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Hope

Image by Old Sarge via Flickr

Hope, a word we hear but may not understand. I chose this topic for a reason. We live in a very difficult time. This past year has been an economic nightmare for most of us. Hope is probably something you wonder if you have.

If you watch the news, as I do a lot, you see the unemployment rate rising, the inflation rising, the consumer index barely moving. Truth is, our economy sucks! It’s not just the United States either. It seems to be a global problem.

So why choose to discuss Hope when there is so much discouragement and despair? First, because the lack of Hope is the loss of ones own soul. Yes, I’m talking about the “G” word. You know, GOD.

This blog is not going to rant and rave about God, or Hell, or other stuff, but what I do want to share with you is personal. For you and me.

I am a big believer in Hope. I have lived a pretty intense life so far, and without Hope I would have probably committed suicide. That’s what happens when people give up Hope and don’t see any way out of bad situations.

Yes, I believe in God. I am Roman Catholic and am active in my spiritual life. My husband believes in God too, but he calls him Allah. We are an inter faith marriage. Christian/Muslim. Besides our belief in Hope we also believe in God [or as some call Him, “A Higher Power”]

I want you, as you read this, to think about your life right now. How do you personally feel about your life? Do you feel that things are too much right now? Most people do. Being overwhelmed in this world is common. Hope is a solution to that problem. Hope that there is going to be a better life tomorrow, for you and your family.

How do you find Hope? Where do you find Hope? You can find Hope right inside yourself. Your heart, mind, and soul all work to keep you at peace despite all that is wrong around you.

People tell me that they feel empty inside. Hollow, like something is missing. Despite all their activities and other stuff to block out that feeling, its still there. Its like they are running away from reality because it hurts too much.

I could have been that way, but I had, and still have, Hope. About 8 years ago, I was homeless. My late mother and I lived on the streets for several months. Like the people who have lost their homes right now, I was ahead of them. My Mom and I lost everything, and I mean everything!

My husband [I wasn’t married to him yet, but I knew him then] thinks that remembering all of that hurts me, or I’m ashamed. It doesn’t and I’m not. No, actually, I has helped me to appreciate what I have now and I do thank God for all of that. I know that my Hope [which I believe came from Him] is what got me through.

When I see the news about all the people who are losing their homes and pets and have lost their jobs, I know what that feels like, I’ve been there!  God has given me the compassion to “feel their pain”.

I don’t tell you this for you to say Wow! or to be impressed or sorry for me. That’s not the point. What is the point is that even when things were at their darkest, I still held out Hope that there was light.

My mother has since died due to cancer. My entire family is dead. I am blessed to have my loving and wonderful husband [who God brought into my life when I needed him the most] and now I have a wonderful life, with peace and happiness.

See what Hope does?

Why am I telling you this? Because, I want you all to realize that time is passing, and with it, there is Hope that tomorrow will bring us all back to the balance we want and need. But remember, from all bad things comes good. That is truth!

We are learning balance right now as we work to keep our heads above water. We are spending less, and learning how to enjoy the simplicity of life. Keeping it simple is wonderful.

I hope that by my sharing this little bit about myself, you can begin to understand why my husband and I started Womens Future Benefit. He grew up in poverty in Egypt and I have been where most pray they will never end up. We are both much better off thanks to guess who. [hint, it begins with a G]

Please hold Hope in your heart, mind and soul as you go onward. Remember that this too shall pass.

Thanks for taking the time to read this.

Fair Trade Work Resumes

Image by Billtacular via Flickr

Hi everyone! I know it’s been quite a while since I’ve posted. I have had a bad summer for my health. I hope all of you had a wonderful summer and are getting back into the swing of Fall.

I want to tell you all first that this summer I was diagnosed with asthma. I just got over a horrible case of bronchitis with an ear infection. That said, I just want you to all know that if I do disappear again in the future, I am probably not feeling well.

For those of you who are followers on my podcasts and blogtalkradio, I still don’t have a voice you would like to listen to. Actually, I don’t really have a voice yet! LOL

I did spend my time reading up on Fair Trade, getting into programs to advance Womens Future Benefit, such as the Capital One Card program which is a way you can help us to get donations as you shop.

I have made connections to many other Fair Trade groups around the world through Facebook and we will be link sharing both on our website and on this blog in the coming months. Our membership on Facebook has grown and well are our community at Change.org. We are now in 12 countries around the world and growing faster and bigger each day.

I am thrilled with all of this progress. Since the economy is not all that healthy right now, I have been spending time repackaging our Project and have created a “brand” for us. I have read so much about marketing and being a non profit that I really don’t care anymore.

This Fall, I am just going to get to know all of you. I hope you will take my invitation to email me with questions or comments. I really don’t like the idea of dealing with this Project as a business. I don’t look at it that way.

Personally, I feel weird and unsettled hustling people for money. I hate it when people do that to me. I know that money makes the world go round, but charity is from the heart, not the wallet.

So, with that in mind, you  should look forward to a fresh new angle to this whole non profit concept coming from me, at least. I’m not interested in webinars, or seminars, or other such stuff. I just want to make Fair Trade more available to people and for those who are new to this concept, more aware of how it works.

Since the weather will be getting colder or rainier, depending on where you are, I hope you spend the long months ahead with me and the Project. I am already set for buttoning in [no, New Jersey doesn’t get that cold, but I’m a New Englander so its in the blood!] I love the Fall, and the coolness gives me a new sense of energy.

Since I have asthma, I have had to quit singing in my church choir, and make Major life changes. Most of which are pretty good, but I still feel bad about not being able to sing anymore. Oh well, I should have better concentration for this now instead.

Please feel free to drop me an email at: kathryn@womensfuturebenefit.com

And I hope you come by the website, or Facebook or all our other hang outs and get involved in our community.