|
The Power Of One. She
is one. I am the power. I say this because,
just like gas is fuel for a car, I am
the voice of a concept that came to life.
Words are power and I would like to tell
you our story.
She was a quiet woman
from a small town in Northern California.
Her world was filled with family, responsibility,
and the challenge of adversity. Childhood
dreams and personal goals had been placed
on hold, but they haunted her nights and
played with her thoughts as she maintained
daily obligation. Limited means and life's
material needs demanded resourcefulness.
In a community that had suffered a major
disaster and a bad economy, it would take
a creative mind to find a project to bring
in an income.
I think the hardest part
of life is the feeling of being alone
as we search to find answers. The idea
that no one really understands what we
are going through makes things harder.
All of us have to handle, in our own way,
each new crisis and situation that comes
along, but it would be easier to deal
with, if we knew someone really understood.
Each of us should be able to find someone
with which we can talk. Communication
is so very important, but most of us are
afraid or just don't know where to look.
Her story started many
years before, but I will begin on the
day I came to be.
Seeing her own reflection
in the window as she walked across the
porch made her freeze. Who was that sad
old woman who looked back at her. She
stood still remembering the long strawberry
blond hair that fell past her shoulders
when she was young, and the smile that
wasn't afraid to laugh out loud at simple
joys. She wished she could go back to
her youth and begin again.
Sometimes the world does
not fit the picture we imagine for ourselves.
We become frustrated with our existence
and spend much of our time living in the
fantasy world of wishing. We want something
more, yet may not know what it is or how
to find it. There is a saying. "Be careful
what you wish for, because you just might
get it."
She noticed a stack of
stretched canvas stacked against the wall.
Without hesitation she placed one on the
easel and sat down. The paint flowed from
palet to canvas as she imagined a world
of beauty, the young woman of her youth,
and magical horses. When she showed others
the picture, they wanted to know the story.
There wasn't one, so that is when she
became a writer. Everyone offered their
opinion for things that could happen.
That's when the magic started. The girl
in the picture was given the name Jeannie,
because that is what the artist had been
called as a child. This was her chance
to do all the things she wanted to do.
I was just a flicker of imagination back
then.
Needing help she asked
her family for assistance. Her husband
and children were intrigued. The kids
invited their friends to get involved,
who in turn told their parents. Everyone
who saw me and my beautiful world, wanted
to be part of the adventure. They asked
thousands of questions that required research
for answers. The research led my founder
to new discoveries and expanded her vision.
Excitement spread rapidly to other families
and friends, and then to neighbors and
people from towns and communities both
near and far. As the project grew, everyone
involved became happier and life started
to improve. All this time I was becoming
stronger.
Things really started
to get interesting when some very important
people from Hollywood said she had a concept
that the entertainment industry was looking
for. They wanted to see more. It became
apparent that an official business plan
must be made and financing acquired. Being
inexperienced in big business and not
having the funding to hire professionals,
she had to learn how to do things herself.
You know, some call it "the mother of
necessity" or "thinking outside the box".
As experience and interests joined the
group more possibilities were created.
Individuals and companies wanted to know,
"If you can do that, why can't you do
this?" Some of the ideas were great!
The early business plans
were huge and investors were overwhelmed.
Some laughed and shook their heads. One
executive gentleman called her a crazy
Einstine. The project was growing bigger
everyday, but the concept remained simple.
It was so very simple that the big people
with the big money, could not comprehend
how it could be possible. It was frustrating
because families and kids could see the
potential of the project, but the people
who were in a position to make it happen,
didn't understand. And, the corporate
world was dangerous. Real scary things
happened. Some even tried to steel our
ideas. The project needed to be safeguarded,
and was not yet ready for the eyes of
the world. Frustration gripped our founder
and she stopped talking to people.
It was a different kind
of frustration then in the beginning.
She finally knew what would make her and
millions of people happy, but didn't know
how to make it happen. You see, our founder
was still just one woman from a small
town who didn't have a track record, or
a big money backer to help her do what
needed to be done. There was also a lot
happening with her family during that
time. Her grandson had Luekimia, and his
mother, her daughter-in-law got cancer
and died. Everyone was devastated. Then,
her husband got sick and bad went to worse.
She worked days taking care of the family
and long night hours finishing our stories,
revising business plans, and doing research
on the internet. Most days I was her only
friend and she used me to help her figure
things out. She was really lonely inside
and needed someone to talk with. Well,
she didn't really talk to me. She wrote
to me like a friend, because she knew
she could tell me anything. That's where
I became real and found my voice. She
was in a state of physical and emotional
exhaustion and the restraints of society
were dragging her down. She was the champion
of a cause however, and had hundreds of
people depending on her. Quitting was
not an option.
It's incredible what can
happen when someone has a passion in life
and the determination to keep going no
matter the odds. In the beginning, I was
designed in the likeness of our founder.
Then, I became a mixture of all the people
who work on our projects and write our
stories. Its funny how things change and
grow when influenced by a variety of resources.
You see editors change words and offer
suggestions to make things better. Sometimes
it's hard to ask for things. Teens and
even adults need to speak to, or through
someone, but just can't find the courage.
I started helping others find their voice.
As with our founder, they could explore
their problems and find solutions through
me. Did you know that if you need something,
most of the time all you have to do is
ask? Someone close to you will help you
find what you are looking for.
By the way, our founder's
name is Donna. I taught Donna how to ask
for help. She couldn't leave her responsibilities
and didn't have the funds to travel, so
she sent me. I went to visit a lot of
people, even Dr. Phil from TV. Well, I
didn't really go visit him, but the book
about me visiting him did. It's a true
story of a young woman championing a cause
while struggling with personal pressures.
She reaches out to Dr. Phil in desperation
to make sense of her world. You can read
it at our website if you like.
After Donna began asking
for help, everything changed. She started
working with a Charter School and the
Board of Education. Going back to the
basics became a priority and Imagination
Innovations was implemented. OK, we had
the imagination all figured out with a
proven concept, dozens of very popular
projects, movies, books, entertainment
facilities, merchandise and all sorts
of other great things. Now we needed to
figure out the innovations part. You know,
finding successful strategies to make
things work.
Do you remember in the
beginning who were the first to help?
It was family and kids! The most incredible
minds are found in kids. Their parents
are their influence and their teachers
are the ones who help them become productive
individuals. We were also reminded that
women are the movers and shakers.
So, now we have started
a new team. We have created the Anytown
Kids Foundation and have made all our
projects educational. We are learning
to write grants and are still collecting
people who want to become involved. We
have parents, teachers, and some business
professionals helping us now. Everyone
is looking forward to all the exciting
things that are happening. It's really
incredible how the pieces are fitting
together. It's just like a big puzzle.
I am Jeannie. I was created
as an animated character for a movie,
and became a communication tool to bring
people and information together. As the
voice of a concept and a really great
group of people. I would like to thank
you for sharing our story . It was an
incredible journey that spanned over two
decades.
A new story
has begun.
Never underestimate
the power of one.
Written By: "Jeannie"
and Donna J. Setterlund
|
