Recommended Books: Must Reads!

April 24th, 2010 By: Brittany

Feng Shui Your Life
by Jayme Barrett

Your Hands Can Heal You: Pranic Healing Energy Remedies to Boost Vitality and Speed Recovery from Common Health Problems
by Stephen Co

The Tao of Entrepreneurship: 52 Lessons in Applying Spiritual Principles to Business Ownership
by Marcia A. Bench

Water: For Health, for Healing, for Life: You’re Not Sick, You’re Thirsty!
by F Batmanghelidj

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Celebrating Earth’s Day 40th Year

April 22nd, 2010 By: Brittany

Earth Day April 22nd 2010

Earth Day’s history is rooted in the activist-driven 1960s, when the environment was in visible ruins and people were angry, according to Rogers.

“It wasn’t uncommon in some cities during rush hour to be standing on a street corner and not be able to see across the street” because of pollution, she said.

Despite the anger, green issues were absent from the U.S. political agenda. This frustrated U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin, whose campaigns for the environment through much of the 1960s had fallen flat.

In 1969 Nelson hit on the idea of an environmental protest modeled after anti-Vietnam War demonstrations called teach-ins.

Nelson recruited activist Denis Hayes to organize the April 22, 1970, Earth Day teach-in, which today is sometimes credited for launching the modern environmental movement.

By the end of 1970, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency had been born, and efforts to improve air and water quality were gaining political traction.

What people are doing to celebrate Earth Day.

Planting Trees.  As the date also roughly coincides with U.S. Arbor Day, over time Earth Day has taken on the role of tree-planting.

Make nature crafts at school or home. Getting together with friends and family and help build bird houses or make a bird feeder to encourage the local bird population, which plays an important role in every ecosystem.

Litter clean up. Many people search local streets, parks, and beaches for litter.

Earth Fairs. Many are heading up and setting up Earth fairs all over in honor of Earth Day.

Preparing a Earth Day meal. One of are readers sent us a reply for her Earth Day contribution. Pamela K., said she is cooking an all oragnic and locally farmed meal for her church group. It is a tradition she said she has carried now for 3 years.

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Story of Compassion

April 21st, 2010 By: Brittany

I found this amazing story that definitely made me a think about how compassionate and wonderful people are to help other. I hope you enjoy this story as much as I did.

I was on the outskirts of a little Southern town, trying to reach my destination before the sun went down. The old CB was blaring away on channel 1-9, when there came a little boy’s voice on the radio line. He said, “Breaker 1-9, is anyone there? Come on back, truckers, and talk to Teddy Bear.”

I keyed the mike and said, “You got it, Teddy Bear.”

The little boy’s voice came back on the air, appreciate the break. “Who we got on the other end?”

I told him my handle and then he began.

“Now I’m not supposed to bother you boys out there. Mom says you’re busy and for me to stay off the air. But you see, I get lonely and it helps to talk cause that’s about all I can do. I’m crippled and cannot walk.”

I came back and told him to fire up that mike, I’d talk to him as long as he’d like.

“This was my dad’s radio,” the little boy said, “but I guess it’s mine and Mom’s now cause my daddy’s dead. Dad had a wreck about a month ago. He was trying to get home in a blinding snow. Mom has to work now to make ends meet. I’m not much help with my crippled feet. She says not to worry that she’ll make it all right. But I hear her crying sometimes late at night.

“You know, there’s one thing I want more than anything else to see. Ah I know you guys are too busy to bother with me. But, you see, my dad used to take me for rides when he was home. But I guess that’s all over now since my daddy’s gone.”

Not one breaker came in on that CB as that little crippled boy talked to me. I tried hard to swallow the lump, it just would not stay down as I thought about my boy in at home in hometown.

He continued, “Dad was going to take Mom and me with him later on this year. I remember him saying, ‘Someday this old truck will be yours, Teddy Bear.’ But I know I will never get to ride in an 18-wheeler again. But this old base will keep me in touch with all my trucker friends. Teddy Bear’s going to back out now and leave you alone cause it’s almost time for Mom to come home. But you give me a shout when you’re passing through and I’ll be happy to come back to you.”

Well I came back and said, “Before you 10-10, what’s your home 20, little CB friend?”

He gave me his home address and I didn’t hesitate one second because this hot load of freight was just gonna have to wait. I turned that truck around on a dime and headed for Jackson Street 229.

As I rounded the corner, I got one heck of a shock, 18-wheelers lined up for three city blocks. I guess every trucker from miles around had caught Teddy Bear’s call, and that little boy was having a ball. For as fast as one driver would carry him in, another would carry him to his truck and they’d take off again. Well you better believe I took my turn at riding Teddy Bear. And then I carried him back in and put him down in his chair. Buddy, if I never live to see happiness again, I want you to know I saw it that day in the face of that little man. We took up a collection before his mom came home. Each driver said goodbye and then they were gone. He shook my hand with a mile-long grin and said, “So long trucker, I’ll catch you again.”

I hit that interstate with tears in my eyes. I turned on my radio and got another surprise. “Breaker 1-9,” came a voice on the air, “just one word of thanks from Mom Teddy Bear. We wish each and every one a special prayer for you cause you just made my little boy’s dream come true.”

I’ll sign off now before I start to cry. “May God ride with you; 10-4 and goodbye.”

Source: Afterhours Inspirational Stories

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5 Tips To Help Make Decisions To Change Life’s Journey

April 19th, 2010 By: Brittany

Confidence comes not from always being right but from not fearing to be wrong.  ~Peter T. Mcintyre

I recently went out of town this past weekend. What an amazing trip we had. I highly recommended going to the beach as much as you can get away to go. If you don’t live near a beach then even a place that holds beauty and enlightenment to you is perfect. My husband and I are starting a new journey in our lives together. My husband who wants to daringly get away from the corporate world is getting set to start his own web design based business. I am on route to my business in counseling, and we are expecting another baby at the end of the year. Needless, to say it has been a big 2010 already!

I have come across both friends, family, and acquaintances who are venturing into a new world that feels very foreign and uncomfortable. Many are unhappy with work, with themselves, and with their relationships. They are ready to make a change, but are unsure how to make it. Much of the energy on the planet right now is very fear based. If you are feeling unsure about your finances or your ability to have success you are probably feeling some of that energy as your own. The best way to reassure yourself is to get as much info as you can. If you are struggling to get to that information here is are 15 tips to set you up with confidence.

1. Buy a journal. I think this is most important. It is not to use just for journaling your thoughts and feelings, but it is also to take notes, answers questions, and make agendas.

2. Buy a book. It’s important to start out with books that pertain to your interest of interest at hand. If relationships are what you want to change then research books on them and start with one that catches your attention.

3. Take a class. There are many classes that are being offered all over the nation that help to self motivated and keep encouragement alive. Taking a class on starting a business, making a business plan, or becoming yoga certified (whatever your interest is in). Taking a class will  help you become informed, will encourage you to stay on your path, and will increase confidence in yourself.

4. Shift your focus. This is sometimes hard to do when you aren’t yet on path you want. However, shifting your attention to your focus and intent will get you to where you want to be faster. When you shift your focus your mind and body start to help you focus on the new shifts in life. This is how new habitats are formed.

5. Take a vacation. This doesn’t mean you have to buy tickets to Hawaii. It simply means as stated above; go to a place that enlightenment always finds you. It could be camping, it could be going to a beach or lake, or it could be exploring the country. It does not have to be long and it does not have to be expensive. The point of vacations is to relax. When we free are minds of the everyday stress that feels confining we often can better picture and form our lives.

Blessings

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New Research Between Stress and Cancer

April 16th, 2010 By: Brittany

Scientists have discovered that everyday emotional stress is a trigger for the growth of tumours

They discovered that any sort of trauma, emotional or physical, can act as a “pathway” between cancerous mutations bringing them together in a potentially deadly mix.

The findings, published in Nature, seemed to show for the first time that the conditions for developing the disease can be affected by your emotional environment including every day work and family stress.

Until now, scientists believed more than one cancer-causing mutation needed to take place in a single cell in order for tumours to grow.

But Prof Xu and colleagues at Yale University, working with fruit flies, showed mutations can promote cancer even when they are located in different cells. This is because stress opens up “pathways” between them.

Source: Telegraph Jan. 2010

Comment: There has been much research between how stress effects cancer, and even how it contributes to cancer. I believe that is why you hear so much on stress management. It is a big industry that has emerged because the amount of stress the average person carries. It’s important to talk about your stress, exercise, eat food that contribute to stress management, and find an actively that can actually release stress from the body.

Good articles

10 Stress Busters

Let’s Destress

5 Great Ways To Help Your Health

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10 Ways of Happiness

April 10th, 2010 By: Brittany

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Easter Egg Project

April 1st, 2010 By: Brittany

This is such a cute little Easter project to do with the kids. It’s also a great spring project! I plan on trying this over the weekend with my 3 year old. We will post pictures!

Egg Heads from babycenter.com

What you need:
Eggs (brown eggs work best)
craft paint or markers
cotton ball grass or wheat seed

Instructions:
Crack and empty an egg. Wash the shell thoroughly and let dry. Paint a face with markers or acrylic craft paint. Place a water-soaked cotton ball in the bottom of the egg. Add grass or wheat seed. Place in a warm sunny spot. The seeds will sprout in two to three days. Trim to desired hair style.

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