Happy 4th of July
Just wanted to wish everyone here in the States a Happy 4th of July!
Memorial Day Remembrance
Sinec today is Memorial Day, I was thinking earlier about the way the day is actually treated. If you know the history of Memorial Day, it was originally designed to be basically a day of National Remembrance to Honor those who have died in service to their country. Although it was not officially declared until 1967, many communities, states, and counties had been doing something very similar since the 1800’s. In 1971 Congress changed the day to be on Monday, thus creating a 3 day weekend. The VFW and many others have expressed concerns that the true meaning of the day has been lost and it is now considered by many as just a way to kickoff summer vacations. They would like to see Memorial Day moved back to May 30th. I for one support this notion, and I do believe that many people do not understand the true meaning of Memorial Day. So, today, please take a few moments to remember and honor those who have given their lives in service.
What Motivates You?
Have you ever seen someone who you think has less than you? I don’t mean just money, but maybe they have bad health, been abused, lost their spouse or child, etc. How did you feel about them? I am always amazed at how positive people in these situations can be. I am a Partner In Hope with St Judes Childrens Research Hospital and so every month I get an inspiring note with information about a child who is suffering from some form of cancer. Now, you may be wondering what is so inspiring about that? Well, these kids have health issues that can shorten their lifespan to only a few years, and they spend much of their time if not all, in the hospital getting lifesaving treatments. Yet somehow they manage to smile, to play, to love, and to enjoy what they do have. Do you think you can learn from them? These kids simply amaze me, and there are millions of others children across the country in similar situations. So, the next time you need inspiration, how about thinking of these children? Better yet, why not become a Partner In Hope yourself, so you can do something every month to help treat these children? Learn more at the St Judes Hospital Website.
A Feel Good Story
Every once in a while you read or see a story that gives you hope. Hope that there are good people doing good things out in the world. I saw one such story this evening on ABC World News Tonight. It was a story about Walgreens, and people with disabilities. In one of their distribution centers, they employ about 700 people, and over 40% of the employees are disabled in one way or another. These folks suffer from autism, down’s syndrome, developmental disabilities and more. Did you know the national unemployment rate for disabled Americans is a stunning 44%, compared to just under 5% for everyone else? Walgreens has shown that people with disabilities can do the same jobs, with the same pay, with the same benefits and produce the same or better results. The Walgreens employees with disabilities are not “invisible”, as is often the case in public. The program was started by Randy Lewis, a Walgreen executive whose own son suffers from autism. I found the story to be not only uplifting, but also inspiring. I already use Walgreens for my prescriptions and medicine, but I would imagine there are a lot of people who will learn about the Walgreens program and show their appreciation with their wallet. This story should also serve as a reminder to all of us that we should be grateful for our good health and the many opportunities we get that the disabled may not. My hope is that one day these stories are not even considered news, but are just part of everyday life. I salute Walgreens, their employees, and ABC News for showing that there are still great people in today’s world. So, I just wanted to share this with my readers and say Thank You.