Good in the News: Kelly Perkins

The next time you're feeling less than 100%, or afraid that maybe you can't accomplish all that you'd dreamed, think of Kelly Perkins. At age 33, she was the recipient of a new heart. At age 46, she has just completed yet another ascent to the top of a mountain. This time, it was a 2 1/2-day climb up the 8,842-foot-high Half Dome, a granite mountain in Yosemite National Park. Twelve years ago and only 10 months out of surgery, she climbed the easier front side of Half Dome, but this time, she set her sights on completing the climb up the much more difficult back half.

She's done numerous climbs over the past 13 years, the only heart transplant recipient to have climbed some of the world's best known mountains - Mount Whitney, the Matterhorn, Mount Fuji and Mount Kilimanjaro. What makes this one so special? In Kelly's words, it's "because it's broken in half but it still stands strong. There's a spirit-building message there. You may not be 100 percent, but you can still be as strong as others."

Spirit-building, indeed.

Read the full article here: http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/25440796/

~*~*~ May you always remember to dance in the rain, and may you have plenty of ladybugs beside you! ~*~*~

Blessings,
Kat

Good in the News: Tim Russert

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve no doubt heard that Tim Russert passed away on June 13 at the age of 58. Even if your house isn’t full of politics-junkies like mine is, who TIVO Meet the Press every Sunday morning, and even if you never heard the name “Tim Russert” before his death, surely you have now. You know who he was and what he did in his career. You know the sadness felt by those who knew him and those who watched him at home and abroad. You know the loss, the sadness, the void left by his passing.

So how is it that a story about death at a young age makes it to the “Good in the News” section of this blog? Remember, this blog is all about how to find light through darkness, how to dance in the storm, how to focus on the good things instead of the bad. Let me explain...

At his funeral service, Barack Obama and John McCain, who have been battling it out in the political arena for months on end, sat next to each other, engaged in amicable conversation, as they waited for the service to begin. How many other people could bring the left and the right together, making opposites put aside their differences for a greater purpose? That’s a big accomplishment, that’s good news.

Whether you knew of him or not, when you heard of his passing, did you stop and think, “wow, he was too young!” and hug someone you love just a little bit tighter? Appreciate today a little bit more? Stopping to count your blessings or to show appreciation to someone you love, that’s good news, too.

Mario Cuomo, former governor of New York (for whom Tim Russert once worked) said this: "He regarded a day greeted without real enthusiasm as a sadly lost opportunity." That’s advice we can all benefit from, a lesson we can all learn and share with our children. That’s good news.

Speaking of children, the most important words of the day came from Tim Russert’s own son, 22 year old Luke. “My dad was my best friend," he said. “Tim Russert led with his heart, his compassion and most of all his honor.” These are big statements, powerful statements, proud, loving, wonderful statements. Don’t we all hope and wish and pray that when our time comes, our children remember us that very same way?

To lead with your heart, your compassion and your honor… that is a shining example to set for others. To leave this world a better place than you found it… that is the most we can ask for in our life.

Of course, I didn’t “know” Tim Russert. But I miss him, and I’ve learned something from him: To live a good life, to give what we can, when we can, to whomever we can... to bring people together, to raise amazing, proud children… that is the best sort of legacy we can leave. Tim Russert's passing has reminded me of these lessons, and I hope it reminded others, too. If his passing has provided you any perspective on your own life, on the kind of memories you want to make or the legacy you wish to leave, then that, my friends, is good news.

~*~*~ May you always remember to dance in the rain, and may you have plenty of ladybugs beside you! ~*~*~

Blessings,
Kat

Really Cool People

Growing up, "cool" was pretty much the last adjective anyone would have used to describe me. I was a teacher's kid, a straight-and-narrow, A student. A geek, a nerd, a dweeb.

Last year, though, I "met" (virtually) a guy named Sam Davidson. He and Stephen Moseley have completely redefined what it means to be "cool" and this time, it includes me! Sam and Stephen started an organization called Cool People Care, who's mission is to change the world, 5 minutes at a time. Though I've never met them in person, I've read their book, I wear their t-shirts, display their and stickers and poster (both at work and at home) and drink their own special brew of coffee from my really cool travel mug.

So many of us think we "just don't have the time" to do good things for each other, our community and our planet. But wait, we do! Cool People Care shows us all how we can make a true difference every single day in 5 minutes or less. Who can't find time for that?

If you have kids, know kids, or even just act like a kid, you'll also want to check out their sister site, Cool Moms Care. This site has the same concept, except that it's aimed at parents (and aunts, uncles, grandparents, cousins, friends, etc.) with children ages 0-12. Michelle Andrade is the Mom-in-Chief over there, and if you look around a little bit, you might even find some articles I've written!

These guys (and gal) fall under the category of doing good in the world, not only themselves, but promoting "good" to others, and giving us all the simple tools and information we need to do good ourselves.

Cool doesn't even begin to describe them, they're downright awesome! Check them out and learn how you can increase your own "cool quotient" in 5 minutes or less!

CoolPeopleCare - Saving the World, 5 Minutes at a Time
CoolMomsCare - Saving the World, One Kid at a Time

~*~*~ May you always remember to dance in the rain, and may you have plenty of ladybugs beside you! ~*~*~

Blessings,
Kat

Welcome to Dancing with Ladybugs

I think we all go through days where the weight of the world is heavy on our shoulders. Sometimes these days drag into weeks, sometimes months. There are times when life seems dark, ugly, stormy, where getting out of bed in the morning is more an obligation than a choice. Most of us eventually come out of the tunnel, though from inside, the light can be hard to see, and the journey can be long. Sometimes we turn to friends, family, God, or look deep within ourselves to find the courage and the strength and the motivation to keep moving in the right direction. Sometimes, though, it's hard to stay on the path, to find the light, and to follow it until it's within arm's reach. But when we emerge, the warmth of that light is beautiful, the sun through the clouds is the most magnificent, the rewards are the greatest.

Every adversity, though, provides the opportunity to learn a great life lesson. It's all about perspective, and sometimes you just need to know where to look for the inspiration to get you through. Sometimes it's a random event, a story of hope, even a little ladybug that can make all the difference. In a stormy, ugly world, we need to remember to that life is about dancing in the rain, not merely weathering the storm.

The impetus behind this blog started from an ugly event, one of those things that makes you feel sick to your stomach at how cruel the world can be. A friend of a friend knew two young men who were involved in a terrible accident, where one young man lost his life. The local news reported snippets within hours after it occurred, with very little information or facts available. The situation was tragic enough to begin with, but as I read some of the comments that had been posted to the article on the news site, I was appalled that some people could be so cruel, so judgemental, so heartless. In frustration, I told my friend Mel that I was annoyed to have to share air with some of these people. I probably should have prayed for them, but instead, I got angry. She and I began a conversation about ugly things in the world, and how hard they are to explain to our young daughters. How do we, as parents, shield our children from these things? How do we raise them to be good people and do good things when there are so many ugly influences in the world? How do we explain why people do bad things? How do we show them the good, the hope, the promise, the light, when there seem to be so many forces working against that?

The idea for this blog was born... a blog about the GOOD in the world. The hope. The inspiration. The promise. The light at the end of the tunnel that can provide you direction and pull you through.

The goal here is to include some original posts, links to other sites / blogs / stories that personify beauty in this sometimes ugly world and in addition, offer this space to guest bloggers who have stories and inspirations to share.

It may be a slow start, I'm a full-time-mom with a full-time-other-job, so time time isn't always on my side. However, having too many good things to blog about is really a positive, and I'm hoping to meet some new friends, inspire a few people, and maybe even pick up some help along the way!

~*~*~ May you always remember to dance in the rain, and may you have plenty of ladybugs beside you! ~*~*~

Blessings,
Kat