May 8, 2025 - Make a Difference

As we go through our lives there are many important questions for us to ask ourselves - some of them include - "What do I care about?" "Who do I care about?" "How much do I care?" "What am I willing to DO in regards to what and who I care about?" Yes, these are questions for each of us to ask ourselves and then to make the choice to care and act so things will be better. When we know what, who, and how much we care, then we will be able to take action to make a difference - this matters because taking action matters. I want to encourage you to find a way to make a difference - in big and small ways. You could start by making a difference in the lives of your family and friends - be sure they know how much you love and appreciate them, look for ways to help and encourage them and just be a "difference maker" in their lives.

You may also find ways to make a difference in a big way - maybe you will volunteer to help a group whose mission you care about, or maybe you will find a job with a group which is making a difference. Or maybe ??? Time will tell how you are able to make a difference in big ways, just be open to it and look for opportunities - you never know what is just around the corner!

Along with thinking about making a difference, I also want to take time to share again links for resources and groups which you are able to access to help you. It matters for you to take care of yourself. You deserve to be strong and experience joy, so please take care of yourself. Here are several places where you are able to find people who, "have your back" -

• If you are part of the queer community, check these links -
• Youth Pride Association at this link - they work, "to promote and foster the acceptance of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) people in educational institutions. We work to address the alarming and substantial hardships LGBTQ youth face in schools."
• The Trevor Project at this link - they say, "You deserve a welcoming, loving world. And so do the people you care about. Here you can reach out to a counselor if you're struggling, find answers and information, and get the tools you need to help someone else."
• Equality Federation at this link - they are, "an advocacy accelerator rooted in social justice, building power in our network of state-based lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) advocacy organizations."
• There are many more wonderful groups filled with people who want to help - you will find them in this excellent article at this link.
• If you are being bullied, check these links - 
• The National Association of People Against Bullying at this link - they say, "We are a non-profit foundation which provides direct anti-bullying services, education, and support to students, families, and schools."
• Stop Bullying at this link - they provide resources to help stop bullying.
• If you have physical or mental challenges, then please check this article which has a wealth of resources which will provide help at this link.
• I want to say if you find a local church, you will find people to help support and encourage you - and while there are churches still where this is true - such as the Episcopalian church where Bishop Mariann Budde stood up to and spoke to the current president, sadly not all churches are safe places. But, there are some which are and finding them may be helpful.

I found a wonderful article by Joel Calfee, which I linked to below, but I want to quote something he wrote - "It can be hard not to lose hope as many more years of Trump loom before us, but the truth is LGBTQ+ people have existed for centuries, and no matter what actions the new president takes, queer and trans people will continue to exist, and fight for our freedoms, long after him. This is not a time to back down, but to band together, and to look out for each other in all the ways we can."

I wholeheartedly agree. You will find the full article - which is WELL worth reading - at this link. Knowing resources which are available to us and connecting with people who understand and will, "have our back" are ways to help us be strong and experience joy. Then, once we have taken care of ourselves, we will be able to make a difference in our world, so things will be better for others as well. Consider not only connecting with the groups listed above, but you might also find opportunities to volunteer with them as well - so you are able to take action to help things be better.

Once again today I want to send you my virtual "hug" - You matter. You deserve to be loved and are loved - I love you! You make our world a better place - we need you in this world. I hope you have people around you who tell you these things, but if not, please let me be someone who does. Yes, I say this every day, but these words are true and will always be so. You will find the video at this link.