Right under my Nose all Along

I planted this lettuce when it was way too hot, with the intention of letting it bolt and flower. It did this pretty quickly, and for a long time I kept looking at it, patiently waiting for the seeds to appear.

They never did up and reveal themselves, and it wasn't until today when I was about to rip it out that I realised I just hadn't been looking properly. The seeds were there alright, just not quite where I thought they ought to be.

Now I hope this segues well, because there is something else I wanted to tell you about today.

All my life I have blathered on with, "if I were rich, I'd be helping the world in X way". In my mind I set up charities, donated amazing amounts of cash to causes I believed in, and just basically Did Good Deeds. A shorter Angelina Jolie. All in my mind though, because I was waiting to be rich to help out.

It occurred to me some time ago now, that I am not ever going to be really cash rich. There was never going to be any setting up of trusts for charities, or large monetary donations, because I was pinning my hopes on a time that wasn't going to come.

So I decided that if I was going to do something, it was going to have to be a Realistic Good Deed.

And so I started this blog. I am very time poor during the day, but once the boys are in bed I have the nights to myself. So instead of watching television, I blogged. For the sole purpose of making some money. Now before you throw something at the screen, to make some money to Do A Good Deed with.

I was afraid when I first started advertising and asking for sponsors on Mud Pie that people would think badly of me, so I didn't say anything and tried to do it unobtrusively. I promised myself that each time I reached a certain threshold in advertising payments, I would donate that money to a charity that was close to my heart. Well that threshold has finally arrived, and my charity chosen.

The choice was made very easily, because it is a charity that I have always wanted to give to. One of my boys had four operations (all successful!) and ongoing specialist care at the Royal Brisbane Children's Hospital, and I couldn't think of a place I would more want to support. I know that the care of small children is very close to most of our hearts, and when that small child is your own, to say you feel very grateful is an understatement.

So today I sent off a very small sum to the Royal Children's Hospital Foundation, and I am feeling as happy as that little pig who enjoys the mud.

It isn't the grand gesture I had always dreamed of making, but it's a realistic small contribution.

One that I could have always done, if only I'd looked at things the right way.