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““One Love, One Life””
One of the things I notice over and over with the people I work with, is that their search begins with “what should I do with my life?” or “what is my passion?”. Then as they begin to uncover their wisest voice and reconnect to their authentic expression, the question changes from “What should I do” to “How Can I Serve?”
This happened in my own journey, too. I spent many years searching for what it was that I was supposed to be doing with my life. I wanted to be an author and a speaker and a Visionary. After my first book was published, I realized that my work was just part of my big mission. I searched for how to give back to the world in larger and larger ways.
When you ask, you will get an answer. My answer came in the form of an invitation to do a journaling workshop at the Miami Detention Center. This is not something I ever would have thought to go and do on my own. There is a wonderful program within the Miami Detention Center called GAP (Girls Advocacy Program).
I remember the first time I went, I was very scared. They gave me all of these rules, about what I couldn’t bring into the jail. No pens, no pencils. Everything would have to be counted before and after to ensure nothing was left behind or stolen to be used as a weapon.
The thoughts going through my head sounded something like this: “What do you have to say to a bunch of girls in jail?”, “They are going to hate you.”, “They are never going to relate to you, a suburban Mom, what are you thinking?!”
The girls are required to wear bright orange jumpsuits. They are all under the age of eighteen years old, but their eyes look much older. Some of the girls quickly looked away when I tried to smile at them. Some joked and laughed with each other, (were they laughing at me?). I was more nervous standing in front of this group of 8-10 teenagers than I was speaking at large conventions in front of thousands.
I took a deep breath and asked for some sort of wisdom to be channeled through me, some little bit of information that might make a difference to someone. I told them about my father leaving when I was seven and how I had spent much of my life waiting for this “imaginary father figure” to come back and make my life feel complete. I told them that finally, as an adult and a mother, I realized that I was the only person that could fill me up.
We wrote in our journals to the prompt “I remember” and very quickly the girls began to share their hearts with me. I was surprised at how quickly they opened up. Their protective barriers crumbled. They only wanted someone to believe in them.
That’s a job anyone can do. Are there any young girls near you that could use someone who believes in them? How could you bring your heart and soul to someone who is in need of a loving friend? Sometimes that’s all it takes to make a huge difference in someone else’s life.
If you’re interested in learning more about two of the organizations that I choose to give my time, money and energy to - check them out here:
www.gapgirls.org - The Girls Advocacy Project (GAP)
Creators of Hope, Partners In Dreams, Builders of Strength. The GAP program offers an array of services to detained female youth to promote and strengthen their ability to seek positive choices, alternatives and decision making in their lives.
If you’d like to make a donation to GAP send your
Check payable to:
The Girls Advocacy Project (with notation “unrestricted donation”)
5201 Blue Lagoon Dr. 9th Floor
Miami, FL 33126
www.HoneyShine.org - “Encouraging young girls to shine as women” Honey Shine Mentoring Program, Miami, FL A division of Alonso Mourning Charities, founded by Tracy Wilson Mourning, HoneyShine provides mentoring experiences that nurture the mind, body and soul of young women, between the ages of 8 to 18, living in at-risk situations, by enlightening their paths and creating balance in their young lives. HoneyShine is always looking for inspired women to mentor these young girls- it’s a great program!
If you’d like to make a donation to HoneyShine send your check payable to:
HoneyShine Mentoring Program
Alonzo Mourning Charities, Inc.
2901 Florida Avenue, Suite 806
Coconut Grove, Florida 33133
Or donate online by clicking here:
http://amcharities.org/donate_now/
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