Happy Happy New Year can hardly believe its soon to be January 1, 2013 a new year and a year full of new dreams to make and wish come true. We celebrated by saying goodbye to the year 2012 and resolve to make 2013 even better than the last year. We wish this new year would bring us even further in research and finding a cure. Epilepsy must begin to come to the forefront this year it’s been hidden pushed to the back to long now is the time to really work together in unity with each other make our voices heard.

I want to first and foremost thank each and everyone of our epilepsy families for the encouragement, love, support you have given and shown not only me but members of our foundation. I want to thank you for the love you have given the children in the generosity of donations this past year. None of what we do is ever possible without you in our corner. I have learned alot over the course of this last year but what I learned most was that this foundation has some of the most amazing people that are a part of it. I will forever be humbled and full of gratitude because of you all.

This New Year may we all remember to not get so wrapped up in the business of our lives that we lose touch or sight of what truly is important. Now, more than ever, it’s so very important that we bring the spirit of peace, love, and goodwill toward each other into the new year. May this be a time of healing, compassion, giving and reaching out a time to unite our differences, and strengthen our hearts. If we don’t change our present we will never be able to change our future.  Either we change because we WANT to or we change because we HAVE to.

Change requires that we humble ourselves, change requires that we take immediate action, change requires that we have a responsive heart. How did your heart end for 2012? How is your heart going to respond in 2013? Change requires better attitudes, less judgments, less hatefulness. Change comes from within. How do we stay in touch with and convey to our children to keep the spirit the meaning to have peace, love, and good will towards all? How can we instill this in each of our children and in our own personal lives? Here are a few examples I found:

Speak from the heart.
Let people know how much you love and care about them. Search deep into your heart and soul, and speak from these when you connect with others. Encourage the children to do the same.

Forgiveness
Think of someone a parent, a sibling, a spouse, child, or someone who was a friend find it in your heart to give them forgiveness. Write a note forgiving them. This note is just for you. When you’re done writing ask yourself if you’re ready to make that call or send that note. Speak to the children about what you are doing and see if they have someone to forgive. Forgiving is one of many gestures of generosity that can be made. It also teaches them that forgiveness will also soothe your soul.

Show compassion.
So often our thoughts tend to lean toward the things that are not so important. We go through motions of talking and listening while our internal thoughts are having a private conversation and ramble on. This year open your heart listening and showing compassion means that you’re making an effort to understand. Try putting yourself in the other person’s shoes as you listen and you will realize what you can learn. Encourage your Children because by having them do this your teaching compassion and listening which is another gesture of kindness. How do we measure that by reaching out to the brokenhearted and those in need. For those also are the ones furthest from God.

Choose to See.
The hustle and bustle of our lives has us constantly running and going to activities without even noticing the beauty of our surroundings. Choose to see, stop and smell the roses and enjoy the little things. The look on your child’s face when your making that big deal over their art work; enjoy the touch of the arms around you by someone you love or the hugs from your children;  the sound of children’s voices. Take the time to write and journal your feelings and emotions that you experience when you choose to see. Resist getting swept away by counting your blessings and that knowing its not what you have but who you are that matters.

Be a difference for those in need.
What can you do to make a difference in someone’s life? Visit the elderly in a nursing care facility,  give homemade gifts and or crafts to elderly people neighbors who have no families to visit them. It’s the homemade gifts and shared conversation that mean so much to so many of our elderly who otherwise are alone during this time. Contact your local elementary school, pick one classroom and ask the teacher to let you know of a needy student, and what you could do to help that child. Maybe it is something simple like supplying a notebook or extra pencils, or it could be that the child’s parents have no electricity or heat and are in dire need of someone to help by sending blankets, coats, or even help financially. Whatever you can do, you will know that you have had a positive, direct impact on someone within your own community

“Party in a Box” help make a needy child’s birthday special by making and delivering a box with paper plates, napkins, cups, hats and cake decorations stuffed animals, notebooks, pens and other wrapped gifts. ” Donate one hour a week for a special lunch with an elementary school child whose father or mother is serving in the military; Donate one hour a week to reading one-on-one with an elementary school child or tutor an adult who may be below grade level in reading; Pay for an after school activity dance, ballet, art, sports  for a child who can’t  otherwise afford it. Bring used books to a local hospital or shelter, locks of love where you donate your hair to have a hairpiece made for those with a medical illness.” Invite a friend or family to church with you that may be new to the area or are looking to re-commit to a relationship with the Lord. Good works is giving to the poor and the helpless, but divine works is showing them their worth to the One who matters.”

Your Merry Christmas may depend on what others do for you. But your Happy New Year depends on what you do for others. If we each made the choice to live in the spirit of peace, love, and goodwill every single day, our world would slowly start to change. For this new year, and all year long, remind yourself and the children that this change in our world begins with each of us. We can each be the candle that helps to light the world.  As the new year blossoms, may the journey of your life be fragrant with new opportunities, your days be bright with new hopes and your heart be happy with love!

From my family to your family we at the Epilepsy Warriors Foundation wish you all a Happy, Healthy, Prosperous, Safe and Seizure Free New Year! Thank you for your support and please continue to talk about it and share our website with your family and friends because the more you know means the chances are you will save a life.

For anyone wishing to make a last-minute tax-deductible donation for this year, please consider The Epilepsy Warrior Foundation. We are 100% volunteer-based so your donations are desperately needed in order for us to be the success we desire to be.

Our mission of providing Epilepsy Resource Centers, life-saving service dog assistance and devices to those who have seizures/epilepsy and offer support is a large task and we receive countless requests from people needing our help so our needs are ongoing and growing.

We thank each and everyone that already has been so generous with their donations and we also Thank you for your consideration.