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