I love this quote … “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens
can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
― Margaret Mead
In fact, I like it so much that I made you a pin.
We get so very caught up in the busyness of life, that it is easy to say – oh what can I do? Where will my voice be heard? How could just one person make a difference? And if everyone felt that way, then truly, nothing at all would be done and life would simply stagnate or deteriorate into some awful quagmire of miserable fate … or something equally dramatic.
But if you speak up, even just a little and find a cause that speaks to your heart – you will actually be heard. I know this for sure, and not only has my voice been heard, but my life has been enriched by the relationships forged with those who want to make a difference. Doors have opened and led me down new paths, and it is as though bright windows of light have reached deep into my soul for how very blessed I have been.
I began a blog to pass the time of day, waiting for a homeschool child to whom time was of no concern had me firmly entrenched into an online world of farms and fish bowls as I sat impatiently by her side. I knew nothing of blogging and websites, in spite of years of infertility leading to adoption where I may have found a lifeline to sanity, had I only known. The world changers, the causes, and the charities had not been on my radar that was then filled with fundraising for homeschool groups and PTA’s.
My journey into the world of social good changed my life for the better and I believe it all began with a chance meeting at a breakfast table many years ago. It brought Jen, the founder of World Moms into my life – and our friendship was forever sealed. She had joined together a group of moms from around the world to talk about everything from parenting and maternal health, education of girls and women’s rights and sometimes just to say, “oh my goodness, how am I going to make it through this day?”
These moms … these moms have become my friends and I would move into a cul-de-sac where they could all be my neighbors in a heartbeat – and it would be nothing at all like the dramatic housewives of Wisteria Lane.
We have phone chats and we Skype, we share and we laugh, – our conversations extend from Canada to India. We have managed to meet up in faraway places, shared hotel rooms, or wonderful evenings at dinner … some of us have even stayed up late in the night huddled in quilts on mattresses in Jen’s home.
As a group we have worked with organisations from Save The Children to Shot@Life, Water Aid and Clean Birth and many more too countless to name. We have had meetings with ONE and the United Nations Foundation, joined worthy campaigns just lending our voices, and have even walked the hallowed halls of the Capitol Building meeting with senators. Our Twitter parties are so global that we leave no continent unturned.
It makes my heart smile to feel a part of a group of women who change the world with their energy and determination.
We are a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens.
But we are first and foremost a group of moms trying to do the best by our children.
Married, divorced, single by choice … we have kids in diapers, kids in college, and every single age in between. We worry about what we feed our children, we are involved in their education and hope that we can teach them to be caring of their fellow man. We want to teach them about the world and sometimes we are concerned about what the world is teaching them … and we are always learning.
So share with us what you support, what is important to you and your family? Do you volunteer at school, give of your time in your community, do you support local charities and are there some that are dear to your heart because of someone in your family or because of the loss of a loved one? Is it all you can do to get life in order and take a shower some days – because that is okay too, for with everything there is a season. Think about the millions of causes in the world. What means the most to you, where in the world do you look and see something that you find so unacceptable that it hurts your heart, or brings you to tears? Can you speak up, can you sign a petition … can you start a group … could you join a cause? Social media has brought power directly to us as we sit in front of our screens liking baby pictures and watching cute animal videos. Do you use your fingertips to let the world know about the rights and the wrongs?
I challenge you to find your voice, connect with your Super Power and speak up … you are surviving motherhood, you are already a Super Hero … just imagine what else you can do.
Be a part of our small group, share our words – together we can do amazing, incredible, life changing BIG things. In fact, we are changing the world.
Hugs and kisses always,
Nicole.
This is an original post written for World Moms Blog by Nicole Morgan who also writes at Sisters From Another Mister.
Sisters From Another Mister
Sisters From Another Mister ... A blog born from the love of 'sisters' around the world who come together to lift eachother up no matter where they are on their life journey. Meet Nicole, a transplanted British born, South African raised, and American made Mom of two girls living on the sunny shores of South Florida, USA. A writer of stories, an avid picture taker and a keeper of shiny memories. Sharing the travels of a home school journey that takes place around the globe - because 'the world truly is our classroom'. Throw in infertility, adoption, separation, impending divorce (it has its own Doom and Gloom category on the blog) and a much needed added side of European humor is what keeps it all together on the days when it could quite clearly simply fall apart! This segues nicely into Finding a Mister for a Sister for continued amusement. When not obsessing over the perils of dating as an old person, saving the world thro organisations such as being an ambassador for shot@life, supporting GirlUP, The UN Foundation, ONE.org and being a member of the Global Team of 200 for social good keeps life in the balance. Be sure to visit, because 'even tho we may not have been sisters at the start, we are sisters from the heart.' http://www.sistersfromanothermister.com/ https://www.facebook.com/SistersFromAnotherMister https://twitter.com/thesistershood http://pinterest.com/thesistershood/ Global Team of 200 #socialgoodmoms Champion for Shot@Life and The United Nations Foundation
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Wow Nicole, your post really spoke to me. I feel the same way but on different levels. Building our global village of World Moms is the way we are taking action to shout from mountain tops about the things that matter in life. WHAT IF MOMS RAN THE WORLD?
Just think how different the world might be…(to be continued)
Love it, Nicole! 🙂
Three years ago I started volunteering for a charity called Cupcakes of Hope. It was started by one woman who wanted to help a family with the expenses they incurred by having to treat their child who had been diagnosed with cancer. She did it the only way she knew how … she baked cupcakes and exchanged each little labour of love for R10. In this way she raised R5 000 all on her own! Then she began talking about it, and the next year, hundreds of bakers countrywide donated their cupcakes, and many more people were helped. She is a perfect example of a single woman starting something amazing! Since then, every year, the amount of money we’re able to raise on “National Cupcake Day” has grown exponentially and (since all the cupcakes are donated and we’re all volunteers) most of the money goes straight to the deserving beneficiaries. Last year we raised over R500 000! Not bad growth in 3 years! 🙂
We also take this opportunity to create awareness about childhood cancer, because the statistic is that up to 90% of childhood cancer can be cured IF diagnosed early enough. Sadly many people miss the signs pointing to possible cancer until it’s too late. Since early diagnosis saves lives, our awareness campaign is possibly even more important than our fundraising.
A couple of weeks ago I was privileged to meet some of the families that are direct beneficiaries of the money we raise. As a mother I can’t imagine anything worse than being told that your precious child has cancer! These moms are so grateful for each day, and their strength is truly inspirational.
Last year my (then 17 year old) daughter and (then 20 year old) son, as well as several of their friends, assisted us in exchanging cupcakes for donations. This year many of them have volunteered again. It gives me hope for the future to see these young people willingly and happily give up their Saturday to help others. 🙂
By the way (in case my talk of rand didn’t give it away) this is a South African charity. Currently around 55 malls countrywide allow us to hold an annual “National Cupcake Day 4 Kids with Cancer”. This year it will be held on Saturday 27 September. 🙂
Powerful words Nicole! As working out of home mom, my time to volunteer is limited, but I try where I can. One thing that World Moms Blog made me aware about was blood donation. As a result of the Captain Snuggles blood drive, I became a blood donor.
I can’t even begin to tell you how you ALL have changed my life, and how amazing the impact has been over the past 4 years to our fellow World Moms and their children around the globe. I love this site and the many women behind it!!!!