"Dude, You're Weird!"

I know it's Friday, but I simply can't wait to tell you about this. I fell upon this book, Every Monday Matters, at the bookstore the other day. I wouldn't have even picked it up (how many "1000 ways to live a better life" books can we read?) except for the excellent design of the book (by a guy named Leonardo Canneto--bravo, Leonardo!)--I adore typography used as a graphic element, and this book is chock full of that, plus that recycled paper feel I love, big quotes, hard facts, and thought-provoking photos. In look and feel, it's not unlike that Anita Roddick book, Take It Personally, that is among my favorite on my bookshelf.

But things for Every Monday Matters and me got even better. I brought the book home and instantly read it from cover to cover in one sitting. I handed it to my older daughter, who did the same. And then yesterday I interviewed one of the authors of the book, Matt Emerzian, and that was that. One of my intentions each day is to "hear and heed my calling" and while talking to Matt, I knew without a doubt that he and I were intended to cross paths. Matt Emerzian is one of the most authentic, nicest, open-hearted people I have ever met, and I am certain I have much to learn from him.

Every Monday Matters started from a seed of an idea, as most things do. Here's what happened--Matt's boss, Robert, who was like a father figure to him, was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer. Matt and his friend Kelly decided to leave inspirational quotes anonymously in Robert's mailbox each day. When he died, Matt saw that Robert had taped every one of the quotes on the wall beside his bed, and Matt knew that he had made a difference. Matt and Kelly started getting requests for their inspirations cards and launched a card-sending service for loved ones in need called 40 Days of Love.

Next, Matt was walking with a friend across a parking lot and picked up a piece of litter. His friend asked him why he was doing that, which Matt found to be a very odd question.

"Because it's litter," Matt replied.

His friend said to him, "Dude, you're weird."

Matt couldn't get that out of his head, that doing something simple and good was considered weird, and that his friend was so completely detached from the power of his own personal potential to make a difference. He thought of what would happen if every person picked up one, just one, piece of litter. He thought of what would happen if every person did a bunch of little things like that, of how world-changing the collective strength of individual action could be. And then he and Kelly got to work again. And thus Every Monday Matters was born.

There are obvious things in here that many of us on our FoodShed Planet are already doing--planting trees, eating healthy, getting rid of junk mail, mentoring a child, etc. But there is lots that I haven't done, like help a foster child or have Amber Alerts sent to me or thank a law enforcement officer. While I was talking to Matt on the phone, he received 38 emailed letters from schoolchildren in Maryland thanking anonymous firefighters, which he will now distribute. A quick visit to the Every Monday Matters website shows how many actions have been logged for various activities. In total, more than 25,000 new actions have been taken as a result of this book so far.

Listen, it's not rocket science, and lots of other folks have written similar things, but Matt and Kelly make it particularly easy to do something that makes a difference. The timing may be particulary ripe right now in our fed-up society for a new level of social responsibility, civility, and action. Matt and Kelly have always seen Every Monday Matters as a movement, not just a book (the book comes with a CD-ROM , by the way, with videos, links, interviews, and more). I debated with myself whether or not to get formally involved with this--I'm not typically a joiner or a group person (and please never mention the word "committee" to me!). Yet after talking with Matt, I have no decision to make. It is a no-brainer. (Funny, how I was just talking about tesselations and then Matt walks into my life with a playbook to explore!)

And then, the big "aha moment" happened for me. I told Matt on the phone that the fact from the book that jumped out at me most was that if you donate blood four times a year, you can save 120 lives in ten years. 120 lives. That blows my socks off. But then I told him my problem--I'm right about at the lower weight cutoff and the one time I did give blood, I fainted, so I have been afraid to give it since.

And here's what happened next. God's honest truth. (Matt, this is going to remind you once again that you are on the right path!) Less than two hours later, my younger daughter walked in the door from the school bus and immediately handed me a flyer (knowing nothing about this conversation or even about that part of the book).

"It's for a blood drive, Mom," she said, "on March 1."

I kid you not.

As one of my favorite sayings goes:

When the student is ready, the teacher appears.

And so, I am dedicating my Monday posts for the next year to Every Monday Matters, a journey that I expect will be filled with incredible twists and turns that I cannot even imagine, and opening doors and windows to my purpose here on earth that I do not even know exist.

Since I know myself well enough to anticipate I would feel constrained by a linear path if I go "in order" in the book, I am handing Every Monday Matters to my daughters and letting them take turns choosing each week's spread (each spread is dedicated to one fo the 52 suggestions).

Except for the week with March 1 in it. That one is already decided.

"Dude, You're Weird!"