Play Time

Okay so my posts have been so serious lately. As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday, it is the best time to relax, hang out, and play. So go on have some fun. Do you want to play with me?

Oh Jolly Playmate

Come Out and Play With Me

And Be My Jolly Friend

Climb up My Apple Tree

Slide Down My Rainbow

Into My Cellar Door

And We'll be Jolly Friends Forever More

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!

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!

In the Spirit of the Season

I love this time of year. It is a time to get together, see family and friends, and enjoy the spirit of the season.

I asked my niece and nephews a question that I heard a Priest ask kids in Church one Sunday. I asked why is it we get presents on Jesus’ Birthday? I asked them that if they knew that they were getting ten presents would they willing give one a way. Well….Out of the Mouths of Babes. They said sure, because the greatest present they receive on Christmas is Love and they would like to share it.

I must say that not only was I proud of their answer but I was truly moved. The kids went beyond the materialistic and they really understand what it means to share in the universal spirit of love.

In the spirit of the season, I wish all of you peace and love.

Merry Christmas

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!

Eat Dessert First

I know I know it goes totally against what your parents told you. But just think about it, dessert at the end of the meal is usually yummy, rich and puts a smile on your face. Right…..

Well if that is the case, shouldn’t everything that we do in life be like a really good dessert. Now all the healthy conscious people please don’t shudder. I mean it with the best of intentions. Life is to be enjoyed. We even make guilt an association with pleasure e.g. (guilty pleasure). Well today let go of the guilt. Take pleasure in the fact that you can live your best life by fully indulging in a bit of fun.

Often what we want to do feels naughty just because we are having fun. Not today. Today I charge you with doing what you feel with no guilt attached. For some it might be curling up with a good book on a Saturday afternoon, it could be taking the day off for a mental health day, stopping to wiggle your toes in the sand, or even just taking a catnap in the middle of the day.

Whatever your pleasure ….... Eat your dessert first and do something that you enjoy!

Playing In the Sandbox of Life

Why is it when we get older we cease to gave fun in our lives? Why is it we laugh less, worry more, and forget to take each day as it comes?

I think it is because we forgot how to enjoy life the way it was intended. You see life is like the sandbox. We should jump into it, wiggle our toes, kick up the sand, grab your friends, make castles, and just remember to laugh and to play.

Yes, there is always work to be done. But who says you can’t enjoy it, while you are doing it. Today make a new rule in your life. Have some fun and remember to play.

We do not cease to play because we grow old; we grow old because we cease to play!

George Bernard Shaw

¿Why are you special?

You know one of my favorite interview questions is to ask someone why they are special. People become dumbstruck or better yet they look like a deer caught in headlights. We can easily talk about our skill sets and why we are qualified for a particular job. But when we get right down to the heart of who we are, why you are special seems to leave us baffled.

Yet if you ask a small child, why they are special, they have zero hesitation and zero limitations to their answers. A child might tell you that they are special, because they can jump, their parents told them so, they are beautiful, they are smart, they know how to share, they can color, they can run fast, and the list goes on.

What happens to us, as we become adults that we can not even put together a list of what makes us special? The fact is that we are all unique and amazing individuals that God created us to be.

So I ask you this today…...... Why are you special?

Giving with Heart

You know I was in a toy store the other day, to pick up a gift for our church’s giving tree. The giving tree grants holiday gifts to children in need. As I was trying to decide between a couple of items for a little girl, I asked woman who I was in conversation with what she thought about this present or that. Her answer alarmed me, "For a giving tree? I wouldn’t spend a lot of money on it? Wow! I thought, if we are giving a gift shouldn’t it be from the heart. Why participate in charitable giving to anybody and give them something that you would not want to receive.

That is why so many of us are royally disappointed with Yankee swaps, Kris Kringles, and holiday gift exchanges. We often buy the gag gift or something we definitely wouldn’t want to get as a gift and feel smug that we participated in the annual event.

This year, give with your heart, with love and with joy!

“In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Acts 20:35 (New International Version)