Adrian’s Birthday Challenge

There are so many people to thank that I’m not sure if I can list them all. But, I’m going to try.

Your donation of $24 provides a warm and hearty meal - and even more - for approximately 13 people.

Because of each and everyone one of you, whether you made a donation, shared this page with a friend, or helped out with the day of the Challenge, someone in Nashville is eating a warm meal that they otherwise would have went without. That warm meal just might be the opportunity – the tipping point – for them to turn their life around and lift themselves from the streets of homelessness and despair. Along with the warm meal comes a sense of hope and care - that somebody out there cares. And along with that feeling comes the desire and ability to renew oneself - to begin learning again, to take better care of the body, to become productive, and to eventually share that good fortune with others.

So, you see, you’ve set in motion a virtuous circle - a series of good deeds that will build momentum, multiply, and allow your global neighbors to live a better life ultimately creating a better life for you and future generations. Your good deed will spawn baby good deeds. And those baby good deeds will reproduce until the world is suffocating in goodness (I…can’t…breathe…).

That is how interconnected our world is. Your daily actions affect everyone - including your own self.

Inspiration vs. Encouragement

During the Challenge, some people said to me “thanks for the inspiration”. Take that back right now! While it’s humbling, it’s a lie. I have no capacity to inspire – only to stir the inspiration that’s inside of you. You just have to look for it, grab it, and use it. On the other hand, I will accept the blame for encouragement. I love encouraging others. Encouragement is the recognition of the strengths inside others - the opportunity to tell them “good job” or “you CAN do it.” All too often it’s those simple words that help us to recognize our own capabilities. I’m the benefactor not of my own strength, but of the encouragement of friends, family, and strangers throughout life who have helped me to see the same message we are all struggling to see - that we have the power to do anything we want. We have the capability to create a life all our own filled with abundant happiness, love, and joy. We can set out to achieve our wildest dreams and, if we so choose, we can achieve them. In a world marred with negative news, seemingly endless daily stressors, and insurmountable expectations, sometimes a little “good job” or “you CAN do it” makes the difference between trying and giving up. And your words made all the difference. So, I say to you, “thanks for the encouragement.”

Since I don’t have the wherewithal to find words to express my gratitude, I borrow a quote that a friend used on her blog.

“I don’t know how to repay them.

In the end, though, maybe we must all give up trying to pay back the people in the world who sustain our lives. In the end, maybe it’s wiser to surrender before the miraculous scope of human generosity and to just keep saying thank you, forever and sincerely, for as long as we have voices” Eat, Pray, Love

Please make sure and pass this post on to others you’ve recruited along the way.

Those who’ve helped in more ways than one (also posted here):

Morning run

Ben R.

Jackie S.

Liberty S.

Bike Ride

Tyler Evans

Mom & Dad

Climbing Tony B. Chris R. John W. John R. Justice

Frisbee

Jackie S.

Tony B.

John W.

David C.

Achilles (the dog)

Mom & Dad Afternoon Run Sam Davidson

Monetary Contributions

Stephanie

Matt W.

Peg Lamping

Kori

Lisa Marie

Sherry S.

Janet

John Wade

Sam Davidson

Joel W Jones

Kate J

Roger

Sarah Nethery

Friend of a Friend

John Riddle

Paula

Liberty

Kimberly & Emma

John Wingfield

Julie Sauer

Rose Marie & Jerry Schetter

Lori & Reed Hadley

Chris Rice

Daniel

Alex

Marlene and John

Mark & Patti

Seth Huber

Ben

John & Patty Lee

Gibbs

Carly A. Crouch

Tony Brown

Friend of Kori’s

Jenny

DaveClarkVibe

Amanda Hansen

Mamma Sue and Papa T, Kita & Teo

June Janssen Party Host Kimberly Lexow