Heart-Centered Guidance | Community Support | Hunger

How To Tackle World Hunger, One Bite at a Time

You never know when you will be the Hungry One…

“It is an eternal obligation toward the human being not to let him suffer from hunger when one has a chance of coming to his assistance.”

–Simone Weil

Happy Tuesday, my beloved readers and writers! How are you today? What is important in your world today? What is lighting you up? Please share with us in the comments!

Last night, I was going through some old photos. I came across one from when I still lived at Ravenswood, my beloved cottage that I lost several years ago. The photo of was of a little kitty whose parents had chucked her out and left her to fend for herself. She was the most affectionate, purring, loving little ball of fur, just aching to be cuddled. She was ever so grateful for every scratch and stroke, every bit of food I gave her.

Every morning, I went down to the porch, where I kept her food and water, and a box with a towel in it so she had a warm little bed when it was cold and wet outside. Thank heaven for cat flaps, and the fact that there was already one in the door before I moved into that cottage several years earlier.

She was always waiting patiently for me and began meowing like mad as I opened the pouch of prawns or chicken or some other little kitty delight in jelly. She devoured her food hungrily, almost as fast as I could squeeze it onto a plate and purring loudly between gulps.

I couldn’t help but remember those times I saw her in my rubbish bins outside, or eating chicken bones she’d pulled out onto the drive. I knew she belonged to someone in the village so at those times, I thought she was just having a little snack.

That is, until she wandered into the garden one day when I was out on the patio and I saw how frighteningly bony she had become since she used to come and visit. I realised she was not being fed at all anymore. I will never be able to comprehend a person being able to do that to another living creature.

After feeding “kitty” every morning, I went to the fridge in search of my own breakfast. It was always filled with fresh vegetables, fruit, a yummy pot of soup or other homemade delights, and more. The cupboards were filled with biscuits and pasta, rice and snacks, tins of beans, jars of pickles and sauces, and all sorts of other goodies.

Someone had originally promised to care for that sweet little cat, who was now as good as homeless. She had essentially been thrown out onto the street and left to fend for herself, to compete with tougher cats for available prey, and with huge rats for rubbish scraps. She had learn how to keep herself safe from wandering dogs, foxes and other predators.

During exceptionally long spells of hot, dry weather, there were no puddles and virtually no water for her to drink.

I had the luxury of being able to eat when I was hungry. She did not. I had the luxury of being safe and warm. She did not. I could drink as much clean, fresh water as I wanted. She could not.

The least I could do was keep her fed and hydrated, and give her shelter when her “owners” wouldn’t let her in.

Every time I eat something, I am grateful for it. I’m grateful for the fact that I live in a part of the world where there is an abundance of food, and that I was not born into a country where there is none.

And every day I am ashamed to live in a part of the world where so much food is wasted, when every moment that I am eating, in fact every moment that I am breathing, there are people wasting away and starving to death. Mothers holding their skeleton children, too weak to move, too weak to cry, until they draw one last breath and slip away to a place where there is no more suffering.

There are people in the world so hungry, that God cannot appear to them except in the form of bread.”

— Mahatma Gandhi

I don’t ever forget those people and I sit in tears while watching the adverts that plead for £2 a month to help feed them, or £2 a month for WaterAid to help with clean water and sanitation. I give them as much as I can but of course it’s a drop in the bucket.

And of course, there are plenty of people in our parts of the world who do not have enough to eat. It is a crime that if you live in an affluent country, there is no guarantee that everyone will be fed, or have a home, or access to good medical care.

As I write, Spring has just begun in the northern hemisphere. Already, people are contemplating holidays, warmer weather coming, barbecues, picnics, days at the beach. It’s not mid-November, early December, when that Christmas spirit hits and people start remembering those who have no jobs, no homes, no food. They decide it’s time to do their bit, get involved, give to a charity, work at a soup kitchen for a few hours, feed the homeless.

And for too many of those people, by New Year’s Day it’s all forgotten and it’s back to “business as usual.”

When you’ve got food in your fridge and in your cupboards, even if it’s not a lot and it’s simple fare, it’s so easy not to think about the horrors of hunger, and what it must be like to go without food.

There are people in the world, both near and far, who need your help. There are people who need food, who wake up sick with hunger every morning, and go to bed the same way every night. There are people who have to watch their children go hungry, who feel the shame, the heartache, the trauma of hearing their children’s cries, knowing they’re desperate for food.

Some of them are right here, down your street, across the lane, in your village, at your children’s school.

We can forget their hunger. We can ignore it. But they cannot. They do not have that privilege.

According to the Borgen Project, about 800 million people around the globe do not have access to adequate nutrition. This is a staggering statistic.

Can you give £2 a month to a charity? Or $2? Or a couple of tins of food to the nearest food bank each week when you shop? Can you ask at the schools or churches if there’s a family in need and see if you can help with a meal now and then, or perhaps a bag of groceries?

Can you give a proper meal to that university student or struggling young waitress who is away from family and living on beans on toast?

Can you help to get the world just a little nearer to a place of balance, a place where everyone is properly nourished and no one has to worry about when — or if — they will ever eat again?

Of course you can. But will you?

The invitation this week is twofold:

1) I would love to see your inspiring submissions on any aspect of this topic, please. Maybe you came from poverty and you have known hunger yourself. Tell us what that was like and how it has impacted your life.

Maybe you’re already doing plenty to assist those who are struggling; we’d love to know about it.

Or maybe you have a great idea about how we can be of more support to those who are starving, homeless, or who are otherwise feeling forgotten.

Whatever you are inspired to write on this topic will be perfect.

2) And I’m also inviting you to do something about this issue. If you can, make a commitment of regular support (e.g. £2 or $2 per month). Or make a “one-time donation” to help feed the hungry, or have a struggling family over for a meal. Commit to dropping off a bag of groceries at a local church or school once a month.

Anything that helps even a little.

Then submit your story here (or on SBG). Tell us what you chose to do and how it made you feel. If your choice directly impacted someone else, whether the church receptionist receiving your bag of food or the person you invited for a meal, tell us about their response.

Share the beautiful experience of doing something so simple and so meaningful and let us enjoy it with you — as much as we can in this way.

Celebrating our growth this week:

Yay! Hope, Healing and Humour is up to 125 followers!

Shorties But Goodies! now has 193 followers! Ooo, just about to hit another milestone! Can we do it in the next week??

And Witchy has a few more, too, she’s up to 41! If you haven’t followed this wacky, neurotic, charming little darling yet, here’s your chance to let her light up your life with stories that will warm your heart. Big Things are brewing for Witchy…she’s itching to share but it’s not quite time yet!

As always, we have a wonderful line-up of great stories from our talented writers. Please take a look and be sure to clap (LOTS!) and comment! We’re all about community spirit and support here!

Kris Bedenian asks an interesting question and raises an issue I’ve seen in so many clients over the years!

BichoDoMato is having a bit of an, um, unusual sort of identity crisis…!! He has been chewing on a particular question…is he, or isn’t he???

Carrie Kolar has written a sweet, endearing, heartwarming and massively relatable story that embodies Hope, Healing and Humour to perfection. Take a look and enjoy some smiles and maybe even a tear or two as you root for her reaching this milestone:

Christina has some great tips to help keep you on top of things if you’re super busy — and I’m sure no one here can relate to that, right??! Hahaha!

Danielle Hestand offers some thoughts on writing an ideas — an area in which many writers struggle:

And Mary Vraa…oh, my!!! What a cool story! And an interesting sort of, um, “quiz” — that I can’t figure out! Take a look:

Kylie van Gelder shares an unusual view of gratitude — and it comes full circle:

Suma Narayan share an absolutely adorable cat story that starts out rather worrying…but takes a beautiful turn! Look at that little face!!!!!!!

Susie Kearley has some news about The Shortform, and a wonderful shout-out for our very own Shorties But Goodies!!!

Bernie Pullen has written an insightful story about navigating life:

And…Witchy and I had a conversation about a few things, including Feng Shui and how it can help with prosperity:

Witchy and Tarot Lessons…(Oy Vey)

Witchy also got her first lesson in reading Tarot. Um…let’s just say that if she had a day job, I’d be encouraging her to keep it! (Sh-h-h-h! Don’t tell her I said so! She’s trying so hard to learn…)

Witchy’s Tarot Contest

Witchy is offering ten lucky people the gift of one of her, uh, “special” Tarot readings. Bearing in mind what you’ll see in the above story…these will not be your standard-issue, run-of-the-mill, garden-variety Tarot readings…

They will consist of at least a few cards as Witchy begins learning how to read Tarot (buckle up).

In 100 words or less, tell Witchy why you would love one of her special readings. The ten most entertaining, interesting, otherwise inspiring answers will be chosen by Witchy so be creative and stand out from the others!

Contest closes midnight GMT, 31 March, 2022. Submit your entry here. Winners will be notified two weeks from today — April 5, 2022.

Have fun!

Ellie Jacobson has come up with a wonderful prompt. She posted it on Wed. 16th and said it was for “this week” so I’m not sure when that ends. But it’s a great topic anyway and worth writing about, even if you’ve missed her cut-off.

Sadly, she picked up Covid while on that holiday all of us were rooting for her to have! So she’s not feeling great and life has gone a bit sideways. Here’s her invitation:

My prompt for you this week is describe a time when you were sidelined. It happens to us all. Describe the emotions connected. How did you get through it? Was there a silver lining?

Update On Pub Family Interviews:

As I mentioned last week, I’ve begun an, um, “interview” series of our Pub Family members with, uh, not your standard questions. There will be one a week on Sundays, beginning with our beloved Vidya Sury, Collecting Smiles on Sunday, 27 March. Watch for that here…and enjoy some extra smiles!

Reconnecting With Yourself

If you missed last week’s newsletterish about a massively important way to reconnect with yourself for greater peace, happiness and enjoyment of life, you can find it here:

And now…for the entertainment portion of the newsletterish…brought to you by our, uh, “most senior” member of the gang, Witchy (I know, with her childlike innocence, it’s hard to imagine her having been around for centuries!).

This week, she’s sharing another adventure in her ongoing battle to learn English (can’t say I blame her for always saying it is “so dumb.”).

As always, I am deeply grateful to every member of our wonderful Pub Family. I am honoured that you choose my pubs to share some of your brilliant work and I appreciate all of you. Thank you for your ongoing support of our community and for encouraging each other in your journeys with writing and in life.

Currently, these are our Pub Family members:

Dr Andrea Polzer Kris Bedenian Rodney Brazier Patti Murray Voncannon Carrie Kolar Croix Sather Deb Fiore Dina Alexander DL Nemeril Donnette Anglin, Loren Lieberthal Jimmy Misner Jr. Judy Millar Julie Gaeta Pene Hodge Karen Schwartz James Knight Laura Izquierdo pockett dessert Dr. Preeti Singh Radhika Iyer Sam Branstner Sharon Sayler, Author Umme Salma Susie Kearley Tamil T Mann Vidya Sury, Collecting Smiles Lion~ Wendy S. Bradfield Yana Bostongirl Jo An Fox-Wright Maddox Suma Narayan Penny Walsh Shameem Anwar Irene Fassler Sandy Peckinpah Trista Signe Ainsworth Slow train A.H. Mehr Alex Frederickson Ashley Nicole B.R. Shenoy Carolyn Hastings Christina Christine Vann, MSc. Ellie Jacobson ✍🏻 The Soulful Scribbler Isabel Young Kaz Rochford Nia Simone McLeod Nicole Hilbig Patricia Wright Pam Winter Rachella Angel Page Jodian Marie Thomas, MS, Bsc, Asc L Burton Muhammad Abdullah Kate Aries Danielle Hestand Sahil Patel Jessica Rabel Sharing Words Malky McEwan Belinda Castle Barbara Cook Tyra Jaide Megan Llorente Eko BP Drashti Shroff Evergreen Eden Bernie Pullen Hamsalekha Rhea Anglesey CARMEN F MICSA Robin Oakman Mary Vraa Libby Shively McAvoy Kristina God Niall Leah Debbra Lupien, Voice of the Akashic Records Toya Qualls-Barnette June Kirri Vashni Stories Dawn :) Divya Goswami BichoDoMato Evon Carole Olsen Cosmin Firta Jennifer Dunne Kylie van Gelder Neha Sonney, Author Christina Sponias Ian Hanson Ira Robinson JF Danskin