Gotta make a change, For once in my life, It’s gonna feel real good, Gonna make a difference, Gonna make it right.
I hate New Year’s Resolutions. They stink. You make a promise to yourself to start or stop certain actions or behaviors, but you generally revert back by February.
You want to diet? Well here comes the Super Bowl or Valentine’s Day to mess it up.
You want to work out more? It’s frickin’ cold in the winter!
Basically, you are setting yourself up for failure because January 1 is an arbitrary deadline. Your life doesn’t change just because the calendar does. As I turned up the collar on, My favorite winter coat, This wind is blowin’ my mind, I see the kids in the street, With not enough to eat, Who am I to be blind, Pretending not to see their needs.
Who doesn’t want to make the world a better place? It doesn’t require much to do just that. Sometimes just a little thinking in advance or a small contribution to a favorite cause. Consideration is what it’s all about.
I’m starting with the man in the mirror, I’m asking him to change his ways, And no message could have been any clearer, If you wanna make the world a better place, Take a look at yourself and then make a change
That’s why I’m announcing Tuesday, August 9, 2011 as “Man In The Mirror Day.”
This is not about resolutions or charity donations – it’s about being honest with yourself about what YOU can do to make the world a better place. And “the world” means “your world” from friends to family to your community.
Let’s look in the mirror and then make things happen.
So I invite you to join me in the following ways:
- If you have a blog, write an entry that day about your “Man (or Woman) In The Mirror” plan – how will you improve your world? If you don’t have your own blog, feel free to reach out to me michaelgschaffer at gmail dot com and I’ll post it here.
- Use the hashtag #MitMDay to share your thoughts
- And then…go do the things you’ve told yourself and the world you want to do. Let’s look in the mirror and make the world a better place together.
Whenever the holidays rolled around my parents always reminded my brothers, sister, and I that “It’s always better to give than to receive.” As a kid, I’ll admit, I always thought this statement was funny. It was always better getting presents than giving them, and it was hard for me to understand what my parents meant.
Growing up, I can’t remember a Christmas where Santa didn’t bring me the must-have gift I asked for – no
matter how outrageous. This still amazes me today. My parents had five children to make happy, and yet no matter how tough times were my parents still managed to make Christmas magical for all of us.
Even more amazing is that the people at the Central Union Mission in Washington, D.C. do the same thing year after year, only for more than 2,000 children of all ages. However, they can’t do it alone – they rely on the generosity of the community around them to help make the holidays magical. That is what the D.C. Tweet Drive is all about – taking the time to give back to the community and help make the holidays magical for those less fortunate than ourselves.
On Wednesday, December 22, join us at BlackFinn American Saloon from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. to celebrate the holidays and give back. We ask that you bring one new toy or article of clothing for a child aged infant to 17 years (Note: The Central Union Mission is in the most need for gifts for older children) and then spend the evening in the company of good friends. I know I’ve been lucky to experience many special holidays throughout the years, now what makes the holidays special for me is knowing that I’ve helped make it magical for someone else. Now I see the truth in my parent’s words – it truly is better to give than to receive.
The Tweet Drive is a nationwide toy drive happening in 25 cities across the country, each doing a little part to give back to their community. You can visit www.tweetdrive.org for more information about the nationwide initiative, or follow us at @DCTweetDrive for updates on our local toy drive.
This November, I donated my face to the Movember movement, raising money for prostate and testicular cancer research.
I am very fortunate that I do not have a family history of these cancers. That actually was my motivation to sign-up – I don’t have a family history of it and I wanted to make sure future generations of my family don’t have one, either.
This was a tremendous experience that was a lot of fun. Even though I grew more than just the required mustache, my first facial hair in YEARS did stir conversation at events from major conferences to Thanksgiving dinner and led to several hundred dollars in donations to the cause.
Maybe it’s because I have this sense of humor, and maybe it’s because my wife is on a work trip in Europe and I was bored around the house, but I shaved in parts, with photos taken along the way.
So please enjoy this photo shoot, which I have dubbed “Losing My #Movember!”
Look, it's Jeremiah Johnson!! (Obscure Robert Redford reference for the win!)
Step One: Cut a hole in a box...
Bad Ass Mother Trucker!
Whatcha gonna do when all the Mustache-Maniacs run wild on YOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU?????????????????????????????????????????????
It's OK to laugh. I did.
Sing it with me: I think I'm cute, I know I'm sexy I got the looks, that drives the girls wild I got the moves, That really move them I send chills, Up and down their spine I'm just a sexy boy (sexy boy) I'm not your boy toy (boy toy) I'm just a sexy boy (sexy boy) I'm not your boy toy (boy toy) I make them hot, I make them shiver Their knees get weak, whenever I'm around They see me walk, They hear me talk I make them feel, like they're on Cloud nine I'm just a sexy boy (sexy boy) I'm not your boy toy (boy toy) I'm just a sexy boy (sexy boy) I'm not your boy toy (boy toy) Eat your heart out girls Hands off the merchandise
[Note from Mike: The following guest post is from my good friend and OFFICIAL Buzz Kids Reporter, Cole. He's only 3 years old, but he has an amazing understanding of the importance of giving to others. You can see below that Cole and I share a passion for snow angels, but I had no idea that his musical tastes were so fabulous, too! Seriously...The Beatles! Cole is an AWESOME kid!]
Dear Mr. Schaffer,
Ever since I saw the video of you making a snow angel for 12for12K I have been trying to find ways I can help do something nice for someone else and teach others to do good too. At school I was the door helper and helped my teacher and friends by holding the door. I am trying to teach my baby sister Lauren to share. Mom says that whether you are big (like Mike) or small (like Lauren) everyone can do something to help others. And that is what 12for12k is all about…doing something.
I wanted to make you another angel, but there’s no snow. I tried anyway, but it didn’t work. I was a little mad about that, but mom showed me a concert on the 12for12k site. I did a holiday concert at my school and mom said that even though it’s not winter, I can still do a concert!
So here it is… my own concert for 12for12K. The song I chose is “I Want to Hold Your Hand,” by The Beatles. I like to sing it to my baby sister and it makes her laugh. I hope that everyone who hears my concert will smile. Maybe if I can make some more people smile, they’ll visit 12for12k and help bring some smiles to those who need one.
Thank you for letting me come play on your blog.
Sincerely,
Cole
Age 3
Note from Cole’s Mom & Dad: The 12for12K Challenge is a combination of social media awareness and fund-raising that aims to change the lives of millions worldwide. In our home, 12for12K reminds us that there are many important causes and that while we can’t do everything, we can each do something. We hope you’ll take a moment to visit the 12for12K site, and consider making a donation and using the power of your voice to reach out through social media and spread the word.
[Note from Mike: Cole has done snow angels and a music video - what are you doing to raise awareness of important causes?]
Thanks everyone for the firestorm of birthday wishes! I feel the love, for sure
For my birthday this year, I don’t need any presents. What I would like is for you to look into some of my favorite charitable causes. I’m not asking you to donate, just read up on a few of these organizations.
Stand Up, Take Notice – My good friend Lisa Pagano is nominated for Woman of the Year for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. This is a tremendous organization that does terrific work. Leukemia took my grandfather – and with more research, hopefully it won’t take anyone else.
Wayne Blann Scholarship Fund – One of the smartest minds in sports marketing, Dr. Wayne Blann is the pioneer in college majors in the field. The original also happens to be the best. Ithaca College created a scholarship fund to help Sports Management and Sports Media students pay for summer internships.
(There is no donation mechanism online for the Blann Fund. If you are interested, checks may be made out to Ithaca College with a note that this is for the Blann Scholarship Fund. The check should be sent to Michele Exposite, Associate Director, Individual and Planned Giving, 235 Alumni Hall, Ithaca, NY 14850)
12 for 12 k – Their tagline says it best: changing the world through social media. Think there isn’t charitable power in social media? Look at the lesson it taught my friend Cole this winter! He’s 3 years old and 12for12K showed him that EVERY person can help.
Again, I’m not asking anyone to donate money. But the perfect birthday gift to me would be to take a few minutes to learn about these organizations.
