Is it just me, or does it seem like every conversation you have in today's crazy world is not really a conversation, it's more a “rush rush, gotta run, shoot me an e-mail” type of dialog. I know I've said it a million times to a million people: “I'm SO busy!” But when we really get down to it, we've all got the same amount of time in every day. So I have to ask: Just how busy are we?

All you faithful readers know how many hats I wear and how absolutely insane the life of a retailer can be. I am you: dealing with the same issues, constantly juggling, trying to squeeze one more thing into an already impossible schedule. We all try to do it all: to build our businesses, to be there for our families, and to be able to look at ourselves in mirror at night and say “Gosh, you may be exhausted but you did a really great job today.” And in our own insulated little cocoons, with our cars in the driveways of our nice homes, maybe we do sleep well at night on our 600-thread-count sheets. But recently I had the opportunity to open my eyes to a much bigger picture.

During the past year, I have had the pleasure of being a part of a philanthropic organization based here in Washington, D.C., called Charity Works. One of my top clients who is very involved with this group invited me to join, emphasizing to me that the members of this group were the clientele that would open many doors to me and benefit my business.

Her life and mine are polar opposites: I was just one of the many people that contributed to the beauty and maintenance of her home, not someone who had the luxury of time to spend doing volunteer work! Naturally I replied with my pat phrase “I don't see how I can do it, I'm just so busy,” but she wisely told me, “Lynni, we can all make the time to do what is important.” So, somewhat guilt-ridden and still thinking of how busy I was, I joined Charity Works last December.

Fast forward to spring. I received a call from the founder of Charity Works, asking me to be a part of a nationwide program sponsored by Rebuilding Together called Change the World. HGTV hosted a competition for the most deserving communities in the country, and Washington, D.C., was one of the top five contenders.

Change the World works on the premise that in the course of one week, when people from all walks of life come together and pitch in, lives can be changed for the better. The area in Washington selected was Anacostia, a historic neighborhood that has fallen to neglect through the years.

Charity Works had been asked to sponsor one segment of the neighborhood renovation: a small day care center. I was asked to volunteer my time to be the Project Leader. My internal response was pure panic, for I knew how “busy” I was. My outward reply was a resounding yes! I mean, how could I pass up the opportunity to be featured on HGTV?

I realized the following week when I visited the site just how selfish my reasons for working on this project were. The moment I walked into the building the “visions of HGTV dancing in my head” came crashing down. What I saw was a room covered in cracked linoleum, with broken mini-blinds and dingy white walls. There was no sunlight, because the shades had to be closed all the time for safety reasons. The only form of entertainment was an old TV on a milk crate in the corner and a couple of balls and a bent hula hoop in one corner. To think that this was a place for children to be cared for.

I think that was the first actual moment in my adult life that I actually felt my heart break. Suddenly my involvement in this project became much bigger than being on HGTV. I knew that I really could “Change the World” for these children. And my position in the industry could help me do so.

Within hours I was on the phone contacting vendors, asking them to partner with me to contribute to this project. Yes, I knew people were busy, but I convinced them that with their help this dream could become a reality. Suddenly we had gallons and gallons of lime green, tangerine and lavender paint donated by Benjamin Moore. We had contract carpeting provided at a deep discount from Masland Carpets. Crown Shade Co. provided room darkening roller shades for the windows at 75% off of wholesale. Capital Closet Co. donated millwork for a media center as well as cubbies for art supplies. What was once going to be a simple “paint, clean and stick a band-aid on it” type of project grew to spectacular proportions. Suddenly no one was too busy to participate.

My staff and I donated a week of labor, painting and cleaning along with countless other Charity Works members to make my vision of this day care center a reality. Instead of our normal schedule of pleasing clients and putting out fires, we rescheduled all of our appointments and politely told everyone that we were working on a community project that temporarily would take all of our time. Were people angry? You bet! But strangely enough it didn't really bother me, because I knew we were doing important work.

My staff volunteered their time to help out. I saw no revenue coming into the business for a week and a half. I let voicemail pick up instead of picking up my cell phone all hours of the day and night. Normally this would put me over the edge, but I realized, as my client had so wisely told me, that no one is too busy for the really important things.

Yes, I did get my 15 minutes of fame being interviewed on HGTV, but the funny thing was that at the time I had a streak of purple paint across my hairline, my hair in a pony tail, no makeup on, and I couldn't have cared less. My dreams of network glory were outweighed by the good I was doing and how full my heart felt.

The day we finally completed the project, some of the neighborhood children and their parents came to the opening. What had been a sad, grim little space was now filled with everything a child could want: Coloring books and boxes of crayons; paints and board games; a flat-screen TV and a complete library of DVDs, all donated. To see the wide eyes of the children, and their parents who had tears in their eyes are memories I will have forever. One of the children looked up at me and asked if we were going to take everything away after the TV people were gone or if they really got to keep it. How is that for a reality check?

We each have so much power to do so much. We all can change the world, even when our schedules barely leave us time to breathe. It's all about perspective, and I cringe when I think of how selfish my original motives about the project were. There are opportunities everywhere that allow us all to lend a helping hand, and if you are in a position to give of your time, your talent or your product, I highly encourage you to do so.

Visit HGTV.com and click on Change the World for more information on how your company can get involved. You'll suddenly realize that you're not too busy after all.