Mindful Monday

I have mentioned before on this blog how I follow the ONE campaign, which was co-founded by Bono. I try and keep up with their blog because they often highlight great articles about Africa, other organizations doing amazing work, etc. They update the blog several times a day so it is hard to keep up with it but tonight one of the entries really caught my eye. There was a link to an article in the Huffington Post by Blake Mycoskie, the founder of TOMS shoes. I imagine a lot of you have heard about Toms Shoes but for those that haven’t you should check them out. Their premise is pretty simple. For every pair of shoes purchased they donate a pair to a child in need. Simple yet effective. The article was titled, “Fulfilling My Life’s Mission Through the Toms Shoes Movement.” This idea of a life's mission has been something I can’t get out of my mind recently. I have written before about how I think this adoption process is starting to point me in the direction of my calling. It seems that everything I am reading these days whether it be a magazine article, book or poem all have the theme of figuring out what we are meant to do with our lives. I am hoping each experience no matter how big or small gets me closer. Blake states, “I believe each of us has a mission in life, and that one cannot truly be living their most fulfilled life until they recognize this mission and dedicate their life to pursuing it. Sometimes a mission lasts for two weeks or two months, or possibly 20 years.” I appreciate that Blake doesn’t think you can only have one mission but that your life could be made up of several missions. I definitely don’t think that my life has been wasted up to this point but I just think that this adoption has awakened something in me. It’s a passion that I know I need to explore further. After I graduated from college, I truly enjoyed using my Japanese language skills to help people communicate and facilitate a cultural understanding. I like to think there was an importance to that and was my mission in that phase of my life. Clearly what Blake has done with the Toms Shoes movement has resonated with him on a deeper level compared to other things he has done with his life. I think that deeper thing is out there waiting for me. My hope is that if I can focus on being more alert and present in my daily life then it will be easier to follow the road towards what I want to accomplish. Blake says, “Exercise your purchasing power as a consumer, volunteer and bring joy to those in need, and share your experiences, tell your stories, and inspire others along the way.” I know that I am inspired by HIS story.

I hope all of you have a wonderful Thanksgiving week. I will be giving extra thanks this Thursday for all the support and love we have received this year from family, old friends and new ones!