International Focus Magazine Vol. 2, #9 | Page 21

teach a lesson, “Sometimes when something like this happens, as bad as it seems, you just have to go do something nice for someone else.” A few hours later an ambulance got stuck crossing the river and water was running through the floor boards. Desmon & the boys went to find a rope and with a 4-wheel drive, pulled the distressed medics and the mud-stuck ambulance out of the river. The tennis shoes and binoculars won’t be remembered for long, but the memory of how appreciative that ambulance team was, they won’t forget. Being on the giving side of kindness is just as re- warding, if not more! My recent thoughts have been on a friend who had a self-destructive illness called anorexia. I learned of her being hospitalized, her or- gans were failing and medical teams said, nothing could be done. Strong, healthy family relationships are paramount and it had been years since she had seen or talked to most of her family. She was gentle and quiet yet had been a corporate sales leader who broke all kinds of company records, was awarded trips, and found purpose within her company. The remaining two years of her life, after a divorce po- larized natural family bonds and her children no lon- ger needed her, the only thing she had control over was her food. Her remaining weeks, a few friends brought in her favorite foods, brushed her hair, cre- ated home spa nights, and tried to love her uncon- ditionally. Could we have done much more in the years, months and weeks before? Certainly. We are our brother/sister’s keeper, are we not? Look around, people everywhere bury toxic un- healthy emotions under an umbrella of self-destruc- tive behaviors, over eating, under eating, soothing anxieties with harmful substances, using pornog- raphy, engaging in high risk activities with a care- less attitude. “Suicide claims more lives than war, murder, and natural disasters combined,” American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Where is the hopelessness and the loneliness coming from and what is the antidote? We know relationship break- downs cause suicide rates to soar. If there is ever a time to champion a cause for el- evating global happiness, it is now! There has never been a better reason to mobilize happier people, stronger families, and safer societies to counterbal- ance the debilitating pain echoing throughout the human family. Those who have a naturally happy heart are needed to be leaders. Those who struggle with depression, loneliness, low self-worth, anxiety, worry, grief, need access to help, to tools, resourc- es, a cheerleader, or someone in their court to en- courage them, this is my objective as a Happiness Coach. I issue a clarion call to all whom this mes- sage pulls at their heart to become a philanthropist of random acts of kindness to people you know need your encouragement. Get involved. I love to speak to groups, let’s meet for lunch. Where much is given, much is required. Join me Happiness War- riors, there’s much work to be done! Be Happy & Have Joy, Crissy Butts, Happiness Coach, Steward of Great & Important Mis- sion 1HappyTribe.com 832-628-4233 Happy People, Stronger Families, Safer Societies! https://youtu.be/fC7sO7oal-8 iF Magazine | www.iFMagazine.net 21