Long Life and Happiness — 70 Percent Lifestyle, 30 Percent Genes

How encouraging!  We have way more control over our lifestyle than we’ve ever imagined!  Genes are predetermined; lifestyle, we can change!

Someday, we’ll all be centenarians — pursuing our passion with the people we love!

Here are eight simple secrets to living longer, better:

• Believe (spiritual or religious participation)
• Family First (listen, laugh, appreciate what we have)
• Belong (to a healthy, social network)
• Move (simple activities like walking and gardening)
• Live with a purpose (hobbies, work, contribute to the greater good)
• Eat plant-based diet
• Eat until 80 percent full
• Drink one or two glasses of red wine each day (antioxidant — Polyphenol — scrubs away artery clogging materials)

Full Story

Curriculum Guide for Educators

Reallionaire — From Public Assistance to Millionaire at Age 14!

Born in Chicago’s southside, the youngest of four kids, raised by a mother working three to four jobs, hunger, the fear of eviction, gang violence — sounds like the perfect recipe for a HARD life; a STEEP uphill climb.

Not for Farrah Gray.  At 24-years-old, Gray is the ULTIMATE American success story!

Gray’s family couldn’t give him money or connections, but they gave him values to live by — pride, respect, hard work, preparation, inspiration, determination, and philanthropy.

Gray’s ten keys for success:

• Understand the Power of a Name
• Rejection– Fear Not!
• Build an All-Star Mentoring Team
• Seize Every Opportunity
• Go With the Flow … But Know Where You Want to Go
• Be Emotionally Prepared to Handle Failure
• Dedicate Your Time to What You Know (and What You Love)
• Love Your Customer
• Never Underestimate the Power of Network
• Know Your Partner  (Full Story)

WOW!  WOW!  WOW!

WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR?! –  “DRIVE!  DETERMINATION!  HUSTLE!”

Let’s “GO GET EM!!!!” 

Hands for Education — Simple Steps We Can Take To Stop Education Budget Cuts

Legislators and paper shufflers beware!  Change WILL take place from the bottom up!  Grassroots movements are gaining momentum — citizens are taking charge!

On Sunday, students, parents, teachers, and retired educators joined hands around the state to send state lawmakers a message!

Concerned Arizona Residents for Education, or CARE, just started 12 weeks ago but has almost 1500 members. Some members gathered in Tucson at the same time on Sunday afternoon as those in Phoenix and Flagstaff, Arizona.

Students wrote messages to the governor on pieces of paper cut in the shape of their own hands. Everyone involved is telling lawmakers to not cut education funding as they make the state budget, and prevent the hundreds of layoffs and the increase in class sizes that are already anticipated. (Full Story)

Writing short, simple messages on a shape of a hand stating why education budget cuts are unacceptable, is a quick and easy way to get your message to the legislators.  If we can all inspire our family, friends, coworkers, acquaintances, and strangers (anyone with a face!!) to do just that, imagine how many voices will be heard!

Legislators, NEVER UNDERESTIMATE PEOPLE’S POWER!  You’re job is to serve us and our interests, not the other way around.

Contact your elected officials (Click here)!  Show your support!

Mail your “hands” today!

Twitter — Market Your Website Without Search Engines!

Until last night, I thought Twitter was an easy way to talk about tidbits of your life with those interested in you and your thoughts.  My stifled imagination didn’t realize, next to word of mouth, Twitter is THE way to share your website — on “Silver Platter”!

Thanks to Copyblogger’s “Marketing your Website Without Search Engines,” Dosh Dosh got me thinking about the power of good old word of mouth (Twitter is 21st century’s “word of mouth”).

When you’re looking for a handyman, a dentist (affordable, skilled, and efficient), or great deals (from food, clothes, to cars), who would you ask — the business owners or a trusted, respected friend?

If you’re like me, you’d ask a friend.

Business owners, in general, have their interests in mind (yes, a few bad apples — the AIGs [Adventures In Greed] — can definitely give the honest, hard workers a bad name).

Friends support.  Friends help.  Friends will tell friends which products and services worked for them and why — simple, honest, truth from the heart.

Twitter is our easy-to-use 21st century friend, connecting us with our friends and followers — share your favorite thoughts, experiences, and products online with computers and cell phones — in 140 characters or less!

Thanks to WordPress, we can now Twitter from our blog (Go to Add New Post, see left column, click Appearance, Widgets).  I’ve just added mine last night (see Sneak Preview, top right).  I have yet to find out whether this feature will be helpful to visitors, but I thought I’d try.

You’re the judge.  Was the Sneak Preview helpful?

Love to hear your thoughts! 

Meghan McCain — The Face of the 21st Century Republican Party?

If Meghan McCain is an indication of the future Republican Party, I may, someday, become a registered Republican (as a fiscal conservative, socially progressive, left-leaning Independent, I never thought I’d say this.  But McCain’s refreshing spirit, “unify — out with the old, in with the new” definitely got my vote)!

“I feel too many Republicans want to cling to past successes,” said McCain. “There are those who think we can win the White House and Congress back by being ‘more’ conservative — change nothing.  They just want to wait for the other side to be perceived as worse than us.  I think we’re seeing a war brewing in the Republican Party.  But it’s not between us and Democrats. It’s not between us and liberals.  It’s between the future and the past … most of our nation wants our nation to succeed“ — a pretty clear dig at the now-infamous remarks of talk radio host Rush Limbaugh. (Full Story)

“Insanity is repeating the same actions expecting different results.” (Einstein)

Absolutely!  McCain may, one day, become our leader, bringing our country out of insanity!

“Yes, most Americans want our nation to succeed,” said McCain.

She hits the nail on the head!  I’m proud to be an American — for the diversity, the innovation, and the freedom we represent!  I, too, want our nation to succeed!!!

Out with divisive politics.  Out with the religious fanatics (my way or the highway?!  Oh please, give me a break.  We’re all pathetic sinners, you know)!  Out with the communists (I’ll get to you in a second)!

Jesus was history’s greatest liberal!  In just three short years, He changed the world’s values upside down (human beings are sinners, no sinner is better or worse than another, be kind to our enemies, etc., etc.).

If you’re a religious right, well, here’s news for you.  Jesus is the epitome of liberalism.  Without His divine wisdom, we’d still be operating under the carnal law, “eye for eye, tooth for tooth” — the dark ages where the blind and the toothless rule.

If you’re a communist, I too, have news for you.  Egalitarianism stifles creativity.  Egalitarianism hinders progress.  Egalitarianism promotes status-quo, if not apathy.  Why work hard if the person doing nothing gets the same pay?

It’s high time we stopped the finger pointing and strategize how to better ourselves and our society (ouch! — myself included!).

Republican or Democrat, a wise, courageous leader who unites — with, of course, a few expected growing pains along the way — will always get my vote.

How about you?

Help! Ten Ways to Resolve Workplace Conflict?!

If I can become wiser eating articles, I would.  But life’s never that easy.  Even I know I can’t change others, only myself.

A friend once said, “The average learns from others’ mistakes.  Idiots never learn.  Unresolved issues will resurface until given the proper attention they deserve.”

As I get older I’m supposed to be getting wiser, so remaining stupid is not an option — implementing ineffective conflict resolution techniques result in nothing but precious time wasted.

So what do you do when you work for an incompetent inner-city school principal lacking spine and leadership skills, where kids rule, who believes gossip can’t be helped — it’s just human nature?!

In desperation, I sought wisdom online.  I stumbled on ten helpful tips (I can certainly use more.  I’d greatly appreciate your input!):

1. Be specific in formulating your complaints. “I’m never invited to meetings” is not as effective as “I believe I would have been able to contribute some ideas at last Thursday’s marketing meeting.”
2. Resist the temptation to involve yourself in conflicts that do not directly involve you or your responsibilities.
3. Try to depersonalize conflicts. Instead of a “me versus you” mentality, visualize an “us versus the problem” scenario. This is not only a more professional attitude, but it will also improve productivity and is in the best interests of the company (A coworker whom I respect and admire shared this priceless tidbit with me.  Her advice has been a life saver!).
4. Be open and listen to others’ points of view and reflect back to the person as to what you think you heard. This important clarification skill leads to less misunderstanding, with the other person feeling heard and understood.
5. Don’t always involve your superiors in conflict resolution.  (We’re adults.  We solve our problems — yeah right.  I wouldn’t be writing this post if I had all the answers.)
6. If an extended discussion is necessary, agree first on a time and place to talk.  Take it outside and away from the group of inquisitive coworkers if they’re not involved in the problem (some, unfortunately, thrive on gossip).
7. Limit your complaints to those directly involved in the workplace conflict. Character assassination is unwarranted.  “He missed last week’s deadline” is OK; “He’s a total idiot” is not.
8. Know when conflict isn’t just conflict. If conflict arises due to sexual, racial, or ethnic issues, it’s harassment. Take action and discuss the problem with your supervisor or human resources department.
9. Consider a mediator if the problem gets out of control, or if the issue is too emotional to resolve in a mutual discussion.
10. Take home point: It’s not all about you — You may think it’s a personal attack, but maybe your co-worker is just having a bad day. Take time to think BEFORE you speak in response to an insensitive remark. It may be that saying nothing is the best response.

(Full Story)

Thoughts?

Laughs — Four Reasons Not to Mess With Kids

Kids — creative, no-nonsense, straight forward — they’re one of the smartest creatures on this planet (wanna disagree?  Great!  I share your thoughts at least half of the time)!

Don’t know who wrote it, but after reading this, you’ll probably laugh (at least chuckle).  Laughter IS the best medicine.  I just had to let you in on the fun!  Enjoy!

*****

A  Kindergarten teacher asked one little girl what she was drawing.
Little Girl:  I’m drawing God.
Teacher:  But no one knows what God looks like.
Little Girl:  They will in a minute!

*****

A  Sunday school teacher was discussing the Ten Commandments with her five and six-year-old students.
Teacher: The fifth commandment tells us, ‘honor thy Father and thy Mother.’  Is there a commandment that teaches us how to treat our brothers and sisters?

The Oldest Son:  Thou shall not kill.

*****

One day a little girl was sitting and watching her mother wash dishes at the kitchen sink. She suddenly noticed her mother had several strands of gray amongst her brown curls.
Little Girl:  Mom, why are some of your hair gray?
Mother:  Well, my hair turns gray every time you do something wrong and make me cry.
Little Girl:  Mommy, how come ALL of grandma’s hairs are gray?

*****

The children at a Catholic elementary school were lined up in the cafeteria. At the head of the table was a large pile of apples with a note posted on the tray.
Teacher: Take only ONE. God is watching.
At the other end of the table was a large pile of chocolate chip cookies.
A Child’s Note:  Take all you want. God is watching the apples.

YouTube Symphony — 21st Century Global Orchestra

How clever — bringing people together — through the power of music, the universal language, and the online community!

On April 15, musicians worldwide will play at New York City’s prestigious Carnegie Hall.

Participants comprise amateurs and professionals who have auditioned and proved themselves worthy members of the 21st century orchestra.

Accomplished participants have met three challenges:

1. Video submission demonstrating the musician’s interpretation of an original Tan Dun composition written specifically for this program
2. Talent showcase video designed to demonstrate musical and technical ability.  Panels of musical experts from world renowned symphonies — San Francisco Symphony, London Symphony Orchestra, Berlin Philharmonic, Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, and others — narrowed down the finalists.
3. The YouTube community voted on the semifinalists from February 14, 2009 through February 22, 2009.  (Full Story)

Enormous talents may be at the brink of discovery!  Wow!

April 15 — that’s the BIG DAY; April 16, for those who can’t be at Carnegie Hall (like me).  Can’t wait to see the musicians in action!

Stay tuned on YouTube!

Benefits of Volunteering

From reading tutors, home builders, to taking care of children and the elderly, most of us would agree, volunteers empower and inspire those they serve.

But is volunteering a one way street?  Are volunteers simply giving their time, expertise, and their services away?

Studies have shown the priceless benefits of service:

• Active participation in the community
• Learning and developing new skills, new interests, and hobbies
• Motivation and source of achievement
• Meeting diverse range of people
• New experiences (and more!)

Bottom line, we are social creatures.  We learn and thrive when we interact, collaborate, and serve others. (Full Story)

If you don’t want to commute, preferring to work from the comfort of your home office, online volunteering may be your calling (I didn’t know such a thing existed until now)!

Your presence, experiences, and expertise are priceless!  Volunteering is easy.  Start today!

“Live as if you were to die tomorrow.  Learn as if you were to live forever.” (Mahatma Gandhi)

Gotcha Gandhi.  I’ll start knocking some doors.  We’ll see what happens.  Wish me luck!

Woman of Virtue

Thank you Lord for your infinite wisdom!

A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.
Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value.
She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.
She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands.
She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar.
She gets up while it’s still dark; providing food for her family and portions for her servant girls.
She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks.
She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night.
In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.
When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
Her husband is respected at the city gate, taking his seat among the elders of the land.
She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes.
She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.
She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:
“Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.”