1000 people got together.....

     On Friday night approximately 1000 people got together for the Alliston Relay for Life and raised over $220,000. This shows what can happen when people decide to fight back instead of just accepting things. It reminds me of John Lennon's quote: "If everyone demanded peace instead of another television set we would have peace." A lot of people getting together and each doing a little bit can have tremendous results. 
      People often ask me who I lost to cancer or what my situation is that caused me to get involved. Nothing did except that it pisses me off. It pisses me off that kids get cancer and go through traumatic experiences and even die. It pisses me off that other great people suffer and some are taken prematurely. It is inevitable that if enough research is done we will solve this problem. Don't let people tell you different. There are lots of things that are being done currently and lots of breakthroughs that are very close. Part of the problem is that people think of cancer as one thing and it still exists so they think we aren't getting anywhere. The reality is that there are many forms of cancer and some are getting solved. I have a friend who was recently diagnosed with a form that has actually been identified right to the cell and that is able to be treated with a drug and he should live as normally as you or I for the rest of his life other than taking the medication. 
     So the idea of people getting cancer pisses me off and I get involved with Relay for Life. It pisses me off that kids hang out in front of Tim Horton's and cause trouble. So I get involved with the Youth Center and dances. It pisses me off that I can have anything I want and there are people who don't have enough to eat so I volunteer at the Food Bank......and don't start with the nonsense about how they should be working. Lots of seniors and disabled come into the Food Bank and lots of others with stories that aren't visibly obvious to you. It pisses me off that other people may not have had some of the advantages I have had to learn things so I volunteer at the Literacy Council.
     The point is: What pisses you off? All these problems are solvable. There is an organization out there that is close to solving the problem of Tsunamis by figuring out how to change the water temperature. We can certainly get kids off the street, teach people to read or continue to figure out ways to prolong the lives of people fighting cancer. 
     What pisses you off? Go. Get involved in fighting back against these things. I guarantee you will feel better about yourself. We aren't victims. Get out and help solve a problem like the 1000 or so people did on Friday night.  

Don't Forget Why You Came

      Just read an interesting quote: "When you leave here don't forget why you came". It was from Adlai Stevenson to college graduates. I went past it and didn't post it to Facebook like I normally would because it didn't really fit with what I normally would post. Then I got thinking about it and all the situations in life it applies to: work, friends, spouses etc.
       When we got offered the job, or the friendship was growing or met the spouse there were reasons that we were interested and wanted that person or job as part of our lives. For the most part those reasons are still there but we have come to take them for granted and now we focus on all the irritations.
        Perhaps next time I find myself complaining about my work, or my spouse or a friend I'm going to think about why I wanted to work there or be with that person and I'm going to remember why I came.