change the world, twenty minutes at a time

It has been a good long while since I last thought about this goal, much less made a conscious effort towards it. However, I came to think about it today. I found a lovely little website called Kind Over Matter It features all manner of cheerful things. I particularly liked the printable cards with positive quotes that can be left for other people to find. The site certainly got me thinking about kindness again, which I feel is central to this goal.

Connecting with friends again seems to be the first thing that team members here post about when they are returning to this goal after a while. It seems to be the basic thing we come back to. I have done some connecting with old friends over the last week. This came at just the right time for one friend. There was a death and a near-death in the family just last week and she’s due to give birth any day now. The emotional swings have been huge for her and she was grateful to know I was thinking of her. I shall be sure to go and visit after the baby is born.

an old friend from uni. We fell out years ago and haven’t spoken since. It was all my fault, but somehow I thought that ignoring him was easier than apologising, even though it meant I lost a good friend. I finally sent him my apology, and we have been exchanging life news. Hopefully we will be able to meet up once I’m back in the country. I am not sure that, in his place, I would have accepted the apology with such grace, but it has given me something to aspire to.
Note to self: when it comes to grudge holding, be more like him, less like me.

Seems as good a way as any to use up old pillow cases!
http://www.morsbags.com/

called around yeaterday evening. She comes around periodically and I usually buy something from her. Last time it was a T-shirt for my son.

This time, we bought a lace cover for food. (Not really my cup of tea, but anyhow we bought it.)

She is a dignified lady trying to make ends meet in a country where many are very hostile to Zimbabweans.

Is Robert Mugabe pickled or something? There seems to be no end to him and his greedy, wicked, grasping and tyrannical ways. His wife, Grace is not any better. They both remind me of bloated ticks engorged with blood.

K how to knit, and now he is knitting Christmas presents for his family! So far he has done a hot water bottle (ribbing and stockinette, plus left and right decreases) and an elaborate scarf in a weird k – s – psso – k into back pattern.
I really don’t suppose it makes much difference, other than the fact that old skills are being passed on, and he is enjoying it so much that he’s told all his male friends back home. As he said, it’s sad that people lose out on so much potential enjoyment simply through not trying things. And why should knitting be just for girls??

is that now I am his backstop when he is desperate for food or money.

He arrived again today. He was again wearing the woman’s jersey andI gave him money and some apples.

How awful it must be to have no recourse than the ‘kindness of strangers’.

Thomas arrived today, shaking with hunger (and a bit hungover I think).

Gave him some nourishing hot vegetable soup and bread, sugary coffee and taxi fare to the township.Promised him a day’s work on Monday varnishing the garage doors.

He was wearing (amongst other items)a shabby discarded woman’s sweater patterned with large silver cabbage roses on a black background.

heartbreaking!

I am changing this goal for myself. I marked it done, cause I’m not giving up. Just changing the goal…

but as for now… I’ve given up.

A person who was subcontracted to another oragnisation, where Iwas managing a large writing project,needeed to be paid urgently so I paid her form our company funds, hoping to get refunded by the larger organisation.

Not good business practice, but I felt her need ….

(single mother, payting a bondand high school fees)