Dear Reader:

Dear Reader:

Just a small reflection today on how little attention we give to popular expressions when, in reality, there is quite a bit of difference between many of them. In fact, the differences can be life-altering.

This thought originated when I saw a recent television clip/update on the life of Salma Hayek and how this ‘actress turned activist’ is not only “doing well” but she is doing good.”

UNICEF lately presented Salma Hayek with the Danny Kaye Humanitarian Award for her past decade of charity involvements and giving of her time to help women and children in need around the world.

When asked why she decided to give up a pretty plush life as an actress and potential stay-at home wife of French billionaire, Francois-Henri Pinault, to travel to remote areas of the world to help out during tragic earthquakes, famines, flooding, fires, and other natural catastrophes….she looked startled and asked back, “Why not?” “Why not me?  “It takes so little to make big changes in this world.” 

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if people responded to a daily courteous question like “Are you doing well?” to a flip response “Yes, thank you, but more importantly I am doing good.”

Salma is right on target when she says “It takes so little to make big changes in this world“….a smile, time spent with a child or an elderly adult, a card, a call, a sympathetic ear, a joke, a memory shared between friends, a willingness to be “inconvenienced” by putting others first.

“Doing good in the world” doesn’t require us becoming Mother Teresa…it just requires us thanking God for each day and then looking around (as we go through it) finding ways to add a little kindness where none existed.

So until tomorrow….“Watch now how I start the day, in happiness, in kindness.” (Mary Oliver)

“Today is my favorite day”  Winnie the Pooh

One lonely neuron in my brain matched “Do Good” to one of Ben Franklin’s famous pseudonyms, in fact his first ….He pretended to be  a middle aged woman by the name of “Silence Dogood.” Since Ben was still a teenage apprentice and his older brother, James, was the printer, he didn’t  want his identity known or he knew his writings would never get printed. (Sibling rivalry was alive and well during colonial times too!)

The 15 letters were published in The New-England Courant fortnightly, and amused readers. Some male readers even wrote in offering to marry Ms. Dogood, upon learning she was widowed.

One piece of advice read: “Whatever you do, good or bad, people will always have something negative to say.”

Eventually James found out that all fifteen of the letters had been written by his younger brother, which angered him because of their popularity.

Benjamin left his apprenticeship (without permission) and escaped to Philadelphia…the place where history, independence, and as Ben tells it (three still warm- from- the- oven) sticky buns awaited him!

Mandy sent me this picture of Eva Cate creating her outfit for tomorrow’s camp called…”Sing like a Pop Star.” Boy, the meaning of the word “camp” sure has changed since I was a little girl. 🙂  *Love the attire Eva Cate..Go ‘knock’em off their feet!‘