What does a 1,000 paper cranes look like?

In Japan, it is commonly said that folding 1,000 paper origami cranes makes a person's wish come true.

One of First Born Prince’s classmates folded 1,000 cranes and is now stringing them together.  She sent out a request to her community of friends and family to help her raise money for the people of Japan.  I couldn’t have been happier to whip out my checkbook to honor this creative, hard working, earnest attempt to do something beautiful and positive.

She probably doesn’t realize it, but not only is she doing something for Japan, she is helping herself and everyone who receives this humbling request.  It certainly turned my day around from flashes of annoyance and frustrations with petty problems to remembering all that is good and right with the world.

More than anything, I was given a chance to contribute to a worthwhile endeavor without having to suffer paper cuts.  If you are inspired, feel free to make a check out American Red Cross.

If you don’t do it for yourself, or Japan, do it for our own country—the tornado relief efforts are in full swing.  Giving, no matter how small, adds up through paper of all colors.