Meaningful Life

Every day, every minute, every breath truly is a gift.

2011-03-13T11:51:00.000-07:00

Written by an 83-year-old woman to her friend:

I'm reading more and dusting less. I'm sitting in the yard and admiring the view without fussing about the weeds in the garden.

I'm spending more time with my family and friends and less time working. Whenever possible, life should be a pattern of experiences to savor, not to endure. I'm trying to recognize these moments now and cherish them.

I'm not "saving" anything; we use our good china and crystal for every special event such as losing a pound, getting the sink unstopped, or the first Amaryllis blossom. I wear my good blazer to the market.

My theory is if I look prosperous, I can shell out $28.49 for one small bag of groceries. I'm not saving my good perfume for special parties, but wearing it for clerks in the hardware store and tellers at the bank.

"Someday" and "one of these days" are losing their grip on my vocabulary. If it's worth seeing or hearing or doing, I want to see and hear and do it now.

I'm not sure what others would've done had they known that they wouldn't be here for the tomorrow that we all take for granted. I think they would have called family members and a few close friends. They might have called a few former friends to apologize and mend fences for past squabbles. I like to think they would have gone out for a Chinese dinner, or for whatever their favorite food was. I'm guessing; I'll never know.

It's those little things left undone that would make me angry if I knew my hours were limited. Angry because I hadn't written certain letters that I intended to write one of these days. Angry and sorry that I didn't tell my husband and parents often enough how much I truly love them. I'm trying very hard not to put off, hold back, or save anything that would add laughter and luster to our lives.

And every morning when I open my eyes, tell myself that it is special.

Every day, every minute, every breath truly is a gift.

Gratitude because.....

2009-11-22T10:42:00.001-08:00

“We count our miseries carefully,
and accept our blessings without much thought."
~ Chinese Proverb

I have met countless people who can describe in detail why something is unpleasant for them, why something isn’t working or what is going wrong in their life, and yet their gratitude is only a single word or short phrase. Does being able to explain in detail the reason why you have gratitude for something make a difference in the energy behind it? I went on a quest for answers.

Some people I talked with had long laundry lists of gratitude,but they seemed to talk more about their problems and complaints. Others had shorter lists, and shared beautiful stories with me about each items on their list.

I met people who had similar items on their gratitude list and different responses to my question: “you are grateful for this because…..?”

One woman I met with had written “I am thankful for my health” on her gratitude list. When I asked her “You are grateful for your health because…..”, her answer was a sharp: “Well! Because I just am, and I am insulted to be asked why!.” It reminded me of when my parents would tell me do to something and when I asked why I heard: ” because I said so”. This answer didn’t help me to understand.

In contrast, I met with Nancy who also had written on her list “I am thankful for my health”. When I asked “she was grateful because….” what she told me was: “I am thankful I have my health, because that means I can take care of my kids. I brought these beautiful children in the world and they depend on me. When I have my health I can enjoy them and take care of them. And that make me feel such a deep feeling for love and life, that I call that a grateful feeling.” In order to feel the depth of her gratitude Nancy believes that she must be willing to know why she feels gratitude. Anything less, to her, is simply lip service.

I find that every time I do this exercise I find new feelings around each incident I list in Gratitude. Several other people shared with me how doing this exercise made a difference in their feelings of gratitude.

“He who knows others is learned;
He who knows himself is wise.”
~ Lao-tzu, Tao te Ching

For this Thanksgiving season, do this for yourself and see if there is any difference in the depth of your feelings of Gratitude.

Write down a few things on that you are Grateful for.
And then continue the sentence with: because…..|
See what you can discover with your because.

"The important thing is not to stop questioning our reasons
Never lose a holy curiosity.”
~ Albert Einstein

Focus on the reasons to complain = stress

Focus on the reasons for gratitude = happy

More happy = less stress

www.StressOut-book.com

Stress Out - show stress who's the boss

2009-11-17T11:34:00.000-08:00

Stress is a constant in our lives, such a constant that we actually don’t realize we are under stress, we think it’s “just part of life.” Traffic jams, deadlines, eating on the run, we stress when we have bills to pay, job changes, endless chores and too many errands.

Our job has stress, not having a job has stress, it’s stressful maintaining your weight, having a relationship is stressful, not being in a relationship is stressful, family responsibilities are stress, and all those other demands on you can be huge amounts of stress. Not to mention those people who really get on your nerves.

Our energy is drained, and we feel helpless. Health surveys report that over 70% of people feel stress everyday. You are not alone.

But is there anything that can be done?

Yes! There is help!

Just like you, I needed answers. I certainly didn't have them all, in fact, on some days I didn't think I had even one. I searched.... listened to experts, created polls and surveys, talked to strangers - people like you and me.

This book is more than just my words or experience, it is a joint effort of several authors who share their expert advice and experience PLUS stories and testimonials from individuals interviewed during my extensive search for solutions to teach stress who's the boss.

Buy this book and benefit a charity
Read this book and benefit yourself

http://stressoutbook.com

Portion of proceeds benefit charity of your choice and you get to choose the charity and get the donation in your name.
Special discount through November 21st.

Helping children who lost a parent to breast cancer

2009-09-28T10:23:00.001-07:00

Lorraine Jackson was diagnosed with very early stage breast cancer when she was 40. Because of the cancer’s early detection, she was able to be treated with radiation. Doctors explained that had this happened to her only 10 years earlier she would have needed a mastectomy.

At that moment Lorraine personally realized how important education and medical innovation are to effectively treating cancer patients.

Spark of Inspiration

During her treatment, Lorraine met other women undergoing treatment for cancer, many of these women were mothers. While fighting for their own health, these mothers were also concerned about their children, and their children's future, especially if they didn't survive the cancer.

This experience inspired Lorraine to start The Lorraine Jackson Foundation. Since 2005, the nonprofit has provided mentoring and college scholarships to children who have lost a parent to breast cancer through their Pearls of Hope Scholarship Program. All students who receive a scholarship from us are students who have a lost their mother to breast cancer. "One lost her mom when she was 11 months old, and another when he was 5. Some students have lost their mother while they were in high school, " Lorraine says.

To make the scholarship awards even more impactful, California Dollars for Scholars matches the amount of each scholarship awarded within their collegiate partner program. But the Lorraine Jackson Foundation doesn’t just provide financial support. It also pairs each student with a mentor who will stay in touch throughout their time in college and beyond.

Increased Need
There has been an influx of scholarship applicants this year, which Lorraine attributes to a growing need in the community to help children who have lost a parent to breast cancer. To date, scholarship recipients have gone on to matriculate at a variety of institutions from UCLA to the University of Cape Town, South Africa.

www.PearlsofHope.com

Pearls of Hope^® is a registered trademark of The Lorraine Jackson
Foundation, a California 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

Pledge your donation to Pearls of Hope^®

Proceeds from Stress Out book benefit selected charities.

Buy the book -
benefit a charity
Read the book -
find benefit for yourself.

Life can be as sweet as you make it

2009-09-23T11:27:00.000-07:00

How to find love in loss

Can we find sweet moments amid life changes? This month’s Spiritual Cinema Circle volume brings a message of love and hope within life’s difficult moments. Starring Kristen Stewart (Twilight) and Bruce Dern (Monster) the feature, Cake Eaters, is a coming-of-age drama all ages can relate to. This heart-felt story explores the new (and old) connections between two small-town families. A young woman with degenerative disease feels she has no time to lose in becoming a woman while a widower struggles to reconcile with his sons. Sparks fly as young love story begins and a longtime romance comes to light.

Now for a limited time only you can receive Cake Eaters and The Gift (the first original film series by Spiritual Cinema Circle, co-produced by Steven Simon) plus 2 additional films FREE* when you sign up for a trial membership of Spiritual Cinema Circle.

Try the first month for FREE* and then pay just $21 (the price of 2 movie tickets) monthly!

NO RISK — Keep the movies and cancel your membership at any time

EXCLUSIVE — Get the filmmakers’ perspectives during engaging discussions with Stephen Simon (director and producer of Academy Award-winning What Dreams May Come)

BONUS feature — Enjoy inspirational interviews with Louise Hay, Jack Canfield, Neale Donald Walsch and other thought-leaders, only available to club members

Start your free trial* now!

*You can cancel your membership at any time and the DVDs are yours to keep.

*Shipping and handling fees apply to Free Trial.
Membership is just $21 per month.

Spiritual Cinema, Inc.
833 W. South Boulder Rd.
Louisville, CO 80027

Happy National Women's Friendship Day

2009-09-20T10:31:00.001-07:00

National Women's Friendship Month first began as National Women's Friendship Day in 1999 (celebrated the third Sunday in September each year).

Following the 10th anniversary of National Women's Friendship Day in 2008, it became apparent that one day just wasn't enough, so the celebration was expanded to the entire month of September beginning in 2009.

"All women find strength, comfort and inspiration from their girlfriends," said Melanie Schild, Executive Director of Kappa Delta and the brains behind the creation of the celebration. "In a time of increasing demands, we want to encourage women to take the time to nurture and celebrate these important relationships."

Plus a landmark study by UCLA suggests that friendships between women are special. They shape who we are and who we are yet to be. They soothe our tumultuous inner world, fill the emotional gaps in our marriage, and help us remember who we really are. But they may do even more. Scientists now suspect that hanging out with our friends can actually counteract the kind of stomach-quivering stress most of us experience on a daily basis.

"Until this study was published, scientists generally believed that when people experience stress, they trigger a hormonal cascade that revs the body to either stand and fight or flee as fast as possible," explains Laura Cousino Klein, PhD, now an assistant professor of biobehavioral health at Pennsylvania State University in State College and one of the study's authors. It's an ancient survival mechanism left over from the time we were chased across the planet by saber-toothed tigers. Now the researchers suspect that women have a larger behavioral repertoire than just "fight or flight.

"In fact, says Dr.Klein, "it seems that when the hormone oxytocin is released as part of the stress response in a woman, it buffers the fight or flight" response and encourages her to tend children and gather with other women instead. When she actually engages in this tending or befriending, studies suggest that more oxytocin is released, which further counters stress and produces a calming effect. This calming response does not occur in men, says Dr. Klein, because testosterone- which men produce in high levels when they're under stress- seems to reduce the effects of oxytocin. Estrogen, she adds, seems to enhance it. (Yay - finally estrogen is a good thing.)

The famed Nurses' Health Study from Harvard Medical School found that the more friends women had, the less likely they were to develop physical impairments as they aged, and the more likely they were to be leading a joyful life. In fact, the results were so significant, the researchers concluded, that not having close friend or confidante was as detrimental to your health as smoking or carrying extra weight!

Click these links to read more about the National Women's Friendship Month and the UCLA study.

Celebrate!!!!!

The Power of the Number 9

2009-09-09T11:13:00.001-07:00

"Today is the ninth day of the ninth month in the year 2009, which means there's magic in the ethers all around you!

In Feng Shui, the number nine represents happy and prosperous conclusions that bring completion to certain cycles of our lives before embarking on a new path.

The reason that this number holds this mantle is because it's the last of the single digit integers before you get to double digits that can then be reduced back down to a single (10 = 1+0).

So, on the Feng Shui Magic Square called Lo Shui, the number nine is associated with transformation, recognition and rewards.

It's also the only number in calculation that will always reproduce itself. For instance, 9 x 2 = 18 with 1 + 8 hearkening back to the magic nine.

There's all sorts of mystery surrounding this number: on the ninth day the ancients buried their dead. The Romans honored their dead every ninth year and it was at the ninth hour that Jesus was said to have died. Hebrew teachings state the God has des cended to earth nine times. There are nine planets in the solar system and the nine is associated with mankind itself. It's the number of force and energy and its purest form denotes ambition and domination over all.

On this day try to do one or all three of these next things in order to gain the most magic you can from the energies swirling all around. Knock on your front door nine times, visualizing opportunities and advantages coming through that same space. Put nine yellow roses in the center of your home, and then light nine red candles in the 'Fame' area of your main floor.

Any one of these adjustments will put you in touch with the miracles surrounding this number, but enacting all three will put you in position of strength, power and fulfillment.

Here's to a day dedicated to the number nine, it's a total 10 in my book!

Ellen Whithurst
The (Self) Empowering Lifestylist
(one of the co-authors in the upcoming book: Stress Out)

Stress Out is coming soon!

2009-09-07T22:13:00.000-07:00

It's approaching fast!

Stress Out will soon be here. Just in time for solutions for holiday stress and great gift idea too.

I am so excited that one chapter is by Ellen Whitehurst. You may have heard her name through ivillage.com, monster.com, Redbook, Woman's World, Natural Health or even Donald Trump. Her wisdom on Feng Shui and Astrology are published monthly in several publications and websites. And now she is going to be sharing her wisdom in this book.

This book is timely - STRESS is one of the biggest complaints heard daily - everywhere - and people are searching for answers.

Not to say the answers haven't always been there, but this book will be a resource of many choices, from many perspectives. A selection of tools and techniques from both experts in their fields and stories from individual experiences are included in this book.

Stress relief answers in each chapter that can be learned or applied immediately, and a great resource section of products and services from the co-authors, our affiliates and sponsors.

Gotta say - I'm excited. (and trying to keep from being stressed)

Ellen is only one of the empowering co-authors, stay tuned as I introduce you to some of the others as we move forward.

For now - keep breathing. It's kinda important.

Wheeeeeee.......

P.S.

"If you want to lose weight, go to a skinny doctor." Zig Ziglar

As we interpret from Zig's quote, it's more than just talking about it; it's actually putting your words into practice; and then being able to explain it well enough that someone else can benefit as well. That is why this book is a combination of expert advise and personal experience stories.

*Self Investment Publishing is not affiliated with Zig Ziglar or any of his organizations. This quote is used under Fair use Law and full credit is given to Zig Ziglar .

Naptime Anyone

2009-08-16T12:07:00.001-07:00

This bridge is on the Old Donner Pass Highway . It has a spectacular view of Donner Lake and Donner Pass on Route 80.

A bear was walking across Rainbow Bridge (Old Hwy 40 at Donner Summit,Truckee) on a Saturday in September 2007, when two cars, also crossing the bridge, scared the bear into jumping over the edge of the bridge. Somehow the bear caught the ledge and was able to pull itself to safety.

Authorities decided that nothing could be done to help Saturday night so they returned Sunday morning to find the bear sound asleep on the ledge.

After securing a net under the bridge the bear was tranquilized, fell into the net, lowered, then woke up and walked out of the net.

Authorities then guided him back towards the wilderness and out of the present danger.

There is a moral to this story you know; this old bear made a wrong move and found he was hanging by his nails.

Somehow he was able to pull himself up onto the ledge where,Yep, he took a nap and sure enough Spirit took care of the situation while he was asleep.

The moral of the story is that when confronted with a bad situation, sometimes the best solution is to take a nap and let Spirit take care of the rest.

"When you come to the edge of all the light you know,
And are about to step off into the darkness of the unknown,
Faith is knowing one of two things will happen:
There will be something solid to stand on
or you will be given wings to fly."
~ Barbara J. Winter © Gibson Greetings

Even Eagles Need a Push

2009-08-11T10:24:00.001-07:00

Encouragement can come in the form of a kind word or written note that has the power to change a life forever.

Click the link below and enjoy watching the movie, Even Eagles Need A Push, for a message of encouragement that can push your life from ordinary to extraordinary.
Even Eagles Need a Push

STRESS OUT

2009-08-09T12:04:00.001-07:00

Are you STRESSED !?

Stress is a constant in our lives—

such a constant that we actually don’t realize we are under stress, we think it’s “just part of life.”

It’s everywhere!

We experience traffic jams, deadlines, eating on the run, We stress when we have bills to pay, job changes, endless chores and too many errands. Our job has stress, not having a job has stress, it’s stressful maintaining your weight, having a relationship is stressful, not being in a relationship is stressful, family responsibilities are stress, and all those demands on you can be huge amounts of stress. Not to mention those people who really get on your nerves.

Stress!! It’s there! It’s everywhere!

Is there anything that can be done? There are so many recommendations for reducing stress, but what really works? Something you do everyday may be different that something you need to do when the stress gauge rises.

We wanted to find answers, tools and techniques which were actually being used and could be shared so more people would have choices on how to work with, manage and embrace the stress in their lives.

“If you want to lose weight, go to a skinny doctor.” Zig Ziglar

As we interpret from Zig’s quote, it’s more than just talking about it, it’s actually putting your words intro practice. And being able to explain well enough that someone else can benefit as well.

Barbara Kramer, a professional event planner is a co-author in the book STRESS OUT. She uses a visualization technique when someone adds stress to her day.

Visualization is a technique where you close your eyes and imagine yourself in another place. A place where your stress leaves you. Barbara says that this is easy and offers a suggested visualization the next time someone really gets on your nerves and see if it helps you.

You take a minute and close your eyes, take a very deep, slow breath and imagine yourself sitting by the side of a beautiful flowing stream of cool water. Then let your visualization continue as you see yourself walk into the stream and splash around in the water. Your stress begins to leave you. You look around at the beautiful scenery, the open sky. You look down at your hands in the water and see that your fingers are tightly around the neck of the person who has been aggravating you as you hold their head under water. Now doesn’t that make you feel better.

Barbara quickly says that her intent is not to actually harm another person, but this visualization releases her from the stress hold she feels from the other person’s behavior. Then she can move on to more healthy and actual solutions.

For long term healthy results, Barbara gives two powerful examples of visualization techniques that can not only shift stress energy, but will also stimulate your creative thinking, which brings about solutions that you can put into action. Someone reading Barbara’s chapter might also be looking for a event planner than can function well under the pressure.

We all have stress. It’s is a really term that is commonly used to describe the symptoms your body has in response to increased tension.

The "stress" which people complain about, or that which makes them function less well, is a feeling of tension or pressure that you experience when you feel that the demands placed on you appear to exceed the resources you have to deal with them.

Believe it or not, a certain level of stress is good and is normal to help you deal with the challenges of life. Too much stress, on the other hand, causes your body to react in unpleasant ways. It can even kill you. It is more than being a simple medical condition.

Stress is your body's response.; a combination of physical, mental, and emotional feelings resulting from pressure, worry, especially worry about those things that never finally happen, or worry over guilt from the past.

Stress is anxiety, guilt, the lack of taking responsibility for your own life and the results. It’s frustration, a feeling of loss of control, and (a big one) is our attempts to control others. If they would only change, then we wouldn’t have to, and since they won’t oblige, we’re stressed.

Relaxation techniques rather than fighting against stress can be another method to maintain balance in your life.

No matter how many times you’ve been promised la-la land by certain helath and energy workers or what you’ve heard from Zen Buddhists and transcendental meditators about “just say OM”; relaxation can be hard work under certain circumstances. A couple of those circumstances could be when your blind date comes to the door in a straightjacket or you show no reflection in the mirror. Other more real circumstances occur in your life everyday, so valid relaxation techniques are necessary and STRESS OUT book intends to offer as many choices as the pages will hold.

Surprising as it seems, some stress does have positive outcomes. "Good stress" If you are an athlete, good stress can give you the energy you need to excel in a physical competition. If you are a computer programmers, good stress could stimulate your thinking. If you are a music composer's , good stress could stimulate your creative energy.

Good stress can give many people the energy to solve problems and to finish hard work. In basic terms, stress is an aspect of living that can be beneficial when it motivates you, encourages change for you or inspires you, but can be the opposite when it does not. Your body is actually designed to deal very well with pressure, excitement or stress while working towards a goal or working through a challenging event; and after the accomplishment of your goal, or the event passes, your body has the need to relax, slow down again and recharge itself.

It is only when this pressure, or this stress, becomes so continuous and intense that you are unable to relax and you feel distressed." You feel out of control, you are no longer able to handle the demands made on you, and your body begins to feel unwell. Too many people go to their Doctors every year with unspecific symptoms of not feeling themselves.

The key to managing stress is achieving the right balance of forces between tension and relaxation.

Samuel Patricks, an Attorney, and another co-author in the book STRESS OUT, had a heart attack at a very young age. Too young. He now uses the stress of physical exercise to keep himself healthy physically and emotionally. Not just any exercise, he runs marathons; and not just any marathon – he runs in marathons where he can raise money for his favorite charities. So an additional positive stress motivator he places on himself is his financial fundraising goal. He sees it as a win-win. Plus after a marathon, his body has spent all of its stress. He is ready to relax and recharge.

Readers of his chapter may be motivated by his example to do something that helps their stress level while they are helping someone else. Someone looking for an attorney will read something more personal about Mr. Patrick that they won’t find on his C.V, which will motivate them to consider him for their legal work.

So many times we treat our automobiles better than we treat our mental and physical bodies. That vehicle we travel in everywhere is out physical body and it needs great care to continue to function properly.

You probably wouldn’t think of jump starting your car in the morning, cold start without fuel and running it hard all day. Never shutting off the engine leaving it running, even when not going anywhere. You probably wouldn’t think of running your car engine at its optimum, in high gear, constantly revving the engine for more power, driving it continually with no service break. If you do, then you know, that if you did this to your car, it would start to break down. And it would become less reliable, and then it would rapidly begin to break down, usually at the most inconvenient times.

Yet, many people jump start their days; run themselves in high gear, overheated, under fed and poor fuel, over accelerated constant push and no breaks. Then we wonder, why we are feeling so poorly and less effective? !

Unrelieved stress can take an emotional as well as physical toll, in the form of anxiety or depression or high blood pressure and heart disease. If unattended, stress can seriously your damage physical health; psychological well-being; and your relationships with your friends, family, and co-workers. It’s never too soon or too late to start decreasing the effects of stress in your life.

There are dozens of ways you can work with and through stress and maintain a healthy life regardless of the external events. These can include acupuncture, biofeedback, EFT, energy work, exercise, humor, hypnosis, meditation, music, NLP, nutrition and so much more and new methods are being proven in people’s lives every day.

STRESS OUT book will be on the shelves in the all 2009, and it will be used as a fundraising tool through many companies. Our goal is for this book is to be detailed, duplicatable tips, tools and techniques that the readers can use to reduce, manage or use their stress to enhance their personal or professional lives. This book is a focus on how to create peace, harmony and healthy energy that can assist a person to not be a victim of stress.

We are still accepting so-authors who have a proven tool or technique that they use. We are looking for people who want to gain prestige as a published author*, extend their marketing reach and build their brand in a non-sales, no-hype niche marketing program.

Click here for more information about the STRESS OUT book and the BENEFITS of being a co-author in this proven marketing program.

* Many companies will help you get published; no other company does what we do to market our authors.

Namaste'

Congruence and Gratitude

2009-08-06T09:33:00.001-07:00

“You can tell a person,
not by what they say they are gratitude for,
but how they respect
what they claim to be grateful for.”
~ Mrs. Donna Priscott~

My mother was of my greatest examples on how to live life with honesty and integrity. This quote was one of her favorite sayings. Long after her passing, I remember every time she said it to me. She wanted me to learn that people don’t just see what I say, they learn who I am by how my actions match my words.

If I expressed gratitude for something then I needed to show respect for it and protect it just as I would anything else that was important to me.

My parents were married for over 50 years. My Mom said a gratitude prayer every day for her marriage and relationship with my Dad. Every day she worked to make sure he knew how much she meant that. She never looked at another man and she always made sure our home was a happy place for Dad to come home to after a long day at work. She was grateful for her two kids, and she spent time teaching us how to be our best, learn our best and present our best.

When I gained over 60 pounds excess weight in college, and the doctors prescribed medicine for high blood pressure, she didn’t ask me why. She asked me if I was grateful for my healthy body and if I was then why was I carrying the extra weight that was having a negative effect on my health?
When my bother experimented with drugs in High School she asked him the same question.

She simply told us to make a choice and live by our words. My choice was to ether give up saying gratitude for a healthy body or give up the unnecessary weight. Her message was empowering and not judgmental, even though I knew she didn’t approve our behaviors. Mom taught me best by her example. I hope I can be as good a Mom as she was to me.

Are you congruent with your gratitude?

Are you showing respect to your gratitude by your actions?

If yes, what are you doing?

If no, what can you change?

***

Contributed by Veronica Davina, for inclusion in the book: The “G” Spot, the ecstasy of life through Gratitude, Author Sumner M. Davenport, Self Investment Publishing, #ISBN 9780981523859

National Friendship Day

2009-08-02T09:47:00.000-07:00

Human beings are social creatures who respond to the love and affection of others. Genuine friendship has been valued as one of the most important things in life. To celebrate friendship and the blessings it brings us, it was deemed fit to have a day dedicated to friends and friendship and the first Sunday of August was declared as a holiday in US in honor of friends by a Proclamation made by US Congress in 1935.

"Let us be grateful to people who make us happy;
they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom."
~ Marcel Proust ~

I offer you this gentle reminder of friendship. Part of this has circulated the internet for years. Many of the quotes you may have already seen or heard. When I found it in my files this morning, it was the timely reminder on a perfect day.

"I awoke this morning with devout thanksgiving
for my friends, the old and the new."
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson ~

In kindergarten your idea of a good friend was the person who let you have the red crayon when all that was left was the ugly black one.

In 1st grade your idea of a good friend was the person who went to the bathroom with you and who held your hand as you walked through the scary halls.

In 2nd grade your idea of a good friend was the person who helped you stand up to the class bully.

In 3rd grade your idea of a good friend was the person who shared their lunch with you when you forgot yours.

In 4th grade your idea of a good friend was the person who was willing to switch square dancing partners in the gym so you wouldn't have to be stuck "do-si-do-ing " with Nasty Nick or Smelly Susan.

In 5th grade your idea of a good friend was the person who saved a seat on the back of the bus for you.

In 6th grade your idea of a good friend was the person who went up to Nick or Susan (your new crush) and asked them to dance with you, so that if they said no you wouldn't be embarrassed.

In 7th grade your idea of a good friend was the person who let you copy the Social Studies homework from the night before that you did.

In 8th grade your idea of a good friend was the person who helped you pack up your stuffed animals and old baseball but didn't laugh at you when you broke out into tears.

In 9th grade your idea of a good friend was the person who would go to a party thrown by a senior so you wouldn't wind up being the only freshman there.

In 10th grade your idea of a good friend was the person who changed their schedule so you would have someone to sit with during lunch.

In 11th grade your idea of a good friend was the person who gave you rides in their new car, convinced your parents that you shouldn't be grounded and helped you find a date to the prom.

In 12th grade your idea of a good friend was the person who helped you pick out a college or university and assured you that you would get into that college or university, or helped you deal with it when you didn't make it.

At graduation your idea of a good friend was the person who was crying on the inside but managed a big smile on the outside as they congratulated you.

The summer after graduation your idea of a good friend was the person who helped you clean up the bottles from that party, helped you sneak out of the house when you couldn't deal with your parents, assured you that now that you and Nick (or you and Susan) were back together, you could make it through anything, helped you pack up for university and silently hugged you as you looked through blurry eyes at 18 years of memories you were leaving behind. And most importantly sent you off to college knowing you were loved.

"In prosperity, our friends know us;
in adversity, we know our friends"
~ John Churton Collins ~

Now, your idea of a good friend is still the person who gives you the better of the two choices, holds your hand when you're scared, helps you fight off those who try to take advantage of you, thinks of you at times when you are not there, reminds you of what you have forgotten, helps you put the past behind you but understands when you need to hold on to it a little longer, stays with you so that you have confidence, makes time for you, overlooks your mistakes, helps you to deal with pressure from others, smiles for you even when they are sad, helps you understand how priceless you are, and most importantly loves you.

I am deeply grateful, today and everyday, for my genuine friends. With them I have discovered and enjoyed many of lifes blessings.

"A real friend is one who walks in
when the rest of the world walks out."
~Walter Winchell ~

No matter where we go or how our lives change, we never forget those who walked with us and supported us in getting there.

"Don't walk in front of me; I may not follow.
Don't walk behind me; I may not lead.
Just walk beside me and be my friend."
~ Albert Camus ~

There's never a wrong time to pick up a phone or send a message to show your friends you miss them or care about them.

"The most beautiful discovery true friends make
is that they can grow separately
without growing apart."
~ Elisabeth Foley~

2009-06-28T09:52:00.000-07:00

Studies show we need 12 laughs a day to stay healthy.
You will laugh out loud watching this free movie of quotes and photos that bring them to life.
Contribute to your good health- get your share of laughs today !

A few of the humorous quotes:

"I used to think I was indecisive, but now I'm not so sure"

"I've exercised with women so thin, that buzzards followed them to their cars" ~Erma Bombeck
"I'm not going to vacuum 'til Sears makes one you can ride on." -Roseanne Barr
"Insanity doesn't run in my family, it gallops" - Cary Grant

It may require you to disable your pop up blocker to launch this video to play.

If that link doesn't work, click here

The Shadow Effect

2009-06-26T08:40:00.000-07:00

The shadow is dark, its sensitive, it can be dangerous...

Things we lie about not only to others but to ourselves...

The shadow shows up in many ways: drinking too much, writing bad checks, eating cake in the middle of the night after 3 days of dieting...

Hundreds of Million are living in denial of their individual shadows.

People who express self righteous morality are usually the ones with the darkest and deepest shadows.

We see it in the media all the time.

We see it in our neighborhoods, We see it in our friends, We attempt to hide it from ourselves.

The cost of ignoring a self destructive pattern is that you will self destruct.

If you haven't cleaned your house, you will be in trouble.

These were excerpts from Debbie Fords new Movie. The Shadow Effect, A Journey from Your Darkest Thought to Your Greatest Dream

Prepare yourself for a chilling inquiry into the conflicting forces of darkness and light that compete for attention within every human being. Debbie Ford, #1 New York Times bestselling author and internationally acclaimed expert on the Shadow, presents a visually stunning and cutting-edge documentary that will inspire you to uncover the wisdom in your wounds, the blessings in your misfortunes, and the gifts that are waiting to be claimed where you may least expect them . . . in the dark.

Ford reveals the method, secrets, and meaning of your shadow, the parts of yourself that you dislike and disown, the past that you regret and repress and the pain that you attempt to bury, and shows how it persistently rises from its grave only to thwart your happiness and oppose your greatest potential as a human being.

The intention of this powerful movie is to assist you to step out of the darkness of your smallest thought into the brilliance of your greatest dream. THE SHADOW EFFECT

With appearances from some of the most brilliant and evolutionary thinkers of the 21st century, including Deepak Chopra, Marianne Williamson, Mark Victor Hansen, James Van Praagh, and others, this world-class cinematic experience pulls no punches as it traces the stories of individuals who have met with some of life’s harshest experiences—war, child abuse, racism, a German concentration camp—but learned how to face their terror, heal their wounds and meet their higher, heroic selves in the process. Visually beautiful and highly stylized, with vignettes and special effects that dramatize the concepts and the real life stories, this film unveils the fascinating story of why we do what we do, fear what we fear, and why good people do bad things. THE SHADOW EFFECT will leave you breathing a little deeper and feeling more compassion and kindness for your own dark, conflicted, or repressed urges. It may even inspire you to make the most life-altering step of all—to embrace your entire self.

Step out of the darkness of your smallest thought into the brilliance of your greatest dream. Be the first to have a copy of this powerful movie either on DVD, special interactive 2-DVD set, or click the button for more information to watch the trailer.

Network Miracle

2009-06-21T09:43:00.000-07:00

My friend Michelle is focused on opening a spiritual spa in Costa Rico. She sent me this update. Her commitment, her belief in her self worth, and her faith in her Spiritual support may be an inspiration to others so I am sharing her words here:

I was attending my monthly business networking meeting held at various local businesses. This meeting was hosted by a deluxe assisted living facility in Venice. The first miracle was the luxurious spread they provided us for breakfast complete with chefs making our custom omelets to the beautifully carved ice sculpture.

Every meeting there is a drawing from the business cards for lovely prizes. Often they are things/services that I’m not interested in and I wish them for the person whose life will be enhanced most in receiving them. However, on numerous occasions there are prizes I desire and I say, “That’s mine” or “I want that!” Yes, they’ve picked my card 99% of the time that happens. Today I wanted a gift for a very silly reason. I wanted the gift bag it was it. The bag was all sparkly and pretty and I’d run out of bags to gift people things in. The prize happened to be a bottle of wine (not something I’m big on) and a bottle stopper with a beautiful silver heart….the heart will stay with me for a while

Everyone gets a chance to stand up, introduce themselves and their businesses. I stood up and said, “For all those who have been following my Spa Retreat progress…..manifestation, I thought it was Costa Rica but recently Panama has been presenting more powerfully. If anyone has any leads or ideas, please let me know.”

At the end of the meeting, a gal who worked at the assisted living facility, Julie *, came up to me and said, “I live in Panama”. She has homes here and there. She asked what areas I was considering. Trying not to be too specific and open, I said, “kind of around the west side, near Costa Rica.” Julie says, “I live in Bocas Del Toro.” She couldn’t help but notice my eyes getting bigger than saucers. Bocas Del Tor has been in my mind for months. Bocas info and pictures were on my desk that very moment. She said she could connect me with the various spas around and I could stay at her apartment. We agreed to get together later that evening at her place.

So I’m going to my new angel’s place to talk business and possibilities. Lo and behold, thanks to my morning’s winnings, I even have a gift to bring….a lovely bottle of wine! I arrive at Julie’s condo right at the beach on Venice Island and her husband Dan* answers the door. It was kind of interesting as he is all dressed up….in swim trunks! As I enter I see she is wearing a bathing suit herself. I’m thinking, “She’s totally comfortable in the midst of luxury and totally down to earth too – I like these people!” My first feelings couldn’t have been more right. We talked and laughed for hours feeling like we’d known and loved each other forever.

Turns they have all the connections I could possibly dream of in Panama. Dan is in construction and knows about properties, building and dealing with “the system”. Julie has holistic training, knows how to go into the rainforest to get plants for cooking and healing. She gave me some soap she made that smelled good enough to eat. She showed me her hand-crafted jewelry made from sharks teeth and shells. Layer after delightful layer of complimentary information unfolded.

So, I had all sorts of choices. I could go now, stay at their place and flounder on my own…..not good timing anyway (legal stuff not quite finished here). I could go with Dan in August when he prepares the way for Julie’s effortless arrival. Or I could go with Julie in September effortlessly flying in with her. I won’t need to know how to call a taxi or even where my apartment is. I’ll just have an Angel to guide me around, show me the ropes and introduce me to all sorts of cool people and adventures. I choose Door 3, thank you Universe!

So, I’ll be dancing off to Panama in September to live and scope out areas for the Spa Retreat. I’ve been doing plenty of virtual traveling and now it’s time for me to really see and feel the areas. Then I’ll be able to provide more info for the Spa Retreat Birth Plan to present to my potential financiers. They are beautiful people but a little more “practically” minded than I. The Universe will provide and my Angels and Fairies are always taking care of me aren’t enough for them.

More adventures later……

Michelle Hazelwood has contributed to the elevation of the planet through motivating, training, and sharing the personal benefits of fitness with men and women throughout the United States since 1982.

Offering a high level of expertise to the Personal Training profession, Michelle brings years of certified qualifications to her clients. You can learn more about Michelle through her website: Universal Wellness

Happy Birthday - Make a wish

2009-06-08T11:38:00.000-07:00

Some of God’s greatest gifts are unanswered prayers”
~ Garth Brooks ~

In his hit country song, Garth Brooks tells a story of a man who encounters his high school flame years later when he is at an event with is wife. Reflecting back he remembers how he begged God for this high school fling to be his everlasting love, and he promised eternal gratitude if this prayer was granted. At that reunion, he saw how the woman he loved so deeply, who was now his wife would never have been in his life if that previous prayer had been answered the way he begged it at that time. In that moment he was genuinely grateful for his unanswered prayer.

Today is my birthday, and undoubtedly my friends will take this opportunity to make every old age joke they can remember. We will enjoy laughter over dinner and dessert. Someone will make sure the appropriate number of candles is lit on the chocolate cake, and a fire extinguisher is close at hand.

Ever since I was a child, at every birthday party I have attended, the ritual is for the birthday person to make a wish when blowing out the candles. I wonder how many people make wishes for things they absolutely desire. As a child I believe I did, and some of my wishes actually came true.

What if, everything you had every wished for over the smoke of a blown out candle actually came true for you?

Are there some of these wishes that you can be genuinely grateful for today because they didn’t come true?

Partial excerpt from book:
The "G" Spot, the ecstasy of life through Gratitude

Change Lifelong, Self-Defeating Thinking Habits

2009-06-02T08:05:00.000-07:00

Excuses Be Gone
A Life-Changing Book from Dr. Wayne W. Dyer!

Excuses Begone! How to Change Lifelong, Self-Defeating Thinking Habits.
In this groundbreaking work, Wayne presents a compendium of conscious and subconscious crutches employed by virtually everyone, along with ways to cast them aside once and for all. You’ll learn to apply specific questions to any excuse, and then proceed through the steps of a new paradigm. Pre-order Nowand you will receive a FREE 2-hour workshop download so you can immediately begin to draw connections between your own life and Dr. Dyer's teachings. PLUS, with each order for Excuses Begone, you will automatically be entered to win a trip to MAUI for Dr. Dyer's weekend intensive
Within the pages of this transformational book, Dr. Wayne W. Dyer reveals how to change the self-defeating thinking patterns that have prevented you from living at the highest levels of success, happiness, and health. Even though you may know what to think, actually changing those thinking habits that have been with you since childhood might be somewhat challenging.

If I changed, it would create family dramas . . . I’m too old or too young . . . I’m far too busy and tired . . . I can’t afford the things I truly want . . . It would be very difficult for me to do things differently . . . and I’ve always been this way . . . may all seem to be true, but they’re in fact just excuses. So the business of modifying habituated thinking patterns really comes down to tossing out the same tired old excuses and examining your beliefs in a new and truthful light.

In this groundbreaking work, Wayne presents a compendium of conscious and subconscious crutches employed by virtually everyone, along with ways to cast them aside once and for all. You’ll learn to apply specific questions to any excuse, and then proceed through the steps of a new paradigm. The old, habituated ways of thinking will melt away as you experience the absurdity of hanging on to them.

You’ll ultimately realize that there are no excuses worth defending, ever, even if they’ve always been part of your life—and the joy of releasing them will resonate throughout your very being. When you eliminate the need to explain your shortcomings or failures, you’ll awaken to the life of your dreams.

Excuses . . . Begone!

The Power of Appreciation

2009-04-08T10:13:00.000-07:00

“Feeling gratitude and not expressing it
is like wrapping a present and not giving it.”
~ William Arthur Ward

This week as I sorted through my usual stack of catalogs, coupons, flyers, advertisements and bills, all delivered to me through the (good old fashioned) US snail mail, I found something else. Something that added joy to my day.

I received in a handwritten thank you note from my friend and colleague Michelle Hazelwood. When I listed her in one of my regular e-zines, I didn't tell her. I did not doit hoping for a thank you, I did it because I believe in her and the integrity of the work that she does with other people (Note: I have received other gestures of thank you from other people mentioned in my e-zines, however, Michelle went an extra mile and today she is my One)

Michelle's handwritten thank you note did two things:

(1) simply conformed that what I believe about her is true and
(2) gave me a good feeling, which comes back again every time I see her note on my desk.
and her note is now page one in my Kudos binder.

Sending notes of Gratitude used to be an expected social behavior. In those days people who didn't send them usually didn't find themselves receiving future invitations or gifts.

Zig Ziglar, one of my all time favorite mentors shares a story on his website about US President Theodore Roosevelt, and notes that his life story indicates that he was not only an extraordinarily successful man, but surely one of the busiest and best organized ever. However, with all of his"busy-ness" . . . he still retained some of those human qualities that made him so successful. Simple example: He never forgot to thank others who did things for him.”

I had the good fortune of meeting Ziglar in my early 20's, and the opportunity to shake his hand and thank him personally for the lessons I had learned from his book See You at the Top Recently, through his son, I was able to send Zig a detailed thank you letter of how his words helped me blaze the trail of my life since I first met him over 30 years ago.

I admit it took time to write my thank you letter, as I'm sure it took my friend Michelle more than a few seconds to write her thank you note to me. As I wrote the thank you letter to Zig, I could feel a powerful energy rising in me. After sending it, all day I felt lighter, more enthused, more creative and some of the challenges on my To-Do list seemed to be accomplished with more ease.

Peoples attitudes about expressing "Thank You" have changed. Some people write long gratitude lists, but keep them to themselves. Some people will send a quick Thank you in an email reply or an e-card, and some still do take the time to write a heartfelt thank you note.

Ziglar also taught me about the Notes of Appreciation I wrote about in my book, The "G" Spot, the ecstasy of life through Gratitude. Even a short written thank you note, especially to someone who doesn't expect it, can change two lives that day - theirs and yours. That one positive action is powerful.

Sometimes the best way to find time in our day is to take time to write a genuine thank you.

I recently received a handwritten thank you note from a reader of my book, and she concluded her note telling me that she was now inspired to write thank you notes to all her children. I have asked her to write that on the Gratitude Spot blog so other people may be inspired by her words and actions.

Here's an experiment you may want to add to your day and see the power it has in your life:

ONE-A-DAY

For the next 7 days, write a sincere heartfelt thank you note to one person in your life. Just one!

The next day, one more.

Only one a day.

One or all of four things will happen:
(1) You will find more people to thank than you first thought you had;
(2) you may want to do more than one a day. (resist the temptation);
(3) you will discover something new about yourself;
(4) you will feel a shift in your energy, your feelings and sometimes your physical body.

Today, Michelle is my ONE.

I look forward to reading how One-A-Day made a difference in your life.

NOTE -
One of the bonus gifts offered to people who bought the book, the "G" Spot, the ecstasy of life through Gratitude - was a set of custom greeting cards by renowned artist Juliane. Refer back to the link you received when you purchased the book and get your free greeting cards so you can start your ONE right away. if you have lost your bonus gifts link, contact me.

Enjoy the ride

2009-03-13T11:56:00.000-07:00

A very talented High School Class reminds us how to Enjoy Life.

If you don't have 4 minutes for this beautiful photo and music, then you really need a reminder.

Click on the image to launch the link to the video. And if that doesn't work, no excuses, the direct link is below

Just in case the link in the graphic doesn't work, here it is: http://www.lshs64.com/enjoytheride.html

And thank you to my beautiful Friend Michelle Hazelwood who shared it with me.

Namaste'

Laughter is the best medicine

2009-01-19T14:37:00.000-08:00

My grandfather was one of the most positive influences in my life as a small child. He passed on before my eleventh birthday. He believed that Laughter is always the best medicine.

My Grandfather was diagnosed with cancer and heart disease and spent his last few weeks in a small bedroom with an oxygen tank. Next to his bed on the floor, a stack as tall as me was issues of Readers Digest magazine. I spent every afternoon and weekend sitting on the floor next to that stack of magazines reading to my Grandfather from its pages of Laughter is the Best Medicine, Life in the United States, and all the other amusing anecdotes. We would laugh together and he told me how much better he was able to breathe after exercising his lungs with laughter.

Norman Cousins is renowned for the incredible healing power of laughter in his life which he wrote about in his book Anatomy of an Illness. He discovered that when he laughed boisterously at the comedy films that he had selected, he was able to stimulate chemicals in his body that alleviated his physical pain and stimulated healing.

Science News reported recently that employees reported higher job satisfaction when they work for someone who was more humor-oriented and used humor effectively and appropriately.

Many years ago, people were institutionalized for too much laughter. Dr. Hunter "Patch" Adams believes that silliness is a virtue. He is the founder of the Gesundheit Clinic; a clinic which deals with their patients with humor and play, which they see as essential to physical and emotional health healing.

Laughter can make a bleak situation appear more tolerable and clear the energy for creative thinking. Many people have found that humor is an effective way to deal with stress. It doesn't mean that the situation is funny, or not to be taken seriously. Humor releases endorphins that can assit you in working with or moving through a difficult situation.

How much better do you feel about anything in your life, after you have had a great belly laugh. (Except my friend who just had tummy surgery, but she’ll make up for it soon)

I’m very picky about what will prompt me to laughter. I love jokes, parodies, skits and sitcoms which are clever enough in words and actions to surprise me to laughter without having to resort to any racial, gender, political or personal attacks or putdowns. Americas funny home videos, at times, is one of my favorite shows, however, I cannot understand why a man being hit painfully in the groin is considered funny.

One of my all time favorite funny skits was seen on the Carol Burnett show. Yes, I’m aging myself as I let you know that I saw this when it was first telecast. Now you can see it on the internet.

In this Gone With the Wind parody ("Went With the Wind") a broke Scarlett O'Hara (Carol Burnett) tears the curtains off Tara's windows to create a dress, as you may remember Scarlett did in the book and epic film. However, instead of emerging in the iconic green velvet grown, she descends the stairs wearing the curtains intact — complete with a curtain rod thrown over her shoulders doubling as shoulder pads, and the tassel from the tie back as a hat.

What created the laughter was the total surprise of this moment. Even Carol Burnett reported that the crew and her fellow actors did not have a clue about her and Bob Mackie’s plan until the second she appeared at the top of the stairs. One of the longest laughs in TV history was created because it was not what we expected, it was better.

Please share your joy. I invite you to share your favorite funny so we can all enjoy a good laugh.

P.S. And yes, I still read the jokes in Readers Digest and I still laugh and I know my Grandfather is still laughing with me.

"We must also be careful to avoid ingesting toxins in the form of violent TV programs, video games, movies, magazines, and books. When we watch that kind of violence, we water our own negative seeds, or tendencies, and eventually we will think and act out of those seeds."~ Thich Nhat Hahn ~
Visit Movies with Message

Ambition To Meaning

2009-01-10T10:54:00.000-08:00

A Life-Changing Film from Dr. Wayne W. Dyer!

Dear Friends,

I've just completed one of my life's great experiences and I invite you to share it! Making my first movie at age 68 was an unexpected gift from the Universe that filled me with wonder and amazement. Ambition to Meaning: Finding Your Life's Purpose has given me the opportunity to marvel at the limitless power of the human spirit to discover and rediscover all that we can be.

Never underestimate the power of great natural beauty to bring you inspiration, peace of mind, and clarity of thought. Ambition to Meaning was filmed at Asilomar, "refuge by the sea," on the breathtaking Monterey Peninsula of California's central coast, a landscape of mist and pines and pounding surf. In nature, you find yourself. The characters in our story discover a new path for themselves that too much focus on success, competition, and worldly concern almost made them miss. They find the music within that gives life real worth.

This movie touches me profoundly and I'm prouder of it than of anything I've done before. Which goes to show that you are never too old to learn and grow and look in awe at the teaching power of the Universe. From the kite fluttering in the wind above to the sand between your toes, there is wonder to be found in every moment. Move with me from Ambition to Meaning and begin enjoying your life as never before!

Namaste,
Wayne

Ambition to Meaning was directed by the
wonderfully talented Emmy award winner
Michael Goorjian. The movie features a
fine ensemble cast of seasoned actors in
addition to Dr. Wayne Dyer: (in alpha order)
Molly Bryant, Michael DeLuise, Portia de Rossi,
Don Franklin, Ron Garcia, Ed Kerr, Ethan Lipton,
Ron Marasco, Maury Sterling, and Shannon Sturges.
Look for a surprise cameo appearance by
Louise L. Hay in this heartwarming film about finding
your bliss!

Ambition to Meaning is available in two versions:
Standard and Deluxe.

The Deluxe version includes the following bonus material:
(1) Two music videos
(2) Interview with Wayne Dyer in Maui about Ambition to Meaning
(3) Fireside talk with Wayne Dyer telling stories about his life and family
(4) Michael Goorjian, the film director, talking about making the movie
(5) Extra material of Wayne being interviewed on the movie set

This announcement was sponsored by Sumner M. Davenport

May you be validated everyday

2009-01-02T11:51:00.001-08:00

This video was created by an online friend of mine.

Be sure to visit her profile and see more of what she has to offer:
http://jasonsnetwork.com/Cherokee

Wow, 2008 went fast , didn't it!

2009-01-01T09:42:00.000-08:00

How did you do?

Each year people have a reaction to the transition of one year to the next. Some people are happy with their results. Others want something to change. Some people exceeded their goals and are excited for their next results. Others are struggling to make ends meet, find love, drop those extra pounds. Some will be glad the year is over. Some will end the year with regrets.

What does 2009 hold for you? Will it be more of the same or are you looking for a change? Even those who are happy with their results in 2008, many would still like something new or a change in something in the coming year.New Years Eve is the re-start of many old habits.

Millions of people will voice new years resolutions in one night, and within the week over 75% will have broken them. Some people know they will never meet their resolutions but a small flicker of wishing and hoping that this year will be different motivates them to say them anyway.
2009 can be your best year ever ! Great tips and free downloads are here to get you started.

Tip #1:

Don't make New Years resolutions this year. Make your acknowledgment list instead.

Studies show that for a sales person, the best time to make a sale is right after you made one. The best time to create another success in your life, is right after you have just experienced one.

Why is that? It is because your energy is now focused on success, feeling good about what you just accomplished and you are feeling a "success high". So then it would make sense that the most difficult time to set new goals or resolutions is when you are not feeling confident, not feeling proud of your accomplishments or not feeling successful. Yet this lack of success is what most people are feeling when they set New Year resolutions. This seems to be one answer to the question as to why over 75% of people give up on their new resolutions after only a couple of weeks. Start your New Year with a "success high" and propel your self towards greater success in 2009. Start by NOT making New Years resolutions this year and making an acknowledgment list instead.

"The more you focus on and list your accomplishments,
the more accomplishments you will recognize." ~ Brenda Stuart ~

Click here to download a free copy
of Acknowledgment Journal Sheets

Tip #2

Write your list with what you are happy you did, are proud of yourself for or something you accomplished this past year.

Then do something else with this list. We are so conditioned by society that we must have more; that more is better. We rush to make our lists longer, and in the process we lose the depth. Rather than quickly writing a list (usually by habit), and putting it away, choose one item from your list– and really take all the time to feel all of the joy and passion that is connected to and within it.

Feel and seek to understand WHY this is important to you, why you are proud of yourself, why this accomplishment is a milestone or a success for you. Stay with that one item all day. Think about it, feel it, understand your reasons for acknowledging yourself for it.

The next day choose another one from your list. Get to know the deepest parts of yourself through your choices of self acknowledgement.

What is your ONE today?

Animal Clouds, Big Mud Puddles and Love Gardens

2008-12-31T10:15:00.000-08:00

Original author unauthenicated.

When I look at a patch of dandelions, I see a bunch of weeds that are going to take over my yard.
My CHILD see a garden of love and blowing white fluff you can wish on.

When I look at an old drunk and he smiles at me, I see a smelly, dirty person who probably wants money and I look away.
My CHILD sees someone who deserves a smile and smiles back.

When I hear music I love, I think I can't carry a tune and don't have much rhythm so I sit self-consciously and listen.
My CHILD feels the beat and moves to it, singing out the words. and when really in the grove, my CHILD makes up new words.

When I feel wind on my face, I brace myself against it. I feel it messing up my hair and pulling me back when I walk.
My CHILD’s eyes close.., and with arms spread, flies with it, eventuallyfalling to the ground laughing.

When I see a mud puddle I step around it. I see muddy shoes and dirty carpets.
My CHILD sits in it....sees dams to build, rivers to cross, and worms to play with.

When I see clouds in the sky, I mumble “ I hope it doesn’t rain”
My CHILD sees elephants, giraffes and other animals at play.

When I pray, I say thee and thou and grant me this, give me that.
My CHILD says, " Thanks for my toys and my friends. Please keep the bad dreams away tonight. I don't want to leave this earth yet, I have more love to share. “

Allow your CHILD remind you of the joys , the blessings and the important parts of life.

YOU are awesome, unique and amazing

2008-12-22T15:38:00.000-08:00

Like everyone else, every year I receive several of the same Christmas messages and blessings. Many of these are Powerpoint presentations, videos or poems created by someone else and forwarded over and again.

Some of these messages are wonderful and incite feelings of love and compassion, which to me, is the gift of this season.

One message that floats around during every holiday tells you to compare yourself to others. Such as: If you have (certain things in your life), that someone else doesn’t have …. you should be grateful (that you are not them, have more then them, are doing better off than them, etc).

This message troubles me and as explanation I offer the following:

An excerpt from my recent book on Gratitude:

Dr. Robert A. Emmons, A UC Davis psychologist, conducted a 10 week research in the psychology of gratitude. In one of his studies the participants were asked to list what they were grateful for compared to what they weren’t happy about in their lives. In another study they were asked to list what they were grateful for where thought they were better off than others.

The results showed that those who expressed gratitude without comparing themselves as “better than” were significantly happier than those making comparisons between themselves and others.

From another study at USC on self esteem:

A dangerous silent damage to your feelings of self worth is created and intensified when you compare yourself to being better off or more successful, or more of anything than someone else. By practicing the habit of comparison when you are feeling happy with yourself or your life, you are establishing the foundation for feelings of lack of self worth when you don’t measure up to any comparison in the future. The inherent problem with this habit is that then takes considerably more effort to repair your feeling of lack which can contribute to difficulty in regaining levels of success in chosen areas of your life. A person who can see their unique qualities, success and strengths without the need to compare themselves to anyone other than themselves are found to be emotionally stronger when facing difficult decisions and occurrences.

I wish you all the Happiest of Holidays because YOU are awesome, unique and amazing.

Wishing you PEACE as this year ends; HOPE as the new year begins and LOVE of family and friends.

Singing for Change "Stand by Me"

2008-12-12T12:05:00.001-08:00

Born ... again

2008-12-09T15:07:00.000-08:00

Many people come into this world knowing they weren’t wanted. Yes, it is a harsh statement, but one that cannot be denied. Sometimes a pregnancy occurs “by accident” and even though the parents accept it, they are far from happy about it. Unknowingly, the mother transmits this information to her unborn child, and often, the child grows into an adult who feels unwanted…never understanding why.

About mid-way through pregnancy, the unborn child starts downloading programs from the mother. For years, we understood that nutrition was passed across the placenta, but never did it occur to us that the mother’s perceptions also made the journey. But the truth is, perceptions about the environment (whether the mother feels safe or at risk) cause biological responses in her body. Chemicals are released into her bloodstream, and that blood travels into the system of the fetus.

When certain chemicals are released into the bloodstream, the cells respond quickly. If fear is involved, the body responds by increasing blood flow to the extremities for the “fight or flight” mode. The primitive brain is flooded with increased blood supply, and systems operated by the more rational mind tend to shut down. In that moment, auto-immune illnesses are filed into the storage bin as future potential problems. The DNA of the fetus adjusts. When the child is finally born, programs have been established that have the potential to cause the child all kinds of problems. Often, such children are physically strong (due to increased blood supply to the arms and legs), but the intelligence quota might not be as high as the child whose mother felt safe and loved. Others may have higher than average intelligence, but experience constant physical and mental problems. Often, these people are plagued with depression and feelings of unworthiness. As you can imagine, different emotional responses in the mother cause different problems for her child. All emotions–brought about due to perceptions– however, leave an imprint on the child. It is easy to see why it becomes so very important for the expectant parents to feel as much love and peace as possible.

The good news is, this damage can be undone. If an adult recognizes that negative programs were downloaded either in the fetal stage or in early childhood, that energy can be removed and re-recorded to better serve the current reality.

It is very important for us to feel safe and loved. Coming from that place, we are biologically enabled to make good choices. The chemicals that tell us all is well are conducive to higher intelligence, sound judgments, good health, peace and acceptance. When we feel protected and appreciated, the immune system operates at the highest level, and the body naturally feels good. During those times, the blood flow increases in the frontal lobe of the brain, causing “feel-good” chemicals to pour into the body’s cells. The good news spreads quickly as the information is shared with all the systems. There is no longer a need to run nor hide. All is well. The cells react by moving back into a healthful state. Healing happens.

No matter what beliefs we took on in early life, we always have the option of changing them. We must find a way to undo those old patterns of feeling unwanted and unloved. If our parents weren’t equipped to handle raising a child, maybe it is time to forgive them. They must have had reasons for feeling that way. The truth is, love is not encased in two parental figures we named Mother and Father. In fact, it cannot be limited to any particular person or persons. If we decide to make ourselves available to love–regardless of what form it takes–we suddenly realize we are immersed in it.

Look around you. Where do you see love in expression? Can you see it in your pet, your children, your neighbors or your friends? Is it found in the wonder of nature or the magnificence of a great idea? Perhaps you have glimpsed it in certain words or in a beautiful smile. Love is showing up all over the place, but maybe you had limitations on where it had to be or how it would look. Let go of those boundaries and see it in the millions of forms it takes. No matter where it expresses, it all comes from the One Source. Recognize it. Feel it. Know you, too, are it.

If you have been living your life feeling unworthy or unwanted, I suggest you decide today will be the day you are reborn. Close your eyes and imagine two angelic beings who have conceived a precious expression of this love they feel. See yourself as the embryo that develops into a fetus, carried in the womb of protection and nurturing. Hear your mother’s voice telling you how much you are loved and wanted. Feel your father’s hand touch the belly that holds your essence. Watch the vibration of health and love flow between your mother and yourself. Know how special you are as the nutrients stimulate the cells of your body to bless you with perfect health. In this feeling of ecstasy, enter this world as a welcomed soul whose birth is blissfully anticipated. See the gratitude in the eyes of your parents and know how deeply you are loved. Let this be the day of your birth…a new day, a new being. You are so loved, so worthy, so wanted.

Now…go forward in this experience and witness the love you’ve been given. See it everywhere, all the time. Accept every morsel you are given, regardless of how it shows up. Gathering the morsels, you accumulate great wealth. You are extraordinarily abundant in every aspect of life. Love is infinite, eternal. It has many faces. It is all the same thing. Step into the flow and accept it.

I stand in awe at the beauty and grandeur of your essence. How lucky you are to be that loved! Angels sing and the word has spread. A grand celebration takes place in unseen dimensions. The buzz is all about what great things you will do. No where has there ever been a birth so celebrated. We watch and applaud your successes. When you start to feel alone or afraid, we hover around you, fluttering wings in hopes you will remember who you are…how loved you are.

Today is a new day…a new beginning. You are surrounded by the gift of Presence that shows how much you are wanted. Never again doubt it. You are loved.

Original post from http://godisaverb.com/blog , reposted with permission

Expressing Gratitude

2008-12-08T12:10:00.001-08:00

more about "Expressing Gratitude", posted with vodpod

FREE DVD - You Can Heal Your Life with Louise Hay

2008-11-23T12:38:00.001-08:00

LOUISE HAY, the pioneer who taught us the metaphysical causes behind myriad physical ailments and how to apply positive affirmations, is the subject of an important documentary film entitled YOU CAN HEAL YOUR LIFE. This film, which offers an intimate look into Louise Hay's moving and inspirational life story, shares her views on self-esteem, abundance and healing.

In this entertaining film, Wayne Dyer, Esther and Jerry Hicks, Dr. Christiane Northrup, Doreen Virtue, Gregg Braden, Gay Hendricks, and Cheryl Richardson, share their personal stories about the impact Louise Hay has had on their lives.

YOU CAN HEAL YOUR LIFE is the feature film in the Vol. 12, 2008 collection of films from the Spiritual Cinema Circle, the only DVD club specializing in films that inspire love and compassion. Receive YOU CAN HEAL YOUR LIFE plus 3 great short films free (plus nominal shipping fee) by visiting www.spiritualcinemacircle.com before December 12, 2008.

"Louise Hay was the catalyst to my becoming aware of the importance of being good to me. The horribly unkind voice in my head constantly criticized me until I began to understand that I was the power behind my good health and happiness just by the thoughts I think and the words that I speak." Mariel Hemingway, Spiritual Cinema Circle Co-Host

It's a limited time offer to get the free Heal Your Life DVD. You must respond before December 12th. www.spiritualcinemacircle.com

Grateful for readers who share

2008-11-19T09:58:00.000-08:00

With each book I write, I hope my message reaches at least one person who was looking for it. When I released “It Works with Simple Keys”, I received feedback on how the Simple Keys helped people to understand the simple message.

This month I release another new book with a catchy title: The “G” Spot, The ecstasy of life through Gratitude. Its message is for the cynic the hopeless, the happy and the already grateful, because I believe we all have those varied emotions and attitudes at some point in our lives. (sometimes in the same day)

The feedback that has been posted on the blog and emailed to me is beautiful. People are sharing the depth of their understanding, and, since we all learn together, it helps us all including me.

I didn’t write this book alone, there are several co-contributors who stepped up courageously and shared their stories and tips on how to experience genuine gratitude. I share these comments to honor those people who walked the journey of this book with me and made the message on the pages come alive in these hearts.

“I do not recall the last time I read a book on Gratitude that stimulated me to think about my opinions and behaviors. I especially liked the section about the integrity of my words of gratitude. I too have said for years that I am grateful for my health but at the same time I am doing some things that undermine my health. I am overweight, and I don’t exercise, and sometimes I drink too much alcohol. I do have physical ailments that my doctor correlates to my unhealthy eating and sedentary lifestyle. So when reading this chapter I had to be honest with myself if I was really grateful for my health, or grateful that my unhealthy habits weren't making my health any worse than it is. I’m not ready to change my eating and no exercise habits, but I am ready to be honest with myself.”

“I never asked why and now I do. I write grocery lists because I don’t want to forget what I need for my recipe, I write to do lists so I can see how much I have to do, and now when I write my Gratitude list I can really see the depth of my gratitude and why.”

“I like the part about me being a hero.”

“This book is written with such honesty and compassion. In these pages I saw myself through the other people’s stories and ways that I can find the real genuine gratitude in my life. I was taught that I was supposed to be grateful for everything or I was disrespecting God. This book showed me how my honesty with my gratitude is the greater respect. Thank you”

“I bought this book because a friend recommended it. And then when I bought the book, I got some amazing free gifts too. 2008 has been a difficult year for me and it’s been tough to find much to be grateful for. With each chapter in this book, I feel a new charge of energy. I see where I can take baby steps when I feel overwhelmed by my circumstances. This is the first time I have written so many notes in a book when I read it. I have written so much on the journal pages that I had to buy a new journal. It’s helping me find the authentic me. I am genuinely grateful for this book.”

"What a wonderful intimate journey into my own understanding and knowingness."

“Only a mother can know another mother’s pain. Losing a child can cloud how you see life. I felt so alone when I lost my son, and there didn’t seem to be anyone around that understood what I was going through. I felt lost because I couldn’t make my son better. I feel crushed under the weight of these feelings. When I read The Lioness Appears, “Within the sea of Gratitude, fear dissipates and a lioness erupts.” I sobbed for a long time. I didn’t see myself as being a strong person during his last days, I didn’t see anything to be grateful for, because I felt so helpless. Just reading this chapter connects me to one other mother who lost her son, but found her strength and her story is helping me find mine. Thank you for sharing her lioness experience.”

“I love how Be Not Afraid fits with being Grateful. I am really looking forward to reading the newsletters.”

“Colors have a deeper meaning for me now. What beautiful insight and inspiration”

“I love so many parts of this book. The chapter with the white paint gives me a new perception of my journey through a painful spot in my life. Thank you.”

You can read more about this book from a link on the book announcement page:http://sumnerdavenport.com/books/announcementGR08.htm

After you read the book, I look forward to hearing your experiences.

Wishing you a life filled with genuine Gratitude.

Namaste’

Sumner

Not your typical book about Gratitude

2008-11-11T11:56:00.000-08:00

Not your typical book about gratitude.

This book is for the cynic, the hopeless, the happy and the already grateful.

Do you have an opinion, a belief in gratitude or a passionate knowing?

Were you taught how to be grateful, or was it a lesson you learned through experience?

People fake many things in life and some even fake gratitude.

Are you enjoying the deep ecstasy of gratitude in your life?

":As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them." ~ John F. Kennedy ~

How do you live by your words of Gratitude?

TESTIMONIAL: "Congruency of gratitude and actions --
the section with 'Mom's' words was an eye opener."
~Janis Murphy, Lexington, MO ~

Research for this book repeatedly discovered that passionately genuine gratitude is only possible when you understand your own motivations and what is important to you.

TESTIMONIAL: "What a wonderful intimate journey
into my own understanding and knowingness."
~ Brenda Clark, Phoenix, AZ ~

This book includes comments and contributions from courageous people who were willing to share their intimate understanding of how genuine gratitude fits in their life.

Co-contributors: Whitney Allen, Monica Burnert, Catherine "CC" Collier, Veronica Davina, Michelle Granger, Lorraine Jackson, Ann Hill, Jacqueline Johns, Lou Paget, Kelly Phillips, Marcie Taylor, Dr. Bunny Vreeland, Glennie Wilburn

Click here for book excerpts and introduction.

TESTIMONIAL: "Colors have a deeper meaning for me now.
What beautiful insight and inspiration"
~ Caroline Palmer, Vancouver, B.C., Canada ~

The message in this book invites you on a self discovery journey sometimes through other perspectives and opinions.

"This is what learning is. You suddenly understand something you've understood all your life, but in a new way." ~ Doris Lessing ~

TESTIMONIAL: "One mother's experience was what I needed to read.
It helped me with my own loss, and shined a light
on how and where I could find the healing energy of genuine gratitude."
~ Tracy Purcel, NYC ~

Purchase your copy today!
You'll receive thousands of dollars of amazing FREE bonus gifts from our sponsors and affiliates. Click here

Discover Yourself

2008-10-28T11:00:00.000-07:00

There are many people who feel a sense of low self esteem because they feel like they have failed on their life or they do not measure up to other people. Reacting to life feeling like a failure will continue to bring you experiences that you label failures.

“I never failed once. It just happened to be a 2000-step process.”

~ Thomas Edison ~

Walt Disney had a passionate desire to pursue a career in commercial art, which is how he began his original experiments in animation. He started by producing short animated films for local businesses in Kansas City. By the time Walt had started to create The Alice Comedies, which was about a real girl and her adventures in an animated world, he ran out of money. His company at the time. Laugh-O-Grams went bankrupt. Instead of giving up, Walt packed his suitcase and with his unfinished print of The Alice Comedies in hand, headed for Hollywood to start a new business. It was Walt Disney’s enthusiasm and faith in himself and others that took him straight to the top of Hollywood society. Walt Disney's dream of a clean and organized amusement park also came true when Disneyland Park in Anaheim opened in 1955.

Wally Amos opened his first Famous Amos store, with cookies based on his aunt's recipe which he baked himself. Within 10 years his sales had grown to more than $10 million. Due to financial troubles, Amos was forced to sell the Famous Amos Company, and trademarked name "Famous Amos". Turning adversity into opportunity, Amos launched a new cookie venture, The Uncle Noname's Cookie Company. With America's tastes shifting towards healthier foods, the company focused on fat-free, nutritious muffins at that time. Uncle Noname ultimately became Uncle Wally's Muffin Company in 1999. The muffins are sold in more than 3,500 stores nationwide.

Dr. Seuss’ first book was rejected by over 27 publishers. He had a fleeting thought to burn the manuscript. Instead he sent it out one more time.

The authors of Chicken Soup for the Soul were told by numerous publishers that “the title was too stupid” and that their book was “too positive”.

What if you didn't get that job, or didn't make that sale, or didn't accomplish what you wanted?

When this happens, many people will mistakenly think they are wrong, or they can’t do it, are not good enough or other destructive thoughts. Every result either takes you directly closer to your desires, or it has an answer for your next step.

There are many true stories of how so many successful people have experienced failure and how they bounced back.

Start 2 lists: (1) One LIST of those projects you have started and completed successfully. (2) Another LIST of those projects that you once labeled as failures that eventually showed themselves as an answer for your next step.

By doing these two lists, you may find yourself starting to feel differently about yourself and your results in your life.

The power of the "impossible" being turned into the "amazing"

2008-10-24T10:02:00.000-07:00

Recently Oprah showed amazing animals on her show. One dog had only his two hind feet and he walked upright like a human.

At least once a week I get an email from someone forwarding this story with photos of the dog and how amazing the dog is.

I agree the dog is amazing. He’s healthy, happy and inspiring.

The emails are only telling part of the story. There is a loving and powerful part that made this possible.

When this dog was a puppy, the vet said to put him down because he would wear out his chest skin dragging himself along the floor.

It was his human caregivers that would not give up on him.

The humans taught him how to walk on his hind legs.

They gave him encouragement and helped him when he struggled.

They treated him like he was special and rewarded him often.

His companions do not see him as different they do see him as special.

He doesn't see himself as different - he sees himself as himself.

It shows the power of what can happen when someone sees in another being the potential instead of the problem.

It shows the power of what can happen when someone loves enough to help another up to their feet.

It shows the power of the "impossible" being turned into the "amazing" .

SEIZE THE MOMENT.

2008-10-05T20:06:00.000-07:00

No matter when it’s circulated, or who is actually the original author (all references currently say Anonymous) this is a story to think about and then apply the message – SEIZE THE MOMENT. – everyday.

##
I have a friend who lives by a three-word philosophy: SEIZE THE MOMENT.

Just possibly, she may be the wisest woman on this planet.

Too many people put off something that brings them joy just because they haven’t thought about it, don’t have it on their schedule, didn’t know it was coming, or are too rigid to depart from their routine.

I got to thinking one day about all those women on the Titanic who passed up dessert at dinner that fateful night in an effort to cut back on calories. From then on, I’ve tried to be a little more flexible.

How many women out there will eat at home because their husband didn’t suggest going out to dinner until after something had been thawed? Does the word “refrigeration” mean nothing to you?
How often have your kids dropped in to talk and sat in silence while you watched Jeopardy or Dancing with the Stars on television?

I cannot count the times I called my sister and said, “How about going to lunch in a half hour?” She would gasp and stammer, “I can’t.”
Check one:
”I have clothes on the line.”
”My hair is dirty.”
”I wish I had known yesterday.”
”I had a late breakfast.”
”It looks like rain.”
And my personal favorite: “It’s Monday.”

She died a few years ago. We never did have lunch together.

Because Americans cram so much into their lives, we tend to schedule our headaches. We live on a sparse diet of promises we make to ourselves when all the conditions are perfect. We’ll go back and visit the grandparents when we get the baby toilet-trained. We’ll entertain when we replace the living room carpet. We’ll go on a second honeymoon when we get two more kids out of college.

Life has a way of accelerating as we get older. The days get shorter, and the list of promises to ourselves gets longer. One morning we awaken, and all we have to show for our lives is a litany of “I’m going to,” “I plan on” and “Someday, when things are settled down a bit...”

When anyone calls my ‘seize the moment’ friend, she is open to adventure and available for trips. She keeps an open mind on new ideas. Her enthusiasm for life is contagious. You talk with her for five minutes, and you’re ready to trade your bad feet for a pair of roller blades and skip an elevator for a bungee cord.

My lips had not touched ice cream in 10 years. I love ice cream. It’s just that I might as well apply it directly to my hips with a spatula and eliminate the digestive process. The other day, I stopped the car and bought a triple-decker. If my car had hit an iceberg on the way home, I would have died happy.

Now...go on and have a nice day. Do something you WANT to.... Not something on your SHOULD DO list.

SEIZE THE MOMENT.

namaste'

Answers in Comedy

2008-10-01T22:53:00.000-07:00

Today on the Degeneres show, in her opening monologue, Ellen talked about being happy and staying positive:

"People say it’s important to be happy and to stay positive.

And I’ll tell you that sounds easy; you say it, and its easy to say, but it is hard to do.

And especially right now, it’s a very stressful time in the world.

It helps to surround yourself with positive people.

When we are positive and happy here’s what happens.

Endorphins rush through our system, I’m no scientist but I know what endorphins are. They are tiny little magical elves and they swim through your blood steam, and they tell funny jokes to each other. and when they reach your brain you can hear what they are saying.

And it boosts your health and happiness

Knock
Knock
Little endorphin ...
Little Endorphin who?
Little Endorphin Annie

And the endorphins laugh and you laugh."

Did you laugh?

I agree that it is important to:

1.Surround yourself with positive people

2. Laugh

3. Repeat

source channel 4, los angeles
http://www.ellentv.com/

You make the difference!

2008-09-24T11:44:00.000-07:00

Some people get involved because "they want to make a better world"...
Others do it because "it looks good on their resume"...
Some people have "had an experience that motivates them"....
Some do it, because "they are concerned about their Karma"...
Others do it, "because it's the right thing to do:..

Whatever your reason or motivation to get involved...

You make the difference!

"Volunteering is an act of heroism on a grand scale. And it matters profoundly. It does more than help people beat the odds; it changes the odds."

~ President Bill Clinton ~

"A pessimist, they say, sees a glass of water as being half empty; an optimist sees the same glass as half full. But a giving person sees a glass of water and starts looking for someone who might be thirsty. "
~ G. Donald Gale~

Making a difference

2008-09-14T07:07:00.000-07:00

One person can make a difference.

As you watch this, feel how much difference is created with a smile and a dance.

Woo Hoo

2008-08-26T14:34:00.000-07:00

Life is NOT meant to be a journey to the grave
with the intention of arriving safely,
attractively coiffed,
perfectly manicured,
body weak and stymied,
wings down and tail dragging under,
but rather to skid in sideways,
hair flying in your wave,
wings fully un-furled,
chest up, eyes sparkling,
chocolate in one hand,
wine in the other,
body thoroughly enjoyed,
totally worn out
and screaming

WOO HOO what a ride!!

Original author unknown, circulated for years through the internet.

Be Aware of Routine Influences

2008-08-24T19:08:00.000-07:00

When you commit to making a change in your life, by focusing on your desires and dedicating yourself to having them, you must also be aware of the routine influences in your life.

What music do you listen to? When you listen, how do you feel? What words echo in your mind?

If you are tempted to say “its only words, no big deal”. Think about this: If someone called you stupid, ugly or fat or slanderous and insulting words against your character, or worse – would they only be words?

Words have power over you - or words can work for you.

Learn from a champion

2008-08-21T13:36:00.000-07:00

For years in my presentations and in my book It Works with Simple Keys, I stress the importance of writing down your goals, envisioning them and taking action.

This year Michael Phelps revealed how he had a piece of paper, his intention list in his bedroom and after his remarkable wins at the Olympics in an interview with Bob Costas: “What was on that much talked about piece of paper? You wish lost or your intention list?”

Phelps:” I think you saw it. It was all there, I think the only difference was the 200 fly, but other than that everything was pretty close to, pretty close to identical to what was written on the piece of paper.”

When you write down your goals and desires onto paper, and you embody them - your potential to achieve them substantially increases.

Phelps talks about using his imagination to fuel his goals:” The biggest thing that I've been thankful for is that I have been able to use my imagination. When some people said it's not possible and it can't be done, I think that's when my imagination came into play.“

"I think it really shows that no matter what you set your imagination to, anything can happen. If you dream as big as you can dream, anything is possible. I saw so many quotes saying it's impossible to duplicate it, it won't happen. It just shows you that anything can happen.

So after writing it down, and envisioning it – he did another critical step: He took action, he trained.

Phelps: “ I’ve been able to have a lot of hard work and Bob (his coach) and I have gone through a lot together. It's all paid off."

One more behavior he adopted was to only share his goals with the one person he trusted to maintain that vision (His coach). Doing this he could prevent naysayers from attempting to tell him why it couldn’t be accomplished and perhaps this also helped him to replace the message a middle-school English teacher once told him that he would never be successful.

Write it down
Read it daily – envision it
Take action
Accomplish your dreams

Express Gratitude

2008-08-18T12:22:00.000-07:00

Some people say “I’ll be grateful when (fill in the blank) happens, or I get (fill in the blank), or when this (fill in the blank) does what I want…..”

If we hold Gratitude hostage until we get what we want we may never truly express Gratitude. You will be so focused on what you don’t have, that even when you get something you said you would be grateful for if it happened or you got it, you fly right on by Gratitude to your next wanting or next compliant.

Before doing anything else today, stop and take out a clean sheet of paper. Forget about what you think are problems or the work you think you have to do right now.

Take these next few minutes to recharge yourself.

Write down 3 things that you are honestly grateful for - right now in your day. Think beyond the platitudes or your usual response and find 3 gifts in life. Was it a friend who called at just the right time, a favorite food that was in the refrigerator, traffic that was in your favor on your way to work?

That's all - now continue with your day.

Just maybe, you might feel a little differently than you did before doing this exercise.

The Chicken and the Eagle

2008-08-16T09:48:00.000-07:00

One day, a naturalist who was passing by a chicken farm was struck with curiosity.

He noticed an eagle, the king of all birds, living among the chickens.

He asked the farmer, "Why do you have this eagle confined to live in the barnyard with the chickens?" "Since I have given it chicken feed and trained it to be a chicken, it has never learned to fly," replied the farmer. "It behaves as chickens behave, so it is no longer an eagle." "Still," insisted the naturalist, "it has the heart of an eagle and can surely be taught to fly."

After talking it over, the two men agreed to find out whether this was possible. Gently, the naturalist took the eagle in his arms and said, "You belong to the sky and not the earth. Stretch forth your wings and fly."

The eagle, however, was confused; he did not know who he was. He was comfortable with his life and was content with the farmer providing his food and being in the company of the chickens. Seeing the chickens eating their food, he jumped down to be with them again.

Undismayed, the naturalist took the eagle on the following day up on the roof of the house and urged him again, saying, "You are an eagle. Stretch forth your wings and fly." But the eagle was afraid of his unknown self. He was afraid of the world he did not know. He was scared to fly. He jumped down once more for the chicken food.

On the next day, the naturalist rose early and took the eagle out of the barnyard to a high mountain. There he held the king of birds high above him and encouraged him again, saying, "You are an eagle. You belong to the sky as well as to the earth. Stretch forth your wings now and fly." The eagle looked back toward the barnyard. Then he looked up to the sky. He still did not fly. Then the naturalist lifted him straight toward the sun. The eagle looked up to the sky and began to tremble. Slowly he began to stretch his wings. He looked back once more to the barnyard and then fixed his gaze toward the sky.

At last . . . . With a triumphant cry he soared into the heavens.

From that moment on, the eagle was living life as an eagle.

Now it may be that the eagle still remembers the chickens with a certain fondness and nostalgia. It may even be that he occasionally revisits the barnyard. But as far as anyone knows, he has never returned to the barnyard to live the life of a chicken. He truly was an eagle, even though he had lived the life of a chicken.

Just like this eagle . . . . . people who have learned to think of themselves as something they are not can re-decide in favor of what they really are.

What are your personal values?

2008-08-05T08:28:00.000-07:00

A person's got to have a code,
a creed to live by
~ John Wayne ~

In general, personal values evolve from circumstances with the external world and these can change over time. For many generations, most of us learned our values - sometimes referred to as morals, from parents, teachers and religious leaders. Family, country, generation, experience, historical environment and your perception of all of these, may also have an influence on the values you adopted. As we participated in life, the influence over our choice of values may have changed. Today, television, news opinions and the opinions of others, may have an influence over your choice of values.

Love, courage, bravery, honesty, integrity and compassion are examples of values. Many people are taught that certain behaviors have value and these behaviors also show value to ourselves and others.

Your personal values are implicitly related to choice - your choice, and they guide your decisions.

Do you keep them, or compromise them in order to get what you want in the moment or event? Do you ignore them in an attempt to make another person happy or influence someone else?

Anytime we compromise our personal values, for whatever reason, we are damaging our self-image and our self-esteem, as well as comprising our results. Some times this is referred to as “selling out” or “selling your soul”.

In order to be empowered by your values, you must be clear what they are. The more you recognize and honor your personal values, the more your self esteem benefits, your feelings of self value increase and the world sees the best of you.

What do your stand for?

What is important to you in your life?

What is important to you in a mate?

What is important to you in profession, your job or career?

Are you living the values that motivate you to feel good about yourself?

Right now, can you write down your 5 highest non-compromisable values?
These values that you will honor – no matter what ! No disclaimers or exceptions.

This can be tricky for some people. Some will write that "honesty" is one of their values. However, does this mean all the time, or to everyone except telemarketers and the IRS? Non-compromisable values are those values that you will honor without disclaimers or exceptions.

If you can start with only one - that's a start. If you don't have one, then choose the one you are willing to have and honor and start there. If you can write a list and know deep in your gut that you are honoring these values, then honor yourself for your commitment to your values and yourself.

Living your life through Gratitude

2008-08-04T08:35:00.000-07:00

"Living your life through Gratitude, is seeing that the world would be missing something very valuable if you were not in it”

Unconditional Gratitude

2008-08-02T10:56:00.000-07:00

"Look into the eyes of a devoted animal companion and you will see the pure unconditional Gratitude they feel for the opportunity they have to unconditionally love you."

positive change

2008-07-22T08:55:00.000-07:00

"In order for positive change to occur, individuals must be willing to stand up, speak up and take action."