I believe one of the pieces to laying a solid foundation for success can be summed in one word – BALANCE! If you lean too much to just the money side of achieving your dreams or goals, you may find getting or arriving at the top of your field or businesslonely. If you place too much emphasis on getting ahead and working endless hours, you may wake up one day to the harsh reality that you have no meaningful friendships or significant person in your life to love.
The best way to guard against these possible scenarios or others like them is to devise goals that include key areas of your life that are based upon your core values. For example, as a Christian woman, my values are (1) God first (2) family second (3) ministry or business, etc is third on my hierarchy of priorities; it is different for everyone.
There are six areas I believe will set a strong foundation from which to build as you pursue your goals for 2010 and beyond. They are (1) Faith (2) Family (3) Fitness (4) Finances (5) Friends and (6) Fun.
1. Faith. It is important to build yourself up spiritually and stay connected to God through prayer, praise, and worship, reading the Bible, and study Scripture. Doing these things every day consistently will help you be in tune for divine guidance, instruction, and direction for your family, health, business, etc.
2. Family. Family is one of the most important relationships you can have in life! If your home is not in order or falling apart, it will have a negative impact on every thing you do including our business. You may have the most wonderful wife or husband and children in the world, but if they are not nurtured and made to feel important, you jeopardize losing them. Devise a family mission statement and stick with. This will help you see when you are getting of course or imbalanced.
3. Fitness. We live in such a fast-paced society that we often do not the care of our physical health. The fact is you cannot neglect your physical health and expect to accomplish your dream and goals. A sick or diseased body will limit how we pursue your dreams and goals – energetically or sluggishly; sharp thinker or dull thinker, etc. The best remedies for this is plan and execute a regular exercise regimen and eat more healthy foods. Being emotionally healthy is just as important as physical health. Exercise your brain by reading inspiring and encouraging books, listen to tapes. Develop a personal development regimen.
4. Finance. Become a good steward of the financial blessings that come into your life through running your own business or as an employee. No where your money is going. Set goals of how much income you want to generate, save, donate, and invest. Guard against greed! Develop a healthy attitude and relationship with money. It’s only a tool and when used properly can benefit and bless you, your family and those around you.
5. Friends. Next to having strong family connections friends are the second most important relationships in your life, and they need to be honored and nurtured as well. When others, including your family, fail to understand you sometimes, a close, trusting friend can really help keep you well grounded! You may only have one or two close friends, but that is more than most people have. So, hold onto them and do not work too much at pursuing your dreams and goals that you neglect your friends!
6. Fun. The old adage, “All work and no play makes a Jack a dull boy” still rings true today! It is so important to laugh and have fun, go places and do fun things! Have fun just for the sake of having fun!! It is a big stress reliever and is good for your overall health. It is not a healthy practice to work 18 hours or more 7 days a week! Take time to nurture yourself; it will rejuvenate you!
Doing these things will ensure a strong foundation of balance in your life so that you can build strong, healthy relationships while you pursue your dreams and goals. Happy New Year!
If you’d like to use this article on your website, in your newsletter or anywhere else, you may do so as long as the information below is included in its entirety.
Yvonne Carson is the CEO/founder of Woman-To-Woman Empowerment Academy and Women Breaking Free, a free membership community. Her mission is to help women to grow through spiritual development and personal development.http://womenbreakingfree.ning.com
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Leadership Secrets from Santa Claus
by Gary Ryan Blair in Leadership |December 24th, 2009 |
For 26 years, a man known only as Secret Santa has roamed the streets of Kansas City every December quietly giving people money. He started with $5 and $10 bills.
Who is Santa Claus?
As his fortune grew, so did the gifts. In recent years, Secret Santa has been handing out $100 bills, sometimes two or three at a time, to people in thrift stores, diners and parking lots.
During his life he’s anonymously given out more than $1.3 million. It’s been a long-held holiday mystery: Who is Secret Santa?
Larry Stewart passed away on January 12, 2007 from esophageal cancer but not before he revealed his identify and passing on his belief in random acts of benevolence.
Mr. Stewart made his millions in cable television and in long-distance telephone services.
His holiday giving started in December 1979 when he was nursing his wounds at a drive-in restaurant after getting fired.
It was the second year in a row he had been fired the week before Christmas.
Turning Tragedy into Opportunity
Soon after getting fired, Mr. Stewart was at a drive in restaurant and came across a car hop: “It was cold and this car hop (waiter or waitress who brings food to people at drive-ins) didn’t have on a very big jacket, and I thought to myself, `I think I got it bad. She’s out there in this cold making nickels and dimes,’” he said.
He gave her $20 and told her to keep the change.
“And suddenly I saw her lips begin to tremble and tears begin to flow down her cheeks. She said, `Sir, you have no idea what this means to me.’”
Stewart was moved and went to the bank that day and took out $200. He then drove around looking for people who could use a lift.
That was his “Christmas present to himself.” He hit the streets each December since.
While Stewart has also given money to other community causes in Kansas City and his hometown of Bruce, Miss., he offers the simple gifts of cash because it’s something people don’t have to “beg for, get in line for, or apply for.”
That was a feeling he came to know in the early ’70s when he was living out of his yellow Datsun. Hungry and tired, Stewart mustered the nerve to approach a woman at a church and ask for help. The woman told him the person who could help was gone for the day, and Stewart would have to come back the next day.
“As I turned around, I knew I would never do that again,” Stewart said.
Over the years, Stewart’s giving as Secret Santa grew. He started a Web site. He allowed the news media to tag along, mostly because he wanted to hear about the people who received the money. Reporters had to agree to guard his identity and not name his company.
His entourage grew over the years, and he began traveling with special elves and training others to be Secret Santas.
The Spirit of Secret Santa is Alive and Growing
Today, Larry Dean Stewart’s loyal Elves and the Secret Santas he trained are building upon the foundation he laid.
A new group of Secret Santas and Elves are very busy this Christmas. They are going coast to coast in selected cities and towns to spread hope this Christmas, giving one hundred dollar bills to the needy.
This year in his honor each one hundred dollar bill will bear the name Larry Stewart Secret Santa.
They will also be training those who have come forward to be a Secret Santa Leader in their community.
Could you be a Secret Santa? Go the Secret Santa Society to learn how.
Also, while you may not be able to pass out $100 dollar bills, how can you make a difference in the life of just one person in your community?
I’d love to hear about it.
Happy Holidays!
Gary
http://www.everythingcounts.com/
For 26 years, a man known only as Secret Santa has roamed the streets of Kansas City every December quietly giving people money. He started with $5 and $10 bills.
Who is Santa Claus?
As his fortune grew, so did the gifts. In recent years, Secret Santa has been handing out $100 bills, sometimes two or three at a time, to people in thrift stores, diners and parking lots.
During his life he’s anonymously given out more than $1.3 million. It’s been a long-held holiday mystery: Who is Secret Santa?
Larry Stewart passed away on January 12, 2007 from esophageal cancer but not before he revealed his identify and passing on his belief in random acts of benevolence.
Mr. Stewart made his millions in cable television and in long-distance telephone services.
His holiday giving started in December 1979 when he was nursing his wounds at a drive-in restaurant after getting fired.
It was the second year in a row he had been fired the week before Christmas.
Turning Tragedy into Opportunity
Soon after getting fired, Mr. Stewart was at a drive in restaurant and came across a car hop: “It was cold and this car hop (waiter or waitress who brings food to people at drive-ins) didn’t have on a very big jacket, and I thought to myself, `I think I got it bad. She’s out there in this cold making nickels and dimes,’” he said.
He gave her $20 and told her to keep the change.
“And suddenly I saw her lips begin to tremble and tears begin to flow down her cheeks. She said, `Sir, you have no idea what this means to me.’”
Stewart was moved and went to the bank that day and took out $200. He then drove around looking for people who could use a lift.
That was his “Christmas present to himself.” He hit the streets each December since.
While Stewart has also given money to other community causes in Kansas City and his hometown of Bruce, Miss., he offers the simple gifts of cash because it’s something people don’t have to “beg for, get in line for, or apply for.”
That was a feeling he came to know in the early ’70s when he was living out of his yellow Datsun. Hungry and tired, Stewart mustered the nerve to approach a woman at a church and ask for help. The woman told him the person who could help was gone for the day, and Stewart would have to come back the next day.
“As I turned around, I knew I would never do that again,” Stewart said.
Over the years, Stewart’s giving as Secret Santa grew. He started a Web site. He allowed the news media to tag along, mostly because he wanted to hear about the people who received the money. Reporters had to agree to guard his identity and not name his company.
His entourage grew over the years, and he began traveling with special elves and training others to be Secret Santas.
The Spirit of Secret Santa is Alive and Growing
Today, Larry Dean Stewart’s loyal Elves and the Secret Santas he trained are building upon the foundation he laid.
A new group of Secret Santas and Elves are very busy this Christmas. They are going coast to coast in selected cities and towns to spread hope this Christmas, giving one hundred dollar bills to the needy.
This year in his honor each one hundred dollar bill will bear the name Larry Stewart Secret Santa.
They will also be training those who have come forward to be a Secret Santa Leader in their community.
Could you be a Secret Santa? Go the Secret Santa Society to learn how.
Also, while you may not be able to pass out $100 dollar bills, how can you make a difference in the life of just one person in your community?
I’d love to hear about it.
Happy Holidays!
Gary
http://www.everythingcounts.com/
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Different Kinds of Work
If your boss asks you to move a box from point a to point b, it's probably not okay to say, "I don't feel like it right now."
If you work on the chain gang and it's time to dig a ditch, you don't get a reprieve if you roll your eyes and say, "that's not what they pay me for."
And if you're a dishwasher, you don't get a chance to say, "I guess I'm just not the kind of person who's good at putting his hands into really hot soapy water all day."
And yet.
And yet when we ask you to look people in the eye, be creative, brainstorm, be generous, find a way to satisfy an angry customer, work with a bully, learn a new skill or bring joy to work, suddenly the excuses pile up. Is this a different sort of work? Is raising your hand in class too much to ask of you?
The jobs most of us would like to have are jobs like this. And yet we put up a fight when given the chance to do them well.
Seth Godin
If you work on the chain gang and it's time to dig a ditch, you don't get a reprieve if you roll your eyes and say, "that's not what they pay me for."
And if you're a dishwasher, you don't get a chance to say, "I guess I'm just not the kind of person who's good at putting his hands into really hot soapy water all day."
And yet.
And yet when we ask you to look people in the eye, be creative, brainstorm, be generous, find a way to satisfy an angry customer, work with a bully, learn a new skill or bring joy to work, suddenly the excuses pile up. Is this a different sort of work? Is raising your hand in class too much to ask of you?
The jobs most of us would like to have are jobs like this. And yet we put up a fight when given the chance to do them well.
Seth Godin
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Happy Thanksgiving!
I wanted wish you a Happy Thanksgiving, and share a wonderful letter of encouragement that was written to a dear friend back in 1513.
Although it was written so long ago, the words still ring true for us today.
“I salute you. I am your friend and my love for you goes deep.
There is nothing I can give you which you have not got. But there is much, very much, that while I cannot give it, you can take.
No heaven can come to us unless our hearts find rest in today. Take heaven!
No peace lies in the future which is not hidden in this present little instance. Take peace!
The gloom of the world is but a shadow. Behind it, yet within our reach, is joy. Take joy!
Life is so full of meaning and purpose, so full of beauty . . . that you will find earth but cloaks your heaven. Courage then to claim it, that is all!
And so I greet you, with profound esteem and with the prayer that for you, now and forever, the day breaks and the shadows flee away.”
“Fra Giovanni, 1513"
Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
From: A Storybook Life
Although it was written so long ago, the words still ring true for us today.
“I salute you. I am your friend and my love for you goes deep.
There is nothing I can give you which you have not got. But there is much, very much, that while I cannot give it, you can take.
No heaven can come to us unless our hearts find rest in today. Take heaven!
No peace lies in the future which is not hidden in this present little instance. Take peace!
The gloom of the world is but a shadow. Behind it, yet within our reach, is joy. Take joy!
Life is so full of meaning and purpose, so full of beauty . . . that you will find earth but cloaks your heaven. Courage then to claim it, that is all!
And so I greet you, with profound esteem and with the prayer that for you, now and forever, the day breaks and the shadows flee away.”
“Fra Giovanni, 1513"
Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
From: A Storybook Life
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Desiderata was one of those eye-opening quotes that a person found when they were in high school and plastered their walls with wisdom. I know it by heart - even yet. As I reflect upon my life and the events of the year, this is one piece of writing I would like my children to read - over and over. In fact, I think I will make a poster for them to plaster on their walls.
Desiderata
Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and ignorant; they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexations to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter, for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble, it's a real possession in the changing fortunes of time. Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism. Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment, it is as perennial as the grass. Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive him to be. And whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.
"Desiderata" was written in 1927 by Max Ehrmann (1872-1945).
Desiderata
Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and ignorant; they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexations to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter, for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble, it's a real possession in the changing fortunes of time. Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism. Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment, it is as perennial as the grass. Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive him to be. And whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.
"Desiderata" was written in 1927 by Max Ehrmann (1872-1945).
Thursday, July 23, 2009
The Gratitude Dance
Many of you know that I have a 24 year old son who is in the hospital fighting leukemia. Today I am thinking about gratitude.
This morning I woke up being grateful for all the healing Nic has experienced already. For his fungal pneumonia seeing a steady, slow decrease in size. For his kidneys returning to good function. For the chemo destroying the leukemic cells in his blood. For the new cells forming over the sores in his mouth. For his awesome friends that are faithful and spend so much time here with him in the hospital. For all our family, friends and many, many strangers who call and e-mail and post comments on his caring bridge page to lift us up. For the faith God has given us to be strong and help him fight this.
"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful." Colossians 3:15
Take a look at this Youtube video and join me today in this "Gratitude Dance" - we are so grateful for continued healing!
The Gratitude Dance
This morning I woke up being grateful for all the healing Nic has experienced already. For his fungal pneumonia seeing a steady, slow decrease in size. For his kidneys returning to good function. For the chemo destroying the leukemic cells in his blood. For the new cells forming over the sores in his mouth. For his awesome friends that are faithful and spend so much time here with him in the hospital. For all our family, friends and many, many strangers who call and e-mail and post comments on his caring bridge page to lift us up. For the faith God has given us to be strong and help him fight this.
"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful." Colossians 3:15
Take a look at this Youtube video and join me today in this "Gratitude Dance" - we are so grateful for continued healing!
The Gratitude Dance
Friday, July 17, 2009
Notes from the Universe
Yesterday I watched a small bird, flying very fast, disappear into the canopy of an oak tree. So dense were its leaves that it was impossible to see what happened next, though I can tell you it remained inside.
I wondered how the little bird found its opening through the leaves at such a speed, and then managed to gently align its fragile body on the branch it chose to land upon, all within a fraction of a second. Not to mention the impossible to imagine flying maneuvers required: the banking, the curling, the vertical and horizontal stabilizations, the deceleration and landing.
Memory? Calculation? Not in that tiny brain. Instinct? Maybe, but how does instinct know which way the branches of a tree have grown when no two are the same?
Terry, that little bird just knew. It had faith, in spite of not being able to see how things would work out, that if (and only if) it stayed the course the details would be taken care of; that an opening would appear and a twig would be found. In fact, had she slowed down enough to carefully and logically inspect the tree first, the prudent thing to do, she would have lost her lift and fallen to the ground.
Kind of like reaching for your dreams. Neither memory, nor calculating, nor instincts are the deciding factors, but faith coupled with action.
I wondered how the little bird found its opening through the leaves at such a speed, and then managed to gently align its fragile body on the branch it chose to land upon, all within a fraction of a second. Not to mention the impossible to imagine flying maneuvers required: the banking, the curling, the vertical and horizontal stabilizations, the deceleration and landing.
Memory? Calculation? Not in that tiny brain. Instinct? Maybe, but how does instinct know which way the branches of a tree have grown when no two are the same?
Terry, that little bird just knew. It had faith, in spite of not being able to see how things would work out, that if (and only if) it stayed the course the details would be taken care of; that an opening would appear and a twig would be found. In fact, had she slowed down enough to carefully and logically inspect the tree first, the prudent thing to do, she would have lost her lift and fallen to the ground.
Kind of like reaching for your dreams. Neither memory, nor calculating, nor instincts are the deciding factors, but faith coupled with action.
Tallyho,
The Universe
www.tut.com
I have to share a story today - enjoy.
This is Good
The story is told of a king in Africa who had a close friend with whom he grew up. The friend had a habit of looking at every situation that ever occurred in his life (positive or negative) and remarking, "This is good!"
One day the king and his friend were out on a hunting expedition. The friend would load and prepare the guns for the king. The friend had apparently done something wrong in preparing one of the guns, for after taking the gun from his friend, the king fired it and his thumb was blown off. Examining the situation, the friend remarked as usual, "This is good!"
To which the king replied - "No, this is not good!" and proceeded to send his friend to jail.
About a year later, the king was hunting in an area that he should have known to stay clear of. Cannibals captured him and took him to their village. They tied his hands, stacked some wood, set up a stake and bound him to the stake.
As they came near to set fire to the wood, they noticed that the king was missing a thumb. Being superstitio
This is Good
The story is told of a king in Africa who had a close friend with whom he grew up. The friend had a habit of looking at every situation that ever occurred in his life (positive or negative) and remarking, "This is good!"
One day the king and his friend were out on a hunting expedition. The friend would load and prepare the guns for the king. The friend had apparently done something wrong in preparing one of the guns, for after taking the gun from his friend, the king fired it and his thumb was blown off. Examining the situation, the friend remarked as usual, "This is good!"
To which the king replied - "No, this is not good!" and proceeded to send his friend to jail.
About a year later, the king was hunting in an area that he should have known to stay clear of. Cannibals captured him and took him to their village. They tied his hands, stacked some wood, set up a stake and bound him to the stake.
As they came near to set fire to the wood, they noticed that the king was missing a thumb. Being superstitio
Friday, July 10, 2009
Free Yourself from Photo Clutter
Whether you're "digital" or "paper" we can all use a little Photo Freedom! If you're paper, you probably have a box, drawer, or maybe even a pile of pictures stacking up. And if you're digital, your hard drive can look much the same. I've been a victim of both... Organizing photos may seem overwhelming, but you can free yourself from photo chaos with a few simple ideas and tips. This process won't happen overnight. It's a process...and ongoing one, but before you know it you can be enjoying beautiful photos in your home, on your walls, or in heirloom-quality storybooks.
Not All Photos Are Created Equal
Step #1 -Weed through your pictures
Keeping Things Simple
Step # 2 - Organize
Share Your Photos
Step #3 - Sharing and Displaying
Keep Up The Good Work
Using Heritage Maker's Studio can help you stay on top of your photo chaos. By simply adding story and a few photos, you can create meaningful photo books that can be shared with everyone who walks through the doors of your home. The entire family can be part of the process. This is no longer MOM'S job! It's a family thing.
Heritage Maker's Studio 3.0 is simple to use with an easy drag and drop system. You can upload your story text, images, and scanned images into a book template of your choice, or be completely creative and start your project from scratch using our 40,000+ pieces of art to complete your project. End result, a beautiful soft or hardbound book, poster, calendar, cookbook, card, poster, or home decor project will arrive on your doorstep in 10 - 15 business days.
Organizing your photos can be a daunting task. So keep it simple. These are priceless memories that can be easily enjoyed and relived for generations to come. Go to my website at www.celebrationstorybooks.com to get started now.
Essentially, the goal is make sure our stories, memories, traditions, thoughts and values can be passed on. Don't lose focus.
Photo Organizing tips from Tara Brown
Not All Photos Are Created Equal
Step #1 -Weed through your pictures
- Toss out/delete all the bad, blurry pictures.
- For paper pics, set duplicates to the side in a separate pile.
- Keep only your favorite, quality images/pictures and throw the rest out!
- For paper images make a pile for pictures that you'd like to frame and/or send to friends and family.
- For digital images make a folder for pictures you'd like to print and frame and/or send to family and friends.
- With an acid-free photo pen, label the pictures on the back of the photo's edge. If you can recall the date, names, and place, add those details.
Keeping Things Simple
Step # 2 - Organize
- Make pile/folder by themes - by date, years, events, people.
- Pictures can be kept in photo-safe boxes AFTER they're sorted and organized.
- On note cards, used as dividers, write down notes, stories and memories about each theme of photos.
Share Your Photos
Step #3 - Sharing and Displaying
- Send copies of your photos to friends and family regularly. Have a stash of pre-addressed envelopes so they're ready to go out every few months. Not everyone has access to the computer.
- Build digital photo albums online or keep a BLOG and send notices to friends and family when they're updated.
- Intricate albums with details and captions can be...well...you know.... If you have the time, money, and more time and more money... scrapbooking can easily become an overwhelming and time-consuming hobby.
- Photos and stories combined are what create family traditions and heirlooms to be passed down. By choosing "one" special event, such as a wedding or new baby, you can create beautiful family story and photo books with Heritage Makers.
- Print and frame your pictures. Get them up on the walls, on your shelves, and out so they can be seen! Choose only your best photos. Use our amazing system to create posters, family folds, 12x12 pages that can be decoupaged to tiles as wonderful home decor.
- Be creative...string them from cute wire clips, use bulletin boards, memo boards...that way they are easy to change out and update.
Keep Up The Good Work
- Once you're caught up (yes, that can happen) keep up and control your photos! Organize your photos as soon as you download or develop.
- For paper pictures, keep a VERY SMALL photo/shoe box out.As the box begins to fill, sit down with the family and sort through the photos, share the stories, write them down and prep them to be scanned and loaded into a photo/story book.
- As soon as you download pictures, delete the bad ones! Label folders in your "My Pictures" folder with dates and event names if possible.
Using Heritage Maker's Studio can help you stay on top of your photo chaos. By simply adding story and a few photos, you can create meaningful photo books that can be shared with everyone who walks through the doors of your home. The entire family can be part of the process. This is no longer MOM'S job! It's a family thing.
Heritage Maker's Studio 3.0 is simple to use with an easy drag and drop system. You can upload your story text, images, and scanned images into a book template of your choice, or be completely creative and start your project from scratch using our 40,000+ pieces of art to complete your project. End result, a beautiful soft or hardbound book, poster, calendar, cookbook, card, poster, or home decor project will arrive on your doorstep in 10 - 15 business days.
Organizing your photos can be a daunting task. So keep it simple. These are priceless memories that can be easily enjoyed and relived for generations to come. Go to my website at www.celebrationstorybooks.com to get started now.
Essentially, the goal is make sure our stories, memories, traditions, thoughts and values can be passed on. Don't lose focus.
Photo Organizing tips from Tara Brown
The Lesson of the Morning Glory!
I planted seeds in my little garden this year.
I have never planted seeds before, because I am not a very patient person, and waiting for the little green shoots to rise above the ground, was just too much for me. But this year, I thought I would give it a try. I thought it would be a good metaphor for me, to plant something and watch it grow, much as I have many times, planted thoughts, dreams and affirmations and watched many of them become a reality.
And so, in the Spring of this year, I planted my garden. I chose many types of flowers and among them, Morning Glories. Within a month, many of the other flowers were bursting through the earth, but not the Morning Glories.
Each morning, I would run outside to check on them, and nothing, nothing for several weeks more. I was about to give up on them. I was sure that they just did not 'take' so to speak. But finally, it happened! They had broken through the earth, and were starting to climb. And climb, and climb, and climb, they did....with their big, beautiful, heart shaped leaves.
And so, the saga continued, nothing for weeks and weeks and weeks but more and more beautiful leaves. And I thought to myself, "Well, leaves are nice, but that is all I will probably get at this point." And then, one fine and glorious morning, there it was, the most beautiful sky-blue morning glory I have ever seen!!! It seemed like a miracle to me. I had waited over 3 months for this one delicate, funnel-shaped flower to show up and now here it was, in all its splendor.
It reminded me of just how many times I had waited in life for something I had longed for, and how incredible it felt when it finally arrived, and also, how many times, that I had wanted to throw in the towel, and just give up.
But I wasn't prepared for what was to happen next, with these little flowers, and I was surprised and deeply saddened by it.
Roses and geraniums and daisies and most other flowers bloom and stay around for a while, but not Morning Glories. Morning Glories open themselves up to the world, in the morning, in all of their glory, hence the name, Morning Glory.
And if you look closely at them, you will see how extraordinary they are, both in colour and texture, and that in their centre, is a kind of golden light that shines from within.
But here is the hard part...
At the end of the day, they turn a most beautiful shade of lavender, and then close up, wither and die. They live for only one day, and then they are gone. I cannot tell you how much this saddened me, and what a profound effect this little flower had upon my life. I kept thinking how sad to be so beautiful and live for only one day. And then, I suddenly realized what a gift they were.
You see, it doesn't matter how long your life is. It only matters that you were here, in all your glory, that you opened up completely, and let your light shine, and that you brought joy to those who came into contact with you. That's what matters to the morning glory, and that's what really matters to all of us.
The morning glories make me appreciate every new day now, in a way I didn't before. Each evening, I go and visit with them, knowing those particular ones won't be here tomorrow, new ones will take their place. If we knew when we woke up in the morning, that we only had that one day to really live, life would be very different indeed for many of us.
Now, each morning, I give thanks that I have been given the gift of another day, in all its glory. We can learn from all of life, if we remain open to the beauty that is all around us. And nature can be one of our greatest teachers.
What a profound lesson from such a simple flower.
Thank you, my sweet little morning glories!
Veronica Hay
Veronica Hay is an inspirational writer and author of In A Dream, You Can Do Anything, An Extraordinary Collection Of Words. Her work inspires others to be more of who they really are. For more insights and inspiration you can visit her website at: www.insightsandinspirations.com or email her at veronicahay@telus.net
I planted seeds in my little garden this year.
I have never planted seeds before, because I am not a very patient person, and waiting for the little green shoots to rise above the ground, was just too much for me. But this year, I thought I would give it a try. I thought it would be a good metaphor for me, to plant something and watch it grow, much as I have many times, planted thoughts, dreams and affirmations and watched many of them become a reality.
And so, in the Spring of this year, I planted my garden. I chose many types of flowers and among them, Morning Glories. Within a month, many of the other flowers were bursting through the earth, but not the Morning Glories.
Each morning, I would run outside to check on them, and nothing, nothing for several weeks more. I was about to give up on them. I was sure that they just did not 'take' so to speak. But finally, it happened! They had broken through the earth, and were starting to climb. And climb, and climb, and climb, they did....with their big, beautiful, heart shaped leaves.
And so, the saga continued, nothing for weeks and weeks and weeks but more and more beautiful leaves. And I thought to myself, "Well, leaves are nice, but that is all I will probably get at this point." And then, one fine and glorious morning, there it was, the most beautiful sky-blue morning glory I have ever seen!!! It seemed like a miracle to me. I had waited over 3 months for this one delicate, funnel-shaped flower to show up and now here it was, in all its splendor.
It reminded me of just how many times I had waited in life for something I had longed for, and how incredible it felt when it finally arrived, and also, how many times, that I had wanted to throw in the towel, and just give up.
But I wasn't prepared for what was to happen next, with these little flowers, and I was surprised and deeply saddened by it.
Roses and geraniums and daisies and most other flowers bloom and stay around for a while, but not Morning Glories. Morning Glories open themselves up to the world, in the morning, in all of their glory, hence the name, Morning Glory.
And if you look closely at them, you will see how extraordinary they are, both in colour and texture, and that in their centre, is a kind of golden light that shines from within.
But here is the hard part...
At the end of the day, they turn a most beautiful shade of lavender, and then close up, wither and die. They live for only one day, and then they are gone. I cannot tell you how much this saddened me, and what a profound effect this little flower had upon my life. I kept thinking how sad to be so beautiful and live for only one day. And then, I suddenly realized what a gift they were.
You see, it doesn't matter how long your life is. It only matters that you were here, in all your glory, that you opened up completely, and let your light shine, and that you brought joy to those who came into contact with you. That's what matters to the morning glory, and that's what really matters to all of us.
The morning glories make me appreciate every new day now, in a way I didn't before. Each evening, I go and visit with them, knowing those particular ones won't be here tomorrow, new ones will take their place. If we knew when we woke up in the morning, that we only had that one day to really live, life would be very different indeed for many of us.
Now, each morning, I give thanks that I have been given the gift of another day, in all its glory. We can learn from all of life, if we remain open to the beauty that is all around us. And nature can be one of our greatest teachers.
What a profound lesson from such a simple flower.
Thank you, my sweet little morning glories!
Veronica Hay
Veronica Hay is an inspirational writer and author of In A Dream, You Can Do Anything, An Extraordinary Collection Of Words. Her work inspires others to be more of who they really are. For more insights and inspiration you can visit her website at: www.insightsandinspirations.com or email her at veronicahay@telus.net
Friday, May 1, 2009
The Yard Sale
The leaves on the old maple tree I have loved since the first time I climbed its branches more than 40 years ago had transformed into extraordinarily radiant shades of red and yellow this year. I took a deep breath of the crisp, invigorating fall air, then hammered the signpost into the ground.
Yard Sale
Saturday 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
As I stepped back to view the sign, wondering how we were going to make it through tomorrow, I heard Mrs. MacKenzie’s voice, plain as day: “Life does not put things in front of you that you can’t handle.” Instinctively, I looked to see if she was standing at the front door, knowing full well that was impossible. “Sometimes I’ve believed in six impossible things before breakfast,” came to me as her response to my thoughts.
In that moment, I wondered if I’d fallen down a rabbit hole into a wonderland of my own. Some things in life, however, can never be explained, and so I headed back up the walkway and into the old brick house, where I found Julia sitting on a familiar black and brass trunk in the middle of the family room, surrounded by stacks of boxes we had packed earlier that week for her to take home.
“Hey, Jules, is that the treasure chest?”
“Later,” she smiled, knowing I would get lost in time if we dared open it now. “Let’s finish the kitchen.”
Clearing out the contents of one’s family home isn’t easy for many children; yet I knew this past week had been particularly painful for Julia. I knew because I had been her best friend since first grade. Not always the closest, but always the best. For the last 25 years, we had lived on opposite coasts, but geographical distance could never break the lifelong bond formed here way back when. What I hadn’t really been prepared for was how painful this would be for me.
Julia had been an only child, though not by choice, and as the years passed, Dr. and Mrs. MacKenzie unofficially “adopted” me as the second child they would never have, loving me and advising me as their own, especially after my own father was tragically killed in an accident, and Alzheimer’s took my mother when I was barely in my 20s. The MacKenzies were always there for Jules, and they had always been there for me.
Model American parents, Dr. and Mrs. MacKenzie believed in the “think positive” counsel of Norman Vincent Peale and passed that on, forever encouraging us to trust. “Remember, anything is possible,” Mrs. MacKenzie would always remind us. They discovered universal truths in old adages and always offered just the right bits of wisdom in times of turmoil and uncertainty. “Life,” as Dr. MacKenzie was fond of saying, “is conspiring in your favor.”
But, as they also taught us, time marches on. A little more than two years ago, Dr. MacKenzie passed away. Then just two months ago, Mrs. MacKenzie lost her battle to breast cancer.
Now, together again, Julia and I were doing a lot more than sorting through stuff. We were sharing another turning point, saying good-bye to what had always been our shelter from the storms of life, and to her parents, who had made it so.
We managed to quickly separate out the heirloom pieces that Julia would have shipped to her home in New York, as well the items the MacKenzies had bequeathed to me, and spent the rest of the week going through cabinets and drawers, cubbyholes, the basement and attic, finding no small amount of treasures . . . old LIFE, LOOK, and The Saturday Evening Post magazines . . . a very cool, shiny-like-new Hamilton Beach blender . . . hand-crocheted doilies beyond imagination . . . Dr. MacKenzie’s set of Craftsman tools . . . Jules’ favorite stuffed teddy bear . . . until finally the last of it was sorted and boxed or marked “yard sale” or “Goodwill.”
When all was done, we gravitated back to the family room, out of need, as much as habit. For a few long minutes, we just sat on the floor, in silence, leaning against the big black and brass trunk. So much of our childhood had been lived in this house, and especially in this room. Then, the finality of it all hit us both, and we let the tears flow.
“We grew up here,” I said, breaking the silence.
“Watched President Kennedy’s funeral in here,” Julia said softly.
“Met the Beatles on ‘Ed Sullivan’ here,” I remembered.
“Celebrated our Sweet 16 birthdays here.” “Dreamed our dreams here.”
We turned around and opened the latch of the trunk. The smell of cedar drifted up. Inside, we found the treasure — photo albums. We pulled out the oversized, gold-trimmed brown album we knew contained photos from our teenage years and sat down to flash back through the times of our lives.
Every important moment it seemed was documented inside . . . the silly picture Dr. MacKenzie had taken of Jules and me in our Beatle wigs “playing” broom guitars . . . our graduation day pictures from grade school . . . junior high . . . high school and college . . . snapshots of us in our prom dresses, complete with those unwieldy hand corsages . . . the picture I took of the video image on the television when Neil Armstrong set foot on the Moon . . . the Mustang convertible we used to drive to school . . . the friends . . . the boyfriends. We stayed up into the wee hours of the morning, reliving the moments of our lives, crying, laughing, remembering, and realizing that life is what happened while we were busy making other plans, as one of the minstrels of our generation had put it.
“Before you got here last week, I spent some time with the family who bought the house,” Julia said, as we were getting ready to finally call it a day. “They’ve got two daughters. The younger one reminded me of you — the first thing she did was climb up into the old maple tree.”
The next morning came early and so did the first of the bargain hunters.
“Okay, everything is outside now, except these boxes, which are going with you, right?” I asked Julia, pointing to the last stack of boxes in the family room.
“Nah, that stuff can go, too,” Julia said calmly. “I’ve realized over the last few days that Mom and Dad — and that Italian novelist, Cesare Pavese — were right. We don’t remember days, we remember moments. And our moments are really the only important things, the only things that can’t be replaced,” she added, opening the big black and brass trunk and pulling out the gold-trimmed brown photo album. “Would you take care of this for us?” she asked, handing me the album.
“Jules . . . yes,” was all I could muster right then. I wiped the tears from my eyes, and went to place the album in my suitcase.
Then, we each picked up one of the last few boxes and headed out to the front yard. “Everything goes,” Jules announced to the folks wandering around the lawn. Turning to me, she added with a smile: “Everything but the photographs.”
Indeed, those were our “moments,” never to be sold.
Courtesy of Lifetouch
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