¿What’s Your Legacy?

Listening to the memorial tributes of Senator Ted Kennedy, I realized the impact of his legacy. There was many a tale of him assisting the person on the street with whatever was their particular concern. He helped my family with immigration, Vietnam veteran issues, and even donated his staff to work on one of my charity events.

You know they say that dead men tell no tales. This makes me pose the question, what will be your legacy?

“I may be here for a short while, gone tomorrow into oblivion or until the days come to take me away. But, in whatever part you play, be remembered as part of a legacy...of sharing dreams and changing humanity for the better. It's that legacy that never dies” author unknown

Celebrating Independence!

As we come together to celebrate the 4th of July — Independence Day in America, it occurred to me that we should all be celebrating our own independence. What have you done lately in your life that has inspired a feast, fireworks, and an all out celebration?

If you have not done anything, Today is that day. Light the sparklers in your eyes, heart, and mind. Let that brilliant radiant beam shine for the whole world to see your true worth. Today is the day to celebrate your spirit, your light, and your truth.

Happy Independence Day!

VOTE!

In case you have missed it, today is Election Day in the United States of America. Please exercise your right today and get out and vote. Your voice and vote matters!

I don’t care who you vote for but I do care that you exercise your right to participate in the process. Check out this interview from ABC World News Tonight about awesome kids discussing the election process.

Enjoy and VOTE!

Breathing in an Upside Down World

This week if you listen to the news, you may instantly hyperventilate. The media is predicating the most awful atrocities to our financial situations. I realized that I had to turn the news off as I was working because I felt that I was mentally being abused by the media. YET everything we have learned about the Law of Attraction tells us we should remain positive. This question comes up a lot but how…..

Focus on the positive... Challenge the negative... Smile don’t cry… Yada, yada, yada … Sometimes it can feel like we are all used cars salesman (not that there is anything wrong with that). While the media is focused on the lack –focus on what you do have. Breathing is essential in times like these so…. Breathe.

If the world right now seems upside down, stand on your head if you have to and look right side up. No... I don’t have the answers about the situations that most Americans face. However, I do know this ….with energy shifting to the negative it is a must that you stay strong mentally and this too shall pass.

Who will tell whether one happy moment of love or the joy of breathing or walking on a bright morning and smelling the fresh air, is not worth all the suffering and effort which life implies. ~Erich Fromm

Dear...........

This week I had the pleasure of finishing a wonderful book called the Wednesday Letters by Jason Wright. I enjoyed it so much that it inspired me to write this blog entry on the lost art of letter writing.

When I was growing up I had 82 pen pals from all over the world. It was kind of cool, I had a big world map on the wall in my bedroom, and I had push pins in all the countries where my friends resided. I loved getting mail from friends all over the world. I loved sharing experiences about my life in the US and theirs from whatever country they were from.

I learned to love letter writing. It was a process to pick the right stationery, the right stamps, and even as to what color pens to use. As I found out when I was young, not to use red ink when I write because it perceived anger. You see, through letter writing, I became culturally aware of others and how we are all connected in the Universe.

Now that the world is so much smaller because of the internet, letter writing seems to be disappearing somewhat. As much as I love email, it is not the same as opening a letter from a long lost friend. So to all my friends out there this is for you.

How are you? I hope all is well. What’s up where you are? I am
well. Today is a great day because I get to connect with you.

Write Back Soon,
Sandra

Celebrate Your Independence!

This holiday weekend celebrates the independence of the United States of America. So today celebrate your independence. Be independent in your thoughts, deeds, and actions. Be free to choose the life that you want to live. Give yourself the freedom of thought to soar into new heights. What does that mean exactly? It means, if there is something that you have thought about doing, but said, yeah maybe tomorrow. Do it NOW! Let your spirit be free.

March in your own parade and watch your dreams explode!

In Memoriam

This weekend is Memorial Day weekend in the America. Traditionally this day of remembrance is for those who have died in our nation's service. Yet, today the Memorial Day weekend is better known for kicking off the busy summer season.

This weekend many of us will visit cemeteries honoring our dead. You will see many families placing flowers and other remembrances on all their loved ones graves. But this year it got me to thinking about all who sacrificed their lives for the country.

In these uncertain economic times, I want to take a moment to say thank you to our men and women who serve our country. This is a time when it doesn’t matter whether you are a Democrat or a Republican, if you swing left or right, to know that those who serve are truly special.

So as you take off this weekend to play, have fun, and eat great barbecue- - take a moment and say a prayer for those who live to fight another day. Peace.

It is the Soldier
Father Dennis Edward O'Brien
United States Marine Corps

It is the Soldier, not the reporter, who has given us freedom of press.

It is the Soldier, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech.

It is the Soldier, not the campus organizer, who gives us freedom to demonstrate.

It is the Soldier who salutes the flag, who serves beneath the flag, who allows the protester to burn the flag,

and whose coffin is draped by the flag.

We Who Believe in Freedom Can Not Rest

In America today, our political landscape is interesting. For the first time on the Democratic ticket there is a Black Man and a White Woman in serious contention for president. What does that have to do with human rights you ask?

People are talking about race and gender in this country daily and that hasn't happened for many a year. We are seeing racism and gender biases rear its ugly head.

America, must deal head on with its dirty secrets of fewer freedoms for people of color and women. As Ella’s Song written about Ella Baker, the great civil rights activist says “We who believe in freedom can not rest.” Peace.

Ella’s Song
Sung by Sweet Honey in the Rock Composed by Bernice Johnson Reagon

We who believe in freedom cannot rest
We who believe in freedom cannot rest until it comes
Until the killing of Black men, Black mothers’ sons
Is as important as the killing of White men, White mothers’ sons
To me young people come first, they have the courage where we fail
And if I can shed some light as they carry us through the gale
The older I get the better I know that the secret of my going on
Is when the reins are in the hand of the young who dare to run against the storm