They'll never be dry. Never.
Okay, here we go.
The Beginning.
This actually happened in the middle of the project, but it was such a wake-up call.
Also, it makes a really good beginning.
I had a mental breakdown in a hallway on campus. This semester has been the hardest yet. My average happiness is lower than ever. However, my happy moments are more happy than ever. That's the price of epiphany, I guess.
So I'm crying in this hallway and along comes my favorite art teacher. And his service dog. His dog that the government says he can bring everywhere because of his anxiety issues.
We talked a little about what was happening and my own anxiety issues.
A few minutes after he had to leave it started up again.
And someone else came by. This time, a random stranger. We talked a while, but before he left, he told me to do something.
I don't think I helped anyone that day, but that stuck in my brain and influenced the things I did to help people later in the project. I can't even remember that guy's name (It starts with a C or K... I think...) and I'll probably remember what he said for a long time.
The Charity Alarm.
When I started this project, I didn't want to try anything too huge. I decided that I would simply take EVERY opportunity to have charity that I came across. I made sure to constantly remind myself of what I was trying to do and plenty of opportunities came up.
This is my natural reaction. AS LITTLE HUMAN INTERACTION AS POSSIBLE. Lucky for me, the reminders worked in creating what I call my charity alarm.
And that's how I got to be on the bone marrow donation registry.
deletebloodcancer.org
Now it's become almost second nature for me to skip the part where people bug me.
Why all the excitement? I found that when I try to focus more on other people, it's easier for me to help myself.
Normally, just about all my free time is spent idly. And that just makes me hate myself.
When I do all the things that come up to help others, I'm already in a do-things mood.
And when I get things done, then I never have to worry that I don't have enough time to help someone.
The End.
Now go help someone today.
Part that doesn't really fit anywhere, but I think is important.
I listened to a TED Talk only a few days ago about how vulnerability is the key to connecting with people. I think we all instinctively know this, but hearing that made me realize how true it is. I was so afraid to start this blog. I have a tinge of fear every time I publish a new post. But I do it anyway. I used to be afraid whenever I told someone I was an art major. Now I can talk excitedly about all the mistakes I'm making that are teaching me new things. I think it's why I stayed in that hallway when I could have hidden in a bathroom. And now I'm sure it's why people help each other. I help someone because I realize that I need help. Not like a quid pro quo thing, but just because we need to be connected to people.
