Cool People In The Community: Beyond Birth

Interview with Brandon Ryan, author of The Emotional Struggle

I met Brandon Ryan through our site. Like so many of you out there, he has enjoyed CoolPeopleCare and all the great things we have to offer. Much like us, he has a story to tell. He wrote us with these words:

My name is Brandon Ryan, I am twenty three years of age. And I am the author of a book called The Emotional Struggle, which speaks of my life journey with Cerebral Palsy and my everyday struggle and fight against depression and suicidal thoughts. I typed The Emotional Struggle with the first finger of my left hand; it has taken me three years to finish and publish my story. I am writing because I'm interested in your staff running an article on my book/life. I think that it would be good for people of all walks of life to know that no matter how hard life gets, there is always a way out and that there is hope for the future.

With that, I instantly set up an interview. We love to hear people's stories. We all have them. Some may seem more trying than others, but we all have some story to tell; we all have a story that deserves telling.

Interview with Brandon Ryan

What inspired you to want to write this book?

Well, my mom always told me that I should take a stab at writing. I'd tried the college route and that didn't seem very satisfying to me. My heart just was not there. I wanted to give myself to something that wouldn't feel so much like a job or burden. Most people dread getting out of bed every morning, and I'm not saying that I don't, but I like the fact that every day is a chance for me to help someone through their day. You know there are so many people today who are in pain - whether it be emotional and/or physical. Every sixty seconds someone tries to take their life, and more times than not it's because they feel alone or life is just becoming way too hard.

I've been there and some days I'm back in that place, but I believe that pain, in a sense, brings us together and lets us know that we are not alone in this world. So really what inspired me to write this book is the fact that people learn and grab onto hope in stories, so what better thing to do than write mine?

Can you tell us a little about your condition? Were you born with Cerebral Palsy or did it develop as an infant?

Yes, I was born with this condition. I was a premature baby - my mom always tells me that I just wanted to come out! Cerebral Palsy mainly occurs when a baby comes out the opposite way (on their stomach) and often it deals with a hemorrhage of the brain. I have heard of some people who are diagnosed later on in life with this condition, but mainly it is through the birthing process.

How have you taken this second chance at life to help make a difference in the world around you?

Well, as I answered in the first question, I believe that we all have the same struggle, and we are all looking for someone or something to cling onto to. Some of the most powerful words in the human vocabulary are "Me too." Everyday I find ways that I can share my story with people. It may be a TV interview, radio interview, a simple email or even the everyday conversations that spring up from handing out a business card. So I'm am always looking for a way to share the hope that I have with people, to let people know that life does not have to be a burden; it can be beautiful again, you just have to be willing to do what it takes to work through the pain.

If there’s one thing you could tell people about life, what would it be?

You don't have to live this way; you don't have to live with pain. It does not define your life. I don't care what you've been through, what you've done, or what your spiritual beliefs are. If you're an agnostic or atheist or taoist. I don't care. I believe in the love and redemption of Jesus Christ and he loves you no matter what you have done. I'm not hear to preach, or convert anyone to believe in my world view. You have a brain, so use it. Figure out what you believe for yourself. I am simply here as a messenger, to give hope to the hopeless, to help the oppressed see that there are people in this world that care about them. I don't care how bad your life gets at any given moment - you can work through the pain and you will make it out. Suicide is never the answer; life is a gift. Let's stop walking through our lives bitter at the cards we were dealt and let's start walking as wounded healers to help someone else in their pain, as we to learn to heal also.

Also, I'd encourage anyone that reads this, to read "The Emotional Struggle", because you will find yourself somewhere in my story and the stories of others. the last thing that I want to say is that I'm here if you would like to share you story with me. I'm here to listen.

About The Author

Brandon is learning to enjoy life, to breathe out the everyday stress of life and breathe in the hope that can be found when we choose to look closer. He loves coffee and tea, and reading a new book. He's a dreamer and warrior and now writes books and blogs to give himself to the people who need it the most. He would love to hear from you at blrredeemed@hotmail.com.

I Wish I'd Majored in Advocacy

Okay, maybe not. But more nonprofits should.

Okay, I don't really. Mainly because whatever I learned might now be obsolete or I might have been taught incorrectly to the point that whatever I learned might be irrelevant or downright incorrect. All that to say, advocacy seems to be a discipline that can't be taught institutionally and must instead be learned practically - much like an apprenticeship.

My sister's boyfriend is thinking of being an underwater welder, working to fuse metals on bridges, oil rigs and pipelines. If he pursues this option, not only could he potentially have a lucrative (yet dangerous) job, but I also assume he won't read a book, take a test and be handed his SCUBA gear and welder's tools. He'll have some classroom time, I'm sure. But the only way to become good – effective, rather – at welding (or plumbing or painting) is to grab the tools and get to work.

I think that advocacy must be learned in much the same way. Sadly, nonprofits (and their individual supporters) are sitting on the sidelines while the very problems they're trying to address with their work are worsened at the hands of poor legislation and an uneducated public.

If a nonprofit wants to position itself for a better tomorrow and a more effective mission, then it needs to get advocating.

However, one reason many organizations don't is because of fear or ignorance. Robert Egger points this out in his latest blog post after he spoke with accountants and attorneys, many of whom incorrectly understand a nonprofit's ability to advocate (or not). He cites his own experience in starting the DC Central Kitchen, an agency that began by distributing unused food from hotels and restaurants to hungry individuals. The prevailing opinion at the time was that establishments weren't allowed to do such things, when in fact, laws were (and are) in place that easily facilitate such an exchange.

Thus, the first step in advocacy is to get rid of the misconceptions. Bust the myths. Shatter the rumors. Throw away the excuses.

Another misconception? Elected officials don't read their mail. Brian Steidle, an advocate for Darfur, shared at an event I attended that hand written letters often end up on Senate and House desks. Email campaigns, while great for establishing numbers and momentum, may not be paid attention to as much. But everything is noted.

So, if your voice is heard and if we educated ourselves about what's allowable (that nonprofits can, in fact, advocate), what's next?

Our only hope is to get out and actually do the hard work of advocacy, especially once we've trimmed the fat that is our own misunderstandings of what's possible.

All in all, I may not have actually majored in advocacy, but I do believe it's a key skill for anyone who wants to change the world. Whether the current election inspires or depresses you, there's no denying that you've got to play politics to get some stuff done. After all, if you're volunteering at the soup kitchen but are silent about laws that prevent access to the very resource you're providing, you're chasing your own tell at best and chopping off your own hand at worst.

Tail chasing and hand chopping – I don't think I would have wanted to major in those, either. Funny how much we invariably do them by not doing something else. Get out from your study guide and get to learning the skills of advocacy, my friends.

In Memory Of...

What have you and your family done in memory?

Memorial Day is a national holiday to commemorate those who lost their lives in battle. In our "5 Minutes of Caring" today, we talk about visiting a memorial cemetery today. Here is what my family did yesterday in honor. We decided to take our little girl to a local memorial statue to talk some about remembering those who have gone before us.

Walking to the memorial statue

Words of inspiration

When, Who & Where

Cool People In The Community: More Than Just Fashion

"...I reached a point where I had to stop complaining about environmental issues and start doing something about it." - Laurel, Ecology

Many organizations seek to change the world... why, we are one of them. Many people think of us tree-huggers as dressing in worn down clothes, maybe in a hippie drag, or with dread locks. Not so any more! Eco-mindedness has met fashion in the newest addition to Nashville, Tennessee's upscale Green Hills. Ecology seeks to change the world, but the goal is to inspire people to look good while doing it.

Below is an interview I had with founder/ owner, Laurel Staples. Her words say best what the mission of this store shows.

Interview With Laurel of Ecology

So tell us a little bit about what your store is out to accomplish?

In the past couple of years, the green movement has definitely gained momentum. Cars have been designed and enhanced to become more fuel-efficient. Building construction is following new LEED guidelines. Organic food is more readily available in grocery stores and restaurants. But the apparel industry is oddly lagging behind the times. The industry still continues to move forward using poor methods of manufacturing and sketchy business ethics. The use of pesticides, herbicides, and synthetic fertilizers to grow crops used for fabric has an enormous negative impact on the environment that most consumers aren't fully aware of.

And that's because "conventional" cotton, as they call it, is one of the most chemically dependent crops grown these days. A USDA study in the year 2000 revealed that eighty-four million pounds of pesticides were sprayed on cotton in the U.S.A. alone. And only a small percentage of these chemicals sprayed on crops actually do their intended job of killing insects. The rest of it gets absorbed into the air, the soil, the water, and eventually into ourselves.

The alternative is organic cotton. The difference between organic cotton and regular cotton is that organic cotton is grown without the use of these pesticides, herbicides or other harsh chemicals.

Although organic cotton is probably the most common choice for “green” clothing, other popular sustainable materials include hemp, bamboo, Tencel, recycled materials and surplus fabric.

Our goal at Ecology is to (1) educate consumers about the negative environmental and social impact of manufacturing regular clothing, and (2) provide them with an alternative. Eco-fashion retailers and designers are now abundant and thriving in the fashion capitals of the world. Ecology's goal is to make that trend more wide-spread by carrying all of the top designers of eco-friendly and sweatshop-free fashion. At Ecology, we seek to set a positive example by advancing collective responsibility and improving the world we all share.

What drove you to open this store?

Environmental awareness and education had always been a part of my life growing up in Nashville, but a few years after I graduated from Vanderbilt, I reached a point where I had to stop complaining about environmental issues and start doing something about it. I realized while working in Kentucky that there was no outlet to buy either eco-friendly or American-made/sweatshop-free clothing.

I got to the point where I stopped purchasing anything from the mall and would only buy recycled clothing from consignment stores. But my options were pretty limited. After much research, I realized that there was a market for green clothing and there were enough designers already on board with the concept to be able to open a store. I decided to move back to Nashville and fill the niche market here. Everyone deserves an option when buying clothing and this store provides a good one.

How is your store different than just a fair trade store?

Most of the clothing that we carry is actually produced right here in the USA by designers with a parallel sustainable mission. This way, the clothing is guaranteed to be sweatshop-free. If the clothing is not made here, it is made in sweatshop-free factories overseas where the workers are paid and treated fairly.

But when you think about fair-trade or eco-friendly clothing, your first vision might be something along the lines of a natural-colored, stiff smock of some sort. Or when you envision USA made clothing, you might think of tough working clothes. But what we carry at Ecology is eco-fashion, with an emphasis on the fashion part of it. Eco-fashion is clothing that fits right into your lifestyle and your wardrobe, whether is designer dresses, business attire, casual knits or whatever else you can think of. There are no specific “eco-fashion” trends, because now that eco-clothing retailers and designers are abundant, consumers can almost find any style they want.

So what sets us apart from a fair trade store is that we carry designer clothing and accessories that are made with environmentally sound fabrics and materials.

How would you encourage people to promote change in their community through fashion?

The bottom line is, become aware of your shopping habits.

Start making an effort to look for and buy eco-friendly products, including organic cotton, hemp, bamboo, and recycled materials when you go out shopping.

If you are a price-sensitive shopper, as many of us are, consider shopping in consignment stores and buying recycled clothing, which is eco-friendly as well. This way, you are not directly supporting sweatshop labor, your clothing is still stylish and inexpensive, and you're benefiting a local store and in turn, the local economy.

I don’t expect anyone to completely alter their normal shopping routines overnight. What I challenge them to do is to start thinking about your everyday decisions as a consumer. Before you make a purchase, ask yourself the following questions: > *Is this product made in a sweatshop?
> *What material is this product made from?
> *Is there an eco-friendly alternative to this product that I could purchase?
> *Do I truly need this product or do I just want it?

This will help you get on the right track to become aware of the choices you make and perhaps start changing them. It's people like us who need to be the leaders in the green movement. We are the ones who are responsible for facilitating the changes that are needed to keep this planet inhabitable. So I encourage everyone to take the time to gain more of the knowledge you need to move towards a more sustainable lifestyle.

What is your long-term goal with this store?

Down the road, I hope to open more stores and increase awareness as far and wide as possible. For now, I just want to make this one store work. That’s simply it.

About the Author

Laurel Staples was born and raised in Nashville, TN. Environmental awareness and education was always a part of her life growing up, but it wasn't until 2007 that she decided what part she would play in the Green Movement. After graduating from Vanderbilt with a mechanical engineering degree, Staples moved to Kentucky to work at Lexmark designing laser printers. On the side, she opened an art gallery, and then a clothing and art boutique. Not satisfied with fulfilling her dreams on the side, Staples sold her businesses, quit her engineering job and moved back to Nashville in 2007 to open an eco-friendly men and women’s apparel store named Ecology. Ecology is Nashville’s first and only sustainable boutique that is 100% dedicated to organic materials, fair labor and fashion-forward thinking. Staples’ store sets an example of social and environmental responsibility and shows what one person can do to make progressive “green” changes in this world.

Compost: Uses

Compost: Week Twelve

You may already have compost and if you do, CONGRATS! This cold weather and damp conditions seem to be slowing my pile down pretty significantly. I added some fresh grass to hopefully get the temperature up. Hopefully I will be able to do some of these things in the next few weeks. Please share how your composting process is going.

Uses For Compost

• Great for containers and potting, but some other elements may be needed for enhancement.
  
• Landscape raised planters
  
• Fill in around plants, shrubs and trees as you plant them.
  
• Mix into your garden soil as you prepare the soil.
  
• Add to crops or your home garden.
  
• If you get really excited and want to make sod, compost is great for that.
  
• If you have high levels of compost, add it prior to adding mulch.
  
• Mulch for your garden.
  
• Poor soil conditioner.
  
• Fertilizer for just about anything.
• Helps breakdown erosion from water and wind.
  
• Balances soil pH.
  
• Compost Tea for those hurting plants - by mixing your compost with water, you offer a quick nutritional boost to any struggling plants.
  

Check out a neat video about how compost helps your soil.

In the Series
Week One - Compost: Getting Started
Week Two - Compost: Winter Time
Week Three - Compost: Decisions, Decisions, Decisions
Week Four - Compost: Enhance Your Compost
Week Five - Compost: Enhance Your Compost II
Week Six - Compost: Couldn't Hurt
Week Seven - Compost: Crisis Control
Week Eight - Compost: The Smell Of Dirt
Week Nine - Compost: All The Extras
Week Ten - OFF
Week Eleven - Compost: Beyond Your Backyard

Cool Moms In The Community: Washington Changes The World From Home

Here's an interview with a mom who truly is making a difference that starts at home.

The following is an interview I had with Stacy Lewis of Mama-Om, her personal blog that is gaining great hype in the parent world. With gratitude, love, and peace she inspires her own family and seeks to bring families into community with each other. Her inspiring words surely will touch any person's life, as she shows how simple it is to save the world!

Visit her each Wednesday for talk on gratitude!

Interview with Stacy Lewis

When I was a kid, I wrote stories and poetry all the time. My inspiration seemed to be anything and everything! I didn't write for most of my adult life until I became a mother in my early thirties. Now, my inspiration is to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for the people around me.

For the Mama-Om blog, I am inspired to write in a way that shows we don't have to parent alone or in ways that compromise our hearts. Plus, parenting is really funny!

How has being a mom helped you to make a difference in the world around you?

I remember very clearly in the first days of my son's life feeling as though my heart had exploded. I was wide open to the world, and I remember thinking, "I have to find it. I have to find the connection between motherhood, peace, and community. I know it's here."

There are many variations on the phrase "peace begins within," and motherhood has allowed me to develop practices around this. It may seem slightly backward, but this concept is what helps me make a difference in the world - from keeping my cool and connecting with my kids during the day to helping mothers in public situations to examining the effects of my everyday actions on the world at large and aligning my actions with my values. When I feel centered/clear/calm, I am much more able and inspired to give.

What is your favorite part about being a mom?

Being able to honor daily what it means to be human and laughing dozens of times a day - when I'm not too tired! Or, even when I'm tired.

How do you remain inspired through the day-to-day happenings as a mom?

What inspires me is the thought of raising children who can listen to their own inner guidance, express themselves and work with others in a peaceful way, and who enjoy life!

But there always comes a saturation point where I feel too frazzled, too irritated, and too tired to even make the kids a sandwich! I take this as a major sign that it’s time to recharge and re-strategize. Recharging usually involves spending some time with friends, meditating, being with my husband, or writing. Re-strategizing usually involves remembering all those things I've fallen out of the habit of: getting outside every day, showing respect for my children, giving them hands-on projects, seeing friends. I recently wrote a post about this.

How do you and your family seek to make a difference in the world?

We seek to understand, and truly feel, how all things - people, animals, plants - are connected. In addition peaceful communication and compassionately connecting with other people, our family spends as much time outdoors as possible, in our garden, at the ravine near our house, on the beach, or even just walking through our neighborhood.

We notice the things living around us (the ants, the mushrooms, the berries and birds) and see how things change over time. If my son wants to pick dozens of berries instead of one or two, I say, “Let’s leave some for the birds.” We catch and release wasps who wander into our home, pick up worms stranded on the sidewalk, and have had burial ceremonies for our kitchen spider and a mouse killed (but not eaten) by our cat.

As my children age (they're currently both under five), we will explicitly explore why we recycle, compost and conserve, but for now I focus on showing them nature at work and modeling behavior that respects life itself.

Some of the things we do regularly to lighten our impact on the earth:
* Recycle and compost. I love my worm bin and the kids do too!
* Buy entirely organic foods.
* Support a local farm through a CSA program.
* Use canvas bags not only at the grocery store but at other stores as well.
* Reuse produce bags or not use them at all.
* Use stainless steel water bottles, glass tupperware, and reusable sandwich wrappers.
* Use the kids' bathwater to water the garden (in the summer).
* Dry our clothes on the line in the summer and use high-efficiency laundry appliances.
* Practice elimination communication (EC) and use cotton diapers and wipes.
* Give away stuff on Freecycle and PaperBackSwap and to local charities.
* Reduce our online shopping because of the packaging and shipping costs/waste.

Beyond Your Backyard

Reach beyond your backyard and into the community!

We have been talking at great lengths about composting. This week I wanted to help bring you beyond your own backyard. Much of what we talk about on CoolMomsCare is about family and community, so today we are going to discuss ways you can get out into the community in relation to your compost.

The EPA offers a resource to people where they can find the regional and state composting programs in their community. The list is helpful, but it is also important to find communities that support what you are doing and what you support.

In Nashville, for example, there are such organizations as Go Green Nashville offer workshops and how-tos on composting. Metro Beautification does the same through various efforts.

One thing we have all realized in doing anything new is that it's easier when you're not doing it alone. Today, reach out to an organization that helps to support something that you are doing at home as encouragement in your compost journey!

Tell us about a Composting Event you have been to.

Photogs & Roasters

Check out the CoolPeopleCare staff on their first (and maybe last) photo shoot at Edgehill Villa in Nashville, Tennessee.

We've been enhancing our image lately, and no, not with age- or wrinkle-reducing creams.

Good friend and all around CoolPerson Rob spent some time with us taking pictures of the CPC staff with various products available in our store. He made us non-model types comfortable enough in front of the camera to shoot enough pics to fill up an entire SD card... well, almost.

Browse the pics at the store (and a few below) and see the folks who make CoolPeopleCare tick do their little turn on the catwalk (I loved Right Said Fred.)

And, while you're scrolling through the store, pop on over the Coffee page -- we've added a couple new blends from the guys at Higher Ground Roasters. Proceeds benefit various nonprofits, so feel good feeding that caffeine addiction.

Because Cleaning Up is Everyone's Business

Keeping our communities clean is a family affair!

Last weekend, CoolMomsCare participated in a Neighborhood Cleanup with Metro Beautification in Nashville. This was a rain date, as the week before the ground was mushy and the weather was not conducive to cleaning up trash. We had a few responses but really were not sure how many people would show. All in all, we were THRILLED with the event and will be doing more just like it. So, if you missed out on this one, we will have another one, but you do not need a scheduled clean-up to help keep your community clean. Teach your kids how critical it is to pick up litter and do it on a regular basis.

Thanks to everyone that came out to help us! Thanks to Nashville Public Works, Metro Beautification, and their entire team. Thank you especially to Lawrence from Metro for his help, directions and good humor!

Here are some pictures from our clean-up as a part of Great American Clean Up at Shelby Park in Nashville.

Toilet Tank Jug

Here's a fun family activity that will also help you save water.

In March we talked a great deal about water. One of the ways we use water is in our toilet. When we are aware of how much water we use we can help cut down in different places. Below is a how-to on how to save water and have some family fun. Give each child their own supplies. If you end up with more bottles than you have toilets, let your kids give one away to their grandparents or a friend.

Step One

For each toilet in the house, get one plastic bottle (this keeps it out of the trash, landfills, and recycling centers). We chose a 64 ounce (half gallon) juice bottle that is a little more narrow so that it will fit easily in the tank of the toilet. Make sure there is at least three gallons of water left in the tank so it functions appropriated. Most toilets have a five gallon tank, so as long as you do not find some two-gallon jug that somehow fits in the back of your toilet you should be fine.

Step Two

Put about an inch or two of sand, pebbles or rocks in the bottom of your bottles. We had tons of rocks in our front flower-beds, so we decided to clean those off for this purpose and then place them in the bottles.

Step Three

Check the weight to make sure that it is heavy enough to stay down in the water.

Step Four

Fill the remaining space in the bottle with water. Screw the lid on tightly.

Step Five

Remove lid of toilet tank.

Step Six

Flush the toilet. As the water goes out of the tank, place your bottle in a place that is clear of any operating mechanism in the tank. As the water fills back in, your bottle will displace any water that would have filled in there.

Step Seven

Start saving water!

Through this process, you can save ten or more gallons of water per day, depending on how often you flush the toilet. With each flush you will save the size of your Toilet Tank Jug. Just for fun, let's do a little math problem.

If you have 2 toilets in your house with a 5 Gallon Tank each and you flush each toilet 6 times per day, 7 days per week, 52 weeks per year, how much water will you theoretically use?

The answer is 21,840 Gallons per year. That's just for toilets!

Now consider the half-gallon reduction of each flush. It drops to 19,656 gallons, a savings of 2,184 gallons per year = $16.26 per year in water savings. It may not seem like much, but with more toilets and more flushing reduction, this number can go up.

Your family may have flushing rules in the house. Maybe it's the old phrase of "If it's yellow, let it mellow..." Maybe not. Do what works for your family and we can all save water together.

Cool Kids Care About The Earth

See the winners from our 2008 "Cool Kids Care About the Earth" Art Contest!

This week we are going to take a break from our Compost series to intervene some much needed appreciation and congratulation. In the month of April, we had our First Annual “Cool Kids Care About the Earth” Art Contest. Kids all over Nashville entered to win. We asked kids to draw pictures of how they care for the Earth of their favorite part of the Earth. We mulled over the entries and came up with one winner for each age group.

Group One

Lily Catherine B. is 10 months old. Her favorite animal is a puppy dog. Way to go, Lily Catherine!

Group Two

Olivia Y. is one year, and 10 months old. Her favorite animal is a cat. Great job, Olivia!

Group Three

Ian J. is 2 years old. His favorite animal is a monkey. Great work, Ian!

Group Four

Anna B. is 3 years old. Her favorite animal is a skunk. Congrats, Anna!

Group Five

Madeleine P. is 4 years old. Her favorite animal is an elephant. Thanks for caring, Madeleine!

Group Six

Mary B. is 5 years old. Her favorite animal is a horse. What a great job, Mary!

Group Seven

Vivi H. is 6 years old. Her favorite animal is a zebra. Way to draw, Vivi!

Group Eight

Taryn P. is 7 years old. Her favorite animal is a giraffe. What great work, Taryn!

Group Nine

Sara W. is 8 years old. Her favorite animal is a horse. Great job, Sara!

Group Ten

John B. is 9 years old. His favorite animal is a shark. Wonderful job, John!

Group Eleven

Sarah D. is 10 years old. Her favorite animal is an elephant. What talent, Sarah!

Group Twelve

Destinee T. is 11 years old. Her favorite animal is a dog. Great work, Destinee!

Group Thirteen

Hanako H. is 12 years old. Her favorite animal is a snake. Way to go, Hanako!

We are so impressed with the great turn-out and fabulous submissions! To the kids: Thanks, guys! We are so proud to see how much you care. To the parents: Thanks for bringing your kids out to help make this world a better place!

Thanks and congratulations!

Cool People In The Community: Expert On Teens Gives Back

Margit Crane, M.A., M.S., M.Ed. is a family relationship coach, speaker, writer, workshop leader and acclaimed expert on teens, ‘tweens, and their parents. She is the founder of Rock The World Coaching™ and is also known as The Gifted-Teen Coach.

I found Margit Crane through Vanessa Can Petten's "50 Best Mom Blogs." When I saw her blog and the great work she is doing I knew instantly that our cool people needed to meet her.

Margit was a middle and high school teacher for more than 25 years. In her journey, she has coached thousands of parents and teens in developing better communication skills, more confidence, and a richer, fuller life with lots more fun. Her encouragement of family interaction and growth is truly remarkable. She is now a Child Development Specialist, Coach and Speaker and published author. Here is a brief interview I had with her.

Enjoy!

Interview with Margit Crane

What inspired you to get involved with working with kids?

I've been working with kids for so long I think I just fell into it. My mother was the school psychologist for a place that had kids with varying challenges. There was a Head Start group there too and my mother was friends with the head teacher who got me a summer job when I was eleven or twelve. I had pretty low self-esteem and this gave me the opportunity to open my heart and not worry about being shunned. I loved that there were kids who just needed to laugh. I felt important and worthwhile. But probably the thing that inspired me to continue working with kids is that they challenged me to just enjoy life. When you're around kids and not having fun, nobody has fun and the kids will act out. Ya gotta have some fun in there!

What is the best tip you can give to parents who want to help encourage their children to make a difference in the world around them?

This is your big opportunity to explore all sorts of things that you've always wondered about. Take them EVERYWHERE and do EVERYTHING with your kids. Expose them to all sorts of non-profits and their events, show them how many people care about healing the world. Just seeing it on TV isn't enough. Most kids need to DO stuff. If you make it a regular thing, your kids will see how love and closeness and personal growth is tied to helping others and they will want to incorporate that into their own lives, in their own way, when they grow older.

The other things I would say is that what the world needs most right now (if not always) is FORGIVENESS. We spend so much time counting the wrongs that have been done to us. This becomes imprinted into our brains and we start to get a high from the drama of it all. We need to be able to let go of the stories. In fact, no one can hurt us (adults) if we don't let them. My next "thing" is to work with kids on forgiveness, as a key element to being a happy adult.

How do you give back to your community?

I've been involved in several non-profit organizations for about 15 years now. I speak, stuff envelopes, make calls, whatever they need. Before we moved to Seattle I was very involved with PFLAG (Parent, Family/Friends of Lesbians and Gays). I had the local HELPLINE number transferred to our home and it was amazing to help families and individuals who had questions about themselves or family members.

One thing that I've started to do a lot lately is to send friendly I'm-thinking-of-you emails to friends, family, colleagues, and former clients just to send some good energy without worrying about whether they respond or not. I just want to keep my heart open to what and whom the world offers.

How do you get kids excited about participating in life?

I LITERALLY get goofy with them. I don't lecture - what's the point? If I'm lecturing, I've lost them. But I do connect by letting them know that there's all kinds of stuff to get excited about, even when it feels like life sucks. I'm grateful that I'm still a kid myself in many ways. There is an amazing teen living inside me and I can tap into that to keep life fresh and full of hope. I like to pass on that hope to others. If I have to wave my arms around to get my point across, I will! Besides, there is no better feeling than sharing your gifts with others. It's heavenly!

About The Author

Margit Crane is an internationally recognized expert on teens, 'tweens and their parents. Over the past 25 years, Margit has coached thousands of teens and parents to achieve greater sanity, deeper love, clearer communication and a lot more FUN in their relationships with family and friends. In her years as a teacher, school counselor, and community volunteer, she has lectured on such topics as self-esteem, body image, sexual orientation, multiple intelligences, the teen brain, parenting teens, addiction, and ADD/ADHD. She specializes in working with young people who have ADD/ADHD or similar behaviors. Her technique employs a dynamic exchange of ideas between client and coach. This give-and-take, as well as Margit's unique perspective and devotion to her clients allows for rapid and wonderfully powerful shifts.