Monday, February 22, 2010

Be Like the Little Children ...

I haven’t had little children in my daily life for a while since my kids are grown, and we don’t have any grandchildren yet. This reference of alignment and raising one’s spiritual vibrations is right to the point. Most of us feel attracted to animals in the same way as we would like to pet them or to hold a baby. It’s the purity and true, original nature of God in them which we are fascinated with. Please enjoy this video as a gift and inspiration for this week. May it provide you with many moments of clarity, and give you purpose for your own life.

Unfortunately, our lives are cluttered with past experiences and heavy burdens as well as projections and expectations which may never happen. Children live in the present moment. That’s all they know. It is in the present moment where we meet God and where we can make good choices. It takes practice for an adult to stay in the present moment.
That’s why I like the simplicity of this video. Enjoy.

Monday, February 15, 2010

Happy Presidents' Day 2010

Celebrating Presidents' Day this year may be dampened by the extreme snowfall we had recently. There may not be parades or other outdoor activities, but I like to take the opportunity to pay tribute to the two presidents who's birthdays originated the holiday.

The national holiday, Presidents’ Day, was originally a commemoration of George Washington's birthday. America's first president was born on February 22, 1732. After Washington's death, our nation began celebrating his birthday as a way to remember his life and how he contributed to establishing America's independence.

In 1865, the year after Abraham Lincoln was assassinated, America began celebrating Lincoln’s birthday on February 12th. Until 1971, both February 12 and February 22 were observed as federal public holidays. In 1971, President Richard Nixon combined the two holidays into one and ever since we have honored all past presidents on the third Monday of February.

I like to feature two accounts of the presidents Washington and Lincoln which have moved me deeply.

“Naked and starving as they are we cannot enough admire the incomparable Patience and Fidelity of the Soldiery” ~ George Washington

Long before George Washington became the first president of the United States, he proved himself as a great leader. He was the Commander in Chief of the Continental Army, which spent the winter of 1777-1778 camped at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, 25 miles northeast of Philadelphia.
He pleaded the Congress for help and supplies, but nothings came. The encampment of the Continental Army at Valley Forge in the winter of 1777-78 is one of the most renowned aspects of the American Revolution. The hardships the ordinary soldier endured while living in makeshift log huts has become legendary.

Under these circumstances, George Washington didn’t just depend on his own wisdom, but he prayed to God for guidance. With the help of Baron Friedrich von Steuben, a skilled Prussian drillmaster, they transformed the regiments into a more effective fighting force. Finally, supplies arrived, as well the army recruited new soldiers from a diversified background. There were soldiers from different parts of the region, including Native Americans and African Americans. As they started building their huts, they had different ideas. It took George Washington’s leadership to mold the group together.

At one point, his wife, Martha Washington, arrived on her own accord, bringing food and other supplies for the soldiers. She also organized some of the wives, sisters and daughters of the soldiers who came to nurse the sick and serve the army of 12,000; 2,000 died of diseases and 4,000 were declared unfit for training. A local Oneida Indian woman brought dried corn and showed the others how to prepare it. That support finally lifted the morale of the troops.

Over the winter, the army changed dramatically. Slowly but steadily the soldiers' endurance, bravery, and sacrifices were rewarded. Increasing amounts of supplies and equipment came into camp. New troops arrived. Spring brought word of the French alliance with promises of military support. Now a stronger, dependable force, better-trained and hopeful of success, was ready to face the British armey.

Here is:

The Gettysburg Address
Delivered by President Abraham Lincoln
At Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
on November 19, 1863


"Four score and seven years ago, our fathers brought forth upon this continent, a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.
Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battlefield of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.
But, in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate -- we cannot consecrate -- we cannot hallow -- this ground.
The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."


May we remeber their bravery and courage and celebrate these great leaders today.

Monday, February 8, 2010

Reflection on Super Bowl

The featured 3 minute movie (How to Finish Strong) and the containing message gave the New Orleans Saints the motivation for a successful training season. Now we know that they not only went to the Super Bowl for the first time in their 43 year history, but they are also the champions – the winner.

I am not claiming any knowledge in football nor do I plan to watch any other games this coming year. But I did watch the Super Bowl, mainly for the entertainment. Right from the beginning I was kind of annoyed by the fact that every other name the announcers mentioned was Payton Manning, the quarter back of the Indianapolis Colts, and how great he was. The Colts had a good start, but fell behind from the 2nd quarter and in the end the Saints of New Orleans won, 31-17.

As one player said so truthfully : ”We weren’t the Aints, we were a team of destiny, a team that can make big plays.” And that’s why they won, because it is a team effort. It takes all of its players to bring the victory.



The video was shared by Mac Anderson, Founder, Simple Truths, LLC.

Monday, February 1, 2010

How to Write Articles for eHow



I started writing articles for eHow beginning of December 2009. At this point I am using it as another outlet to discover and learn things for myself. I am most interested in getting well right now, overcoming arthritis and some other health challenges. Since eHow also allows you to make money, I am not against that although I haven’t made anything yet.

I wrote about 30 something articles mostly about health, food and lifestyle. These are subjects I am interested in.

Here are some of the links:
http://www.ehow.com/how_5715588_rebound-exercise-avoid-osteoporosis.html?shared=true
How to Rebound Exercise to Avoid Osteoporosis

http://www.ehow.com/how_5735422_make-oriental-salad-dressing.html?shared=true
How to Make Oriental Salad Dressing

http://www.ehow.com/how_5800420_use-music-healing.html?shared=true
How to use Music for Healing

http://www.ehow.com/how_5846483_enjoy-cinnamon-spice-fragrance.html?shared=true
How to Enjoy Cinnamon - Spice and Frangrance

http://www.ehow.com/how_5734093_stop-arthritis-permanently.html?shared=true
How to Stop Arthritis Permamently

I would appreciate any feedback or suggestion you have for me.