What are you doing?

I slept and dreamt that life was joy. I awoke and saw that life was service. 

I acted and behold, service was joy.

Rabindranith Tagore

I just finished reading excerpts from an  article that was posted in August 2011 in the journal Health Psychology.  The writers quoted statistics from a study that was done in Wisconsin, where a random sample of over 10,000 Wisconsin residents who had graduated from high school in the late 1950's were interviewed over a 16 year period.


The article states: *** "In 2004, the participants reported how often they had volunteered within the past 10 years. They also explained their reasons for volunteering, or, in the cases of those who had not volunteered  but were planning to, the reasons they would.

Some of the participants' motives were more oriented toward others, such as "I feel it is important to help others" or "Volunteering is an important activity to the people I know best." Other respondents, however, had more self-oriented reasons for volunteering, such as "Volunteering is a good escape from my own troubles," or "Volunteering makes me feel better about myself."

Researchers then compared the participants' responses with physical health information that had mostly been collected in 1992. The researchers also considered the respondents' socioeconomic status, mental health, social support, marital status and health risk factors, including smoking, body mass index and alcohol use.

The findings showed that those who volunteered for more altruistic reasons had lower mortality rates as of 2008 than people who did not volunteer. Of the 2,384 non-volunteers, 4.3 percent were deceased four years later, compared with 1.6 percent of altruistic volunteers who had died.

However, people who said they volunteered for their own personal satisfaction had nearly the same mortality rate (4 percent) as people who did not volunteer at all.

"It is reasonable for people to volunteer in part because of benefits to the self; however, our research implies that, ironically, should these benefits to the self become the main motive for volunteering, they may not see those benefits," said study researcher Andrea Fuhrel-Forbis, also of the University of Michigan." ***

My  mother-in-law, who is 78 years old still volunteers one day a week at the local food pantry and does volunteer sewing for the charitable organization, Newborns in Need.  She does this because she loves to help where help is needed! The added benefit is that she is healthier and happier because of her service to others!

My challenge today is this: Look around your community and find something that needs to be done.  We all have opportunities to help.  


You may find, like my mother-in-law and many others that the blessings of volunteerism are worth it!

Blessings,

Sharon

*** To read the entire article about the benefits of volunteering go to: http://news.yahoo.com/people-volunteer-live-longer-study-suggests-115806902.html

Just do SOMETHING!

Once you do nothing, it's hard to quit.

 -- unknown

Have you ever looked around your home or office and thought to yourself, "I really need to clear the top of my desk," or "I really have to get that closet cleaned out," then, in frustration, said to yourself, "There's no way I can get to that today!"


Even some of  my most organized friends have confessed they have delayed completing daunting tasks when the job seemed too overwhelming!


Sometimes we put those monumental tasks off because we've mistakenly bought into the idea that every single task begun must be finished with no interruption in the process -- that failing to complete every single thing on the "to do" list is tantamount to failure!


The thing to remember is that no matter the size of the task, you have to break it down into "pieces" to accomplish completion!


Doing "nothing" that moves you closer to finishing the job accomplishes just that -- NOTHING!


It's easy to put things off again and again when the assignment is one that you know will consume a lot of time.


My challenge on this day is to do SOMETHING that will move you toward the completion of that really enormous task that has been set before you!  (You might find it interesting to keep track of how many steps, or how much time it involves to actually finish the task!)


Blessings,


Sharon

It only takes a spark....

Sometimes our light goes out but is blown into flame 

by an encounter with another human being. 

Each of us owes the deepest thanks 

to those who have rekindled  this inner light. 

--Albert Schweitzer

One definition of the word "kindle" is: to light up, illuminate, or make bright. One might say, "Happiness kindled her eyes!"


I'm sure you've seen it before -- that "light" in a person's eyes when they are with someone who cares about them or someone who is a special "forever friend" who knows them better than anyone else.


I trust and hope that everyone reading this blog has that one good friend who knows, (and keeps) your confidence. It's that special friend who knows the goodness in you and knows about the times you've made mistakes....and loves you anyway!


It's the friend who came to you when you were feeling low and spoke words of encouragement, offered a hug for good measure and reminded you of your "inner light"....all the while asking nothing in return!


I know you're probably thinking of someone right now, so take just a few minutes and look up an email address, find that friend on Facebook, or even better,  give that very special someone a call...right now, while you're thinking of it!  It's time to say Thank You!


It's time to tell that extraordinary person that you are humbly grateful for the encouragement...for the "rekindling" of your inner light!


Blessings!


Sharon

Keep on moving....

Enjoy when you can and endure when you must.

Johann Wolfgang von Goebe

Have you ever said to yourself, "If I can just get through this week, I will be fine!"

At times, we become so overloaded with work, civic, and family responsibilities it seems nearly impossible to believe it can all be done!

It's during those times we stop and "make a plan" to get things in order  and prioritize. Then, with a fierce determination we soldier on, accomplish the task, and promise that we'll never allow life to get that crazy again!

But what about the times when emergencies arise, when bad things happen, and life seems to go from from bad to worse....you think it can't possibly get any worse....then it does.

If we're not careful, those times of crisis or tragedy can overtake us and cause us to mentally, socially, spiritually, and sometimes physically "shut down". 

It's during those times we have to square our shoulders up, take a deep breath and just keep moving!  The very act of doing SOMETHING helps us endure those things life throws at us!

Doing SOMETHING to actively manage your situation, (instead of letting the situation manage you!)  will help you face the fear that may arise from the very circumstance you are facing.

Doing SOMETHING will help you stay focused on a positive outcome and enable you to pay attention to those around you who may be reaching out to help you.

My challenge for you is this: If life's troubles have brought you down, stop for just a little while.  (You may as well spend a bit of time praying while you're already on your knees!) 

Then...look up!  Look for something to do!  Look for someone who is probably already there, reaching out to help you!

Lastly, when you've made it through the struggle, look around and find someone else who is enduring the same kind of situation and reach out and lend a little encouragement!

Blessings!

Sharon

Here's what I want....

A positive attitude focuses on what you do want.
A negative attitude focuses on what you don't want.

Connie Podesta & Jean Gatz

Have you ever noticed when there's perceived trouble the conversations seem to focus on the very thing that no one seems to want?  


Whether it's an elected official, or some other leader that people are disappointed in or a situation that simply needs to change to improve the quality of life for everyone involved, we find ourselves listening to people reiterate the same negative information over and over.


To a certain extent, maybe we've all been caught up in the cycle of negativity at one time or another.


As we begin this new week, my challenge to you is to think about the negative things you've heard in the past few weeks, then write down something positive you would like to see happen in that very situation.  It may be something you need to accomplish or it may simply be an overarching goal of improvement in yourself,  your family, or your career.


When negative things are brought up to you, or when they work their way into your thought processes, stop, remind yourself of that good thing you would like to see come about, then move toward doing something that can help make that good thing a reality!


Have a good week!


Blessings!


Sharon

Practice makes perfect...

Moral virtues we acquire through practice; like the arts.

Aristotle

Benjamin Franklin was a true polymath!  His wide variety of talents and skills combined with natural leadership abilities propelled him to the forefront during the birth of our nation, and beyond. Not only was he one of our nation's Founding Fathers, he was a prolific author, inventor, postmaster, musician, scientist, civic activist, political theorist, politician, statesman, and diplomat.  


His theories and discoveries regarding electricity had a major impact on the world of science during the American Enlightenment age and some of his inventions revolutionized the very existence of the citizens living in our young nation!


Franklin was the inventor of many things. Some of his inventions included the lightning rod, bifocals, the Franklin stove, and the carriage odometer. He also formed both the first public lending library in America and first fire department in Pennsylvania!  


As wise, and diversely talented as he was, Benjamin Franklin knew that there were things in life, such as moral virtues that must be practiced diligently.  He knew that learning the definition of a virtue would in no way prepare him to have that quality in his life.


He wrote down, and defined,  13 virtues he believed mankind should aspire to and acknowledged that he must read the list over and over and truly practice each virtue.  


His list of 13 virtues included: 

1. Temperance
2. Silence
3. Order
4. Resolution
5. Frugality
6. Industry
7. Sincerity
8. Justice
9. Moderation
10. Cleanliness
11. Tranquility
12. Chastity, and
13. Humility

Several years ago, I copied Franklin's list, along with his definitions of each virtue, and made it a point to spend some time each week focusing on one virtue and I started looking for ways that "virtue of the week" could apply to my life.  I've noticed on several occasions that as a particular virtue was my focus, I would have an opportunity to practice that character-strengthening quality in a way I might have missed had I not been really thinking about it during that phase of my life.


I challenge you to "Google" Franklin's 13 Virtues right now and read the definitions for yourself. You may want to add some of your own to Franklin's list of 13 and begin practicing those life qualities.  I can promise you will begin to notice changes very soon!


Blessings,


Sharon

If I only had a brain....

I not only use the brains I have, but all I can borrow.

Woodrow Wilson

In the classic movie The Wizard of Oz, Ray Bolger's character, Scarecrow, believes he must go in search of  a brain.  He travels with Dorothy,  Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion down the yellow brick road, facing perils and mortal danger to reach the Land of Oz to see if the great and powerful Wizard of Oz will give him the brain he so desires!


As the friends travel and face seemingly insurmountable obstacles, an interesting dynamic develops. Scarecrow, working with his friends begins to come up with some very good ideas!  Remember the scene where he uses reverse psychology to get the trees to "give up" their apples?


As Scarecrow is encouraged and sometimes challenged by his friends, his own mental aptitude seems to grow! He found himself surrounded by good people who were smart, truthful and didn't mind entering into a healthy debate to challenge him to think!


So, don't  surround yourself with people who are "yes-men" who will  mindlessly agree with your every statement and action.  Instead seek out people who will be honest and will inspire you to develop your own belief system to the point that you know who you are and what you believe. 


Go ahead!  Use your brain....and borrow some wisdom from those around you!


Blessings,


Sharon