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January 2012

Is your New Year off to a great start?  I sure hope so!  Mine began with a rapid succession of interviews and a job offer from a reputable non-profit located three miles from my home.  My new position is part-time volunteer coordinator for Shanti Orange County—an agency providing education, counseling and home-delivered meal programs for individuals with HIV/AIDS.  I am thrilled to utilize my professional non-profit development experience with volunteers and tap life experience from the past six years.  I found that background very helpful in preparing a one-page presentation on recruiting, managing and retaining volunteers for my final interview.   Thought I would share a few of those ideas with you here. Read more »

January 2012

All achievements, all earned riches, have their beginning in an idea. ~ Napoleon Hill

Never mistake activity for achievement. ~ John Wooden

Four steps to achievement: Plan purposefully. Prepare prayerfully. Proceed positively. Pursue persistently.  ~ William Arthur Ward

Our achievements of today are but the sum total of our thoughts of yesterday. You are today where the thoughts of yesterday have brought you and you will be tomorrow where the thoughts of today take you.  ~ Blaise Pascal

Cherish your visions and your dreams as they are the children of your soul; the blueprints of your ultimate achievements. ~ Napoleon Hill Read more »

• Arbor Day Foundation provides a Give-A-Tree program with greeting cards.  By sending someone a Give-A-Tree card, replanting of our forests continues.  Unprecedented fires and other causes have damaged countless acres of forests.  It is the goal of the Arbor Day Foundation to restore our forests to their full grandeur…making them once again a place of inspiration for all who pass through, and a sanctuary for wild things of rare beauty and grace.  For more information, Click Here Read more »

January 2012

Have I mentioned mustard greens lately?  What about milk thistle?  These are my M & M’s for a simple two-part detox program customized by my holistic chiropractor, Dr. Wendy Norman.  In the morning I take milk thistle which works on the liver.  At dinner, to detox what the milk thistle worked loose, I include mustard and beet greens in with other veggies.  It’s easy to do and gentle too.   Read more »

January 2012

Of all topics to talk about, I picked fear.  Why?  A playful practice at laughter group on the beach gave me the idea.  Ellie was leading her favorite yesterday—the Pacific Island Warrior.  I love the way she shows us how it’s done: enthusiastically she gets into a squat position, takes one step to the right and makes a warrior-like sound with the word, HO.  Then she takes another step to the left and repeats the warrior-like sound of HO.  With a hilarious laugh, she puts both hands up and laughs—HA, HA, HA!  Maybe you have to be there in person to really get the visual on this.  That’s okay; it’s the thought that counts.   Read more »

December 2011

Each month offers something special such as April for its fresh spring air and October for its bright, clear days radiating an array of fall colors.  Of course Thanksgiving is the month when gratitude is in the spotlight and now here we are in December.  As much as I love the personality of every single month, I have to say that December is my favorite.  I love the traditions of the holiday season—decorating my “tree house”, planning holiday outings, events and special time with friends, and reflecting on the meaning for which we have all of these celebrations in the first place.

I think it is a good idea to mention the importance of laughter, especially during the holidays because the extra fuss can also create anxiety, stress, depression or illness.  Laughter is the perfect antidote. Research has shown that sustained laughter can lower blood pressure, enhance the immune system, relieve stress and reduce pain among many potential health benefits.  In his book, Laugh for No Reason, Dr. Kataria states: “Laughter makes us feel good because it diffuses three of the most painful emotions (fear, anger and boredom) by releasing them.” Read more »

December 2011

Quotes

Dale Evans ~ “Christmas is love in action.  Every time we love, every time we give, it’s Christmas.”

Oren Arnold ~ “Christmas gift suggestions: to your enemy–forgiveness.  To your opponent–tolerance.  To a friend–your heart.  To a customer–service.  To all–charity.  To every child–a good example.  To yourself–respect.”

Charles Schultz ~ “Christmas is doing a little something extra for someone else.”

Helen Keller ~ “The only blind person at Christmastime is he who has not Christmas in his heart.”

Inspiration

Here are several heartwarming suggestions for this holiday season:

If your shop online—GoodShop.com and GiveClicks.com donate a portion of proceeds to charity. Read more »

December 2011

• Peter Winkler made a choice to be productive and engaged in life even though his body was ravaged by arthritis before he could finish law school at Loyola University.  When he faced his future, he decided to make the most of it as a writer. For years he has lived his days propped up in bed, typing out one letter at a time with a red chopstick.  His blogs on film and entertainment lead to writing a highly-respected biography about Dennis Hopper. And his East Coast publisher had no idea of Winkler’s physical condition.  That’s the persistence of inspiration!

• The San Jose Municipal Rose Garden became a case study in volunteerism as thousands helped restore it to former glory.  After years of budget cuts and municipal neglect had taken its toll, Terry Reilly took up the cause.  Through gorilla marketing efforts, thousands of volunteers were recruited and Friends of the San Jose Rose Garden was formed.  Volunteers saved the gardens and restored them back to exquisite beauty.  With the help of social media, the gardens were named as America’s Best Rose Garden in 2010.  That’s the power of inspiration! Read more »

December 2011

Have you heard of WWOOFing?  The acronym stands for World Wide Organization of Organic Farms.  Here is an opportunity to combine a love for travel and meeting people with the opportunity to learn about organic agriculture.  Over the years, WWOOF has grown into a loose global network that hooks up those willing to work with farmers eager to take them for a few weeks or a few months.  Locations span from farms overlooking the Pacific in Hawaii to the tropical rain forests of Malaysia.  Hundreds are located across the United States including a couple dozen in California.  Imagine spending a vacation with your hands in the soil to make a garden grow…and to share in the fun of enjoying the fruits of your labors with like-minded folks. Read more »

December 2011

Being a philanthropist is not only for the rich and famous.  I believe philanthropy has more to do with the spirit of giving rather than how much.  That is the premise of the “generosity movement” founded by Todd Silva who turned his life around by giving away a dollar a day.  I wrote about this concept a few years ago and believe this is the season to mention it again especially with the current economics and financial challenges people are facing.  Todd Silva hit hard times in 2007 and decided the best way to get out of his financial slump was to let go of what he was afraid of losing—money. Read more »