Friday, August 25, 2006

Service

In her post yesterday, Debra explained why she chose Quilts of Valor as her service project. It's a wonderful choice, and her incredible efforts deserve all the recognition they get (and then some!)

I don't have a service project. I feel like I should. We're not rich, but we're not poor either. We don't live paycheck to paycheck, but we have, in the not so distant past. I don't have as much uncommitted time as many quilters do - I have three kids at home, and a husband with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder who sometimes need more of me than the kids do. And that's all fine - this is my life, they are my family, and things are what they are. But I want to contribute something. I want to leave my mark, even anonymously if that's what it takes. But where? For whom? Doing what? I feel a soulsearch coming on.

5 comments:

QuiltingFitzy said...

I've often thought about making socks or mittens for the homeless. Wish I could get past the thinking stage.

Her post brought a lump to my throat as I consider the very distinct possibility that my 19yo dd will be shipped out once she finishes basic. It's all getting really close to home.

I think we DO do service projects that we don't think of as such. Look at your random acts last winter. That was BIG Dorothy.

It's quality, not quantity; where it came from, where it's going, and why.

Jules said...

I think Debra's post made a lot of us think. I love the Quilts of Valor idea. Especially having watched this war affect my family in so many ways.

Your random acts last winter affected lots of people. Your project spread like wildfire.

Anonymous said...

But you "do" contribute daily even if you don't think of it that way.What you do/say makes others think/do in ways that have a ripple effect on the world in general.Really.

Dorothy said...

Thanks everyone. I guess I don't see the way I am everyday to be enough. Not really *enough*, but not a *thing* either. Does that make sense? Maybe I need to make the Thanks and Giving more of a serious focus. Can you imagine if it spread across the country? It's certainly something I try to do in my life daily, but having a spotlight on what is ordinarily a pretty anonymous thing does make it different, I guess. I dunno.

Anonymous said...

There are other smaller things that can be done too to help the community.Meals in Wheels placemats at the holidays,cancer kids quilts for the hospital for when they come in sick and scared in the middle of the night.Wounded soldier quilts or even knitted preemie caps for the babies are just a few ideas popping up in the old brain.