Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Hunger, Poverty, and Oppression OH MY!


Oxfam International. Those two words are what put me on a research frenzy this morning. I was suddenly thrown into a desperate attempt to solve the worlds problems in my 10x10 cubicle via the world wide web. Then reality hit. "Sasha, you cannot feed the billion people suffering of chronic hunger at this very moment." And that's just it, as I sit grumpily ( I don't even know if that is a word) at this desk waiting for noon to satisfy my noisy and hungry stomach, 1 billion people on this earth will have to wait much longer than an hour to relieve that awful hunger pain. This breaks me to pieces.

For those of you that truly know me, you know my compassion for those less fortunate. I have always got a new cause that I would like to offer my time, money, and heart to. I don't know why God put this never-dying need in me, but I live to give. I live to help others that cannot help themselves. I want to love the people that have never felt love before. Therefore, you could see how my morning was spent after stumbling across this organization. It started as an innocent search for programs or resources to supplement my activity that I will be doing with my classes in the fall. So, yes I did actually start out "working", but it didn't take long for me to become lost in my search for a purpose. This is a vicious cycle for me though. I always begin with one goal in mind and end completely on the next train track over. So here is what I found upon jumping tracks this morning.

Oxfam International is a combination of 14 organizations working together internationally to fight poverty and injustice. They demand justice through recognizing human rights in hopes of bringing people out of poverty. They raise funds and awareness. They respond to emergencies and provide resources to those without anything. They are doing something in the interest of others, just as God said in Philippians 2:4, "Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others."

So, find interest in someone else or something else. Allow yourself to be submerged into something completely selfless. It can be anything that interests you. If you allow yourself this opportunity it WILL be life changing. And while you decide what that will be, I will return to my initial endeavor.

Kindness starts with YOU

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Inspiration

After the recent overload of blog reading, I was inspired. I used to blog a lot and I enjoyed it quite a bit. Only my blog in the past held a dark shadow. I used it as a medium for getting out all the pain and hurt I was feeling inside. Zeb (my boyfriend) likes to refer to it has "heartbreak 2009". Now that I am moved on from that I decided it was time to start over. I told a friend just today actually that I really wanted to start writing again. Of course she encouraged me to do so and I joked that I didn't think I could do it happily. I thought only my good writing came out when I was heartbroken. She laughed and encouraged me anyway.

So this is my attempt at blogging...again. Only this time around it will hold a much brighter light. That is the reason for the title "Sweet Beginnings". I have had a lot of those in the last year of my life and I felt it fit perfectly.

There is something special about reading and writing blogs. It offers a sort of insight into the beautiful minds and lives of others. It provides a place for creativity and inspiration. It allows opportunities of growth. So I hope you will be inspired just as I was by others. I hope I can offer creative thoughts. I hope to learn and grow throughout my blogging adventure.

Here's to sweet beginnings :)