BLAINESWORLD
#636
12.8.2008
In this issue:
1. Reflections
2. FYI
3. Online dating
4. Reviews . . . I'VE LOVED YOU SO LONG, etc.
5. TV alert
6. Seniors
7. Websites
8. Computer tip
9. Wall Street terminology, Part 1 of 2
10. A quote I like
11. Thought for the day
12. Advance planning department
_________________________________________________________
1. Reflections
A. Cynthia, my beautiful bride, and I spent a rare week apart . . . it
was the longest that we have ever been separated since we met
nearly five years ago . . . she was in North Carolina, setting up
our home . . . everything went smoothly; i.e., except for the day
that the movers got there . . . it seems that the truck was too large
to make one of the turns into our street . . . so they had to back
out the development, get a replacement truck, unload and reload
everything, and then come back to make the delivery . . . fortunately,
this was accomplished within a relatively short time frame and
all turned out well.
Despite this blip in the process, we were very pleased
with our movers and would recommend them strongly . . . from
when they came to help us load until the very end of the
process, they couldn't have been more helpful . . . they were
also extremely careful with all our stuff, as well as friendly . . . and
perhaps best of all for us was the fact that the final bill was
actually less than the estimate . . . for more information,
ask for Andy Beal . . . he's the vice president of sales
at 800.326.4736, ext. 557; abeal@bohrensmoving.com.
B. I did get to see one show in Cynthia's absence: PLAID TIDINGS,
a special holiday edition of FOREVER PLAID at the Off-Broadstreet
Theatre (see also the BLAINESWORLD BEST AWARD, immediately
after Section 1D) in Hopewell, NJ . . . this is a cute musical about four
singers who are tragically killed, yet get a second chance to make
a farewell performance.
Tom Orr and Jim Petro, two of my favorite local performers,
were both outstanding in their roles . . . in addition, I liked
the work of Christopher Tolomero and Timothy Walton as
the other members of the quartet--and would welcome the
chance to get to see them again.
Everything about this production had me smiling, including
a great sing-along number at the end of Act I: "Christmas
Calypso" . . . do try to catch the show before its limited
run concludes on December 21 . . . for more information,
please click: http://www.offbroadstreet.com/
C. I managed to make it to a Growth Coach mini workshop
on Friday, presented by my good friend Kevin Jameson . . . I
learned a lot, in particular by going through some of the
exercises that he ran.
In one, those in attendance were asked to write their
epitaphs . . . try that sometime, even if just by yourself . . . it
really gets you thinking . . . in another, Kevin asked all
to respond to this powerful question: If I were diagnosed
with an incurable disease and only had 6 months to live, what
3 things would I do differently?
He also had us complete a DISC Dimensions of Behavior
Map . . . this enabled us to discover our unique behavioral
strengths . . . there were four possibilities: Dominance,
Influence, Steadiness and Conscientiousness . . . can you guess
where I scored highest?
If you thought Steadiness, you were right . . . this indicates
that I am motivated to create a stable, organized environment,
and that I tend to be patient and a good listener . . . the quotes
that may be attributed to me include the following: "I enjoy
helping people" and "I can be counted on to get the job done."
If you'd like more information on Kevin's work, please click: http://www.GrowthCoachPartners.com
Also, I attended an informative "Boost Your Immune System!"
workshop--presented by Sandra Hoedemaker . . . she's a holistic
health counselor who says that washing hands does work
to prevent the spread of illness . . . what's interesting
was her advice with respect to how long you should do
this: the amount of time it takes to sing "Happy Birthday" to
yourself twice.
Hoedmaker further advised us to incorporate both ginger and
green tea into our lives . . . she mentioned that we should
eat mushrooms, too, but that would be pushing it for me.
For a listing of her upcoming FREE workshops, please click: http://www.simplylivinghealthy.com
D. Here's my new contact information, as of December 13:
Blaine Greenfield
19 N. Kaufmann Stone Way
Biltmore Lake, NC 28715
Phone: 828.633.1049
Fax: 828.633.1327
Cell: Stays the same--at least for the time being.
My email also stays the same: bginbc@aol.com . . . that
was made possible because of the fact that I chose to
live in a county with the same initials as Bucks County;
i.e., Buncombe County.
***** BLAINESWORLD BEST AWARD *****
This week, it goes to Bob and Julie Thick--producers at the aforementioned
Off-Broadstreet Theatre.
Bob and Julie do it all . . . they choose the plays, sell tickets,
order the excellent desserts (that are included with every show)
and often direct or do the choreography . . . from time to time,
they'll even appear on stage.
In addition, I look forward to having them personally greet you
when you arrive . . . they then say good-bye when you leave . . . it's
a nice touch that I wish more places did.
I also get a kick out of something that Bob does . . . at the beginning
of every evening or Sunday matinee performance, he'll go through the
regular announcements about exits and not taking pictures . . . he
follows that up with recognition of those having a special anniversary,
or birthday.
Since I became a semi-regular at Off-Broadstreet some eight years
ago, I've seen some 15 shows there . . . I've never been
disappointed . . . it is one of the places I'll miss most when not
in the area, though that said, I do plan to catch a future production
whenever I'm up North visiting my Yankee friends. (Can you believe
I'm already saying thaaaaat?)
Back to Top
_________________________________________________________
2. FYI
As is usually the case, please don't expect any Christmas,
Chanukah or Kwanzaa cards from the Greenfields of Biltmore
Lake . . . it's not that we don't love you; rather, we feel money
that we would have spent on cards, postage, etc. could better
be utilized by others in need.
So, in the past (and we'll continue in the future), we have made
a contribution to our local paper's Holiday Fund . . . we make it "in
appreciation of all our friends, relatives and neighbors," and this year,
we'll be supporting the fine efforts of THE 2008 COURIER NEWS
WISH BOOK . . . for more information, please click: http://mycentraljersey.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?category=special08
FYI, part 2
* Marty in New Jersey (on faxing services):
I use efax. Company assigns a fax number (may not be your home
area code) and you can send, receive faxes from your computer.
I'm satisfied with it--but honestly I use it very rarely. two or three times
a year.
* Warren in New Jersey:
I have never used Facebook or MySpace, but I am a proponent
of the networking tool, LinkedIn. I recommend as a great way
to make professional contacts, share information, solicit feedback, etc.
If you are investigating ways to network electronically, I do recommend
LinkedIn.
* Wendy in Pennsylvania:
It's so funny that you mention Facebook in your newsletter. I just joined
and thought that it would be a great place for you to post pics and messages
especially when you move so that we could keep an eye on you and Cynthia!
It is a fun way to communicate and share. I'm sure that you will have a great
time with it. Hope you're not too lonely without Cynthia there and hope
that everything is going smoothly for her in NC.
* Robin in Pennsylvania:
Wow--you and I are really on different planets when it comes to certain
movies. I loved HAPPY-GO-LUCKY--as did every woman I know who’s
seen it. Great performance. Wonderful profile of a woman trying
to maintain her emotional equilibrium in a world that is increasingly
threatening.
CORRECTION:
A fairly major one, too, from last week's issue . . . in Section
1C, I mentioned something that we are discussing with the College
known as dual enrollment . . . I instead had a glaring typo
and called it "dull enrollment" . . . thanks to Karen in Pennsylvania,
Jean in Pennsylvania, Elaine in Pennsylvania, Marty in New Jersey
and Kathy in Florida, among others, for bringing this to my attention.
* Kathy in her email then added this great suggestion:
On magazine renewals . . . I don't answer the first few renewal letters I get
from them until the subscription actually expires. I recently did this
for two magazines (WOMAN'S DAY and LADIES HOME JOURNAL), and
they both then offered me three years for the price of one . . . now that's
a deal I couldn't pass up!
Back to Top
_________________________________________________________
3. Online dating
Jay Leno on THE TONIGHT SHOW notes, "THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
reports that two million people get married because of someone they met
online. The bad news: Four million got divorced because of someone they
met online.”
Back to Top
_________________________________________________________
4. Reviews
A. I'VE LOVED YOU SO LONG is watchable, in large part because
of a mesmerizing performance from Kristin Scott Thomas . . . she plays
a woman who has just been released from prison . . . her reentry
into society isn't easy . . . some welcome her; others don't . . . as
the film progresses, you learn why she was imprisoned in the
first place and you are kept guessing until the end to find out
the whole story . . . the other performers in this French film
are equally fine . . . overall, it drags a bit . . . but I'd recommend
you catch it, even if you can only find it on DVD . . . rated PG-13.
B. You don't have to wait to catch HANCOCK on DVD; it is already
out . . . this movie about a flawed superhero started out great . . . it
was very funny for about the first hour, then completely went downhill
in the second half . . . Will Smith, playing against type, had me
laughing in the beginning . . . Jason Bateman was fine at
a PR executive . . . Charlize Theron was wasted as his wife; she
didn't have enough to do . . . rated PG-13.
C. I had never read anything by David Sedaris until a student
mentioned his latest book, WHEN YOU ARE ENGULFED IN
FLAMES . . . she said it had been a big help to her when she
quit smoking . . . so because of my interest in that topic, I
immediately went out and got a copy--and am glad that I did.
Sedaris is an American humorist, author and radio contributor . . . he
has written several bestsellers, all of which have been collections
of his essays.
WHEN YOU ARE ENGULFED concludes with a longish piece
about the author's attempts to quit smoking . . . that was what
I read first and doing so enabled me to develop a better understanding
of the smoker's mentality . . . in particular, this passage caught my
attention:
* When I look back on my many years of smoking, the only real regret
I have is all the litter I generated, all those hundreds of thousands
of butts crushed underfoot. I was always outraged when a driver
would empty his ashtray onto the asphalt. "What a pig!" I'd think. But
he only did in bulk what I did piecemeal. In a city you tell yourself
that someone will clean it up, someone who wouldn't have a job
unless you dropped that butt onto the sidewalk. In that respect
you're good, you're helping. Then too, it never felt like real litter,
like tossing down, say, a broken lightbulb. No one was going
to cut his foot on a cigarette butt, and because of its earthy
color it pretty much disappeared into the landscape, the way a
peanut shell might. This made it "organic" or "biodegradable" --one
of those words that meant "all right."
That made me think about why others never realized this fact . . . but then
again, maybe they will after reading this book.
Other parts had me laughing, such as when he talked about fashion:
* In 1976 my glasses were so big I could clean the lenses with
a squeegee. Not only were they huge, they were also green
with Playboy emblems embossed on the stems. Today these frames
sound ridiculous, but back then they were actually quite stylish. Time
is cruel to everything but seems to have singled out eyeglasses
for special punishment. What looks good now is guaranteed to embarrass
you twenty years down the line, which is, of course, the whole problem
with fashion. Though design may reach an apex, it never settles back
and calls it quits. Rather, it just keeps reaching, attempting to satisfy
our insatiable need to buy new stuff. Squinting is timeless, but so,
unfortunately, are the blinding headaches that often accompany it.
And then there was this observation that put a smile on my face:
* That's Business Elite for you. Spend eight thousand dollars on a ticket,
and if you want an extra thirteen cents' worth of ice cream, all you have
to do is ask. It's like buying a golf cart and having a few tees thrown in,
but still it works, "Golly," I say. "Thanks!"
As a result of reading WHEN YOU ARE ENGULFED, I've become a
David Sedaris fan . . . I now look forward to reading future books by
him, but in the meantime, I plan to go back and read some of his
earlier stuff.
MY SPECIAL OFFER REMAINS:
If you'd like a FREE copy of THE EASY WAY TO STOP SMOKING
[the best book I've ever encountered on the subject] by Allen
Carr--sent with my compliments--just send an email to my assistant
Bridget: hughesbr@bucks.edu . . . put STOP SMOKING BOOK
in the subject line . . . in the body of your email, include your name,
snail mail address, email address, and phone numbers . . . I only ask
that you keep me informed of your progress . . . or of the progress
of anybody else you give the book to . . . and, also, that if you get
it for yourself or for somebody else that the book gets read within
30 days of receipt.
D. If you're like me and a fan of Dr. Bernie Siegel (author of THE
NEW YORK TIMES bestseller LOVE, MEDICINE and MIRACLES), then
do what you can to obtain THE BEGINNER'S GUIDE TO HUMOR
AND HEADLING--his CD that will make you both laugh and think.
Siegel is a physician who believes that laughter can help boost
the immune system . . . he describes his work and best of
all, in doing so tells many funny stories that would lead you to believe
that had he not become a doctor, he should have become a stand-up
comedian.
His ideas make sense for virtually anybody, regardless of age,
education, profession or health . . . for example, there was this
one that I would love for any store to consider:
* Hang a sign that reads, "If you're ever less than a B-, let us know,
and we'll give you a hug."
Then there was this bit of useful advice:
* It's OK to sleep late and enjoy life 'cause the truth is that
you're going to die anyway. So get busy living!
When it comes to children, Siegel had me laughing with
this quip:
* You know why neither one of us will get a divorce is
because neither one of us wants the children!
Lastly, he noted that:
* You don't kill yourself doing what you love. You only get tired.
So go take a nap, then start all over again.
Good advice . . . in fact, that's something I'll do right now so
that I can get some much-needed beauty rest!
Back to Top
_________________________________________________________
5. TV alert
A. Mariah Carey, Bing Crosby and John Lennon are all in one
special on GREATEST HOLIDAY MOMENTS; SONGS OF THE
SEASON COUNTDOWN . . . Friday at 8 p.m. on NBC.
B. SHATNER'S RAW NERVE features William Shatner interviewing
Jenna Jameson, an American entrepreneur who just happens to
be recognized by man as the world's most famous porn star . . .Friday
at 11:30 on BIO.
C. THE GREATEST GAME EVERY PLAYED is Chris Berman-hosted
replay of the 1958 legendary Colts-Giants game . . . Saturday at 9 p.m.
on ESPN.
D. HOLIDAY WINDOWS 2008 . . . if you're really into the holiday
season, you can spend an entire show watching department
store windows . . . methinks I'll pass on this one, but perhaps
others might find it fascinating . . . Sunday at 8 p.m. on HGTV.
Back to Top
_________________________________________________________
6. Seniors
My friend tells this story about his wife . . .
My wife, Marilyn, and I went to breakfast at a restaurant where the
"seniors" special" was two eggs, bacon, hash browns and toast
for $1.99.
"Sounds good," Marilyn said. "But I don't want the eggs."
"Then, I'll have to charge you two dollars and forty-nine cents
because you're ordering a la carte," the waitress warned her.
'You mean I'd have to pay for not taking the eggs?' Marilyn asked
incredulously.
"YES!" stated the waitress.
Marilyn said, "I'll take the special then."
"How do you want your eggs?" the waitress asked.
"Raw and in the shell," Marilyn replied.
We took the two eggs home.
DON'T MESS WITH US SENIORS!
We've been around the block more than once!!
Back to Top
_________________________________________________________
7. Websites
A. Ever need to get a group of people on the phone at the same
time? This free teleconferencing service is simple to use, requiring
only a name and an email address to receive an instant account: http://www.FreeConferenceCall.com
You get a dedicated dial-in number and an access code for
free teleconferencing services, which are ready for immediate
use. Your free teleconferencing line is available to you 24/7 . . . each
free teleconferencing account accommodates up to 96 callers on an
unlimited number of 6-hour conference calls . . . if you wish, you can
even record and play back the entire call, also free . . . regular long
distance charges apply, but there are no charges from the site.
MY THINKING:
Sounds like a winner, but I haven't tried it yet . . . if anybody has,
please share your opinion so I can then share it with others.
B. This is the one of the best presentations of the sixties online: http://moreoldfortyfives.com/TakeMeBackToTheSixties.htm
It is very well done. Just click on the link and sit back and enjoy the
memories. Great photos and facts. And make sure your sound is on.
MY TWO CENTS:
If you weren't around then or you're too young to remember, enjoy and
rather than be envious, try to build a world as good as this one!
C. BLAINESWORLD, the website, remains up and running . . . to view
it, please click: http://www.blainesworld.net
HELP REQUESTED:
Please feel free to check out "Radio Show" to the left . . . as you may
recall, I was all set to host a new show in the Bucks County/Mercer
County area, only to have to shift gears at the last minute when we
sold our home so quickly . . . so now that I'll be in the Asheville
area, I'm very interested in getting back on the air--or even on
cable . . . might you have any ideas and/or contacts that could
help make this a reality?
Back to Top
_________________________________________________________
8. Computer tip
Thanks to Doug in Pennsylvania for sharing this warning:
New worms target both MySpace and Facebook users
This worm IS infecting computers here at Bucks and elsewhere. Messages
and comments on MySpace and Facebook include links to: http://youtube.[skip].pl. [intentionally a wrong address so you can't go there]
If the user clicks on this link, s/he is redirected to: http://youtube.[skip].ru, [another wrong address, again so you can't go there]
a site which purportedly contains a video clip. If the user tries to watch it,
a message appears saying that s/he needs the latest version of Flash
Player in order to watch the clip. However, instead of the latest version
of Flash Player, a file called codecsetup.exe is downloaded to the victim's
machine; this file is also a network worm. The result is that users who
have come to the site via Facebook will have the MySpace worm downloaded
to their machines. And vice versa.
Please click on the link below for more details: http://www.kaspersky.com/news?id=207575670
Back to Top
_________________________________________________________
9. Wall Street terminology, Part 1 of 2
With the meltdown on Wall Street, it's important for even ordinary citizens
to understand the terminology bankers and brokers use. Here's a start:
BEAR MARKET: A 6-18 month period when the kids get no allowance, the wife
gets no jewelry, and the husband gets no sex.
BROKER: What my stockbroker has made me.
BULL MARKET: A random market movement causing an investor to mistake
himself or herself a financial genius.
CAPITALISM: What Republicans said wanted before they got hit
by losses and embraced the Socialistic "bailout."
CASH FLOW: The movement your money makes as it disappears down the toilet.
himself or herself for a financial genius.
CEO: Chief Embezzlement Officer.
CFO: Corporate Fraud Officer.
FINANCIAL PLANNER: A guy whose phone has been disconnected.
INSTITUTIONAL INVESTOR: Past year investor who's now locked up
in a nuthouse.
(to be concluded next week)
Back to Top
_________________________________________________________
10. A quote I like
Ninety percent of the politicians give the other ten percent a bad
name.--Henry Kissinger, German-born American bureaucrat,
diplomat and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize
Back to Top
_________________________________________________________
11. Thought for the day
Comparisons
THE BUZZARD:
If you put a buzzard in a pen that is 6 feet by 8 feet and is entirely open
at the top, the bird, in spite of its ability to fly, will be an absolute prisoner.
The reason is that a buzzard always begins a flight from the ground
with a run of 10 to 12 feet. Without space to run, as is its habit, it won't
even attempt to fly, but will remain a prisoner for life in a small jail
with no top.
THE BAT:
The ordinary bat that flies around at night, a remarkable nimble creature
in the air, cannot take off from a level place. If it is placed on the floor
or flat ground, all it can do is shuffle about helplessly and, no doubt,
painfully, until it reaches some slight elevation from which it can throw
itself into the air. Then, at once, it takes off like a flash.
THE BUMBLEBEE:
A bumblebee, if dropped into an open tumbler, will be there until it dies,
unless it is taken out. It never sees the means of escape at the top,
but persists in trying to find some way out through the sides near the
bottom. It will seek a way where none exists, until it completely
destroys itself.
PEOPLE:
In many ways, we are like the buzzard, the bat and the bumblebee. We
struggle about with all our problems and frustrations, never realizing
that all we have to do is look up!
Sorrow looks back, Worry looks around, But faith looks up!
Live simply, love generously, care deeply, speak kindly and trust
in our Creator who loves us.
Author unknown
(if you know who wrote this and/or the source, please let me know)
Back to Top
_________________________________________________________
12. Advance planning department
A. Robin in Pennsylvania:
Jazz Celebration Big Band Holiday Gala Concert, featuring
Stan Kenton’s Christmas Medley, Winter Wonderland, Santa
Baby and other “swinging” holiday favorites!
Thursday, December 18, 2008
8-10 p.m.
Poco's Comedy Cabaret (2nd floor)
625 North Main Street, Doylestown, PA
215.348.3424
$10 cover.
Over 21, please!
B. THANKS to Jean in Pennsylvania for granting me permission to run
the following press release that she wrote . . . it's longish, but worth
reading for the message.
Psychologist Susan Apollon will be signing her books from 2–4 p.m.
on Sunday, Dec. 21, at Barnes & Noble, 210 Commerce Boulevard,
Fairless Hills, PA.
She is the author of Touched by the Extraordinary: An Intuitive
Psychologist Shares Insights, Lessons, and True Stories of Spirit
and Love to Transform and Heal the Soul and co-author of
Intuition Is Easy and Fun, the Art and Practice of Developing Your
Natural Born Gift of Intuition.
Here are nine hints for making space in your grief for some
holiday joy:
First, give yourself permission to cry. Apollon’s mantra on dealing with
grief is "face it, embrace it, and replace it." In other words, the only way
to "get over" sadness is to experience it. "If you need to cry, cry, even
if you're at a party and have to leave the room," says Apollon. "You might
even set aside an evening to get in touch with your grief. Fix the cocoa
you used to drink with your mother or go through your photo albums.
It’s healthier to feel the sadness and loss than to detach yourself from
it. It’s right and normal to grieve; just don't make it the dominant part
of who you are."
It’s okay to break tradition. It’s also okay to say "no." You know your
own limitations, says Apollon. If you simply can't face hosting
your annual holiday feast, complete with dozens of relatives, don't try
to soldier through it for the sake of your guests. People will understand.
In fact, it’s okay to leave town altogether. "Some people find it helpful
to get away completely, to somewhere that doesn't remind them
of holidays past," notes Apollon. "You might consider a tropical vacation,
or you might take the time to visit a friend across the country. Doing
something completely different can be a good coping mechanism,
especially for that first tough year."
Consciously attach a new meaning to the holidays. Holidays are difficult
because they remind you that someone special to you—someone
who should be there—is gone. In your mind, your daughter (or mother
or husband or friend) is Thanksgiving or Christmas or Hanukkah. Without
that person, family dinners and parties just don't have the same meaning.
That’s why Apollon suggests you find a new way to connect with the
person you've lost. "Buy the gifts that you would be giving to your lost
loved one and donate them to a charity or volunteer in a hospital
or soup kitchen," says Apollon. "If you consciously guide yourself
to attach a new meaning, one that still involves your lost loved one,
you will find that you are able to create a new beginning for your
holiday celebrations with that person."
Honor your lost loved one in a way that feels comfortable to you. It’s
usually better to acknowledge your loss than to pretend that nothing
has changed. You might light a special candle for your loved one,
hang a tree ornament in his memory, or bring out a favorite photo.
"Some clients actually set a place at the table for their missing family
member," says Apollon. "I've even had a few tell me they received
a ‘message’ of gratitude from their loved one for acknowledging
him or her! On the other hand, some people discover that the empty
chair is more upsetting than comforting. Do what feels right to you."
Invite your loved one to be a part of your holiday experience. Apollon
means this literally, not figuratively. She suggests that you talk with
your lost loved one and share your feelings with him throughout the holidays.
Ask for guidance and help from the person. He will hear you and
may even send a sign—perhaps a whiff of his cologne or a smoky image
in a photograph or a synchronistic moment—so pay attention. "There
are many ways to communicate with someone who isn't with us in the
physical sense," says Apollon. "Journaling your feelings to the person
can help you release your pain and provide a greater sense of clarity.
I often encourage my clients to verbally invite the person they are
missing to be with them and to ask them for signs. However, don't
anxiously wait around for the signs. Ask and then let it go. Allow whatever
happens to unfold naturally."
If you don't want to go all out, do the holidays in a small way. You
don't have to decorate lavishly or bake up your usual six dozen
secret-family-recipe homemade cookies to celebrate the holidays.
Instead, put up a tiny tree and pop a pack of pre-made cookies in
the oven. "Recognizing the holidays in some small way can be healing,"
says Apollon. "It’s a way of accepting the fact that life goes on and
of giving yourself permission to enjoy small pleasures." Interestingly,
says Apollon, some people who have passed on may want
their families to adhere to holiday traditions. One of her clients dramatically
scaled down holiday festivities the year her son died, setting a small,
decorated tree on the table instead of putting up the usual big, lavishly
appointed one. "The son let her know right away that he wasn't happy
with it," says Apollon. "For three mornings in a row she woke up to find
all the ornaments mysteriously removed from the tree and set neatly off
to the side. Finally, she got the picture! Don't assume you need
to minimize the holidays as an expression of grief—your loved one really
is present, and he may very well want you to keep things the
way they're ‘supposed’ to be."
On the other hand, if you absolutely can't find any holiday joy, go find
some other kind. Maybe you're too depressed or too angry
with God to celebrate Christmas or Hanukkah even in a tiny way. That’s
okay, says Apollon. But don't deprive yourself of all joy. Go to a movie.
Meet a friend for coffee. Take a long nature hike with your beloved dog.
"The law of attraction says that if you want positive experiences,
you need to do something that feels good," Apollon points out. "Make it a
priority to do something that brings pleasure, even if it’s not holiday
related."
Learn to be conscious of the moment. Practice being fully present in the
now; it truly is where joy resides. "Every day of your life, every moment
of your life, you can choose joy or not," Apollon reflects. "Of course,
no one feels joyful all the time, but when we learn to live in the
present—to really pay attention to how food tastes or what a child’s laugh
sounds like or how the snowflakes look against the edge of the woods—we
can savor moments of delight even in a time of grief."
Realize that miracles really do happen at the holidays. Here’s the thing
about the holidays, says Apollon. They really are magic. You knew this
as a child but may have forgotten it. But spiritual occasions like holidays
allow us to step outside the box we live in most of the time and let
miracles in. "Paradoxical as it sounds, grief and holidays are a lot alike,"
she reflects. "They both help us detach from trivial things and focus
on what’s important, what’s real. Open your mind and heart this year
and see what happens. Maybe you'll feel a sense of connection with
your loved one who passed on, or maybe you'll feel joy for the first time
since your loss. Either one might qualify as a miracle." Remember,
says Apollon, the holidays won't always be such a struggle. If you work
through your grief instead of repressing it, you'll find joy again.
Back to Top
_________________________________________________________
PS. Please join me in praying that we soon get our remaining soldiers
back from Iraq and that peace resumes in Israel . . . also, make it
a great week!
----------------------------------------------------------
SUBSCRIBE/UNSUBCRIBE INFORMATION
To subscribe to this publication, please send an email to: bginbc@aol.com
and put SUBSCRIBE in subject line . . . if you wish to unsubscribe, just
send an email to same address and put UNSUBSCRIBE in subject line.
