WELCOME to Peoplehelpingpeople.us
They are not dead who live in the hearts they leave behind. - Native American Proverb
1.5.08 Start date The new day ~ 4.20.10
I have decided to make this website "The Amber Memorial" this where I want to educate
our children and the many adults that when you cloud the brain with substances you stop positive growth... being one that lives with a TBI... The doctors(being to general) in their limited knowledge feel that the dollar is more important then in the teaching of belief in
self... as a matter of fact,,, I am 100% medication/drug free for the first time since
returning to earth after waking from the coma to be reborn given new hope for US.
Let me tell you of Amber... she carried alot of pain... From all that I learned of Amber in
the short time we were together... she never thought she was the beautiful spirit I told
her she was...
To Those I Loved and Those Who Loved Me....
When I am gone, release me, Let me go...
I have so many things to see and do.
You must not tie yourself to me with tears.
Be thankful for our memories, Joeface.
I gave to you my love.... You can only guess
how much you gave to me in happiness.
I thank you for the love we each have shown
but now it's time I traveled on alone.
So grieve a while for me, if grieve you must.
Then let your grief be comforted by trust.
It's only for a time that we must part
so bless the memories within your heart.
I won't be far away, for life goes on.
So if you need me, call and I will come.
Though you can't see or touch me,
I'll be near. And if you listen with your heart,
you'll hear all my love around you soft and clear.
And then when you must come this way alone,
greet you with a smile, and say....welcome home!
Great new day to US
www.rachelschallenge.org
4.08.10:
For my Savior, Jesus Christ, a new challenge...I am out to prove that my friends will repost this, I hope I am right!!! Let's lift up His name and make a statement!! When Jesus died on the cross he died for YOU and ME. If you are not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ, copy and repost. ......I am not ashamed!!!
~ John Hardy
2.22.10: It is so easy to stay focused on your diet when everything is going well. Butttttttttttttttt what happens when your husband, boyfriend, mother, kids or anyone else that is important in your life upsets you? When they bring back to the point where you used to be in your life before you started your new weight loss plan? How will you handle it? Will you go back to eating everything in the house to ease your pain? Will you get off your exercise routine?
The answer is a big NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You have come too far. Even if you have just started with your plan (time doesn’t matter here) because you made the commitment to yourself and there is no turning back now. You have to tell yourself that. Over and over. You can’t let anything get in the way of your goal. Especially at this point.
Tomorrow we will talk about how to stay on track.
In my article last time I talked about being focused on your weight loss goals when people in your life upset you and you are so upset that you want to just give up and go back to making yourself feel better by going back to your old habits and eating everything in the house and forgetting about exercising. But you and I know that is not the solution.
The real solution is for you to do something positive for yourself by staying focused on your weight loss goals. Even if you do slip up during your time of stress that doesn't mean that you have to give up. You just need to get back to your plan. Start eating right and getting back to the gym to stay on track. In fact, even when you are going through any stressful time in your life if you keep exercising you will find that this will help clear your mind and help you through the stressful bumps in your life. We all know how good we feel after a good workout.
So deal with the stress that you might be presented with. Don't hide from it, face it head on. But most importantly don't let it keep you from your goals. Continue to move forward and before you know it you will be at your goal and you will be on top of the world.
Okay with so much going in your life and so many distractions, how in the world are you going to stay on track? well, that is easy. You are going to stay on track because you are going to put yourself and your weight loss goals first. You are going to set aside some time every day just for you. You determine when that time will be and don't let anyone in your life deter you from your time.
2.16.10:
I like what this man has to say and don't think he is a bad American for saying it.
Subject: Yes, I'm a Bad American
YES, I'M A BAD AMERICAN
by: George Carlin and his fellow brother from another mother, Joeface Esselman
I Am Your Worst Nightmare. I am a BAD American. I am George Carlin.
I believe the money I make belongs to me and my family, not some mid level governmental functionary be it Democratic or Republican!
I'm in touch with my feelings and I like it that way!
I think owning a gun doesn't make you a killer, it makes you a smart American.
I think being a minority does not make you noble or victimized, and does not entitle you to anything.
I believe that if you are selling me a Big Mac, do it in English.
I believe everyone has a right to pray to his or her God when and where they want to.
My heroes are John Wayne, Babe Ruth, Roy Rogers, and whoever canceled Jerry Springer.
I don't hate the rich. I don't pity the poor.
I know wrestling is fake and I don't waste my time watching or arguing about it.
I've never owned a slave, or was a slave, I haven't burned any witches or been persecuted by the Turks and neither have you! So, shut up already.
I believe if you don't like the way things are here, go back to where you came from and change your own country! This is AMERICA.
I want to know which church is it exactly where the Reverend Jesse Jackson preaches, where he gets his money, and why he is always part of the problem and not the solution. Can I get an AMEN on that one?
I think the cops have every right to shoot your sorry rear if you're running from them..
I also think they have the right to pull you over if you're breaking the law, regardless of what color you are.
And, no, I don't mind having my face shown on my drivers license. I think it's good..... and I'm proud that 'God' is written on my money.
I think if you are too stupid to know how a ballot works, I don't want you deciding who should be running the most powerful nation in the world for the next four years.
I dislike those people standing in the intersections trying to sell me stuff or trying to guilt me into making 'donations' to their cause.
I believe that it doesn't take a village to raise a child, it takes two parents.
And what is going on with gas prices... again?
I believe 'illegal' is illegal no matter what the lawyers think.
I believe the American flag should be the only one allowed in AMERICA !
If this makes me a BAD American, then yes, I'm a BAD American.
If you are a BAD American too, please forward this to everyone you know.
We want our country back!
We NEED GOD BACK IN OUR COUNTRY!
2.13.10: There are psychological reasons for that, of course. In frothy run-ups, builders make big profits and tend to over-produce, resulting in inventory overhangs that dampen price appreciation after the bubble bursts. Plus, people lose confidence.
And lenders, who were pushing out mortgages hand-over-fist four years ago are tight-fisted today, making it harder to get a mortgage and so reducing demand for homes.
The bottom line, at least for a few years, is that the average buyer should forget about home purchases as investments. The good news is that, long-term, their home values should appreciate.
2.12.10: Drug Toxicity Blamed In Yale Student's November Death
A 19-year-old Yale University student found dead in November died of multiple drug toxicity, the Yale Daily News reported Thursday.
They say at UCONN medical if I dont take their drugs. They cant help me. I have been suffering many side effects for sometime because of medication drugs prescribed to me that I was told I didnt need many years aftah.
I am grateful I have life.
~ JE
In yesterdays comic strip in the daily paper. Isnt it sad that comic peanut had charlie pushing pills what a sad world I live in.
2.10.10: Sugar Substitute Offers Sweet Taste -- Minus the Bitter Consequences
Rallie McAllister, M.D., M.P.H.
America's insatiable sweet tooth is taking a super-sized bite out of our nation's health.
Over the past three decades, annual per capita sugar consumption in the United States has risen from 113 pounds
to nearly 150 pounds. During the same time frame, obesity and diabetes have become national epidemics.
For folks who want to enjoy the sweet taste of sugar without suffering the bitter consequences,
an alternative sweetener known as xylitol is an excellent choice. Discovered in 1891 by a German chemist,
the substance became popular in Europe during World War II, when sugar was in short supply.
Since the 1960s, xylitol has been used as an FDA-approved nutritive sweetener in diabetic diets. These days,
it can be found in a few brands of baked goods and beverages, as well as in chewing gum, mints and toothpaste.
Xylitol isn't a true sugar, but rather a naturally occurring sugar alcohol found in many plants,
including some fruits and vegetables. Although it was originally derived from birch trees, corn is now the primary source
of commercially produced xylitol. In its pure form, the sweetener is a white crystalline substance that looks, tastes and
measures like sugar. Unlike table sugar, which has 15 calories per teaspoon, xylitol provides just 9.6 calories per teaspoon.
Because the human body metabolizes sugar alcohols in a unique manner, xylitol doesn't produce spikes in blood glucose
and insulin levels that commonly occur following the consumption of regular sugar. While sugar is known wreak havoc on
dental health, xylitol has the opposite effect. The natural sweetener has been shown to prevent tooth decay by inhibiting the
growth of Streptococcus mutans, the bacteria primarily responsible for causing dental cavities. Over the past two decades,
a number of studies have shown that when children chew xylitol-sweetened gum three times daily following meals,
they develop significantly fewer cavities than those chewing sugar-sweetened gum. Similar findings have been
observed in adults. In addition to deterring cavity formation,the use of xylitol-containing gums and mints can help control
bad breath, reduce the frequency and severity of mouth sores, and improve oral health in individuals with periodontal
disease. Not only does xylitol inhibit the growth of bacteria in the mouth, it also puts a damper on the proliferation of
Streptococcus pneumoniae, the bacterial source of most middle ear infections in children. In a study published in British
Medical Journal, researchers examined the effects of the sweetenerin more than 300 children in daycare settings, most of whom
had suffered repeated ear infections. Half of the children chewed xylitol-containing gum five times a day,
while the other half chewed regular sugar-sweetened gum. During the two-month study, 21 percent of the children chewing
regular gum had one or more ear infections, while only 12 percent of the children chewing xylitol-sweetened gum
experienced one or more ear infections. Preliminary research suggests that the sugar alcohol also may play a role in the
prevention and treatment of osteoporosis.When fed to aging rats, xylitol not only reduced bone loss, it actually increased
bone mineral density by an average of 10 percent. Scientists speculate that the sweetener may enhance bone health by
boosting the body's absorption of calcium. While the optimal dose necessary to promote bone health is still unknown, a
daily intake of six grams of xylitol has been shown to help prevent dental cavities. For best results, two pieces of gum,
each containing one gram of xylitol, should be chewed three times a day following meals. To reduce the risk of middle ear
infections, children should chew two pieces of the gum five times daily. In these amounts, xylitol is generally well tolerated by both children and adults. At doses greater
than 30 grams a day, however, the sugar alcohol may have a laxative effect. While xylitol is perfectly safe for humans,
canines can't properly metabolize the sugar alcohol.Dogs ingesting the substance can experience a life-threatening drop
in blood sugar levels, necessitating immediate veterinary attention. Like regular sugar, xylitol can be purchased in bulk,
as well as in single-serving packages. Unlike sugar, xylitol isn't widely available in supermarkets: it's more likely to be
found at stores and shops that sell natural foods and nutritional supplements. Xylitol is more expensive than regular table
sugar, but if you're looking for a reduced-calorie sweetener with a few bonus benefits, it's an excellent investment.
2.09.10: Teens Far From Immune To Abusive Relationships
By GRACE MERRITT
Megan Grant is only 15, but she knows it's not right when a boy calls his girlfriend "bitch."
When she walks down the polished red-and-white hallways of Conard High School in West Hartford, she sometimes sees boys acting superior and demanding toward their girlfriends.
But what really got to her was seeing one of her friends being harassed by a boyfriend who constantly sent messages to her cellphone.
"I noticed that he would text her all the time, checking up on her," Grant said.
She wanted to help, but at first wasn't sure how. She ultimately decided to start a new club to learn more about how to help teenagers trapped in unhealthy relationships and to empower girls to speak up for themselves. Grant, a sophomore, invites a guest speaker each month to the after-school club of about 20 students to talk about teen dating violence and related issues.
"The message is it's OK to respect yourself," she said.
Signs Of Abuse
People tend to think that "domestic violence" results from a fight between adult couples in the privacy of their own homes.
But recent studies show that violence can happen just as readily between boys and girls. It happens in high schools, but is also being documented among tender middle-schoolers.
And it's more prevalent than one might expect: Surveys show that the rate of teen dating violence in Connecticut is higher than the national average.
The issue is expected to get some prominent attention from a legislative committee on domestic violence, which plans to recommend solutions Monday to a full spectrum of domestic violence issues, including whether schools should be required to teach teenagers how to avoid dating violence.
"It's actually a pretty sizable problem," said state Rep. Mae Flexer, D- Killingly, who heads the legislative task force on domestic violence. "Eighteen percent of teens will experience dating violence before they graduate from high school."
That figure was reported in a 2007 state Department of Public Health survey, which found that 18.6 percent of high school seniors reported an experience with dating violence in the past 12 months.
The survey also found that in grades 9 through 12 combined, 13.4 percent of Connecticut students reported being hit, slapped or physically hurt by their partners in the past year, compared with 9.9 percent nationally.
Violence among dating teenagers is hardly limited to Conard. It permeates many high schools and homes in Connecticut and cuts across every socioeconomic group, experts say.
Teen dating violence is a subject adults don't like to talk about and teens often make excuses for, but it can be deadly.
Just last month, a 13-year-old boy was charged with shooting his 13-year-old ex-girlfriend in the head in New Haven. She was lucky; the bullet grazed her temple and she survived.
The state health department report surveyed 2,072 randomly selected students. Among its findings were that Hispanic students (17.1 percent) are more likely than white students (12.4 percent) or black students (12 percent) to have experienced dating violence in the past year, and that boys are about as likely as girls to be assaulted.
"Young women who are physical think that girls can hit their boyfriend because they're a girl and he's big and they can't hurt him, so that makes it OK," said AJ Pearlman, state policy attorney for Break the Cycle, a national nonprofit organization working to end teen dating violence.
Emotional Abuse
The Connecticut survey measured only physical violence. But much of dating violence also involves emotional and psychological abuse, which includes intimidation and criticism.
"I see boyfriends pushing girlfriends into lockers, calling them names and following them down the hall, whispering things," said Sky Loth, 17, a student at Brien McMahon High School in Norwalk who belongs to a student activist organization combating teen dating violence.
Another recent survey of 1,242 high school students in southeastern Connecticut found that 18 percent of students experienced emotional abuse in a dating relationship, said Cathy Zeiner, executive director of the Women's Center of Southeastern Connecticut, which took the survey.
The same survey showed that 80 percent of students say teen dating violence happens in their school and that 50 percent said additional education about dating violence is needed, Zeiner said.
Cellphones, the Internet and even GPS systems have given abusers more tools to stalk and bully their partners anywhere — without detection.
"It's not unusual to see them using cellphones and text messages to sort of keep control on each other. That's a real problem," Zeiner said.
A survey by Liz Claiborne Inc. in 2007 found that 30 percent of teens say they are text-messaged 10, 20 or 30 times an hour by a partner inquiring where they are, what they're doing or who they're with.
And parents, teachers and even friends usually have no idea it's going on.
"A lot of it is happening at home, with texting or instant messaging on the computer, so not everyone is aware of what's happening," said Taylor Dawson, 17, of Greenwich High School.
Experts say abusive behavior as part of an emotional relationship often starts as early as middle school, and is really just an extension of bullying.
It begins with verbal abuse and an attempt to control and keep track of the partner, said Melanie Danyliw, director of education and training at the Women's Center of Greater Danbury.
"It could be something like 'Why are you eating that? You've been gaining weight,'" said Danyliw, whose agency teaches three-day healthy relationship programs upon request at area high schools.
In some cases the abuser tries to control and limit what the partner does, saying things like "I never get to see you," she said.
"Friends can see that this person isn't treating you nicely," Danyliw said. "They may say, 'You don't deserve to be treated like that.' In extreme cases, it leads to physical abuse."
Part of the problem is that teens are just entering their first relationships and don't have any experience with what constitutes a healthy relationship.
"Lots of girls are just learning how to have a relationship. Lots of times it's hard for girls to tell the difference between a healthy relationship and emotional abuse unless it's a big difference, like hitting," Grant said. "Being a teenage girl, you just want validation from a guy and are willing to do a lot of things."
Reach Them Early
Educating students early is key, experts say.
"If we're going to ever eliminate domestic violence, we need to reach them in their first relationship," Zeiner said "We need to set the tone for relationships and understanding of relationships for the rest of their lives."
Experts attribute teen dating violence to several factors. Some say that teens are likely to mimic parents who are in an abusive relationship.
There is also the theory that gender stereotypes in video games, movies and TV that portray a hyper-violent view of masculinity influence behavior: The men earn respect by instilling fear, while the women are dependent on the man for protection, Danyliw said. By the time students reach high school, they are so used to these messages that they no longer see it as that bad, she said.
"People in high school, especially the girls, they know it's going on but they just turn a blind eye to it because they are worried about their status," Grant said.
Some experts say that over time, the accumulation of sexist messages promotes a casual devaluing of women in general. A coach, for example, who calls the boys on a team "ladies" or someone who says "you throw like a girl" sends the message that it's OK to disparage women, Danyliw said.
Some experts believe the foundations of healthy relationships should be introduced as early as preschool through rudimentary lessons in nonviolent conflict resolution, anti-bullying strategies and Internet safety.
Experts say teen dating violence isn't new, but has simply emerged from behind a veil of privacy during the past decade or so.
"It's just become more permissible to talk about it. As a society now, we have matured enough to not be afraid to admit these things are happening. What's changed is willingness of people now to admit something needs to be addressed," Danyliw said.
The highly publicized beating of pop singer Rihanna by her then-boyfriend Chris Brown, who was 19 at the time, brought the issue home to many teens last February.
The National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have has now identified domestic violence and sexual assault as a public health and societal problem and is putting money and effort into prevention work.
In Connecticut, the legislative task force on domestic violence is exploring ways to educate more students about how to prevent domestic violence. Among the possibilities is requiring schools to teach dating violence prevention, much as Rhode Island, Virginia, Ohio, Nebraska and Texas have done.
Rhode Island law requires school districts to develop dating violence policies, provide training to teachers and administrators starting in the seventh grade and teach an age-appropriate dating violence curriculum in grades 7 through 12.
The Connecticut legislature considered a similar bill last year, but legislators were squeamish about setting unfunded mandates and the bill died, Zeiner said.
Connecticut suggests, but doesn't require, that schools offer instruction on dating violence and how to calmly solve interpersonal problems in the health curriculum, said Bonnie J. Edmondson, an education consultant for the state Department of Education.
Some school systems do offer some instruction, but it can be inconsistent and often cursory. Some cover healthy relationships in health class, while others bring in consultants to teach three-day seminars that cover such issues as date rape. In many cases, these programs are threatened by budget cuts and meet resistance from parents worried about exposing their children to such issues.
Parents think it's not happening in their town, Danyliw said. "But parents should be concerned and education is the best intervention and protection there is," she said. "I think we've come to the recognition that we have to do something about it," said Linda Blozie, director of public affairs for the Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence. "It's not just for teens when they are in school — it's wherever they're frequenting."
Combating the problem will require a coordinated community response that helps victims stay safe and hold offenders accountable, Blozie said.
"If you and I are in a relationship and I'm beating you up, it shouldn't be a secret," Blozie said. "Everywhere you turn, there should be a place you can go for safety.
"If you're an offender, everywhere you go, you are being held accountable for your behavior. The message should be, 'What you did is not OK"
2.08.10: Stress: Your Body Under Attack
by Anita Harris
Having trouble sleeping? Popping more antacids than usual? Or maybe you've had more colds this winter. Maybe these symptoms are related to stress.
Just about everyone has experienced a pounding heart, tense muscles, and sweaty palms—the body's evolutionary "fight or flight" response when facing a threat.
It's a well-known phenomenon that a certain amount of stress can sharpen your mental prowess, and new research suggests that brief exposures to certain stressors may enhance the body's immune response. However, responses designed by evolution to protect us from predators may sometimes be useful, says Richard Sloan, PhD, director of the Department of Behavioral Medicine at the Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center in New York. They are counterproductive in many situations today.
Your Body Under Stress
When you experience stress, Sloan explains, your blood clots more readily so you bleed less, and blood flows to your muscles so you can fight back with strength. This would be very helpful if you were being attacked by a lion, he says, "but it's not useful when your boss yells at you." According to some studies, prolonged or frequent exposure to stressful events might increase our vulnerability to illnesses like depression, heart attacks, and the common cold.
Scientists are only just beginning to understand how this works, according to Firdaus Dhabhar, PhD, an assistant professor and neuroimmunologist at Ohio State University.
As he explains it, when our sensory organs encounter a potential threat, they transmit signals to the brain which, in turn, releases chemicals that stimulate nerves and glands throughout the body. In the adrenal glands—which are located near the kidneys—the brain chemicals induce the secretion of the hormones corticosterone and epinephrine, which stimulate the organs to act in various ways.
The result is what Dhabhar calls "the typical stress response":
The heart beats faster.
The muscles tense.
Sweat glands are activated.
Blood flow is diverted from the intestines to other parts of the body.
Immune cells move from the blood to other organs.
Ordinarily, Dhabhar says, within three hours following the threat, "Everything goes back to normal."
The Dangers of Chronic Stress
Under conditions of ongoing or repeated stress—such as continual worry and anxiety, a bad work situation, or medical illness—the body's "fight or flight" system gets "hammered," Dhabhar says. Constant stimulation might lead to overproduction of stress-related hormones and "the systems begin to break down." This, in time, could negatively affect the immune system.
According to Herbert Benson, MD, chief of the Division of Behavioral Medicine at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, chronic stress can lead to the following:
Depression
Anger
High blood pressure
Cardiac arrhythmia
Insomnia
Atherosclerosis
Infertility
Chronic stress might also increase the risk of heart attacks and make premenstrual syndrome and hot flashes more severe. Recent research suggests that high levels of stress might speed up the progression of AIDS and multiple sclerosis, and hinder the effects of medication.
Crying Wolf
Repeated or constant exposure to stressors may also impair the brain's ability to evaluate whether a stress response is warranted and make it less able to regulate the response, according to a 1998 article in the New England Journal of Medicine by Bruce McEwen, PhD, of the Rockefeller Institute. This could be problematic at several levels—from the day-to-day management of average stressors to suddenly being faced with a situation that would normally call up the fight or flight response.
Recognizing There's a Problem
To begin with, it's important to recognize the presence of stress-induced symptoms. The signs may include the following:
Excess anxiety
Stomachaches
Headaches
Diarrhea
Temper outbursts
Unexplained anger or crying spells
Nightmares or insomnia
Personality changes
Impatience
Reducing the Stress
Change your situation
Do what you can to change stressful conditions, Benson advises. If they involve a relationship or workplace situation, he says, "more often than not, this is difficult to do."
Learn to relax
Benson advocates invoking what he calls "the relaxation response". This well-known technique, based on the principles of transcendental meditation, involves repeating a word, sound, prayer or phrase or performing a repetitive muscular activity.
"When other thoughts come into your mind, let them go passively, and come back to repetition." According to Benson, who is the founder of the Mind/Body Medical Institute, these activities have been shown to quiet the brain and to decrease blood pressure, heart rate, and the rate of breathing.
Change your outlook
Sloan suggests learning relaxation techniques such as biofeedback, and what he terms "cognitive restructuring," a method that involves questioning whether the physiologic reaction you are experiencing is rationally justified.
"You may learn that your office is being moved and think 'that's the worst news I've had in years,'" he explains. By "reforming" the issue, you may decide it's not so bad—and your body will respond accordingly.
Practice remaining calm
Sloan also suggests rehearsing in advance how you will respond to a stressful situation. For example, if you need to deal with a difficult person, "figure out how you will address your concerns without yelling or provoking an angry attack and then practice these behaviors."
Seek help
Others suggest developing a network of family and friends to avoid social isolation, and seeking professional counseling if needed.
Keep it simple
In Dhabhar's view, "Grandma's advice still stands." You should "eat good, wholesome food; exercise moderately and get enough sleep." This may seem "too simple," he says, but being in a state of healthy equilibrium helps you minimize the impact of stress and makes your body better able to fend off any immune challenges that arise.
RESOURCES:
American Institute of Stress
http://www.stress.org
Mind/Body Medical Institute
http://www.mbmi.org/Default.asp
Stress Management Briefs from the University of Minnesota
http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/familydevelopment/DE7269.html
2.05.10:
Scientists....too many are becoming politicians (with all their scummery) in white coats. Bring back the age of nerds and geeks.
~ kathy B
2.03.10: FW: 4TH GRADE TEACHER LETS OBAMA HAVE IT
A TEACHER FROM THE GREAT STATE OF MISSOURI WILL LOSE HER JOB FOR STANDING UP FOR ALL OF US.
Give this teacher and true American a standing ovation.
This 4th grade teacher has said it all, and she was brave enough to attach her name to it.
April 17, 2009
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington , DC 20500
Mr. Obama:
I have had it with you and your administration, sir. Your conduct on your recent trip overseas has convinced me that you are not an adequate representative of the United States of America collectively or of me personally.
You are so obsessed with appeasing the Europeans and the Muslim world that you have abdicated the responsibilities of the President of the United States of America . You are responsible to the citizens of the United States . You are not responsible to the peoples of any other country on earth.
I personally resent that you go around the world apologizing for the United States telling Europeans that we are arrogant and do not care about their status in the world. Sir, what do you think the First World War and the Second World War were all about if not the consideration of the peoples of Europe ? Are you brain dead? What do you think the Marshall Plan was all about? Do you not understand or know the history of the 20th century?
Where do you get off telling a Muslim country that the United States does not consider itself a Christian country? Have you not read the Declaration of Independence or the Constitution of the United States ? This country was founded on Judeo-Christian ethics and the principles governing this country, at least until you came along, come directly from this heritage. Do you not understand this?
Your bowing to the king of Saudi Arabia is an affront to all Americans. Our President does not bow down to anyone, let alone the king of Saudi Arabia .... You didn't show Great Britain , our best and one of our oldest allies, the respect they deserve yet you bow down to the king of Saudi Arabia .. How dare you, sir! How dare you!
You can't find the time to visit the graves of our greatest generation because you don't want to offend the Germans but make time to visit a mosque in Turkey ...... You offended our dead and every veteran when you give the Germans more respect than the people who saved the German people from themselves. What's the matter with you? I am convinced that you and the members of your administration have the historical and intellectual depth of a mud puddle and should be ashamed of yourselves, all of you..
You are so self-righteously offended by the big bankers and the American automobile manufacturers yet do nothing about the real thieves in this situation, Mr. Dodd, Mr. Frank, Franklin Raines, Jamie Gorelic, the Fannie Mae bonuses, and the Freddie Mac bonuses. What do you intend to do about them? Anything? I seriously doubt it.
What about the U.S. House members passing out $9.1 million in bonuses to their staff members on top of the $2.5 million in automatic pay raises that lawmakers gave themselves? I understand the average House aide got a 17% bonus. I took a 5% cut in my pay to save jobs with my employer. You haven't said anything about that. Who authorized that? I surely didn't!
Executives at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will be receiving $210 million in bonuses over an eighteen-month period, that's $45 million more than the AIG bonuses. In fact, Fannie and Freddie executives have already been awarded $51 million not a bad take. Who authorized that and why haven't you expressed your outrage at this group who are largely responsible for the economic mess we have right now?
I resent that you take me and my fellow citizens as brain-dead and not caring about what you idiots do. We are watching what you are doing and we are getting increasingly fed up with all of you.
I also want you to know that I personally find just about everything you do and say to be offensive to every one of my sensibilities. I promise you that I will work tirelessly to see that you do not get a chance to spend two terms destroying my beautiful country.
Sincerely,
Every real American
P.S. I rarely ask that emails be 'passed around'.................PLEASE SEND THIS TO YOUR EMAIL LIST......it's past time for all Americans to wake up!
This woman may lose her job for this letter.. I believe we owe it to her for expressing the outrage that we feel but fail to address. Please pass this on.
A proud American living with a TBI
Pleas note that she referred to the president as 'Mr.Obama"
not 'Mr.President' she does not see him as our president and neither do most of us. That title is earned not automatically given.. I new this guy was a puppet for THE NEW WORLD ORDER!!! and if you never heard of that it is a group of world bankers...bankers that have tried to control the United States for centuries.. Bankers that have been groomin Obama since the Nixon days, Bankers that were linked with Kissinger that introduced Obama to the political world...Until now have we ever had a President whose administration is made up of Wall Street monguls?....Can any one say they heard of our president before he was placed in the presidential race? better yet lets think who has won the noble peace prize for doing absolutely nothing .. look what past winners have accomplished to receive such a prestiges award.. Americans need to wake up and take back our land of the free,
yeah its time for a change alright but this is not it..lets show them this is our country and they work for US.. every American has to show them at our next election.. lets get them out and get people for the people!!!!
2.03.10: Life is too short to wake up with regrets.. So love the people who treat you right.. Forget about the ones who don't. Believe everything happens for a reason. If you get a second chance, grab it with both hands. If it changes your life, let it. Nobody said life would be easy, they just promised it would be worth it.
~ Penny E
2.02.10: Popular Birth Control Pill Yaz/Yasmin or Ocella Linked to Severe Injuries, Misleading AdvertisingYaz/Yasmin or Ocella, the blockbuster birth-control pill made by Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Inc., has been associated with increased risks of stroke, blood clots, gallbladder disease, and other serious injuries in users. Bayer also has been reprimanded by the Food and Drug Administration for airing false and misleading television ads, which overstated the approved uses of the drug.
Women taking Yaz/Yasmin or Ocella, which also is available in other formulations under the brand name Yasmin and generically as ocella, also have developed serious side effects including:
•Heart attack
•Rash
•Hives
•Difficulty breathing
•Chest tightness
•Vision problems
•Cancers of the reproductive organs and breasts
•Liver cancer
•Inflammation of the pancreas
•Other serious and deadly health complications
Misleading Television Ads Cited
The FDA said in October 2008 that television advertising for Yaz/Yasmin or Ocella was misleading and gave consumers the wrong idea about which conditions the pill was approved to treat. The ads in question falsely claimed or gave consumers the impression that Yaz/Yasmin or Ocella was approved for treating symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and mild acne.
In reality, the drug only is approved by the FDA for treating serious physical and emotional symptoms of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) and moderate to severe acne. The FDA ruled that Bayer had violated federal rules regarding efficacy claims made in drug ads.
As a result of falsely promoting Yaz/Yasmin or Ocella, Bayer was ordered to correct the offending ads and forced to air new advertisements designed to clarify the FDA approvals for the drug. Those ads started appearing in early 2009.
If you or a loved one has taken Yaz for birth control or to treat symptoms of PMDD or acne and suffered stroke, heart attack, blood clots, gallbladder disease or other serious injuries, we encourage you to contact qualified legal representation today to fully assess your possible legal rights.
1.28.09: Life is too short to wake with regrets...So love the people who treat u right. Forget the one's who don't. Believe EVERYTHING happens for a reason. If u get a second chance, grab it with both hands. If it changes your life, let it. Nobody said life would be easy, they just promised it would be worth it. Post to your wall if u agree...:)
~ cynthia
Worry is a morbid anticipation of events which never happen.
~ Russell Green
1.24.09:
To be a master means to use the right power at the right time. To be a master means to be aware of the internal qualities that one has. Also it is the ability to use these qualities as and when required. That means to be able to give an order and put into use, in a second, whatever internal power or virtue that is required at that time. If there is an awareness of the positive quality, and not the ability to put it into use within a second, it would not be called total mastery. When we are a master, we are able to have an experience of having control over whatever is happening around us. Even if something comes up suddenly, we still are able to feel the control over the situation and make the best out of it. We neither feel helpless nor blame others for what is happening.
~ Brahma Kumaris, Mt Abu
10.13.09: 10 Things You Might Not Know About Mental Health
In the vein of figuring out what life is all about in this world, it sometimes helps to have “cheat sheets.” Financial planners do this, programmers do this, managers do this, engineers all do this to help them remember important things about their world, their lives, whatever. Without further ado then, here’s the list:
1.Mental health treatment is most effective (e.g., makes you feel better sooner) when your care is holistic in nature and provided by a multidisciplinary team of treatment providers (e.g., a therapist, a medical doctor, and others as needed).
2.Your mental health has a direct and measurable impact on your physical health and overall well-being.
3.Knowing and learning more about yourself is the best investment you can make today. If knowledge is power, self-knowledge is the ultimate power.
4.Our understanding of the mind today is at approximately the same place as a doctor’s understanding of the heart was 200 years ago.
5.The first professional you go to for treatment is often not the one you will receive treatment from (nor should it be). You may need to “shop around” to find a professional that fits your needs and expectations of care.
6.Your doctor or therapist doesn’t know everything about your condition or the best treatment for you. You may know more than he or she does (especially if you’ve been living with the condition for a long time, or the condition is rare).
7.Your mental health treatment is more often than not based upon trial and error.
8.Most psychotherapists in the real world do not usually provide treatment to people based upon research findings (e.g., they are not providing “empirically-based treatment”). Psychotherapy research often uses rigorous “treatment protocols” that are rarely used in most clinicians’ practices.
9.You may be your own best (but secret) treatment provider. By educating yourself, tracking or journaling your moods, what coping methods you use, etc., finding a support group, and such, you may actually be able to help yourself as much as many professionals can. Even if you can’t, you can provide your treatment provider with a lot of help and data that will help improve the efficacy of your overall treatment.
10.Mental health care is not always affordable, timely, or easy to access. A lot of work needs to be done in order to make mental health care more affordable, available in a timely manner in every community, and without having to jump through a dozen hoops in order to receive the best care possible.
~ John M. Grohol, Psy.D.
9.28.09: Stuck in a Rut? 7 Ways to Live Life to the Fullest
By Carly Young, Special to LifeScript
1. Don’t Try to Buy Happiness
Would you be happy if you had a hundred new pairs of Jimmy Choos or a brand new BMW? Maybe at first you would, but as time went on you’d “just want more, bigger, better and different in a never-ending fashion,” explains Alan Gettis, Ph.D., author of The Happiness Solution: Finding Joy and Meaning In An Upside Down World (Trafford, 2006). The pleasure centers in your brain come alive when you score the perfect skirt or a great pair of jeans, but the feeling fades. After all, if you could really buy happiness, everyone would have bought it already!
If you still believe money is the secret to satisfaction, consider this: According to a University of Illinois study, the Forbes 400 (the wealthiest billionaires in America) and the Maasai tribes of East Africa (simple, pastoral herdsmen) exhibit the same levels of happiness, regardless of their monetary differences. In plain English: Money doesn’t buy happiness.
2. Go for Girl’s Night Out
Could seeing a movie with your pals save your life? Maybe so, when you consider that loneliness is a life-threatening condition that can raise your risk of heart disease and depression.
Connecting with friends counteracts stress and spurs the release of oxytocin, a neurotransmitter that soothes and calms. Maybe that’s part of the reason women have been gathering in groups for centuries, grinding corn, knitting quilts or weaving baskets. “Instinctively, we know it’s good for us,” says Rebecca Radcliffe, motivational speaker and author of Hot Flashes, Chocolate Sauce, & Rippled Thighs (EASE, 2004).
It helps to have a close group of friends, but it’s also important to interact with people outside that circle. Every kind of positive interaction, from smiling at the waitress to chatting with your neighbor, can boost your mood, says Radcliffe.
3. Answer the Call of the Wild
Claude Monet once said, “The richness I achieve comes from nature, the source of my inspiration.” Take his advice and make a date with Mother Nature. It will lower your stress levels, strengthen your immune system and leave you feeling blissfully tranquil.
Can’t spare time away for a weekend camping trip? You’ll reap the same benefits from a quick stroll through the park or an afternoon spent gardening. Even a glance at a tree-lined street or blue sky through your office window will boost your mood and productivity.
4. Make the Little Things Count
So, your alarm woke you up on time for work this morning. If that thought doesn’t make you jump for joy, ask yourself what would have happened if the alarm had failed? You would have woken up late, rushed out the door, forgotten your briefcase and arrived at the office disheveled. Worse, what if you hadn’t woken up at all?
On a typical day, a million things go right, says Gettis. The shower has hot water, your favorite cereal is in the cupboard, your car starts and your computer turns on. “We’re often on auto-pilot and don’t appreciate the good things around us,” he notes.
It’s human nature to rubberneck at the accident on the freeway. But instead of seeking out the bad, focus on the good that’s right in front of you.
5. Pursue Your Passions
“Passions ignite us and keep us going,” says Gettis. But some of us are so entrenched in our daily lives that we’ve lost sight of them. Radcliffe suggests asking yourself this question: “If God came to you and told you to go after your dreams right away, what would you do first?”
Stumped? It’s time for a blast from the past. What did you love to do as a child? Which clubs did you join in high school? When did you last feel truly happy, and what were you doing at the time? The answers can help you rediscover your passions. For more ideas, make a list of things you’ve always wanted to learn, and then learn them. Dance the tango, study German, take up rock-climbing, play the guitar, write a poem…anything goes as long as you’re doing it for you.
“Giving an outlet to our creative selves satisfies a hunger that cannot be filled in any other way,” explains Radcliffe.
6. Forgive Yourself
Airlines have a limit when it comes to carry-on luggage. Pity we can’t set limits on ourselves when it comes to emotional baggage. Dwelling on past mistakes only prevents us from being happy in the present.
“Focusing on the past is a trap,” says Gettis. The key to forgiving yourself is to understand and accept your own history and to learn from your mistakes. How have they made you stronger and wiser? Use the lessons of the past to make better decisions today.
Forgiveness is an ongoing process. It can take months, even years. But in the meantime, “focus on creating a fulfilling life in the present,” suggests Gettis.
7. Live in the Moment
Cocktail hours, social events or a day off work can be great fun. But what about the rest of your life? What about the time you spend at work or running errands? If we only have isolated moments on the calendar to live for, we’re in trouble.
Most of our lives are made up of seemingly mundane moments spent pumping gas or standing in line at the grocery store. Yet we often dismiss these moments. They don’t count, we say. They’re not a part of our real lives. With this attitude, you’ll waste 80% of your life, notes Gettis. “If there’s anything resembling a magic bullet or a key to the universe, it’s the ability to be fully present…here and now,” he explains.
What’s the secret to living in the moment? This story from Gettis’ book says it all: A Zen master lay dying. One of his disciples remembered the fondness his teacher had for a certain cake and set out to find it. He returned with the delicacy for his master, who smiled appreciatively and slowly nibbled it, all the while moving closer to death. His students asked him if he had any last words and he whispered “yes.” The students drew closer, so as not to miss a single word. He said, “My, this cake is delicious!”
Are You Living Your Life to the Fullest?
James Dean once said, “Dream as if you’ll live forever, live as if you’ll die today.” Do you take time to pursue your passions or are you a slave to the daily grind? Find out if you need a new lease on life with this quality of life quiz.
9.23.09: I Wish You Enough
~ Author Unknown
Recently I overheard a Father and daughter in their last moments together at the airport. They had announced the departure. Standing near the security gate, they hugged and the Father said, 'I love you, and I wish you enough.'
The daughter replied, 'Dad, our life together has been more than enough. Your love is all I ever needed. I wish you enough, too, Dad.' They kissed and the daughter left.
The Father walked over to the window where I was seated. Standing there I could see he wanted and needed to cry. I tried not to intrude on his privacy, but he welcomed me in by asking, "Did you ever say good-bye to someone knowing it would be forever?" "Yes, I have," I replied. "Forgive me for asking, but why is this a forever good-bye?" ."I am old, and she lives so far away. I have challenges ahead and the reality is - the next trip back will be for my funeral," he said. "When you were saying good-bye, I heard you say, 'I wish you enough.' May I ask what that means?'"
He began to smile. "That's a wish that has been handed down from other generations. My parents used to say it to everyone." He paused a moment and looked up as if trying to remember it in detail, and he smiled even more. "When we said, 'I wish you enough, we were wanting the other person to have a life filled with just enough good things to sustain them." Then turning toward me, he shared the following as if he were reciting it from memory.
"I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright no matter how gray the day may appear.
I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun even more.
I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive and everlasting.
I wish you enough pain so that even the smallest of joys in life may appear bigger.
I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.
I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.
I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final good- bye."
They say it takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them, a day to love them; but then an entire life to forget them. Remember to tell your family and friends that you wish them enough! To all of you reading this, I wish you enough.
9.18.09: INTO EACH LIFE
Into each life a little rain will fall,
But if you have a friend, you can bear it all;
For a friend is an umbrella, to hold above your head,
And help you think about the sunny days instead.
Into each life a little sun will shine,
But if you have a friend, it will always be fine;
If you can share the sunny times with a friend that will be grand,
As you talk and walk together, securely hand in hand.
Into each life a little wind will blow,
But if you have a friend to whom you can always go,
Your friend can help to guide you, can help you make the choice,
By offering their view and adding a new voice.
Into each life, like leaves things will fall,
But if you have a friend you know that you can call,
They'll always steer you clearly, when their counsel's sought,
For a friend is like a safety net in which you will be caught.
~Author Unknown~
9.16.09: BELIEVE IN YOUR HEART
Believe in your heart that something wonderful is about to happen.
Love your life.
Believe in your own powers and your own potential and in your own innate goodness.
Wake every morning with the awe of just being alive.
Discover each day the magnificent awesome beauty in the world.
Explore and embrace life in yourself and in everyone you see each day.
Reach within to find your own specialness.
Amaze yourself and rouse those around you to the potential of each new day.
Don't be afraid to admit that you are less than perfect.
This is the essence of your humanity.
Let those who love you help you.
Trust enough to be able to take.
Look with hope to the horizon of today for today is all we truly have.
Live this day well.
Let a little sun out as well as in.
Create your own rainbows.
Be open to all your possibilities - All possibilities and Miracles.
Always believe in Miracles.
9.15.09: Billy Graham's Prayer For Our Nation
THIS MAN SURE HAS A GOOD VIEW OF WHAT'S HAPPENING TO OUR COUNTRY!
'Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask your forgiveness and to seek your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says, 'Woe to those who call evil good,' but that is exactly what we have done. We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values. We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery. We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare.. We have killed our unborn and called it choice. We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable. We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self esteem. We have abused power and called it politics... We have coveted our neighbor's possessions and called it ambition. We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression. We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment. Search us, Oh God, and know our hearts today; cleanse us from every sin and Set us free. Amen!'
Some time ago, commentator Paul Harvey aired this prayer on his radio program, 'The Rest of the Story,' and received a larger response to this program than any other he has ever aired. With the Lord's help, may this prayer sweep over our nation and wholeheartedly become our desire so that we again can be called 'One nation under God..'
Think about this: If you forward this prayer to everyone on your e-mail list, in less than 30 days it would be heard by the world. (It's worth a try!) One Nation Under God!!
~ US
9.14.09: I am sorry, please forgive me, thank you I have life and grateful
9.13.09: Children of centenarians live longer, healthier
People who make it to the age of 100 may indeed have some "good genes" that they pass on their children, according to a new study.
The study, of more than 600 older U.S. adults, found that the children of centenarians tended to live longer and were substantially less likely to develop diabetes or suffer a heart attack or stroke over four years.
The results suggest that children of centenarians tend to retain a "cardiovascular advantage" over their peers as they age, note Emily R. Adams and colleagues at Boston University and Boston Medical Center.
"These findings reinforce the notion that there may be physiological reasons that longevity runs in families and that centenarian offspring are more likely to age in better cardiovascular health and with a lower mortality than their peers," the researchers wrote in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
The study included 440 men and women who had at least one parent who'd survived to age 100 or beyond, and 192 adults whose parents had lived an average life expectancy. The average age in both groups was 72 at the start of the study.
Over the next four years, Adams and her colleagues found, children of centenarians were 81 percent less likely to die and significantly less likely to develop cardiovascular problems or diabetes.
Only 0.7 percent suffered a heart attack during the study period, compared with 3.5 percent of the comparison group. Similarly, 1 percent of the centenarian group had a stroke, versus 6 percent of their peers.
Meanwhile, diabetes was newly diagnosed in just over 5 percent of the comparison group, but only 0.8 percent of the centenarian group.
"The current findings suggest that centenarian offspring are following in their parent's footsteps, avoiding some of the vascular morbidities afflicting their peers and, more importantly, being less likely to die over time," the researchers write.
They add that the results also stress the importance of good cardiovascular health in anyone's chances of living an exceptionally long life.
SOURCE: Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, November 2008.
9.12.09: THE DIFFERENCE IS HOT DOGS ... Long before he achieved entrepreneurial success, Michael Altshuler faced one major problem - his attitude. Although he was a born salesman, Altshuler constantly found himself at odds with his supervisor. The manager put him on notice for dressing too casually and looking unprofessional. The headstrong Altshuler vowed to stand his ground - he would continue wearing his chinos and cardigans, or quit. He explained his predicament to his father, a veteran sales pro. The elder Altshuler suggested they talk things over at their favoriate seafood hangout. "Would you like lobster or a hotdog, son?" Altshler's father asked once they settled into their seats. The younger man was confused. Why on earth would he order a hot dog when he could have lobster? "If your going to quit and blame others, you will spend the rest of your life eating hot dogs. If you want to chow down on lobster, you will have to become accountable for your own actions." That analogy helped the younger Altshuler realize the crutial role he played in his own development. Once he invested in a new wardrobe and an improved attitude, Altshuler began to walk the talk of a successful professional. Today, he is a personal achievement coach and speaker who motivates others to give their best - in order to be the best.We Got Fired...And It's The Best Thing That Ever Happened To Us ~ Harvey MacKay, Ballantinehttp://www.ackone.com/asthma/?AFID=13375&SID=2000g4AsthmaSP2LLN20090909
Nearly any lifetime smoking ups breast cancer risk
Women taking the next puff of a cigarette might consider this: smoking 100 or more cigarettes may substantially increase their odds of developing breast cancer, researchers report.
Previous studies linked regular exercise, limiting alcohol intake, and avoiding postmenopausal obesity as lifestyle changes that can reduce women's odds of developing breast cancer, notes Dr. Ivana T. Croghan and colleagues in The Breast Journal.
The current study provides new evidence that "a woman smoker can reduce her risk of breast cancer by stopping smoking as soon as possible," Croghan commented to Reuters Health via email.
Croghan's group compared smoking history and other breast cancer risk factors among 1,225 women who developed breast cancer and 6,872 who did not during the first year after their initial visit to the Mayo Clinic Breast Clinic.
Surveys completed during this visit indicated just over 10 percent were current smokers, almost 9 percent were former smokers, and 81 percent had never smoked, Croghan, with the Mayo Clinic Nicotine Research Program in Rochester, Minnesota, and associates report.
In addition to the link with smoking, women who had used oral contraceptives for 11 years or longer had a whopping 200 percent increase in the odds of developing breast cancer. Women who used postmenopausal hormone therapy showed 81 percent increased odds, while aging raised the odds of developing breast cancer by 2 percent per year.
On the flip side, Croghan and colleagues report that having a hysterectomy decreased women's odds by 35 percent. Also, they did not see a compounding increase in risk for breast cancer among women with more than one risk factor.
Croghan noted that prior investigations with contradictory results regarding smoking and breast cancer risk did not consistently define smoking as current, former or never. The current study defines anyone who ever smoked more than 100 cigarettes at any time as having a history of smoking. Those who smoked less were considered never-smokers.
Croghan's group suggests further investigations using similar smoking definitions to assess how pre- and post-menopausal duration of smoking, amount smoked, and exposures to second-hand smoke might alter a woman's odds of developing breast cancer.
~ Joene Hendry
9.10.09: Life is an opportunity, benefit from it.
Life is beauty, admire it.
Life is bliss, taste it.
Life is a dream, realize it.
Life is a challenge, meet it.
Life is a duty, complete it.
Life is a game, play it.
Life is a promise, fulfill it.
Life is sorrow, overcome it.
Life is a song, sing it.
Life is a struggle, accept it.
Life is a tragedy, confront it.
Life is an adventure, dare it.
Life is luck, make it.
Life is too precious, do not destroy it.
Life is life, fight for it.
Mother Teresa
9.09.09: This post is not about sharks. It's about the clothes I'm wearing while acting silly at Universal Studios.
One of my favorite pastimes is teasure hunting in thrift stores. This is something I've always loved to do, not just when the economy is declining. I love it when a search through racks of clothing produces an expensive designer blouse in perfect shape. I find satisfaction in paying five dollars for it instead of the fifty plus required at the mall.
There are compelling reasons to shop resale. The average family is hurting and must find ways to conserve. It's the perfect time to recycle, reuse, and repurpose. Did you know that every year the average American throw away 68 pounds of clothing. Then we go to discount retailers and buy another 68 pounds of new, cheaply made stuff. Silly behavior on our part - hurtful to the environment and to our pocketbooks.
This brings me back to almost being eaten by Jaws... the outfit I'm wearing in the photo was 100% used, purchased at my favorite local thrift store, Savers.
I love shopping at Savers because unlike some stores of this type it's clean, the items are in excellent shape, they do not over charge, and best of all they donate a portion of my purchase price to nearby charities.
The Savers in Las Vegas, NV where I shop donates to Safe Nest which provides emergency shelter, counseling, advocacy, crisis hotlines, and other services for domestic violence victims.
Since the chain stores inception in the 1950's, Savers Inc. has paid out over a billion dollars to its non-profit allies. And on the environmental front, last year Savers reclaimed 262 million pounds of clothing, saving them from going to the landfill. It seems like a win/win situation to me.
Here's that win/win cycle in a nutshell:
I bring my clothing and used items to Savers and get a receipt to be used as a tax deduction, plus the store throws in a 20% off coupon on my next in store purchase.
They put the best items on the rack. I go back and shop there with my coupon, getting great deals and beautiful, gently used clothing at a reasonable price.
They donate a portion to a charity that benefits families in need and help conserve resources by rescuing perfectly good clothing and other household items from the landfill. I can't think of a more perfect way to shop! Try it and share your experiences with me, here on LifePrints.
Here is a list of Savers store locations around the world
~ Lisa Mclaun Breathe Through Your Heart Look in a Mirror Express; Don't Send Think of a Favorite Face Watch Your Words See the Divinity in Others Connect With Nature Work With Water Protect Yourself With Light Respond with love
9.07.09: 10 Ways to Transform Toxic Thoughts
If you've ever felt the way anger or fear can electrify the atmosphere in a room, you'll know what Sandra Ingerman means by "toxic thoughts." The author, a family therapist and shaman practitioner, believes our thoughts and emotions transmit an invisible but palpable energy that can affect our mental and physical well-being. "Psychic punches," she writes, are as real as physical violence.
Breathing is one of the simplest ways to transform energy. This is an exercise you can do throughout your day: Place your hands on your heart and feel your heart moving as you breathe. This is calming, and feeds the energy of love, peace, and harmony in the world.
Before reacting to a challenging situation, try emoting as you watch your reflection in a mirror. No one wants to see herself acting out in a toxic way. You may feel silly, but don't let this stop you. Taking ourselves too seriously is one of the causes of negative thoughts.
Stress can make us act in ways we might regret later on. It is OK to have problematic emotions, and it's important to acknowledge your feelings. Just be careful not to send the energy as a "poison dart" to yourself, others, or into the world.
The energy behind your emotions goes to all living beings. If confronted by someone who triggers problematic emotions for you, think of a loved one and impose his or her image on the face of the person challenging you. For example, you might work with the face of a baby, kitten, puppy, or your favorite flower.
Your words, like thoughts and emotions, have the power to change your experience and the world we live in. This applies to both the words we say out loud to others as well as self-talk. If you tell yourself that you're not a good person, you begin to manifest this reality. Fill your mind with positive words and this is how your life will unfold.
Never pity others who you perceive as suffering--this only pushes them deeper into a hole. When you see people in their divine light and perfection you help give them the strength they need to deal with their troubles. Remember that your perception creates your reality.
We are a part of nature. When we are in a state of stress we are cut off from the nurturing we receive from the elements -- earth, air, water, and fire (the sun) -- and we can actually become ill. Nature is a great healer. Take time out and connect with the natural world whenever you can.
The life-force of water can wash away your pain, and the simplest activities can have a healing effect. As you wash your hands, take a shower, or stand in the rain, visualize negative energy flowing from you and being transformed into light.
If you feel someone is psychically attacking you or being energetically hostile toward you, imagine a protective light surrounding you. Some people think of a white energy field; I imagine being enclosed in a translucent blue egg. Find a color that works for you. This will protect you from any harmful energies being sent your way.
You do not have to be the receiver of negative and toxic energy from others. You can return the energy you don't wish to receive with love. Responding with love will prevent you from moving into attack position and creating more negative energy. It is only love that heals.