World AIDS Day

Today is World AIDS Day. Please take time to send a prayer, thought, or donation to all those who are living with this illness. Until we have eradicated this disease across the world, we must continue to fight for a cure. I lost a brother AIDS, so this cause is very near and dear to my heart. By the way, did you know globally over 50% of AIDS victims are women and children?

Half of all children living with HIV will die before their second birthday . . .unless we act. A few simple measures can dramatically reduce a mother's risk of passing HIV to her child. But far too many moms lack access to care that can prolong their lives — and protect their children. (World Vision). Please think about giving to http://www.joinred.com/Splash.aspx or http://www.worldvision.org/

In the spirit of love and a cure... Peace!

The Letter

In these challenging times, we need all the encouragement possible to be loving, encouraging, and forgiving to ourselves. This was posted on the Ripples Project and I thought I would share it here. Peace!

I promise you that I will help you whenever you are troubled.

I will do everything in my power to make things better for you.

I promise you that I will be there for you whenever you need me.

I will help care for you and keep you healthy.

I promise you that I will get up every day with a positive outlook, with my chin up and I'll never deprive you of hope.

I promise that I will love and respect you and never take you for granted.

I will remind you each day that you are a child of God, that there is a purpose for your life and will spend my life helping you discover that purpose.

I promise that I will listen to you when you need someone to talk to, I will not pass judgment or condemn you for mistakes you make.

I promise that I will always forgive you and I will not let past problems overshadow our relationship.

I promise that I will be a true friend to you and love you always, no matter what.

Love,

Yourself YYY

-written and submitted by Mary E. Bentley

Healing From Hurt

When you are hurt emotionally, how do you heal? The other day I looked at an old scratch on my hand, which I received from my cat when he was a kitten. The scar had faded into the skin but it is still there. It got me to thinking about the emotional scars that we carry around with us. I realized that I had emotional scar tissue that needed to fade into the background.

When we are hurt we put protective barriers around are emotions so that others won’t hurt us the same way. We build emotional scar tissue. One of my favorite phrases use to be “Oh, I’ve forgiven them, but I will never forget it. The reality was that every time I said that phrase I built more emotional scar tissue around my heart and refused to let it fade.

It is something that I am working on and it isn’t easy. However, when we release the pain from our minds we are able to free our hearts. Our hearts are able to pulsate easier. We breathe better. We sleep better. Our minds are free and can grasp the lessons that we have learned. For out of every storm comes a new ray of light. Use it to purify your soul. Truly forgive the people who hurt you, release their spirit to the universe, and move on to a new day.

“In our lives there is bound to come some pain, surely as there are storms and falling rain; just believe that the one who holds the storms will bring the sun.” Unknown

Childhood Dreams into Inspiring Reality

This morning as I watched the Today Show the video below wowed me that it is never too soon to start on your dreams. Ten-year-old Amiya Alexander had a dream to start a business. The amazing part of this story is that her mother encouraged her to follow her vision. This young entrepreneur has patented her bus, created an interesting business model, and at a young age learned the most important lesson of all to turn your ideas into action. We should all be motivated to go for it!

Oath of Positivity

I recently spoke to a group of young women on how to be positive in these challenging times. As so many of us have been sucked into "the ain’t it awful club", I thought I would share with them and you what was once given to me when I was a teenager. I hope it inspires you!

Oath of Positivity

as read by Pearl Bailey, Live on NBC By J. Morris Anderson

My physical appearance will always reveal my positive mental attitude toward life.

My head held high will indicate the mental and spiritual strength that lives within me.

My straight, cheerful manner of walking will exemplify the positive direction my life has taken.

My eloquent manner of talking will always relate the positive mental, spiritual and physical forces that reside within me.

My illustrious smile will always express the pleasure I receive from living.

The positive look in my eyes will always indicate the self confidence and positive spirits inside me.

THEREFORE:

I CAN perform any task;

I CAN sell any product;

I CAN succeed in any job;

I CAN cause any relationship to thrive;

I CAN overcome any obstacle;

I CAN accomplish any objective.

I AM a positive mental, spiritual and physical person.

I AM spiritually capable of succeeding.

I CAN successfully compete on any mental level;

I WILL succeed on any physical level of activity in which I engage.

Empty “Sorries”

Lately the news has been filled with stories about politicians, celebrities, and athletes apologizing for bad behavior or inappropriate comments. It occurred to me that these apologies are empty. The truth is more likely than not, they are sorry they were caught, or sorry that other people didn’t like what they did. These weak apologies are often followed by even weaker excuses for bad behavior. Just once, I would like people to stand behind their bad behavior and not give out an empty sorry.

As a child, I learned this lesson from my mother. She would never accept just sorry as an apology. She would ask the question, “What are you sorry for?” When the question is posed in that manner the truth really comes out. Usually I was sorry that I was caught at whatever I was supposed to be apologizing for but I really wasn’t sorry for what I said or did.

This childhood lesson has really helped me as an adult. A sincere apology comes from the heart. The feeling of remorse and the sense that you caused true emotional pain to another person affects your spirit. When you apologize you should mean it from the core of your being or don’t bother to offer it. Sorry really is the hardest word.

Never ruin an apology with an excuse. ~Kimberly Johnson

¿Are You Somebody?

Recently, I taught a class and afterwards a student asked me, if I had resource name to back up a statement I made. I said, “Yes, that resource is me.” He then asked me if I could quote somebody who was famous, a celebrity, or well known. I reiterated, “yes, me.”

He was so shocked that I confidently stood beside my name and my statement. I said yes, I am somebody. You can choose to heed my words or not, the choice is yours. I am my credible source because the story is mine.

He was so startled that I said that I was somebody; he did not have a comeback. I thought to myself that so often we look for validation on who we are from other people.

Boldly and confidently, declare to the world

you know who you are.

You are somebody!

"I am larger, better than I thought. I did not know I held so much goodness."-Walt Whitman