There’s a Jewish practice that you should contribute 10% of your earnings to charity. Mum asked me if I wanted a silver charity box that she found. It confronted me with an interesting sheaylah (religious practice question), which I posed to my father: if I focus my life’s work on helping the under-served, and if any money I save is most likely being saved to help me continue and/or expand that work, is it sensible to still donate the expected 10% of my earnings to charity?

He said yes; everyone is supposed to donate the 10%. The box is silver; I’ll have to polish it. I think it will be good for me- a reminder, a moment for reflection each month. Time to think about whether I’m pursuing my purpose, and how to do so.

I met my good friend Ron for tea after work today. Ron is really involved in the social change community, and a fantastic source for history of various social change movements. Tea with him really reminded me that just as I have a museum community, I have a social change community- really incredible, supportive, creative people who each help one another develop and grow.

I also found out today that a friend from my internship at the Baltimore Museum of Art now works at the Science Center! I’m thrilled to be in contact with him again- hopefully it will continue by email- and I’m thrilled for him, because I think he’ll enjoy being an educator much more than what he was doing before. So between that and Ron, it’s really hitting me that I have this supportive circle of friends- wonderful people who inspire, support, and care.

Another thing that came out of my meeting Ron is realizing that I don’t have to wait. Patience isn’t my virtue- but the courage for initiative is something I’ve actively developed in myself, and am still doing so. I’ve had dreams for various outreach programs for some time now- but I’ve been waiting. Mostly for an institution to affiliate them with, or the funding to do them. But maybe that’s not necessary- or maybe it would just take too long. It doesn’t hurt if I can find those things, but would I give up the dreams just because the perfect chance doesn’t fall into my lap? No way.