thank you – Allyson Proulx

Something Good to Share with You.

Friends,

I have an update about the letters that were sent out as part of my gratitude project ‘someone to be thankful for’ ! This past Saturday I received an email from Catrin Thomas, of International Medical Corps UK.

I will let the email speak for itself, but for my part I wish to thank again each and every person involved with this project… Correspondence is sometimes a quiet force, but a powerful one none the less, and I believe that our letters have had a deep and far reaching impact, though this may be our only word of it.

In this regard, we are the small group of people Margaret Mead speaks of…(and so are those to whom we wrote).

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed it is the only thing that has. – Margaret Mead

Dear Allyson and co-writers at Lefty Smudges,

I have a worked in the charity sector for almost ten years, and I write letters of thanks to our vital supporters every day whose donations make it possible for us to help those in crisis and emergency situations – including refugees who are fleeing civil war.

This is the very first time that I’ve received a letter of thanks for the work I do – it is a wonderful gesture and made me and my fundraising team very happy!

I have placed your letters on our noticeboard in our kitchen area where it will be visible to all our staff when they make teas and coffees. I’m sure it will make them feel warm and fuzzy inside, knowing people like you, across the ocean, recognize the value of what International Medical Corps UK does.

From all of us here- thank you for your gratitude and support- It means a lot.

Catrin Thomas

Supporter Relationship Officer (Fundraising)

International Medical Corps UK

The pen is mightier than the sword – Proverb

You are my joy!

Happy Monday.

Love,

Smudge

P1040656

Gratitude begins…

I wrote this as a Facebook post two days ago, but wanted to share it here with you as well. I am in Bayfield now, and writing this using the library’s internet connection. I went for a walk this morning and am looking forward to exploring a little more each day. I’ll post pictures soon!

Written, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2015

Tomorrow morning I set out for Bayfield, to a tiny little cottage in the woods. This cottage is one room (with a bathroom off the back), and has no internet (I’m so excited). I will be using the Library’s internet connection to post pictures while I am away, so I may only post ‘365 Days’ postcards every few days or so (if you are following the postcard series I hope you read this, because I care that you know what’s up!). I will not have my set up for lighting either, so their presentation may also be a little off.

Tonight, I am packing up the last of my things with a very thankful heart. I am thankful for the support I have received as of late, and from whom it has arrived. I am thankful that projects like this strike a cord in people, allowing artists such as myself to dream. I am thankful for little towns like Bayfield, that quiet right down in their off season, and let nature take centre stage. I am thankful that I get to give of myself for the next 34 days, in both mind and body…and in thanks.

I’ll be in touch soon,
Smudge

someone to be thankful for – a gratitude project

You know how they always say we shouldn’t just celebrate Love on Valentine’s Day, or our Mothers on Mother’s Day? You know how they always say that expressing gratitude is important? Oprah said it a lot. Well, I took all of those things they kept saying to heart two years ago, and decided I would dedicate the month of October, each year, to not just say thank you, but to express gratitude. I intended to extend the sentiment into an action, a holiday weekend into a practice.

For the past two years I have written a thank you note, everyday, for 31 days, and handed it to someone. It was personal, and intimate, and fruitful, each year (all those things they say about expressing gratitude is true). This year, taking all the goodness that surrounds this project, I wanted to change things up a bit –– I wanted to dedicate time to the process with which the cards/notes were made, and I wanted to extend this expression of gratitude beyond my own personal experience.

This year, Lefty Smudges’ Gratitude Project will involve 31 sponsors/recipients (representing each day in October), a 2-week residency in Bayfield (to host a workshop, and gain inspiration), 4 letter-writing workshops (writing to humanitarian aid organizations), and a chance for us all to acknowledge ‘someone to be thankful for’.

HOW IT WORKS.

31 generous individuals (which could include you), will contribute $60 each, to fund the project.
With this contribution, each one of the sponsors will receive 1, of the 31, Lefty Smudges Gratitude Project 2015 cards in the mail.
Four letter-writing workshops will be offered during the month of October. These workshops will be free to the public (the supporters having provided the funds to cover all materials, including postage), and will be addressed to international humanitarian aid organizations helping Syrian refugees, thanking them for the work they are doing. I have been greatly impacted by what is happening to our fellow human beings around the globe, and I feel the need to thank those who are making a (positive) impact –– to acknowledge those doing the (good) work.
Each aspect of this project will be documented, and then shared with each supporter (as a record of what they helped accomplish), and via social media (as a way to inspire others, to express gratitude in creative ways this October).

If you are interested in supporting this project, or if you have any questions, please email me at, leftysmudges@gmail.com. To support the project directly, you can go to my etsy shop, https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/248155519/something-to-be-thankful-for-a-gratitude?ref=shop_home_feat_1. To follow along, join me on Facebook (Lefty Smudges), and on Twitter (@leftysmudges).

Let’s take time this October, to be thankful, to those we can be thankful for. Join me.

Love, Smudge