the #makelight project: celebration and service

This weekend was my dad's 77th birthday, so we celebrated him at our home with homemade Trinidadian food and cupcakes.  It was a lovely, quiet little celebration, and a great reminder that sometimes, pausing and celebrating is what we desperately need.

Over the last few days, I'd also been thinking about Arun Gandhi's words that I shared on Thursday -- and Saturday morning,  I decided to put my money where my mouth is, and sign up to volunteer my legal skills with the ACLU.*  I did this on a whim -- I have no idea if they'll call me, or even if I'll be of use to them, since I don't have any litigation experience (my career was in transactional law), but I figured nothing ventured, nothing gained, right?  And when, by the end of the day, I learned the ACLU was behind the blocking of the president's anti-Muslim ban, I felt like it was a sign that I'd chosen wisely.  We'll see how it turns out.

And so, for our #MakeLight project this week, I'll encourage you to do two things:  first, make light by celebrating someone you love -- whether it's their birthday or not.  Turn off your screens and spend time with someone important.  It's good for your health.

And then secondly, consider how you can use your talents to help a cause that's dear to you.  Because that's important, too.

Have a great week, friends.  (And don't forget to check out some of the gorgeous light-filled photos -- like this one and this one --  from our #MakeLight project here.)

*  Just by the by, if you're a licensed attorney in the United States (or even if you're not), and volunteering for the ACLU sounds good to you, too, contact the local office in your area to see how you can help.