Dying Man’s Daily Journal – Birthday Presents Please.

I sit here almost in awe of the amount of time that has passed both since I started this blog and since I made my first request for birthday presents. Last evening I sat down and spent a little time reading back on my previous request posts. It was a bit of a trip down memory lane bringing back some the feelings I was going through as I wrote those posts. When I posted that very first request, I remember feeling, “knowing” that it would be the one and only time I would be able to do so. At that time I truly did not believe I would see my next birthday. With that thought process in my head, I wanted to know that if only in some small way I had made a difference to someone, anyone. Some how it seems time has just flown by and the birthdays have just continued to pile up as the years fly by.

Through this time the journey hasn’t always been easy, but really just a few bumps in the highway of life. Countless doctors appointments, a few hospital stays and even heart attack #5. While going through some of those events they did at the time seem to be a little more than a bump in the road. As I look back now I can see that is all they were but little  bumps in the road of the highway of life. Isn’t is strange, how it is so much easier to see in hind sight how minor or insignificant those bumps really were.

Again I sit here wondering, will this one be my final birthday request? In my mind I know it well may be, but deep in my heart I feel I have a lot left in me.

Rambling on in my typical style, I seem to have worn myself out even before I get to my main point the request of gifts to me. Taking the easy way I am copying and reposting my request from I think it was in ’07. This year I am actually turning 58, but I am leaving the original post as was written back then. My request:

I can’t believe how quickly this past year has gone by. An entire year filled with precious moments, I have loved and appreciated everyone of them. In a couple of days, on Dec. 13th it will be my birthday. It will be the big 55. Hey, I will have to update my “about” page. It has been a good year, there have been a few little bumps in the road, but in the overall big picture of my life that is all they have been is little bumps in the road. Wow, I made it to 55. There have been times when it has been in question if I would make it this far. But I am here, doing fine and am aiming for quite a few more years.

It is so hard to even fathom, I have been blogging for well over a year now. I have met so many wonderful people, really is amazing. The love and support that has been shown to be is far beyond anything I could ever have imagined. I am so grateful.

Even as grateful as I am, I am not above straight out asking for birthday presents. I did it last year and I am doing it again this year. Last year I asked for a single present this year I am getting greedier and am asking for two. Imagine the nerve of this guy actually asking for presents from mostly strangers. Well here I am and at it again.

In my post of Nov 30th., I wrote of my first request. A quick recap of my request: Perform a single act of kindness. It doesn’t matter to whom this act is extended or even the size of the act. What matters to me is that one extra act of kindness was performed. I know by our very nature, all perform countless acts each and everyday. I am asking though that we all set out deliberately looking for some way in which to perform one more. Again the size of the act doesn’t matter, so much as that we each made a conscious choice to do something for another, purely from the loving goodness contained within our hearts.

I believe anonymous acts of kindness reflect the true beauty and love contained within our hearts. They are true loving acts done with no thought of recognition or compensation. Pure acts of love and kindness. Our acts may remain anonymous to the recipients but I ask that you tell me about them. It would not be in a glory or praise seeking way but to acknowledge ourselves for the good people we are. Plus, by sharing it may help or even encourage others to do the same.

Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless – Mother Teresa

Gift #2. As I am facing the upcoming Christmas. I am feeling a little guilty. I know I will partake in many wonderful meals with mountains of food and goodies and that I will undoubtedly consume my fair share if not more. Hey, it is Christmas, isn’t that a part of the way we all celebrate it? I almost breaks my heart as I think that, sadly this is not the case for so many. When I think of people going without something as basic to life, my mind automatically goes to those tragically affected by conditions in 3rd world countries. My heart and prayers are with all of them.

I have a very definite soft spot in my heart for children. I know there are children right here in Canada, in ever country around the world that are hungry. For what ever reason, through circumstances far beyond their control they are often left hungry. How can this be???? There are occasions when we can indeed get on our moral high horses and point fingers at the parents for what ever reason. But, this is absolutely not always the case, circumstances beyond control can often be the major factor. But, who cares about the circumstances, when it comes to the children, I certainly don’t.

My request, help me ease my conscience as I chow down over Christmas. Make a food donation to someone in need. The where doesn’t matter, where ever you see there is a need. There is an almost unlimited number of places, organizations constantly looking for food to distribute to those in real need. It can be the neighbor down the street you know is going through a tough time. Here in Winnipeg, we have Winnipeg Harvest, a wonderful organization collecting and delivering food to those in need. There are the missions that run what I suppose would be called “soup kitchens” feeding the hungry. There are the countless international organizations. The list could just go on and on. Can I or can anyone help feed the world, well obviously not. But, that doesn’t mean I can’t at least a little bit to help feed even one other. Even a single can of soup can be a help to someone.

“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give” – Norman MacEwan