It's not you, really, it's me...
~ I thought I was past the "popularity contest" phase of life. I thought I was comfortable enough in my own skin (and really, I *like* my own skin these days) that other's perception (or misconception) of me didn't really matter. I was wrong, guess I need to work on that some more. Lesson re-learned, stop dealing with people who have over-active imaginations and then transfer their attitudes/opinions to me and make judgment calls based on their imaginary stories…
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Added by Erin on July 19, 2009 at 10:00pm —
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It's officially Father's Day, at least it is in my time zone. I've become acutely aware of time zones lately. Time zones change the way you see things. Right now it's 1:15a.m. here. I'll be up for another couple of hours finishing up my work for the day - but most of my clients are on the west coast, and they've barely had time to change the channel from their favorite prime time programing.
It's all about points of view, isn't it?
Anyway, nothing deep here, just wanted to wish all you guys a…
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Added by Erin on June 21, 2009 at 1:30am —
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When you make a living filling lots of shoes for lots of people, you just never know what a week is going to look like. I enjoy it that way, I certainly can't get bored with my job! I never know what email is going to be a fun new project, or an opportunity to learn something new. And I have to admit, it's always a great feeling when a client tells me I've done a good job (especially in a case where I'm doing something I've never done before!)
So a couple of weeks ago I had the opportuity to le…
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Added by Erin on June 12, 2009 at 11:27pm —
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This little boy's story is so similar to our story with Alexis... She also had 5 defects, they were discovered on day 2, she had her surgery on her 12th day of life... Happily for this family, their son lives, and thrives, and happily makes messes. I am SO HAPPY to see this issue getting some time in the spotlight!…
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Added by Erin on June 8, 2009 at 10:00am —
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Eight months ago, my oldest son's closest friends lost their daughter to SIDS. I've lost 2 children but there is something about losing a child to SIDS that seems so... well, unfair. You tuck a happy healthy baby into bed one night, and the next morning you wake up to find that they have passed away while you slept. The unexpectedness is what gets me I guess.
Anyway, they're a young couple struggling check to check so I decided to hold a fundraiser and raise as much as I could to help with the…
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Added by Erin on May 30, 2009 at 3:00pm —
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Added by Erin on April 23, 2009 at 11:42pm —
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Since losing 2 children to Congenital Heart Defects, I've made the choice to move forward, to move on, to do good things in the memories. I didn't make that choice because I'm strong, or special, or, god forbid, had any intentions of being "inspirational." I did it out of sheer survival. Waste away in the dark, or step into the light: those were my choices. And I'm afraid of the dark. So I did what I do, and do what I continue to do, because I don't know what else TO do.
Most days that works ou…
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Added by Erin on April 6, 2009 at 7:46pm —
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In our home, we have (no lie) 6 computers, 2 game systems, 2 (or is it 3?) hand held video games... I lost track of how many game discs, controllers, and various other doodads and whatchamajigs that are 'necessary' to successful game playing - including a blue-tooth headset. Seriously!?
I'm no gamer. I'm an anti-gamer. I'm the one limiting game-time, hawk's-eye-ing the kids when they're on the internet, censoring what games which kids can play. I'm the one that uses the phrase my mother used to…
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Added by Erin on April 1, 2009 at 12:09am —
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According to the Miriam Webster Online Dictionary, inspiration is defined as such:
1 a: a divine influence or action on a person, believed to qualify him or her to receive and communicate sacred revelation b: the action or power of moving the intellect or emotions c: the act of influencing or suggesting opinions
Fair enough - that's how it's defined 'by the book.'
But for me, inspiration is something so fluid and intangible - yet so powerful, that no thirty seven word dictionary entry can pos…
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Added by Erin on March 25, 2009 at 1:31pm —
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wishuponahero - a website where you can post a wish, or grant someone else's - was on ABC with Charles Gibson last night. There was such a huge response that, despite all the work they did to prepare for the influx of traffic, their site crashed. It's still kind of fritzy - but what I love is that so many people flocked to the site - whether in hopes of granting wishes, or making wishes - that the servers couldn't handle it.
That, to me, is deeply moving on many levels. We have come to a time t…
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Added by Erin on March 14, 2009 at 9:55pm —
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Daryn's update came out this morning, and it came out with a request: tell her what inspiring things we do. Well, I don't know if it will inspire anyone else, but it inspires me to be a part of the Wish Upon A Hero community. I joined WishUponAHero.com back in December - the concept is that people post their wishes, whether they're wants, needs, or, often, desperate pleas for help - and others come along and, hopefully, grant their wish.
It's great for the soul, to know you've helped an individ…
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Added by Erin on March 13, 2009 at 12:58pm —
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The ocean and the beach have always been inspirational to me. On one hand I am awed by the beauty and power of the vast expanse of water as it crashes onto the shore - on the other hand, it has a deeply peaceful effect on me, as if I've come home (even though I've never lived at the beach.)
My…
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Added by Erin on March 7, 2009 at 5:22pm —
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Thanks to Daryn, I've recently been networked with some folks who are doing great things. First, it was a lady named Romi, who "hooked me up" with an author named Ben. Both of them are doing great things. Romi is working on creating several support-style communities, and networking them together under a larger "umbrella" site. Apparently, she's not one to shy away from a challenge! It's an ambitious undertaking that she proposes, and one that will create a place for many types of people who are…
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Added by Erin on January 26, 2009 at 10:00pm —
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Times are tough all over. I don't know anyone who
isn't feeling the pain of this lousy economy we're all living with. With everyone pulling their belts one notch tighter and hunkering down for what promises to be a bleak winter, you'd think it'd be hard to come by people willing to help others. Well, that's my problem now, isn't it? Underestimating my fellow man. The following story is an article from my local newspapaer, The Charlotte Observer, and it, like this site, gave me a case of t…
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Added by Erin on January 3, 2009 at 2:30pm —
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Well there it was. It happened. The old year went, and the new year arrived, and much to my relief, it happened fairly peacefully. I was working at the time -- I've been so far behind that I rang in the new year by adding content to one of my clients' sites. Very appropriate. That's the way I like it - I brought the new year in by doing what I love to do, giving to others by helping my client to provide a resource that will benefit many others, and at the same time, making a bit of much-needed m…
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Added by Erin on January 1, 2009 at 11:34pm —
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Today, I woke up and made the decision that *I* was gonna change the world. That's all it takes you know, deciding.
And you know what? I did it!
I changed the world for a friend (and her family) who had no food, by taking her to the grocery store and buying enough food to tide her over to the next paycheck.
I dropped a $5 in the Salvation Army bucket - every penny you donate to them goes towards changing someone's life.
I stopped and chatted with the bell ringer too - surely it made a little…
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Added by Erin on December 7, 2008 at 12:12am —
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If money were no object, you knew all the right people, and
NOTHING stood in the way, what charitable organization would you create? Who would you help, or save? Tell me about your Dream Charity Job.
My first, and most obvious, choice would be research for Congenital Heart Defects. It's my 'dream" to do away with Heart Defects. I'll try not to spout too many statistics here, but roughly 35,000 - 40,000 children are born every year with a congenital heart defect, and nearly 10% of them wi…
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Added by Erin on December 3, 2008 at 5:30pm —
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This year, between Thanksgiving and Christmas, my family will donate 4 full holiday meals to the needy. We will stuff a shoe box full of toys, pull an angel off the angel tree, and hopefully, we'll also sponsor a family who is currently living in the local battered women's shelter - they often escape a violent home in the spur of the moment, with just the clothes they're wearing at the time... We like to do good, we like to help others, we like to teach our kids that this season is not all about…
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Added by Erin on December 1, 2008 at 7:00pm —
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I love reading all of the stories and watching the videos here. This is one of the greatest "feel good" sites I've been on in a good while. Good news is good for the soul, and reminds us that the world isn't just full of bad guys, that there are plenty of good guys too. I think if you're open to it, it's actually pretty easy to find inspiration all around you as well. I know that I can find it at the grocery store (go ahead, let Harris Teeter round up - there's an inspirational story or 1000 beh…
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Added by Erin on November 23, 2008 at 2:14pm —
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I had the honor of reading Daryn's book, what amazing stories, THANK YOU Daryn, for the book, and for this site, and your vision!
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Added by Erin on November 21, 2008 at 4:04pm —
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