What are the odds that both sisters in one family would hear the dreaded words: breast cancer? Susan was diagnosed first.
"Nancy?" called Susan... "Promise me... promise me that you will do everything you can to get rid of this disease... Promise me that I won't die in vain. Help the others who still live."
That was the wish of Susan Koman.
"My sister was a 33-year-old beautiful young woman who was literally scared to death." said Nancy in a television interview.
Susan died in 1980 and on her death bed, Nancy promised to do everything in her power to find not only a cure for breast cancer but to make reality her sister's wish of a cancer free world!
Pink Ribbon
In 1982, the Susan G. Komen for the Cure was born. Nancy took seriously her promise to her only sister and since then the organization has raised nearly 1 BILLION dollars!!
Obviously Nancy is not your ordinary fund raiser! She has been in a very unique position to influence major donors, political figures and even Heads of State. You see, Nancy has served under several United States presidents in various capacities from an appointment to the National Cancer Advisory Board under Former President Reagan to being named Chief of Protocol of the United States under President George W. Bush.
The Koman Race for the Cure, too has grown under Nancy's leadership... from a race in Dallas, TX U.S.A. with about 800 participants, to a series of races covering more than 100 cities with 1 million people. Everything she touches seems to prosper. But you know, she is not just fulfilling the wish of her sister... she is also living the life of a cancer survivor.
You see, Nancy was also diagnosed with breast cancer just 4 years after Susan's death. So the race for the cure is also a race for a personal cure.
Brinker says in the same interview, "I am beginning to see, as are others, a time when we can turn this disease into a manageable chronic disease. So, if a woman and man are diagnosed, it doesn't have to feel a death threat."
Being cancer free now for over 20 years, Nancy knows the fears and hopes of each woman and family member she meets with. Personable and approachable, Nancy is at ease with everyone... from her political comrades to the stranger in the store.
One day Nancy will be able to greet her sister and tell her she did what she said she would do... she raised national and world-wide awareness and millions of dollars to rid the world of breast cancer.
What would you do if your sister asked you to help others as she lay dying?
Would you try to forget the promise?
Would you take it seriously and give it all you had?
What would you do if you, too, were diagnosed with the SAME disease?
I hope you take courage and hope from Nancy and Susan's lives... their life connection that lives today.
Next time, you see that familiar pink ribbon, remember the 2 sisters that together battle cancer!
It doesn't matter if you don't have billions of dollars or 100,000 volunteers for your favorite organization... It doesn't matter if you are not acquainted with the President of the United States... What does matter is that you live your life with purpose... with passion. Nancy lives each day knowing her sister would be proud of her.
I challenge you to live like that. Find that cause to lose yourself in. Take Susan's courage and make it your own. Take Nancy's strength and embrace it. You can... just like they did... because…
Someone Believes In YOU!
And I do, too!
Suess Karlsson
P.S. If you need to be reminded today just how very special you are go to: A Movie Just For You!
And if you want to know more about what this is all about, just go to www.SomeoneBelievesInYou.com
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Monday, September 22, 2008
Wild Child
Hello!
His parents were too busy running their tavern and basically ignored their son. To cover his unhappiness, George took advantage of every opportunity to cause trouble. He stole, skipped school, chewed tobacco, and drank whiskey – all before he was 7 years old.
It was the police who finally got the parents to pay attention to their son. Their response to the problem was to place their son in a reformatory/orphanage – and rarely saw him again. George, unable to adapt to the strict regulations of St. Mary's Industrial School for boys, was quickly classified as incorrigible. It was probably the nicest thing they could say.
Until… one man saw promise within the boy and introduced him to the game of baseball.
Whether you're a baseball fan or not – everyone knows the name Babe Ruth. The very name draws up the image of homeruns.
When you learn more about him the name also conjures images of drinking bouts, devoured hot dogs, partying and carousing. Babe Ruth never gave up his wild ways; he simply found a way to channel some of them doing what he loved to do – play baseball.
He actually began his march to fame as a pitcher – setting many records for his prowess on the mound with the Boston Red Sox. His famed pitching, and impressive hitting, wasn't enough though… the Boston Red Sox owner, needing money to finance his dreams of Broadway, sold the Babe to the New York Yankees. It was another in a long line of rejections the Babe had experienced.
Baseball and BatHe could have let his bitterness stop his life and halt his drive to success and fame. He made a different choice. He kept playing. He kept swinging. He kept doing what he loved. He played baseball.
His ability to hit homeruns exploded. He became famous. He created homerun records that stood for decades. He smiled, laughed, lived life to the fullest – and he kept on swinging.
Here's the thing most people don't talk about. While it's true he hit more homeruns than anyone else; it's also true that he struck out more times than anyone. He only hit a homerun, on average, every 11 times at bat. He failed more times than he succeeded. Did you get that?
He failed more times than he succeeded!
Yet he went on to become an American icon; loved by millions; a household name.
Why? Because he chose to keep swinging! A strike out. A walk. A single. They were all necessary to get him to the next homerun. He kept swinging.
As I have studied the lives of successful people I have seen this truth. Most have failed more times then they have succeeded. Yet they choose to keep swinging until they finally connect with the right thing: the right business; the right relationship; the right way to do something. They learn from every failure and jump right back into the game.
Have you failed at something? More than one something? Great! Stay in the game. Keep swinging. You'll finally connect. You'll find that right thing; you'll meet that right person; you'll discover the right way. The only way you can fail is if you put the bat down and choose to stop swinging. You can choose today to decide to keep swinging because…
Someone Believes In YOU!
And I do, too!
Ginny Dye
P.S. If you need to be reminded today just how very special you are go to: A Movie Just For You!
And if you want to know more about what this is all about, just go to www.SomeoneBelievesInYou.com
His parents were too busy running their tavern and basically ignored their son. To cover his unhappiness, George took advantage of every opportunity to cause trouble. He stole, skipped school, chewed tobacco, and drank whiskey – all before he was 7 years old.
It was the police who finally got the parents to pay attention to their son. Their response to the problem was to place their son in a reformatory/orphanage – and rarely saw him again. George, unable to adapt to the strict regulations of St. Mary's Industrial School for boys, was quickly classified as incorrigible. It was probably the nicest thing they could say.
Until… one man saw promise within the boy and introduced him to the game of baseball.
Whether you're a baseball fan or not – everyone knows the name Babe Ruth. The very name draws up the image of homeruns.
When you learn more about him the name also conjures images of drinking bouts, devoured hot dogs, partying and carousing. Babe Ruth never gave up his wild ways; he simply found a way to channel some of them doing what he loved to do – play baseball.
He actually began his march to fame as a pitcher – setting many records for his prowess on the mound with the Boston Red Sox. His famed pitching, and impressive hitting, wasn't enough though… the Boston Red Sox owner, needing money to finance his dreams of Broadway, sold the Babe to the New York Yankees. It was another in a long line of rejections the Babe had experienced.
Baseball and BatHe could have let his bitterness stop his life and halt his drive to success and fame. He made a different choice. He kept playing. He kept swinging. He kept doing what he loved. He played baseball.
His ability to hit homeruns exploded. He became famous. He created homerun records that stood for decades. He smiled, laughed, lived life to the fullest – and he kept on swinging.
Here's the thing most people don't talk about. While it's true he hit more homeruns than anyone else; it's also true that he struck out more times than anyone. He only hit a homerun, on average, every 11 times at bat. He failed more times than he succeeded. Did you get that?
He failed more times than he succeeded!
Yet he went on to become an American icon; loved by millions; a household name.
Why? Because he chose to keep swinging! A strike out. A walk. A single. They were all necessary to get him to the next homerun. He kept swinging.
As I have studied the lives of successful people I have seen this truth. Most have failed more times then they have succeeded. Yet they choose to keep swinging until they finally connect with the right thing: the right business; the right relationship; the right way to do something. They learn from every failure and jump right back into the game.
Have you failed at something? More than one something? Great! Stay in the game. Keep swinging. You'll finally connect. You'll find that right thing; you'll meet that right person; you'll discover the right way. The only way you can fail is if you put the bat down and choose to stop swinging. You can choose today to decide to keep swinging because…
Someone Believes In YOU!
And I do, too!
Ginny Dye
P.S. If you need to be reminded today just how very special you are go to: A Movie Just For You!
And if you want to know more about what this is all about, just go to www.SomeoneBelievesInYou.com
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Every Step Matters
Hello!
It's been said that if Lance's story were written as a movie, it would be dismissed as "trite melodrama."
But here's the truth. A deadly disease struck a successful athlete. Despite desperately thin odds, he managed to not only beat the cancer, but to return to the sport he loved and win its most coveted prize. But the beauty of Lance's story is that it doesn't end on the finish line of the Tour de France. His life has taken on new meaning and his website says: "No matter what his path, he will travel it with sure knowledge that every day is precious and that every step matters."
Lance was always athletic and competitive and his mother was one of his greatest supporters. At age 13 he won the Iron Kids Triathlon and became a professional athlete when he was only 16 years old. It nearly cost him his high school diploma as he trained with the U.S. Olympic cycling developmental team in Colorado Springs his senior year.
Bicycle Racing
Lance's rise in the amateur ranks was seemingly effortless and he qualified for the junior world championships in Moscow in 1989. By 1991 he was the U.S. National Amateur Champion and soon afterward turned professional.
Once in the professional realm, Lance would become the number 1 ranked cyclist with a spot on the U.S. Olympic team. But seeming tragedy struck while at the top of his game. In excruciating pain, Lance was forced to stop riding. In early October of 1996 he was given the devastating news that he had cancer.
In that moment, Lance's life changed forever. Tests showed his advanced cancer had spread to his lungs and brain and his chances for recovery were far less than 50-50. Scared to death but determined, Lance started an aggressive form of chemotherapy. It worked, and his thoughts slowly returned to racing.
Even though the cancer had left him scarred physically and emotionally, Lance says it ". . . was the best thing that ever happened to me." His new perspective on life pushed him beyond racing to embrace the cancer community. He started the Lance Armstrong Foundation within months of his diagnosis to help others with the struggles they would face with this devastating disease.
As you probably already know, Lance went on to win the Tour de France in 1999 and became an international hero to both the racing world and the cancer community! He went on to win six more Tour de France titles and has been awarded nearly every sports honor there is. Lance Armstrong has become a symbol of hope, determination and inspiration!
I hope it won't take a crisis like Lance Armstrong's for you to embrace life with a grateful heart. I hope that regardless of the struggles you may be facing today, in your heart-of-hearts, you too can say "every day is precious and every step matters."
As you live today...take a moment to reflect on this gift and know that with each step you take…
Someone Believes In YOU!
And I do, too!
Sandi Valentine
P.S. If you need to be reminded today just how very special you are go to: A Movie Just For You!
And if you want to know more about what this is all about, just go to www.SomeoneBelievesInYou.com
It's been said that if Lance's story were written as a movie, it would be dismissed as "trite melodrama."
But here's the truth. A deadly disease struck a successful athlete. Despite desperately thin odds, he managed to not only beat the cancer, but to return to the sport he loved and win its most coveted prize. But the beauty of Lance's story is that it doesn't end on the finish line of the Tour de France. His life has taken on new meaning and his website says: "No matter what his path, he will travel it with sure knowledge that every day is precious and that every step matters."
Lance was always athletic and competitive and his mother was one of his greatest supporters. At age 13 he won the Iron Kids Triathlon and became a professional athlete when he was only 16 years old. It nearly cost him his high school diploma as he trained with the U.S. Olympic cycling developmental team in Colorado Springs his senior year.
Bicycle Racing
Lance's rise in the amateur ranks was seemingly effortless and he qualified for the junior world championships in Moscow in 1989. By 1991 he was the U.S. National Amateur Champion and soon afterward turned professional.
Once in the professional realm, Lance would become the number 1 ranked cyclist with a spot on the U.S. Olympic team. But seeming tragedy struck while at the top of his game. In excruciating pain, Lance was forced to stop riding. In early October of 1996 he was given the devastating news that he had cancer.
In that moment, Lance's life changed forever. Tests showed his advanced cancer had spread to his lungs and brain and his chances for recovery were far less than 50-50. Scared to death but determined, Lance started an aggressive form of chemotherapy. It worked, and his thoughts slowly returned to racing.
Even though the cancer had left him scarred physically and emotionally, Lance says it ". . . was the best thing that ever happened to me." His new perspective on life pushed him beyond racing to embrace the cancer community. He started the Lance Armstrong Foundation within months of his diagnosis to help others with the struggles they would face with this devastating disease.
As you probably already know, Lance went on to win the Tour de France in 1999 and became an international hero to both the racing world and the cancer community! He went on to win six more Tour de France titles and has been awarded nearly every sports honor there is. Lance Armstrong has become a symbol of hope, determination and inspiration!
I hope it won't take a crisis like Lance Armstrong's for you to embrace life with a grateful heart. I hope that regardless of the struggles you may be facing today, in your heart-of-hearts, you too can say "every day is precious and every step matters."
As you live today...take a moment to reflect on this gift and know that with each step you take…
Someone Believes In YOU!
And I do, too!
Sandi Valentine
P.S. If you need to be reminded today just how very special you are go to: A Movie Just For You!
And if you want to know more about what this is all about, just go to www.SomeoneBelievesInYou.com
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
"BE The Difference Club"
HI,
I read a true story about a man who lives on a two-square-mile island in Indonesia who wanted to attend a friend's wedding in the U.S. He left on a Saturday, swam to a coral reef off his island and flagged down a fishing boat. The fisherman took him to an ocean-going barge which carried him to a ferry. From the ferry he got to Jakarta (Java) where he booked a flight to Singapore. From Singapore he flew to London, then Minneapolis and finally to Memphis, Tennessee. Upon arriving at the airport in Memphis, he called a "bewildered friend" who jumped in his car and headed to the airport for an unexpected reunion.
The traveler had shown up for each flight without a ticket or luggage and purchased a change of clothes once he arrived in Florence, Alabama for the wedding.
Whew! That's what I call determination!
This is such a great story because it reminds us of several things. One, relationships are worth the effort they take! Two, every choice we make results in consequences. Three, compared to others most of us really have little to complain about. And four, determination pays off.
I hope you'll take a few minutes and consider how you're doing in those four areas: relationships, choices, gratitude and determination. These are four key components of our daily living and how we choose to treat them will control how we live. We can choose to live bitter lives of complaining and name-blaming, or we can choose to take charge of our lives, learn from our mistakes and live in gratitude, conviction and joy. It's always a choice and by choosing well, you will. . .
. . . make it a great year!
Sandi Valentine
We BELIEVE that Together We Can Change the World!
Quotes Of The Week
"In the long run we shape our lives and we shape ourselves. The process never ends until we die. And the choices we make are ultimately our own responsibility." ~Eleanor Roosevelt
"If you limit your choices only to what seems possible or reasonable, you disconnect yourself from what you truly want, and all that is left is a compromise." ~Robert Fritz
"Nothing stops the man who desires to achieve. Every obstacle is simply a course to develop his achievement muscle. It's a strengthening of his powers of accomplishment." ~Eric Butterworth
We're on a mission and want to invite you along! We exist to help make a difference in our world by helping to create massive funding for organizations, businesses and individuals AND helping children in the U.S. and around the world through Someone Believes In You!, our TWCCTW Foundation, and One-Child-At-A-Time Program. We believe that together, we can change the world! To learn more about who we are and what we're about use this link. http://www.mypowermall.com/Biz/Home/12520
Someone Believes In You!
Together We Can Change the World has recently added a new division. Someone Believes In You! offers daily emails with powerful stories that encourage, motivate, and inspire. We all need to know we are special, valued and capable of achieving all we were created to achieve. Give someone (or yourself) the daily gift of empowerment to believe in their dreams. Every subscription provides a fr*ee subscription for a foster or at-risk child. Visit Someone Believes In You! to see sample stories, certificates, testimonies, and to find out more. Then snag your subscription(s)! Help us change the world -- one person at a time!
Shopping Testimony
Harley Davidson Boots!
"Late Thursday we sent an order to Boot Barn for a pair of Harley Davidson boots. They were $146.95 but were on clearance for $84.99. Tuesday they arrived at our front door. That was 3 business days. How cool is that? We love MPM and it is the best business we have ever had.
Join our rapidly growing family of EVERYDAY shoppers who are helping their families and favorite cause(s) with every purchase they make.
And remember -- unlike your neighborhood mall, My Power Mall is open 24 hours a day, 7days a week -- has no crowds or parking problems, saves you gas AND valuable time!
What Difference Can I Make?
Don't think because you're only one person you can't make a difference! You can. . .
. . . send cards and notes to hospitalized veterans and those living in Veteran's homes. So many times they feel alone and forgotten. Your cards and notes can let them know their contribution was appreciated and it will ease their loneliness.
Little things make BIG differences!
Another great way to make a difference is by signing up for a Together We Can Change The World DAY project in your area (or register yours!) and multiply your efforts.
Profile of the Week
Frustrated, Scott stops. He puts down the ink and reaches for the computer mouse. Turning on some music, he sighs. With a little patience, he knows he can make his deadline. But still, drawing and writing when your hands don't want to cooperate is hard.
Scott needs his hands every day to produce his livelihood and yet he never knows when they will fail. Without notice, they can suddenly twist and move on their own because he has a disorder called focal dystonia.
Maybe you've read DILBERT, the cartoon about a micromanaged U.S. business office with an engineer named Dilbert as the main guy. DILBERT appears in 2000 newspapers worldwide in over 60 countries and in multiple languages. However, few people realize how difficult it is for Scott Adams to continue to create.
A typical day might mean having to endure uncomfortable convulsions and spasm-like tremors. Scott has learned to "trick" his brain into working with his hands instead of against them. His body may betray him, but he knows that in order to continue his life's dream, he must be determined to never quit.
So, he and thousands like him, take injections or medications. But most importantly, Scott uses his mind-- his most powerful tool in overcoming his physical limits is his thoughts.
Scott had to decide that his art and drawing were worth the persistence it takes to produce it. Because he chooses to fight through his physical challenge, we know and love his goofy business comic strip with its quirky characters and humorous one-liners.
Let's Celebrate!
Need an excuse to celebrate (or go shopping on your My Power Mall)? How about: Victory (VJ) Day (2nd), Play Days (2nd), Barkley the Dog's Birthday (3rd), Skyscraper Day (3rd), Uncle Sam's Birthday (3rd), Football Day (3rd), Working Mother's Day (3rd), Newspaper Carrier Day (4th), Bright Idea Day (4th), Labor Day (4th), Be Late For Something Day (5th), Cheese Pizza Day (5th), Fight Procrastination Day (6th), Coffee Ice Cream Day (6th), Rent A Movie Day (6th), Read a Book Day (6th), Grandparents Day (7th), Postal Worker's Day (7th), Neither Rain Nor Snow Day (7th), Teddy Bear Day (7th), Google Commemoration Day (7th), Grandma Moses Day (7th), Salami Day (7th), Nose Hair Maintenance Day (8th), International Physiotherapy Day (8th), Pardon Me Day (8th), National Boss/Employee Exchange Day (8th), or International Literacy Day (8th).
Special Week Celebrations: National Payroll Week (1-5), National Waffle Week (1-5), National Childhood Injury Prevention Week (1-7), Wilderness Week (1-7), Self-University Week (1-7)
September Month Celebrations: All American Breakfast Month, Be Kind To Editors and Writers Month, Biscuit Month, School Success Month, Five A Day Month, Mushroom Month, Rice Month, National Blueberry Popsicle Month, Classical Music Month, Hispanic Heritage Month, Fall Hat Month, International Square Dancing Month, National Courtesy Month, National Piano Month, Chicken Month, Baby Safety Month, Little League Month, Honey Month, Self Improvement Month, Better Breakfast Month, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Month, Backpack Safety America Month, College Savings Month, International People Skills Month, International Strategic Thinking Month, Library Card Sign-Up Month, National Childhood Injury Prevention Month, National Coupon Month, National Potato Month,
2008 has been declared: International Year of Languages, International Year of Planet Earth, International Year of the Potato, and International Year of Sanitation
Did You Know?
The first envelopes with gummed flaps were produced in 1844. In Britain, they were not immediately popular because it was thought to be a serious insult to send a person's saliva to someone else.
Remember: Shop MY MPM Mall for your EVERYDAY needs! http://www.mypowermall.com/Biz/Home/12520
Just For Fun
This week's brainteaser: If two ducks are swimming in front of another duck, two ducks are swimming behind another duck, and one duck is swimming between two other ducks, what is the minimum number of ducks?
Last week's brainteaser: How much mud (measured in liters) is there in a rectangular hole 2 meters wide, 3 meters long, and 3 meters deep? Answer: No mud at all, because a hole can only contain air.
Tips & Tricks
Slicing With Dental Floss
Dental floss can be used to cut delicate or sticky cakes that tend to stick to the knife. Hold a length of floss tightly over the cake and slice away. Move it slightly side to side as you cut. You can also cut small blocks of cheese this way. Cookies that are sticking to the cookie sheet can be removed by sliding floss between the cookie and the sheet.
I read a true story about a man who lives on a two-square-mile island in Indonesia who wanted to attend a friend's wedding in the U.S. He left on a Saturday, swam to a coral reef off his island and flagged down a fishing boat. The fisherman took him to an ocean-going barge which carried him to a ferry. From the ferry he got to Jakarta (Java) where he booked a flight to Singapore. From Singapore he flew to London, then Minneapolis and finally to Memphis, Tennessee. Upon arriving at the airport in Memphis, he called a "bewildered friend" who jumped in his car and headed to the airport for an unexpected reunion.
The traveler had shown up for each flight without a ticket or luggage and purchased a change of clothes once he arrived in Florence, Alabama for the wedding.
Whew! That's what I call determination!
This is such a great story because it reminds us of several things. One, relationships are worth the effort they take! Two, every choice we make results in consequences. Three, compared to others most of us really have little to complain about. And four, determination pays off.
I hope you'll take a few minutes and consider how you're doing in those four areas: relationships, choices, gratitude and determination. These are four key components of our daily living and how we choose to treat them will control how we live. We can choose to live bitter lives of complaining and name-blaming, or we can choose to take charge of our lives, learn from our mistakes and live in gratitude, conviction and joy. It's always a choice and by choosing well, you will. . .
. . . make it a great year!
Sandi Valentine
We BELIEVE that Together We Can Change the World!
Quotes Of The Week
"In the long run we shape our lives and we shape ourselves. The process never ends until we die. And the choices we make are ultimately our own responsibility." ~Eleanor Roosevelt
"If you limit your choices only to what seems possible or reasonable, you disconnect yourself from what you truly want, and all that is left is a compromise." ~Robert Fritz
"Nothing stops the man who desires to achieve. Every obstacle is simply a course to develop his achievement muscle. It's a strengthening of his powers of accomplishment." ~Eric Butterworth
We're on a mission and want to invite you along! We exist to help make a difference in our world by helping to create massive funding for organizations, businesses and individuals AND helping children in the U.S. and around the world through Someone Believes In You!, our TWCCTW Foundation, and One-Child-At-A-Time Program. We believe that together, we can change the world! To learn more about who we are and what we're about use this link. http://www.mypowermall.com/Biz/Home/12520
Someone Believes In You!
Together We Can Change the World has recently added a new division. Someone Believes In You! offers daily emails with powerful stories that encourage, motivate, and inspire. We all need to know we are special, valued and capable of achieving all we were created to achieve. Give someone (or yourself) the daily gift of empowerment to believe in their dreams. Every subscription provides a fr*ee subscription for a foster or at-risk child. Visit Someone Believes In You! to see sample stories, certificates, testimonies, and to find out more. Then snag your subscription(s)! Help us change the world -- one person at a time!
Shopping Testimony
Harley Davidson Boots!
"Late Thursday we sent an order to Boot Barn for a pair of Harley Davidson boots. They were $146.95 but were on clearance for $84.99. Tuesday they arrived at our front door. That was 3 business days. How cool is that? We love MPM and it is the best business we have ever had.
Join our rapidly growing family of EVERYDAY shoppers who are helping their families and favorite cause(s) with every purchase they make.
And remember -- unlike your neighborhood mall, My Power Mall is open 24 hours a day, 7days a week -- has no crowds or parking problems, saves you gas AND valuable time!
What Difference Can I Make?
Don't think because you're only one person you can't make a difference! You can. . .
. . . send cards and notes to hospitalized veterans and those living in Veteran's homes. So many times they feel alone and forgotten. Your cards and notes can let them know their contribution was appreciated and it will ease their loneliness.
Little things make BIG differences!
Another great way to make a difference is by signing up for a Together We Can Change The World DAY project in your area (or register yours!) and multiply your efforts.
Profile of the Week
Frustrated, Scott stops. He puts down the ink and reaches for the computer mouse. Turning on some music, he sighs. With a little patience, he knows he can make his deadline. But still, drawing and writing when your hands don't want to cooperate is hard.
Scott needs his hands every day to produce his livelihood and yet he never knows when they will fail. Without notice, they can suddenly twist and move on their own because he has a disorder called focal dystonia.
Maybe you've read DILBERT, the cartoon about a micromanaged U.S. business office with an engineer named Dilbert as the main guy. DILBERT appears in 2000 newspapers worldwide in over 60 countries and in multiple languages. However, few people realize how difficult it is for Scott Adams to continue to create.
A typical day might mean having to endure uncomfortable convulsions and spasm-like tremors. Scott has learned to "trick" his brain into working with his hands instead of against them. His body may betray him, but he knows that in order to continue his life's dream, he must be determined to never quit.
So, he and thousands like him, take injections or medications. But most importantly, Scott uses his mind-- his most powerful tool in overcoming his physical limits is his thoughts.
Scott had to decide that his art and drawing were worth the persistence it takes to produce it. Because he chooses to fight through his physical challenge, we know and love his goofy business comic strip with its quirky characters and humorous one-liners.
Let's Celebrate!
Need an excuse to celebrate (or go shopping on your My Power Mall)? How about: Victory (VJ) Day (2nd), Play Days (2nd), Barkley the Dog's Birthday (3rd), Skyscraper Day (3rd), Uncle Sam's Birthday (3rd), Football Day (3rd), Working Mother's Day (3rd), Newspaper Carrier Day (4th), Bright Idea Day (4th), Labor Day (4th), Be Late For Something Day (5th), Cheese Pizza Day (5th), Fight Procrastination Day (6th), Coffee Ice Cream Day (6th), Rent A Movie Day (6th), Read a Book Day (6th), Grandparents Day (7th), Postal Worker's Day (7th), Neither Rain Nor Snow Day (7th), Teddy Bear Day (7th), Google Commemoration Day (7th), Grandma Moses Day (7th), Salami Day (7th), Nose Hair Maintenance Day (8th), International Physiotherapy Day (8th), Pardon Me Day (8th), National Boss/Employee Exchange Day (8th), or International Literacy Day (8th).
Special Week Celebrations: National Payroll Week (1-5), National Waffle Week (1-5), National Childhood Injury Prevention Week (1-7), Wilderness Week (1-7), Self-University Week (1-7)
September Month Celebrations: All American Breakfast Month, Be Kind To Editors and Writers Month, Biscuit Month, School Success Month, Five A Day Month, Mushroom Month, Rice Month, National Blueberry Popsicle Month, Classical Music Month, Hispanic Heritage Month, Fall Hat Month, International Square Dancing Month, National Courtesy Month, National Piano Month, Chicken Month, Baby Safety Month, Little League Month, Honey Month, Self Improvement Month, Better Breakfast Month, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Month, Backpack Safety America Month, College Savings Month, International People Skills Month, International Strategic Thinking Month, Library Card Sign-Up Month, National Childhood Injury Prevention Month, National Coupon Month, National Potato Month,
2008 has been declared: International Year of Languages, International Year of Planet Earth, International Year of the Potato, and International Year of Sanitation
Did You Know?
The first envelopes with gummed flaps were produced in 1844. In Britain, they were not immediately popular because it was thought to be a serious insult to send a person's saliva to someone else.
Remember: Shop MY MPM Mall for your EVERYDAY needs! http://www.mypowermall.com/Biz/Home/12520
Just For Fun
This week's brainteaser: If two ducks are swimming in front of another duck, two ducks are swimming behind another duck, and one duck is swimming between two other ducks, what is the minimum number of ducks?
Last week's brainteaser: How much mud (measured in liters) is there in a rectangular hole 2 meters wide, 3 meters long, and 3 meters deep? Answer: No mud at all, because a hole can only contain air.
Tips & Tricks
Slicing With Dental Floss
Dental floss can be used to cut delicate or sticky cakes that tend to stick to the knife. Hold a length of floss tightly over the cake and slice away. Move it slightly side to side as you cut. You can also cut small blocks of cheese this way. Cookies that are sticking to the cookie sheet can be removed by sliding floss between the cookie and the sheet.
Monday, September 1, 2008
Carrots, Eggs & Coffee
Someone Belives In You
Hello!
A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved a new one arose.
Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water. In the first, she placed carrots. In the second she placed eggs. In the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil without saying a word. In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee into a bowl.
All the time the daughter was looking at her as if she'd lost her mind.
Turning to her daughter, the mother asked, "Tell me what you see."
"Carrots, eggs, and coffee," she replied.
The mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted they were limp and soft. The mother then asked her to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, the daughter observed the hard-boiled egg. Finally, she asked her to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma, but was confused.
"What's the point, mother?"
Boiling Water"Daughter, each of these objects faced the same adversity - boiling water - but each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard and unrelenting. It came out soft and weak. The egg began fragile. Its thin outer shell protected its liquid interior. But, after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened. The ground coffee beans were unique, however. They actually changed the boiling water.”
She paused for a moment. “Which are you?" she finally asked her daughter. "When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean?"
How would you answer that question?
Are you the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity, wilts and becomes soft and you lose your strength? Are you the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did you begin with a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, did you become bitter, hardened and stiff? Or are you like the coffee bean? The bean actually changed the hot water, the very circumstance that brought the pain. When the water got hot, it released the fragrance and flavor. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst you get better and change the situation around you.
How do YOU handle adversity?
ARE YOU A CARROT, AN EGG, OR A COFFEE BEAN?
If your life is boiling around you, I'm hoping you make a "coffee bean" choice, and release the sweet fragrance of your life into a world that so badly needs you! You can make that choice because…
Someone Believes In YOU!
And I do, too!
Sandi Valentine
P.S. If you need to be reminded today just how very special you are go to: A Movie Just For You http://www.someonebelievesinyou.com/SBIYMovie.aspx
And if you want to know more about what this is all about, just go to http://www.SomeoneBelievesInYou.com
Hello!
A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved a new one arose.
Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water. In the first, she placed carrots. In the second she placed eggs. In the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil without saying a word. In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee into a bowl.
All the time the daughter was looking at her as if she'd lost her mind.
Turning to her daughter, the mother asked, "Tell me what you see."
"Carrots, eggs, and coffee," she replied.
The mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted they were limp and soft. The mother then asked her to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, the daughter observed the hard-boiled egg. Finally, she asked her to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma, but was confused.
"What's the point, mother?"
Boiling Water"Daughter, each of these objects faced the same adversity - boiling water - but each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard and unrelenting. It came out soft and weak. The egg began fragile. Its thin outer shell protected its liquid interior. But, after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened. The ground coffee beans were unique, however. They actually changed the boiling water.”
She paused for a moment. “Which are you?" she finally asked her daughter. "When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean?"
How would you answer that question?
Are you the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity, wilts and becomes soft and you lose your strength? Are you the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did you begin with a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, did you become bitter, hardened and stiff? Or are you like the coffee bean? The bean actually changed the hot water, the very circumstance that brought the pain. When the water got hot, it released the fragrance and flavor. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst you get better and change the situation around you.
How do YOU handle adversity?
ARE YOU A CARROT, AN EGG, OR A COFFEE BEAN?
If your life is boiling around you, I'm hoping you make a "coffee bean" choice, and release the sweet fragrance of your life into a world that so badly needs you! You can make that choice because…
Someone Believes In YOU!
And I do, too!
Sandi Valentine
P.S. If you need to be reminded today just how very special you are go to: A Movie Just For You http://www.someonebelievesinyou.com/SBIYMovie.aspx
And if you want to know more about what this is all about, just go to http://www.SomeoneBelievesInYou.com
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Meet A Tiny Dynamo!
Hello!
Mary Lou Retton has a list of accomplishments that is impressive no matter who you are. . .
She is
1. the 1st American woman to win gold in gymnastics in the Olympics
2. 1st and only American ever (including today) to win the Olympic All Around Title
3. first female to appear on a Wheaties cereal box as well as the first female spokesperson for Wheaties plus scores of other achievements.
Mary Lou RettenAs extraordinary as all that is, it is encouraging to note that Mary Lou is not perfect. Her gymnastics scores were often times a "perfect 10." As a teenager, this petite powerhouse from West Virginia awed the multitudes in each of these gymnastic sporting events: Uneven Bars, Vault, Team and Floor Exercise. Yet as a baby she was born with a hip condition called hip dysplasia that required a hip replacement. Not only that but she has suffered with both an overactive bladder and arthritis. As part of her public persona as a sports celebrity, she admitted her problems and gave her support to the medications that combat these conditions.
Mary Lou battled competitors on the mat and her body off the mat. A severe wrist injury and knee surgery forced her to decide whether to quit her beloved gymnastics or try to overcome the injuries. Sitting on the sidelines was not where this dynamo wanted to be. She worked hard. She exercised. She did the strength training exercises. She sweated. She cried. But she did not give up. She kept on and on until one day she was back. She could participate again in the sport she loved and that loved her back. Mary Lou went on to be inducted into both the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame and the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame.
As an engaging public speaker Mary Lou tells audiences "to never give up on your dreams! Work hard!" She knows what it is to feel the applause of millions world wide and yet she understands the solitary agony of pain and rehabilitation.
Not knowing where you are today, I want to encourage you to think about your life story. How do you want it to read? You may not want to compete for the gold and hear the applause of millions. But even if your goal is more common than Mary Lou’s, I encourage you to keep at it until you get it. Never give up even if an injury or family situation has you sidelined. Use the down time to renew your vision, refresh your determination and revise your target. You can do it! And I hope you know that through all your life, no matter what comes your way…
Someone Believes In YOU!
And I do, too!
Sandi Valentine
P.S. If you need to be reminded today just how very special you are go to: A Movie Just For You!
And if you want to know more about what this is all about, just go to www.SomeoneBelievesInYou.com
http://www.mypowermall.com/Biz/Home/12520
Mary Lou Retton has a list of accomplishments that is impressive no matter who you are. . .
She is
1. the 1st American woman to win gold in gymnastics in the Olympics
2. 1st and only American ever (including today) to win the Olympic All Around Title
3. first female to appear on a Wheaties cereal box as well as the first female spokesperson for Wheaties plus scores of other achievements.
Mary Lou RettenAs extraordinary as all that is, it is encouraging to note that Mary Lou is not perfect. Her gymnastics scores were often times a "perfect 10." As a teenager, this petite powerhouse from West Virginia awed the multitudes in each of these gymnastic sporting events: Uneven Bars, Vault, Team and Floor Exercise. Yet as a baby she was born with a hip condition called hip dysplasia that required a hip replacement. Not only that but she has suffered with both an overactive bladder and arthritis. As part of her public persona as a sports celebrity, she admitted her problems and gave her support to the medications that combat these conditions.
Mary Lou battled competitors on the mat and her body off the mat. A severe wrist injury and knee surgery forced her to decide whether to quit her beloved gymnastics or try to overcome the injuries. Sitting on the sidelines was not where this dynamo wanted to be. She worked hard. She exercised. She did the strength training exercises. She sweated. She cried. But she did not give up. She kept on and on until one day she was back. She could participate again in the sport she loved and that loved her back. Mary Lou went on to be inducted into both the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame and the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame.
As an engaging public speaker Mary Lou tells audiences "to never give up on your dreams! Work hard!" She knows what it is to feel the applause of millions world wide and yet she understands the solitary agony of pain and rehabilitation.
Not knowing where you are today, I want to encourage you to think about your life story. How do you want it to read? You may not want to compete for the gold and hear the applause of millions. But even if your goal is more common than Mary Lou’s, I encourage you to keep at it until you get it. Never give up even if an injury or family situation has you sidelined. Use the down time to renew your vision, refresh your determination and revise your target. You can do it! And I hope you know that through all your life, no matter what comes your way…
Someone Believes In YOU!
And I do, too!
Sandi Valentine
P.S. If you need to be reminded today just how very special you are go to: A Movie Just For You!
And if you want to know more about what this is all about, just go to www.SomeoneBelievesInYou.com
http://www.mypowermall.com/Biz/Home/12520
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Imagine Life Without These
Hello!
Imagine a world with no ATM Machines; no passbook savings; no car or home-improvement loans; or no installment-plan credit. Hard to do, isn’t it? Well, you owe a huge thanks to one man who refused to be told it couldn’t be done.
Most people want to know how to create success in their life. As a teenager, I know you’re thinking about what you are going to create with your life. I’m here to tell you that if you have a strong vision, and a will to overcome whatever obstacles get in your way, you can accomplish anything. Just ask Amadeo Peter Giannini (A.P.).
A.P. certainly had his share of obstacles. When he was only 7, his father died in a fight over one dollar. Things were hard for him and his mother. She remarried a man who went into the produce business. A.P., at age 14, quit school to work with him. By 19 he was a partner in the thriving enterprise, built largely on his reputation for integrity and honesty. At 31 years of age he had all the money he needed or wanted, and announced his retirement. One year later his real career began…
At 32, A.P. was asked to join the board of the Columbus Savings & Loan society, a modest bank in the Italian section of town. It wasn’t long before A.P found himself at odds with the other directors. A.P. wanted the bank to loan money to hard-working immigrants, but at that time banks were in business only for business men and the wealthy. His ideas of loaning money to the working class were scoffed at.
No problem. A.P. had a vision and he was determined to make it reality. He raised $150,000 (a massive amount of money then) from family and friends, bought a converted saloon right across the street from the Columbus S&L; kept the bartender on as an assistant teller; and opened the Bank of Italy.
In those days it wasn’t considered proper to solicit banking business. He ignored the “proper way” and began ringing doorbells and talking to everyone he could about what a bank did. He advertised. He kept the bank open longer hours, and on weekends, to fit into working people’s schedules. Business boomed.
A.P. believed in making other people’s dreams come true. He helped the California Wine Industry get started. He bankrolled Hollywood when they were trying to make movies popular. When Walt Disney ran $2 million dollars over budget on Snow White, he stepped in with a loan.
A.P. believed integrity and “giving back” were the formulas for success. What began in 1904 as the Bank of Italy transformed into the Bank of America – now the world’s largest bank.
What about A.P.? Did he die a billionaire? When he passed away at age 79, his estate was worth less than $500,000. It was purely by choice. He disdained great wealth, believing it would make him lose touch with the people he wanted to serve. He worked for no pay for years. A surprise $1.5 million bonus one year was promptly given to the University of California. It was far more important for him to give and make a difference.
All of us have that ability and opportunity. As you strive for success, remember you can use it to make a difference in the world. A.P. strove to make a difference every day of his life. Follow your own formula for success, then look for ways to give back to the world that has given you so much.
There are always ways. They are out there waiting for you to find them!
Sharing this with you, because…
Someone Believes In YOU!
And I do, too!
Ginny Dye
P.S. If you have ever dreamed of owning your own business, you’ll want to check out http://www.mypowermall.com/Biz/Home/12520. It’s completely free and people all over the world are building a business with their own online shopping Mall!
P.S.S. If you need to be reminded today just how very special you are go to: A Movie Just For You!
And if you want to know more about what this is all about, just go to www.SomeoneBelievesInYou.com
Imagine a world with no ATM Machines; no passbook savings; no car or home-improvement loans; or no installment-plan credit. Hard to do, isn’t it? Well, you owe a huge thanks to one man who refused to be told it couldn’t be done.
Most people want to know how to create success in their life. As a teenager, I know you’re thinking about what you are going to create with your life. I’m here to tell you that if you have a strong vision, and a will to overcome whatever obstacles get in your way, you can accomplish anything. Just ask Amadeo Peter Giannini (A.P.).
A.P. certainly had his share of obstacles. When he was only 7, his father died in a fight over one dollar. Things were hard for him and his mother. She remarried a man who went into the produce business. A.P., at age 14, quit school to work with him. By 19 he was a partner in the thriving enterprise, built largely on his reputation for integrity and honesty. At 31 years of age he had all the money he needed or wanted, and announced his retirement. One year later his real career began…
At 32, A.P. was asked to join the board of the Columbus Savings & Loan society, a modest bank in the Italian section of town. It wasn’t long before A.P found himself at odds with the other directors. A.P. wanted the bank to loan money to hard-working immigrants, but at that time banks were in business only for business men and the wealthy. His ideas of loaning money to the working class were scoffed at.
No problem. A.P. had a vision and he was determined to make it reality. He raised $150,000 (a massive amount of money then) from family and friends, bought a converted saloon right across the street from the Columbus S&L; kept the bartender on as an assistant teller; and opened the Bank of Italy.
In those days it wasn’t considered proper to solicit banking business. He ignored the “proper way” and began ringing doorbells and talking to everyone he could about what a bank did. He advertised. He kept the bank open longer hours, and on weekends, to fit into working people’s schedules. Business boomed.
A.P. believed in making other people’s dreams come true. He helped the California Wine Industry get started. He bankrolled Hollywood when they were trying to make movies popular. When Walt Disney ran $2 million dollars over budget on Snow White, he stepped in with a loan.
A.P. believed integrity and “giving back” were the formulas for success. What began in 1904 as the Bank of Italy transformed into the Bank of America – now the world’s largest bank.
What about A.P.? Did he die a billionaire? When he passed away at age 79, his estate was worth less than $500,000. It was purely by choice. He disdained great wealth, believing it would make him lose touch with the people he wanted to serve. He worked for no pay for years. A surprise $1.5 million bonus one year was promptly given to the University of California. It was far more important for him to give and make a difference.
All of us have that ability and opportunity. As you strive for success, remember you can use it to make a difference in the world. A.P. strove to make a difference every day of his life. Follow your own formula for success, then look for ways to give back to the world that has given you so much.
There are always ways. They are out there waiting for you to find them!
Sharing this with you, because…
Someone Believes In YOU!
And I do, too!
Ginny Dye
P.S. If you have ever dreamed of owning your own business, you’ll want to check out http://www.mypowermall.com/Biz/Home/12520. It’s completely free and people all over the world are building a business with their own online shopping Mall!
P.S.S. If you need to be reminded today just how very special you are go to: A Movie Just For You!
And if you want to know more about what this is all about, just go to www.SomeoneBelievesInYou.com
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