You Do Make A Difference

Yes, I am pointing at YOU!

Do you know that you have the ability to impact someone's life every day? Do you know that you do impact someone's life each day? Yes, you do, most of the time without even realizing it.

Do you understand that you already do make a difference in someone's life?

It is not always the big things we do that we know for sure helps someone. It can be things we do as we go about our day that can have the most influence on someone else.

A simple "Thank You" may be all someone needs to make their day much better. A sincere smile. Opening the door for someone. Giving someone an unexpected gift. An encouraging word. 

All of us are important to each other not just ourself. When we realize this our lives will be so much happier and have much more meaning. We will feel good about ourself. 

I received an email today from Richard Rossbauer where he was speaking about this very thing and I started thinking about doing this post. In the email he provided a link to a very thought provoking page. It is a PDF by Ken McArthur named 'The Impact Manifesto'. The subtitle is You Make A Difference Whether You Want To Or Not. 

"You matter because, by existing, you impact 

the world every day. So consider the powerful force 

of the choices you make"

"People feel your influence countless times, in amazing 

ways you never notice. Just as the butterfly’s wings can 

change the weather, your tiny movements may create storms 

that shake the entire earth"

If you don't do anything else this day to be productive please take the time to read The Impact Manifesto...

You see to me you do matter...

Elaine

You Have One Day Left

You have one day left. How will you live it? 

Interesting question isn't it? 

We seldom think or consider that our life is short. But it is! We are consumed with everything externally like making money, partying, buying a faster car, dating the best looking sexy person. Telling our inner self to be quiet.

The people that really understand and have to face this are those that have a terminal disease. Ask them how drastically their life turns around when they have to face that they may have just one day left or their days are numbered. 



We take living for granted and assume that we have enough time to do what is really deeply important to us. We go about our life thinking:
"Oh, I will visit my family later." 
"Oh, I will call my best friend who I have not seen in a while later." 
"Oh, I will later but right now I have to make that extra buck."

"Oh, I will, I will, I will... later

And we put things off sometimes until it is too late. Don't allow this to be you. Make a list of those nagging thoughts that you know deep down that you want to do and do them. The joy will overwhelm you. You will smile from deep within. 

Do it now!

We never know how long we have. We never know long our loved ones have.

Elaine   

PS This post is not made to depress you but to get you to move in a direction that will bring more happiness and satisfaction to your life and to the lives of those you think about the most.

13 Gun Salute

Yankee Doodle by A. M. Willard also known as The Spirit of 1776

"The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more." John Adams in a letter to his wife, Abigail Adams on July 3, 1776 

John Adams might have gotten the date wrong by two days but he was correct in his statement.

Thanks to the Committee of Five of The Second Continental Congress for finalizing the document that we call The Declaration of Independence:

Thomas Jefferson of Virginia

John Adams of Massachusetts

Roger Sherman of Connecticut

Robert Livingston of New York

Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania

There were 56 signers.

July 4th, also known as Independence Day, is the day we celebrate our decision to be free from outside dictators. A day we declared our separation from England and her control. A day we celebrate the birth of a new nation, The United States of America. 

Preamble to The Declaration Of Independence:
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." 

If you have never read the Declaration of Independence maybe you should. I reread it to do this post and couldn't help but compare some of it to today.  Interesting correlation. http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/document/index.htm

As we celebrate our freedom and liberty let's be safe and remember the price that has been paid to preserve this. 



“If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be.” Jefferson

“Children should be educated and instructed in the principles of freedom.” Adams

“They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.” Franklin

"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all." 1954 version

Elaine

Resources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independence_Day_(United_States)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Committee_of_Five
http://www.ushistory.org/documents/pledge.htm

A Day Of Remberance

On this final Monday of May we are reminded of those that gave their life to serve. From the time of our Civil War to and through this day we commemorate all of the lives that are lost to the efforts of war. No matter what name that might have been given to that war. 

Memorial Day 2013

What drives a person to serve our country in such a way? Pride? Integrity? Love of country? Selfish-less? Gratitude? Need to help others? Courage? Faith? Right thing to do? Ability to sacrifice? No matter what it is we should always be thankful for those that do serve. We must do this. Let's never turn our backs from these brave souls.

Not to many of us like to see our family members nor friends go off to fight for some cause. But they do, and it is our responsibility to give them every bit of support that we can muster. We can support those serving and still hate the battle.

Today, May 27, 2013 we give our thanks and gratitude to all those that gave their life to give us our ability to live as we do.

"Soldier, rest! Thy warfare o'er,

Sleep the sleep that knows no breaking,

Dream of battle fields no more,

Days of danger, night of waking."

Sir Walter Scot

Partial listing of wars involving the United States of America:

American Revolutionary War

Northwest Indian War

Franco-American War (Quasi-War)

Barbary Coast War

Tecumseh's War

War of 1812

...

Mexican-American War

American Civil War

Spanish-American War

...

World War I

World War II

Cold War

Vietnam War

Gulf War

War On Terror

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_wars_involving_the_United_States

If you would like to see all of the list of wars just follow the above link. You will probably be blown away as I was.

The words may seem trivial and small but they are from my heart:

Thank You!!!

Elaine

  

A Mother's Special Day

Wishing all Mothers, Step-Mothers and Grandmothers a Blessed Mother's Day

"What a Friend We Have In Mother"
Author Unknown

"What a friend we have in Mother, who will all our secrets share.
We should never keep things from her, tell her all and she'll be there.
Oh, what tender love she gives us, when in sorrow or despair.
Tell her gently, whisper softly, she will listen, she'll be there.

Day by day as she grows older, she's the nation's guiding star.
Don't forget the prayers she taught you, you will need them where you are.
Though her hair has turned to silver, send her flowers sweet and fair.
Drop a card or send a letter, she'll be waiting, she'll be there.

When her eyes have closed to slumber, gently kiss her icy brow.
Fold her hands upon her bosom, she will rest in heaven now.
When your days are dark and dreary, and your cross is hard to bear.
Do not let your memory fail you, think of Mother, she'll be there."

I lost my Mother many years ago. Actually 48 years ago. (I decided to calculate it.) My goodness, it doesn't seem that long ago that I remember her taking care of me when I cut my finger with a reed. Yes, I had to have stitches. I was always into something. When she allowed me to take things apart to see how they worked. When she watched as I was thrown into the pool to learn to swim. (A friend of ours told her that was the best way for me to learn to swim.) I have not forgotten that lesson in life.

For all of the good times we had together, you are missed.

Mother, You are truly missed.


"6 years: Mom knows everything!
8 years: Mom knows alot!
12 years: Mom really doesn't know everything!
14 years: Mom knows nothing!
16 years: Mom, what mom!
18 years: Mom is outdated!
25 years: Maybe Mom knows!
35 years: Before deciding, let's ask Mom!
45 years: I wonder what Mom thinks!
75 years: I wish Mom was here to ask he...r!"
- xlasax

The yellow rose is for my wonderful Step-Mother. She will never know just how much I feel blessed that she came into my Father's life and eventually became my Step-Mother. For over 45 years she has put up with my shenanigans, love of life, ups and downs and just growing up. She has been there...

I leave you with this humorous Mother's Day video

Please remember to tell your Mother, Step-Mother and Grandmother just how much you care. Don't just send flowers or a card. If possible, talk to her and let her know that you love her for all that she has given  you.

Elaine