Friday, October 18, 2013

Ralph Waldo Emerson on Success--To laugh often and love much




'A laugh, to be joyous, must flow from a joyous heart, for without kindness there can be no true joy.'     Thomas Carlyle

 
Ralph Waldo Emerson on Success

"To laugh often and love much;

 To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children;

 To earn the approval of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends;

 To appreciate beauty;

 To find the best in others;

 To give of one's self;

 To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition;

 To have played and laughed with enthusiasm and sung with exultation;

 To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived;

 This is to have succeeded
."

How do You Measure Your Daily Success?

Like Emerson I like to measure my daily success by how freely I laugh, love, and win the respect of intelligent people and affection of children.

I count my day a success when friends and family send me just the right stuff to make me smile. I love waking up to little gifts of perspective shared with me because someone knows I will enjoy it.

This morning I woke up to this cats stealing dog beds video sent to me by my son with the note:  'I know you'll like it.'  I did. I am an avid animal-lover--and he knows it. 

 This video of cats stealing dog beds put a smile on my face and made me feel 'successful' as I started my day. So I, in turn, am sharing this short video from tastefullyoffensive.com to lighten your day.

What can you do to contribute to other's success today by making them laugh, feel loved, and respected?

'You can tell by the kindness of a dog how a human should be.' Don Van Vliet

 
Share the Love--Lightarted Postcards, and Heart-felt Gifts

Contact Susan for custom-made gifts. New cheerful designs are always available.

 
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For more than 30 years, Susan Meyerott has been helping people lighten up and step over invisible barriers to change one step at a time. She speaks to your heart, puts you at ease, and makes changing easier than ever before.

If you're interested in learning more about closing the gap between where you are now and where you want to be, join the Lightarted Living mailing list. Sign up for free e-mail updates from this blog in the top right-hand corner of the page.

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Let Go--Be Happy: Tension is who you think you should be; Relaxation is who you are

 
'Your worst enemy cannot harm you as much as your own unguarded thoughts.' Buddha

How do you react when things are going good in your life? When all the pieces are falling perfectly into place, do you take time to delight in the moment or do you begin to anticipate your next crisis?

Does This Sound Like You?

You've longed for a relationship with someone but when a person you like comes along and things are going well, suddenly you feel overwhelmed. Why, after you agree to take your relationship to the next step, do you worry you've moved too fast and want to back out?

You've thought long and hard about asking for a raise or promotion, but when you get it, you're overwhelmed. Why, after stepping out on a limb to ask for the better position and more money do you suddenly panic and feel overwhelmed when you get it?

You've looked forward to retirement and it is right around the corner. But suddenly you're filled with fear and self-doubt as the time draws near for you to choose the best option for your retirement annuity. Why are you so exhausted until the decision is made?

Second Guessing and Higher Expectations

If you find yourself paralyzed in fear, wondering if you made the right choice after getting something you wanted, consider yourself one of the lucky ones.

Those of us who live in cultures that believe in freedom of choice--and who have many choices for creating our lives--are the same ones who have the luxury to second guess our choices.

The world of many choices--while providing us a plethora of options--also puts the responsibility for making the best choices squarely on our shoulders--and this is where things can get confused in our thinking--especially when our decisions affect others as well as ourselves.

"When we have the freedom to chose a life path instead of having one thrust on us, we feel the responsibility of our choices and it raises our expectations for the outcomes."


Suddenly, we're self-conscious about our choices. Is it the right one? Could I have chosen better? Is this one going to bite me down the road? What if I'm missing another opportunity because I'm committed to this one? What if my perfect mate comes along while I'm in this relationship and I fail to recognize it? What if I'm just leading this person on?

Facing the Moment Before and After You Choose Calmly

To be happy and open up to the possibilities of your good choices you must let go of over-thinking your decisions.

'Tension is who you think you should be; Relaxation is who you are.'


What does this mean? Indecision is exhausting--making the moments before you make a choice uncomfortable--while anticipating what will go wrong after you make a decision stressful. It is living in the 'world of should'  that creates the tension and discomfort throwing you into a mental fog and leaving you feeling overwhelmed.

Enough Already! Choose and Stop Thinking

When you find yourself smack dab in the middle of a stress response--wanting to 'fight or take flight', or 'argue or withdraw' as you transition into that good relationship, job, or retirement stop over-thinking it. In fact, stop thinking. Put it down and do something else.

Over-thinking what it all means makes you jittery. When you stop thinking, and focus on being in the moment instead, you'll stop your creeping expectations from turning into 'a big pile of should' and allow a bit of serendipity to show up.

Truth is we all want to be pleasantly surprised and caught off guard by random acts of kindness and moments of creativity, love and  fun in our daily life. We can lose that sense of being pleasantly surprised in little ways when we raise our expectations too high.

So lighten up! Stop putting so much importance on your every choice after you step into something good. Your choice is for now, not for all eternity. Let things unfold naturally. If you start to feel overwhelmed, get sleep and down time.



'You have to take risks. We will only understand the miracle of life fully when we allow the unexpected to happen.' Paulo Coelho


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For more than 30 years, Susan Meyerott has been helping people lighten up and step over invisible barriers to change one step at a time. She speaks to your heart, puts you at ease, and makes changing easier than ever before.

If you're interested in learning more about closing the gap between where you are now and where you want to be, join the Lightarted Living mailing list. Sign up for free e-mail updates from this blog in the top right-hand corner of the page.


















Thursday, October 10, 2013

Project Helping Hands Needs Your Support

Kimonui Holgen "Be the change you want to see"
What is Project Helping Hands?

Project Helping Hands is a not-for-profit humanitarian medical organization serving the underprivileged around the world.


Call for Support

Long time friend and colleague, Kimonui Holgen is again going on a medical mission to southern Peru with Project Helping Hands to provide care in some of the neediest, impoverished areas of the world. If you would like to support this medical mission, please see Kimonui's letter below letting you know how your tax-deductible support can help this mission.

A little money goes a long way! Your contribution can make a real difference!

Letter from Kimonui Holgen requesting support for Helping Hands Mission in Peru

 Dear Sponsor,

 Once again I would like to share my excitement with you over my upcoming medical mission and ask for your support. This year I will be participating in a medical mission to southern Peru from November 9 to 22, 2013 with Project Helping Hands (PHH – www.project-helping-hands.org ). Our ongoing medical missions travel to some of the neediest impoverished areas of the world every year offering health and hope.
 
I will be working with a team of 28 health care professionals to provide medical and dental care, health education and improve the quality life for hundreds of people who otherwise have no access to sustainable health care. For many, this is the only medical care they receive. This team will stop in Lima and hold clinic at orphanages on the outskirts of the city and then fly to southern Peru and travel by 4-wheel drive, making multi-day treks where there are no roads to remote areas of the Colca Canyon to hold clinics. Some of the indigenous people walk for days to come to our clinics. The team is diverse and includes medical professionals and health educators from many disciplines to address medical, dental, and public health issues that would otherwise go uncared for. These trips are an incredible opportunity for me (and you - by extension) to “be the change that we wish to see in the world.”
 
In order to make this trip, I need to cover all my own costs and medical supplies for the trip which comes to $3,400.00 (includes extension trip to Colca Canyon). I have already received a grant from Providence Health Systems for $750.00, but need more support. No contribution is too small and every single dollar or item that is donated is used (and reused) as much as possible. We also extract the sickest to the nearest city where they can get advanced care (appendectomy surgery, etc) or other treatment that we are not able to deliver due to the rugged conditions on this trip. We support local economies as much as possible and the medical supplies that are left over are given to local clinics, hospitals, and orphanages.

 
$25 buys enough medication to treat intestinal worms for over 300 people.

 $10 buys enough antibiotics to treat nine people

 $40 pays for an appendectomy surgery.

 $100 pays the rental for a truck to carry five medical team members & supplies.

 
Nothing is wasted. Monetary contributions direct to Project Helping Hands over $25 are tax deductible and you will receive a receipt from Project Helping Hands for the amount you give.
 
There are multiple ways you can make a donation toward this medical mission: a check sent to me, the PHH Web site, or a check sent directly to PHH, please see instructions below.
 
Part of PHH’s mission is providing sustainable health care services and new countries or regions are only added to their scope if PHH is able to support ongoing care.
 
Thank you for your participation in this trip by helping our human family. If you know of anyone else that would be interested in participating in this medical mission with a contribution (see below) please forward this letter to them or have them contact me. I am happy to answer any questions and/or follow up with a presentation report after the trip.
 
With deep gratitude,

 Kimonui Holgen, RN, BA, BSN, MPH

541-326-1245
Project Helping Hands 305 NE 6th St.#774, Grants Pass, OR 97526 Phone: (707) 951-2188 • www.project-helping-hands

Options for Monetary Contributions
 
Take a moment right now to send me a check. It must arrive before Nov 5, 2013.
 
My address is: Kimonui Holgen, 221 N. Central Ave #105, Medford, OR 97501
 
OR

 Send a check directly to Project Helping Hands. Be sure you place a note on the check (write in the memo portion of the check) stating that this donation is for Kimonui Holgen, Peru 2013. It must arrive before Nov 1, 2013
 
Mail your check to: Project Helping Hands 305 NE 6th St. #774, Grants Pass, OR 97526

OR

 Via the web: Go to the Project-Helping-Hands web site right now and make a secure donation. Have your Credit Card, or check routing / acct # ready and:

a.         Go to http://www.project-helping-hands.org/  

b.         Click on “Donate Now” tab.

c.         A new secure page will open that asks for:

·         Your personal and billing info. This is required to donate via the web and to send you a receipt. You can also opt to remain anonymous.

·         Your donation amount. Choose from the pre-assigned amounts or click “other” and a section will appear that allows you to indicate the amount.

·         Where it says “Please direct my donation to” click on the drop down menu arrow on the right and then click “OTHER–tell us how to use your donation”.

·         A new section will appear below it titled “Please describe how you'd like us to use your donation:” Fill in my name and the trip – Kimonui Holgen, Peru 2013.

d. Indicate the donation frequency

e. Choose your payment method and follow the prompts.