I encountered a lot of heroes this week. And in each connection, my life lit up in the beauty of their presence. Thank you everyone for all that you do every day to make a difference!

I don’t often go into the bank — I like ATM’s. But yesterday, when I mis-entered my PIN enough times incorrectly, I was forced to enter the bank to get it reset. A lovely woman at the Service Desk, whose name tag read, “Carol-Anne”, helped me so that I wouldn’t have to stand in line at the teller. As she punched in codes and typed on her keyboard, we chatted about the forgetfulness of  ‘our age’. “I’m hoping I haven’t forgotten too much about raising children,” she said at one point. “I’m about to do it all over again.” I was a tad surprised. She did look a bit over child-bearing age… I think it might have been the look on my face that caused her to laugh and explain. “I’m adopting my grand-daughter.” And she went on to tell me more of the circumstances drawing her into parenting ‘at my age’.

At any age, what she is doing is noble. My daughters have a beautiful friend, Jenn, whose grandmother raised her and her siblings because, like this woman’s daughter, their mother lived a ‘at risk’ lifestyle that did not provide the stability children need. “I have to do this,” Carol-Anne said. “I’ve tried to help my daughter but I can’t stop her hurting herself. What I can do, is stop my grand-daughter from being hurt.”

Carol-Anne is a hero and so are all the other grand-parents in the world who take on the role of parents to ensure children are cared for by  families who love them.

Earlier this year I was invited to sit on a Communications Advisory Board for the United Way of Calgary. This week I attended my first meeting and was in awe of the energy, commitment and openness of the group. From bankers to oil and gas communications professionals, everyone on the board willingly gives of their time, talents and treasures to help the United Way deliver targeted and impactful communications. It’s an easy job. The work the Communications group at the United Way does is exceptional — and their willingness and openness to hearing and receiving the feedback delivered by the advisory group is integral to their spirit of working together to create meaningful engagement tools that inspire Calgarians to get involved, take action and make a difference. We all win when we unite in our desire to create a great city for everyone.

Bryce Paton and the communications team at the United Way of Calgary are heroes and so are the volunteers who lend a hand with such open hearts, minds and spirits.

Can I indulge in a bit of motherly pride?  Today is the second annual Why?Race being held by the United Way of Calgary. My youngest daughter, Liseanne, began working part-time for the United Way in 2010 during her final year of University. She’s now working full time and loving it. As the BeCause coordinator, she’s played a vital role in this year’s Why?Race — and that’s a big undertaking!  To all of the volunteers, participants, standers’-by and recipients of the furniture that will be built as part of the race, today’s events are more than just a fun day — they’re a fun day that makes a difference.

Liseanne, (and yes, I know it’s not politically correct to name my offspring — but heck, it’s my list!  I get to call it as I see it… 🙂 ) the team at BeCause, the volunteers and participants are all heroes!

I first met the amazing team at INVIS when I was working at the homeless shelter. Every Christmas, as part of their “Angels in the Night” project they’d arrive wearing yellow capes and Santa hats, bringing with them a truck laden with winter necessities for the clients of the shelter. And, every summer, they hold a

giant garage sale

to raise funds to buy the mittens, jackets, boots, underwear that they deliver at Christmas during “Angels in the Night” Homeless Shelter Project.  Today’s the garage sale day!  Click on the link to find out more :).

All of the team of Angels in the Night and INVIS Inc. are heroes.

So…. what are you waiting for? Got any heroes you want to celebrate today? Just do it!