August 2005

“It takes a lot of courage to release the familiar and seemingly secure, to embrace the new. But there is no real security in what is no longer meaningful. There is more security in the adventurous and exciting, for in movement there is life, and in change there is power.”
- Alan Cohen

I’ve been adding an article to TMFC about “Embracing Change” - so now David Bowie is running around the halls of my mind singing “Cha-cha-cha-changes”.

Here’s a link to the article. David and I believe you’ll find it interesting. >>>“Embracing Change“

Make each moment count double,
~Joi
TMFC

I was researching something entirely different when I came across a terribly alarming article on CNN.com. Skin cancer has tripled among women under 40, irregardless of all the warnings issued of the dangers of sun exposure.

Sometimes I wonder what it will take to get people’s attention. I’m afraid “the worse” is the answer.

Here’s the link. >> Skin cancer triples in women under 40

Sunscreen, large hats, spray-on tanning….there are options! Sun worshipping is not nearly as great a thing as some people think it is. It makes your skin age prematurely, leads to a leathery look, and can very well lead to skin cancer.

Let’s all grab our big hats and sunscreen or sit in the shade.

Make each moment count double,
~Joi
TMFC

Henry David Thoreau said it thusly:

“If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer.
Let him step to the music which he hears.”

Joi’s youngest daughter (Steph) said it thusly:

“People are just wired different.”

Steph and I were talking a few days ago about how different people look at the world differently. We were wrapping our minds all kinds of ways around an approach a certain family member had to life. I came up with, what I thought was an inspired diagnosis and a clinically-brilliant, psychologically- based profile. My synopsis came complete with terms a Psych student would’ve been impressed with. Oh, I was so ON!

She nodded and then gave her rebuttal - “People are just wired different.”

Ok, if you want to simplify things.

Make each moment count double,

~Joi
Constantine!

I came across this article in a very old dusty book this morning and had to post it. It was written by John Steinbeck, but I have no idea when it was written. Irregardless it’s a good one.

Once a friend of mine named Ed said to me, “For a very long time I didn’t like myself.” It was not said in self-pity but simply as an unfortunate fact. “It was a very difficult time,” he said, “and very painful. I did not like myself for a number of reasons, some of them valid and some of them pure fancy. I would hate to have to go back to that.”

“Then gradually,” he said, “I discovered with surprise and pleasure that a number of people did like me. And I thought, If they can like me, why can’t I like myself? Just thinking it did not do it, but slowly I learned to like myself and then it was all right.”

This was not said in self-love in its bad connotation but in self-knowledge. He meant literally that he had learned to accept and like the person Ed as he liked other people. It gave him a great advantage. Most people do not like themselves at all. The distrust themselves, put on masks and pomposities. They quarrel and boast and pretend and are jealous because they do not like themselves. But mostly they do not even know themselves well enough to form a true liking, and since we automatically fear and dislike strangers, we fear and dislike our stranger-selves.

Once Ed was able to like himself he was released from the secret prison of self-contempt.

I wish we could all be so. If we could learn to like ourselves even a little, maybe our cruelties and angers might melt away. Maybe we would not have to hurt another to keep our ego chins above water.”

Make each moment count double,
~Joi
TMFC

Do you believe in miracles?

Personally, I believe in miracles because God believes in miracles! I’ve also seen them first-hand, and I always believe in things that parade right before my very eyes.

Below are some of my favorite Miracle Quotes - they always inspire me when I need a little inspiration. If you, or someone you know, needs a miracle in their life - it’s out there, you just have to pray it out of the shadows.

“I have found in life that if you want a miracle you first need to do whatever it is you can do - if that’s to plant, then plant; if it is to read, then read; if it is to change, then change; if it is to study, then study; if it is to work, then work; whatever you have to do. And then you will be well on your way of doing the labor that works miracles.” - Jim Rohn

“Impossible situations can become possible miracles.” - Robert H. Schuller

“Don’t believe in miracles - depend on them.” - Laurence J. Peter

“Out of difficulties grow miracles.” - Jean De La Bruyere

“There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.” - Albert Einstein

“Where there is great love there are always miracles. ” - Willa Cather

“I am realistic - I expect miracles.” - Wayne Dyer

“Miracles are not contrary to nature, but only contrary to what we know about nature. ” - St. Augustine

“Out of difficulties grow miracles.” Jean de la Bruyere

“Miracles are natural. When they do not occur something has gone wrong.” - Anonymous

“Impossible situations can become possible miracles.” Robert H. Schuller

And my favorite: “Somewhere right now, a miracle is happening.” (It could be the one you’re waiting for!)

Make each moment count double,
~Joi
TMFC

Yesterday, there was a great article in USA Today about mental fitness. It was about investing NOW in the mental reserves you’ll be drawing from for years to come.

We have to be proactive about this. In this very blog, as well as on our website, I’m forever likening mental fitness to physical fitness. Everyone, by now, knows the dos and don’ts of physical fitness - we may not always adhere to them, but we know them nonetheless! If we do those things that are good for us physically, we’ll improve our health as well as our appearance. If we don’t….well, ‘taint a pretty sight.

Same-O with our mental fitness. If we do those things which are good for our minds, right now, we’ll build the foundation necessary to stay mentally sharp later in life.

Read the following excerpt from the article to learn exactly what “those things” are:

Animal studies and rapidly growing human evidence suggest that adults might be able to delay or prevent severe cognitive decline.” says Molly Wagster, who directs research on normal brain aging at the National Institute on Aging.

Here’s a link to the article in it’s entirety: “Want a Sharp Mind for Your Golden Years? Start Now.”

I keep reading about blueberries in relation to mental fitness. They’re easy enough to add to your regular diet - add them to your cereal or oatmeal, stir into vanilla yogurt (then top with granola), or make blueberry pancakes. The best way to do the last one is to make pancakes as you usually do, then when they’re on the griddle, position the blueberries right on top. De-feakin’-licious - and “smart”.

As for the spinach - spinach artichoke dip is sinfully good, if made the right way! (I have the world’s best recipe if anyone’s interested - email me and I’ll send you the recipe. Just a thank you for reading the blog! )

The fastest and easiest way to sneak more spinach into your day is to throw a bunch of it into your tossed salads. I actually have quite a few great recipes for spinach, so if you need any, just shoot me an email. (the addy is at the top, under the banner.)

Have an absurdly fun but safe weekend, and don’t forget to…
Make every moment count double!
~Joi

Four weeks from tonight, Bay-bee! If I weren’t afraid of bodily harm, I’d do a backwards flip. THAT’S how much Survivor is loved in this house.

Not long ago I was thinking about how much I missed it and it occured to me, I never even watched the first few seasons. I probably just wrote it off as “one of those reality shows” and stuck my nose in the air. Then one year my daughters had it on and my husband and I plopped down to see what the hub bub was. I’m so glad we did! Thursday Night Survivor Parties have been a tradition ever since.

I cook up some sort of snack (my gang especially loves spinach-artichoke dip and tortilla crackers but they’ve never turned down brownies or cookies either), then we all (5 , 6 if the inside cat doesn’t have plans) gather around the tv and we dare the phone to ring. I actually don’t believe it’s ever had the nerve.

Unlike American Idol, where some really fun barbed exchanges have taken place, we usually agree on which Survivor contestants need to stay and which need to go home. Last season, we were all for Steph. As a matter of fact, one of the contestants (Blake) this year looks a lot like her - something in the eyes. Guess she decided to come back and give it another try, and decided to come in the form of a big smilin’ boy. Hope she…he… goes the distance. They’re an early favorite of mine.

>>>>>>Here’s a link to the new Survivors. By clicking on the faces, you can read their “faves” and “bios”.

If you’ve never watched Survivor, invite a lot of fun into your life and start. It is really and truly an awful lot of fun. And who couldn’t use more fun in their life? The sweetest thing about it is that it’s something you can do with your family, and anytime family and fun are in the same room - that’s the room to be in!

Make each moment count double,
~Joi
Are you a Jessica Simpson Fan?

I love the mentality of this quote. It kind of cuts through life like a butter knife, doesn’t it? Needless to say, it isn’t referring to giving voice to every thought that enters your mind - one has to be smarter than that or they’ll be thought a fool. Come to think of it, anyone who goes around spouting their mouth off like a know-it-all about everything just may be a fool!

The quote refers to being bold, being honest and most of all being yourself.

If you have a legitimate opinion and it’s the place and time to give it - you shouldn’t hold back. If you know you’re right - speak up. The only thing worse than holding back would be lying. If you’re going to give an opinion, say what you really feel. Don’t choose words you know someone wants to hear unless they are in line with your own thoughts. Don’t compromise yourself or insult another person’s intelligence by patronizing them. Be honest!

If you’re dealing with someone who can’t handle the truth, why are you even dealing with them in the first place?

The people closest to you, and the people who have real worth lying within them, will respect your opinions and your boldness to be yourself. That’s exactly who they want you to be…you!

Make each moment count double,
~Joi
TMFC

I was recently reading a great new blog I found (Okay, my husband found it - Details, cursed details). I was so impressed that I went straight to the About Page. OMG, I love About Pages. I need to hook us up with one here…

The about page on this particular blog included something that you rarely see: the blogger owning up to being human. In the eternal words of Shaggy, “Zoinks!” The terminology he (the young blogger, not Shaggy) used was:

“The opinions written on this site are simply that, opinions. The opinions are not law, they are not engraved in stone or burned in my forehead. If I am wrong about a topic, I will openly come out and say I am wrong…”

I love that! With less than 50 words he let us know that he is open-minded, approachable, flexible, honest, and has an appetite for knowledge. He thinks of his writings as “opinions” rather than the gospel. He’s actually inviting his readers to think for themselves, to generate activity in their minds and share with him the results.

If you’ve been online any time at all, you know why this sort of thing is newsworthy. The average person comes across as defiant and defensive. They believe there are two opinions -theirs and the wrong one. Heaven help the poor person who happens to disagree with something they’ve said. Advice: 9 times out of 10 you’d better run for the hills because you’re about to unleash the hounds of hell.

LifeHut.org seems to be refreshingly different - and for that reason I’m linking them FOR you and recommending them TO you.

The About Page comments got me thinking about how cool….make that how COOL it is when people can admit they’ve made a mistake. I love when somone up and says, “I messed up big time!” To me it proves they’re cut from the rarest of human cloth - the kind that will be forever learning and growing every day of their life.

By contrast, the individual who never owns up to mistakes has stopped growing. Their growth is stunted and so is their outlook.

Mistakes happen. That’s why they make erasers and delete keys. To make a mistake shows only one thing, that you are DOING something rather than just WATCHING others.

Watchers don’t make the mistakes but, then again, they don’t accomplish anything either. Doers are the ones who have their share of mistakes, and the best of this crop is the one who owns up to and learns from their mistakes.

Make each moment count double,
Joi

I’m going to do something I’ve never done before as a blogger. Gonna cheat. Gonna copy. (I’ll be copying from myself, so I guess I’m not a total miscreant.)

The thing is, life really got cute with me today. Nothing major, just lots of little annoyances that crept around on cloven hooves. They did their Monday song and dance and I’m drained from watching it all.

Sooo, I just posted on another of our blogs - Chinese Wisdom - and, no I’m not Chinese and the other part is entirely questionable. But Kentuckian Wiseass didn’t seem highbrow enough, somehow. The domain is available, however, in case I have any kindred spirits out there. My finder’s fee would be a frappe.

Below is the link to our Chinese Wisdom blog, so you can see what I just posted THERE - let it, if you will, count for my post HERE. ‘Kay? Your rules rock.

Chinese Wisdom.

Make each moment count double (unless it’s possessed),
Joi