Thinking and Action

I've been thinking a lot about Japan lately, above and beyond all the other news of the day and weeks. The devastation is so overwhelming and I am not even having to live it first-hand. There are places to donate and texts to donate to the Red Cross and other countless charities I am sure. I am compelled to try a little more, give a little more than a text-value. Then all of a sudden it came to me, like a whisper in my ear, "10% for Japan."


I have been slowly putting effort into this new side-project that I was hoping would take off for my own monetary needs. But now I am energized to put even more effort into my new project to make my efforts work toward some hefty financial donations for Japan. Almost as soon as the 10% idea whispered to mind, I thought of spreading the word with a website, blog, facebook and tweets. The first web address that sprang to mind is perfect: 10% for Japan = 104Japan. It's simple to remember and has a catchy double-entendre. "I got your message Japan, I understand." And the good ol American saying, "10-4 good buddy!"

I don't know anyone in Japan, but I know they are suffering and need as much help as they can get. Anyone in need that I have within my power and abilities to help, that's a good buddy to me. A couple weeks ago I went to a gathering of friends for breakfast at a bagel shop. Here were about 15 of us gathered and a few other tables not related to our group. When I arrived on my bike, there was a disheveled, scruffy young man sitting on the sidewalk out front. He looked hungry. I pulled up to lock the bike near where he was sitting and as I was messing with the bike lock I asked him, "Have you eaten yet today?" He looked at me, genuinely sad and said, "No, not yet." It was nearly noon. I told him not to go anywhere, I'd bring him some food.


Granted, I don't just hand out money anymore, no for a few years now. But this young man with the kind face and soulful eyes was in real need of good nutritious food. I know what it feels like to go hungry - I've been there. I didn't just bring him any ol bagel. He got a hot bagel-eggy breakfast, a banana, coffee and an Odwalla superfood green juice drink! I ordered double of everything and I sat and ate mine with my friends. I told him to come in and eat at a table, he doesn't have to eat on the sidewalk. But I think he was embarrassed because he was dirty.


I don't know what will become of that young man, but I saw a spark of hope in him that he seemed to need. A reminder to him that we are not all cruel and blind to the needy. A reminder to him that when he's back on his feet, he can make a difference too. I am not exactly in such a solid position to be buying food for every down and out on the street, but when moments tug at your heart - that's a call to action!


So, since this blog post is titled Thinking and Action, and ever since I have been thinkin of Japan there has been some tugging on my heart to do more I knew I had to spring into action. Ok, now, hmmm, gosh where to begin? I have a tedency to overthink and make things more complicated than they need to be so baby-steps are okay as long as I keep moving forward toward real results.


I decided not to grab a .com or .org website so as not to spend any money needlessly. Why not pursue this cause with a free blog? It's been done before. A website is a website is a website. Besides, who really types in the web address in the browser anymore? A lot I am sure, but admit it, a lot of your surfing comes from convenient links from twitter, facebook, other blogs, YouTube. Oh, that reminds me, I better brush up and be presentable to post video too. If I really am serious about getting the word out there, I am going to need every venue and medium.


My next few steps I can think of off the top of my head are:
1) Set up a bar graph to track the funds growth
2) Call the cable Internet people out. Time to pull out the ol laptop and stop trying to do virtually everything via my iPhone. This gadget is pretty handy, but I already see it can't perform everything I need on blogspot.
3) Nail down fund plan/timeline. Ask around for advice. Do I wait until I reach a certain amount before I donate to the Red Cross or turn the funds in as I receive them? Do I choose the Red Cross or some other charity?
4) Turn up the effort on my little side business to get this donation fund growing!




Maybe someday I will even earn enough to go to Japan help hands-on.
Konnichiwa Arigato Gozai-masu
~Karen-chama
10-4 Good Buddy