Taylor Hicks, Charity, Heart and Soul

Taylor Hicks' influence on his fans can be seen in many small but important ways. The holiday season is approaching, the time folks start reflecting on the process of giving, doing for others, charity. A little blogspot came to my alert box this morning, Taylor Hicks My Idol. The writer of the blog, "Bloom", has been a huge supporter of Taylor Hicks. I've seen her smiling face on more than one board. If memory serves me, she was one of the Gray Charles inhabitants.

Bloom establishes Taylor Hicks' charitable state of mind in his support of Kid One and Studio by the Tracks, both organizations incredible for their purpose and heart. Bloom shares how Taylor Hicks is expanding his charity interests by lending his name and support to Bid 2 Beat Aids. This function is going to be held on ebay, beginning December 1.

In Bloom's blogspot, contributor, KarinP provided an emotional, well spoken post. Included, among her thoughts, "Have you ever been in a store during the Christmas Season and seen one of those trees with children's names on various tags? I remember the first time I actually did something about that. My daughters were with me and while I did not really have the extra money to spare at the time, I felt the need to take 3 tags off of one of those trees. We headed to the Toy Department and bought three toys and donated them to the children. For us, no amount of money could have bought us the joy we felt when we handed the toys and the tags in."

It is incredible the feeling that comes from doing something straight from your heart, from your soul because it feels right. I volunteer for various causes, contribute in a variety of ways to events that benefit children, especially. You give of yourself and you receive, children the most deserving of any recipients.

My home is a very private refuge, yet I took in an acquaintance once, a single parent having a difficult time. Her child showing all the ravages of the difficulties. I'll call her Leslie. She was just a little kid but already sullen, withdrawn. She could be downright mean to other children, even my own, but I recognized in her something special; besides her mother was a mess.

Taking them in took a toll on my household. My acquaintance wound up making a play for my man, to his credit, she proved unsuccessful. She worked my finances, unable to keep a job. Her daughter, wound up staying with us for over six months. During that time period the kid became a reader; hadn't enjoyed books previously. She impressed her teacher with the improvements in her attitude, her work. The best part, I assisted her Grandmother in taking custody and providing that long-term stability. Her grandparents were quite well-off just estranged by their relationship with their daughter. Leslie has since sought me out, she's grown, and she's beautiful, happy. She had told her Grandmother it was important to find me, she wanted to tell me how much she thought of me, what it meant staying with us. It took a little doing, but they found me and I'm glad they did.

Giving of yourself to benefit others is like that story about the Starfish:

Once a man was walking along a beach. The sun was shining and it was a beautiful day. Off in the distance he could see a person going back and forth between the surf's edge and and the beach. Back and forth this person went. As the man approached he could see that there were hundreds of starfish stranded on the sand as the result of the natural action of the tide.

The man was stuck by the the apparent futility of the task. There were far too many starfish. Many of them were sure to perish. As he approached the person continued the task of picking up starfish one by one and throwing them into the surf.

As he came up to the person he said, "You must be crazy. There are thousands of miles of beach covered with starfish. You can't possibly make a difference." The person looked at the man. He then stooped down and pick up one more starfish and threw it back into the ocean. He turned back to the man and said, "It sure made a difference to that one!"

To knock on a lighter door of thought, stories of "How the Grinch Stole Christmas", or "A Christmas Carol", find their mass appeal lying within that storyline of the subject finding redemption from or by an event that uplifts them, creates that turnaround from bad to good. Why the focus on this theme in stories circumventing the Holiday season? Because in many religions, many cultures, this time of year a season of renewal, of change, of hope and heart, of soul.

Returning to the topic in Bloom's blogspot and the posting placed by KarinP, reading it brought to mind my conversations that I enjoyed last night with a few on-line friends in a chatroom. We too had touched on the subject of how Taylor Hicks has impacted many lives in a positive, uplifting way. That said, fan focus should not be on just adoring the man for the good he's done, instead do as KarinP, take action. Pluck that Angel off the mall Angel trees. Donate canned goods, volunteer someplace, assist others less fortunate. No matter your condition, there are others worse off. Use the example Taylor Hicks displays in his charitable promotions to act yourself. Don't stop with simply adulating the man. I'm sure Mr. Hicks would appreciate that much more.

I'll step down from my soapbox now. Bloom's blogspot for anyone not familiar is Taylor Hicks My Idol.