“Not what we say about our blessings, but how we use them, is the true measure of our thanksgiving.” – W.T. Purkiser
Thanksgiving: It is the time of year to give thanks for what we have received; and for giving to those less fortunate than us.
Thanks
My father had a tradition every Thanksgiving dinner where each person had to toast to something they were grateful for. We lost my father five years ago, but the tradition carries on. I have studied the benefits of gratitude and practiced daily gratitude over this past year. I learned early in life how gratitude can change your whole perspective and even in the darkest times, there is always something to be grateful for. I am thankful to my father for teaching me this valuable lesson.
This Thanksgiving, I am also grateful for you. Personally and professionally, you have encouraged me, supported me, and inspired me. Thank you. When I count my blessings, I count you.
Giving
“If you are really thankful, what do you do? You share.” – W. Clement Stone
Over a year ago, I started what I envisioned as a “Wave of Change” inspired by Mother Teresa’s quote: “I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the water to create many ripples.”
At the time, our world had recently and dramatically changed with the pandemic. Weighed down by sadness, anxiety, and feeling out of control, I resolved to take some control and cast my own stone. My hope was that ripple would join other ripples, thus creating a wave. A wave of change.
Over the last 15 months my team and I engaged in a different project each month to create bonding opportunities within and to give back to our community. This month, we support Human Options, a non-profit dedicated to helping victims of domestic violence. We participated in their Thanksgiving Sisterhood Event wherein we donated supplies and created Thanksgiving meal baskets for three families.
As a former prosecutor who specialized in prosecuting domestic violence offenders, I personally witnessed the harm done by relationship violence to the adult victims, their children and our communities at large. I am passionate about this cause and proud to support this tremendous organization who have advocated for victims since 1981. To learn more about Human Options and how you can support their mission, see here.
“When we give cheerfully and accept gratefully, everyone is blessed.”
– Maya Angelou
May you have a healthy, safe and very Happy Thanksgiving.
Meldie Moore
and the whole team at Moore Law for Children
Summary of Wave of Change Campaigns:
2020
September: We supported small local stores for National Small Business Week by spending $1,000 in one hour.
October: I supported small women owned service business for National Women’s Small Business Week by treating my team to massages, pedicures and haircuts.
November: We selected and donated to 10 local non-profits.
December: We supported small businesses and donated holiday gifts to a local shelter for teenagers, Waymakers.
2021
January: We held a clothing drive for The Friendship Shelter, a local homeless shelter in Laguna Beach.
February: We collaborated with the Council on Aging to deliver handmade Valentine’s Day cards to over 1000 seniors and disabled adults living in facilities.
March: We participated in a 5K walk and donated business attire for Women Helping Women, an organization dedicated to helping men and women reenter the work force.
April: We organized a beach clean-up at Crystal Cove.
May: Gratitude Practices: we participated in daily gratitude practices as a team for 30 days.
June: We supported local restaurants by bringing in lunch once a week for the team.
July: We donated to the Arthritis Foundation as a tribute to my living with Rheumatoid Arthritis since age 10.
August: We celebrated the arts at Pageant of the Masters and donated to the Orange County Children’s Therapeutic Arts which serves disabled children and their families.
September: For Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, we went to great lengths, literally! We cut off our lengths of our hair to donate to children with cancer or hair loss. Find out how you can donate here. Or to make a donation to the American Cancer Society here.
