Why The Make a Wish Foundation?

I'm preparing for my talk at the launch party of the Make a Wish Foundation's new chapter in New Canaan and it got me thinking. I've been asked to talk about being passionate. I began think about what makes a person passionate about a cause or charity. 

Now I am a self-confessed neuroscience geek, I will whenever possible mention the brain in a conversation. My kids call me boring but I am undeterred! You see I'm fascinated about understanding the mind and brain, so that I can help myself, my family and the people I work with increase health, happiness and success in life. 

So back to passion. There are 4 stages to developing passion:

1. Awareness: passion begins with us becoming aware of a cause or charity.
2. Interest: if something about that cause or charity sparks our subconscious mind, we become interested. What sparks our subconscious mind, is different for each of us: for one person it's children, for another it's dogs, for another it's environmental issues and so on. 
3. Engagement and action: if our subconscious is sufficiently fired up, we then go on to become engaged and may take action.
4. Passion: the highest level of focus is passion. Passion is a strong driver, and it is good for our health! It makes us energized, focused, motivated, excited and we are inclined to take massive action. 

For me, the Make a Wish Foundation sparked passion in me. As a doctor, in the UK, I worked in Pediatrics, with many children with life-threatening illnesses and as a Developmental Pediatrician, I saw the toll chronic illness can take on a child, their family. Life for these children was filled with pain, uncertainty, boredom, loss of connection with friends, fear and lack of hope. There was not Make a Wish Foundation in my hospital way back then, but I know that a "wish" would be incredibly powerful in creating hope, excitement, distraction, connection and positivity for a child and their family. Being a parent, with two children with significant health problems in their early years, I know first hand how difficult it can be caring for a sick child. 

I was incredibly honored to be asked to be a guest speaker at the Launch Party, next week, where you will learn how you can become involved in this extraordinary organization and change the lives of children and their families.

Wednesday, April 2nd, 6:30-8:00pm, 71 Main Street, New Canaan (Outback Teen Center). The event is free, but registration is required: maria@ct.wish.org or online http://womenforwishkids.eventbrite.com