Crosby's Hat

Whether you are a Penguins fan or not, it goes without saying that the center for the Pittsburgh hockey team should be honored for his work with Make a Wish Foundation. Sidney Crosby, a man of little change, usually wears the same hat continuously and does not switch it up. However, a ten-year-old boy by the name of Bryce Cunningham realized one day as he was watching his beloved Penguins play that Crosby's hat was looking extremely tattered and dirty. Cunningham, who, at eight-years-old, developed a Spitz nevus mole on his back, and dealt with the cancer for a year as it spread to his lymph nodes. With the removal of the lymph nodes and establishment of proper treatment, Cunningham has since been cancer free. After viewing Crosby's hat, he and his father decided to have a new hat made for the boy's favorite hockey player. 

Crosby and Cunningham were supposed to meet at a Make a Wish Foundation charity event entitled "Pens and Pins," which is an annual bowling event sponsored by the foundation so children can meet their favorite Penguins players. Each Pittsburgh player is matched with a specific child to bowl with for the day. Bryce was going to play with the hockey center, but Sidney developed strep throat and was unable to attend the event. Though disappointed in not meeting Crosby, little Cunningham bowled with Marc-Andre Fleury and enjoyed the day. His father, Don Cunningham, gave the hat to a FSN Pittsburgh reporter, and requested that he give it to Crosby the next night in Toronto. 

Though Crosby is a man of habit and does not like to change up his set schedule, he decided to wear the newly made hat that the little boy and his father wanted him to wear so much. Even though the hat is a simple black hat that can be bought in any sports shop, on one side "Bryce" is stitched into the cloth and on the other side "Make a Wish" is embroidered into it. Sidney Crosby wears his special hat after every game. Don Cunningham states that even though his son does not realize the full value of this, and merely thinks of it now as "neat," he knows that one day Bryce will understand the true importance of this someday. 

Though it is often said that professional sports players are simply in the profession for the money, this shows that there are players with good intentions out on the field or in the rink. Many players participate in organizations such as Make a Wish Foundation, attempting to publicize these foundations, and not merely their winning streaks. The simple gesture of wearing a gift from a fan can publicize the goodness in someone, as Crosby has graciously demonstrated. 

Free Hugs

If you walked past a person wearing a sign labeled "Free hugs," would you hug him/her? "The average human needs 12 hugs a day in order to be truly happy. Do you get enough hugs to be happy? The Free Hugs Campaign wanted to make it possible for people to acquire their 12 hugs a day by giving away "free hugs." Equipped with a cardboard sign and willing arms, people around the world opened their arms to welcome others into them. Some gave dirty looks, while others simply ran away. However, the majority of people, even if they did not go for the free hug, smiled. They grinned simply at at the fact that someone would be insane enough to stand on a corner for hours with the only purpose in mind being to make people smile and give them 10 seconds of happiness. A hug is a simple way of making someone's day better. When someone is crying, you give them a hug. However, people need hugs even when tears are not streaming down their faces. Even happy people need hugs. Do not give a wimpy, awkward "hand pat on the back of the shoulder" hug either. Wrap your arms around that person and squeeze. Give hugs. Receive hugs. Watch this video, especially if you don't believe that free hugs create happiness. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vr3x_RRJdd4

"We need 4 hugs a day for survival, 8 hugs a day for maintenance, and 12 hugs a day for growth."

~Virginia Satir

Footprints

One night I had a dream...
I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord, and
Across the sky flashed scenes from my life.
For each scene I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand;
One belonged to me, and the other to the Lord.
When the last scene of my life flashed before us,
I looked back at the footprints in the sand.
I noticed that many times along the path of my life,
There was only one set of footprints.
I also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times in my life
This really bothered me, and I questioned the Lord about it.
"Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you,
You would walk with me all the way;
But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life,
There is only one set of footprints.
I don't understand why in times when I
needed you the most, you should leave me.
The Lord replied, "My precious
child, I love you and I would never 

leave you. During your times of
trial and suffering,
When you saw only one set of footprints,
It was then that I carried you."

In the hardest of times it is necessary to remember that someone will always be present in your life. You are never completely alone. Whether you are religious or not, the belief that someone is not only walking with you, but carrying you through the grief, helps relieve some of the pain. Even though it may seem like you have no hope, everyone has abandoned you, and the sadness is unbearable, you will always have someone to turn to. Do not wallow in your pain, but rejoice in the fact that someone is there to carry you through the suffering.