Now I can see this is a series that’s going to write itself for months to come. For our latest demonstration of beaver transformative powers, let’s give a huge congratulations and round of applause to our own Linda Meza, Worth A Dam VP of public relations 2008-2009. In addition to stopping at the dam nearly every evening, her advocacy to our beavers took the form of meetings with city staff, letters to the editor, and the like. Along the way she was invited to do a regular column for the Gazette, which will be appearing soon. This represents the beginning realization of a lifelong ambition for Linda. Somewhere in this process she responded to Rick Parker’s complaint about not having a fourth of July Parade, and was inspired to take the task on herself.
Now Linda is heading the campaign to set up a parade for next year. She is hard at work meeting with organizers and pursuing corporate funding. Her own son and daughter are in the Navy. Organizing this patriotic event is one of the ways she feels she can show support for their efforts. No one would argue that our local military families deserve gratitude and support. Everyone agrees with the need for a fourth of July parade, but who has the energy to make it happen? Linda does. And you can help.
Beavers change things: it’s what they do. People’s lives are a part of the habitat beavers transform. In speaking up for the beavers we hear our own voices more clearly than ever before. We learn what’s crucial, and what’s merely irritating. We are driven to sort through our lives and discard conventions and committments that have no meaning for us. We take risks and we do what we love.
“Find something outside yourself that is yourself. Then devote yourself to it with all your heart”
I once thought that we were lucky if life gave us even a single passion; something worth serving, something to organize our generosity. I’m learning now that if we embrace that gift, new doors and bridges open all around us, leading to more possibilities and pathways. What seems like a single thread is actually a vibrant tapestry. When we allow ourselves to care deeply for something and work tirelessly to serve our cause, we will find unexpected friends and fortunes along the way.
Please visit Linda’s site and help her launch this parade as spectacularly and quickly as possible, (so she has lots of free time leftover to help the beavers).
