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Kathy Horowitz facilitates a monthly women’s writer’s group at the Life |
| I consider myself to be more spiritual than religious, and when disaster or difficult times come calling, I turn to positive thoughts and prayers, because I believe we all have the power to make a difference. As hurricane Irma approached Florida, my partner sought to encourage others to join him in an effort to lessen the hurricane’s damage by having them focus their thoughts, prayers, and energies on the storm. Many joined the effort and gradually Irma was downgraded from a category 5 to a 2. Some may think this was wishful thinking, but was it actually the butterfly effect in action? Whatever the answer, the truth is is that no matter how small or large the effort, helping others creates a tremendous outflow of healing energy that cannot be measured, but can be felt. Whether you are a first responder to an event, call a loved one who is fearful for their well-being, make a monetary donation or purchase vital necessities for those in need, you are creating change! You are positively altering the course of events. In what is known as “chaos theory,” the butterfly effect is “a property of chaotic systems (such as the atmosphere) by which small changes in initial conditions can lead to large-scale and unpredictable variation in the future state of the system” (Merriam-Webster). If we look to the heroes and heroines of hurricanes Harvey and Irma, it is obvious that the many first responders, neighbors, and volunteers who risked their lives to help maintain the safety of others made a difference. We often feel helpless when we cannot physically be at the scene to help, but with efforts like prayer, donations, reaching out to loved ones and neighbors, we uplift others, and ourselves, helping us to accept and realize we are all connected. I will never forget when “Superstorm” Sandy hit Long Island in 2012 how a friend and her husband took me and my family in for nearly a week, nurturing us while we were waiting for our electricity to be restored. Dozens of trees were downed in our yard and on our block and neighbors came out with their gas-powered saws to help clear paths to safety. Just last night actors, singers, and comedians came together to promote an hour-long TV special, “Hand-in-Hand,” for hurricane relief for recent victims. No matter how large or small your effort or donation, know that you are making a difference in someone’s life. Always remember to acknowledge yourself for that. |
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20 lucky winners will win $500 each in prizes totaling $10,000. 