If you have a creative bone in your body you should definitely read Anne Lamott’s Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life. A handsome and witty blogger recommended it to me. Ok, it was Mike. I just finished the book and it felt like she was my friend commiserating and encouraging me all the way. I love her annicdotes, and was moved to tears when I read this one about giving.

An 8 year old boy had a little sister who had leukemia. He was told she would die without a blood transfusion. The doctor thought he might be a good candidate for a blood donor. That night they ask the little boy if he would save his sister’s life by giving her a pint of blood. He told them he would have to think it over.

In the morning the little boy told them that even though he was scared he would do it for his little sister. The two little kids sat in the hospital hooked up to IVs. The boy was silent. When the doctor came to check up on him, the little boy opened his eyes and asked, “How soon until I start to die?”