, even when they misinterpret it as a weakness. My strength comes from my consistency, and that is not a weakness. Conversely, I believe it is representative of my strength.
I do not need any more money or material possessions than necessary to provide a healthy environment for my family. The only reason why I am concerned with selling artwork, and establishing myself as an artist and writer, is in preparation for the days when my body is too worn out to work a regular job. I envision my retirement as a future of slowly plodding through my days writing, painting and gardening, subsisting on what meager revenue I generate with my creative projects. In the mean time, any surplus I may have is only there for me to share.
I am more anxious about the safety of my beloved community than I am about whether my bills will be paid. My children have expressed concern that I spend too much time and working on church and volunteer projects. I only wish there were more hours to give.