I Can Change Myself…REALLY!

I’m of a mind that nothing stands between me and what I want except for the fear it may not work or change things so drastically that I’ll be “sorry”…so I decided to change my perception.  I realized that the experience of trying and dealing with anything that could happen sure beats the feeling of never going for it and wishing that I did.  So now when I feel less than worthy, feel nervous, feel unsure, I transmute that energy and thinking to…What can I do to make this an opportunity for something I REALLY want!    This has gotten me through many things that I (and others) have perceived as devastating or situations that were hurtful at the time.  Another thing, for me that is important, is to give myself time to process these devastating, hurtful, unexpected changes (which come to everyone).  I changed myself and perceive the best outcome for everyone (myself included), this has never let me down.

Hope that makes sense and that in some way it can help you too!

I AM

I AM AS I UNDERSTAND.

Competition – How to know

Competition is competing against oneself whether the ego will let self see it or not…therefore, bad sportsmanship exemplifies the ego against itself and all its faults…good sportsmanship accepts that for today the best was the best….center reflects enjoyment/thankfulness of the competition for all that it is.

The Grand Scheme of Things

Oh Mother of God! Oops…will I get in trouble for that funny???? Did God make humor? The details of it all, the fighting over the details. Find it funny…laugh, find it offensive… move on. There is a HUGE space out there and NO ONE can wrap their head around it all. Take the good where you get it and be happy. Take that good and help OTHERS be happy (WIN-WIN). Are there books that are inspired by God, yes…every word…doubtful. Religion is inspired by God and man handled. This too is one opinion, from one unique individual to other unique individuals with much in common. Peace!

Ringin IN 2010!

I’m looking forward to a great 2010! 

I’ve heard that from nearly everyone I’ve gotten email from, talked to and seen on FB.  The excitement in the air about 2010 is palpable. 

I can’t remember when …well, yes I can, I think many people were so worried about Y2K and working their butts off in 1999 to prevent “the unspeakable horrors” the clock turning to 2000 could bring that everyone was looking forward to the “end” of what nightmares COULD happen. 

Maybe that was the start of all this doom and end of the world talk that seems to dominate everything these days.  It is (of course) at the movies, in the news, on all my favorite channels, History, Discovery, Science; whether they are talking about Nostradamus, the Holy Bible, the Mayan calendar or other forseers they want to use to prove the “disaster looming” point. 

The positive lesson to take from all this is … MAYBE…  all we have is today.

Today is the PRESENT so maybe we should treat it like a GIFT and ENJOY!

Bah Hum Bird!

So let me get this straight…I have to get up at 1am Thursday morning to start the big bird, go back to bed at 2am and then wake up on the hour to baste until 5am and then start preparing 20 side dishes, 2 pies, 2 cakes…all between one oven and a small microwave, set the table to look like something from Martha Stewart’s Living, look like I stepped out of Vogue as I serve it…then do two loads in the dishwasher whilst washing all the big stuff which puts me at about 1am Friday morning and then I’m supposed to get up at 4am and stand in line to shop in over crowded stores for bargains whilst everyone else watches football games and marathon TVLand episodes????

BAH HUM BIRD!!!!!!!!!!!

What I REALLY want is my own reality show just to get this documented!

Walking with God…He teaches me to…

Spend time in love!
Walk in GRACE!
Lead with compassion!
Follow with humility!

Escape and Release Your Gifts!

Please don’t be so hard on yourself, others aren’t (at least people that really matter)!

Most of us struggle with self-consciousness issues. We can’t let that stop us!

I could name several people (who aren’t so nice) that are successful and put themselves out there all the time on TV and film. And then there are really nice people who give uplifting information and try to help (aka Oprah, if that end of the spectrum helps).

Those who know us know what we look like and still like or love us for the people we ARE!

Look at everyone around you that speaks well of you. bending over backwards to do so at times.  There is a large positive ripple effect there, why not be the stone that causes the ripple.

If all anyone cared about was what a person looked like then yikes, we’d all be like Hollywood…ick…what a depressing world that would be.  Picking each other apart instead of building each other up or working together.

Focus and capitalize on your strengths and forget about (what you perceive as) weaknesses…everyone wins that way! Why? You win and the people around you win because you share with them your gifts instead of coddling them in self-consciousness.

Sending love and good thoughts, Debi

More or Less

 Fear less, hope more; Whine less, breath more;
   Talk less, say more; Hate less, love more;
   And all good things are yours.
      — Swedish Proverb           

 

I honestly can’t remember if Momster or DLPSOY posted this somewhere but I’m pretty sure it was one of them.  If it isn’t then please let me know so I can correct this!

 

I LOVE THIS PROVERB!

 

 

For Laughs!

Check out this blog if you haven’t already, it is a hoot and quick to run through.

 

by saclute

Whew!

Some weeks are just more hectic than others…and I’m thankful for it.

Last week included replacing a hot water heater. Thanks to Hungry Hubby it was done in less than four days and cost $400 less than any estimate.  Thanking God it happened AFTER Easter dinner (literally right after dishes were done) AND that we live in a time when we have hot water coming straight to a faucet near you!

I’m finally taking a moment to review our Easter weekend in pictures.  Colored Easter eggs, chocolate covered Easter eggs and dinner with my first souffle.

      

         

 

Giving thanks every day!    

The Art of ABILITIES

I believe that life should be about what we CAN do.  After all not everyone can run a race much less win it.  Not everyone can focus for long periods of time to solve/work on the theories of time and space and how we can invent a worm hole.  Nor are most of us able (in my case willing) to strut themselves among the red carpet/reality crowd (ick). 

So in my corner of the world I am about what we are ABLE to do.  Figuring out the big picture for our lives, sifting in desires, gifts, love, passion, responsibility, compassion, abilities, education, understanding, desired outcome and more.  Then placing the pieces in order, minute by minute, day by day, week by week, year by year so that at some point we can see a masterpiece taking shape before us.  Our lives…what we are capable of doing throughout the course of a lifetime. 

I’m proud of both my kids.  I think they are worth every minute of thought, work, effort, joy, heartache, sweat, tears, planning, change of plans, money, time, all of it…they are worth it all.

Sometimes there are moments of unexplained, unexpected, unknown gifts displayed before me and I am in awe. This is an example of that wonder and surprise from Big Boy last year at the age of eight. 

He titled it “DRAGON”

The Teacher still teaches…

Many of you have seen or heard about Randy Pausch (A Teacheris the link on my blogroll) and his profound final lecture.  I like to keep up on his activities as I am lead to pray for he and his family and all those that suffer from “difficult” diagnoses.  His most recent update proves he is still teaching, God bless him. 

If you or someone you know is facing a difficult diagnoses this is something to read and rejoice:

http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~pausch/news/medianNotMessage.html

He also has a new lecture about time management that I just discovered.  I think he wrote it for me…I’m in DESPERATE need.  I’ll be watching it soon! 

Photo by krisopherallen

 

Sweet Slumber

This is a quick video montage of cute pets and kids… ENJOY!

http://www.jibjab.com/view/72189

Dedicated to Fighting Windmills and Mercede’s World blogging buddies. 

Speaking of Beauty…

There is NOTHING more beautiful than people focusing on their gifts, talents, ABILITIES!

Please watch this video, you will NOT be disappointed! 

Thanks Bev, for another amazing video. 

The Outcry for CHANGE!

FightingWindmills turned me on to a post at CheeseSlave.

After reading through I just had to ask some questions of us all:

I’ve read something like this on more than a few topics and not just about Monsanto (see the open letter to Hillary at Cheeseslave).

Cheeseslave says “I’ll have to learn more about Obama but I have a sense that he is the latest Prius they are trying to roll out to keep us in the dark.”

Cheese, you are right about this.  It is all a smoke screen.  This open letter is just the TIP of a huge iceberg on so many things it makes my stomach churn.

Deb, you are right about the FDA.  Pressure for drugs to make us live forever, you know.  **wink, wink, nudge, nudge**

And there is NO truth in advertising anymore…okay, there is half truth in advertising, leaving out critical information that could steer you to um, EATING YOUR VEGIES or a VITAMIN deficiency…and away from their product du jour.

I could go on and on about what is wrong because there is so much.  Unfortunately ONE PERSON (a new president) isn’t going to fix it all. 

It has to be a huge change across our nation, it has to be an outcry so long and so loud from millions upon millions before the kind of change needed is going to happen.  A wave of change has started, it needs nurturing and growth.  So that 4 to 8 years (or even 12) from now the people who caught the wave can be in positions (legislative, judicial) to support and uphold the changes that NEED to be made in the STATES and in FEDERAL governments. 

That is a lot of people needed to ride the wave much less keep the energy of the wave high…is it YOU?  Are you willing to commit to politics, start in your community, local, state levels?  Holding offices of change in your area?  Are you willing to get into politics at the state or national level to support a person in a presidency that will need the support to really change things? 

A president can’t do it alone.  Are you willing?

I’m asking these questions thoughtfully…not antagonistically. 

I’m a PUPIL of LIFE!

P erception

U nderstanding

P ersistance

I nsurance

LOVE      I nclusion    F ellowship   E quality

I’m a pupil of life.

Pupil as in learner AND pupil as in the center transparent, black part of an eye (I).

The cornerstone of my learning life is LOVE, for without it I am nothing.  I exist, I am seen, I am because I love others and I am loved by others. 

This is the perception of understanding that I insure through my persistance to love others through my inclusion and fellowship with all because they are equal to me through love.

Do you hear what I hear?  Do you see what I see?  Do you know what I know?

LOVE is the cornerstone.

I’m done now.  😉

The Girls in MY Circle

THE GIRLS IN MY CIRCLE

When I was little,
I used to believe in the concept  of one best friend,
and then I started to become a woman. 
I  found out that if you allow your heart to open up,
You will be shown the best, in many friends.

One friend is needed when you’re going through things with your partner.
Another friend when you’re going through things with your parents.
Another will sit beside you in the bleachers as you delight in your children.
Another when you want to shop, share, heal, hurt, joke, or just be.

One friend  will say, “Let’s cry together,”
another, “Let’s fight together,”  
another, “Let’s walk away together.” One friend will meet your spiritual need,
another your shoe fetish,
another your love for movies,
another will be with you in your season of confusion,
another will be your clarifier,
another the wind beneath your wings. But whatever their assignment in your life,
on whatever the occasion, on whatever the day,
or to hold you back from making a complete  fool of yourself …
those are your best friends.

It may all be  wrapped up in one woman,
but for many, it’s wrapped up in several…  
one from junior high school,
one from the college years,
a couple from old jobs,
on some days your mother,
on some  days your sister,
on others, your aunt, cousin or a neighbor,
and some days a blog buddy.

Author Unknown

Thanks so ALL the GIRLS IN MY CIRCLE!

Junk the SOLs…find a different way to test our youth!

A friend and fellow blogger, Fighting Windmills, talked about IQ on her blog the awhile back and got me to thinking and we know how dangerous that is!!!  HA!

Junk the SOLs, they are touted as the equal to SATs, ACTs and pass/fail tests.  Too much emphasis on the test and NOT what kids are actually learning…they are learning to memorize answers.  The pressure on the teachers, schools, kids is UNBELIEVABLE.  If you have school aged kids you’d know what I’m talking about.  Walk the halls the weeks before and during testing and you can cut the tension with a knife.

Check out the clip from The Colbert Report featuring a chat with Malcolm Gladwell who explains why IQ tests don’t really tell us about intelligent.  Gladwell said that IQ tests may show that Abe Lincoln wasn’t too bright.  So there is one point for dumping tests, in my book!  I wish this segment was longer.  Gladwell has captured my interest in his thought process and I want to know more…I know, I’m a brainiac!!!
 
I think there are different type of IQ/brain types.  I think EVERYONE has a place and a talent/IQ for something…even if it is teaching us how to understand them.  Everyone has something to contribute, everyone has a gift or special purpose, it takes us all to make the world go round!  How boring would it be if we were all the same, liked the same things, wanted the same things, discussed the same things, constantly fought with everyone that was different…what a waste of our most valuable commodities…time and energy!

Tests never tell the whole story nor is everyone great at expressing themselves through tests.  Tests don’t tell the whole story about the capabilities, capacity or quality of learning, it is a snapshot of who can remember something and regurgitate in under pressure.  It’s proven that those that didn’t get good sleep, feel well or eat well before a test perform lower than a “good” day.  Testing isn’t a true representation of the TOTAL picture. 

The SOLs should be removed because the pressure on everyone isn’t worth the false sense of “No Child Left Behind” (I do like the thought…not the process designed to promote the thought).

I’m done now!  😉

Something to make your DAY!

Something to make your day!

Thanks Bev for sharing this with us!