A few weeks ago, I wondered to myself where everybody was when I got discouraged. Does anybody remember that Jody Watley song, Friends? I was feeling a lot like that. It seemed like every time I got deeply discouraged, I couldn’t reach anybody on the phone, im, facebook, twitter OR tumblr. LOL. (This doesn’t count God, because sometimes we want to talk to other people.) Then I decided to try to be the change I wanted to see. Once a week, I leave a message with somebody I know needs a pickup. Among my family members I call them “Keep hope alive” messages because that’s what we say to each other when things get thick. I think it’s really appropriate because sometimes keeping joy and hope in my life demands nothing less than an all-out battle.