Pay it forward

As a social services professional and as a civic-minded individual, I'm a big fan of the "Pay It Forward" philosophy. Repaying a good deed by doing it for someone else is a great way to live, and I feel as though that can help make a permanent, lasting difference in the world.

Lately, I've been trying to incorporate that in a very personal aspect of my life. I lost my grandmother in the fall, and I'm still definitely going through the grieving process. Though we didn't always agree on everything, we were really close, and I'd wanted her to be at my master's graduation (she was at both my bachelor's graduations). We did, though, have quite a lot in common: both big readers, adventurous, and artistic. It's been very difficult adjusting to the fact that she is no longer with us.

I lately decided to find some way to honor her memory by doing something similar to what she did, only for people I don't know. One thing I remember very clearly about Grandma Lori was that she was really artistic and creative. Whenever my sister and cousin and I would go to her house, she'd have her art supplies at the ready and we would make creative projects to take home. She made Halloween costumes for my sister and me when we were really little, and we'd wear them till we grew out of them. I definitely think that's where I got my arty interests! (My mom's art is culinary prowess, and my dad likes to paint. I'm primarily a jeweler, but my interests and skills run the gamut from sewing to drawing and everything in between.) Another thing that sticks out very clearly for me is Grandma's generous nature. Whenever she'd stop by to visit or when we'd come to visit, she'd always have something to share with or give to us, even if it wasn't a holiday. Any day was a good day to be generous.

So I'd like to honor those memories by doing something in that vein. Like I've mentioned, I am a jeweler ("Revel with a Cause" is the name of my accessories and gifts line) and I do like to create to de-stress. This year, I think I'll remember Grandma Lori's creative spirit by making more of my beautiful and unique pieces and setting aside some sets each month. At the end of the year, I will gather all the sets of jewelry I put aside (I'm aiming for 15-20 at least!), put them in boxes or little bags, and donate them to a women's homeless or domestic violence shelter. Many shelters now offer "economic empowerment" programs that give the women job training to rebuild their lives, and perhaps they can wear my pieces to their job interviews (or use them as holiday gifts). That will honor my grandma's generous and artistic spirit and bring some of that spirit to a bunch of unsuspecting clients!

Now if you'll excuse me, I've got some crafts to do.... ;)