Create your way to Sanity!

Recycling is a great thing to do to save resources and to keep the bulk out of the landfills. But, have you ever thought of recycling yourself?  There are tens of thousands of people waiting for organs - their life depends on it.  I’m not sure if it would fall in the category of reuse or recycle but it is an important thing to do.  Many young lives are lost each year - healthy organs are wasted. It is always a rough time for a family to make decisions at the time of an emergency so it is something to think about ahead.  The sad part is that many young lives are also lost each year because they don’t get a transplant.

I recently had a young friend die - she was on the transplant list.  Visit her website, Rachel Nates.com  and a site that she had designs available to promote transplant. Beautiful designs on everything from tee shirts to postage stamps.  Keep the cycle of organ transplant going. Discuss it with your loved ones. Let them know that you want to help, and live on in someone else.

Peace comes when all is settled and decisions have been made.  Anytime we decide there should be change our stomach knots into a little tight ball.  Why does this happen?  Obviously it is the unknown, the change that we aren’t sure of that brings us opportunity.  Even once you have intellectually made that decision to change things the personal emotions tag along and cause havoc. 

It is a time of change. Politicians campaign on this promise. The economy demands it for most of us. Just our health and age cause change for many of us.  That still doesn’t say we are ready for that ‘opportunity’.  If we can look at each challenge - time of change - as an opportunity we have a much better chance of being at peace.

Recently on Squidoo there has been a contest of building a lens for your Super Hero.  In looking at the entrants to this contest there are so many heroes featured who truly have made a difference in our world. At what age do we start seeing heroes as those who have truly done something so special with their lives? Most children when asked to name their hero would normally list fictional characters as their heroes.  When do we start to see Helen Keller, Tim Russert, Amy Jaffe Barzach, Sue Byrnes, and so many more as heroes?  Many of us read about Helen Keller in school but the others are more recent people who have done so much for others.  Tim Russert has a public figure and very well known on television, Amy Jaffe Barzach has recently been written about in some woman’s magazines about her Boundless Playgrounds Project, and Sue Byrnes has a niche of worshippers who have a rare dicease called LAM and she has given them hope.  A hero can be so many different people from so many walks of life but all inspire others to make a difference.  Then there are those special people like Christopher Reeve who hit in both the fictional world and the real life world.  He played a super hero in Superman but was so much more as he gave so much to this world after he had a tragic accident.

Super Heroes are those people who are the real life heros to all ages.  Heroes are the ones that children see in there innocent eyes as someone spectacular.  We just hope there is a balance and the child can have an inspirational hero as they set their sights on higher achievements.

It is 4th of July everywhere but Birthday Celebration in the United States!  What a proud, happy time it is.

It definately is a time to remember those who have given us our freedoms,  support those who are currently defending our freedoms, and think about our selection of those people who guide this nation.  Through history we have had many heroes who have laid the groundwork for a great nation.  Some of those principles are freedom of religion, freedom of free speech, and opportunity for all. 

 The simple truth is that in translation some (a minority) feel this should be a freedom FROM religion.  They don’t stop to realize that their choice to not believe should not for forced on those of us who do believe and how we believe.  Their inititive to put their belief on everyone is against the beginning of this country “One Nation Under God”.  We need to go back to basics.  There are many other places in this world that don’t share this belief - if you don’t believe, try another country.

Freedom of free speech should mean just that.  If someone thinks differently than you they still have the right to say something about their beliefs.  An individual should not be silenced because he offends a few - those few might consider the source and move on to other concerns.  By never being allowed to voice a difference of opinion we do not have freedom of speech.  People do get their feeling hurt - don’t we try to teach child that is life.  I’m not suggesting out and out humiliation of any group but I do believe voices should not be quieted from stating their feelings and beliefs.

The United States of America was built on the ability of each individual to grow, build, prosper as they wish.  We need to be sure people do have those opportunities not necessarily the right to success.  The opportunities should be for United States citizens over guest to this country for education assistance, health care and housing assistance.  The United States government is quick to help other nations, refugees, disaster victims.  There are many citizens of our own nation that are not given the same consideration because they are not in one of the former groups.  Single mothers returning to school but not yet a certain age are denied grants that alien students are freely given.  Uninsured young adults because they are students living on their own and trying to get through school are denied state funded medical care because  they don’t meet income limits - student grants and loans don’t count as income.  I could go on but the idea is out there.  This should be a land of opportunity for all our citizens.

This is a day of Celebration and reflection - how far have we come?  how far do we have to go?  What is each of us doing to help the nation grow in the principles on which it was founded?

It’s the almost the 4th of July and in the United States that is a celebration!  We celebrate our Independence, we celebrate with barbeques, we celebrate with fireworks.  Do we explain the meaning of this celebration to the children in out lives?  In this world of being so ‘politically correct’ about everything that is said and done it is often convenient to just not talk about some things.  In the process we forget to let children know why we have celebrations and what they really mean.  Now the 4th may not be controversial but I am sure someone will be offended if we don’t have our parade banners bilingual, stand as the National Anthem plays and say the pledge at a community ceremony.

This is the United States of America.  A land where all have been invited to BECOME a part of a cultural melting pot.  The United States is an English speaking country and was founded with the freedom OF religion, not the freedom FROM religion.  Lets celebrate the birthday of a Nation where we have freedoms to vote, speak our minds, own our homes and choose how our children are raised.

Happy Birthday  United States of America!

Friendship - Happiness - Peace - Success - Health

Is that true?  Can a positive mind really get you all this?  Positive thoughts can direct you, guide you in the best way.  As much as you hope or dream about something you must act on it to achieve it.  Through a long battle with cancer I have learned that there are many people that try to pull you down.  They have all sorts of negative experiences they want to share.  They will be your death!  It is a choice you have.  If you choose to be negative you will get depressed, feel bad, and confine yourself to misery.  If you choose to move on, be positive and find the good in what is happening you will achieve your goals.

My dream, goal has been to be a successful entrepreneur for many years.  I’ve tried many careers and opportunities intermingled with jobs.  I remember about nine years ago, when I became a truck driver, I said that was my last career.  I had recently read that a person on the average had eight careers in their lifetime.  It sounded good at the time but I am now on my eleventh opportunity.  I am an entrepreneur with a store on eBay, a website and have started this blog to try and bring it all together.  I am convinced this time that I will succeed. 

There are several reasons that this time I will be successful. 

1. First of all, I have learned that the positive mind has extra problem solving power.  That is a quote I found somewhere and had on my desk when I was a Realtor - but I do not think I really believed it.  Look at things from a positive perspective and you can find answers.  I have found I can make the choice to cut people out of my life who whine and are always negative.  I need positive to more on.  I can think better when I am positive.
2. Second, I have found a mentor this time - not just a book with lots of instructions to follow.  I found Janelle Elms and the OSI Rock Stars.  She has set up a ‘family’ of Rock Stars.  These are all people with a passion for success who are willing to help each other,  share their knowledge, and encourage me as I learn.  There are more than two hundred hours of recorded training available to me to listen to and learn.  If I have questions I have people there who will answer my questions. 
3. Third,  this time I know it will take many hours a day of hard work and that success does not have a magic formula.  It may take me a little longer because I am dealing with health issues but I will succeed.  I am Positive Attitude Makes a Difference. That just happens to be one my shirt designs at Comfy Cottage @ Cafe Press.

Happiness comes because you are at peace with who you are and what you are doing.  Success is achieved when you reach the goals from that positive mind set.  Positive people find friendships through the associations they have.  Happy people attract happy people.  Law of Attraction.  Health - well you must be positive to let your body heal and content to know you are doing what you can to be in the healthiest position fate deals you.

At one time we were all small.  We always looked up – to those older, to those we admire, to the whole world around us.  Today I took my daughter and her two children, 4 ½ and 2, to see some property that my son had recently purchased to build a home.  The front is a rolling hay field, then a steep bank covered by woods (and at this time of year tall brush and weeds) and sort of a meadow with a creek at the bottom of the hill.  With the idea of a creek to see, the kids headed down the hill.  The youngest insisted on walking by herself in her ‘by myself attitude’ – just like her hero, her big brother.  She took off across some underbrush because it was the shortest direction to seeing her other hero, her mother.  Then it got deeper. She started looking up and back because she really couldn’t see anything ahead.  This is a woods that only covered about 2 acres of the land and an adult can easily see from front to back.  All of a sudden – my daughter dropped to her knees and started looking up.  “You know,” she said, “ at this height it looks like a dark forest out here.” 

How many times do we forget that a view from a different angle can put a slant on our perspective?  It isn’t only the young but the shorter people, those in wheelchairs, crippled over and not standing straight.  At 5 foot 11 inches I always felt tall as I grew.  Once I had children of my own, I realized how tall this next generation of teenagers was and I felt much shorter. 

As we age, most of us shrink some but it doesn’t get us down to the level of young children or those in wheelchairs.  When we do get on a lower level and look up, what do we see?  Do we see the beautiful sky and clouds, the leaf covered canopy of the woods? Or do we see limbs that need trimmed, leaves that will fall, and a storm coming in?  We need to look for the good. Relax when we can, play in the woods, run to the creek.  Look up to your heroes.  Do you still have heroes?  We’re never too old for heroes.

A hero, a dream, and a positive outlook are like looking up from the level of a child. You can still see the possibility, work toward your goals, and have the energy you need to move on.  You get the energy from the momentum to generate when you dream and set goals to reach the height of your hero.

That really isn’t the case. When the temperature have been in the 90’s for a few days, the mid 60’s can seem quite cool.  Makes a person want to snuggle back in and hit the snooze button. Once up, a good book and wrapped up in an afgan on the sofa seems inviting.  Along that vain I have found 3 of the best websites that I want to share with you.

These are sites that are geared to getting kids excited about reading.  www.guysread.com is truly for guys, young and old.  Encourages them to find new books, tell others about their favorite book, and interact.  The special thing - it is all guys, just for guys. The books have lots of adventure and action.

The second site is www.bookadventure.com .   It is created by Sylvan Learning.  The good part is you don’t have to be a Sylvan customer to use their reading list or interactive games. They even provide certificates for you to use as a reading program reward.  Nothing better to get kids reading than a little incentive. The games and book selection have a wide range in subject and age.

The third site is www.teenreads.com and as I see it is geared toward teen girls.  Really an age that sometimes is a challenge to find interesting but appropriate books.  Teenreads.com offers contests, free things, reviews and a chance for the teens to get in on doing reviews.  I find it a very inspiring site.

It will warm up, actually it will get hot and we will wish for these cool days.  You know, most of us are very hard to satisfy.  Then you can take that good book to the beach, the shade tree, or the air conditioned escape.  Check out these sites, if you don’t have any youth or teens share the sites with someone who does.  Create new book lovers.

I have been writing about summer in most of my posts.  It just seems to be on my mind with so many hot humid days.  For some reason summer brings many opportunities to relax with a good book - either because it is too hot to do much else, it is vacation so you want a break from routine, or you are just feeling lazy and you deserve it.  With a good story line in fiction your imagination can be sparked to transport you worlds away.  With a mystery, you anticipate the next surprise move or discovery.  With a fantasy or romance you are transformed in you minds eye into another world with you as the heroine or hero.  What a way to keep the mind creative and alive.

I have found some books that are great light reading for the young at heart but really appropriate for the youth who are reading to be young adults.  Odo Hirsch has penned an adventure “Barlett and the Forest of Plenty” that will capture most anyone but is also a great story to read to the younger readers.   Tyne O’Connell is an author who pulls from her own time of living in an all-girls school in England to stage her three books “Stealing Princes”, “Pulling Princes”, and “Dueling Princes“.  These are  “laugh-out-loud, page-turning look at fitting in…and standing out.”  The third author I would like to mention is Pam Smallcomb. She has given us two great books about Beezel and Mimi who are young, twin magicians. “The Trimoni Twins and the Changing Coin” and “The Trimoni Twins and the shrunken Treasure”  relate tales of the girls as they branch out from the family circus and have an adventure where ever they go.

A good book can be a treasured gift, a borrowed treat, or a prized possession.  It is always good to have a few good books on the bookshelf for any visitors you might have this summer,  have handy for a gift when you visit someone or for those summer birthdays.  Leisure library visits can be a great habit to start with young children and a special summer treat for school aged children.  Even though you can borrow about any book published, a priced possession as children grow is that favorite book because of the story line, because it was a special gift, or because of the memory associated with the time it was read.

Open your mind and that of any young folks around you to the joys of books.  Check back frequently to my eBay store for new additions.

I recently checked through my inventory of Webkinz - those cute, furry animals that have their own website sponsored by Ganz for joining a community.  Ganz is the company that designed these adorable animals and presented the children, youth an opportunity to interact in a community of diversity.  Joining in a community that has ever so many animals - 127 though some are retired.  The website is set up with an area for parents to learn more about the site, the activites on it, how to control ads on the site, and how to control the child’s time on the site. 

The learning is very encompassing.  Computer skills are the first to be noticed, community involvement, and care of their little animal friend.  This looks like some responsibility without the feeding and walking of that puppy in all sorts of weather.   If you haven’t heard of Webkinz you might want to drop over to the Webkinz website and check out what it is all about.  A great place to find these sweet critters then is at Comfy Cottage Crafts where I give free shipping for any number of new housemates for you.