Inspiration by Apple Watch

Note to self.  Find a much smaller company to try to promote my blog.  Google and Apple may be slightly too big.  So, how bout it trailerparks.com?  Or maybe vintagehorseshoes.com?  I have 11 people who read my blog now!  I am up 10% in 24 hours...could be a breakthrough!

Anyway, its my third day.  Ironically, I came home and really just wanted to lay down and rest...no reading for me.  Then I remembered that I had said I would do a chapter a day...publicly.  Well crap.  I turned off Netflix, went to the Chinese restaurant, talked to my mom, fed the dogs, changed my clothes, and climbed into bed.  My "getting ready to read" routine was complete.  See...re-framing my thoughts, making avoidance into a prolonged preparation phase, really worked.  Ok.  So, that wasn't in the book.  Dawn would fly to Missouri and knock that cashew chicken out of my hand if I said justification of avoidance was in her book...but it would get her here. :)

In any case, today's chapter was on Inspiration.  It was a very fast read and I actually came away from it feeling pretty good about how I do in the inspire department.  Inspiring others is something I really like to strive for in my life.  I truly want people to feel the joy and happiness I feel in many ways through simply living.  One way I have found to be very effective is something Beth wrote about.  It tied in with the kindness chapter as well.  Interesting how the good things tend to work together for good.  She shared about paying for the order of the car behind her at Starbucks (funny how I blogged about Starbucks yesterday) and then it started a cascade of people doing it for others.  I have done this myself and also had it done for me...once when I should have never been in the drive through in the first place.  Money was tight and I really wanted a Diet Coke.  I could never have paid for the car behind me that day, but I promised to do it for someone else in the future when I could.  It was a blessing I needed and made me grateful for a stranger to have done something so nice...so simple.  I want to be that stranger to people in life.  Nameless and faceless, but a blessing nonetheless.  No need to be seen or known...just my fruits giving a blessing to someone else.

Speaking of fruits, I have an Apple watch I rarely use...but really enjoy. (If you are reading right now thinking to yourself, "Did he really try to segue from fruits of giving to an Apple watch?" you are not alone.  I did.  I am also not going to go back and change it.  Desperate times call for desperate segues.  Back to the Apple watch.  When I wear it I always am looking at it because the notifications vibrate my arm.  I am usually not engaged with them, just nuisances to be recalled at some later time...or never.  However, the one that annoys me the most is "Breathe."  Ok.  Seriously.  Does my Apple watch for some reason think I am not breathing.  Does it know something I do not?  I looked it up, because it 1) annoyed me after a while and 2) made me question actually DID know something was wrong.  If you look on webMd it says that if you face this issue with your watch and do nothing about it...you guessed it...you die.  Okay, so wedMd is not going to be sponsoring my blog (marking it off my short list).  In all reality it really is just trying to make you take a minute away from your day and stop. Stop.  Breathe.  Relax.  I actually never do it.  I should.

Beth says when she meets with people she has them take three deep breaths.  It allows you to find some center and prepare yourself for what lies ahead.  Three deep breaths.  I tried it.  I know that anxiety can lead to shortness of breath, so deep breaths would lead to the opposite effect, I would assume.  To my enjoyment...it worked.  Three deep breaths, in my nose and out my mouth really relaxed me.  It was that simple.  Just three deep breaths and I kind of reset. 

So, not that I ever was questioning a company that is world a kajillion dollars, but next time I wear my Apple watch, and it tells me to breathe, I will not take its suggestion as a nuisance, but rather an opportunity to stop and relax.  Then maybe I will find myself open to new inspiration.

Until Next Time,
Peace

Gratitude with a side of Cheese

Okay.  So if you weren't following me yesterday, I am not surprised.  It is not that I have a plethora of followers...but then we all start somewhere, right.  Well...considering I started this blog over 7 years ago I am not so sure I am going to be the next Dave Barry (but darn it, it is fun to dream!).  Side note: I just learned something.  I always thought that Dave Barry was spelled with an 'e' like a berry.  Then, I decided, since I have something like 10 followers. I better make sure to spell it right.  I was wrong!  Thank you Google (and if Google would like to sponsor my blog, that would be amazing.  Where else will you reach 10 amazing people?!). 

As usual, I digress.  I started to blog about my friend Dawn's new book, "Recipes for Being - The Power of Seven," yesterday.  I promised that I would blog about the second chapter today.  However, I was on Facebook quietly stalking my friends, I mean reviewing everyone's posts, and I found a community center sign that I just loved.  (For those who are concerned, I was looking while I was in the line at Starbucks so I was not technically driving.  Also, did you know that the person at Starbucks can see you when you order?!  I have not noticed that before and man, if it has been like that for a while, I have totally been rude.  Ugh.)  Oh yeah, the sign.  A very creative community center has a sign that has so many humorous phrases and it was posted on someone's page.  One of the slogans really tickled me.  It was "Say No To Shredded Cheese.  Make America Grate Again."  Oh my gosh.  That just got me! Thank goodness not while I was being watched by Nicklaus at Starbucks.  After reading that I got to thinking.  My fridge has been out for a few weeks.  I mean it keeps things cool...but not really "I am still going to drink this milk after two days" cool and the freezer doesn't freeze nor cool to the point where it is any more cold than the fridge.  Basically I have a cooling space for water.  BUT...I can keep water cold (but no cheese, grated OR shredded). 

This made me think that I blogged once about oxymoron's.  I think it was one of my first blogs ever...about doughnut holes.  The English language has always humored me.  We have oxymoron's (another side note for any of my grammar nazi friends...why does spell check make me put an apostrophe in oxymoron's but not morons?) and we have homophones.  Words that sound the same but mean something different and/or are spelled differently.  For instance: To, too, and two or hear and here.  Seriously...how did we ever graduate first grade.  More concerning...we accepted this as okay, at least I think I did.  Anyway...homophones...you can tell I am in a rambling mood.  The two words I have become focused on are great and grate.  Great is big or important and grate was referred to on the sign I was talking about.  Yet, there is no such word as greatful but there is grateful and grateful has NOTHING to do with cheese or a drain cover (had to mention it too, darn homophones). 

There I was sitting at Starbucks thinking about Making America Grate Again, how great it was to know that the barista could see me in future visits, my gratefulness that I have a fridge, even if it does not work at full capacity, and then my gratitude to have enough money in my checking account to have come to Starbucks in the first place to have this wandering thought process.

Okay.  So, how does this relate to the book?  Did you remember that I was writing about the book at all?  I still am. Stay with me.  I am almost there. The second chapter was on the "Gratitude Portal."  Say what?  I totally thought Dr. Who, but it is referring to Ralph Waldo Emerson who said "stand guard at the portal of your mind." Cynthia, who penned this chapter, really hits it home with the law of attraction and how what you focus on will be what you attract.

I was actually grateful to realize that I do a lot of the things in the chapter already.  Gratitude is something that I have consciously worked on for many years.  Saying "Thank You" may not seem like a big task, but it is important to do.  My staff come to work and do amazing things every day.  I used to have a boss who told me that a paycheck was their way of saying thank you.  That just seems wrong.  I want them to know that I am thankful for all they do.  They make a positive difference in my life everyday because they are there.  I do thank God for the amazing life I have been given, the wonderful friends I have been blessed to know, and frankly, the ability to wake up every morning, so I must make sure they know that I am so very grateful for them. 

There are so many things we can choose to focus on and that energy can be wasted on concern and fear or it can be invested through gratitude.  I call it an investment because, over time, living a life with an attitude of gratitude will bring happiness and emotions that would be impossible to have otherwise. 

I am looking forward to journaling about my gratitude on a daily basis.  I won't give you the recipe that she gives...you'll have to get the book...but I am looking forward to being about to look back over 30 days and see how many wonderful things there are to be grateful for...hopefully they include a back-to-normal fridge full of food and, of course, a block of cheese. 

With Gratitude,
Matt

Self Kindness? WTH?

Well, this is different.  I usually just post thoughts and ramblings that I come up with no necessary cue...just the uttering of a possibly unstable mind rattling around within my skull.  Hey, I am totally cool with the instability as long as it keeps remembering to breathe in and breathe out as well as shower daily.  :)

However, today I cracked open a book.  Gasp!  I know that I am not an avid reader, and should be because I really enjoy reading.  Yet, rarely do I read.  I am happy to say that when my friends publish books, I tend to make sure that I pick those up and read them.  Unfortunately, I do not have a lot of friends who make a habit of publishing their works.  I do have two exceptions.  Dr. Nancy Allen, who has some of the best mystery novels EVER and Dawn Witte, who is the subject of this post.  In fact, a number of posts to come. 

Some background on Dawn.  Many years ago I was at a CASA conference in Anaheim, CA.  I was at the bar and sat next to this beautiful young woman.  She and I struck up a conversation about politics, of all things.  I found her to be intelligent and engaging.  It was a natural connection and I knew then and there we were meant to find each other. 

Fast forward a few years and I have watched as she has created an amazing organization, the Desire to Inspire Foundation, and shared her love and talents all across the globe.  I have seen her presence in Africa and observed as she has opened up her heart to so many people who just need to know they are loved.  She is a true inspiration to me and I am so grateful that I have the opportunity to call her my friend.

Now, with all the background out of the way, I want to share about her newest book.  I just received it yesterday off Amazon and decided that today I would begin to read it.  It is called Recipes for Being - The Power of Seven.  I guess you might call it a self-help book, but I would rather call it an inspirational cookbook...which is amazing, considering I do not enjoy cooking food.  Bring on the mindful culinary instruction!

After reading the forward, I realized that this was a multi-day read.  Seven days to be exact.  After reading the first chapter on self-kindness, I said, "what the heck?" and thought I am going to have to blog about this.

Last night and this morning I took time to re-read all of my blogs from the past 7 years.  Interesting that number keeps coming up.  I read what my 33 year old self had to say and, I must admit, past blogger Matt was pretty spot on in most instances.  There were some things I didn't remember, and a few moments that I made myself tear up.  A number of the entries were about kindness and how I truly appreciated the kindness around me.  Then I read the first chapter of this book.  I realized that I have often depended on other's actions to bring me joy and positive self-worth.  I have tried not to beat myself up when I do things that are not ideal.  I have become better at it, but had not given the action much thought.  Now...I am going to have to take a deeper look into this.  Self-kindness IS important, because if we cannot be kind to ourselves, how can we really know how our kindness internally impacts others?  And when we are not able to be kind to ourselves, is what we are giving to others sincere? 

I tend to believe that I am sincere in the ways I am kind, but as with all things, I am aware there is room to improve.  My sister has told me that she journals at that it is beneficial to her...that counseling degree paid off, Misty.  However, I have not taken time to do so myself.  Not listening to the little sister is usually an act of futility, but I manage to do just that on occasion.  Today I am going to give a test drive. 

I am also going to work on closing my personal complaint department.  I am, instead, going to re-brand and open a suggestions and solutions department (didn't make that up myself...totally in the book).  I will have to make everyone aware of this around me, but I believe that re-framing the negativity in a way that allows for positive reactions will free up some more of my mind to be open to self-kindness and also make me a better person to give away kindness. 

Here I have only skimmed over the one small chapter, but really do encourage everyone to consider checking the book out.  I know that after my first of seven chapters I am excited to see where the book is going to lead.  The next chapter on gratitude is exciting already.  Reminds me of Oprah and her attitude of gratitude, and I loved that!  I guess we will just see what the next chapter brings!

Until Next Time
BE Kind

Matt

Tidal Wave or Lightbulbs

Today was Friday.  I guess it still is, unless your in Europe, or I guess more than half the world...then it is Saturday already.  That is always weird to think about.  

Anyway.  Today I am not going to write about a tidal wave or light bulbs (someday maybe...but not today): Instead I am going to write about a White Navel Gator.  True story...well...part of it is.  Ready for it?  Because here it comes. 

Bob, Little Bob, Big Bob...(because in the Ozarks we don't bother with Jr., Sr., or the I, II, III's...Roman Numerals???  Seriously, if those folks in Rome couldn't spell Numbers then why would we use their idea of putting letters in place of numbers?  Duh.)  Well, back to the Bob's.  They were sitting with Roberta, Grandma Bobbie, and Aunt Maude (bet you thought she was going to be a Bob too...but that would be just TOO confusing).  They were at the table having lunch while Uncle Robert was in the living room watching his favorite Bob Newhart episode, when all of a sudden Aunt Maude had one of her rare, but very informative spells.  Over the years she had these crazy moments where her eyes roll back in her head, she gets up out of her chair (which is rare, since she only has one leg and a permanently broken foot due to a bobby-pin accident in 1994), and starts spouting off ridiculous things that the Roberts Family have never quite understood.  They say it is just Maude having a moment and ignore her.  In the past, she has told them they should spend $10,000 on facepage, or headbook, something like that when it had its eye pee oh.  She gave them the phone for some lady named Orpha and that they needed to call her.  She was looking for someone to come on her showing to help her find some of her favorite things.  They never wrote the stuff down, but that's how they remember them.  Oh, and the first time, back in the 80's she had told them to go down to the stock boy and ask him to buy some eye BM's.  That was the last time they listened to her because the stock boy just gave them a whole bunch of stuff called Visine and Pepto.  They drank both of them when they got home and where sick for a month.  That stock boy, he really did well with himself though.  They still talk about young Warren Buffett to this day and how lucky he was.  He bought himself a lot of that computer paper at market and made a lot of money.  Funny thing though, he still calls every week to talk to Aunt Maude to check and make sure she is okay and to have her share with him all that goes on at the Roberts house (especially her spells).

Well, today she didn't share too much during her spell.  Something about Bits and pieces or Parts and Coins, bits and coins...that is what it was.  She also said something about watching out for a White Navel Gator.  Then, as quick as it happened, she sat back down, head plopped in her chocolate pudding, and the Bob's got up and went outside.  Big Bob told little Bob to go to cousin Williams's and ask him to see if his Aunt Billie had a spare chain saw and bring it to the shop.  Then Big Bob headed down the street.  

*****

Today I  managed to get lost on my way to go pick up a silent auction item for an event.  Speeding down a dirt road, I was taking in the scenery and trying to figure out where on earth I was.  I passed a really beautiful valley.  As I came to base of the hill, I had to cross this little creek.  Thank goodness water wasn't over the bridge or I would've had to turn around.  I still have flash backs to getting my Jeep high centered when avoiding a flooded crossing years back.  I had to walk half a mile in 60 degree weather in a Santa suit.  But that is a story for another day.  

I crossed the bridge and found what appeared to be a super small village in the middle of absolutely nowhere.  I assumed it was just a number of people in a family who built next to each other.  As I came around the curve I almost ran smack dab into some fellow carrying a chain saw.  I slammed on my breaks then, without even looking at me, he slowly walked across the road to the big guy sitting at what looked like a ran down gas station.  I waved sorry (though it wasn't my fault) and kept on going.  There was a house for sale at the top of the hill.  I looked in the rear view mirror of my white Navigator, thought about it for a brief moment, and then realized I couldn't live that far out of town.  

Not sure why I felt like sharing that random moment of my day, but when I drove past that little village I couldn't stop think of Beatrice Arthur and the phrase "Lady Godiva was a freedom rider."  So weird.  

For now...that is all.  

Randomly Yours,
Matt

The 1%

This was sent out as one of my two end of year letters to previous donors.  I also submitted it to a few papers in our area.  Haven't seen it in print yet, but hopefully one or two pick it up.  Even for my own work, I see the point as powerful and important.  So, here is my story...the 1%.

I read an article today about what it takes to be part of America’s 1%. I found most interesting that the article assumed you knew what they were referring to as the 1%. I did a little research on my phone, did some basic math, and had a much different perspective. So...

Here is the article I would have penned:

The (Silent) 1%

What does it take to be in the one percent? Well, in our four counties (Marie’s, Phelps, Pulaski, & Texas) it takes a lot. In fact, to be in the 1% you are under 18. You found yourself faced with no choice. You are removed from your home. You are likely a victim of physical or sexual abuse or neglect. You are most likely scared, confused, and upset. You are possibly doing poorly in school because of the uncertainty in your life. You will most likely find yourself in this situation for around two years. You will often feel as if no one is listening...like no one cares.

You are the 1%.

Currently 2% of our region’s children found themselves in state care over the past 12 months. That is equal to 676 kids. You would not treat your animals like some of these children were treated. They are victims. They are children.

Half of these children (1%) had a CASA. Half of these children had a consistent voice advocating on their behalf. Half of these children had someone speaking up to help change their story...for the better. They had a CASA as part of their team. We have great partners in our system, but they are overwhelmed. They need our help. A CASA can provide that help...and they do.

I remember the outrage about the 1% over the past decade. I remember the signs as people marched. I remember thinking how powerful that number, 1%, was. As laypeople we can protest and march for change at the top. But we can all take action today to eliminate a different 1% statistic. The 1% without a voice...those without a CASA.

To make this happen, let’s be frank. We need people. We need people to advocate. We need approximately 200 more folks to give of themselves and commit to a child to help be their voice. We also need people to give. Like I said, I’m going to be frank. At CASA, we are a nonprofit. We work hard to use the funds we are given to the best of our ability. We must continue to provide recruitment, training, and support for our volunteers. We try diligently to meet the needs of the kids we serve, whether it is a laptop, basketball shoes for school, school supplies, games and toys, or other items they need to be a kid.

On average, it takes more than $1300 each year* to effectively meet the needs of our volunteers and children, and to maintain the standards we are required to meet to be a CASA organization. You can do the math. That is just shy of $900k each year to serve 100% of our kids. We are serving 50% now and believe we can provide an advocate for every child in care who needs a CASA by 2021...but we need everyone’s help to get there.

We are constantly seeking out grants and other funding sources. We hold events, fundraisers, and ask for donations. We started a monthly giving program where you can simply have a set amount donated each month. We keep working to make the math work. We aren’t there yet. I have faith we will get there, as I have always had faith in my community.

We are a community that always rises to the occasion. We are a community that is always there when someone needs a hand. We are a community of people who care.

I believe in our future and I believe that by this time in 2021 I will be able to say that there is no longer a 1%. I believed that when I began my journey at CASA of South Central Missouri and believe it even more today.

So, please consider making a commitment to give 1% to help the 1%. Whether that is 1% of your time, 1% or your pay, or 1% or your efforts toward sharing why this is important.

If we all just give 1% to help the 1%, our community would be a much better place.

Respectfully,
Matthew Evans
Executive Director
CASA of South Central Missouri

For more information on how you can give 1%, message us on Facebook, call our office, visit our website at www.casascmo.org/giving, or email us at info@casascmo.org

*national average for rural CASA programs across the US

Well...That Was Fun

I intended to get online tonight and blog.  1) Because I told one of my good friends to check out my blog and when I looked at it I realized I hadn't written in a year and a half and 2) Because I felt like writing at the time.  That was an hour ago. 

As usual, I had no clue what my password or even the email associated with this account was.  I decided to revisit, or attempt to revisit, every email I have owned in the past 10 years.  That was fun...and at least I know one of my really old accounts has had questionable activity and I was locked out for security.  Great...

Anyway, now that I have wandered across history to find my login, only to find I was already logged in and it was simply asking me what my Display Name was, I have managed to 1) forget what I was going to write about and 2) ran my laptop's battery low and I realized I am not sure where the cord is.  Seriously...I am not taking another hour to figure THAT one out.

So, tonight I am going to just tell myself, "hey. You figured out how to log in and that was a success (even though all you had to do in the first place was to write your name."  Maybe tomorrow I can remember the password and email address and write something more. 

Well, in a second, I will at least share the letter I wrote for work for our end of year giving.  I thought it was actually pretty decent, even if I say so myself.

So, until next time,

Peace

Me Talking About U

You know, it has been a long LONG time since I have blogged.  I know...fortunate for you, right?

Today is the day.  I think.  I really wanted to talk about something very deep.  First I thought about Politics.  Too obvious.  Then I thought about the Mariana Trench.  Too abstract.  Then...I thought to myself "Matt...when have you really blogged about anything very deep?" Truth Matt. Truth.

So, throwing my previous thoughts to the wind I now going to blindly select a letter from my keyboard.  Here goes:  u

Well.  That was not expected.  However, I had a plan.  I was going to write about something that begins with that letter.  Not so sure anymore.  Umbrellas?  Totally useful and utilitarian, but uninteresting.  Unicorns?  No.  That is unimaginative, unreal, and unimpressive.  So...what to write about that begins with the letter U? Ukelele...nope I can't even spell it and don't want to click on that little red line that says "you are an idiot...I am a computer program and I am smarter than you."  I mean, seriously, we did not always have computers to tell us we were stupid.  No.  We actually had the 399 pound Encyclopedia Britannica (the M-Mc and the Md-My...which are there REALLY that many M words before Mc...I mean c is the third letter in the alphabet.) to make us look up information in order for us to feel stupid.  Now...CLICK...you're dumb...move on.  No wonder people bully so much these days.  Seeing so much red on your monitor would make me insane.  Yep.  covefe...all makes sense now.

I have digressed...but from where and what?  Actually, come to think of it, let me revisit that thought about M-Mc.  Is this a thought that only people a little younger than me and older are ever going to even understand?  I mean, the internet doesn't naturally divide things by M-Mc, its now just M.  Will this lead to the unalphabetization of the United States, Uzbekistan, and the Universe?  How will we know how to announce the contestants for Miss Universe?  This is very concerning.

Sadly, no one really cares.  People are apathetic to the utilization of simplistic tasks like alphabetizing.  It is underwhelming to most and I would even dare say people find it useless.  Useless?  How on earth will you know how to use the card catalog, find a name in the phone book, or worst of all, eat your alphabet soup in order.  Wait?  You didn't do that?  Um...me either.  Just heard something about that once.

Understandably, this generation has so many more opportunities that we do.  They have Univision, Under Armor, U2, and so many other great things we never got to even know about.  I don't know about you, but my knowledge base prior to age 12 was limited to words between Aardvark and Antarctica.  I was shocked to find out about underwear when I went to college.

Ok.  So, I wandered off the reservation.  AND...I really wasn't funny today.  But I blogged.  I got a total of 27 words (I am totally counting Uekelele...still misspelled it) and now I am going to get back to work.  Man...I just needed a little break.

Peace.

PS It is spelled Ukulele...I was literally compelled to click on the red line.