I just finished going through all my emails with updates relating to the Maui Fires. The three biggest fires are not contained, but they will be soon. Maui residents are pulling together to help in any way we can. With almost 5,000 people without housing who have lost everything, there is so much to do. The creativity people demonstrate is inspiring. Hawaii musicians are coming together to stage concerts. Restaurants are having fundraisers. Grocery Stores are collecting donations at checkout with the donation amount printed on the receipt for tax deductions. Maui artist Rebecca Lowell decorated an evacuation center with her artwork. And so much more! Michael Franti, who lives in California, is my favorite singer. In a bold way, he brings his music of peace and love around the world. He raised and donated $35,000 to Maui.
We keep hearing about how people step in and help in so many ways. I even did a Facebook fundraiser and raised over $6,000.
During my life, I have made many friends along the way. Even if I don’t see them or talk to them, I still consider them friends. Going through this devastating experience on our beautiful island home, I am grateful to all my friends who have reached out to me. I’ve had wonderful, long phone calls and many texts and emails. I’ve heard from classmates all the way back to kindergarten. I have heard from colleagues from different careers I have had. I’ve heard from neighbors from different places I’ve lived. I’ve heard from people who have read my books and people who participate in the Grief and Happiness Alliance and more. I am realizing how much love and friendship I have experienced, and that is soothing to my soul.
After my husband Ron died, I was searching for what I was supposed to do. From that came my commitment to provide comfort, support, love, and happiness to people dealing with grief and loss. I am doing that by writing my books, hosting my podcast, and facilitating the Grief and Happiness Alliance. I love following this path. As the reality of the tremendous loss on our island sinks in, I realize how much I can do right here. I am grateful for the opportunity to help people deal with all this loss by writing about it.
Are you writing about your grief and loss? If not, this is a good time to start.
Are you in touch with all your friends you would like to be? If not, reach out.
The Grief and Happiness Alliance Nonprofit Organization has established a Maui Grief Relief fund. From every $25 donated to this fund, we give a copy of The Grief and Happiness Handbook to a Maui resident. And we use the funds to establish writing groups on Maui to help our residents through this mutual loss. We’d love for you to donate to that fund by clicking here.
If you would like to donate to Maui Food Bank, you can click here.
You can join the Grief and Happiness Alliance, which meets weekly on Sundays, by clicking here.
You can order the International Best Selling The Grief and Happiness Handbook by clicking here.
You can order Loving and Living Your Way Through Grief by clicking here at Amazon:
You can listen to my podcast, Grief and Happiness, by clicking here
