www.leadoutloud.ca A great inspirational video. If you know someone who is going through a difficult time, make sure you forward this video to them. It will brighten their day. By the way, due to the many requests to purchase this video, it is available for purchase for immediate download at www.leadoutloud.ca. ENJOY! : )

–
Do you want to make a difference? Check out our Smiles For Healing Project!
–
To learn more about natural healing via Aromatherapy, Reflexology, Color Therapy and Crystal Therapy, please visit the Alternative Healing Academy.
–
Is your pet healthy? Learn how to help your pet regain and retain his health, naturally, at PetAlive!
–
Native Remedies, the market-leading brand of natural remedies specially formulated to offer a complete solution for holistic health and wellness.

Best answer:

Answer by pattiann42
Not quite following your reasoning – individuals with diabetes are perfectly capable of crafts and any other activity, depending on one’s physical ability.

I would disallow anything to do with ingesting large quantities of carbohydrates.

Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!

During my second month of college, our professor gave us a pop quiz. I was a conscientious student and had breezed through the questions, until I read the last one: “What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school?”

Surely this was some kind of joke. I had seen the cleaning woman several times. She was tall, dark-haired and in her 50s, but how would I know her name? I handed in my paper, leaving the last question blank. Just before class ended, one student asked if the last question would count toward our quiz grade.

“Absolutely,” said the professor. “In your careers, you will meet many people. All are significant. They deserve your attention and care, even if all you do is smile and say “hello.”

I’ve never forgotten that lesson. I also learned her name was Dorothy.

2. Second Important Lesson – “Pickup In The Rain”

One night, at 11:30 p.m., an older African American woman was standing on the side of an Alabama highway trying to endure a lashing rainstorm. Her car had broken down and she desperately needed a ride. Soaking wet, she decided to flag down the next car.

A young white man stopped to help her, generally unheard of in those conflict-filled 1960s. The man took her to safety, helped her get assistance and put her into a taxicab.

She seemed to be in a big hurry, but wrote down his address and thanked him. Seven days went by and a knock came on the man’s door. To his surprise, a giant console color TV was delivered to his home.

A special note was attached. It read: “Thank you so much for assisting me on the highway the other night. The rain drenched not only my clothes, but also my spirits. Then you came along. Because of you, I was able to make it to my dying husband’s bedside just before he passed away. God bless you for helping me and unselfishly serving others.”

Sincerely, Mrs. Nat King Cole.

3. Third Important Lesson – “Remember Those Who Serve”

In the days when an ice cream sundae cost much less, a 10 year-old boy entered a hotel coffee shop and sat at a table. A waitress put a glass of water in front of him. “How much is an ice cream sundae?” he asked. “50¢,” replied the waitress.

The little boy pulled his hand out of his pocket and studied the coins in it.

“Well, how much is a plain dish of ice cream?” he inquired. By now more people were waiting for a table and the waitress was growing impatient. “35¢!” she brusquely replied.

The little boy again counted his coins. “I’ll have the plain ice cream,” he said. The waitress brought the ice cream, put the bill on the table and walked away. The boy finished the ice cream, paid the cashier and left.

When the waitress came back, she began to cry as she wiped down the table. There, placed neatly beside the empty dish, were two nickels and five pennies. You see, he couldn’t have the sundae, because he had to have enough left to leave her a tip.

4. Fourth Important Lesson – “The Obstacles In Our Path”

In ancient times, a King had a boulder placed on a roadway. Then he hid himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock. Some of the king’s wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and simply walked around it. Many loudly blamed the King for not keeping the roads clear, but none did anything about getting the stone out of the way.

Then a peasant came along carrying a load of vegetables. Upon approaching the boulder, the peasant laid down his burden and tried to move the stone to the side of the road. After much pushing and straining, he finally succeeded. After the peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed a purse lying in the road where the boulder had been. The purse contained many gold coins and a note from the King indicating that the gold was for the person who removed the boulder from the roadway. The peasant learned what many of us never understand – “Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve our condition.”

5. Fifth Important Lesson – “Giving When It Counts”

Many years ago, when I worked as a volunteer at a hospital, I got to know a little girl named Liz who was suffering from a rare and serious disease. Her only chance of recovery appeared to be a blood transfusion from her 5-year-old brother, who had miraculously survived the same disease and had developed the antibodies needed to combat the illness. The doctor explained the situation to her little brother, and asked the little boy if he would be willing to give his blood to his sister. I saw him hesitate for only a moment before taking a deep breath and saying, “Yes, I’ll do it if it will save her.”

As the transfusion progressed, he lay in bed next to his sister and smiled, as we all did, seeing the color returning to her cheeks. Then his face grew pale and his smile faded. He looked up at the doctor and asked with a trembling voice, “Will I start to die right away?”.

Being young, the little boy had misunderstood the doctor; he thought he was going to have to give his sister all of his blood in order to save her.

Courtesy of INSPIRE21

I met a woman living under a bridge, poor and homeless, who told me…
I am you without opportunities.

I met a woman huddled alone and sobbing who told me…
I am you without love.

I met a woman aloof and friendless in her fancy house who told me…
I am you without compassion.

I met a woman in a corner office, looking down her nose, who told me…
I am you without understanding.

I met a woman in a picket line, screaming and cussing, who told me…
I am you without tolerance.

I met a woman in a shelter, battered and beaten, who told me…
I am you without self-respect.

I met a woman hiding in an alley’s corner, scared and confused, who told me…
I am you without faith.

I met a woman on the subway, bitter and angry, who told me…
I am you without hope.

As I continued walking, feeling unsettled and shaken, I came to a large mirror…
In it I could see myself and shadows of the women I had met during my dream journey.

As I began to awaken, I heard one last admonition…
We are you, and you are who we could be. We are one. Heal us. We are the world.

~Dee Braun (copyright 2009)

For many months he had admired a beautiful sports car in a dealer’s showroom, and knowing his father could well afford it, he told him that was all he wanted.

As Graduation Day approached, the young man awaited signs that his father had purchased the car.

Finally, on the morning of his graduation his father called him into his private study. His father told him how proud he was to have such a fine son, and told him how much he loved him. He handed his son a beautiful wrapped gift box.

Curious, but somewhat disappointed the young man opened the box and found a lovely, leather-bound Bible. Angrily, he raised his voice at his father and said, “With all your money you give me a Bible?” and stormed out of the house, leaving the holy book.

Many years passed and the young man was very successful in business.

He had a beautiful home and wonderful family, but realized his father was very old, and thought perhaps he should go to him. He had not seen him since that graduation day. Before he could make arrangements, he received a telegram telling him his father had passed away, and willed all of his possessions to his son. He needed to come home immediately and take care things.

When he arrived at his father’s house, sudden sadness and regret filled his heart.

He began to search his father’s important papers and saw the still new Bible, just as he had left it years ago. With tears, he opened the Bible and began to turn the pages. As he read those words, a car key dropped from an envelope taped behind the Bible.

It had a tag with the dealer’s name, the same dealer who had the sports car he had desired. On the tag was the date of his graduation, and the words…PAID IN FULL.

How many times do we miss God’s blessings because they are not packaged as we expected?

Question by flippybrunette: What humanitarian organizations will let an 18 year old girl go to Darfur?
After high school it has always been my dream to go to Darfur and work in a refugee camp. Do you know of any humanitarian organizations that will allow me to go there?

Best answer:

Answer by fei fei
crazy ones 0___0

Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!

In Kristen’s own words…

I can’t imagine watching one of my four children dying. Even worse, I can’t imagine watching them suffer before they passed away.

I can’t fathom watching one of my sons or daughters lying in a bed…unable to move…spitting up blood and screaming in pain. I don’t think any parent can .

But it happens….every day. Maybe to your neighbor or the girl you stood behind in the checkout line this morning. Perhaps that guy you’re driving behind who can’t seem to stay at one speed is grieving the loss of his son. Cancer kills people…and it doesn’t care who or how old they are.

Read the rest of this story here: Balding for Babies (With Cancer) | Healing Our World Net.

Here are a few ideas on how you are able to raise your children to respect the planet and wish to preserve it.

* Foster a love of nature in your children. Escape into it and go on hikes, field trips (virtually), picnics, cookouts, camping, and fishing trips. Consider getting bicycles for the family and going out cycling in the woods or on trails. Take your children to play in a nearby park or encourage them to play outside in your yard. This meansolimiting TV and other electronic pursuits.

* Identify plants, animals, constellations, leaves, and other things in nature. Check into some field guides and take your children to a natural region. Then gather up and identify flowers, leaves, feathers, rocks, and so on.

* Encourage your children to take part in local clean-up projects. Consider beginning one if your neighborhood or community doesn’t already have such an event. It is really eye-opening for your children to see the extent of the trash and litter that builds in a given area.

* Farm your personal food whenever possible, even if it is merely a couple of plants in containers. Your children will be enlightened to see what it takes to produce food and how the natural elements (air, H2O, sunlight) come together to bring forth food.

* Recycle with your children. This does not merely entail having them help organize recyclables into bins and bringing them to the facility. It likewise means teaching them creative recycling – how to fix and refurbish, for instance, rather than throwing something away and purchasing a new replacement. Encourage your children to create their own toys and crafts, particularly out of recyclables, instead of going to a craft store or purchasing new toys.

* Accumulate wild foods. Kids generally love this. Find a good book on gathering wild foods, or find an expert in your area who can show you. Whether it is raiding a blackberry patch, collecting nuts, or picking dandelion greens to prepare as a potherb, harvesting nature’s gifts genuinely fosters a sense of appreciation for everything nature has to offer.

* Include your children in your household energy-saving goals. Be sure everybody gets on board with shortening showers and switching off lights. Make certain they know why – it is not merely about bringing down the utility bills.

Related Natural Product

For us, the name Turning Life describes a personal experience of self-reflection and renewed inspiration; a time when we began questioning our choices as consumers, neighbors and global citizens. At Turning Life you will find products which represent a commitment to: Simplicity, Serenity, and Global Sensibility. In other words, we believe you’ll find the items we offer in our online catalog support an earth-friendly, calm and comfortable lifestyle. Whether you’re looking for that perfect item for your home, your personal style, your health, as a gift, or for a new baby – you will find the most unique and beautiful items at Turning Life and each one supports a green, sustainable lifestyle!

Question by Z ツ: Does anyone know of the existence of philanthropy museums?
Does anyone know of the existence of philanthropy museums?
I think a museum documenting global philanthropy would be interesting. An actual place constructed to exhibit good deeds from ancient to modern times. Heehee, maybe I’m a dreamer.
Thanks!

Best answer:

Answer by Bored Goblin
there is no such thing since it amounts to helping the rich brag about how they spend their money

Add your own answer in the comments!

There are numerous terrific advantages of using aromatherapy and essential oils and some of these advantages are ones you may never have thought of. Were you aware that there are essential oils which can help with acne and blemishes? It is true – you can use aromatherapy oils to help your skin feel and look

Go here to read the rest:
Aromatherapy Beneficial for Skin Blemishes

I hear that nearly every day, from both folks who are online contacts and real-world friends and neighbors. My answer? HOGWASH!

Whether we realize it or not, we are ALREADY making a difference in our world with every action, and non-action, with every word spoken or held back, with every choice, with every smile, with every frown, with every thank you. So if we’re already making a difference, why on EARTH wouldn’t every single one of us strive to assure that difference is a positive one?

So, for all of those who truly do not see how they can make a positive impact, for those who cannot think of ways to make a difference, and, for all you masters of excuses, here are 55 *easy*, simple, free or no-cost ways to help heal our world and our people. (This list started off as 20 ways and I had to make myself stop at 55!)

1) Smile. When you see someone without a smile, give them yours.
2) Look a person in the eyes, smile and say thank you when they render you a service – cashiers, mechanics, bus drivers, waiters/waitresses, hotel desk clerks, flight attendants. They are not invisible tools created for your comfort, they are your brothers and sisters – SEE them and thank them.
3) Pick a name out of the phone book and send them an inspirational card so they know someone is thinking about them.
4) Smile at a child and tell them you’re proud of them.
5) Slow down and let someone over in traffic instead of speeding up so you can get to your destination a whole 10 seconds sooner.
6) Leave an inspirational book in a public place such as an airport, bus station, cafe with a little note inside saying how you hope whoever finds it receives some comfort from it.
7) Donate some of your old books to a local school or youth center
Adopt a soldier – send letters and care packages
9) Watch someone’s kids for them so they can go on a date or simply have a few hours of much-needed ‘me time’.
10) Buy a $5 Starbucks gift card and give it away
11) Give one hour a week as a volunteer in your community
12) Clean your closets and donate old clothing and household items to the Salvation Army or GoodWill
13) Go yard-saling and buy baby items, then contact your local department of family services and ask them what local expectant mothers could use them. (I did this and ended up with almost enough to outfit an entire nursery for just about $20!)
14) Give another driver the parking spot you wanted.
15) Visit a nursing home with your children.
16) Leave flowers or cookies on someone’s desk
17) Send a thank you note to someone who is rarely thanked – what about that nice waitress at your local restaurant or the frazzled teenager in the McDonald’s drive through?
18) Send somebody $20 in the mail. Just because
19) Give a genuine compliment
20) Take an afternoon and take your children on a drive – just to listen and sing along with the radio together
21) Give a child in the grocery store a dollar
22) Hold a Teddy Bear Drive and donate the bears to a children’s shelter for new arrivals.
23) Invite a lonely neighbor or co-worker over for dinner
24) Take your son’s old sports equipment and donate it to your local youth shelter, rec center or Little League/Youth Football League
25) Give blood
26) Send flowers to your local hospital with a note to give them to the patient they feel would most benefit from receiving them
27) Thank a police officer
28) Thank a fireman
29) Adopt a homeless pet at the humane society.
30) If you own a website or blog, find a charity you believe in and put a link up – with no expectation of a link back.
31) If you are on Facebook, Twitter, Myspace or another social network, tell your friends about a worthy cause and include a link
32) Mow an elderly neighbor’s lawn, or shovel their walk, or rake their leaves.
33) Take out the garbage without being asked – take out the neighbor’s garbage while you’re at it!
34) Call or visit a homebound person
35) Volunteer to be a tutor in school
36) Plant a garden and share the bounty
37) Listen to a child, really listen
38) Teach your children to say thank you
39) Offer a shoulder to lean on – and be there when it’s needed
40) Pray for others – Send positive/healing energy – Meditate – the words don’t matter, the intention does.
41) Tell someone “good job!” – and mean it
42) Share the credit for a job well done with those who took part in it
43) Read to a child
44) Read to an elderly person in a nursing home or hospital
45) Call your parents and say thank you
46) When organizing a party for a child’s birthday or other event, drop off the extra goody bags for children in your local shelter
47) Overpack your child’s lunch and ask them to share with a child at school
48) Teach your children basic respect for others and for all life
49) Apologize to your child when it’s warranted – let them know that it’s ok to make a mistake, that it’s how you handle it that matters most.
50) Leave sticky notes with inspirational quotes in unlikely places for others to find and read
51) Buy green whenever you can
52) Recycle
53) Pay attention to local, state and national politics – vote, get involved!
54) Get your pet spayed or neutered
55) If you see litter when going about your daily life, stop and pick it up

These are all small things. But it is kindness and compassion which will be the vehicles of change in our world. Start looking for, recognizing and even creating opportunities to be kind and not only will you be a powerful force for change, you will also be the recipient of return blessings.

Remember…

Wherever there is a human being, there is an opportunity for a kindness. ~Seneca

I’d like to offer my sincere thanx to both my Twitter friends and to Co-Creator Radio Network for their inspiring words of wisdom and their countless ideas on how we each can make a difference in our world and in someone’s life today – from right where we are at this moment.

Namaste’,
~Dee

Question by ZenWater: What inspirational pictures should I put up on my cubicle at work?
Are there any inspirational pictures I can find onlline and print out?

Best answer:

Answer by Becka
A Buddhist monk meditating, a Chinese coin frog, Donald Trump.

Give your answer to this question below!

Coming my way from across the parking lot was what society would consider a bum.

From the looks of him, he had no car, no home, no clean clothes, and no money. There are times when you feel generous but there are other times that you just don’t want to be bothered. This was one of those “don’t want to be bothered times.”

“I hope he doesn’t ask me for any money,” I thought. He didn’t.

He came and sat on the curb in front of the bus stop but he didn’t look like he could have enough money to even ride the bus. After a few minutes he spoke. “That’s a very pretty car,” he said.

He was ragged but he had an air of dignity around him. His scraggly beard kept more than his face warm.

I said, “thanks,” and continued wiping off my car.

He sat there quietly as I worked. The expected plea for money never came.

As the silence between us widened something inside said, “ask him if he needs any help.” I was sure that he would say “yes” but I held true to the inner voice.

“Do you need any help?” I asked.

He answered in three simple but profound words that I shall never forget. We often look for wisdom in great men and women. We expect it from those of higher learning and accomplishments.

I expected nothing but an outstretched grimy hand. But instead he spoke three words that shook me.

“Don’t we all?” he said.

I was feeling high and mighty, successful and important, above a bum in the street, until those three words hit me like a twelve gauge shotgun.

Don’t we all?

I needed help. Maybe not for bus fare or a place to sleep, but I needed help. I reached in my wallet and gave him not only enough for bus fare, but enough to get a warm meal and shelter for the day.

Those three little words still ring true. No matter how much you have, no matter how much you have accomplished, you need help too. No matter how little you have, no matter how loaded you are with problems, even without money or a place to sleep, you can give help.

Even if it’s just a compliment, you can give that.

You never know when you may see someone who appears to have it all. They are waiting on you to give them what they don’t have. A different perspective on life, a glimpse at something beautiful, a respite from daily chaos, that only you, through a torn world, can see.

Maybe the man was just a homeless stranger wandering the streets. Maybe he was more than that.

Maybe he was sent by a power that is great and wise, to minister to a soul too comfortable in itself.

Maybe God looked down, called an Angel, dressed him like a bum, then said, “go minister to that man cleaning the car, that man needs help.”

Don’t we all?

Bob Needs A Spirit Jump

Bob, 74, is an artist retired from ATT. His book, Star Walker, was dedicated to his youngest son Mark who died in 2004 at 36. Mark had battled schitzophrenia since 19. We began Bob’s move to Fairhope, AL Mother’s Day weekend, 2008 then returned to Atlanta where I lived.

8/3/8 I took Bob to the ER saying something was horribly wrong, Bob was lost while driving. We spent an hour with a neurologist, CT scan completed; “depression/anxiety, go home”. We did, then drove back to AL 8/6…Bob became worse; we saw a young doc who did an MRI: dual lobe brain cancer.

Read the rest here: Get Involved: Give a Spirit Jump to Someone Battling Cancer | Healing Our World Net.

Well, we’re not referring to green cookware, nor are we talking about cooking green vegetables (although, these are very good for you!)

Green cooking concerns more than the color of your foods. Genuine green cooking covers your selection of foods and how they’re cooked.

Here are a few green cooking ideas for greening your culinary endeavors.

Green Cooking Cookware

1. Pick out long-lasting materials to cut down on waste, like cast iron.

2. Purchase secondhand cookware at your local antique store, garage sale, or second-hand shop. Make certain, however, that pots and pans aren’t warped, as this might effect heat conduction.

3. Make certain you use a pot on the right-sized kitchen range eye. Using an excessively small pot on a big burner (or vise versa) wastes heat and energy.

4. Pick out utensils that are constructed from sustainable materials, such as bamboo. Avoid plastic. Utensils and flatware are likewise abundant at antique shops and garage sales.

5. Select cookware constructed from alloys that transmit heat well: copper, cast iron, aluminum (use anodized aluminum if you have health concerns).

6. Avoid Teflon and non-stick coated pans; toxic chemicals called polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) are utilized in the finish.

7. Purchase cookware with an environmentally friendly, non-stick coating, like enamelware, anodized aluminum, or by a modern process called nanotechnology. Also, seasoning your iron and washing it properly (no soap) will produce a natural, non-stick coating.

8. Stainless steel isn’t a very good conductor of heat, but it’s recyclable.

Green Cooking Energy Use

1. If possible, upgrade to a convection oven, which cooks food far quicker than a conventional oven.

2. Utilize a pressure cooker to cut back on cooking time. Whole grains may be cooked in half the time, and meats may be cooked with the “all day tender” taste and texture in under an hour.

3. Utilize a slow cooker on low for long-term cooking. It uses less energy than baking something in an oven for hours.

4. Cook outdoors. And as you’re out there cooking, switch off the heat or air conditioner in the house!

5. Utilize residual heat. This works particularly well for preparing greens and steaming veggies. Cover the pot tightly, bring the water to the boiling point and then switch off the burner, leaving the pot on the burner. The veggies will continue to cook with the residual heat.

6. Cover your pots and pans to diminish cooking time. This is particularly true when boiling water.

Green Cooking Food

1. Purchase local food. It requires less gasoline to get local food to the grocery, and such produce isn’t likely to be sprayed with preservatives or other chemicals applied for long transportation.

2. Cut and chop up foods into little pieces prior to cooking; they will cook a great deal faster.

3. Cook foods at the same time to cut back on the total time you’re using your kitchen range.

4. Limit the trips to the fridge. Think through what you need to get out of the refrigerator and acquire it in a single trip. It is worth it to hold the refrigerator door open a couple minutes longer to acquire all that you need to prevent opening and closing the refrigerator door dozens of times.

5. Purchase organic foods, which are better for the environment for so many reasons. Not only are organic foods free of man-made agrichemicals, they’re also an element of sustainable agriculture, assuring productive farms for the future.

Related Natural Product

For us, the name Turning Life describes a personal experience of self-reflection and renewed inspiration; a time when we began questioning our choices as consumers, neighbors and global citizens. At Turning Life you will find products which represent a commitment to: Simplicity, Serenity, and Global Sensibility. In other words, we believe you’ll find the items we offer in our online catalog support an earth-friendly, calm and comfortable lifestyle. Whether you’re looking for that perfect item for your home, your personal style, your health, as a gift, or for a new baby – you will find the most unique and beautiful items at Turning Life and each one supports a green, sustainable lifestyle!

Cooking green  is only one part of an earth-friendly lifestyle, but it is an important part. We hope you are able to incorporate some of our green cooking ideas into your cooking endeavors!

1. Forgo the cardboard and select mugs – ceramic, travel mugs, or any reusable container will suffice.

2. Buy coffee that’s fair trade certified. Fair trade products endorse local farmers and encourage fair prices to growers.

3. Forgo coffee filters completely and brew your java the way you brew tea. You are able to steep the grounds and filter them out, or utilize a French coffee press. The press consists of a glass pitcher with a built-in screen. You press the screen downward when the java is at its sought after strength. The screen separates out the grounds and you pour the java from the pitcher.

4. If you do use filters, be sure they’re constructed from unbleached, natural paper.

5. Compost your expended coffee grounds. Coffee grounds make superior compost. If you do not have a compost heap, disperse them directly on the soil.

6. Purchase organic coffee. This is coffee that’s raised using eco-friendly techniques (no man-made pesticides, fungicides, and so forth.).

7. Make it at home. If you make your own java and take it with you, you are able to avoid the aforesaid cardboard cups and you are able to be sure that your java is from an eco-friendly source.

8. Buy “shade-grown” coffee. Coffee favors to grow in shade, so coffee that’s shade-grown uses a growing technique that capitalizes on coffee’s natural tendencies. That means less intervention is needed to grow it.

9. Buy coffee that is produced near home. Attempt to find coffee that has the fewest “air miles.” This is a challenge for anybody living in the northern hemisphere, but it’s possible to pick out the nearest coffee, if not actually local.

Related Natural Product 

Gifts that Mother Earth can enjoy! Our gifts are earth-friendly, unique and distinct from all corners of the world, 100% fair trade and many are RECYCLED! Gifts With Humanity – Unique gift ideas for all occasions. Use coupon code MamaEarth for 5% off of your order!

1. Battery Recharger

A battery recharger is not another useless gizmo. It genuinely saves money and cuts down waste. Naturally, you will need to buy rechargeable batteries to go with it, but the savings add up quickly. A battery recharger is particularly advantageous if you have kids with battery-eating toys.

2. Energy-Efficient Light Bulbs

You have likely heard a good deal about compact fluorescent bulbs or CFLs, but that is because they actually do save energy. They’re appealing little gizmos with their twisty shape, but if you own lampshades that fit over conventional electric-light bulbs, CFLs come housed in a light bulb-shaped casing. Types and sizes of CFLs are forever expanding, from exterior lighting to lamps.

3. The Energy Detective

This gizmo will fulfill your inner geek and spare you money. It’s a tiny, simple device that clamps onto the incoming channels of your breaker box. The device apprehends info about how much electrical energy is being used, and then transmits that info to a “Gateway,” which stores the data.

The Gateway is plugged into any electric outlet, and sends the data wirelessly to a tiny, wireless, LED display screen. View the screen to determine how much electrical energy you’re using in real time. Now you will be able to pick and choose where, when and how to cut back on your energy consumption around your house.

4. Solar Lights for Outdoors

Whether you would like to light your porch steps, driveway, or add appealing lighting to your garden, solar lights are swell gadgets that have a genuine application. They save tremendous amounts of energy and many of them will come on automatically when it starts to become dark. You are able to get solar-powered Christmas lights for outside decorating, as well.

5. Programmable Thermostats

This is a gizmo that genuinely salvages energy. It offers exact temperature control – a really helpful thing when one or two degrees in the temperature positioning may constitute a large difference. The thermostat will turn itself on and off automatically once it is programmed, so you do not need to try to remember to do it. You are able to adjust it so the house is warm when you get up and cool when you go to bed, and still save energy. This is one of those contraptions that adds to interior comfort and nevertheless saves money.

6. Light Timers

Whether it is your desk lamp, exterior flood lamp, or Christmas tree lights, timers are priceless for safety and energy savings. Adjust the timer so the Christmas lights or room lamps are off at bedtime and when you are not home, and then on at dusk. This not solely gives the appearance that somebody is home at dark, but it also prevents fires from accidentally leaving the Christmas lights on. You merely need to adjust the timing to coincide with your schedule.

Most lamp timers have multiple settings; you are able to adjust the lights to come on and off at anywhere from 4 to 6 different intervals. Some timers have 24 tabs, one per 60 minutes, and you can press them in or pull them out at numerous intervals.

Related Natural Product

For us, the name Turning Life describes a personal experience of self-reflection and renewed inspiration; a time when we began questioning our choices as consumers, neighbors and global citizens. At Turning Life you will find products which represent a commitment to: Simplicity, Serenity, and Global Sensibility. In other words, we believe you’ll find the items we offer in our online catalog support an earth-friendly, calm and comfortable lifestyle. Whether you’re looking for that perfect item for your home, your personal style, your health, as a gift, or for a new baby – you will find the most unique and beautiful items at Turning Life and each one supports a green, sustainable lifestyle!

As a matter of fact, incorporating kids in local green activities is crucial to the cause – you’re passing on the values and actions that might make a difference.

You’re demonstrating to your kids that you care about their future, and would like to teach them to maintain their own communities.

Whether you involve your own kids or the children of your house of worship, school, work and so forth, it is important to teach children about maintaining their community.

Remember, the future of the environment is in kid’s hands. We will not be around forever to show them what to do or explain the state of affairs. It is crucial that kids learn to bear responsibility for the maintenance and well-being of the environment.

Yet how do you get kids committed? Here are a few ideas on the varieties of green activities you are able to pioneer or take part in that will involve kids.

1. Recycling

Recycling is likely the number 1 activity that folks think of when they consider going green. It is likewise a good intro for teaching kids about going green. You are able to make recycling a game, mounting baskets and bins on the wall and then children can toss in the assorted items.

Open their eyes to the recyclables surrounding them – play “I spy” when you’re out and spot all the recyclable items you encounter. Teach children to reuse by constructing crafts from items in your recycling bins. Cardboard boxes, tubes, soup cans and plastic bottles may all be made into fascinating crafts and gifts.

A different way to involve community children in recycling is to assemble a recycling program in your local schools. Work with the principal and other faculty to allow for easily accessible bins around the school grounds.

Depending upon the location of your community, the greatest challenge is in all likelihood going to be bringing the recyclables to the local recycling center. 1st, center on reusing as much of the recyclables as conceivable so that less items need to be transported. Then, check if you are able to collaborate with other schools to set up for regular trips to the recycling center.

2. Gardens

Gardening is a fantastic way for kids to find out about the environment. While they nurture and protect the plants they’re responsible for, they’ll have a fuller understanding and motivation to protect and preserve the plants and trees in nature.

A lot of schools are receptive to a student garden. If the grounds don’t allow, check if the school can utilize an empty lot or nearby field. This way some of the school’s scrap may be exploited to cultivate the garden – kitchen scraps, paper (schools use a lot of paper) and lawn clippings may be composted and expended on the garden. If foods are grown in the garden, the school may utilize the produce in cooking nourishing lunches.

3. Organize a Neighborhood Clean-Up Day

Kids might genuinely enjoy taking part in a neighborhood clean-up day. It is their neighborhood, after all, and they’ll pride oneself in keeping it clean. If you coordinate it with children in mind, they’ll look forward to doing it on a regular basis. Furnish snacks and beverages for breaks, and when you organize the volunteers into groups, be sure the kids are assigned to an area that’s safe for them to clean.

Related Natural Product

For us, the name Turning Life describes a personal experience of self-reflection and renewed inspiration; a time when we began questioning our choices as consumers, neighbors and global citizens. At Turning Life you will find products which represent a commitment to: Simplicity, Serenity, and Global Sensibility. In other words, we believe you’ll find the items we offer in our online catalog support an earth-friendly, calm and comfortable lifestyle. Whether you’re looking for that perfect item for your home, your personal style, your health, as a gift, or for a new baby – you will find the most unique and beautiful items at Turning Life and each one supports a green, sustainable lifestyle!

by Emma Russell and Dee Braun

I am listening to We Are The World right now and thinking about what we could all to do to honor his memory. I am pretty sure that  his wish would be for us to do something, anything, to make our world a better place, as well as to continue his message of love and healing on this planet.

So **THIS WEEK**, the week of Michael’s birthday, we’re asking all those who are fans of Michael Jackson, as well as those who are not, to download the song, We Are The World, or purchase the single or CD album.

All proceeds from the sales of these audio and video recording continue to go to USA for Africa and allow each of us to participate in our own small way in the feeding of hungry children – in the healing of our world.

The single is available for download on the USA for Africa site, as well as Amazon and iTunes.  With every purchase, all monies will go to USA for Africa to help them continue their incredible humanitarian efforts – the feeding of starving children and their families.

I think if we all bought a copy of We Are The World in the week of his birthday and got it to number one, it would first of all help make the world a better place, and secondly show that Michael’s message and vision live on in so very many people – fans and non-fans alike.

If you are not a fan of Michael, that’s ok. But please take a moment and find a way today to give back, to help someone, to support your charity of choice, to give a smile, a hug or an encouraging word. We are all called upon to heal our world – it is not limited to the people of one nation, the members of one race or gender, nor the fans of one artist. If not you, if not me, if not us…who?

You can find the song at the following websites:

http://www.usaforafrica.org/
http://www.amazon.co.uk/We-Are-The-World/dp/B001JIHHA8/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=dmusic&qid=1249663226&sr=8-4
http://www.amazon.com/We-Are-The-World/dp/B001FXOL4W/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=dmusic&qid=1251219069&sr=8-3

You can also find the DVD in stores, and on Amazon, as well as download the DVD from iTunes.  All the proceeds go to charity, buy as much or as little as you can afford. We’re doing it because we believe in Michael’s vision of a healed and loving world as well as for those less fortunate than ourselves.

Tell all your friends, fellow fans, post the link to the downloads in your FB, Myspace, Twitter…

You can find more details at the Facebook Group ‘Michael Jackson: We are The World http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=132894936792

Love is our message!

In addition to MD, I also have Gaucher’s Disease, a Jewish genetically inherited disease that my brother has as well.

I always thought my medical condition through my eyes was relatively easy to handle during my earlier years. I was weak, walked with a wobble, and was exhausted by the end of the day.

I could not run, climb or play with my friends on a baseball team, or any sports teams at all, much less, go to sleep away camp.

I didn’t understand what the big deal was and why my mom wouldn’t let me go. I thought I was ‘normal.” A young kid only sees things as black and white, and I was oblivious to the shades of grey that were the reality of my illness.

But when I turned 13, I was forced to really see all the shades of my illness as my muscles weren’t growing right and started contracting. I went into a wheelchair.

Read the rest of Jake’s story here:  Hope. Compassion. Joy. One Boy’s Inspiring Story | Healing Our World Net.

Sometimes, when I step back and look at the big picture of where our world is, the hatred, discrimination, hunger, oppression, war, crimes against humanity (or simply our neighbor), it completely overwhelms me and boggles my mind.

All you have to do is sit down and watch 20 minutes of news to get a taste of what is wrong with our world and our people.

Then the thought creeps in, “it’s hopeless, what can *I* do to change all this?”

Many of us sit in our offices, homes and cars listening to news broadcasts and wondering just that. And this thought is often followed by “I’m just one person, I don’t know how to fix this.” And ya know, that is true. No one person can fix anything but him or herself.

We don’t even have to read a paper or watch the news to become overwhelmed by helplessness and hopelessness – a talk with a friend who’s in an abusive marriage, seeing a classmate of our child who has that haunted, scared look in her eyes, watching teenagers in colors gathered on a street corner, or even simply over-hearing another person berating and demeaning a fellow human being (whether they know that person or not). It’s enough to make a person throw up their hands and want to hide in the safety of their own home.

But we CAN all do something. The answer to the question, “Heal the World? Who? Me??” is a resounding and emphatic, YES! We cannot lead if we do not know the way. We cannot love if we do not know what love is. We cannot accept others if we cannot first accept ourselves. We cannot act and speak with compassion if we have not diffused the anger, hatred and resentment that resides within us. We cannot heal if we are not healed.

I can just hear ya’ll: “Ok, Dee, that sounds like all sunshine and roses and something some new age guru would say, but HOW do we heal ourselves and the world??

Well, although I’m certainly not a new-age guru and I very definitely do not hold the keys to the kingdom when it comes to world healing, I do have a few ideas on the subject, so I’m really glad you asked!

Here are ways that I try to implement every single day in my quest and pledge to make a positive difference in our world:

1) I work on me. I watch for ego, prejudice, anger, resentment, lack of patience, and a host of other ‘qualities’ that I am aware of in myself. When I see one, I try to figure out where it’s coming from, root it out and neutralize it. This isn’t easy – it’s work – hard work.

And there are countless guides from great spiritual leaders that can help you with this task. (Two I would recommend learning form include Deepak Chopra and Carolyn Myss.) I simply know that I will have a very hard time being kind to someone else if I’m resentful or angry. Or that it is impossible to truly give of myself to help another if my ego is up there saying, “wow, folks will think I’m a great person if I do this!” So, rule one, work on me.

2) I try very hard to watch what I say and what I think. Words have power! Suffice it to say that I believe that every thought, every word and every action has an equal reaction.

We, and our world, are made of energy (basic quantum physics), and each of us, each living being on this planet, is constantly emanating energy. We human beings have the unique power of choice as to what energy we send out. I try hard to make that energy positive and healing as much as I am able to do so.

3) As Carolyn Myss says, “Make time every day for the Sacred.” Whether that sacred time is prayer, the sending of compassionate, loving and/or healing energy, meditation, a walk in the beauty of nature…whatever your definition of sacred and Divinity – make time for it every single day. This is something so crucial to our own healing and spirituality that it cannot be over-stated. And it is, in my opinion, an absolute requirement in the success of points 1 and 2 above.

4) Listen, comfort and smile. One of the easiest, and seemingly least seldom employed, ways of healing ourselves and those around us (and thereby helping to heal our world) is to start right where you are and who you are with. Listen instead of talk. Accept instead of judge. Smile instead of frown. Encourage instead of berate. Start with your mate, your children, your parents, your friends, your neighbors. So simple and so very lacking in our world today.

5) Treat all you meet today with courtesy and respect. On the road, slow down to let someone over and simply grit out a “bless you” when they cut you off, causing you to nearly hit them and then they flip you the finger. Look a cashier in the eye in the check out line when you are saying ‘thank you.’ Respond to rudeness with a deep breath, a smile and quick prayer of ‘heaven bless you and make your day better’.

6) Watch 30 minutes of news or read a newspaper and for each hurt or obscenity against another human being that is reported, say a prayer for the victim(s), the family of the victim(s) AND the alleged perpetrator of the crime and his/her family. Why? Because whether we’re talking about a victim or the person who committed the crime, we are always talking about human beings – people with families, parents, brothers and sisters. Guilt or innocence is irrelevant in this particular action.

Trust me, I know how tough it is to say a prayer for someone who is thought to have kidnapped and murdered a child. Sometimes all I can make myself do is a breathe a “please, god, help them” whereas I can pray at length for the child and his/her family – and that’s ok. Hate the action, have compassion on the person. (Please note that I use the word ‘prayer’ a lot – and that is what I term it. But it is a word, please replace it with ‘healing energy’, ‘love energy’, meditate, or whatever term best fits your belief system).

7) Support a cause, a charity, sponsor a child, attend charity fund-raisers, join a community devoted to helping to heal our world – do whatever you can, what you can afford, what you have time for.

No act of kindness or compassion, no gift freely given – whether it be of money, time or yourself – is too small to have an impact.

Something to think about…

If every person on the planet stopped believing they could do nothing and began doing what they had the time and resources to do – what would our world look like?

Again, the answer to the question, “Heal the World? Who? Me??” is a resounding and emphatic, YES!

Just look around, and surely you will see,
so many lives, that need a helping hand.
I need you now to, come along with me,
& together, begin to heal our lands.

This is the time, this is the season,
to come together in love.
Where are you? What could be your reason,
can’t you see, you’re part of everyone?

Sometimes at night, I hear the children wracked with pain,
And my heart, it breaks, with a heavy sigh.
But I know that, if I can make that change,
this world’s darkness, can ease with morning’s light.

Stand up my brothers, if not you & me then who?
together stand, let’s work to heal our world,
Stand up my sisters, ’cause it is what we choose,
that will lead us, through love’s open door.

This is our time, this is our season,
to come together in love.
Where are you? What could be your reason,
can’t you see, you’re part of everyone?

~Dee Braun

This terrific and thought-provoking article is provided to us by a Twitter friend, Steven Redhead from http://www.stevenredhead.com/. You can also follow Steven on Twitter (which I would highly recommend!): http://twitter.com/PhiloMind

~Dee

Simplified, the key factors within your reality are you, the people you interact with, and your physical world. This reality is of course governed by your specific perception of what is as well as what isn’t.

But what are the threats to your reality; do you worry or even care about the total health of your environment as a whole?

Prevention is always said to be, on reflection, better than the cure; this can be applied to the health and well-being of both yourself as well as your world.

Are you as healthy as you could be, or as you imagine you are? Is the world that supports your life also as healthy as you imagine, or are issues raised by scientists and environmentalists causing you to worry or have concerns?

The thing is you can’t actually destroy anything, as Einstein told us we can only change its form; or due to our perception of something change can occur. So, one that basis nothing is in danger of extinction as such, only in danger of changing its form, which may or may not be the ideal end result that you may want.

Billions of years ago the earth was an inhospitable place, the continually bombardment by meteors made the earth an extremely undesirable place to be. At one stage a large meteor is said to have split the world in two thus forming our moon from the spun off debris. The earth has certainly come a long way since then, undergoing numerous changes, finally progressing to support a plethora of life forms in our present age.

The earth will survive in one form or another whatever happens, even if the sun explodes one day as scientists tell us is the sun’s fate, or the moon’s stabilizing factor on the earth’s rotation ceases as some have speculated as one possible doom scenario, or even if the earth is pulled into the sun at some stage due to the gravitational pull of some large rarely orbiting meteor as some scientist have predicted, only the form of the form of the earth will change, say to one of gasses. What people are concerned about is not the health of the earth per se but the survival of the earth as they currently perceive it, which is in fact only the current of many states the earth has existed in.

There always seems a purpose for whatever happens, that purpose is to allow us to experience something. These experiences can be raised from the negative to the positive and visa versa solely by our ability to perceive reality as we have decided. What we wish to experience is usually something we have decided upon either subconsciously or consciously of our own desire, or suggested to us by some source. One quoted example of suggested reality is the common cold; once the pharmaceutical companies start to advertise influenza medicine on TV as part of prevention during the cold season the number of people turning up at the doctors clinic suddenly spikes; this is due to belief susceptibility from auto suggestion. The opposite also happens for example in the case of cancer patients inexplicably curing themselves solely through the belief that they can change their reality by what they expect.

The same goes for both our physical or mental health, the condition they are in is usually the result of our desires and perception. Some people are unhealthy because of what others believe is a poor or bad life style; not exercising, eating too many carbohydrates, not eating a balanced diet, heavy drinking or smoking, whatever. Others are at the opposite extreme, obsessing about their health and fitness while missing some of the joys that life has to offer. Which is the correct way to live and which is wrong is open to personal interpretation.

The health of our body, as well as our own specific view of the world, our environment is governed by the perceptions we have; this is the right that everyone has to choose how they wish to see things. Of course actions have consequences so we each have to exist and survive within the society or situation we live in. We all have perceptions built upon our exposure to our life experiences, education level, exposure to certain opinions of others, et cetera. In our reality lies become truths due to being pushed continually at us, while truths are branded as lies by those who oppose them. This leads many to become apathetic and uncaring, or others to become activists; however, we should avoid being influenced unduly by others no matter what they may preach, believing only what we can systematically thought through and come to a specific conclusion on.

In the current materialistic world that we live in the health or needs of the spirit within us are mostly overlooked. Many questions remain unanswered in our quest to obtain more and more material things. The purpose of our life, the search for our true life path, what we want to experience in life, are mostly left up to fate to decide, rather than listening to then following our intuitive thoughts. The route to acquiring what we truly need can only be found through the interpretation of our spirits desire found within our intuitive thoughts; then believing in these, transposing them through our imagination and beliefs into our perceived reality through our actions and thoughts.

Everything we perceive is a reflection of ourself, of what we are deep down inside. It is our right to make the choices that fill our reality with bliss in the form of peace, health, love and happiness. Once we are existing in a state of bliss then everything will fall into place. Thus is the journey we should take to get ourselves back to the garden, or the true reality of life. We can change everything though the perception of our beliefs, only then can what we desire be found in reality; by changing our beliefs we can change reality, healing not only ourselves but planet earth.

Copyright © 2009 by Steven Redhead

Either way, there are ways to save money while keeping the environment in mind. Here are 5 steps toward saving money and creating a more eco living room.

1. Use power strips

Power strips are an energy-saving option because they can be turned off, cutting power to multiple electronic devices all at once. Devices that are plugged in still use electricity even when turned off, especially if the appliance has a rechargeable battery.

2. Use a smaller, LCD television

A big screen plasma TV may be an exciting prospect, but think before you purchase one. Smaller, LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) TVs use less electricity than plasma, and the smaller the TV the more energy-efficient. There are flat-screen, LCD TVs available.

3. Freshen the air with plants

You don’t need to invest in chemical air fresheners, many of which contain perfumes that can irritate allergies. Air fresheners also have to be replaced regularly. House plants, on the other hand, are inexpensive, beautiful, and natural air fresheners. They turn carbon monoxide into oxygen and absorb toxins from the air. Succulents, cacti, and orchids are good for beginners.

4. Consider salvaged wood furniture

This is furniture that is made from collected wood, such as fallen trees or driftwood. This kind of furniture can be purchased or, if you really want to save money, collect and make something yourself. You can assemble driftwood pieces artistically and glue them together into a mirror or picture frame, for example, or use a cross-section of a fallen log as an end table.

5. Update your lamps

You don’t have to sacrifice style to go green with your lighting. Simply replacing your existing bulbs with CFLs (Compact Fluorescent Bulbs) will cut your energy costs. Putting an inexpensive timer on your living room lamps is another way to save energy.

The use of the term “Green” has gained Universal attention.  True Green became frustrated with the shroud of smoke and mirrors which seems to surround all of the “recycled”, earth-friendly products as well as the sometimes misleading information attached to these products.   They felt the only solution was to provide an honorable point of commerce where the products and brands were obtainable from the best sources and the best available.   True Green is dedicated to creating a future for our children by sustaining our earth’s precious resources one step at a time.

We are in the midst of a new world paradigm. The world is changing from civilization to planetization.   Civilization focuses on material production and consumption.  Planetization is a world order whose priorities are contemplation, consciousness and ecological balance.

A percentage of all True Green‘s sales are donated to earth friendly and people friendly charities. Learn more about True Green and their earth-friendly and eco-conscious products!

If we want racism to disappear, we have a duty to raise the next generation to be color-blind.

Here are some tips on how to raise your child or children to be non-racist.

1. Use appropriate descriptive terms. If you need to point someone out, say, “The tall man in the red shirt,” or “The woman with short hair and a green skirt.” Don’t point people out by skin color.

2. Be a good role model. Be sure you treat everyone you interact with according to who they are, not their color. Be aware of your body language (make eye contact) and speech and make sure you are not sending the wrong message. For example, if there are children on the playground of a different color, act as you always would and encourage your child to play. The same is true for grown-ups; don’t avoid people of another color. Let your child see you talking and interacting openly with all shades of people.

3. Learn to appreciate other cultures. Learn about other traditions, holidays, foods, clothing, etc. and show your child that all approaches to life have value.

4. Attend multi-cultural celebrations and events. A lot of cities have cultural festivals; make a point of attending with your child.

5. Read literature and books that depict other races. There are a great many children’s books that feature characters who are African-American, Eskimo, Jewish, Japanese, and so forth. Stories with vivid illustrations will accustom children to the way people of other races look.

6. Don’t make it too big a deal. If you try to force the issue or get “too into it,” it may have the opposite effect. You don’t want to make your child too conscious about race; there is no need to point out differences in skin color excessively. You need to find the balance between appreciating differences without calling too much attention to those differences.

Step #1  Decide what type of scent you’d like to have. Lavender is calming, eucalyptus is invigorating and deters spiders, and lemon is fresh and clean. Purchase the essential oils online or at other natural grocery stores. Some craft stores also often sell essential oils.

Step #2  Bring one cup of water to a boil and mix in four packets of unflavored gelatin. Stir until the gelatin has dissolved and then remove from heat.

Step #3  If you want your air freshener to have color, you can add a few drops of food coloring. If you want it to have texture, you can add items like lemon peel, eucalyptus leaves, or even flowers.

Step #4  Add up to ten drops of your chosen essential oil and a cup of cool water.

Step #5  Pour into your chosen container, baby food jars work well. Cap or cover with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator to cool.

When cool, you’ll have gel air fresheners you can place wherever you need, or want, them. However, if you’d rather mist the offensive area or spritz freshener where you need it, you can make a spray air freshener.

Spray Air Fresheners

Step One – Again, choose your favorite essential oil or a combination of oils. 

Step Two – Purchase a spritzing bottle. You can grab these at the dollar store.

Step Three -  Add one cup of witch hazel, which you can also buy at the dollar store or drug store.

Step Four – Add 10 or more drops of your essential oils, cap, shake and spray when needed.

You can also drop essential oils on light bulbs. When they’re on the warmth will heat the oil and spread the fragrance into the air. Place essential oils on pine cones, potpourri items or other decorations around your home for a natural air freshener without the expense or the chemicals.

Fine environmentally sound and eco-conscious products for your home at True Green!

We were sitting outside at my favorite Italian restaurant (ohmigosh I LOVE their La Caprese! lol) having lunch when we began talking about loving our fellow man.

Sitting there watching hundreds of cars pass by, dozens of folks walking in and out of various stores and remembering the thousands of folks we encounter on the freeways each day, we couldn’t help but muse on how we are supposed to LOVE all of them.

For me, when I think of ‘loving’ a person I think of how I *feel* when holding my child in my arms, seeing my best friend again after years of living in different states, going home and being with my mom and my brothers. I have never gotten that same ‘feeling’ when stuck in a traffic jam or watching masses of people out in public going about their daily lives. But maybe that is part of the answer right there. Maybe it’s not that fuzzy, ‘oh my god i never want to let you go and can’t imagine my life without you’ FEELING. Maybe it’s much more simple.

As I thought more and more about it – almost to the point where I had myself confused enough that I nearly forgot what the original goal of the thought process was – I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s not that typical emotional feeling of love we’re supposed to have for all. I believe it’s much more along the lines of respect and compassion.

To me, ‘loving’ our fellow human beings, and all life on this planet we share, means that I respect their right to be. I respect their right to live and be safe and hold their own opinions. I respect their right to be healthy and happy and to earn a living. I respect their right to be in a place where I am and where I am not and I completely respect their right to hold beliefs, views and values different from my own – even when I do not agree with them. And, I will willingly give of my time, effort, energy and attention to help better the life of another.

To test my theory about the compassion end of it, as I de-planed in Cincinnati to catch my connecting flight, I imagined my own reaction if I were to witness one in this rushed mass of people falling seriously ill or getting injured. What would I do? What would I feel? I mean, I wouldn’t know the person – so, in the traditional emotional sense of the word, I wouldn’t ‘love’ them. But I would react. I would be concerned and I know me well enough to know that I’d pour heart, soul and energy into doing anything and everything I could to help the person in need. I know that if I found out that one of these folks needed an ear, a shoulder, $10 for food, prayer or one of a myriad of other things I would be able to provide – I’d do it – in a heartbeat. Is that love? It’s not the touchy-feely emotional love – but it is definitely compassion.

I thought about how I feel when I see children hurt and hungry on TV – I’ve never met them, touched them, listened to them, held them but oh my gosh how my heart bleeds for them. How I want to crawl through the screen and grab every single one of them and bring them home to love and care for them. Or how my heart aches for a mother who lost her child or the family left behind after a tragedy which took one of their own.

I think we over-use the word ‘love’. It’s common to hear my daughter say “oh I LOVE my truck!” or my son to say “man, I LOVE chicken cordon bleu!” But they don’t, not really. They enjoy them, they appreciate them, they don’t want to lose them in their lives…but love? Nah.

Maybe we should try to ‘rewire’ our views and our semantics on unconditional love, love of humanity, and those types of phrases. Maybe we’d give it less lip service and more action if we called it ‘unconditional compassion, respect and acceptance’ of all who live in this world with us.

Of course “All we need is compassion, respect and acceptance’ just doesn’t have the same ring to it as “All we need is love”.

I would like to give my heartfelt thanx to Kevin Heath of http://www.more4kids.info/ for his permission to reprint this article.

It has a very strong message – one that every single one of us should listen to and pass on to our children.

The story is a true account of an afternoon discussion between Kevin and his young son – soon after a rainstorm. Read..absorb…pass it on ~Dee

The rainstorm had just ended and the boy and his father went out for a walk in the cool spring air. They both liked taking a walk together after a rainstorm. It was always so quiet and peaceful.

As they walked the boy suddenly turned to his father and asked, “Why do some people have different color skin?”

The father was slightly taken aback. It was such an abrupt question. What should he tell his son? He thought for a minute, and suddenly he paused…. He saw something in the distance.

He knelt on one knee and pointed to a rainbow forming. The father decided instead to ask his son a question. “What if a rainbow only had one color?”

The little boy looked at the rainbow. At first he looked confused and said “I would be very sad if a rainbow only had one color”.

Then the boy’s dad saw a smile on his son’s face and a twinkle in his eyes. The boy blurted out excitedly, “God must be very smart to make the world so beautiful”.

The father then felt a lump in the back of his throat and a tear of pride on his left cheek. His 7 year old son had just grasped what so many people fail to grasp.

He turned to his son, rubbed him gently on his back, kissed his son’s forehead and simply said “Yes He is smart”.

As the father stood up, his child gently slipped his hand into his father’s hand.

Together they walked towards the rainbow.

Please visit Kevin at his incredibly amazing site More4Kids.info. More4kids is a Family resource devoted to parenting and education. Children are our most precious gift, and as proud parents and business owners, we are dedicated to publishing quality parenting information parents can use to help their children succeed and grow up happy.

“We are God’s Rainbow,
Where there is Diversity there is Beauty”

One day, someone donated a pair of eyes to her. When the bandages came off, she was able to see everything, including her boyfriend. He asked her, ‘Now that you can see the world, will you marry me?’

The girl looked at her boyfriend and saw that he was blind.

The sight of his closed eyelids shocked her. She hadn’t expected that. The thought of looking at them the rest of her life led her to refuse to marry him.

Her boyfriend left her in tears and days later wrote a note to her saying: “Take good care of your eyes, my dear; before they were yours, they were mine”.

This is how the human brain often works when our ‘status changes’. Only a very few remember what life was like before, and who was always by their side in the most painful situations.

Life Is a Gift Today before you say an unkind word – Think of someone who can’t speak.

Before you complain about the taste of your food – Think of someone who has nothing to eat.

Before you complain about your husband or wife – Think of someone who’s crying out for a companion.

Today before you complain about life – Think of someone who went too early to heaven.

Before you complain about your children – Think of someone who desires children but they’re barren.

Before you argue about your dirty house which someone didn’t clean or sweep – Think of the people who are living in the streets.

Before whining about the distance you drive – Think of someone who walks the same distance with their feet.

And when you are tired and complain about your job – Think of the unemployed, the disabled, and those who wish they had your, or any, job.

But before you think of pointing a finger or condemning another – Remember that not one of us is without error and we all answer to God. When depressing thoughts seem to get you down – Put a smile on your face and thank God you’re alive and still around.

(Author Unknown)

Best answer:

Answer by primalclaws1974
Greenpeace.

Add your own answer in the comments!