It's So Easy to Make a Huge Difference

In 1976 Professor Muhammad Yunus met some entrepreneurs in rural Bangladesh. When he learned that only a few dollars could make the difference between constant struggling and supporting themselves and their families with ease, Professor Yunus founded the Grameen Bank, a micro-financing organization that made small loans to the impoverished without requiring collateral.

I heard about this initiative when Professor Yunus and the Bank were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006, and I loved the idea. Giving people in developing nations the means to create better lives for themselves seemed to me to have so many positives. From the sustainable income and tangible assets these entrepreneurs create to the self-esteem and peer respect they enjoy, micro-financing is such a constructive way to make a lasting difference for distant members of our world community.

Needless to say, I was very excited when I learned about Kiva.org. It’s a web-based organization through which individuals can support entrepreneurs in the developing world. The website features profiles of entrepreneurs, describing their business and the purpose for which the loan is requested. Lenders can make loans for as little as $25US through Paypal and track their loans and the entrepreneurs they are supporting. The profiles are both inspiring and humbling – it’s amazing to see how a small amount of my money can have a life-changing impact on someone else’s life. I currently support three projects and plan to add more in the future.

Kiva.org is a beautiful demonstration of the power of giving people a “hand up” rather than a handout. It recognizes the ability and drive of entrepreneurs in developing countries and acknowledges that they have what they need to be successful, except for a small infusion of cash. Kiva also shrinks the world by allowing people who live in the world of internet access and on-line banking to touch the lives of individuals who live simpler but no less important lives.

Take a look at the Kiva.org website. You’ll be inspired by the initiative of the entrepreneurs and the commitment of the lenders to make a difference. It’s another example of how really connected we are on this planet, despite the distances and the vastly different financial situations.

Obituary for BlackPants

It is with style and panache that I announce the passing of BlackPants. A faithful companion for many years, BlackPants was my comfort and security, an unfailing supporter of a sadly limited opinion of myself.

BlackPants was much more than an article of clothing. It was a state of mind. It was a belief that, because I was carrying around some extra pounds on my body, I should use lacklustre clothing to camouflage them. After all, black has always been described as “slimming.” The BlackPants philosophy led me to invest heavily in garments that were various shades of, well, black! Jackets, sweaters, tops, shoes, socks – but mostly pants! I recently counted my collection and found that I had thirteen pairs of black pants – winter pants, summer pants, old mess-around-the-garden pants and new dress-up ones.

BlackPants had been steadily losing its power over the past year. The decline began when I replaced the boxy black purse with a stylish lime green bag and took the audacious step of buying a pair of white pants. The final death-knell for BlackPants was the purchase of turquoise shoes and the creation of a complete outfit free of solid neutral colours.

BlackPants is survived by many friends, including UglySweaters, OldSweats and MuMuDresses, all states of mind that plague women who dress to keep themselves unnoticed and their style unexpressed. Sadly, BlackPants will likely reincarnate in the life of a woman who doesn’t feel she’s good enough.

While I will always wear black pants because I like them and think they’re classy, I will no longer be guided by the philosophy of BlackPants. I love fashion and will wear clothes that reflect that. But the difference will be more than the way I dress – it will be the way I feel. BlackPants dressing reinforces a belief that I have nothing to offer; stylish dressing makes me want to step out and express myself.

What does your style say about you? What message are you conveying? Might it be time to look at the way you present yourself? The transformation may not happen overnight like it does on those makeover TV shows, but whenever you make a change that brings you closer to reflecting your true self, it’s a change worth making.

An Evening with Grandmother

I went to An Evening with Grandmother last Friday night. It is hosted by Lori Wilson, a social worker, medical intuitive and trainer, and founder of Inner Access 101, in which she trains practitioners in channelling, regression and medical intuition. Lori hosts monthly meetings at which she channels the wisdom of Grandmother, a Shoshone Indian woman who lived in the 14th century. Lori channelled an introductory message from the wise old woman, and then answered questions from the audience, first general questions and then some personal ones. While she may be from a different time and place, Grandmother is one hip ancient, who illustrated a point using the example of a Palm Pilot and included commentary on the latest Indiana Jones movie in her remarks.

I took away two strong messages from the meeting with Grandmother. The first is that we have recently entered a phase of accelerated transformation which will continue for the rest of 2008. She said basic things in our lives like our diet, sleeping patterns and routines will be in a shifting pattern as we move through this phase. Most of the people in the room acknowledged that they were feeling a shift and Grandmother verified that it is real and it is for the good. This was comforting for me because I had indeed been feeling very different – lighter, more relaxed – and it’s good to know it’s part of a large transition for humankind.

The second message is that we are not mere months away from the end of the world and that there is nothing to fear around this issue. She confirmed that changes are continuing but that our future is assured – as she put it, “You have already saved the world.” The shift that has been predicted for 2012 will be more like the end of a cycle – the settling in of changes that have already begun -- than a cataclysmic transformation.

How encouraging it is to be reminded that we are guided and supported by our ancestors and Spirit guides from the other side, and that we can always make contact with them.