Free Hugs Project

"Fear and hatred cease to exist when love is in abundance" - Ken E. Nwadike Jr. (Free Hugs Project)

This months post is different. This month isn't going to a charity but going to support a good cause. This is about inspiring change, something that every single person is capable of doing. 

Over the past few weeks, and maybe even months, I find myself struggling with the world we live in. 

Being 23, I am so sad to say that acts of terrorism no longer surprise me as much as they should, because they are now happening so regularly. But I am devastated to say that shootings are now a regular part of the news and don't surprise me anymore. 

It feels like everyday I turn on the tv, or look at social media I am hearing about some sort of shooting, whether its a police officer being shot, a police officer shooting someone, a completely accidental shooting, or a gunman opening fire in a public place. Never would I have thought that I would be growing up in a world where gun violence, gun abuse, and shootings would become such a  normalized part of society. 

I stumbled upon The Free Hugs Project, and immediately fell in love with the work that they are doing. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOzyzbnsYEE

The Free Hugs Project was established by Ken E. Nwadike Jr. to spread love, inspire change, and most importantly, bring awareness to social issues. The Free Hugs Project was born in 2014 at the Boston Marathon (one year after the bombing), with a free hugs sign, a camera, and a tripod.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvn-rgk1bPo

Nwadike said "While viewing the devastation of the 2013 bombing of the Boston Marathon, I was determined to be a participant in the next race. I failed to qualify by just 23 seconds, so I decided to attend the event in a different way. I provided free hugs to runners as encouragement along the route. This simple act made national news headlines and lifted runners spirits. Hugs produced smiles and gave runners an extra boost as they ran." Now over 30 videos have been created raising awareness on social issues, but inspiring change to happen and spreading love through something as simple as a hug.

A hug between my mother and I. 

I have decided to donate to the Free Hugs Project. Donating to the Free Hugs Project makes the videos possible. It covers the travel expenses for the crisis response team of huggers, film crew, security, and to promote the videos. 

You can help the Free Hugs Project by visiting http://freehugsproject.com/donate/

Sources: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvn-rgk1bPo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOzyzbnsYEE

http://freehugsproject.com

Alcohol Abuse Awareness

Picture from my personal Instagram.

This month's blog post is about Alcohol Abuse Awareness. 

In the United States 1 in every 12 adults suffers from alcohol abuse or dependence. That comes out to 17.6 million adults in the United States is suffering from alcohol abuse or depending on alcohol on a regular basis. 88,000 people die each year due to excessive alcohol abuse.

I have personally been affected by alcohol abuse or dependency, and I have seen how it has affected people I love. 

At 8:30 in the morning, on the 101 freeway at Tampa Ave, on August 10, 2011, my dad was traveling to work when he was side swiped into the center divider by a drunk driver. When people hear this story they are shocked by two things, one that it happened at 8:30 in the morning, and second that the man who side swiped him was on his way to check himself into rehab (as he told the police). Getting the call that my dad was in a car accident and was being taken to the hospital, was the scariest call I have ever received. 

I remember growing up hearing stories of my grandmother (my father's mother). From what I understand she was a great mother, who always wanted the best for her children and pushed them to reach their fullest potential. But then I was always told about how she was an alcoholic. When I think of her the first thing I usually think about is how she was an alcoholic. 

Pura Vida Alcohol Abuse Awareness Bracelet.

I purchased two bracelets from Pura Vida for this months post. The bracelets are $5 each, and $1 from each bracelet is donated to the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD). 

I chose Pura Vida for two reasons. One because it was started by two college graduates who took a graduation trip to Costa Rica. They fell in love with Costa Rica. While there they crossed paths with two bracelet peddlers, and had them make 400 bracelets to take back home with them, they sold them at a local boutique; within days the bracelets were sold out! Thats when the developed the idea of Pura Vida (Pure Life in Spanish). Now the two bracelet peddlers and 100 of their friends have full time jobs making bracelets for Pura Vida. Second because the money is donated to NCADD. Each donation is used to help provide support services for individuals and families suffering from alcohol abuse and dependency.

Results of my Am I Alcoholic Self Test on NCADD Website. 

The NCADD website has a self test that you can take and see if you are an alcoholic, at risk, or not at all. Based on my family history and how I answered the questions I am considered to be at risk. With this information I know that I am at risk and will work to make myself aware of situations to try and prevent myself from becoming an alcoholic or dependent on alcohol. You can take the self test at https://www.ncadd.org/get-help/take-the-test/am-i-alcoholic-self-test 

You can help by purchasing a Pura Vida bracelet at http://www.puravidabracelets.com/products/alcohol-abuse-awareness, or by making a donation directly to https://www.ncadd.org/get-involved/make-a-donation

Sources:

https://www.ncadd.org

http://www.puravidabracelets.com/products/alcohol-abuse-awareness