I've Given All My Blood...Now What?

I can't imagine anyone in the U.S. or abroad who wasn't 
horrified by the scenes seen on television of Tuesday's attack 
on the U.S.  These are scenes that will remain with us for the 
rest of our lives.  This week has been difficult.  There will 
likely be many more difficult weeks ahead.

In the wake of all this, I'm sure there's not one of us who 
has not experienced feelings of helplessness.  Besides, after 
donating every drop of blood we're allowed and donating a few 
pennies, what more can we do?

I'm hoping that this article will give you some ideas and help 
you think beyond the obvious.

For two days my family and I sat glued to the television in 
horror, feeling helpless.  Then something happened Thursday 
morning, something quite significant.  While watching the 
events, our eight-year-old daughter suddenly exclaimed, "I 
know what I can do.  I'll write a letter to the families of 
those who died."  "Yes, honey," I said condescendingly, "That 
would be a nice thing to do."  But, she didn't stop there.  
She fervently continued, "I can get lots of people to write 
letters to them."  My goodness, she was serious.  Not only 
serious, she was adamant.

She set right to work, completely focused on what she would do 
for the expected outcome.  Within the hour, she had gathered 
a colorful assortment of paper for people to write their 
letters and dozens of colored pencils.  She also made large 
envelopes in which to store the letters for safe-keeping until 
they were ready to send.

Before I knew it, she had set up a table on the street in 
front of our home, placed a table cloth on it, had signs all 
over outside and on cars saying "Write to New York," and had 
everything all ready, including a dictionary in case anyone 
needed to look up a word for their letter.  She even put out a 
container of licorice as her way of saying thank you to those 
who took the time to write a letter.  I will admit that I was 
duly impressed.  She had thought of everything.

Even so, I was concerned she wouldn't get that many people 
willing to inconvenience themselves by stopping to write.  Not 
wanting to squash her enthusiasm, I asked my neighbor to drop 
by her table and write a letter.  Back to the television set I 
went to remain plastered to the minute-to-minute events.  

I went out to check on her after awhile.  I couldn't believe 
my eyes.  There were a dozen people crowded around her little 
table busily writing letters.  "Mom," she insisted, "I'm going 
to need more licorice."

Indeed she did.  More people were coming.

When all was said and done, she ended up with 28 letters by 
simply setting up on our street.  Both children and adults 
stopped to write.  Several in cars had even stopped to take a 
quick moment to write.  One young boy of ten years included a 
dollar with his letter.

I was amazed at what my daughter had accomplished and 
overwhelmed by the thoughtfulness of so many people who took 
the time to write.

I realized I had to do more myself.

Sitting in front of the television and watching the play-by-
plays all day was accomplishing very little.  My daughter had 
inspired me and helped me to see well beyond the limitations 
of the reporting of events.

Now I'm on a mission — a mission to do something of worth with 
the horror that has been handed us.

What am I doing?

* First...

I'm helping my daughter continue her letter-
writing cause.  We're setting up at our local library on 
Monday, soliciting more help from the community, preparing 
letter templates, graphics, signs, etc.

* Second...

We have set up a website where anyone can write to the 
families of the victims, the firefighters, officers, other 
volunteers and many more who are and will be in the line of 
service, whether from the U.S. and abroad.  All comments will 
be printed on letters and cards and will be distributed 
through the Salvation Army.  This is an on-going project and 
all people throughout the world are welcome  and encouraged to 
add their comments at
http://www.HomeBusinessOnline.com/911/
We have also listed on that page an extensive list of helpful 
phone numbers, websites as well as other ways you can help.

* Third...

I'm going on with life and with business.  Yes, business.  Not 
only this, I'm taking positive steps to help others continue 
forward with their businesses as well.

Will this be business as usual?

No.

It would be ludicrous to even think we could go back to 
business as if nothing had happened.  Things have changed and 
they will for quite some time.  We'll need to treat this 
animal a little differently in our businesses.  No matter how 
much hype we hear about not letting anything change, the fact 
remains that things have changed.  As a result, people's 
buying habits will also change.

But, that doesn't mean people will stop buying.  No!

In fact, after all is said and done and we look back on past 
years, I suspect the graphs will show that we had already 
slipped into a recession before this tragedy even occurred.  
Nevertheless, you and I have continued to build our small 
businesses.

In an earlier issue this year, I wrote an article entitled, 
Tightening the Belt...Recession and Your Home-based Business.  
It will give you some ideas for buiding your business during 
trying times:
http://www.HomeBusinessOnline.com/ezine/hbb/010110.html

* Fourth...

I will continue to do what I can to let victims and their 
families know I care.  I will continue to mourn for and with 
them, but I will not allow daily life to stop.

Necessarily, life did stop for some days.  I can only imagine 
there will be more days, perhaps in the near future, where 
life will again need to stop for brief periods of time as we 
regroup and experience the intensity of anger, fear, 
confusion, sadness and even expresionlessness.  We will need 
to mourn.  But, we cannot allow those moments to be all-
consuming.  If we stop living, the enemy of fear wins, we lose.

Some will say, "But it is disrespectful to the victims and to 
their families."

Having moments of silence and a period of time to stop our 
daily activities is not only appropriate, but essential.

Does that mean we should not go back to our daily lives until 
all the debris is cleaned up and reconstruction begins?  Until 
families have completed their mourning?  Should a war halt all 
regular activities for its duration?

That would seem ridiculous, not to mention crippling.  Many 
people are depending on each one of us to do our part to keep 
things going.  So...

What is an acceptable period of time before we get back to 
business?

I know from personal experience what a family who has lost a 
loved one needs.  We lost our son to a horrible, crippling 
disease just a year ago.  For days after Daniel died we 
received an outpouring of love and kindness from neighbors, 
friends and family.  We felt as if we were being carried by 
them during the pain we were experiencing.

Those who took the time to help us shared our pain and our 
loss.  But, life didn't stop for them.  They went home to take 
care of their families and to their places of business.  That 
was not disrespectful to us.  In fact, if they had halted 
their regular activity, it would have made it more difficult 
for us to heal.

Families who have directly felt the devastation of these acts 
of terror need kind, gentle acts of love and support.  Giving 
blood is one of those acts.  So is writing letters and sending 
flowers.  There are many other ways to share their grief and 
to show you care.  But, families don't want life to stop, they 
simply want to be remembered and consoled.  They need to have 
reassurance that life will go on for them.

Their mourning will go on for quite some time, for some it 
will go on for years.  And, their mourning will be more 
intense due to special issues they will have to face in the 
deaths of their loved ones.

This last July marked the anniversary of our son's death.  I 
went through a whole new gamut of emotions.  One of them was 
wondering if, after a year, my son had been forgotten by all 
but my own little family.  He still lived in our hearts, but 
did he still live in the hearts of others.  I kept those 
thoughts to myself.

Then, one day we received a little note with a small plant by 
our front door.  It was from a wonderful person in our 
neighborhood.  The note simply said, "Just wanted to let you 
know that your son is not forgotten.  Thinking of you."

That small act of kindness lifted my heart more than you can 
imagine.

There will be tributes made to those who have lost their lives.  
A memorial will most likely be built.  Do what you can to 
contribute to these kinds of projects.  Even a few dollars 
makes a difference.  And, don't hesitate to take a moment to 
let families know their husbands, wives, children, and other 
family members have not been forgotten after the dust has 
settled.

* Fifth...

Dave and I are doing our part to contribute to the success of 
your businesses throughout this ordeal by offering innovative, 
cost-effective ways to promote YOUR websites, products and 
services.  We will be offering all sorts of extraordinary 
discounts and special offers to help you out over time.

We encourage all who can, to do the same.

In this light, we have set up a forum where you can list your 
special discounts and offers to encourage business.  We have 
started it off by offering an advertising deal like none we 
have ever offered.  All are welcome to participate within the 
guidelines that are set at the forum, one of the rules being 
that your offer must be an exclusive offer.  We're calling 
this forum "The 911 Board."  Go there now and see what we've 
already arranged for you, then add your own offer at 
http://www.HomeBusinessOnline.com/community/forum/ .

* Sixth...

I am making prayer a significant part of my daily life.  You 
know, it's been proven that prayer is soothing, whether or not 
you believe in God.

That's wonderful, but let's take this to a different level.  
I'm not only talking about a simple "feel-good," I'm talking 
about using prayer as a tool.

Some friends have a painting above their mantel depicting 
General George Washington kneeling next to his horse in prayer 
at Valley Forge.  I've always wanted this painting in my home.  
I want it even more now.

George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, in fact, every 
founding father of the U.S. has acknowledged God's hand in its 
founding.  Quoting Benjamin Franklin, "If a sparrow cannot 
fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an 
empire can rise without His aid?"  He further reasoned, "And 
conceiving God to be the Fountain of Wisdom, I thought it 
right and necessary to solicit his Assistance for obtaining 
it."  Should not we all make the same consideration?

No matter what our religious beliefs, we must understand that 
this nation was built on a very spiritual belief that freedom 
is a God-given right.  This is a message for the entire free 
world.

In the coming weeks, I will be writing articles on specifics 
of how this tragedy may effect your small business, the 
effects of fear, and how three men made their millions during 
the Great Depression doing similar things to what you and I 
are doing right now.

There are wonderful things we can do during trying times.

Onward!

Your friends in business,

Heidi and Dave Perry

P.S. Don't forget to check out "The 911 Forum" at
http://www.HomeBusinessOnline.com/community/forum/ .
And, to include your comments that will be sent to victims of 
families, firefighters, other officers and volunteers, go to 
http://www.HomeBusinessOnline.com/911/ .

------
Note: You have permission to reprint this article in its 
entirety with the author's credits below.

About the Authors: 
Heidi and Dave Perry are successful entrepreneurs and founders 
of HomeBusinessOnline.com and PrettyGreat.com.  Sign up for 
their popular HomeBizBytes newsletter at 
http://www.HomeBusinessOnline.com/nsl.htm?hbb


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