I have been a caregiver since my first child was born. After my two biological children were grown, I adopted three older orphans from Bulgaria. Last year I cared for my mother daily for three months while she was in her final stage of life. As I spent so many hours in her memory care facility, I grew to love the other residents and bonded with some of their family members who came to visit. I miss all of them and felt peaceful when we were together, not sad. I volunteered in Zambia, Africa, with Mothers Without Borders in June and July, 2013. It was a humbling and unforgettable experience. M y ability to feel empathy is a gift and important part of my life; I would like to use that ability to care for others. I have never been paid for it before, but I would like to do that rather than seek another sales position or do another job that would not make a true difference to others. I believe my best personal achievement, besides raising my children, was to write a book for children about the power of kindness, based upon my years in teaching anti-bullying (pro-empathy) programs in over 300 schools. It was published in 2010, and is read in families and classrooms around the country. It will soon be translated into Spanish by a Venezuelan friend who wants it to improve circumstances in Hispanic communities. ... more