1,000 Cranes

I love oragimi. There is something fun about folding paper into shapes and I love the colorful paper used in this art form. I ran across an article about it a few weeks ago when reading about unique social media efforts being used to raise money for the Japan tsunami victims. There is a Japanese legend where anyone that folds 1,000 origami cranes will be granted a wish by a crane such as recovery from an illness. A Japanese social media site began selling electronic cranes to raise money. Very appropriate marketing for a good cause! I was wondering if I folded 1,000 cranes would anyone pay $1 each to raise money for cancer. My wish for the crane to grant is a cure for cancer. What do you think? It takes a little practice to fold a crane. http://www.savingcranes.org/origami-cranes.html I've been mulling this idea around for a few weeks now. This morning, driving to work, I looked up in the sky because I caught site of a large flock of white birds flying overhead in front of me. There they were, wings glittering away in the sky forming ever changing shapes before breaking into multiple classic v formations to carry on thier journey. I think it was a sign to do it! Want to help?

Walking With Survivors

Last night I walked with a courageous group of people...cancer survivors. I was happy to see so many purple shirts but, I it also made me realize how many people battle this awful disease.

As we got ready to walk, I was in the front line holding the banner beside, ten year cancer survivor, and co-worker, Joan Billheimer. I took a few minutes to turn around and look behind me at the old, young and children survivors. It's that moment that tugged at my heart because we were all still there, happy to be alive, celebrating, and creating awareness for this cause.

My other moment was seeing 75 year old Joan, carrying the torch and doing the rememberance lap at the beginning of the luminary ceremony. She has such strength and passion for this cause. She BELIEVES, in supporting her cause and it's such a passion of hers that eminates from her core. Most of you that followed my own experience may remember how supportive Joan was when I was sick. She is truly an amazing woman. Joan knows everyone and how to navigate around a room or an event like the most famous person there ever was.

We were all cold, and didn't she know about a tent, with walls and even a heater in it. So we all followed her over to this secret place and warmed up! We joked with her that she could make more money for cancer by letting people pay $5 to take turns coming into that tent to warm up a little!

I talked to a young black women beside me on the survivor walk. That's something I've found people do more of if they are survivors. They take time to talk and learn about each other. That is a side-effect of the focus you get as to what is important now in life when you have cancer or after surviving it. She was from Jacksonville, FL but was in Florence visiting family here. She had breast cancer and was on her second round of chemo and radiation. I told her I was a 6 month cancer survivor and she quickly said but why do you still have your hair? I explained my cancer was contained and hadn't spread so I hadn't needed chemotherapy. She was surprised only because we mostly know only our own experiences with cancer. She didn't know some breast cancer didn't require it. We all learn from each other. I wished her well but today am wishing I would've given her a hug as she has a hard road.

My husband, Matt and daughter Michelle and her boyfriend Beckham were all there to support the cause with me as they were my fabulous caregiver team! Michelle and I made luminaries for our loved ones to remember them by or to honor them as they continue their battle. My co-worker Reuben was there to support the cause because he saw his mom go through cancer twice and he was there to support me and our boss who is recovering from her cancer.

The night was cold but it was the warmest place to be! Celebrate! Remember! Fightback! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNPC2nEz3QY

Good day to PAINT!

Today, I'm starting to painting the bust I made before I had cancer. The magnolia over the cancer tumor will be black and white and the other ones full color as the painting progresses. The idea is to depict the feeling of CHANGE.

What Is Your Personal Brand Essence?

When you develop a brand for a company you have a step where you develop your brand essence. This is the core proposition of everything you do and say. It's the one word that describes what's at the heart of who you are. I have been known to create family get together discussions around this. Everyone in the discussion ends up trying to figure out their one word that is their personal brand essence word.

Sometimes people ask me what I think theirs is.

Adrienne (team member) I know your brand word now finally! SPIRIT
Both the in the Christian based sense and the human essence which is what I say I always miss when you’re not here! I don’t know why it took me so long to figure it out!

I also figured out my daughter Michelle’s core proposition. Hers is HEART
She always puts her heart into most everything she believes in. Sometimes she loses heart but overall it’s the one word that describes who she is best.

And while I was on a role thinking of this driving into work today I thought about my husband’s which has also been hard for me to figure out. His is Truth but I keep wanting to make it SIMPLE-TRUTH as that is closer to what he represents.

My Mom’s is STRONG as in she’s a strong woman but not physically, in the sense of bettering herself, being tough when you have to be; overcoming challenges.

I have moments of clarity when things aren’t cluttering my brain when I can see these things well. What pops in your head when you have those moments? Do you know your one word?

Cards Early and Late

I drive my Mom crazy because I always send her occasion cards late. I buy them on time but I forget about them or I sign them and have them ready to send off only to find out that I don't have a stamp which involves a trip the post office. I try to work the trip in on my lunch but keep forgetting about it or I decide to work through lunch to keep up with my work. So she gets her cards late! I'm not the only one though she tells me...most of my brothers and sisters are the same way. Poor Mom! Really.

Over the weekend I bought some cards for different people for different purposes and I included in my purchases an Easter Card for my Mom. It even was and Easter Card for Mom specific!. This morning I filled it out, addressed the envelope, slapped the stamp on it and sent it on it's way! Won't she be surprised to get her card EARLY!

I think cards are really nice ways to let people know you're thinking of them. I always liked doing it and need to do it more often. I asked Adrienne, my co-worker, if her generation liked cards too? She's just one Gen Y gal but she was enthusiastic about them and thinks they're important too.

Interesting that with all the new communications methods we still like an old fashioned card! Everything changes eventually. I wonder what will be the equal replacement of a card with the use of technology? Where will the card stores go? Maybe we'll send holograms of ourselves with a personal message in the future.

What can we learn from Houdini?

Since Google Doodle today was Harry Houdini I took time tonight to read more about Houdini! I knew he was a famous and amazing magician because I saw some movies about him. What I didn't know was that his family came from Austria Hungry and his last name was Weisz for which they changed to Weiss (German) when they came to American. Maybe they're related to my niece Audry Weis? You never know how the family trees look way back!

Anyway, my take on his life is that he became famous by focusing on one thing that people would find amazing ....escapology. He also wrote about seven books on magic. He was passionate about exposing the frauds in his field. And he was in several films... all this before he was 52!

He's a good example of being passionate about what you do, pushing the envelope, being the best, staying focused and the outcomes of all those things.

Happy Birthday Harry Houdini. Thanks for the inspiration!

A Vase of Flowers In the Parking Lot

I was walking back from one building on our campus and tend to look down instead of up when I walk. It's because I live with five dogs and when you take them outside...you don't want to be looking up because you know you'll step in doo doo for sure! So now it's a habit. But I see the world differently.

Today I was passing "Arts" parking spot and his car wasn't there but I noticed there was a spot where he dumped his coffee or something. The yellow pollen's been at an all time high for dusting everything good and it really stuck to the coffee splashes. As I got closer I stopped to really pause because there it was a perfect vase with flowers coming out of it. What a cool image with the yellow silhouette on the rough macadam parking surface!

I walked inside and dragged my co-worker Adrienne out with her camera. I told her why on the way and she half believed me but went along with her crazy co-worker (probably because she's been told to be nice to old people!) So we get to Arts spot and she says, "Sure enough look at that!" She goes to take the photo, however the battery in the camera was dead...so I have no proof of this wonder of the day but it's true cause who else would write about this!

Don't you wonder what YOU'RE missing by always looking up?