Half Full Friday & Aloha Friday question of the week!

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"Fear less, hope more, eat less, chew more, whine less, breathe more, talk less, say more, love more, and all good things will be yours." ~ Swedish Proverb

Half Full Friday is a series of weekly posts that Eye Girl originally started in June 2009.  Now the it is hosted by Sprinkles at Wyldechylde.  We believe that a lot of our happiness is determined by our attitude about the things that happen to us. So by participating, we are deciding to see the glass as half full, instead of half empty. We are choosing to concentrate on the positives, instead of dwelling on the negatives. Our Half Full Friday posts are a way to do just that. They are a list of the things in our life that have brought us happiness over the past week. We are determined to find the something good in every day. Are you?

"It is not how much you do, but how much Love you put into the doing that matters." ~ Mother Teresa

For the next week, we challenge you to keep a list of at least one thing that brought you happiness each day.

"To love is to place our happiness in the happiness of another." ~ G.W. Von Leibnitz

This is what I'm Happy for this week:

• I'm happy all 3 of my sons were able to come home for Christmas!

• I'm happy for a 'safe' White & Wonderful Christmas!

• I'm happy I still have followers. :-) ... after being so busy the past 3 weeks and not being able to visit my blogging friends!  I promise things will get back to normal after 2 of my guest leave on Sunday.  Not that I want them to leave... they just are then. :-)

• I'm happy for a productive & very nice Christmas vacation.. with company too!!!

• I'm happy for all the nice Christmas blessings & comments!

• I'm happy my sons are always good to each other... as well as me!!!  I am so proud of them & love them more than anything!!!

‎"No matter what, no matter where, it's always home, if love is there." ~unknown

It's also "ALOHA FRIDAY" Everyone!!  If you want to join in the fun? Post your own question on your blog and leave your link at the Aloha Friday post at An Island Life. Then you can visit the other participants if you wish...It’s a great way to make new bloggy friends or see what people are thinking about this week and join in a conversation or two if you like.

"Enjoy time with your loved ones, smiling, laughing, and enriching the soul." ~ unknown

My question: What simple things at Christmas time, do you appreciate?

My answer: I appreciate spending time with any or all of my sons. Talking, watching football, playing video games with them and just hanging out. I also like going to the candle light church service with them on Christmas eve.
 
Have a 'Safe' and Happy New Years! 

Love & Hugs!

~ Coreen

Every Monday Matters ~ Thank a Teacher!!!

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"A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops." ~Henry Adams


DID YOU KNOW?
- There are 3.3 million teachers in the U.S.—2.6 million teach K-12.

- Almost 50% of K-12 teachers leave the profession by their fifth year.

- A $15 billion per year investment--or a 30% raise for all K-12 teachers is necessary to make teacher compensation competitive with other professions requiring similar levels of education.

- In 37 states, K-12 teacher salaries do not keep pace with inflation.

- $7 billion a year is the cost of teacher turnover.

- One of the most important factors in determining a child's performance is the quality of his or her teachers.

"The task of the excellent teacher is to stimulate "apparently ordinary" people to unusual effort. The tough problem is not in identifying winners: it is in making winners out of ordinary people." ~K. Patricia Cross

TAKE ACTION TODAY
+ Identify a teacher you want to thank—your child’s teacher, a friend or neighbor who teaches, a teacher at a local school, or a teacher of your own.

+ Show this teacher your appreciation by: Writing/emailing a thank-you note; Bringing a gift like homemade cookies, handpicked flowers, or something you know they will like.

+ Organize a class Appreciation Jar. Give every student a piece of paper and have them list all the reasons why their teacher is special to them. Stuff the papers in the jar and let the teacher open one per day.

+ Volunteer in the classroom or at a local school and help with special projects.

"The dream begins with a teacher who believes in you, who tugs and pushes and leads you to the next plateau, sometimes poking you with a sharp stick called "truth." ~Dan Rather

YOU MATTER
Youth are the future of our world, and teachers spend more waking hours with them than their parents do. Showing appreciation to teachers lets them know they are valued and respected—you don’t have to be a student or even a parent of a student to show your appreciation. Remember, teachers help shape everyone’s world…including yours.

"If a doctor, lawyer, or dentist had 40 people in his office at one time, all of whom had different needs, and some of whom didn't want to be there and were causing trouble, and the doctor, lawyer, or dentist, without assistance, had to treat them all with professional excellence for nine months, then he might have some conception of the classroom teacher's job." ~Donald D. Quinn

What is the Every Monday Matters program?

Monday used to be the least favorite day of the week, but that is changing. EMM is based on the idea that Every Monday people can make a difference in their life and the lives of those around them. No matter how big or small the actions, they matter. And not only do people have the power to make change, they have a social responsibility to do so. Not out of guilt, but out of an appreciation for every living thing in the world. Together, each person can make a difference in the world and raise the collective consciousness, thereby creating a legacy worth participating in…one Monday at a time.

For more information about the EMM movement visit: http://www.everymondaymatters.com/
 

Happy Birthday Jesus

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Hello Everyone!  I hope you ALL are having a Wonderful Christmas and Special weekend!

I'm throughly enjoying mine & hope all of you are feeling lots of Christmas Love!

Blessings & Hugs,

Coreen

  

‘Twas the Night Before Christmas for Moms…..

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Twas the night before Christmas, when all thru the abode
only one creature was stirring, and she was cleaning the commode.
The children were finally sleeping, all snug in their beds,
while visions of X-Box and Barbie, flipped through their heads.

The dad was snoring in front of the TV,
with a half-constructed bicycle propped on his knee.
So only the mom heard the reindeer hooves clatter,
which made her sigh, “Now what is the matter?”

With toilet bowl brush still clutched in her hand,
she descended the stairs, and saw the old man.
He was covered with ashes and soot, which fell with a shrug,
“Oh great,” muttered the mom, “Now I have to clean the rug.”

“Ho Ho Ho!” cried Santa, “I’m glad you’re awake.”
“Your gift was especially difficult to make.”
“Thanks, Santa, but all I want is time alone.”
“Exactly!” he chuckled, “So, I’ve made you a clone.”

“A clone?” she muttered, “What good is that?”
“Run along, Santa, I’ve no time for chit chat.”
Then out walked the clone – The mother’s twin,
same hair, same eyes, same double chin.

“She’ll cook, she’ll dust, she’ll mop every mess.
You’ll relax, take it easy, watch The Young & The Restless.”
“Fantastic!” the mom cheered. “My dream has come true!”
“I’ll shop, I’ll read, I’ll sleep all night through!”

From the room above, the youngest did fret.
“Mommy?! Come quickly, I’m scared & I’m wet.”
The clone replied, “I’m coming, sweetheart.”
“Hey,” the mom smiled, “She sure knows her part.”

The clone changed the small one and hummed her tune,
as she bundled the child in a blanket cocoon.
“You’re the best mommy ever, I really love you.”
The clone smiled & sighed, “And I love you, too.”

The mom frowned and said, “Sorry, Santa, no deal.”
That’s my child’s LOVE she is trying to steal.”
Smiling wisely Santa said, “To me it is clear,
only one loving mother is needed here.”

The mom kissed her child & tucked her in bed.
“Thank you, Santa, for clearing my head.
I sometimes forget, it won’t be very long,
when they’ll be too old for my cradle & song.”

The clock on the mantle began to chime.
Santa whispered to the clone, “It works every time.”
With the clone by his side Santa said, “Goodnight.
Merry Christmas, dear mom, you will be all right.”
               ~ author unknown


Sometimes, we need reminding of what life is all about. Especially at times during the Holiday season, when all we seem to do is clean and bake and shop and and and and and and……..You get the picture, I’m sure.  

My boys are all home for Christmas this year & we are having a wonderful time!  Brings back so many memories of when they were younger.  They grew up way too fast!!

So stop for a moment and hug that little one so special, whether he/she is 2 or 22, or even older than that. For they are the Gift that God gave us in life….and what a gift to be treasured, far above any other! May the real meaning of Christmas be with you all this year, is my prayer.

Merry 'Christ'mas!!!!!
Blessings & Love to you All!!
~ Coreen

More Christmas Love...



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Someday, Perhaps

It begins long before the first frost -

Somewhere between memory and reality.

It touches us with compassion

and whispers to us of hope.

It tiptoes into our hearts with elation

and opens our souls to faith.

Its name is Christmas and we have yet to learn

How to keep it close for more than

this one brief, shining moment.

Someday, perhaps...with love.
~ author unknown

"Every time we love, every time we give, it's Christmas."~Dale Evans

Because in everything I do

You always have a part,

Because a loving thought of you

Is always in my heart,

Because each little wish of mine

You've tried to make come true --

At Christmas time, I want to say

How dearly I love you.
~ author unknown

"Gifts of time and love are surely the basic ingredients of a truly merry Christmas." ~Peg Bracken

 

Every Monday Matters ~ Party With a Purpose for the Holidays!

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FACTS - Every week in the U.S. there are:
5,890,775 birthdays

41,154 weddings

82,788 births

- Birthdays are the #1 reason people celebrate.

- There are millions of other gift-giving/receiving occasions every year, such as holidays, bat and bar mitzvahs, graduations, funerals, and retirements.

- Every year, nearly 140 million people purchase and/or receive a gift card with an average value of $59.

- $832 is the average amount spent annually on holiday gifts.

TAKE ACTION TODAY
+ Select a charity, cause, or purpose you wish to support.

+ Decide which holiday or occasion for which you would like your friends and family to make a donation instead of giving you a gift.

+ Send a free email invitation (http://www.evite.com/) with the information.

+ Provide your friends and family with the proper charity information to make their giving easier— website, phone number, address, etc.

+ If there is not a specific reason for having a party, make one up. Most agencies have a "wish list" posted on their website. Select an agency and ask your party guests to bring an item from that agency's wish list to donate. Contact the Service-Learning office for a list of agencies and their wish lists. You may also search online at: http://www.volunteersolutions.org/


YOU MATTER
If everyone gives up their birthday gifts this year, $3 billion dollars or more can be donated to worthy causes or needy people. Friends and family donating money in your name can be much more rewarding than getting material gifts. Giving is a lot more gratifying than receiving, no matter the occasion.

What is the Every Monday Matters program?

Monday used to be the least favorite day of the week, but that is changing. EMM is based on the idea that Every Monday people can make a difference in their life and the lives of those around them. No matter how big or small the actions, they matter. And not only do people have the power to make change, they have a social responsibility to do so. Not out of guilt, but out of an appreciation for every living thing in the world. Together, each person can make a difference in the world and raise the collective consciousness, thereby creating a legacy worth participating in…one Monday at a time.

For more information about the EMM movement visit: http://www.everymondaymatters.com/

Have a Safe, Happy Merry Christmas!
Love & Blessings to All,
Coreen
 

Christmas Prayers

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"May Peace be your gift at Christmas and your blessing all year through!" ~Author Unknown

Amidst the giving of gifts, the excitement of children and the cooking of traditional dinners, it is easy to miss "the reason for the season", the birth of God's son, Jesus Christ. There are several ways of bring Jesus back into our family celebrations of Christmas, including church services. Here are a number of Christmas prayers for use at various stages of the day - these can be said by the family together, or silently in a moment aside from the rush.  For more prayers check out this website:  Prayer Guide.org

A Christmas Prayer by Robert Louis Stevenson
Loving Father, Help us remember the birth of Jesus,
that we may share in the song of the angels,
the gladness of the shepherds,
and worship of the wise men.

Close the door of hate and open the door of love all over the world. Let kindness come with every gift and good desires with every greeting. Deliver us from evil by the blessing which Christ brings, and teach us to be merry with clear hearts.

May the Christmas morning make us happy to be thy children, and Christmas evening bring us to our beds with grateful thoughts, forgiving and forgiven, for Jesus' sake. Amen.


fullchristmas.com



God grant you the light in Christmas, which is faith;

the warmth of Christmas, which is love;

the radiance of Christmas, which is purity;

the righteousness of Christmas, which is justice;

the belief in Christmas, which is truth;

the all of Christmas, which is Christ.

--Wilda English

 

Half Full Friday & Aloha Friday weekly question

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“Life is full of beauty.  Notice it.  Notice the bumble bee, the small child, and the smiling faces. Smell the rain, and feel the wind. Live your life to the fullest potential, and fight for your dreams.” ~ Ashley Smith

Half Full Friday is a series of weekly posts that Eye Girl originally started in June 2009.  Now the it is hosted by Sprinkles at Wyldechylde.  We believe that a lot of our happiness is determined by our attitude about the things that happen to us. So by participating, we are deciding to see the glass as half full, instead of half empty. We are choosing to concentrate on the positives, instead of dwelling on the negatives. Our Half Full Friday posts are a way to do just that. They are a list of the things in our life that have brought us happiness over the past week. We are determined to find the something good in every day.  Are you?

"I have learned from experience that the greater part of our happiness or misery depends on our dispositions and not on our circumstances."  ~Martha Washington 

For the next week, we challenge you to keep a list of at least one thing that brought you happiness each day.

"He who enjoys doing and enjoys what he has done is happy." ~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

This is what I'm Happy for this week:

• I'm happy my sons will all be home this coming week!

• I'm happy that my youngest son is done with semester finals!  Very stressful and busy few weeks... for us both.  A.S. Parents, you know what I mean! ...'smiles'...

• I'm happy my house is decorated and I'm ready for Christmas! 

• I'm happy for a wonderful time with friends this week!

• I'm happy to have a home and a new furnace!

• I'm happy I get 2 weeks off during Christmas and New Years!!  I love working for a college!!

"Remember that being a success without happiness is meaningless." ~Richard Denny -

It's also "ALOHA FRIDAY" Everyone!!  If you want to join in the fun? Post your own question on your blog and leave your link at the Aloha Friday post at An Island Life. Then you can visit the other participants if you wish...It’s a great way to make new bloggy friends or see what people are thinking about this week and join in a conversation or two if you like.

“We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have.” ~Frederick Keonig

My question:  What 'thing' do you appreciate... especially this time of year?
My answer:  My little house that I can both afford to keep and afford to heat in the winter.

“I would rather be able to appreciate things I can not have.. than to have things I am not able to appreciate.” ~Elbert Hubbard

Have a wonderful weekend! 

Love & Hugs!

~ Coreen

The Heart of Christmas is Love...

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"Christmas is not as much about opening our presents as opening our hearts." ~Janice Maeditere

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Come Home For Christmas ~ By Judith A. Lindberg

Unlock the door of your heart -
Enter the gentleness within.
Open the window of your soul -
Breathe in the season of miracles.
No matter how far you've traveled,
It's time to come home now,
Where Christmas abounds in love.

"Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love!"~Hamilton Wright Mabie

With Love on Christmas Day...  ~ author unknown

I really want to tell you

Just how precious you are to me,

My every thought of you is as loving as can be

My heart is totally filled with things

That words alone can't say,

This comes especially for you

With love on Christmas Day.

"Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen." ~Author unknown, attributed to a 7-year-old named Bobby

Every Monday Matters ~ Donate Your Organs



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FACTS
Over 120,072 people are waiting for organs to be donated.

77 people receive organ transplants every day.

As many as 50 people’s lives can be saved or improved from each organ and tissue donor.

There is no age limit on who can donate.

Most family members are not aware of on another’s willingness to be a donor, even if it is indicated on their driver’s license.

TAKE ACTION TODAY
Declare on your driver’s license your wish to donate tissue and organs.

Carry a donor card in your wallet.

Sign up on your state’s donor registry today.

Inform your family, loved ones, and physician of your decision.


YOU MATTER
Eighteen people die every day waiting for a transplant. Because more people need transplants than there are organs available, register your organs on the donor registry. In addition to indicating your wishes on your driver’s license, make your family members aware of your decision. Saving a life by donating a heart, lung, or kidney or allowing someone to see again through your cornea may be the most significant gift you ever give…and you may not even be aware you are giving it.


What is the Every Monday Matters program?

Monday used to be the least favorite day of the week, but that is changing. EMM is based on the idea that Every Monday people can make a difference in their life and the lives of those around them. No matter how big or small the actions, they matter. And not only do people have the power to make change, they have a social responsibility to do so. Not out of guilt, but out of an appreciation for every living thing in the world. Together, each person can make a difference in the world and raise the collective consciousness, thereby creating a legacy worth participating in…one Monday at a time.

For more information about the EMM movement visit: http://www.everymondaymatters.com/

 

The Power of Denial... By Carmen Honacker

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It’s said that the power of love and hate can overcome anything… but I believe that denial is even stronger.

What makes denial so powerful is that it works with its “accomplices” – avoidance, diminishing, and blame. It therefore is one of the hardest habits to break. How can a person work on something that they feel they are not responsible for or didn’t do?

Denial leaves no room for self-awareness, and no room for growth or freedom, but it sure as hell makes life much easier, or so it seems! Denial, after all, is the sister of ignorance, and ignorance is supposedly bliss.

One would assume that it’s easier to avoid responsibility and look the other way. I’ve been in denial many times. And I always ended up paying the price for it. Consequences are what finally got me out and away from the blame game. As long as there are no severe consequences, as long as there are enablers, there will be denial.

I remember having a conversation with my father twenty years ago. He was telling false stories, and I corrected him. He totally flipped out, and yelled at me that I’m a liar. This is the first time that I truly started to grasp denial. He didn’t defend, he actually believed what he was saying!

I have observed this behavior time and time again, and it still leaves me speechless. As a manager, I would present an employee with black and white results, and he or she would look straight at them, claiming that they didn’t do it, or that it wasn’t their fault. I remember reprimanding an employee once for constant personal phone calls. She looked straight at me and told me that she was never on the phone during work hours. I sat right next to her!

Or I would call someone I considered a friend on their bad attitude, and they’d turn around and attack me. And then there’s the downplaying of a situation… i.e.m “I wasn’t really cheating on you, we were just hanging out.”

Life seems so much easier when one removes all responsibility, accountability and truth, and when one can point the finger at someone else, claiming that “it” wasn’t a big deal, that they didn’t do it, or attacking the one who called them on their actions. But is it really the better place to be? Would I rather be able to live in total denial? What would my life look like?

What are we without our integrity and strong character? What are we if we can neither receive, nor give truth? How sad would my life be if I had to continuously muster up all my energy to keep my eyes firmly shut and avoid being discovered for the fraud that I truly am?

When I lived in firm denial, there was no bliss. Instead, there was disappointment, tears, anger, sadness and isolation. As long as I couldn’t be real with myself, I couldn’t attract others who were real either; which left me pretty lonely and miserable. The more I’d deny and blame, the more I’d sink into unrealistic expectations and victimhood; which in return would leave me more and more disappointed. With each disappointment, I’d point the finger again for being rejected and deceived. After all, denial fuels one of the most dangerous parts of the ego, the victim and martyr.

There was no happiness in those modes for me. There was no satisfaction and definitely no light at the end of the tunnel. Life would vary from being miserable and sad to being mediocre and bearable. There was not a whole lot of joy and no freedom at all! The few moments of “fun” were pseudo moments of happiness that wouldn’t last, but at least gave me the illusion that I was OK.

I now know that I am not the outsider I thought I was. It turns out that there are quite a few people who get me perfectly well. Maybe it’s easier to understand me when I don’t wear a mask, act from fear or suspicion, or from a place of having way too many expectations? I’m complicated and multi-faceted, but that doesn’t make me unreasonable or impossible to get along with. I’m more open and vulnerable than I’ve ever been. I guess that makes me more approachable and shows my true character. Evidently, this “new” me draws in a lot more people. Not living in denial any longer has given me the true, keen insight needed to stay clear of those who could exploit or damage this newfound open heart.

It’s a bit wobbly out there, but these days it’s actually much more fun, less energy consuming and leaves me with feelings of true bliss.    By Carmen Honacker

Half Full Friday & Aloha Friday weekly question

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"Could we change our attitude, we should not only see life differently, but life itself would come to be different." ~Katherine Mansfield

Half Full Friday is a series of weekly posts that Eye Girl originally started in June 2009.  Now the it is hosted by Sprinkles at Wyldechylde.  We believe that a lot of our happiness is determined by our attitude about the things that happen to us. So by participating, we are deciding to see the glass as half full, instead of half empty. We are choosing to concentrate on the positives, instead of dwelling on the negatives. Our Half Full Friday posts are a way to do just that. They are a list of the things in our life that have brought us happiness over the past week. We are determined to find the something good in every day. Are you?

"Seek out that particular mental attribute which makes you feel most deeply and vitally alive, along with which comes the inner voice which says, "This is the real me," and when you have found that attitude, follow it." ~ William James

For the next week, we challenge you to keep a list of at least one thing that brought you happiness each day.

"The greatest discovery of my generation is that a human being can alter his life by altering his attitudes." ~William James

This is what I'm Happy for this week:

• I'm happy my oldest Son's next clinical rotation is in Iowa!  We miss him terribly and get him for 3 months! 

• I'm happy that same son got a job in Houston after graduation & that he will have some family close by!

• I'm happy my middle son had a nice birthday in Chicago & loved his gift!

• I'm happy & lucky my youngest son is so helpful & can fix things around the house!  He is so smart and has lots of common sense! 

• I'm happy for a great review at work!  My first and only one in 4 years.  I have 5 bosses and HR didn't seem to know 'who' I worked for.  At least they paid me!!

"     If you don't think every day is a good day, just try missing one." ~Cavett Robert

It's also "ALOHA FRIDAY" Everyone!!  If you want to join in the fun? Post your own question on your blog and leave your link at the Aloha Friday post at An Island Life. Then you can visit the other participants if you wish...It’s a great way to make new bloggy friends or see what people are thinking about this week and join in a conversation or two if you like.

“You must love yourself before you love another. By accepting yourself and fully being what you are, your simple presence can make others happy.” ~ thinkexist.com

My question:  What do you Love about yourself?

My answer:   I love that I'm talkative, happy most of the time, passionate about subjects I believe in and life in general.  I love my inner strength and compassionate towards others. 

So what do You LOVE about Yourself?

"If you must love your neighbor as yourself, it is at least as fair to love yourself as your neighbor." ~Nicholas de Chamfort

Blessings, Love & Many Hugs!

~ Coreen

Prayer of Gratitude, Love and Compassion

What great fortune to have my basic needs and requirements met, to have clean water and food to nourish the body and to be in a place free from war and invasion.

What gratitude and love I have for Life and this precious birth, so I may enquire into the nature of existence.

May I have compassion for the suffering of others, always wishing them the best.

May all beings be free of all tendencies and restrictions of the mind, so that their suffering may end, and the peace and stillness of their true nature can shine unobstructed.

May all beings be peaceful.

May all beings be content.

May all beings be happy.
AMEN
Arunagiri.com

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"All major religious traditions carry basically the same message, that is love, compassion and forgiveness the important thing is they should be part of our daily lives." ~Dalai Lama

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How we treat people is a Choice!!

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"It is my daily mood that makes the weather. I possess tremendous power to make life miserable or joyous. I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration, I can humiliate or humor, hurt or heal. In all situations, it is my response that decides whether a crisis is escalated or de-escalated, and a person is humanized or de-humanized. If we treat people as they are, we make them worse. If we treat people as they ought to be, we help them become what they are capable of becoming.”— J. W. Goethe

What very good points this quote makes.  In our life time we will all experience injustices, accidents, deaths of loved ones and traumas of varying degrees.  How we react to the situations ourselves and how we respond to others and treat those in need, are what make those times of trial bearable or unbearable... torture or healing... for those going through it.  Compassion and Character, in my opinion, have a great deal to do with how we react or respond to others. 

There have been many times in my own life, where I have had someone escalate the stress of a trauma or experience, because of their own inability to have compassion or understanding for what someone else may be feeling or going through.  So I try very hard to treat people the way I want to be treated.  No matter what they have or have not done for me personally. 

I see people hurt by comments, judgements and other peoples' 'unhappiness' quite often.  Many times by those who don't mean to upset anyone.  They just don't put themselves in the other person's place;  realize how they would feel or what they would need in the their places were reversed. 

So often over the years, my youngest son has had teachers who could 'tear him down' or 'build him up'... by just the way they talked to him and the words they used.  It finally took a new state, new school and teachers who 'understood' what was needed to "help him become what he has always been capable of becoming!"

How we treat others, whether it is a child or a co-worker... a sister or a friend... can make all the difference in helping them to achieve the best they can be... or help in tearing them down.  The choice is ours!

"If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion." ~Dalai Lama

http://www.dancelightly.com/



"Treat everyone with politeness, even those who are rude to you - not because they are nice, but because you are." ~Author Unknown

 

Every Monday Matters ~ Create, Support, Appreciate Art

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Every Monday Matters



"The artist's world is limitless. It can be found anywhere, far from where he lives or a few feet away. It is always on his doorstep." ~Paul Strand

FACTS

93% of people believe that the arts are vital to a well-rounded education.

Regardless, only 29% of schools have been able to maintain time and funding for arts programs.

Children spend more time at their locker than in art classes.

People learn to be more tolerant and open when creating or appreciating art.

Art promotes individuality, bolsters self-confidence, and improves overall academic performance.

Art is a reflection of people and cultures since the beginning of time.

Students who take 4 years of arts and music in high school score over 98 points higher on their SATs than students who took only a half year or less.

TAKE ACTION TODAY
Create an original piece of art today. If you don’t know how or where to start, visit your local craft store and ask for help.

Sign up for an art class with a friend.

Visit a local museum, art gallery, or sculpture garden.

Find resources for teachers.

Volunteer to support an art activity at a local school or senior citizen program.

Communicate with your school-district administrators or national legislators by either writing a letter of appreciation for current funding or requesting funding for the arts. Find and contact your federal, state, and local officials.

YOU MATTER
Sit down with friends and family and take some time to be a kid again. With minimal supplies, you can create a unique piece of art and give it to someone as a gift. If creating art is not your thing, then support the people who do love it by visiting a museum, donating art supplies, buying art from a local artist, or writing a letter to the people who control the school budgets. Just as there are many ways you can express art, there are also many ways you can support and appreciate it.

LINKS:
Museums USA.org
Keep Arts In Schools.org
Congress.org
New Grant Program Funds Helps Schools Fund Arts

"When my daughter was about seven years old, she asked me one day what I did at work. I told her I worked at the college - that my job was to teach people how to draw. She stared at me, incredulous, and said, "You mean they forget?" ~Howard Ikemoto

What is the Every Monday Matters program?

Monday used to be the least favorite day of the week, but that is changing. EMM is based on the idea that Every Monday people can make a difference in their life and the lives of those around them. No matter how big or small the actions, they matter. And not only do people have the power to make change, they have a social responsibility to do so. Not out of guilt, but out of an appreciation for every living thing in the world. Together, each person can make a difference in the world and raise the collective consciousness, thereby creating a legacy worth participating in…one Monday at a time.

For more information about the EMM movement visit: http://www.everymondaymatters.com/

 

Be Passionate About What You Do!... Do what you love - Love what you Do! By: Kathy Crofoot

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"Passion is universal humanity. Without it religion, history, romance and art would be useless." ~ Honor de Balzac

By emilysd33

"Live with Passion!"

If I’ve learned anything in my years on this Earth, it’s to do what you love and are passionate about, or you’re cheating your client (or boss), and more importantly yourself.  A client that does their own bookkeeping and hates it, is likely to make a mess of it.

I’ve seen a lot of messages floating around the VA Forums about what skills to offer, comparing ones’ own skills to others’ and how would they be able to make it in the VA world with their particular of skills. That one doesn’t have this skill or that skill, and won’t be able to compete with others who have those skills. My question is… Why would you want to compete?  Why not find your passion and do that?

Be Passionate

Darlene of D. Victoria Virtual Assistance creates A Virtual Perception Podcasts.  From listening to her Podcasts, you can tell she’s passionate about what she does.  It shows in every episode she loves every minute of it. Can I do what she does?  Maybe, but I’m not passionate about it, and probably wouldn’t be very good at it.  We’re not in competition.

Because she’s not passionate about bookkeeping, she wouldn’t want to compete with me.  My passion is to apply my bookkeeping expertise to help business owners do just that.  My other passions are Organization and Systems, and helping others find their way.  All of these things are interrelated.

"Chase down your passion like it's the last bus of the night." ~ Glade Byron Addams

Love what you do!

When I started my first business a dozen years ago,  I didn’t remember much about the bookkeeping that I learned in Business School.  That first year was pretty rough when I went to the accountant with our taxes.  He recommended QuickBooks, and an Accounting class I could take at the University that really sparked my interest.  I continued on with my business, and found myself being sucked into the bookkeeping part of making the business run.  I found out that I LOVED bookkeeping, and that second year when I went to the accountant, with the books in hand, and the tax forms mostly filled out, he said I had a knack for it.

Fast forward a few years when I was looking for a job and put QuickBooks experience on my resume (because by then I knew it backwards and forwards) and I landed a job with a small business.  It was then that I became passionate about bookkeeping, and helping this business owner understand his financial picture.

Fast Forward a few more years, and I’m getting into the VA world, almost by accident.  The opportunity literally dropped into my inbox, and I went zooming off to an unknown future, away from a job and commute I disliked.  See, this job had nothing to do with bookkeeping. Numbers and sales goals, yes, but not bookkeeping. I was ill more often, had accidents, and a general dislike of the people I was dealing with and the situation I was in.  I was doing my employer a disservice by going through the motions.

Today, I help others; by get organized, put systems in place, and understand their financial picture.  I love what I do, and I’m passionate about it.

©2009 Kathy Crofoot

"If you want to be successful, it's just this simple: Know what you're doing. Love what you're doing. And believe in what you're doing." - Will Rogers 

Half Full Friday & Aloha Friday weekly question

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"One is happy as a result of one's own efforts-once one knows the necessary ingredients of happiness-simple tastes, a certain degree of courage, self-denial to a point, love of work, and, above all, a clear conscience." ~ George Sand

Half Full Friday is a series of weekly posts that Eye Girl originally started in June 2009.  Now the it is hosted by Sprinkles at Wyldechylde.  We believe that a lot of our happiness is determined by our attitude about the things that happen to us. So by participating, we are deciding to see the glass as half full, instead of half empty. We are choosing to concentrate on the positives, instead of dwelling on the negatives. Our Half Full Friday posts are a way to do just that. They are a list of the things in our life that have brought us happiness over the past week. We are determined to find the something good in every day. Are you?

"Often people attempt to live their lives backwards; they try to have more things, or more money, in order to do more of what they want, so they will be happier. The way it actually works is the reverse. You must first be who you really are, then do what you need to do, in order to have what you want." ~ Margaret Young

For the next week, we challenge you to keep a list of at least one thing that brought you happiness each day.

"Where your pleasure is, there is your treasure: where your treasure, there your heart; where your heart, there your happiness." ~ Saint Augustine

This is what I'm Happy for this week:

• I'm happy for 4 work events All turning out Great this week!

• I'm happy for laptops and wireless Internet!

• I'm happy for a terrific IEP meeting!

• I'm happy for my crazy, busy week being overwith soon!

• I'm happy for family birthdays' this weekend!

• I'm happy for being needed & appreciated!

“Happiness comes of the capacity to feel deeply, to enjoy simply, to think freely, to risk life, to be needed.” ~ Storm Jameson

It's also "ALOHA FRIDAY" Everyone!!  If you want to join in the fun? Post your own question on your blog and leave your link at the Aloha Friday post at An Island Life. Then you can visit the other participants if you wish...It’s a great way to make new bloggy friends or see what people are thinking about this week and join in a conversation or two if you like.

“The difference between school and life? In school, you're taught a lesson and then given a test. In life, you're given a test that teaches you a lesson.” ~ Tom Bodett quotes

My question: What is your biggest Life Lesson?

My answer: Taking responsibility for 'allowing' people to treat me badly in the past.  Along with having the strength, wisdom and 'life skills' to not let myself stay in those situations again.  :-)

"You must take personal responsibility. You cannot change the circumstances, the seasons, or the wind, but you can change yourself." ~ Jim Rohn

Have a wonderful weekend, Everyone! 

Love & Hugs!

~ Coreen

Do you think of me too?

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"My thoughts are free to go anywhere, but it's surprising how often they head in your direction." ~ by perez

Do you think of me too?   by Sherry Lynn

As I lay here in bed

I think of you

I begin to wonder

Do you think of me too?

I imagine you're next to me,

Pulling me close,

I feel your kiss,

As you caress my skin.

My heart beats fast,

Pounding louder every second,

I begin to tremble,

As I taste your sweet lips.

I find that I gasp for air,

To replace the breath that you just took away.

My body and soul

Are slipping into a heavenly bliss.

Your hands are touching my every inch,

With such ease and tenderness.

I want this moment to last,

Not one second can escape,

I want to stay in your arms,

But then I suddenly awake.

It was only a dream,

Just a desire,

But in reality,

You have set my heart on fire.

elephantjournal.com

"Maybe if you can't get somebody out of your head, they're supposed to be there." ~ by mollz

10 Ways to Beat the Holiday Blues ~ By Alina Mikos

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Commons.wikimedia.org

The holidays can be a high-pressure time of year, chock-full of expectations, temptations and potential disappointments. If we can make pre-emptive strikes against the upcoming challenges by neutralizing potential triggers, we have a sporting chance at turning around those end-of-the-year blues.

1. Set Realistic Goals
Evaluating and accepting which of your holiday goals are attainable without running yourself into the ground allows you to enjoy your accomplishments, instead of feeling disappointed for failing to complete all of your self-imposed holiday tasks. Being honest with yourself about your time, money and energy limitations will go a long way towards achieving a sense of happiness and satisfaction this season.

2. Don’t Overindulge
Alcohol and sweets are unavoidable holiday temptations, and an abundant feature of every party and dinner you attend. Enjoying these in moderation can add to the holiday spirit, as long as you don’t go overboard. Alcohol is a well-known depressant, which in high doses heightens a gloomy disposition. The same goes for a high sugar intake, which provides a temporary energy rush, quickly followed by a sugar crash (decreasing serotonin levels in the body), and a feeling of weakness and fatigue.

3. Enlist Recruits
There’s no need to take on every holiday responsibility. If you feel overwhelmed with chores, divvying them up amongst friends and family is a great way to spend time with those closest to you during this festive season while getting things done. The less stress you feel, the less likely you will feel over-burdened and depressed.

4. Venture Into Volunteerism
Making time to help those in need will make you feel useful and appreciated, and takes you out of your daily life and schedule. Giving of yourself makes you appreciate what you do have in life; and as you bring smiles to others’ faces, your face will reflect that joy.

5. Don’t Break the Bank
Carefully calculate your holiday expenses and hold to your budget. There’s no quicker route to depression than feeling hopeless about money. When you overspend on seasonal shopping, you diminish your delight in the holidays by increasing your financial worries.

6. Use Nostalgia Positively
This time of year can be a time of reflection, and if you have lost someone through death, divorce or a break-up, your sense of loss can easily make you feel overwhelmed. It’s important to focus on the good memories you have of that person, appreciating what they’ve brought into your life and how those positive memories will forever be a part of you. Staying present and celebrating who’s in your life today is another way to beat the nostalgia blues.

7. Pitch the Perfectionism
The expectations for a perfect holiday can drive anyone mad. It’s great to have pride in your work (cooking, decorating, gift giving), but obsessing over these things will definitely not make your holidays happy. Agree to put a certain amount of effort into each project, and then pat yourself on the back for a job well done.

8. Forgiveness
During this family-oriented time of year, try to move past any judgments and arguments that you may have with a family member. Harboring ill feelings can be a heavy burden, and you might be pleasantly surprised at how much lighter and happier you feel when you can let go of any resentments and enjoy this time of year with those you love.

9. Identify Escapism
Sometimes people use the holidays to avoid the realities and problems of their daily lives. It’s easy to plunge yourself into the projects that characterize the season; but if part of your whirlwind of activities is an effort to escape from your problems, you will certainly feel depressed at some point as things start to slow down. In this regard, accepting your situation and taking steps every day to improve it is the only answer to making a happier life for yourself. If you hide behind escapism – like excessive vacations, mountains of movies and books, or holiday fervor – your problems will persist, and eventually sap your energy and joy.

10. Nurture Yourself
Keeping yourself balanced through exercise, relaxation, sleep, and a healthy diet is a crucial component of a happy mind. With the added stressors of the holidays, these factors deserve even more attention. Observing these checks and balances will enable you to conquer the challenges of the holidays with an abundance of energy and an appreciation for the true spirit of the season.

By Alina Mikos
 

6 Simple Suggestions for Happier Holidays ~ By Alina Mikos

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"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow." ~ Melody Beattie

By: Matthias Kabel



The holidays can be emotionally stressful as time, budgets, and patience are stretched to their limits. However, with some planning, perspective, and an increased consciousness about the true spirit of the season, we can create an abundance of happy moments and memories that will give Hallmark a run for its money!


Be Realistic
Going into the holidays with an accurate perspective on what’s in store for you will decrease your frustration and stress. Make a list of your goals: sensible gift giving, holiday cooking and baking, house cleaning, party planning, etc. Tackling your holiday chores one by one will make you feel less overwhelmed and certainly make seasonal preparations more enjoyable. Knowing your financial, physical and scheduling limitations will allow you to set realistic goals that will make you feel satisfied when you complete them (rather than overworked and overemotional as you try to live up to your unrealistic agenda).


Take Time to Detox
Everyone needs a little down time to rejuvenate, and with the holidays draining you quicker with all those seasonal expectations, it’s important to take a little time for yourself. Even with a hectic schedule, you will need to pencil in your refueling time. Whether it’s curling up with a book and a cup of hot cocoa, getting a massage, or meditating and practicing yoga, setting your mind and spirit to rights again will release those building tensions and allow you to accomplish more because you have recharged your emotional batteries.


Keep Within a Budget
Shopping for others can be a rewarding pastime, but those feelings of goodness through gift-giving can easily turn into stress and worry as you deplete your bank account (or worse, rack up credit card charges). By creating a financial budget for yourself, you then have the freedom to make purchases for each person within that specified amount, without the fear of overspending.


Put Differences Aside
Family time offers you the opportunity to be with your loved ones, the people in your life that have known and loved you the longest. It can be a time of catching up, and offers most people a sense of belonging. The less shiny side of that coin can be personality differences that can tarnish your holiday happiness with misunderstandings and arguments. Keeping things in perspective this year, and accepting one another’s differences even if you disagree, will allow you to connect and enjoy the moment: a special time of year with the family you love.


Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle
With the time crunch of the approaching holidays, it is easy to let healthy habits fall to the wayside. Perhaps, then, this is the most important time to keep those routines in place as best you can. Continuing with your exercise regime, and eating at least one healthy meal a day will keep you more balanced, physically and emotionally. It is well known that exercise keeps the endorphins high in your body and gives a natural sense of well-being. Eating right supplies you with the energy you need to accomplish all your tasks and keeps chemical levels (such as serotonin) in balance. This is not to say that you cannot enjoy your holiday sweets and treats! Just keep in mind that most seasonal food tends to be high in fat and sugar, which ultimately cause lethargic and potentially depressive feelings with their energy inhibitors and sugar crashes. So, go ahead, eat those yummy holiday delights— just make sure you balance your diet with nutritious foods that your body needs.


Focus on Holiday Cheer
While the stress of shopping and cooking for others can wear on you, keeping in mind that you are doing these things for others is a great way to stay in high holiday spirits. The holidays are a time for appreciating family and friends, and for thinking of and giving to others. When your goal is to put a smile on someone’s face, that is time well spent indeed. Holiday volunteering at places like children’s hospitals, low-income family centers, and nursing homes, can be another way to keep your head and heart in lively spirits. Giving to others in times of need reaps wonderful spiritual benefits and gives you the perspective to appreciate what you do have. The “demands” don’t seem as great when you acknowledge how fortunate you are to have so many special people in your life to spend your money, time and energy on. ~ By Alina Mikos