Whew, it has been an emotional evening. I spend a lot of my time thinking about things like frugality - getting what I need for as little as possible - and I even spend a lot of time indulging myself - in thrifty finds, decorating my home, taking care of my wants and needs. I do think a lot about others and I reach out often, but not enough.

I got sucked in to Idol Gives Back on TV tonight and I just wept. I know there is poverty and heartbreak and loss all around me but I get wrapped up in me and my own life and trying to get by and trying to make the most for my own kids that I don’t stop and think enough about how much I am so lucky to have. What seems like so little for our family of 4 is the entire world to another family.

I have an amazing husband, 2 beautiful and healthy children, a warm comfortable home, loving friends and family. More than so many around the world dare even dream of.

On top of watching that emotional episode, a friend of mine talked today of a good friend who lost her 6 month old baby. Another friend, in talking about my new gusto for running a marathon, directed me to a fundraising site for a disorder her son suffers from. And I find myself just in tears. I have so much. I am so fortunate in this life and and while I realize it, I don’t do enough about it. Pinching my pennies doesn’t mean anything if I don’t have the most important things in life, my family and their health and love.

So for today, and hopefully tomorrow and the next day and the next, I am not sure what exactly I can do. But I know I can start with taking the time to value and appreciate what I have and give back in whatever way I can to the friends and beautiful people around me. My world seems small too often. I need to slow down and look around me further than my house, my neighborhood, my town. I don’t know where to start, so I am just going to start by adopting the mindset, reminding myself regularly how great I have it and keeping it all in perspective.

And I have a new motivation for my running. Everyday I don’t want to put my running shoes on, I’ll think of my friend’s beautiful son and everyone else that goes through his struggles. I’ll remind myself that life is more than who we are and what we have. It’s what we do for others.