To those who know me, it is well known that I am NOT a fan of Summer, not even a little bit! I like when it is Fall, with the same beautiful sunlight on some days, but more with 60s temps. I can enjoy 70s in Spring as well, when the pollen isn’t absolutely BONKERS. With those things said, I still enjoy doing charity hikes and nature clean-ups, EVEN during Summer, for you see, the feeling of joy I get when getting warmth and appreciation from kids and adults, exceeds the disdain I have for excessive sweat and being feasted on by mosquitoes, among other things. Thankfully, having others join me in my misery is always wonderful…and some ENJOY SUMMER! I’m kinda joking, kinda not joking, but it must be said that whether we like Summer or not, many get together to keep nature a little cleaner, while inspiring others in the communities we serve…and such a shared vision works to make things enjoyable for all!
We have had children and adults come together to clean various parks and communities, from the beautiful Lake Lawson/Lake Smith to spots on the Elizabeth River Trail, to Birchwood Malibu Park, and more! The photo was taken during a cleaning event for July 20th — besides raising money through Charity Miles and making the community cleaner and safer, one thing I love pointing out is that with something like 757 Uplifters, a group that anyone can make, we uplift each other in the group! I opened my group to check the latest notifications, and I read that someone who came out to do good, also found a new friend in the process!
757 Uplifters Is A Group Centered Around Social Good And Building Friendships!
I would like for those who are on the fence about building something positive because they “aren’t popular” or are an “ordinary person”, to seriously consider starting a positive movement. There are so many people who are just waiting for “you”, whoever you are, to make a move, which will inspire those who are watching you to make positive waves as well! It’s easy to focus on those who will hate or bring something toxic to something good that you want to do, but I’ve learned that people will hate you for just about anything, no matter what you do. Those people will exist, regardless, but the people who are willing to bring light and warmth, ALSO exist. COVID made me realize how important building positive relationships truly is, when everyone felt so isolated from each other, and connecting with people was exponentially harder…it felt like people took the option to connect prior to COVID for granted. It was harder to even connect with loved ones, so seeing what connecting can do for ourselves, as well as others, is something that I want to continue to promote!