We recently connected with Elizabeth Read and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Elizabeth, appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?
My parents taught me how to overcome obstacles by always being supportive and reminding me that “this too shall pass.” I think this lesson that started with seemingly small hiccups when I was a child led to me understanding this as an adult. So when big hiccups happened I was able to face them and move through them. I was encouraged as a kid whether it be in sports or school that you don’t give up on something just because its hard. They encouraged me to try new things and give it my best effort. They also reminded me that I didn’t have to be perfect in everything I do. Having a support system that allows you to explore the world around you but is always there when you need them was integral to me developing resilience. This is perhaps how I was able to face what was the hardest challenge at that time and turn it into helping others and pursuing my new found passion. When my mom died I lost not only my mother but my best friend, I was devasted. It took time but eventually I remembered all of those life lessons I was taught and I decided to channel my grief into creating a non profit that helps cancer patients with everyday tasks. This non profit has become my passion and it has helped me move forward with my grief in a healthy manner.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I founded TWIGS- To Work In Grateful Service. TWIGS is a non profit that works in Michigan where I live to help cancer patients with everyday tasks. We provide rides to appointments, house cleanings, yard care and errand runs to those battling cancer at no charge to them. I started TWIGS after losing my mom to pancreatic cancer 5 1/2 years ago. My family was fortunate enough to be able to pay for these types of services. My mom often wondered what people did who didn’t have the support or resources she did. It is extremely healing and rewarding to give back to the cancer community in honor of my mom. Each new client reminds me that helping others is what fills my soul. I am extremely grateful to be able to do this work which has been so helpful to me as I continue to grieve the loss of my mom. TWIGS.. was my mom’s nickname in high school given to her by her older brother and is my way of honoring her by working in grateful service providing the things that were so helpful for us while she battled cancer. Our mission is to give time back to cancer patients by lifting everyday burdens so that they can heal and spend time with loved ones. I encourage anyone reading this to find a non profit with a mission that they believe in and sign up to volunteer. Not only do you get to meet amazing people and give back to your community you get to fill your soul with the gratification that comes with doing good deeds. We can each through small acts of service provide positive change in our communities. Sometimes I think people feel like they need to make grandiose gestures to make a difference and that simply isn’t the case. Even an hour or two of your time is valuable and impactful for your local community and if we all strive to give small amounts of time or money that can lead to big changes.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
I think the single most important quality you can acquire is the ability to build relationships. If you are able to learn how to connect with people by listening, engaging in conversation and being a positive influence to be around then many doors will open on whatever path you choose to take. Those relationships you establish will turn out to be the ones that support you when you are just starting off and also the people who will introduce you to the ones who will help you propel your mission forward as you grow.
Resilience as I spoke about earlier is also important. You have to be able to move through setbacks and challenges. We all face them as life is full of them, unfortunately some people face more than others. But if you can believe in yourself enough to know that “this too shall pass” and that you will be able to overcome any obstacle set in your path then you will be successful despite any hiccups along the way.
Kindness and empathy. There are no two greater traits to possess, not only in regards to how you think about and treat yourself but how you think about and treat others. In todays world it is easy to be negative and mean and to get caught up in it. Yet at the end of the day the only thing people will truly remember is how you treated them. .or to take a quote from the amazing Maya Angelou “people will never forget how you made them feel”.
Looking back over the past 12 months or so, what do you think has been your biggest area of improvement or growth?
We have been able to really grow the non profit in the last 12 months. We have been able to establish funding to program cost out our cleanings so that we have been able to more than double the clients that we have helped. We have obtained an office space and are excited about establishing a partnership with another great non profit The Mark Advocacy Group. We are having some great events this coming year. We are growing in our name recognition and our partnerships with businesses in our community and the local hospitals so we can help more cancer patients. All of this growth has helped propel us forward and given us momentum to continue with our cause.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.twigsinc.org
- Instagram: twigs753
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/twigs753
- Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/beth-elizabeth-read-9214433b
Image Credits
Sarrah Lou
