Moments of Thanks and Inspiration

I'm in a bad spot right now.  To help avoid a "downer" blog - which seem to be too often lately - I'm taking a moment to try to think of a lot things I'm grateful for:

• I have my soul mate as my spouse. Mike and I honestly say the same thing at the same time quite often. We can finish sentences, we want to cuddle at the same time, we can be apart or do different activities and not feel left by the other.  I can never be grateful enough for him.
• My talents. I love that I can do a lot of things on my own. I do wish that I could do them more often but that's leading into some of the dark stuff, so let's avoid that part. I love that I can draw to express myself, I love to write, to do woodworking, metalworking, I can build things with my hands with many mediums, and love to sing.
• I have some pretty amazing friends. Friends that will do whatever they can for me, that go out of their way to see me smile, from watching the kids to sending surprises that mean a lot to me in the mail.
• My kids are sometimes exasperating but they are also a source of happiness. I get hugs, kisses, and "I love you"s often.
• I'm able to still do some things, even if I cannot do everything any longer.  I can still feel slightly useful as I am not bedridden.
• My cats and dog love me and give me cuddles. 
• I have a chemo regimen that appears to be working.
• I apparently inspire people to do good.  This one I want to talk more about for a second:

I have had a lot of people tell me ways they were inspired by my actions.  It has been from being their new selves after surgeries or other issues that made them have scars or marks that make them appear different than the average person to stepping up and helping another person.  One person stopped worrying about wearing a prosthetic breast because she saw me freely walking around with one breast (and the remaining breast made it extremely obvious I only had one).  In relation to that IDGAF attitude, others have stopped trying to hide scars or missing hair, etc, and told me it was because I gave them the inspiration to just care about how they saw themselves instead of how others might react.  Some have told me they cannot believe the amount of things I help come to fruition.  I helped save a retreat, I helped make welcome bags more full than they would have been, I organize events with little effort.  To me, it is little effort.  I can plan these things easily.  I know enough about Excel and Word that I can make things very simple.  I have an ancient version of Adobe Photoshop and I can work that thing to my needs extremely easily.  If I am going to be an inspiration, I want you to take away one thing from me.  This is why I do what I do.  This is what makes me want to do things for others, whether they know it is me or not:

If something needs to be done, do what you can.

Change does not happen by shrugging your shoulders.  Help does not come from twiddling thumbs.  You cannot help if you are too worried what others will think of you.  Follow your heart, it is speaking to you, it twinges when you know that you can do something to right a situation.  Be selfless sometimes, think of how happy you can make someone with something as simple as a small, inexpensive gift or by doing a selfless act.  Share your friends' fundraising efforts, share their attempts to go outside their safe zone, share their events, share their triumphs, help where you can.  Can you imagine a world where everyone tried to help when they knew they could?