Life sometimes gives us more than we think we can handle. You can handle it a few ways, you can go down the negative route and it never ends in a pretty place or you can take your negative and make it into a positive. Not saying, I haven’t gone down that negative route, because sadly I have. But I was lucky enough to live to see the day. Now instead of taking the crap end of the stick life gave me and sulk around and be sad. I decided that I would share what I’m going through with everyone else. Because, I know I’m not alone and my worst day is somebody’s best day. Which I have some really bad days, so that’s really crappy to say the least. But this isn’t going to be a negative post, this post is going to be about positive things.
I’ve always been a big supporter of Veterans, so I’m all for helping them out. For someone who was once married to someone in the military and all of the friends I have who are military or spouses of military folks, it’s pretty dear to my heart. Then we have anti-bullying, which I was bullied as a kid and adult, but nothing like the kids these days, they’re pretty horrible. People as a whole can really be horrible people. Also for the fact I have kids who are in school, I always worry about these things. Every life is important, your life is important. Then cancer, who doesn’t hate cancer.. cancer as a whole, all types.. suck, cancer sucks!
Recently, well not that recent, because it happened last year. Stephen Amell.. know the guy? You may know him as Oliver Queen on Arrow. Yes, that guy! Totally #MCM worthy, but that’s for another day. So last year, he got together with the people at Represent and did a t-shirt campaign for F*ck Cancer!
F*ck Cancer is a new and innovative way to unite individuals against a disease that has affected too many of our lives and has stolen too many of our loved ones. We give people a connection to one another in a more sincere way, in that we give them the power to choose and support (proudly WEAR) which Cancer has affected them under the general umbrella on F*ck Cancer.
With a goal of 500 shirts & $10,000 in just 29 days we raised over $1,000,000 and sold 62,478 shirts worldwide!!!! Holy smokes! They also included this video of some of the shirts & videos sent in. I bought a hoodie & t-shirt, which are super awesome & the hoodie is so warm. Totally worth every penny if not more!
So after such an amazing turn out, everyone wanted more! So asked us what causes should we do next, aimed toward Suicide Awareness & Veterans. Now, both are pretty important causes and awareness that’s sometimes pushed aside, but they should be. He ended up going with Paws & Stripes & Stand for the Silent.
Paws & Stripes is provides service dogs for wounded U.S. military veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI). The dogs come only from shelters, and service dog trainers work the veteran/dog teams. No veteran is ever obligated to pay a penny for our services. While there is no cure for PTSD or TBI, the Paws and Stripes™ curriculum helps veterans develop the insight and awareness to utilize tools when dealing with symptoms often related to these diagnoses.
Stand for the Silent is all about empowering youth to stand above bullying. Stand for the Silent was started in 2010 by a group of students from the Oklahoma State University, Oklahoma City Upward Bound Chapter after they heard the story of Kirk and Laura Smalley’s son, Ty Field-Smalley. At 11 years old, Ty took his own life after being suspended from school for retaliating against a bully that had been bullying him for over 2 years.
The first round of the Sinceriously Campaign – goal of 1,000 shirts prices vary from $20-$36, 31,002 have been sold. But on Febuary 25th (Wednesday) It’s going to be the second & final round of this design! I might get another shirt, I don’t know yet. If you like, I totally recommend you getting one!
The other day Stephen was told everyone who got a shirt (or hoodie) to to make a video on youtube and tell everyone what sincerously means to them.. Well I hate doing videos, vlogs, I can’t get out what I’m feeling in a vlog, so i took it to what I know how to do. BLOGGING.
When asked, “What does sinceriously mean to you?”
Sinceriously means to me..
Doesn’t matter what life may throw at me, instead of taking all that negative and passing out out to the ones that have hurt me or done me wrong in the past. Is to turn it into a positive and spread as much love as possible. That’s where blogging comes in, blogging has really became a therapy for me, it’s my way to share my stories, share my experience with others. Who knows what I share may just help another person. That’s why I do it, I’m all about helping other people. I’m a people person, who puts everyone before myself.
Bellesouth says
Sinceriously? Love it. My blog, my writing in general is a big part of my therapy too. I deal with the struggles of being a caregiver in my prime years, as well as trying to make it in two jobs that don’t pay unless I work. I really cannot stand BS. Not in marketing, not in every day human interaction, not in social graces. So when I write, it is the real deal. When I review, it is the real deal. I suck up to no one and am out to survive, not keep up appearances. Sinceriously!
Natalie says
YES!! There’s nothing I hate more than a blogger or anyone who will lie about a product just to give them a positive review even if it was a piece of crap. I’m always giving people the real deal, whether they want to hear it or not. I rather be real than fake any day.
Blogging makes a great therapy and cheaper, lol
Shabby Chic Boho (@terrishutterbug) says
SINCERIOUSLY means a lot of different things to me. I started my first blog to post about the struggles I was going through after failed back surgery. I was in the bed for 4 years in a back brace and wasn’t getting any better. Now I blog about things that SINCERIOUSLY matter to me. I do reviews as well and I give my 100% SINCERIOUSLY opinion on the products because that’s the only way to do reviews and it’s what the companies and my followers want.
krystaprice says
Awesome! Blogging is also a form of therapy for me to deal with the “every day punches” and share with the world. To not feel so alone, yanno! I love that you are taking negatives and making them positives and working to help enrich others’ lives as well! The quote you have in the beginning about a karma cleanse is sooo true and I especially appreciate the “Check your motives” because that is so important and often something we forget about. Thanks for sharing!
Michele Brosius says
SINCERIOUSLY what an awesome word! I am the kind of person who says what they mean and means what they say. I don’t worry about what other people think of me or what I stand for. I share my sinceriously views with others via social media and face to face contact. I love the way you are showing your sinceriously vision with the t-shirt campaigns. I have to jump on the #CancerSucks band wagon, cause as you said who doesn’t hate cancer. Keep sharing the good, bad and the ugly and you are sure to bless someone along the way! Every life matters!
Shirgie Scf says
I love the meaning of the word SINCERIOUSLY. But sometimes I tend to hold back my words and not say things sinceriously. I guess we have to consider being sensitive sometimes but I sinceriously agree that we must say what we want to say and stand strong on our grounds. And by the way, I like the F*ck cancer shirt.
Qoftwignberry (@Qoftwignberry) says
I love learning about charities that people hold near and dear to their hearts. Were you one of the people who participated in the ice bucket challenge this summer? I did, and donated to a cause close to my heart, the Colon Cancer Society. My dad passed away from the horrible disease and it is my hope that I can save others from his fate.
Wishing you all the best.
Amanda
http://www.queenofthelandoftwigsnberries.com
Natalie says
I did do that over the summer, didn’t have the ice, because we have none. But I did donate as well. I love being able to help out. One of the causes I work with yearly over the last 7 years is March of Dimes!
lesvoyagesdumonde says
Cancer is a subject personal to my family, and to see someone with such passion in terms of commitment and activism is inspiring. The fact that you have raised these funds is sinceriously incredible! The t-shirts and products are more than just an item of clothing but a purchase towards combating this illness for future generations!
Courtney says
Omg love this post!!! I started to blog to share all my recipes and diy projects I do. Now that my blog has grown I do sponsored post and reviews as well and ughhh….. As much as I love reviews, a lot of “fake” blogger types has really ruined it…. When I don’t like products, I will tell the company and tell them and ask if they want me to actually write up the negative post or should be just leave it at I dont like and we can just forget eachother kinda thing, and omg I’ve been yelled at by companies because of this! They expect me to write a post about how great they are because others do and ummmmm NO! Not lying to my readers -_- it’s kinda turned into a headache….
Natalie says
When I first started doing one the one site, i did EVERYTHING, even all those fake pills.. and 99% of the time it didnt do anything and so many companies got MAD because I was honest and giving a negative posts, but i refuse to lie..
Amy Albers says
What great causes to support! One of my kids is a quirky, not very self confident kid and I worry about him one day being bullied, if he hasn’t been already. Thanks for speaking out and mustering support!
susanmahlburg says
I love that there’s a new campaign like this. Cancer has affected so many people, and unfortunately I think that sometimes makes it commonplace and people forget how important it is to continue to support the cause.
Christine C. (@stine1217) says
This is exactly why I love bloggers. I can’t agree with you more! Blogging is serious therapy for me. I always hope that by opening up and sharing my most personal issues on my blog, that hopefully it will even help just one person! Sure opening up is scary and sometimes terrifying, but helping someone is so worth it!
Demetrice Smith says
You support some really great causes and what’s most important is that you are sincerious about all of them! I agree we all have life experiences that can make us go either way. Glad to see that you are remaining positive!
Beth Williams says
Pretty sure I’m going to steal that word! Sinceriously just has a certain ring to it, don’t you think? I think as a blogger it’s important to be Sincerious for all of our readers. We owe it to them, don’t we? 🙂
Krystal says
That is SO awesome. I am loving the sinceriously!! It definitely sounds like a great cause and a great product to support. I’m loving these ideas to show support and lift one another up. 60,000+ shirts is SO great!
Michelle Hwee says
How creative! I love the word “sinceriously”! It is just so unique and it has a nice ring to it! You really inspired to me and it was so wonderful reading your post. Life definitely has its up and downs but what I always think about is the goal and to be proud of how far I have come. Thanks for sharing!
Kiwi says
I love the Eff Cancer shirts. Its powerful campaign that gets straight to the point because we all do know someone that has been affected by this disease. I like your definition of the word sinceriousy….its all karma related!
Amanda @ Adorkablii says
I want the F Cancer shirt!!! I love it!!!! I love the word Sinceriously! That’s awesome! I have to say I never heard of this campaign or anything before =( I don’t pay attention to much that goes on around me, I know its sad! But I love this post!!!!! And now I need to get me that shirt!!!!
Magnify says
I love this Sinceriously…I absolutely love it! I would have to agree that blogging is a way a expression. It’s a way to work thru and share your most inner thoughts . But as Christine C said, it is scary to share but if by doing so you help someone then it is well worth it. 🙂
http://www.magnifyyouressence.wordpress.com/