Always Do Something Special on Valentine’s Day!

Don’t be a schmuck!

Don’t listen to the voice say, “I’m not really into that…”

Think of something special to do for your special person on Valentines Day and DO IT!

Why?

Because your special person is a LIAR!

You particularly need to do something if the one that you love is highly creative.

Ask yourself the following questions:

Does your loved one like to create things?

Does your loved one usually make gifts?

Does your loved one like to throw birthday parties and host other gatherings?

Does your loved one rather you make something for them than purchase something for them?

You answered, “Yes?”

Do not blow off Valentine’s Day even if your special person said, “It’s not that big of a deal.”

Otherwise, you just may receive something special via Facebook.

So Boo (my special person), the above picture reminds me of you with our other special little friend, Dapper. There you are with your curls of blonde.

You were a precious child (kind of chunky, but that’s what you get for being so beautiful later on) and an amazing adult.

How we have already started to grow old together. The wounds we have encountered together. I wouldn’t return any of the pain.

The strain of life and the wisdom we have gained together; all of it precious.

So on this Valentine’s Day, 2012, may you recognize my love and pride in you and may you and I live long and prosper with Dapper for many more days!

Something I learned by age 30,

Andrew S. Dungan

Passing on Hope

I am in the business of “Passing on Hope.”

However, one can work on behalf of the greatest mission and easily lose track of why one is doing it all.

And then a story hits me. I meet with someone and their story pierces me. The organization that I have been working for has helped the individual in some way “Pass Hope” onto someone else.

It happens to me often. It is what keeps me going in the right direction.

Every day I feel myself growing as a non-profit developer. However, without the stories, without the motivation bequeathed to me by these mourning, resilient souls, I would not be on the path I am traveling now.

These grieving souls, that have chosen to “Pass on Hope” and strength to others in their time of loss, are extraordinary individuals. Knowing that hope is the answer, these grievers make a conscious effort to find healing through “Passing on Hope.”

Those that I have found to be the wisest know that grief can never be healed or fixed completely. These sages recognize that with loss life is forever changed. These don’t seek to be an answer or the one to fix the problem. Instead, most simply are willing to “be there” if you need them to be. It’s all so refreshing.

What these do is an art form: they “Pass on Hope.”

And they help me make sense of why I do what I do, as if God is whispering in my ear, “You see, there is a reason I have you doing this. You are passing on hope.”

And I am renewed.

It’s all so amazing!

If Only I Had Some Courage

Poor Lion.

If he only had some courage.

He shirks and shrieks at everything. More like a kitten than a lion, he might as well sit on your lap and have you pet him. In fact, during several parts of “The Wizard of Oz” he runs straight into the arms of Dorothy, afraid of…well…I’m not sure.

To be honest the Lion reminds me of myself not too long ago, unwilling to be who I really was, resistant to say the things that I really believed in. Not that I was looking for a fight, but I just wasn’t willing to come face-to-face with the nay-sayers.

If Only I Had Some Courage!

Fortunately for me it was difficult times that pressed me into a stiff resolution. I thought to myself, “This is who I am, this is what I believe. What I believe is just as legitimate as what other people think. If people don’t want to agree I won’t, but I will be cordial.”

I have no bones about growing up very very conservative. I have nothing against my past and thinking that everybody other than me was wrong. I am just not that person anymore and the process of becoming was very painstaking. Therefore, coming to terms with the incongruence in my life was very difficult. It was extremely hard to finally talk myself into deciding to be who I was going to be and own what I was going to believe.

It took courage.

Now I know that there are many individuals out there in this world right now that are hiding what they believe because they have parents that vehemently disagree with what they believe so they aren’t saying anything. They don’t want to rock the boat and rightfully so. However, it’s not about being right or wrong, it’s about being you, it’s about becoming yourself and owning your own beliefs. It’s about differentiation. And I know how painful that is.

It’s not about arguing. It’s not about debating. Don’t debate. Don’t argue.  JUST BE YOU.

So on this 4th of July weekend, learn to take some freedom into your life. Take courage. Be yourself.

Hope & Peace,

Andrew S. Dungan, MA