Passionate about a cause

One of the performances on Canada's Got Talent, was 5 rescue pets doing amazing tricks. Two of the five performers were cats, yes, cats were performing. One of the judges said, "if everyone took only one passion and worked tirelessly for it, the world would be a better place". 

I loved what she said. Some people are very generous and support several causes which I think is wonderful. There is certainly enough need to go around. I am not ashamed to say that when I did my income tax this year, I didn't have one receipt under donations. I was kinda surprised, but I realized that most of my donations go to smaller financial requests. I like to focus my donations on the small fundraising events. I love it when people put a request for support on Facebook. A quick etransfer and it is one and done.   

I often reflect with fondness how my former community knows how to raise money. The soup and sandwiches, the pie sale, Fireman's dinner, the many funeral lunches and the list goes on. I think about the people that donate food, money and their time to make a fundraising event successful. The community is small so very often the same people are the organizers, and they are often some of the busiest people. They are passionate about helping, and there they are, big smiles on their faces making it happen. No one takes into consideration the cost of the ingredients to make their food or their time, that is not how they roll, they just do it. If you live in that community, you know how to be part of a successful event. 

I once asked a young person to help me set up a room. Granted we had just met but to say I was shocked at her reply was an understatement. She told me that she didn't do anything unless she got paid. I was volunteering at the time, so you can imagine what my thoughts were. I had never, ever had anyone reply like that. I haven't seen this person since, I am not sure how it is working out for her.  

I have a new thing coming into my life. I have been accepted as a member on the "Waves of Hope" dragon boat team. The team consists of breast cancer survivors and supporters. For many years I have wanted to be part of this team. A couple of things held me back, one was, I knew it would interfere with my sedentary lifestyle. It is sad to think a woman coming out of chemo was in my mind in better shape. Secondly, the simple logistics of making it happen weren't happening. I woke up one day, and my first Facebook post was a request for people to join the team. An email message, text to a friend and a lovely phone call and I am set to go. I found out that rowing and paddling are different, and I will be paddling. I am not sure what is ahead with this adventure, but I am excited about it. Paddling for sure and fundraising as well. I am good with both. I know I am strong enough to do the physical part of paddling, and I also have a huge history of making money for a cause. It's a win-win.

I found it interesting how dragon boat racing all started. Dr. Don McKenzie, a sports medicine researcher from Vancouver, wanted to disprove a theory. The theory was, that women that had breast cancer surgery and lymph node dissections should not participate in strenuous upper body exercise because of fear of lymphedema, painful swelling of the arm. His research proved that women in the same boat enjoyed the benefit of fitness and bonding as a team. Their quality of life improved. There are over 60 dragon boat teams across Canada and more than 120 teams worldwide. 

​I think the judge is on to something. I agree that if we all became passionate about one cause, how beautiful the world would become. The numbers continue to climb for people that are in need, somehow, we need to stop that from happening. It all boils down to the fact that everyone should do what they enjoy doing to help others. You never lose interest or get tired of it if you are passionate. If you don't have a cause, keep looking, it's out there. It just may be one of the most satisfying things you have ever done.