What’s YOUR Why?

On June 21st, 2000, Chris emailed me from a cyber-cafe in the Phillipines. He and a few others took a tour of Corregidor Island. He wrote “If you are not up on your military history, this little island was the last stronghold that the U.S. and Phillipines were holding against Japan in WW2. This is the place where General MacArthur said those famous words, ‘I shall return‘. I am getting goosebumps typing!!” 

While on this trip, Chris had a particularly interesting encounter. “And, get this, this little guy that lived in the hills and fished for a living sold me this original dog tag that he dug up in the jungle. The moment I saw it I just [knew I] have to return it to the family that it belongs to. The soldier’s name was Michael P. from Pittsburgh, PA. His wife’s name and their home address is on the tag. This is my mission. I choose to accept. I will be so happy to find them and return it!” Chris ended this email to me by suggesting I call our mom to “tell her I’m okay” and then wrote… “off to a new adventure”. 

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Maybe (or maybe not, depending on your outlook) it was a chance meeting between Chris and the fisherman. In a split second, Chris was compelled to make the choice to not only buy a once lost and later found dog tag but also go a step further with the intent to return it to the soldier’s family. What I love most about his sharing this with me is he approached this act of kindness with a cheerful heart.  

Everyday we are provided chances to make choices that have potential to bring someone cheer… make a difference… do good in the world. This leads me to ask the question, what’s your why?* Although I already had a why (spay/neuter work and promotion of adoption of orphan pets^), my brother gave me another. Nels, his incredible wife, and the Project Campbell’s Call team have also made the choice to embrace Chris’ last request. Additionally, as of this writing, 50,337 other people have contributed to this call to action. 

As we bid farewell to 2023 and welcome in 2024, we invite you to share in this grand adventure with us, take a chance and cheerfully choose to be a part of this decade long journey. Nels will be running across the U.S. one step at a time in the Fall of 2024. His goal is to break the existing record for the fastest run across the country. The why? To help Chris achieve his final mission of 100,000 people donating to Wounded Warrior Project. I’m happy to share that we are just over half way there!! Check out the Project Campbell’s Call website today, and there is a donate button if you would like to be a part of this incredible feat to reach 100,000 people (any amount counts) to help us accomplish my brother’s last request.

I’ll end by saying… may you experience many moments of joy in the new year, courage to face challenges, and peace when you need it most.

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*Need help finding YOUR why? Check out: VolunteerMatch.org

^Interested in saving two lives? Visit your local humane society today. By adopting, you’ll bring home a loyal friend and open a spot for another homeless pet to be saved. 

#FixAtFour #PreventionSavesLives #SaveThemAll

“Those who are happiest are those who do the most for others.” Booker T. Washington