I live with a five year old. What’s shakin’, bacon? goes over big here. You know what is going to suck? When my kids no longer think I’m the funniest person on the planet.

I’m a big deal to a couple of small boys in my house (they’re my kids, not random small boys, in case you’re confused and considering calling the police). But step outside the front door and I’m a speck. There’s a lot of big stuff going on in the world right now. So much so that I haven’t been able to decide where to start, what to blog about – or not blog about – lately.

I wonder where a blog – specifically, my blog – fits into the big stuff. A case of analysis paralysis.

The answer came to me today in a flash of what I’d like to call brilliance, but likely it has very little to do with whether or not I’m brilliant (Decidedly, I am not. Bummer.). In a quiet moment, one of average intelligence, I had an a-ha.

My blog, like me, fits in wherever or however I decide it (or I) will. I can use this space to talk about the big stuff. Or not. I can help out with some of the big stuff going on in the world. Or not. I can use this space to provide an outlet, a break from the big stuff. Or not. I can make it count. Or not.

Whatever I decide, sitting around wondering on the topic is not going to amount to much.

In my family we have a saying: Butts and elbows, people. Butts and Elbows! We say it when there is a lot of work to get done. We say it when we want action, not idle chatter. Or idle thinking.

It’s time for butts and elbows around here. I’ll just apologize now, because I don’t know how all this butting and elbowing will shake out. I am working on a redesign and refocus. A lot of it is already clear to me, but not all of it, so you’ll just have to wait and see. I can tell you that the brand of wondering we’ve been doing here will change a bit, and there may be some philanthropically-minded pursuits here and there.

You know me, it’s not going to get all serious and heavy. I’m planning to tackle these changes in the same manner and tone you’re used to.

Additionally, I’m re-entering the workplace. Can’t tell you much about that yet, either. Wow, this is shaping up to be such an informative post, no? Again, I apologize. I hope that I’ll have more details (and a new website!) for you soon. The point to this little tidbit is just to say that I see some changes in my approach to blogging, resulting from a new focus for Wonder, Friend and from new professional projects.

I usually prefer to get the proverbial ducks in their rows before launching changes, but I realize that little hangup often prevents me from doing anything. And we all know, something is better than, well, nothing. I don’t have a grand plan here, but I do know that a really big thing happened this week in Joplin, Missouri.

I struggled with the why and the what and the whether or not I would blog about it at all. But a friend of a friend is working around the clock in a hospital, helping sick, wounded people who were affected by the tornado. I can’t stop thinking about all the people involved – from those who lost everything to those putting their lives aside to help. I don’t have much to say that hasn’t already been said by those more knowledgeable than I am, except that I wish I could make things better.

Maybe we can’t all go there and provide help in a physical way. But we can help. Visit the American Red Cross’s Donate Now page and find out what you can do. Money is always needed, but there are other ways to get involved if you don’t have extra funds right now.

And yes. Money, mouth, same place. I’m going to make a donation right now.