Lessons ....

Hi again! Yes I am back after a month or so hiatus.

A few months back I sign on to create and produce an event for local charities from the two places I call home, Boston and Mutoko, Zimbabwe. I came up with this great plan to create a black tie event where people could come and dance, drink, laugh and give in the name of charity.

When I started planning the event I thought it would be easy I would have numerous people to help me and we would all work tirelessly and create a great event and raise tonnes of money. two weeks before the event I found myself sitting in the office alone, with hardly any sponsorships and absolutely no tickets sold. At first i panicked and felt very overwhelmed, I even went through a few moments of bitter resentment at how all my loved ones had not offered their help.

Then as I always do I jumped out of my skin for a few minutes and realized we all have things to do, we all have dreams, we all have problems and obstacles. With that realization I understood that all he people I was expecting to help probably were sitting somewhere alone thinking to themselves "where are all my loved ones when i need them?" To top it off as usual i was also guilty of not having specifically asked any of them "Can you help me do ......" so how can blame them.

Soooo, after that little by myself meeting I got motivated. I have never failed at anything I set out to do so I realized this was just another hurdle I could leap over with hard work. I said a little prayer and as usual asked God "Just do this for me and I promise....". Right after my prayer I remembered that I had posted a form looking for volunteers, so I check the email which was separate from my regular email. To my surprise right there in my in box lay 24 emails with names, emails and phone numbers of people who had read about my event and wanted to help me. 'Thank you God that was quick!!!" i whispered to the ceiling. It was as if i was running up a steep hill in a marathon and just as I told myself I couldn't go any further, I look up and see the finish line flags rising on the horizon...."I can do this"

The next few days I was awe of the complete strangers that came into my office for interviews and all said " I am all yours, what do you need me to do?" I have helped in many ways in my life but I have never just volunteered and showed up to help a stranger, the closest is when I go help friends. I was so grateful and I kept telling everyone to the point where they probably thought I was a tid bit off haha. To cut a long story short out of the 20 about 10 showed up for interviews and 6 of those stood by me till the event was over. They gave me their time and resources without pay or compensation, it was a life changing experience. Right there I decided every other month i would offer a few hours of my time to someone in need. I think we should volunteer a few hours of our time every once in a while. We can't always give money or material things, but we can always give time, skip a movie help children in need every once in a while, you can change your city, community, you can change the world.

Anyway 4 days before the event the production was all in place, we had a great fashion show lined up featuring design work by Micheal Kors, Vera Wang, Giovanni Valentino and my line Bless By Bless Couture. We had models, we had food and we had complimentary drinks but we only had 15 tickets sold. We needed to sell up to 150. I received phone calls of canceling the event, I received calls of hurricane threats for the event date but something told me there was no turning back. No retreat no surrender. Just from the people I had brought together, the sponsors we had walked the streets and solicited I felt we already had reason to celebrate the power of love that a few people had demonstrated. So i was determined to go on with the event even if it meant just having a great time with the volunteers, a few friends and some of my business partners who were helping me.

On the day of the event heavy rains poured but by 9:30 we were almost at capacity. The event went smoothly, people came out in numbers to party and dance in the name of love. It was everything I thought it would be. Although we lacked cash donation from corporate sponsors we received many auction items and sold many tickets. The total amount raised was over $6000. considering we did this in two weeks with just me, my partner and volunteers it was amazing. At first I was concerned with the amount we would raise until I realized the lesson and the unity I had seen from strangers was worth more than the money. I say this because the selfless dedication of these people will raise thousands of dollars and help change lives regardless of when and how.

The event was one of the hardest things I ever had to do. Once I signed on I had the weight of the world on my shoulders. From the two charities that expected money, the sponsors that made contributions and expected exposure, my own expectations for myself and my reputation all hung a heavy cloud of stress above me. I fought and I fought hard and learned so much and that first major charity event will forever be one of my best accomplishments. I say this because all the others will be so much easier and I will have so much more help now that I have shown my capabilities.

Lessons:
1. I will volunteer every few months by giving my time to strangers in need.
2. I will never give up on a dream or goal even when all hope seems lost.
3. I will always have hope and faith that love can overcome all obstacles, any at all!

I thank everyone who helped, attended or sponsored this event, it meant the world to me and I am forever grateful. I love you all!

Bless
Bless By Bless Designer
www.blessbybless.com
Fashion For Life

Here are a few pics of the event. By Photographer Douglas Despres except for the last 5 images by James A. Harding