1. Give people more than they expect and doit cheerfully.

2. Marry a man/woman you love to talk to. As you get older, their conversational skills will be as important as any other.

3. Don’t believe all you hear, spend all you have or sleep all you want.

4. When you say ‘ I love you ‘ mean it.

5. When you say ‘ I’m sorry ‘ look the person in the eye.

6. Be engaged at least six months before you get married.

7. Believe in love at first sight. (continue reading…)

Below are beautiful words that my friend e mailed me, from his yoga instructor.  If you would like to read more please visit: www.yogawestla.com

Today humanity finds itself sleep-walking through a concept of life
. . . not living life itself.
We have developed this conceptual life that isn’t life in an evolutionary search
for pleasure, and to protect ourselves from the every day pains of experience.
Extremism attempts to pierce this numbness, but it is a failed reaction.

Ironically, this has become a very painful cul-de-sac (a dead-end of sorts):
with food that is not food;
medicine that is not medicine;
beliefs that are not believable,
controlled by feelings that are not our feelings and thoughts that are not our thoughts.
They are composite drawings of some joys, hopes, fears, angers and doubts
— mixed up with anticipations reacting to the joys, hopes, fears,
angers and doubts of others. (continue reading…)

1. Experience Chan! It’s not mysterious.
As I see it, it boils down to cause and effect.
Outside the mind there is no Dharma
So how can anybody speak of a heaven beyond?

2. Experience Chan! It’s not a field of learning.
Learning adds things that can be researched and discussed.
The feel of impressions can’t be communicated.
Enlightenment is the only medium of transmission.

3. Experience Chan! It’s not a lot of questions.
Too many questions is the Chan disease.
The best way is just to observe the noise of the world.
The answer to your questions?
Ask your own heart.

4. Experience Chan! It’s not the teachings of disciples.
Such speakers are guests from outside the gate.
The Chan which you are hankering to speak about
Only talks about turtles turning into fish. (continue reading…)

1.Your presence is a present to the world.
2.You are unique and one of a kind.
3.Your life can be what you want it to be.
4.Take the days just one at a time.

5.Count your blessings, not your troubles.
6.You will make it through whatever comes along.
7.Within you are so many answers.
8.Understand, have courage, be strong.

9. Do not put limits on yourself.
10.So many dreams are waiting to be realized.
11.Decisions are too important to leave to chance.
12.Reach for your peak, your goal and you prize.

13.Nothing wastes more energy than worrying.
14.The longer one carries a problem the heavier it gets.
15.Do not take things too seriously.
16.Live a life of serenity, not a life of regrets.

17.Remember that a little love goes a long way.
18.Remember that a lot … goes forever.
19.Remember that friendship is a wise investment.
20.Life’s treasure are people together.

21.Realize that it is never too late.
22.Do ordinary things in an extraordinary way.
23.Have hearth and hope and happiness.
24.Take the time to wish upon a start.

AND DO NOT EVER FORGET ….
FOR EVEN A DAY
HOW VERY SPECIAL YOU ARE !

All these I KNOW…and yet, sometimes, in life we need to go through our own mistakes in order to realize who we aren’t ….

From my dear friend Linda Taylor

Today I had to go in for test and as I sat in the waiting room a young boy with Down Syndrome came over, sat down, and held my hand. He then placed my hand on his cheek and then continued to hold it. His mom looked at me and said with so many empty seats he picks the one next to you. It was if he knew I needed a friend today. The love of a child is one of humanities greatest gifts.

If you would like to help children with Down Syndrome please visit the National Association for Down Syndrome

http://www.nads.org/

In a world where most of the news is disheartening, I thought on this day, the day of my anniversary, I would post videos of children. These are exceptional children, but aren’t all children in their very own way special.

Why are labels so important, Catholic, Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Gay or Straight? These same labels that we use to describe people, our friends and our family, all we are achieving with labels is a life of segregation, placing people into categories. When I look into the face of a friend or a stranger, I would much rather see that person, than a label. To me labels separate us, create distance, hate and magnify the differences. But aren’t the difference superficial? Do the differences really matter? Do they make us who we are? No! We are all unique, but not because of what label society has placed on us, but because of our life experiences and that is what makes us unique. .

Yes being a Christian or a Muslim may help in creating who we are, but that is not our whole person, rather just a small piece of our person. Life, family, where we are born, where we live, our abilities and our short comings, our dreams and goals are who we are.

I wish life could be so much easier but we make it difficult. Instead of choosing to limit ourselves or others with labels, stop using labels. Demand that people not label you and one by one maybe we can remove labels for good, and a stranger’s face will reveal more of his soul.

Today my friend’s son landed in Afghanistan. Here is a short statement from facebook to her son. “My Dearest Son Jason, my eyes are filled with tears because I am going to miss you so much, but my heart is also overflowing with pride & joy that you are my son and I am so PROUD of you! Please be safe and come home soon. I love you …Mom xoxo”

To all the men and women in America and beyond who risk their lives each and every day in the name of freedom or to save a life, please keep them in your thoughts. These men and woman need our support and love. Also remember the moms, dads, wives husbands, children and all family members whose child is a soldier.

If you would like to get involved and help, please visit one of these links below and give from your heart. Please e mail me or post other sites that will help aid soldiers.  Please post quotes from soldiers and their families.

QUOTES FROM SOLDIERS

“I talk to a lot of the guys, and it’s hard for us to adapt. The noises scare us. The nightmares we have problems with. We have anger issues. For me, it’s hard to hold a job. It’s hard on your family. My dad says he can look into a GI’s eyes, and he can tell who’s been over there.”

– Army Reserve Sgt. Casey Christensen

“The first week back, I was the best man in a wedding, and I had a Vietnam War veteran come up to me, and he handed me $50 and said, ‘Take your wife out to dinner. I appreciate what you did. We didn’t get the welcome we deserved when we got back, and I don’t want that to happen to you; I want you to go out and enjoy yourself.’”

– Navy Corpsman Jim Weller

“You know how the World War II vets, they sit on their porch and tell their grandkids, ‘I was in a foxhole at Normandy’? I see myself doing that. It’s something I’ll have for the rest of my life.”

– Army Reserve Staff Sgt. Jeramey “Jay” Lopez

LINKS

www.momscookies.org

www.soldiersangels.org

www.noanie.com

www.woundedwarriorproject.org

www.action.uso.org

www.pogeypx.com

www.anysoldier.com