Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass Its about learning to dance in the rain!

Vivian Greene Truly understanding the power of gratitude can change your life forever! So, enjoy this poem Weather Report by BJ Gallagher Any day Im vertical is a good daythats what I always say. And I give thanks for my health. If you ask me, How are you? Ill answer, GREAT! Because in saying so, I make it so. And I give thanks I can choose my attitude. When Life gives me dark clouds and rain, I appreciate the moisture that brings a soft curl to my hair. When Life gives me sunshine, I gratefully turn my face up To feel its warmth on my cheeks. When Life brings fog, I hug my sweater around me And give thanks for the cool Shroud of mystery that Makes the familiar seem Different and intriguing. When Life brings snow, I dash outside to catch The first flakes on my Tongue, relishing the icy miracle that is a snowflake. Lifes events and experiences are like the weather They come and go, no matter what my preference. So, what the heck?! I might as well decide to enjoy them. For indeed, There IS a time for every purpose under Heaven. Each session brings its own unique blessings AND I GIVE THANKS

An Excerpt from Oil for Your Lamp by Lisa Hammond & BJ Gallagher
Virtually every woman we know has the same problemshe knows what's good for her, but she often doesn't do it. She knows she should eat less and exercise more, but still she doesn't make healthy choices. She knows she needs to spend her time and money more effectively, but good time and money management elude her. She finds herself always putting others first, while neglecting her own needs and wants. She doesn't get enough rest or sleep and her endless to-do list hangs overhead like the sword of Damocles. As our friend Brenda Knight laments frequently, "Why am I always riding in the back of my own bus?" We don't do the things we know are good for us because we are so busy taking care of others that we neglect ourselves. The problem isn't lack of informationwe have plenty of information about the importance of sleep, healthy foods and exercise. The problem is how we prioritize our lives. Psychologists tell us that some people are inner-directed and some are other-directed. That is, some people focus on their own internal guidance system for making choices about how to spend their time and energy. Their own self-interest ranks very high on their list of priorities. "What's best for me?" is a key guiding principle in determining where they focus their attention and how they make day-to-day decisions. And some people are other-directed, which means that their primary focus is external, not internal. They are primarily concerned with relationships, especially people they care about. "How can I help others?" is a key question in how they spend their time and energy. Building and nurturing relationships with loved ones, family, friends, neighbors and coworkers is the guiding principle in their lives. Research indicates that, in general, men tend to be more inner-directed, while women tend to be more other-directed. There are exceptions, of course, but as a group, men are focused on themselves while women are focused on other people. Men like to build things while women like to build relationships. This difference in psychological orientation goes a long way toward helping us understand why we women often do such a poor job of taking care of ourselves. We run around filling others' lamps with oil, but forget to fill our own lamps first. Then we wonder why we're often exhausted, frazzled, stressed-out, anxious and/or depressed! Awareness is the first step toward solving a problem. So the first section of this book is devoted to helping us acknowledge the problem and understand the reasons for it. Chapter 1 looks at how girls are socialized, growing up to be women who put others first. Chapter 2 examines the values women have adopted in the past 50 years, beginning with the feminist movementleading us to believe that we can have it allall at once. And Chapter 3 explores the corresponding myth that we can DO it all. But don't be discouraged. Help is on the wayin Section II, we'll get into solutions for the problem. We'll learn the value of doing nothing, how to play again, how to become more inner-directed, and most importantly, how to ask for help.

An excerpt from Attitude is Everything by Vicki Hitzges

You know how when you do something nice for someone bring an unexpected gift to a friend, compliment a waitress, return a windblown hat to a stranger it makes you feel better? If you do that repeatedly, it could help you in all kinds of ways. In fact, if you become altruistic and put others first, research indicates that you will probably die smiling. Fortunately, you'll be happy, so you won't mind. Obviously that's an exaggeration (you probably will mind), but do good for others, and you'll be surprised at how helping them will help you. For example, in the mood to share? Go ahead! It will make you happy. Stephen Post, Director of the Center for Medical Humanities, Compassionate Care and Bioethics at Stony Brook University in New York says, "Happiness is a byproduct of living generously." The Journal Science published a study that examined the relationship between philanthropy and well-being. Researchers analyzed the spending patterns of more than 600 men and women, then questioned them about their general happiness. When subjects spent money to pay bills or buy items for themselves, they didn't report feeling happier. Yet when subjects spent money buying gifts or donating to charities, their actions made them feel much happier. The bottom line? You don't get happiness. It comes from what you give. Think you look fat in those pants? Volunteer! No kidding. Get this! According to The Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences, African-American women aged 60 and older who volunteered in elementary schools burned twice as many calories as those who did not! How cool is that?! Help out in a school and get thin thighs! Where do we sign up? Dr. Erwin Tan from Johns Hopkins University says that working with children may be as good for the volunteers' health as getting a gym membership. In addition, because the volunteers enjoy working with children, they may be more willing to stick with the activity compared to a traditional exercise program. The kids get love and care, the adults get joy and a good workout! That's a win-win! By the way, the research focused on African-American women because the study took place in two communities where black women tended to volunteer. The results would be the same for all seniors. What's more, the study showed that increased physical activity from volunteering usually remains high for at least three years! Now that's a payoff! In the December 2008 issue of The Gerontologist, you'll find another encouraging study about volunteers. Michelle Carlson, Ph.D. led a research team at Johns Hopkins University that found volunteers showed greater improvements in memory and executive function than those who did not participate. In fact, older adults most at risk for health disparities and who donated their time, showed the most significant gains. If you volunteer, you'll not only feel better, burn calories and sharpen your mind, but you also have a great chance of living longer! Researchers at the University of Michigan surveyed 1,211 adults over 65 (mostly retirees), then checked up on them eight years later. The subjects who volunteered at least 40 hours each year to a single cause were 40 percent more likely than non-volunteers to be alive at the end of the study. The findings took into account differences in the two groups' incomes, health and the number of weekly social interactions. Interestingly, the most important factor seemed to revolve around volunteering at just one spot.

Volunteers who spread their time among several organizations did not gain an advantage in longevity. The bottom line is this: Do unto others as you'd like them to have done unto you. Apparently the good you do boomerangs and comes back to you! For a happy, healthy, positive life, share your money and yourself.

An excerpt from The Strangest Secret by Earl Nightingale

George Bernard Shaw said, "People are always blaming their circumstances for what they are. I don't believe in circumstances. The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and if they can't find them, make them." Well, it's pretty apparent, isn't it? And every person who discovered this believed (for a while) that he was the first one to work it out. We become what we think about. Now, it stands to reason that a person who is thinking about a concrete and worthwhile goal is going to reach it, because that's what he's thinking about. And we become what we think about. Conversely, the person who has no goal, who doesn't know where he's going, and whose thoughts must therefore be thoughts of confusion, anxiety, fear and worryhis life becomes one of frustration, fear, anxiety and worry. And if he thinks about nothing...he becomes nothing. How does it work? Why do we become what we think about? Well, I'll tell you how it works, as far as we know. To do this, I want to tell you about a situation that parallels the human mind. Suppose a farmer has some land, and it's good, fertile land. The land gives the farmer a choice; he may plant in that land whatever he chooses. The land doesn't care. It's up to the farmer to make a decision. We're comparing the human mind with the land because the mind, like the land, doesn't care what you plant in it. It will return what you plant, but it doesn't care what you plant. Now, let's say that the farmer has two seeds in his handone is a seed of corn, the other is nightshade, a deadly poison. He digs two little holes in the earth and he plants both seeds one corn, the other nightshade. He covers up the holes, waters and takes care of the land...and what will happen? Invariably, the land will return what was planted. As it's written in the Bible, "As ye sow, so shall ye reap." Remember, the land doesn't care. It will return poison in just as wonderful abundance as it will corn. So up come the plantsone corn, one poison. The human mind is far more fertile, far more incredible and mysterious than the land, but it works the same way. It doesn't care what we plant...success...or failure. A concrete, worthwhile goal...or confusion, misunderstanding, fear, anxiety, and so on. But what we plant it must return to us.

You see, the human mind is the last great, unexplored continent on earth. It contains riches beyond our wildest dreams. It will return anything we want to plant.

Life Lessons
Are you fulfilling your life's passion? Do you have the confidence to trust your own inner voice? "The best career advice to give to the young is to find out what you like doing best and get someone to pay you for doing it." - Katherine Whitehorn In the first grade, our tall, red-headed teacher, Cleo Reagan, asked us... "How many artists are in this class?" We all raised our hands. Four years later, our short, diminutive art instructor, Wanda Helvey, asked the same question and only one-third of the same class responded by raising their hands. By the seventh grade, we were down to one-sixth of the class and finally by our senior year, only two out of the original 25 raised their hands. What happened across twelve years? Had we been sucker punched with self-doubt about our artistic capabilities? At the start of our schooling, our parents gave frequent positive feedback about our artwork as they proudly displayed our renderings on the refrigerator. Somewhere along the path of our elementary education, some person or teacher pointed out a mistake and we started focusing on those comments. The presumed mistakes manifested themselves into, "I can't draw. I'm not an artist." We internalized the criticism and forever gave up on some of the best talent that 2-to 5-year-old children had developed. The majority of artists started listening to other voices and putting more credence in the opinion of their peers versus their own inner voice of confidence. Who has the right to feed you such negativity? The mistake made is in listening to other people. On top of that, the grading process of the arts is questionable. Grading systems point out flaws. Isn't the whole idea of school to learn, grow and become contributing citizens? Life Lesson... Above all else: Listen to your inner voice and have confidence that you can chase your own passion. Foster an intimacy with your own skills and confidently build from your first level of success.

First Thing Every Morning

If you had a bank that credited your account each morning with $86,400with no balance carried from day to daywhat would you do? Well, you do have such a bank...time. Every morning it credits you with 86,400 seconds. Every night it rules off as "lost" whatever you have failed to use toward good purposes. It carries over no balances and allows no

overdrafts. You can't hoard it, save it, store it, loan it or invest it. You can only use ittime. Here's a story that drives the point home. Arthur Berry was described by Time as "the slickest second-story man in the East," truly one of the most famous jewel thieves of all times. In his years of crime, he committed as many as 150 burglaries and stole jewels valued between $5 and $10 million. He seldom robbed from anyone not listed in the Social Register and often did his work in a tuxedo. On an occasion or two, when caught in the act of a crime by a victim, he charmed his way out of being reported to the police. Like most people who engage in a life of crime, he was eventually caught, convicted and served 25 years in prison for his crimes. Following his release, he worked as a counterman in a roadside restaurant on the East Coast for $50 a week. A newspaper reporter found him and interviewed him about his life. After telling about the thrilling episodes of his life he came to the conclusion of the interview saying, "I am not good at morals. But early in my life I was intelligent and clever, and I got along well with people. I think I could have made something of my life, but I didn't. So when you write the story of my life, when you tell people about all the burglaries, don't leave out the biggest one of all... Don't just tell them I robbed Jesse Livermore, the Wall Street baron or the cousin of the king of England. You tell them Arthur Berry robbed Arthur Berry." Here are six terrific truths about time: First: Nobody can manage time. But you can manage those things that take up your time. Second: Time is expensive. As a matter of fact, 80 percent of our day is spent on those things or those people that only bring us two percent of our results. Third: Time is perishable. It cannot be saved for later use. Fourth: Time is measurable. Everybody has the same amount of time...pauper or king. It is not how much time you have; it is how much you use. Fifth: Time is irreplaceable. We never make back time once it is gone. Sixth: Time is a priority. You have enough time for anything in the world, so long as it ranks high enough among your priorities.

An excerpt from The Dash by Linda Ellis

While it still amazes me, a simple poem I wrote one afternoon forever changed my life. It all began when I faxed a copy of this poem to a syndicated radio show in Atlanta. Soon after receiving it, the host of this popular show read it on the air. Little did I know how much my life would change from that day forward. Titled The Dash, these 36 lines have touched millions of lives and have literally taken on a life of their own by traveling all over the world. I call it uncomplicated poetry in a complicated world. People are always asking me what, in particular, inspired me to write this poem. I believe it was a combination of things in my life at the time. It was during a period when I was working for the top executives of a very large and successful corporation. It was a strict company with a tense working environment. I began to watch how the priorities in many lives there had become misaligned. It seemed to

me that the bosses were worrying far too much about that which was inconsequential in the scope of life. Also, resonating in the back of my mind were the words from a letter which had been previously routed around the office. It had been written by the wife of an employee who was aware that she was dying. I was so moved by that letter that I saved a copy of it and continue to live by her words: Regrets? I have a few. Too much worrying. I worried about finding the right husband and having children, being on time, being late and so on. It didn't matter. It all works out and it would have worked out without the worries and the tears. If I would have only known then what I know now. But, I did and so do you. We're all going to die. Stop worrying and start loving and living. Her words stuck with me. Her letter made me stop and think. This is it. This is all we get. I remember where I was when I first truly realized the significance of the piece that I had written. I was on a business trip in Minnesota, alone in a hotel room. I received an emotional email thanking me for sharing the message of The Dash from a student who had recently heard it as part of a memorial gathering for the Columbine High School students. I sat on the bed and cried. Several years later, I found myself engulfed in the thoughts and feelings created by my own words as I listened to them read aloud, for what seemed like the very first time, at the funeral of my father...my best friend. From being performed in an elementary school play somewhere in the heartland of America to being part of a State Supreme Court Justice's speech, from being printed in best-selling novels to high school yearbooks, The Dash has truly affected millions. I may not be able to change the world with these words, but I have certainly been able to influence a portion of it! The poem's words have convinced mothers to spend more time with their children, fathers to spend more time at home, and reunited long-lost loved ones. The words have changed attitudes, and changed the direction of lives. They have, in their own way, made a difference. I know writing The Dash has changed my life. I hope reading it, in some way, may change yours.

THE DASH
I read of a man who stood to speak At the funeral of a friend. He referred to the dates on her tombstone From beginning to the end. He note that first came the date of her birth And spoke of the following date with tears, But he said what mattered most of all Was the dash between those years. For that dash represents all the time That she spent alive on earth And now only those who loved her Know what that little line is worth. For it matters not, how much we own The cars, the house, the cash,

What matters is how we live and love And how we spend our dash. So think about this long and hard; Are there things youd like to change? For you never know how much time is left That can still be rearranged. If we could just slow down enough To consider whats true and real And always try to understand The way other people feel. And be less quick to anger And show appreciation more And love the people in our lives Like weve never loved before. If we treat each other with respect And more often wear a smile, Remembering that this special dash Might only last a little while. So when your eulogy is being read With your lifes actions to rehash Would you be proud of the things they say About how you spent your dash?