More updates...Paying It Forward!

What a week this has been…if you had told me 7 days ago all that would have transpired in this time, I would have laughed in your face.

Last Thursday night, I was feeling like I was at one of the lowest points of my life (but believe me there have been lower). Our mortgage company bearing down on us, I totaled our van and our basement was flooding.

After a weird moment of clarity in the midst of things (and after numerous offers for help) I decided to create a blog post, what has now become not only a Twitter trending topic, but now the inspiration for an upcoming local article (more details on that later)

One of my good friends, and someone who has been a mentor and inspiration for me over the last 6 years described me as “Milwaukee’s George Bailey”. I was and still am extremely humbled by the comment. When I envision Jimmy Stewart’s character in “It’s a Wonderful Life” I think of the young man who gave up his dreams and ambitions to stay in Bedford Falls, run his father’s building and loan, and in the end helping and positively effecting the lives of many in his town.

Over my life (especially the last 20 years) I have prided myself on helping where I can, volunteering, offering support…while trying to stay out of the “spotlight” (OK the Channel 10 auction is the exception…lol). I guess during that time I have either not been as humble as I thought I was, or more people that I realize have been paying attention to what I have been doing.

That’s what makes what happened starting Saturday even more amazing to me. As I posted our “request” for $1 each from my social media friends, I could have never imagined the response that came in. To date, we have been blessed with over $1,900, meaning I will be going to the bank for the first cashiers check for our mortgage company (which I will be posting a picture of on Twitter right before I send it)

Along with the financial donations, we have been blessed with a few amazing offers as well to help us with our vehicle needs.
More importantly, this has opened my eyes even wider to the needs of others in our community. Two Twitter friends come to mind, who have experience huge losses in the last month.
@RobertJames1 of First Priority Printing saw his building burn down after a tragic lightning strike in Mequon about a month ago. @Teecycle_Org had his house suffer catastrophic flood damage.

These are two of the many stories we are all hearing about, and I feel they are much worse that the situation that my family is in.

We all know others, people that aren’t followed by hundreds of people on Twitter and Facebook, people that aren’t using social media to let people know of their situations. I feel called to help these people in anyway I can.

If you know of anyone that needs help, get the word out, take some time to offer help (doesn’t always have to be money). Offer to make them dinner. If they have kids, offer babysitting for a few hours. Cut their lawn for them so they can get a break. Anything would be appreciated I am sure.
Milwaukee has shown me personally how amazingly caring they can be…let’s show the world what we can do and start a revolution of Paying It Forward!!