Weight Loss Blog

An old friend of mine from High School has been blogging about her weight loss journey.  I figured some of the ladies on here might find it beneficial/inspiring.  So here is the link losinglex.blogspot.com

New Year Volunteer

Happy New Year everyone!  This is the time of year when many people begin their downward spiral of self-doubt and loathing by forming unhealthy pacts with their self-esteems.  Yes, I'm refering to the dreaded New Year's Resolution.  Well this year, I'm not doing anything for myself.  I'm helping others. 

I found this wonderful website www.volunteermatch.org which helps you find volunteer opportunities in your area. 

I found a great match for myself, which is a work from home data entry job.  All I have to do is enter dates and descriptions into Microsoft Excel.  I can do it on my own time and send it back whenever I want.  Of course, it would be great to get paid for it, but then again, it will pay off big time when after a few months I can put it down on my resume as honest to goodness volunteer work.

So, if you don't want to start the New Year off just thinking about yourself (because, really, we all know how depressing that can get) then go on and search for a match at volunteermatch.org. 

Accion International

A few years ago, I saw a special on CNN about World Refugee Day.  Now, I'm not a clueless person, I know that there is poverty and plight in the world, but sometimes when you get caught up in the hustle and bustle of your own life (however insignificant it can be) you tend to loose perspective.  This news special brought me right back into reality.  I began to research the topic and in doing so I can across a wonderful organization, that not only helps women in war torn and impoverished nations, but right here in the United States, as well.

Accion International is an organization that distributes micro-loans to women all over the world.  Women in nations that don't have a strong economy can receive as little as fifty dollars to start a business.  When they are able to independently support their families, they are also able to support their community by hiring individuals to work for them.  These businesses become the life blood of their villages, and help to enrich the lives of so many in return. 

My solution to world poverty is to create more organizations like Accion International.  You know, Romanitic philosophers believed that the education and the enrichment of the individual would in turn create a more civilized and stable society, and I believe that.  That's what Accion International accomplishes.  They just don't give micro-loans, they give financial independence and security to families and communities.  They create schools and hospitals, because they bring wealth to the community.  And the stronger the community, the less poverty can prevail within it.