2026 Intention: Share My Good Luck.
2026 Intention: Share my good luck.
It feels like there has been one tragedy after another, both globally and locally. It’s heartbreaking. Most of the time, I feel helpless and deeply sad about it. But what I’ve learned over the last year through my work at CKA is that I am not helpless at all.
I am supremely lucky, and because of that, I have resources I can share. Sometimes that means money, and sometimes it’s time, attention, or kind words. And that is not nothing.
I sent out CKA’s year-end appeal without much hope that it would get a response. I said to my husband, “Are we sure this is worth it?” as I folded and stuffed what felt like my millionth envelope. “I usually don’t even look at these letters when I get them—they go right in the trash!” But he encouraged me to do it anyway.
And wow—this community proved me wrong, and inspired me to be better. We received 52 donations, totaling $4,500. For a amall nonprofit in its first year, that honestly shocks me. The money will help us immensely, but the best part is why people donated.
One person included this note:
“You should include the note about your fees on your website—‘No child turned away for lack of funds’—on all your marketing materials. Convinced me!”
This person cared enough to read my letter, do further research on our website, care about our inclusive policies, and take the time to give feedback. I mean—how could I not be touched?
Here’s what I’m taking away from this experience: most people really do care about other people. And together, we are not helpless at all.
Canaan Kids Artspace will not solve world hunger, homelessness, or put an end to violence. But it is one way I can share my good luck using the resources I have. I am passionate about art, and about empowering children and adults to live creatively and with respect for the environment. If one person’s kind note can fill me with such gratitude and renewed inspiration, then I have to believe that showing up each day at the artspace—embracing each child with love and opportunities to see how powerful they can be—is worth something.
Share my good luck.
There’s a family I’m close with who is going through a really hard season of health struggles. We take care of their children from time to time when the parents can’t. It’s not always easy. Sometimes the timing is inconvenient. But it’s something I can do. And when they allow me to help, that, too, is a gift to me.
That’s the thing about community reciprocity that feels so important. Caring about and for other people—and the environment—and allowing them to care for you in return is the only thing that can sustain us through the continuous heartbreak that is always going to be inevitable. People will get sick. Disasters will happen.
But we can do what we can. We can share our good luck, in whatever form that takes.
