Life changing true stories told to encourage, empower and inspire us!

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"Fill your mind with light, happiness, hope, feelings of security and strength, and soon your life will reflect these qualities." ~Unknown

Email me anytime: coreen.velvetoversteel@gmail.com

"The Greatest gift that you can give to others is the gift of unconditional love and acceptance!" ~Brian Tracy

All post and stories are the sole property of Velvet Over Steel aka Coreen Trost. I write and create post in order to help others, so share as you want. I just ask that you link back or give VOS credit. Some of the stories are going into a book in progress. Thank You ALL.. for your support and help!!
"If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader." ~ John Quincy Adams

Friday, April 29, 2011

Half Full & Aloha Friday Question!

"Happiness calls out responsive gladness in others. There is enough sadness in the world without yours ... never doubt the excellence and permanence of what is yet to be. Join the great company of those who make the barren places of life fruitful with kindness." ~Helen Keller
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?
"To get up each morning with the resolve to be happy. . . is to set our own conditions to the events of each day. To do this is to condition circumstances instead of being conditioned by them." ~Ralph Waldo Emerson
For the next week, we challenge you to keep a list of at least one thing that brought you happiness each day.

I'm Happy and Thankful for many things; especially this week:
  • For the writer Alex J. Cavanaugh featuring my blog on his Tuesday post!  And especially for the Very Nice things he said.  He's a wonderful writer and Person! Visit his blog and read his new book if you get the chance.  It's wonderful!
  • For my oldest son coming home 'safely' from the Dominican Republic!  He had an Amazing time, while Helping people.  So Proud of him and his group! 
  • For the help I got getting some projects done around the house! 
"Caring about others, running the risk of feeling, and leaving an impact on people brings happiness." ~Rabbi Harold Kushner
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.
"Plant a seed of friendship; reap a bouquet of happiness." ~Lois L. Kaufman
My question:  How have you 'planted' a seed of friendship before?

My answer:   I reached out and befriended someone who needed a friend.  I especially understood what she was going through with her child with Asperger's... instead of the ridicule and judgements she was getting from those around her.  I understood, because I had been in her situation when my son was younger.   Friends with a common 'bond' or 'understanding' bring much happiness to me. :-)

"Celebrate the happiness that friends are always giving, make every day a holiday and celebrate just living!" ~Amanda Bradley

Have a Wonderful Weekend my Friends!
Hugs and Much Love,
~ Coreen
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Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Time to Make a Change?

"Life makes no guarantees as to what you'll have.  It just gives you time to make choices and to take chances and to discover whatever secrets might come your way." ~ Deanna Beisser
networkers-online.com
It’s Never Too Late to Make a Change

At any time, you can decide to change the road you’re on in life, take a new direction, follow a new trail. You are the only one who really knows what you want from life and if you’re on the right road for you. You are the only one who can fulfill your dreams and receive the joys and happiness that come from reaching those aspirations and goals.

Don’t expect others to be responsible for your happiness and your success. You must take control and be in charge of your destiny and day-to-day situations. Take advice (most of the time it’s free!) and listen to what others have to say and what concerns they have; it’s important to have different points of view. But always validate those words of wisdom with your own set of standards and make sure that the advice has meaning to your sense of reality.

You must understand yourself enough to know what you want in life and what desires you believe are worthwhile for your future. You need to depend upon yourself and your talents. Appreciate others for their personal skills and abilities, but always continue to focus on your own strengths and energies. Life is much too short to spend it worrying about someone else’s accomplishments or expecting someone else to be responsible for making your life better.

If you have dreams, then you have a purpose. You have something to believe in and work toward obtaining. Dedicate yourself to yourself. Promise yourself a life filled with love, and then whatever roads you travel will be the roads you want them to be.

–from the pages of Deanna Beisser's book 'Is it time to Make a Change?'
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Monday, April 25, 2011

ALTRUISM of LOVE AND COMPASSION

"I believe all suffering is caused by ignorance. People inflict pain on others in the selfish pursuit of their happiness or satisfaction. Yet true happiness comes from a sense of peace and contentment, which in turn must be achieved through the cultivation of altruism, of love and compassion, and elimination of ignorance, selfishness, and greed." ~Dalai Lama
rewireyourbrainforlove.com
So often we use the words above in our everyday life without really thinking about what they mean or what it would be like if all the people in the world live by them.

Let's dig deeper into the meaning of these words.  

Altruism is the unselfish concern for the welfare and well being of others.  It is the active practice of love and compassion. Altruism is demonstrated in daily life by simple acts such as feeding the hungry and providing directions to a stranger in need. Altruism focuses on a motivation to help others or a want to do good a good thing, without a concern for reciprocation or reward. Altruism is related to heroism; however it lacks an element of risk to the helper. Research indicates that altruism is triggered by empathy and driven by compassion. (source heroic inagination.org)

Love is an emotion of strong affection and personal attachment.  In philosophical context, love is a virtue representing all of human kindness, compassion, and affection.  (source wikipedia.org)

Compassion is also a virtue, one in which the emotional capacities of empathy and sympathy for others, are regarded as a part of love itself, and a cornerstone of greater social interconnectedness and humanism.  It is foundation to the highest principles in philosophy, society, and personally..  (source wikipedia.org)

What do you think the impact on society would be if these 'words' were 'lived in daily action' by more people?  I believe the impact would be less conflict and more PEACE in the world! 
“Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them humanity cannot survive.” ~Dalai Lama 
Bookmark and ShareDalai Lama's Peace Prize Acceptance Speech

Friday, April 22, 2011

Half Full & Aloha Friday Question!

"If we are peaceful, if we are happy, we can smile and blossom like a flower, and everyone in our family, our entire society, will benefit from our peace." ~Thich Nhat Hanh
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?
"You can never get to peace and inner security without first acknowledging and accepting what you really want and need. If you're forever wanting and longing for something or someone, without going after what your heart is pulling you toward, you'll stay in discord." ~ME

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

I'm Happy and Thankful for many things; especially this week:
  • For the peace and happiness I feel just being myself...'ME'! :-)
  • For having 2 of my sons home for Easter!! 
  • For doing what my 'heart' and 'intuition' tell me too... at least most of the time! ;-)
"Love the moment and the energy of that 'moment'... will spread beyond all boundaries into blissful, peaceful happiness." ~author 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.
"If in our daily life we can smile, if we can be peaceful and happy, not only we, but everyone will profit from it. This is the most basic kind of peace work." ~Thich Naht Hanh
My question:  What are your 'Tips' for a 'Peaceful' home?

 My answer:  First and most important - No fighting!  I had enough of that for too many years.  Maturity, Communication, Kindness and Love... go a long ways to having a peaceful and happy home.

Second - Plan ahead, de-clutter and stay organized... which bring less stress and more energy into a home.  Of course the clutter and 'stuff' catch up to all of us every once in a while.. that's what Spring cleaning is for in my house. :-)    
"He is happiest, be he king or peasant, who finds peace in his home." ~Johann von Goethe
Have a Very Happy Easter Weekend, Everyone!!
Hugs and Much Love,
~ Coreen
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Wednesday, April 20, 2011

PowerTalk 21 ... talk to your kids


Teen Drinking Video from CBS News
Last week, the U.S. Senate unanimously approved Senate Resolution 157 declaring April 21st Power Talk 21 day, the national day for parents to start talking with their kids about alcohol. Research has shown that parents are the number one influence in their child’s decisions about alcohol. So, in an effort to curb underage drinking among America’s youth, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) created the Power of Parents, It’s Your Influence™ program to help parents have the sometimes difficult, but potentially life-saving, conversation about alcohol with their kids on April 21st and throughout the year.
“Senator Klobuchar and Senator Vitter are to be commended for their leadership in preventing underage drinking. MADD hopes that PowerTalk 21 day will inspire parents to talk with their teens about healthy lifestyles and smart choices — particularly in advance of prom and graduation season — and will ultimately save lives,” said MADD National President Laura Dean-Mooney.

DID YOU KNOW?

•By the time they graduate from high school, half of all teenagers report drinking alcohol regularly. One-third report binge drinking.

•The greatest increase in alcohol usage occurs between grades 6 and 10.

•Fifty-five percent of middle and high school students say it is against their values to drink alcohol while they are teenagers.

•Teen alcohol use kills about 6,000 people each year, more than all illegal drugs combined.

•Still, one in three eighth graders drinks alcohol and one in five teens binge drinks.


Developed with Pennsylvania State University’s Dr. Robert Turrisi, MADD’s Power of Parents handbook is based on more than two decades of underage drinking research, and has been shown to significantly reduce underage drinking behaviors, even in households with below average communication.

With prom and graduation just around the corner, the subject of alcohol is a timely one no parent can overlook. Research shows that parents are the No. 1 influence in their child’s decisions about drinking, but like the birds and the bees, alcohol is a topic few children look forward to discussing with mom and dad.

However, "the talk" is a necessary evil.
For conversation starters, tips and to get the free Power of Parents handbook, visit
www.madd.org/powertalk21.

About Mothers Against Drunk DrivingFounded by a mother who lost her daughter in a crash, Mothers Against Drunk Driving® (MADD) is the nation’s largest nonprofit working to protect families from drunk driving and underage drinking. With the help of those who want a safer future, MADD’s Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving® will end this danger on America’s roads.
PowerTalk 21™ is the national day for parents to talk with their kids about alcohol, using the proven strategies of Power of Parents, It’s Your Influence™ to reduce the risk of underage drinking. And as one of the largest victim services organizations in the U.S., MADD also supports drunk driving victims and survivors at no charge, serving one person every 10 minutes at 1-877-MADD-HELP. Learn more at http://www.madd.org/ or call 1-877-ASK-MADD.


Get Involved

PowerTalk 21 isn’t just for parents. Anyone concerned about the dangers of underage drinking can get involved.

Parents

Request. Sign up to receive a FREE copy of MADD’s parent handbook for research-based guidance on starting the on-going conversation about alcohol with teens.

Download. Once you have signed up for the handbook, you can also
access some quick conversation starters.

Plan. Get a game plan for starting the conversation. Choose a calm and relaxed time and location without distractions where you will have each others’ undivided attention. The parent handbook offers tips on avoiding potholes and talking so teens will listen. Click here to find a free 30-minute parent workshop in your area.

Donate. Help MADD continue to provide free parent handbooks and workshops to encourage safer communities.

Youth

Download. MADD recommends that you do not wait until your parents start the conversation with you to talk with them about alcohol. Download conversation starters to guide you in communicating with your parents.

Talk. By communicating with your parents about alcohol, you open the door to building trust, to understanding the risks associated with decisions you face about drinking alcohol, and to establishing a strong support system to help you face the peer pressures that may come your way.

Community
To take action around PowerTalk 21 day in April, help MADD equip parents and adults in your community with the parent handbook to start talking with teens about alcohol by:

Contacting your local MADD office to invite a facilitator to your location for a parent workshop

•Planning a PowerTalk 21 event, such as a Parent Workshop, before Prom or Graduation

•Becoming trained to facilitate parent workshops

•Organizing a
WALK Like MADD® event to engage students and adults to support the mission

•Donating to help MADD provide free parent handbooks

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

50 Tiny Changes You Should Make During Stress Awareness Month


http://www.bayhealing.com/
April is Stress Awareness Month, and it's a great time to assess the stress in your life. If you find yourself full of anxiety, worry, and stress, it's important for your physical and mental health to consider the ways you can make a change. This is re-posted from www.nursingschools.net/blog  and submitted by Roxanne McAnn.  It list 50 small ways you can make a big difference in the stress that impacts your life.   This is a wonderful article with 'links' to other great articles to help with Stress!!  Enjoy.....

General
These changes will help you reduce stress throughout your life.

1. Ask for help: Know that you're not alone, and seek help when you need it.

2. Set boundaries: Prioritize tasks and learn how to say no to avoid being over-scheduled.

3. Take care of yourself: Don't forget to put yourself on your to-do list.

4. Give yourself time-outs: Take the time to have fun, rune a few extra miles, or do something you enjoy to clear your head.

5. Get daily pockets of peace: Keep stress levels from becoming toxic by giving yourself a little peace time every day.

Relationships
Take the stress out of your relationships with these tiny changes.

6.Avoid people who stress you out: If you are constantly stressed by someone, limit your time with them or end the relationship.

7. Specifically define problems: Give your relationship problems a real name.

8. Commit to staying calm: Even when your tempers flare, make a commitment to being calm and respectful in conversations.

9. Say thanks: Be thankful for others and what you have in order to recognize your blessings.

10. Just listen: It's frustrating to feel that you're not being heard-give your partner respect and a listening ear.

Problem Solving
Problems create stress in our lives, and although they are not avoidable, there are things you can do to cut down on their impact.

11. Practice preventative maintenance: Think and act before problems happen so they're solved before you even have to fix them.

12. Identify the cause of stress: Even if you can't fix a problem immediately or at all, giving the source of your stress a name can make it better.

13. Be honest about temporary setbacks: Remind yourself when your troubles are only temporary-but be careful not to explain away chronic problems.

14. Plan ahead: Don't let preventable stress like traffic get the better of you-plan ahead to reduce the impact of stressful situations.

15. Accept what you can't change: Follow the Serenity Prayer and learn to accept the things you can't change.

16. Stay in perspective: Consider the true importance of the event or situation you're stressed by.

To-Dos
Tackle your never-ending list with a fresh attitude by making these changes.

17. End procrastination: Allowing tasks to pile up will stress you out-learn how to take care of stuff right away.

18. Schedule dreaded tasks early: Instead of putting off dreaded items on your list and worrying about them, just get them out of the way early.

19. Appreciate your achievements: Each time you achieve a goal, give yourself a pat on the back.

Emotional
Make these changes to take an emotional load off.

20. Laugh: Make time to laugh, and look at the humorous side of any situation to reduce stress and stress hormones.

21. Give yourself a mental spa: Take your mind on a spa treatment with a stress CD or book on tape.

22. Physically let go of stress: Cry or yell into a pillow to release anxiety and stress.

23. Pay attention to negative thinking: Observe when you are thinking negatively, and commit to replacing negative thoughts with positive ones.

24. Write a journal: Organize your thoughts and work through problems by writing them out on paper.

25. Meditate: Spend time meditating on a regular basis to cut out some of your stress.

Financial
With these changes, you can avoid letting financial stress overtake your life.

26. Talk about money: Sometimes just having a conversation about your finances can cut down on stress in a relationship.

27. Listen to suggestions: If you're fighting with your partner about money, make a point to pay attention to their ideas.

28. Prioritize: Think about what's most important in your life, and prioritize how you spend your money accordingly.

Health
Improve your health to reduce stress by making these small changes in your life.

29. Drink black tea: Healthful compounds in black tea can help you recover from stress more effectively.

30. Eliminate caffeine: Although this may sound counterintuitive to some caffeine junkies, cutting out caffeine can help you stop experiencing nervousness, peaks, highs, and lows.

31. Prioritize sleep: Forget staying up late to finish work-make sleeping a priority so you'll be fresh and happy when you need your energy.

32. Stretch: Stretch to reduce muscle tension, with activities like air punches and other simple exercises.

Activities
These small actions can have a big impact on your stress level.

33. Talk to yourself: Try positive affirmations and intentions to keep yourself upbeat.

34. Shrug your shoulders: Release tension and pain in your shoulders with a simple shoulder shrug.

35. Spend time outside: Get out and enjoy nature at some point in your day.

36. Be creative: Spend time nurturing creativity through a hobby like art or knitting.

37. Sing: Even if you're a terrible singer, spend a little time singing to pick up your spirits.

Home
Make these changes to ensure that your home is a stress-free environment.

38. Hire help: If you're having trouble staying on top of cleaning, hire a helper to clean on a regular basis, even if it's just once a month.

39. Get rid of clutter: Clutter is a reminder of things you have to do-get rid of clutter to find more energy and happiness.

40. Keep your home tidy: A clean home is a happy one, and open to visitors.

41. Check the emotional climate of your home: Make sure your home is a place where your family can de-stress.

42. Light a candle: Use aromatherapy candles to burn away negative energy.

Work
Cut out stress at work by making these changes.

43. Leave work at work: When you walk out the door, don't think about work or take it home.

44. Stop multitasking: Focus on one thing at a time to avoid feeling over-committed.

45. Try to drop stressful tasks: Talk to your boss about assignments that are especially stressful.

Quick Pick-Me-Ups
When all else fails, take a moment to use these quick pick-me-ups for a better day.

46. Get clean: Wash your cares away with a quick shower or bath, even if you've already bathed.

47. Use aromatherapy: Sniff essential oils to quickly boost your mood.

48. Call a friend: Talk to a friend and relate with each other about the stress in your lives.

49. Call someone you Love: Check in with your mom or someone else that you love for a little bit of quick happiness.

50. Primp: Spend an extra 5 minutes making yourself look good and feel better about yourself.

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Sunday, April 17, 2011

Baby Sign Language

babies-and-sign-language

A fellow blogger who is also a passionate advocate of autism research, asked me to tell my followers about Baby Sign Language. She is part of the team responsible for the creation and development of http://www.babysignlanguage.com/.  Their website was launched with the vision that high quality, functional educational materials should be accessible to all regardless of their financial capacity.

The website is a work in progress but they are very proud of what they are doing. http://www.babysignlanguage.com/ contains:

Free Printable Flash Cards

Free Printable Wall Chart

Free Tutorials

Free Video Dictionary

Almost 4,000 strong Facebook Community (This is a wonderfully active community that has given birth to many friendships).

We both believe that baby sign language is a viable tool to open a window of communication in certain autism profiles.  I have heard wonderful and encouraging stories from many parents. Every digital and downloadable resource they have created is 100% free. However they don't expect for this to be a fix-it-all, but they sincerely hope it becomes one more resource to make the journey easier for thousands of parents facing the challenges of autism.

Please visit www.babysignlanguage.com or contact my friend Mey Lau @ mey.lau@babysignlanguage.com
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Friday, April 15, 2011

Half Full and Aloha Friday Question

"If you observe a really happy man you will find him building a boat, writing a symphony, educating his son, growing double dahlias in his garden, or looking for dinosaur eggs in the Gobi desert. He will not be searching for happiness as if it were a collar button that has rolled under the radiator. He will not be striving for it as a goal in itself. He will have become aware that he is happy in the course of living life twenty-four crowded hours of the day." ~W. Beran Wolfe
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?
"Plenty of people miss their share of happiness, not because they never found it, but because they didn't stop to enjoy it." ~William Feather
For the next week, we challenge you to keep a list of at least one thing that brought you happiness each day.

I'm Happy and Thankful for many things; especially this week:
  • For hearing from my oldest son 3x since he's been in the Dominican Republic.  He's working hard, but also having experiencing of a life time! 
  • For receiving my prize from winning Shanae Branham's from Triumph and Tears March contest!  Thanks again to all who supported me!
  • For being invited to guest blog by a new follower!  Very excited and I have a really powerful post that I've been saving for just such an honor! ;-)
"Now and then it's good to pause in our pursuit of happiness and just be happy." ~Robert Brault, www.robertbrault.com


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 act as though comfort and luxury were the chief requirements in life, when all we need to make us really happy is something to be enthusiastic about." ~Charles Kingsley
My questionSo what are You enthusiastic about? 

 My answer:  Being creative; writing; helping people and finding 'true love'! ;-)  
"Act enthusiastic and you will be enthusiastic." ~Dale Carnegie
Have a Wonderful Friday
and Amazing Weekend, Everyone!
Hugs and Much Love,
~ Coreen
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Thursday, April 14, 2011

Are You a Positive or Negative Thinker? - Stress Management from MindTools.com

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"A man is but the product of his thoughts. What he thinks, he becomes." ~Mahatma Gandhi
"Positive thinking will let you do everything better than negative thinking will." ~Zig Ziglar
These are two powerful quotes. Combined, they tell us that if we think positively, we're likely to enjoy positive results. Negative thinking, on the other hand, can lead to outcomes we don't want.

Positive and negative thoughts can become self-fulfilling prophecies: What we expect can often come true.
"Being positive or negative are habits of thoughts that have a very strong influence on life." ~Remez Sasson

So are You a Positive or Negative Thinker?  Take the short quiz at Stress Management from MindTools.com to determine what kind of thinker you are.
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Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Love takes time...

 Tweet 
"Love Takes Time:  Love is our strength to bring us to the place where we are eternally complete.  Love takes time to listen with an attentive ear. Love is always present when others disappear.  Love takes time." ~by James Hayes

Love takes time. It needs a history of giving and receiving, laughing and crying...

Love never promises instant gratification, only ultimate fulfillment.

Love means believing in someone, in something. It supposes a willingness to struggle, to work, to suffer, and to rejoice.

Satisfaction and ultimate fulfillment are by-products of dedicated love. They belong only to those who can reach beyond themselves; to whom giving is more important than receiving.

Love is doing everything you can to help others build whatever dreams they have.

Love involves much careful and active listening. It is doing whatever needs to be done, and saying whatever will promote the other's happiness, security, and well-being. Sometimes, love hurts.

Love is on a constant journey to what others need. It must be attentive, caring, and open, both to what others say and to what others cannot say...

Love says no with empathy and great compassion.

Love is firm, but when needed it must be tender.

When others have tried and failed, love is the hand in yours in your moments of discouragement and disappointment.

Love is reliable.

Love is a choice and commitment to others' true and lasting happiness.  It is dedicated to growth and fulfillment. Love is not selfish.

Love sometimes fails for lack of wisdom or abundance of weakness, but it forgives, knowing the intentions are good.

Love does not attach conditions....Genuine love is always a free gift.

Love realizes and accepts that there will be disagreements and disturbing emotions...There may be times when miles lay between, but love is a commitment. It believes and endures things.

Love encourages freedom of self. Love shares positives and negatives reactions to warm and cold feelings.

Love, intimate love, will never reject others. It is the first to encourage and the last to condemn.

Love is a commitment to growth, happiness, and fulfillment of one another. by Barb Upham
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Sunday, April 10, 2011

Every Monday Matters - You Matter!

 Tweet 
Today is Your day.

Today you get to pick how you want to make a difference.

You know the drill. Think of something—and go do it.

Pretty simple.

There is only one catch--the people at Every Monday Matters want to hear about it. Let them know what you did and what resulted. They will be selecting one of 'your' ideas to be one of the “Mondays” in their next book. So be creative, have fun, and make sure to let us 'all' know what you did to make today matter.

Go to EveryMondayMatters.com to learn more about the “Your Day” Contest.

Every time you took care of yourself, did something for someone else, protected the environment, gave from your heart, volunteered your time, and donated your possessions, your action had a ripple effect on your friends, neighbors, co-workers, community, city, country, and the world.
We are confident that you had an amazingly gratifying year and that you know in your heart that you really did make a difference. Every smile, every thank you, and every gesture of appreciation confirmed this for you.

Yet the work has just begun.

It’s a big world out there.

Now you understand just how much YOU MATTER.

"Live every day as if what you do matters – because it does. Every choice you make; every action you take – matters. Your choices matter to you and create the life you live. You always make a difference. Let that difference move the world forward. You matter." ~Susan M. Heathfield
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/
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Friday, April 8, 2011

Half Full & Aloha Friday Question!

"No one is in control of your happiness but you; therefore, you have the power to change anything about yourself or your life that you want to change." ~- Barbara de Angelis
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?
"Each morning when I open my eyes I say to myself: I, not events, have the power to make me happy or unhappy today. I can choose which it shall be. Yesterday is dead, tomorrow hasn't arrived yet. I have just one day, today, and I'm going to be happy in it." ~-Groucho Marx

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

I'm Happy and Thankful for many things; especially this week:
  • For all the progress on my house this week!  I'm in a 'nesting' type cleaning mood laterly! A friend told me that means I'm making room in my life for something new!  Awesome!
  • For the ability to Accept, Appreciate and Love who I am!! ;-)
"You, yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection." ~Buddha
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.
"If you can learn to love yourself and all the flaws, you can love other people so much better. And that makes you so happy." ~Kristin Chenoweth
My question:  Suppose you could go back in time and talk to yourself at the age of ten. What advice would you give yourself?

My answer:  That you have to Love yourself First... before you can truly fall in Love with someone else! ;-)  
"You must love yourself before you love another. By accepting yourself and fully being what you are, your simple presence can make others happy." ~Author Unknown
Have a Wonderful Friday!
Hugs and Much Love,
~ Coreen
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Wednesday, April 6, 2011

April is also Stress Awareness Month!!

Did you know that April is Stress Awareness Month? Stress is a normal psychological and physical reaction to the various demands of life. Your brain is hard-wired with an alarm system for your protection, so when it perceives a threat, a burst of hormones are released to fuel your fight-or-flight response. When the threat is gone, your body returns to normal.

Unfortunately, the constant stress of every-day life means that your alarm system rarely shuts off. Proper stress management needs to be an essential part of your daily life. The more you understand the causes of stress in your life, the better you will be able to handle it. Making healthy lifestyle choices and allowing time to do things you enjoy will get you one step closer to a less stressful life.

Because stress can affect your health in many ways, stress management is great for your health and longevity. So is laughter. (Read this for more research on laughter.) If you commit yourself to stress management this month, you'll be doing something to lead to a healthier lifestyle.
"Give your stress wings and let it fly away." ~Terri Guillemets
So how can you observe Stress Awareness Month?  There are many ways and tons of resources out there to help, but the following are a great place to start:
Understanding Stress
How To Deal With Stressors
Free E Course: 4 Weeks to Healthy Habits and Less Stress
TOP TEN favorite stress-reduction articles
Stress Cure.com
Top Ten Stress Relievers
Quiz: Is Your Lifestyle Stressing You?
Stress Relief for Students
What Stress has done to your Memory and Brain
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Monday, April 4, 2011

April is National Autism Awareness Month


Designbycher.com

In order to highlight the growing need for concern and awareness about autism, the Autism Society has been celebrating National Autism Awareness Month since the 1970s. The United States recognizes April as a special opportunity for everyone to educate the public about autism and issues within the autism community.

Join the Autism Society in getting involved with the autism community this April.

Attend a Wretches & Jabberers "movievent." The Autism Society is proud to partner with Academy Award®-winning director Gerardine Wurzburg to release her feature length documentary Wretches & Jabberers during National Autism Awareness Month in April 2011. The film will be released through nationwide “movievents,” which will include a screening of the film and a live panel discussion featuring Tracy Thresher and Larry Bissonnette, the film’s featured self-advocates with autism. Check back here for tour updates and don't forget to watch the trailer at http://www.wretchesandjabberers.org/.

Make a difference. Contact your representatives on the state and federal level and ask them to "Vote 4 Autism." For more information about this legislation and to take action to support it, visit http://www.vote4autism.org./

Connect with your neighborhood. Many Autism Society local chapters hold special events in their communities throughout the month of April. But if you can’t find an event that suits you just right, create your own! 1Power4Autism is an online tool that makes it easy to mobilize friends and family and help make a difference.

Autism Society Chapter Events Calendar
1Power4Autism

Watch a movie. Did you know that something that seems as simple as going to the movies is not an option for many families affected by autism? The Autism Society is working with AMC Theatres to bring special-needs families Sensory Friendly Films every month. Click here for more information.

Visit a Carino's Italian Restaurant.
Carino's Italian Restaurant will give a portion of it's proceeds gained throughout the month of April to the Autism Society to help commemorate National Autism Awareness Month and to help families affected by autism. To learn more about Carino's Italian Restaurant, visit http://www.carinos.com/.

Autism Society.org
Asperger’s Syndrome
On the Spectrum
Autism Spectrum Disorders ~By Lisa Jo Rudy
IDEA Fairness Restoration Act

The above article is from the Autism Society Organization. As many of you know my youngest son has Asperger Syndrome and was not given a good prognosis. The doctors were wrong. It took another state and school system, but he did get better! The biggest obstacle in the beginning of his journey, was understanding. Awareness  is the first step to Understanding... which is so important in helping anyone with Autism, Aspergers, Pervasive Developmental Disorders and those individuals on the Spectrum.

Some insightful articles:
Suffering In Silence
Quirky or Autism / Asperger Syndrome
Whiz kid with Asperger's syndrome aims high
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Friday, April 1, 2011

Half Full and Aloha Friday!!

"Don't rely on someone else for your happiness and self worth. Only you can be responsible for that. If you can't love and respect yourself - no one else will be able to make that happen. Accept who you are - completely; the good and the bad - and make changes as YOU see fit - not because you think someone else wants you to be different.” ~ Stacey Charter
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?
"Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared." ~Buddha quote
For the next week, we challenge you to keep a list of at least one thing that brought you happiness each day.

I'm Happy and Thankful for many things; especially this week:
  • That my oldest son and his classmates arrived in the Dominican Republic safely! Praying they have wonderful learning experiences while helping people!
  • For a very nice visit with some family last weekend!
"A happy person is not a person in a certain set of circumstances, but rather a person with a certain set of attitudes."~Hugh Downs
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.
"Positive anything is better than negative thinking." ~Elbert Hubbard
My question:  How do you deal with negative people?

My answerI smile, point out something positive from the situation or change the subject to something light.  Most people get the hint. :-)  
"(after listening to people gripe and complain just smile and remember) Crows can’t hang with eagles." ~Joel Osteen
Have a Wonderful Weekend, Everyone!
Much Love & Many Hugs!
~ Coreen
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