Inspiration Week 21 - 4 Days Away From $1,000,000

Okay folks, this Saturday is my last day. June 30th at the stroke of midnight, my penny campaign is over. 

Where do we stand?

Well, this week was a big week and we stand at $900,000 or
$9,000.  I could not have gotten this
close without all of the penny philanthropists and penny partners. Thank you,
thank you.  Also this week, a donor
pledged to contribute $500, if I could come up with $500 by Saturday! That
would put me at my goal of $1,000,000 pennies. 

So, with $500 to go, if you haven't called me about a penny pick up or
made a drop off, time is ticking.  Now is the time to contribute those pennies! Help me make the match! But first, your weekly inspiration

"Don't just do something, stand there.  That was one of the best pices of advice that I was ever given by one of my acting teachers at NYU. Don't just do something, stand there.  Its a little counter intuitive I know.  Especially in an age where our days seem to fill up quickly and our Iphone is our trusty sidekick, always within arms reach.  But there is something about what
my acting teacher said that resonates with me as I come closer and closer to
the end of what I hope to be a successful conclusion to my 1,000,000 campaign.
My acting teacher used the phrase one day while I was working on a scene. 

"Jose, you're too busy, slow down, stop, don't just do something, stand there, he said." I did and I actually started to listen to what the other actor had to say, became present and truly engaged in the scene. I started listening (which is a great thing to do when you're acting) and stopped acting (which is also a great thing to do when you're acting). I started listening to the other actor AND (hope this makes sense) listening to myself as well.  I stopped trying so hard and found that by not "doing something," but standing there, I became more alive.

This campaign has been a time of doing, but also a time of standing there. I have written many emails, but once I send them out, they are out of my hands. I have to just stand there (or sit there, because I sit when I write the emails) and wait for them to land and resonate.

It's scary to stand there. I don't know if the emails will make sense or resonate with anyone, that's not something I can control.  I can control
sharing with you the things that I feel hold me back and simultaneously propel
me forward.  I can control the feeling of relief I experience once I have sent my email out and know that even if the email does not bring my campaign a contribution, the act of sending it out does bring me peace of mind.  The peace that comes from realizing that all the "doing" is not what life is really
about.  Its really about standing there and listening.  Listening to others and
listening to ourselves as a way of becoming more alive.  I am fortunate that everyday at Pyramid I listen to some of the most creative people share with me their ideas, hopes, dreams, fears, their funny stories and their heartbreaks.  I am really lucky to be part of such a vibrant and visceral community.  It makes standing there a very fulfilling thing to do."

I hope you are still inspired!

Your contributions support art classes and workshops,
internships, studios for artists and events for people of all ages at
Pyramid.  Together, we are a small army
of philanthropists who do amazing things at Pyramid.

Its easy to join:

•Contact me to pick up your pennies I will pick them up,
count them and give you a tax receipt for your charitable contribution!

•Make a Penny drop. Drop your pennies off at Pyramid. I will
count them and give you a tax receipt.

•Visit a Penny Partner and drop your pennies. Go to Fillmore
Silver Spring, Kefa Cafe, Velatis Caramels, ArtSpring,Plaza Artist Materials,
The Pennyworth Shop on Bonifant, Zipcar, Firestation 1 , The Toole Design
Group, and Statland & Katz.

If all this penny stuff is too complicated and you just want
to make a contribution, you can donate in any form of currency to Pyramid
Atlantic.   I will add up your donation in pennies and include
it in my campaign. I will take them to my friends at Eagle Bank

Join me this Saturday, June 30 from 6 pm to 9 pm for a night
of Local Beer, Wine, Film, Music and Artmaking Night at Pyramid Atlantic. The
cost is $10 (or $5 if you bring a 6 pack of craft beer)  which will help us reach our 1,000,000 penny goal.