I am 104 years old today!

People are living longer. See if you can add anything to this list of reasons that answers the question "why?"

1) More people are getting involved in exercise and fitness at a later age in life.

                               Seeing role models(via television and the internet)who are staying and getting

                               fit in the senior years, encourages the viewer. "If she/he can do it, so

                               can I."

                                 

2) There is an increase in medical technology.

                               New medicines and enhanced tests, detect diseases in the early stages

                               making diseases easier to treat and cure.

3) Opportunities to make friends and find mates increase due to the internet.

                               Social networking sites afford people the chance to mingle with

                                thousands, cutting down on loneliness and isolation. This helps to cut

                               down on depression and lethargy.

4) People are eating healtier.

                                Today people are reading about and researching ways to eat and cook 

                                 healthier. Wanting to look good and feel good, vitamin-laden foods

                                 and antioxidant- enriched foods are desired.

5) Many have stopped smoking.

                                Stop smoking and one greatly decreases their chances of contracting

                                lung disease and heart disease, top killers!


                                                Have a great day and enjoy every moment!

                         

ProLiteracy Holiday 2011 Video

Love Will Come

Did you know that Online Dating Magazine estimates that more than 20 million people a month visit online dating services!
Undeniably, love and finding it is on the minds of many men and women today. Having a sweetie, a soulmate is a good thing, for who wants to be alone? But what should you do until that true love is yours?

Work on yourself, mind, body and soul. Self-development is key! Become the person you want to date, the person you want to marry. What does that mean to you? Pursuing more formal education, or taking classes to learn another language, honing your cooking skills, balancing your checkbook? How about Yoga sessions, an exciting and new hobby, opening a side business, volunteering? Add these things to anything else that would make you a more interesting and capable person.

Learn to love your own company. If you don't enjoy yourself, why do you think he/she would? Love comes to those who wait. Wait and prepare, invite YOU to the best YOU, first!

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Your words can heal! Write.

If you feel an urge to write your memoir...go ahead! We all have a book in us! Having issues about grammar, sentence structure, etc? Hire a proofreader or ask your favorite English major to give your work the "once over." Share your ideas and experiences... FREE YOURSELF!



Don't hold back...pen and paper await!

'I Call You Faithful' by Donnie McClurkin

Shaping Community, Father's Way!

Today, more than ever, we need to reach out to our senior neighbors. Hard times are lightly touching some of us, but others are being knocked out by this uncertain financial passage. The seniors in your community are not going to announce their battle weariness, so be on the lookout for ways you can help.
For example, Mrs. Jones used to knock on your door to see if you needed anything at the grocer's, since she was walking over for her own groceries. Have you noticed she no longer does that? Check on her, make sure she is eating a healthy meal at least two times a day. Her funds may have gotten so low, that grocery shopping isn't a priority.

"......it is more blessed to give than receive." Acts 20:35

Giving is a sentiment that runs through-out Bible scripture. Our Father gives and he expects you to give also!

"Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver." 2Cor.9:7

So as with our neighbor Mrs. Jones, who I previously mentioned, not only would you make sure she had at least two meals a day, you'd sit and eat one of those meals with her. Talking with her and being a bright spot in her day, labels you not only a giver, but cheerful giver.

We shape our community by being hands-on role models. If you can read, you have a gift to give. If you can knit, write a letter, fetch a glass of water, cover a pair of aching knees with a blanket, then you have a gift to give your senior neighbor.

You'll see what you mean to me!

Father gives so many gifts but one of the best things that can happen is when Father thinks the best of you to give you a heaven sent family. When your blood family abuses you and strips away your life with dark spirits, Father can restore and put you with a clean family...one full of love and light.

Father, thank-you for Katt, Ken, Mariah, Maia, Itiel, Bonnie, Senetta, Mike, Eddie, David, LaToya, Tracy, Charla, David, Eric, Chris, and Dian!


How great thou art!

Snow, Ice, and wind!! Oh my!!!!

Ah winter, here you come again! To boost circulation and give your skin a healthy glow, a fragrant scrub is the way to go!

Fight that winter blah, with a Lavender Salt Scrub
2 tbsp. sea salt
1 tsp. dried lavender flowers
2 tbsp. almond oil
2 drops of lavender essential oil

Use a pestle and mortar( go ahead! purchase one from the drugstore) to grind the sea salt and lavender flowers to fine powders.
Mix all ingredients into a paste and use immediately.

Maybe you can't stop 'ole man winter, but you CAN greet him smelling good and satiny smooth!

Fred Hammond - Yes He Will

Down in the dumps? Get creative and get lifted!

Feeling defeated? This may be the best time to write that award-winning song or create that mosaic plate you saw featured in the arts section of the Daily News!

Being original and imaginative releases your mind from the dullness of your everyday agenda and helps to put some color, some meaning into it!

Expose "I am vibrant!", in that painting, handmade earring set or wood carving!

Deitrick Haddon "I Need Your Help" Official Music Video

Emotional.

Leading with your emotions, alone, is bound to cause you some problems. Don't let how you "feel" determine your actions. People who don't have your best interests at heart will manipulate you for their purposes. Don't leave out common sense and cognitive thinking when making decisions.

Yes, put your heart into all of your personal and business dealings...compassion and apathy IS needed. But leaving out sound judgement based on facts will be detrimental to your well being.

Loveshadow-The Sweetest Sin (ft trifonic amelia june)

Re-View and smile...

Change your point of view!

We can change our outlook by changing our attitude. Many times we look and feel down in the dumps because we meditate and concentrate on our "have-nots" rather than our "haves". When you feel miserable and dwell on your "haves", your face will brighten right along with your disposition(or is it vice-versa?)


It's 5AM, Monday morning, the alarm clock has just buzzed off. You think,"Damn, back to my lousy job." But let's think what life would be like without that job.Our circumstances and lifestyle sure would be different if that "lousy" job were not waiting for us.



T.V., the internet, movies provide a look into(false) lives that are unattainable,be it financially or emotionally. The situations are unrealistic. Find you and do you! Look your life straight in the eye and count your blessings. They are abundant.

Rewrite a happy ending!

Handed a "pink slip" and you immediately break out into a cold sweat! But hold up, wait a minute! Calm down and come at a "lay-off" from a positive viewpoint.

While you dig in, dust off your interview suit and update your resume, do some some self- assessment. Before you got caught, all the way, up in a 9-5, you were writing, painting and sewing pillows for the craft fair. So, while you're out there, applying for your unemployment benefits, stop by the hobby shop and pick up some paints, paper and an easel. Re-ignite your passion! Make a bartering deal with your local community center and invite your friends and family for a showing~ You will get your work before an attentive crowd and you may even make a sale or two!

Word of mouth could enable you to slide that interview suit back into the closet; resumes into the shredder.

You get my drift...turn that "pink slip" into a congratulatory bouquet of pink roses!

Soul Food

"I cried because I had no shoes, then I met a man who had no feet."

paraphrased from
The Rose Garden by Saadi

5 Ways To Bring Creativity into Your Business Meeting!

Looking for ways to bring color and life into your next business meeting? Check these tips:

1)Bring in a guest, someone who is not affiliated with the group, to offer "new eyes" to the business topic at hand. Getting an outsider to come in, will give a shot of new energy!

2)Do an early morning meeting, I mean, like 2A.M.! You can't beat the peace and quiet and sometimes solutions flow better before the city comes alive. Make sure you prepare in the evening before with a nap!

3)Usually meet in your office cubicle? Change the venue! On a nice day, meet in the park! Look into booking a room at your local library. Maybe, a member of your group will allow his home to be used. In other words, change the venue and bring a different "life" to the meeting!

4)Before the meeting, go around and ask everyone what they expect to gain from the meeting-listening to your co-workers' expectations might spark a new idea to come out of you!

5)Change break times! In other words,if you usually break after two hours( for a meal, etc.), hold off and break after four hours. Or break after one hour into the meeting! The idea is to cut new interval paths into the meeting, which will lend itself to a freshness, a brain jolt!

Do you have anything to add to this list? Would love to hear from you! Post right here!

Your Personal Evolution is Up To You!

Start Here:

1) Along with daily goals(a to-do list) formulate a five year plan. Map out a do-able path to your desires.

2) Enroll in a class at your local community college. Take your pick from learning a new computer application to learning how to knit that winter cap. Get additional skills and change your world!

3) Follow a motivational speaker who you admire. It may be someone's article you've recently read or someone you've seen in a television interview. Find out if they've written any books, dust off that library card and peruse the shelves. Priceless!

4)Join Toastmasters and gain the confidence it takes to stand before thousands to impart information and share knowledge. Power!

5)Explore your spiritual side. A "bigger than me" comes in many forms. Work on finding a road to the "Great".


Above are five prompts to start you on the road to personal evolution...can you add five more to this list?

The path to your Heart's Desires

Believing in your self is the first step in accomplishing your hopes and dreams. How do you begin to believe in yourself?

1) Pray that you can make decisions that will hold up and stand the test of time.

2) Take responsibility for your mistakes.

3) Admit a lack of knowledge and ask questions if you don't understand something.

4) Ask for help and delegate. Know that there may be someone who can do "it" better than you can.

5) Share. Give of your time to better someones' life.



These five tips will begin to carry you along the path to belief in yourself!

Buoy.

We have many people that come in and out of our lives on a daily basis. Co-workers, vendors, salespeople, teachers, etc. are a fact of our busy lives. No matter where we turn, there are a lot of people, a lot of relationships.

To stay afloat in a sea of superficiality, reach out for your "inner circle". Your "inner circle" is a group of people Father puts in place to have your back. They are genuine and care about you. Your inner circle really shouldn't change that much, but be guided to make changes QUICKLY, if need be.

Keep this circle small and tight. They serve as a shield against a world that can be unfriendly, at times.

Color me happy!

Particular colors can change your outlook and turn your cloudy mood into a sunny one! Surround yourself with colors that uplift, ie orange, red, yellow, green and white. As for the rooms of your house...don't want to paint those walls yellow? Pick a yellow object such as a clock, a table, a figurine, etc., that will be a bright uplifter, in an otherwise dull setting.

As for your clothing...don't want to walk around in a hot pink pantsuit? Put a pink rose in your hair and catch your reflection in the mirror, every once and awhile, during the day. Instant mood changer!

The right color at the right time, will stop the destroyer in his tracks!

WAKE-UP!!!!!!!

A bowl of potpourri on your desk can serve a dual purpose; not only is it colorful and pretty to glance over, with the right ingredients it can wake you out of a mid morning slump! Try the following recipe for a fragrant jolt!

Citrus Zing

1oz each of lemon verbena, lemon balm and lemon thyme
1/2 oz. of marjoram
1/4 crumbled bay leaf
1 tbsp. crushed lemon peel
6 tbsp. crushed orange peel
2 tbsp. orris root powder
2 drops of orange blossom oil
2 drops of lemon oil

Mix all dry ingredients together in a glass or metal container. Makes for 1 invigorating cup! Enjoy!


*recipe taken from Bohemian Revolution.com

* ingredients from Mountain Rose Herbs.com

Try it a New Way!

Step out of your comfort zone and break routine! Dive in with something non-threatening...start with lunch.

You usually eat that Egg Foo Yung at your desk? Well, why not try that Thai cafe down the block! You may even meet a new friend!

You usually sleep in late on Sat. morning? Well, why not get up EARLY and experience that peace and calm that happens at, let's say, 4am.
Mediate, setting a tranquil pace for the day.

Stepping out of the mundane and breaking routine, gives your mind a rejuvenating jolt!

5 Ways to Simplify Your Life

1) Don't perpetuate gossip

Life gets real simple when you no longer participate in "he said, she said" conversations.

2) Get cute plastic containers and bring your lunch from home

Avoid waiting on lines, to get your meal, as part of your lunch hour. Bringing a lunch from home means every minute is devoted to eating

3) Shop in bulk

Many times when we run out of certain personal items, ie, toilet tissue, toothpaste, Advil, our
lives are thrown into a short-lived,tornado.To avoid the drama, buy a membership at a warehouse-type outlet like Costco. You are less likely to be "caught out there."

4) Put up a hook in the kitchen for your keys

Make a habit of placing your keys on a hook on the wall, immediately after coming into the house(let's say in the kitchen). This way you'll never run around looking for a missing car key, house key, etc. again.

5) Do laundry during school hours(between 9 and 3)

Mothers usually do the laundry after picking the kids up from school, bringing them along. It gets real crowded, real noisy, real fast. Avoid the confusion and simplify your life!

Relinquish Self-centeredness

When you take on the attitude of "It's all about me", it could add unnecessary stress to your life. Imagine the responsibility you take on when the world revolves around you! :-)

Bring it down a notch, care and inquire about your neighbor's needs and wants. Taking the focus off of you, will alleviate stress and bring peace.

Stress-Buster for a Tuesday afternoon-

8tracks.com is an internet radio program where you're able to share your own online mixtape. You can pick a mix done by a fellow listener or you can submit your own streaming playlist of eight or more tracks.

Although I haven't submitted my personal playlist yet, I love listening to the mixes of others. Music of all genres is included...rock to dubstep to soul to funk. The music is yours for the taking!

http://www.8tracks.com

3 things NOT to do,when you get a sudden bolt of joy!

1) Tell somebody.
"Parade" by yourself. You don't want the wind knocked out of your sails by Gloomy Gus!

2) Try to figure it out.
Just go with it... it's a gift!

3) Stunt it.
Let the feeling fly, taking you as far as it will. Don't hold back, laugh, sing, jump(unless, of course, you're in a crowded N.Y.C. subway car :-) Have a nice day!

Air-conditioned star-gazing, anyone?

Going to the planetarium as an adult is an awesome ordeal! Lay back, look up and know that there IS something bigger and more powerful than yourself. You just have to surrender it ALL.....

Now, what could be more stress-relieving than that notion?

The Bath, revisited!

Basic Milk Bath (Tipnet.com)
1.5 cup powered milk
1.5 cup epsom salts
1/8 cup baking soda
2 TBS cornstarch

Put all the ingredients in a muslin bag

The bath brings relief from the hectic-ness of the day... but you already knew that, didn't you? To lay back in the tub and let the water immerse and caress your tired body.....AHHHHHHHHH. Let's put a homemade addition into the mix. Add a bath tea bag- make it yourself! It's very economical when you buy the ingredients and supplies, in bulk, from one of the many online craft stores.

The above recipe is a basic one. Go ahead and add herbs and your special fragrance. Drop the bag in the tub under running water. The powered milk is a softening agent and you'll feel the difference in your skin immediately- a relaxing event in and of itself!

Yes, the bath has always been a welcomed relief and the addition of your homemade concoction heightens this lovely experience!

A guest view!

"When you operate and embrace your fears, the pressure and stress is greatly reduced.

So today, decide to do the one thing you fear the most and watch what happens. Whatever it is, we all could learn from you.

Go ahead and share!"

Compass certified coach and representative-Marlene McCray
marlenemccray@fallintoyou.com

Music Soothes the Soul

With all the new, electronic innovations for the person on the go, it's easy to take the edge off with your favorite tunes at a moment's notice. Pause and put those ear buds in, if only for 15 minutes. Now you can tear yourself away from that project for a 15 minute jump-start, can't you?

Lean back, close your eyes and become involved in the melody. Music heals, takes away pain and relaxes. Invest in a portable device to hold your tunes. You can get a mp3 player for less than $50.00. It's less costly than reaching for that bottle of Advil in the lower right side drawer of your desk! Have a great week and don't fall prey to darkness.

A Praise, anywhere...anytime refreshes!

We desire to lean on you, Jesus

We know you'll always be there to please us

Right and true-guide us

We're counting on you

Thy will be done, oh Lord

Thy will be done

We lift our hands

Thy will be done, oh Lord

Thy will be done

PRAISE HIM!

Exhaling....

Viewing a picture can take you away to places in a matter of minutes. You don't even have to get up from your desk, which means no harassing ticket agent and no long lines at the airport ;-)

Stick a picture of green pastures in your briefcase and pull it out after the phone call with that unnerving client. See yourself laying in the grass looking up at a clear, blue sky, sweet breeze blowing, smell of hay wafting through the air...you get the idea! Feel the anxiety drain from your body, bringing you to a state of relaxation.

Any picture that calms will do. Cut them out of magazines or do you have a snapshot that evokes fond, loving memories? A picture will give you that lift in the middle of a "downer"day!

Orchid TIme Lapse 1

Healing magic fingers! (your own)

Wind down, right at your desk with some relaxing self-massage. Self-massage is a delightful way to bring peace back to a day that is steadily unraveling out of control. Remember those essential oils I mentioned in an earlier post? Well, invest in some Neroli oil! The scent of Neroli has been known to induce sleep, alleviate nervous tension and promote feelings of calm.

Add three drops of Neroli oil to two ounces of a carrier oil like almond. Apply in a circular motion starting at the temples, moving down the side of the face(hairline) to the neck. Inhale the glorious fragrance of the Neroli and feel calmed, ready to put the day back on an even keel.

Self-massage, even in it's simplest form, can turn a crazy day into a controllable one!

Note: Info about Neroli taken from Author Victoria Edwards, "Aromatherapy Blends for De-Stressing."

kumbaya

kumbaya by bel-artvariety

Feeling uptight? Pull out the beads,clay,tile, glue..

Crafting is a fun and exciting stress buster. Take your pick of a multitude of projects! Release tensions as you weave blankets, make earrings, paint, sew, mix perfume concoctions...the list is endless. Use the internet to find your pleasure. Pick an old-time favorite from your childhood or try something new!

Just the other day I was in a well-known craft store, picking up some beads, and just being surrounded by all the glitter, colored paper,dyes and buttons was lifting. Using your hands to create, connects you to spirit.

The act of creating/crafting interrupts a humdrum day, brightens your mind from dark thoughts and renews your soul. How good it feels to show off that handmade masterpiece and say,"I made it MYSELF!

...and how do you stop the destroyer in his tracks?

"Just need to change oneself.... we all share an identical need for love....humanity is one without ideology. Anger causes destruction.Compassion is soft and peaceful and a very powerful antidote. Destroyer destroyed, Smiles forever."
by Mollie D'gama-silva

Relaxation is in the air!

Fragrance is very effective in relaxing the mind and body. Fragrance can evoke happy childhood memories. Similarly, sniffing peppermint has been known to induce a mild feeling of euphoria. Ylang ylang is noted to be a antidepressant. It's a well known fact that fragrance can alleviate a headache, ease an upset stomach and open up clogged bronchial tubes.

Today, many of us are looking for fragrance alternatives to candles and incense. Some of the reasons for this search is 1) young children and pets in the household 2) the smoke of these lit instruments stain walls and curtains 3) the smoke is injurious to our health. Here are 4 substitutes that allow for a flame-free fragrance experience:

A)Diffusers-use fragrance oils on a cotton pad that is inserted into a slot on the device. Some diffusers use enclosed fans to disseminate the contained aroma.
B) Pomanders- usually a container that holds a scented material ie, solid perfume or fragrant herbs.
C) Sprays- mixture of fragrance oils and water in a pump bottle(avoiding aerosol cans)
D) Fragrance Beads- tiny beads that absorb fragrance oil, emitting aroma into the air

Fragrance is an effective healing tool. Find the method of introducing fragrance into your home that fits your way of life. B-nosey!

Relaxation is in the air!

Fragrance is very effective in relaxing the mind and body. Fragrance can evoke happy childhood memories. Similarly, sniffing peppermint has been known to induce a mild feeling of euphoria.Ylang ylang is noted to be an antidepressant. It's a well known fact that fragrance can alleviate a headache,ease an upset stomach and open up clogged bronchial tubes.

Today many of us are looking for fragrance alternatives to candles and incense. Some of the reasons for this search is 1) young children and pets in the household. 2) the smoke of these lit instruments stain walls and curtains 3) the smoke is injurious to our health. Here are four substitutes that allow for a flame-free fragrance experience:
A) Diffusers- use fragrance oils on a cotton pad that is inserted into a slot on the device. Some diffusers use enclosed fans to disseminate the contained aroma.
B) Pomanders- usually a container that holds scented materials ie, solid perfume or fragrant herbs.

C) Sprays- Water and fragrance oils mixed together and put into a spray bottle.(Avoid aerosol can sprays)

D)Fragrance Beads- are tiny beads that absorb fragrance oil, emitting aroma into the air.

Fragrance is an effective healing tool. Find the method of introducing fragrance into your home that fits your way of life. Be nose-y!

Taking a mini-vacation is a stress buster!

When stress is allowed to build up, it opens the door for the enemy to come in and destroy. To alleviate stress, we must find effective and low-cost ways to relax. Short on time? Little funds to spare? Why not try a mini-vacation?

Designate a weekend out of the month for your mini-vacation. A few ideas to explore include taste- testing at a winery, visiting a museum and/or zoo in a neighboring county, signing up for a walking expedition through your town. For those summer months, how about a jazz cruise? Is it Autumn already? How about picking apples in the country orchard?

These ideas for mini-vacations are inexpensive as compared to the cost for a 3 to 4 week getaway! If you have to save up for these trips, do it a little at a time. The results will be well worth it. Come back from your mini-vacation refreshed,refueled and ready to knock out any challenge that faces you!