Baby, Give It Up!: Everybody wants you . . .

[Posh]

(I want to first thank my mother for giving me some of the ideas for this post and helping me with ideas, even though she'll never read this because she generally hates computers and uses them only when she has to. She's actually very excited that on a forum dedicated to fake watches that people may be interested in this information.)

I'm referring to giving up your time and experience and knowledge to help make the world around you a safer, more loving place for those without the ability to buy FOUR PLANET OCEANS, one after another until they get seemingly easy details right. LOL

I often like to discuss, vehemently sometimes, and defend the position that looking as good outwardly as one possible can is nothing to be taken lightly. I believe that eating healthy, keeping your body exercised and toned, growing stronger in your faith (with which religion you are affiliated), being well-educated and looking presentable is something that everyone should hold as the ideal, striving towards those goals if they are not already. I myself workout three times a week (aerobics (with weight training for muscle tone), yoga (bikram yoga, too) and pilates); I eat healthy (with an occasional indulgence); I am SLOWLY working on my master's and would be spending extravagantly on clothes and accessories if I wasn't so good at finding a deal through PAINSTAKING shopping (I will squeeze a nickel until the buffalo poops!).

A friend of mine who is an artist in Baltimore painted a picture that hangs in the corner of the living room and it's an abstract face that sums up how I feel about life in general: "Beauty is not a need but an ecstasy!" For me, beauty is a term that covers many different things.



While I certainly espouse people outwardly radiating classic, eternal good taste with a modern yet conservative approach to style, I believe helping improve the lives of others is singularly the most attractive and beautiful thing someone can do. If you have a great deal in your life, whether it's inner peace, money or knowledge, sharing that with someone who lacks those things enriches everyone's life, lives you may not ever know you even touched. For example, the one person you teach CPR to could easily go and save another person's life at restaurant or sporting event in the future. You've made an impact not on just your own life, but two others as well! This could possibly bring back some of that emotional or spiritual purpose I often read about members feeling they've lost. They seemingly have every tangible thing they want, but still feel aimless, unfulfilled or like their lives have little meaning.

When I was small, old enough to go to school I believe, my parents got both me and my sister involved in charity and volunteer work. When other kids were enjoying their time during holidays or breaks, my parents made sure that we gave back to society and helped anyone in need. They never let us forget that although we had everything we wanted growing up with no fear of ever "going without, " others were not as fortunate. I actually got to experience this even further when I visited Russia a few years back with a friend.

My mother, a pious and surprisingly guilt-free Catholic, always said that since we were blessed with so much, it was our moral responsibility to do as much for the less fortunate as we could. My mother is like a mini-Mother Theresa in much better shoes. She has been the chair person of every Red Cross chapter she's been in, only recently stepping out of chair person duties to focus on traveling more with my dad. If there was a house fire (which is the Red Cross' big thing in helping with), my mom was there right after the firemen offering support WHILE the house was still burning (thank you scanner). My mother said for members looking to volunteer in their areas (continental US and internationally), visit the Red Cross website and go to the Volunteer area. She said that if you don't know right off what you would like do, just sign up as the Red Cross has use for people with all kinds of skills; they'll match you to what is need!



My father's major charity of choice when I was growing up was Habitat for Humanity. My dad is very, very proud of his home and stressed the importance of home and family to me when I was growing up. He was adamant about others who did not have homes feeling that same sense of security and sanctuary that he felt and provided for us. I remember watching him work on home sites when I was a kid and I wanted to help but I didn't really want to get dirty. Now that I'm an adult, I definitely plan on helping build at least ONE house to make up for all the running around and screaming I did years ago. What makes me respect this group more is the fact that I had the honor to meet Jimmy Carter and Millard Fuller at a fundraiser in Hazelhurst, Georgia. Both are really wonderful men whose commitment to helping people have a safe and secure home is truly commendable.



My own charity I recommend is mentoring and specifically Mentoring.org which can connect you to many community organizations near you that you can get involved with. I mentor a little girl once a month near my home and she's an absolute delight. We play Barbies, go out to eat and read together, nothing too heavy since she's fairly young. You DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT have to be a CEO or a material success to make a difference in a child's life. There's so many children in less-than-ideal home situations that need the guidance of someone caring and stable. I know there are a few wonderful, well-adjusted men and women on this board who I think would make fantastic mentors. Share that watch knowledge and bag knowledge with a new generation.

I went to a sales conference last year where I met a woman who's whole life was changed by a mentor she met through Big Brothers, Big Sisters. She spoke highly of mentoring, even crying while doing so, because she felt she owed so much to the woman who visited her just one weekend a month for several of her most formative years. She really said she owed a lot to this woman for the success she had today.

I couldn't easily enjoy living the way I live without doing something of substance for the world around me in some way. If you have some charitable organizations you know of that could be added to the list above, volunteering stories you'd like to share or comments, please feel free!