Day 28

Last year, I started working on a shoe line called Don Pedro and moved from California to New York City to study shoe design for a semester at the Fashion Institute of Technology University. Part of the requirements for the shoe design program was to take Human Anatomy, which in the beginning annoyed me and in the end, ended up being my favorite class. In the class we learned the importance of how shoes protect our feet, different foot diseases, how our feet work, and everything else you can imagine. Like did you know, that in a life time you walk anywhere from 150,000-250,000 miles, which is 6-8 times around the globe! Wearing proper shoes can allure your well being in so many ways. When I heard about what TOMS SHOES were doing I was very pleased. For those of you who dont know, for every pair of shoes that someone buys from TOMS SHOES, he donates a pair to a child in need. As I was designing my line before TOMS SHOES became popular, I was thinking of doing the very same. So when I heard that Sport Chalet was collecting "gently wore shoes" for their Soles4Souls campaign I knew I had to donate shoes! So today after work I drove pretty far out of my way to donate my fairly new pair of black uggs. At first I walked into the store feeling a little embarrassed holding a pair of shoes in my hand haha. Yet after I asked the lady in the front if they were still collecting shoes and she said sure and pointed to an insane amount of shoes piled up like a hill, I started laughing at myself.
Tomorrow is the last day! Don't be lazy, go through your closet and see what shoes are small on you and what shoes you never wear and go donate it to families that are in need in Haiti. Remember, these people lost their world, so any kind of help really counts.



"If a man does only what is required of him, he is a slave. if a man does more than is required of him, he is a free man."

Day 17

I worked from 10am-6pm at one of my jobs and then from 7pm-12am at my other job. I think its safe to say that working 13hrs kinda gives you very little time to save the world, although one of those jobs entitles helping peoples health.
However, I did make a very generous tip today at Western Bagel before I came into work, so I figured I'd make a point about that. Many people see tipping as a routine they have to do while going out to dine but not many see it it as a form of donation and it is. Most people tip when they go to a restaurant and when valeting their car. Yet they dont tip while going into starbucks to get some coffee or Jamba Juice, a deli for a quick sandwich or a bagel, an ice cream or hot dog stand, the omelet guy at the buffet, taxi drivers, bathroom attendant, the bellboy and more. Be more alert to those tip jars, some of those people work the hardest and it goes unrecognized an awful lot. Those little tip jars really do add an extra smile on someones face at the end of the day. Tips should be earned and if someone is being kind to you why not thank them for it. A few years back I used to work as a barista at a great little cafe shop. On some nights we would have a live jazz band play but all together we had about 8 tables in the whole place, it was mainly for coffee on the go. It wasn't a very busy place but I remember my coworker Justin and I counted ever penny like it was gold! That's what we would look forward to all shift long. We would only really end up making $14 all together and splitting it but it really made our day lol. Even tipping extra at a restaurant thats dead really makes someone feel better or at a nail salon that you can tell isn't a busy place. I believe that its the little things that we do that make the biggest difference to someone else. Doing a small act of kindness such as this can make someone day and in return this person gives back the favor else where and it starts a positive pattern that goes on and on.
I also wanted to mention that Sport Chalet is actually taking shoes donation and sending them to Haiti! This is a nice cause =) so if you have fairly new or clean shoes that are small on you and are just sitting in your closet collecting dust, go donate them to people that REALLY need them! Shoes are so IMPORTANT! Dont underestimate there value.

More Information on donating your shoes:
http://www.sportchalet.com/category/soles+4+souls+and+sport+chalet.do


"Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you respond to it."

Day 14

A picture is worth a thousand words, but what about 729 pictures?
I just went through 729 photos on Yahoo of Haiti 7.0 Earthquake aftermath, one by one, reading almost all the description. I had so much to say while going through them that I feel like I'm at a lost of words right now.
I'm extremely tired and not feeling so well, so I wont get into my whole entire theory and thoughts of the situation but I'll give you a bit of my thoughts....

Of course this is a complete terrible, horrible, shocking, heart breaking crisis our Planet has seen but I'd like to focus right now on the more positive that's going on. I know that it is "required" from the world to contribute but I do find it quite beautiful. As I was going through the photos, I got to see all the different rescue team and humanitarian aid kits being loaded on planes from all different countries such as Canada, Brazil, Jordan, Italy, China, France, and more. Obama has offered 100 million dollars in immediate earthquake aid and every element of US power to help them. Currently there are 9000 people from different countries actually in Haiti helping and that's just beautiful.
In the 1999 Turkey Earthquake crisis, my uncle was actually a very highly ranged Commander in the Israeli Defence Force and was literally in charge of ALL soldiers from Israel that went to help in Turkey. So I do have the knowledge of knowing what the duties are for the rescue teams and it's truly heroic.
I was looking at photos of people going under torn down building, looking for survivors, looking for some hope. People holding and hugging lost babies, children, and even adults. THOSE ARE THE REAL HEROES!!!! The people that dont give up and look at every centimeter for a living soul and dont give up! I really do think they deserve a gold metal *star* for being heroes.
The biggest way to help right now is to PRAY and if you can, donate.
I can't stress enough how effective and important praying is at a time of crisis, having faith and believing. Praying is a spiritual donation. It's all part of the Law of Attraction. Let's pray for MORE LIVES. SURVIVORS. UNITY. LOVE.
I know that many people have been donating, there are soooo many different ways available to donate to this crisis. Earlier today I texted HAITI to 90999 and it donated $10 to the Red Cross and it even gives you optional text messages on updates. Even donating a $1 makes a difference! The United States has the 3rd largest amount of population in the world, if ever person donated just $1, we would be able to donate $308,487,000!!! What a powerful impact!
In general I find it amazing how so many people from different cultures, religion and countries are coming together to help one country. one reason. These acts of kindness on such events, should prove to the world how many people really do care about humanity.
There are an estimate of 100,000 lost lives, please don't sit around and do nothing, get involved.
I also would like to point how blessed I feel. It's at times like this that I learn to always appreciate even MORE my life and what I was given. No one was given the "perfect" life but it's all what you make of it, not necessarily the big things, but MORE IMPORTANTLY the small things. It's the little things that you do everyday that make you a better person, the things that you notice more and improve in yourself.
I used to be a person of very short temper. I'm sure it's still deep in me somewhere and of course I have my pet peeves at times, but for the most part, its crisis and events like this that makes me laugh at my stupidity at times and say to myself whooooo careesssss. I can honestly say that in last few weeks I'm more easy going, I dont get mad at things that used to upset me, I just kinda go with the flow. I'm less picky now and pick my battles wisely. It's so much more pleasant to just smile then to sit have my hands folded with a frown. Turn that frown into a CLOWN =D

I will provide more websites for donations for this crisis for those who are interested. But if you cant afford to donate in $, praying is also a form of donation.

RIP.
G*D BLESS.


Text: HAITI to 90999
http://www.google.com/relief/haitiearthquake
http://www.networkforgood.org/?source=YAHOO&cmpgn=HMPCRS