Feel Good About Yourself in 5 Minutes

Most people are aware that there is suffering in other parts of the world. Most people are aware that the US does a lot to help. However, what most people are not aware of is that the US spends less than 1% of its budget on foreign aid. What most people, or at least myself, are also not aware of, is that you can actually do something to change this. You really can help the starving children in Africa.

I work for The Borgen Project, and our goal is to help people realize they can impact the decisions Congress makes. Congress tallies the calls they receive.* If an issue receives enough attention, Congress will do something about it. So, if you want something to be done to help people receive electricity in Africa or for more people to have access to clean water (here's a list of issues trying to be passed), just follow this link, type in your zip code, and say, "I am calling because I support this act and would like it go through." Or, you can say what the site says, "I'm a Borgen Project supporter and would like to see increased funding for Foreign Aid."

Email is also an option.

So, take 5 minutes, call your people, and then you'll know you did something good for other people. :)

*For your interest, here's a copy of what the weekly tally sheet looks like.

Sometimes your house is messy but you blog anyway.

Nate and I have been married barely two and a half months. I think I have cried more in that time than in my whole life put together before I got married.

Now, before you think that my marriage is wholly at fault, just wait a second. I am married to a wonderful man, and the longer we are married, the more I realize this. Unfortunately, that doesn't stop the tears from flowing.

I am truly beginning to believe my tear ducts were somehow super-charged once I said, "I do." I cry ALL THE TIME. A cute commercial? Tears. A happy baby? Tears. A pretty hymn in church? Tears! I am telling you. Before I got married, I didn't even cry when I broke up with someone. (To be fair, anger and pride can usually neutralize tears) Now it's like I'm biting my lip every day so I can hold it back, because who cries over YouTube?

So now if Nate even barely disagrees with me, my mind isn't even bothered and I can logically tell I shouldn't be phased, but I can almost immediately feel my eyes welling up.

Maybe it's the birth control. Maybe it's because Nate never tells me not to cry or wonders why I'm upset (even if it makes no sense. Show me a man more compassionate and sympathetic than my husband.) All I know is that I am now a big baby. So it goes.

On to other things, I am volunteering as an intern at The Borgen Project. It's pretty cool- borgenproject.org- they advocate for Congress to increase funding on Foreign Aid. If anyone can make a difference in the world, it's the US government, so call you Congress person today!

I am also working at the Gap. It's great. I feel like my two occupations are rather revealing. Saving the world sounds good, but so does wearing cute clothes. I guess I'll do both!