Sometimes, you change lives without even knowing it.

Last week, two different people thanked me for something that I didn’t remember or even know that I had done.

It all started on a snowy day in Chicago. On Thursday, my 11 year old son Josh and I left our home in New York City at 4 am to fly to Chicago to run Soaringwords hands-on programs with hundreds of teens the next day. He loved missing a day of school and I knew that I had a trusted and capable person to help make the events run smoothly. We stayed with the family of one of his camp buddies who opened their home to us, fed us lavishly with delicious food, gave us house keys, and made us feel right at home.

I was actually thrilled to be going to Chicago in the middle of February to give a speech! Yes. That’s me. Of course, I wish the conference had been in the Caribbean, but when I was invited to share Soaringwords with 450 teen leaders at the BBYO International Conference I just jumped at the chance.

During the first group, a young man came up to me and said that we had met three years earlier at another International Conference. He was in high school at the time and now was in college. He thanked me for some advice I had shared that he said he relied upon frequently, as if it were his compass. “Wow.”

When I asked him what I had said, he shared, “be where you are… do what you can do now and grow into where you want to be.” As he relayed his story to me he shared several examples of how he had followed this advice, and I actually remembered our initial conversation from three years ago in great detail. Then the gift came full-circle, because this was precisely the advice that was guiding me on my trip.

Photo caption: 450 teens created SoaringMurals at the BBYO International Conference

Earlier today, I received the email below from a stranger and it made me aware that many deeds we do have far more impact than we ever realize.

Dear Lisa and Soaringwords Folks,
Our son, Jeremy, is 10 yrs. old. He has just had the first of what will be many surgeries for a rare (1 in 30,000) no-cure bone disease called Fibrous Dysplasia. His operation was at Children's Hospital, Oakland, California. The tumor is currently in his cheek and jaw. We will have to watch him and the tumor over the years and address its growth as time goes along.

When Jeremy was in recovery after the operation, the nurse brought around a cart that had a variety of toys, stuffed animals, and one of your beautiful pillows. He chose a stuffed bear and your pillow. We send you our sincerest thanks for both the beautiful pillow and the heartfelt thoughts behind it. I cried when I examined the pillow, because I know the significance of someone having made it, and our receiving it.

I am not usually at a loss for words, but my brain is exploding with all that is going on, and I wanted to say "thank you", which is clearly not even the least little bit enough.

-Larry, Susan and Jeremy

Let me know if you’d like to join me or volunteer at one of our hospital programs. Earlier this month, at Montefiore Medical Center, hospitalized kids were enjoying Fables from Aesop (check it out at SoaringStories on Soaringwords.org). After reading the classic stories, we invite the kids to creating new fables and write new morals for the stories. One of the new, original fables was a story about a circle and a square, entitled, “Help Comes in all Shapes and Sizes.” And it sure does.

Photo caption: Volunteers at the Soaringwords Hospital Program at Montefiore Medical Center on Feb. 11th.

A couple of nights ago, my son Jonathan told me he saw the Lunar Eclipse. I looked out the window and, sure enough, there it was. The gorgeous bulbous full moon obscured by a dark disc revealing only a paper thin crescent. It was breathtaking and, in an instant, I decided that I had to put on a winter coat and go downstairs to see it in person. It was worth the trip.

The lunar eclipse and the phases of the moon reminds us that even though we do not see the immediate impact of our actions, we should know that they still can resonate and have an impact, even thought the results are not immediately apparent.

Photo caption: Kids-program at Limmud Conference in New York State.

This month was filled with two important conferences where I met incredible people. Special thanks to Ogilvy and Mather for inviting me to attend the Columbia University Graduate School of Business’ Center on Global Brand Leadership’s BriteConference where I met luminaries from GE, P&G, Eli Lilly, Nickelodeon and dozens of leading technology and marketing experts. Two action-packed days of behind-the-scenes learning from the folks in the headlines. Great stuff. And the Annual CWIB conference. I look forward to sharing many exciting collaborations that got ignited at these conferences.

Photo caption: BRITE Conference at Columbia University Graduate School of Business. David Hseih of Cisco Systems, David Rogers, Director, Center on Global Brand Leadership & Lisa Buksbaum

Here are some important ways you can make a difference:

Please join us in New Orleans on May 9 to 11th. You will be able to personally mentor and inspire hundreds of kids who were affected by Katrina and meet hundreds of volunteers from around the country. Bring your mom, your best friends, your co-workers, your kids… or yourself. It will hange many lives, including your own. Click here to learn more.

Put on your sneakers and start getting ready for the Soaringwords 5K on Sunday, June 8. Please start a team with your family, friends, and co-workers.

Please share Soaringwords Take Our Children to Work Day (April 24) programs and Summer Associate programs with your company’s human resources managers or the executive offices. We’d love to share the hands-on team-building programs with as many corporations as possible to benefit more hospitalized kids. Please foward this link to them.

Know a talented college student or high school student? We have Soaringwords Spring and Summer internships.

We’re looking for SoaringStars -- real-life heroes and heroines to be featured in my book, Soaringwords the Power to Heal. Ten Secrets to Conquer Life’s Pain and Obstacles. Email me if you know someone who has overcome illness or adversity and should be featured to inspire others to “Never give up!”

Check out the calendar for upcoming events.

Wishing you strength, soaring words, and much love,

Lisa Honig Buksbaum, CEO & Founder, Soaringwords

Inspired? Make a donation to Soaringwords.

Best of the Best

Thanks to all of these special people who connected with Soaringwords to help more ill kids and families to heal. You are all shining stars!

Lesia O. Skrypoczka of Akin Gump; Shayna Kreisler and Rachel Haskell of BBYO; Meghan Kelly, Leslie Clogston and Lindsay Davis of The Children's Hospital at Montefiore; David Hsieh of Cisco; Julie A. Galluzzo of Columbia Business School; Mark Kershisnik of Eli Lilly; Gina Rausher and Jakob VanLeeuwen of JetBlue; Dalia Gefen of Jewish Center; Marvin Cohen of JUF; Lisa Fiestal and Gina Huang of Horizon Media; Mike Hemingway of Ogilvy & Mather; Dr. Dennis L. Vickers of Sinai Children’s Hospital Chicago; Kara Siegel and students of Trinity School; Joy Rosenthal and Lori Kolinsky of UJA; Suzanne.C. Immerman, Pat Hennebry and Magda Yrizarry of Verizon; Barbara Feinstein; Kim Hartman; Barbara Bernstein, David, Alex, and Nate Medow; Laurie Robin, Gregg Steinberg; Loren, Junior and Jonathan Vangelatos.

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