House of Loveness, Zimbabwe

  Being the richest man in the cemetery doesn't matter to me. Going to bed at night saying we've done something wonderful, that's what matters to me. -Steve Jobs There is always some magic that happens to me every trip to Africa, some connection to my humanity that is exposed.  I go to Zimbabwe for the children but I leave feeling like I've given myself the gift of living my legacy by immersing myself in another country and another culture.  Africa turns on a whole new set of neuro pathways in my body, mind and soul.  I feel more connected to everything when I return...more connected to my family, my friends and my work.  I feel more connected to my ancestors and to a fully lived life. I am especially inspired by African music and dance.  I love the way the women of Zimbabwe move when they dance.  Their movement reveals their life force and their connection to their ancestors. I've had a similar connection to music and dance through Qoya clas

                            A Birthday Wish by Susie S.   Once a year, no matter what else is going on, people in my life, friends, family and co-workers have taken the time to celebrate the moment I came onto the planet.  I'm so grateful for that.  Imagine not knowing?   Birthdays have always been special for me.  I was born on my youngest Aunt's 7th birthday and there were always two cakes so we each were special.  Then, as the years passed I met more friends who were born the same day in August.  Marcia, Geoff, Shelly, it is so fun to celebrate with you! When I was 11, my mom bought me a horse for my birthday.  One of the best moments in my life.   I had to do a scavenger hunt all over town and ended up in my Grandma's yard where he was waiting. On my 16th birthday I passed my driver's test. When I turned 30 I threw a huge party for 100 people. It was so much fun we did it for 8 years in a row !  We use our birthday so man

                        If we wait to feed, educate, and meet the healthcare needs                          of every American child before we look beyond our borders                          then what will the rest of the world look like?                                        -Lucy Griswold (activist/humanitarian)                        Improved technology, population growth and globalization have                        made today's world increasingly interdependent. Therefore, putting                        your own country's interests first, at the expense of others, can have                        serious consequences. What we need to do is think of humanity as a                        whole, and develop a sense of concern on a global level.                       I refer to this as having a sense of universal responsibility.                                                           -Dalai Lama     I've had wonderful local and global support for my three yea

House of Loveness children at school A Birthday Wish... Six months ago I was having dinner with my friend Susie S. in London. I was on the way back to the U.S. from Africa where I had been visiting the children my organization, House of Loveness, supports in Zimbabwe.  London was an overnight stop on flights home that were pieced together through frequent flier mileage. I always leave Zimbabwe happy but broke. On the 20+ hours of planes home, I look at the videos and photos I took with the children and I organize my lists of things I need to raise money for my next trip to Zim: 32 pairs of new shoes in sizes 1-5, books for the school we support, donations to cover tuition for the children and an additional teacher, new school uniforms, the list goes on and on. When I arrived in London, I was grateful for the time with Susie, an expat from the US, now living and working in England.  I had just celebrated my birthday (by myself) in Cape Town before I went on to Zimbabwe to see