Giving Back

Well, long time no blog!  I've been very negligent on writing blog posts, mostly because it's been super busy for my little business. It's been quite a year - lots of personal struggles, business successes and challenges as well.  I'm grateful for all of the support my business has received and for the growth that I've seen.  It's been quite a year and I'm excited to see what the new year holds for Cedarburg Threads!

I talked today in a social media post about how much I've given back this year to different charities.  I didn't do it to brag and surely hope it didn't come across that way.  The urge I have to give and to do charity work is one that is deeply rooted in me, especially since I've had my own children.  I felt very strongly that they should understand from a young age that not everyone is as lucky as they are.  I've taken them along with me to pick up trash, to paint walls in a women's shelter, to make sandwiches for homeless shelters, to deliver donations to a teen homeless shelter, to pick out gifts for a child across the world and send with a note and a prayer in a little shoebox.  I don't know how much they remember about all these experiences, but I hope that I have instilled in them a desire to spread good and kindness.  I see so much negativity and hate in the world, some of it spread by businesses, which is astonishing to me.  I felt like with my business, I could do something positive for others by donating to causes I believe in and asking you to join in.

I was lucky enough to be involved with the Love is Universal movement in Cedarburg and I can't tell you how much that experience changed me.  I just spoke out a recent school board meeting,  a first for me, to remind them of the kids that were harmed by their decision to paint over the artwork of the group.  (If you don't know what I"m talking about, I'll have to do another blog post). I never would have done something like that in the past.  I also decided to collect money from tips that customers gave when they checked out on my website.  That was super scary to do and not something I ever would have felt comfortable doing in the past.  I also asked the public, friends and family for donations that I could bring to the shelter - All things that are way out of my comfort zone.  So what's my point?  I guess I'm growing and developing in the adult I want to be.  I want to continue to find charities and causes that need someone to step in and help.  I want to show my children what it looks like to be a person who is charitable.  And that doesn't just mean giving money.  It can mean giving your time to someone lonely, volunteering your time to serve dinner, bringing flowers to a friend who suffered a loss.  So many ways to spread love and kindness in this world that often doesn't feel loving or kind. I hope you're with me.