Gorgeous Goddesses,

Another video that has me tapping my feet while reading such wise words. It offers insights about things you can make besides money. The video was created by none other than the Australian Goddess herself, Anita Revel.

I trust you’ll look at making things, a little differently.

Enjoy!

Gorgeous Goddesses,

This is our second affirmation video. It was created to promote our newly released guided writing journal and companion meditation CD, Journal for the Modern Goddess.

Enjoy!

Gorgeous Goddesses,

Mmmm… how much fun would it be if I could drive a big bus, collect gorgeous goddesses just like yourselves, and have everyone bop away at funky, inspiring music like the one in this video!  Oh so much fun!!

This video was created by Breakthrough, an international human rights organization that uses media, education and pop culture to promote values of dignity, equality and justice in the world’s largest democracies – the United States and India.  The singer is Mann ke Manjeeré.

Today is World Animal Day!

World Animal Day started as a way of highlighting the plight of endangered species, and today, it is intended as a day of celebration for anyone in the world who cares about animals. It is not restricted to any one nationality, creed, religion, political belief or ideology.

Their mission is to:

• Celebrate animal life in all its forms.
• Celebrate humankind’s relationship with the animal kingdom.
• Acknowledge the diverse roles that animals play in our lives – from being our companions, supporting and helping us, to bringing a sense of wonder into our lives.
• Acknowledge and be thankful for the way in which animals enrich our lives.

So let’s celebrate animals big and small. If you’ve got a special animal companion or two, spend the time showering them with love, and thank them for giving you unconditional love and affection.

To find out more, visit www.worldanimalday.org.uk.

Comes Around!

I was sent this story recently and I loved how it demonstrates kindness, sharing and gratitude.  I hope it touches you as it has me.

Blessings,

The man slowly looked up.

This was a woman clearly accustomed to the finer things of life.  Her coat was new.  She looked like she had never missed a meal in her life.  His first thought was that she wanted to make fun of him, like so many others had done before.

“Leave me alone,” he growled… To his amazement, the woman continued standing.  She was smiling — her even white teeth displayed in dazzling rows.

“Are you hungry?” she asked.

“No,” he answered sarcastically. “I’ve just come from dining with the president.. Now go away.”  The woman’s smile became even broader.

Suddenly the man felt a gentle hand under his arm.  “What are you doing, lady?” the man asked angrily. “I said to leave me alone.

Just then a policeman came up. “Is there any problem, ma’am?” he asked… “No problem here, officer,” the woman answered. “I’m just trying to get this man to his feet. Will you help me?”

The officer scratched his head. “That’s old Jack. He’s been a fixture around here for a couple of years.. What do you want with him?”

“See that cafeteria over there?” she asked. “I’m going to get him something to eat and get him out of the cold for awhile.”

“Are you crazy, lady?” the homeless man resisted.  “I don’t want to go in there!”  Then he felt strong hands grab his other arm and lift him up. “Let me go, officer. I didn’t do anything.”

“This is a good deal for you, Jack,” the officer answered. “Don’t blow it.”

Finally, and with some difficulty, the woman and the police officer got Jack into the cafeteria and sat him at a table in a remote corner. It was the middle of the morning, so most of the breakfast crowd had already left and the lunch bunch had not yet arrived.

The manager strode across the cafeteria and stood by his table. “What’s going on here, officer?” he asked.”What is all this, is this man in trouble?”

“This lady brought this man in here to be fed,” the policeman answered.

“Not in here!” the manager replied angrily. “Having a person like that here is bad for business.”

Old Jack smiled a toothless grin. “See, lady. I told you so. Now if you’ll let me go. I didn’t want to come here in the first place.”

The woman turned to the cafeteria manager and smiled. “Sir, are you familiar with Eddie & Co. at the end of the street?”  “Of course I am,” the manager answered impatiently.  “They hold their weekly meetings in one of my banquet rooms.”

“And do you make a goodly amount of money providing food at these weekly meetings?”

“What business is that of yours?”

I, sir, am Penelope Eddy, president and CEO of the company.”  “Oh..”  The woman smiled again.. “I thought that might make a difference.”

She glanced at the cop who was busy stifling a laugh. “Would you like to join us in a cup of coffee and a meal, officer?”

“No thanks, ma’am,” the officer replied. “I’m on duty.”

“Then, perhaps, a cup of coffee to go?” “Yes, ma’am. That would be very nice.”

The cafeteria manager turned on his heel. “I’ll get your coffee for you right away, officer.”  The officer watched him walk away. “You certainly put him in his place,” he said. “That was not my intent… Believe it or not, I have a reason for all this.”

She sat down at the table across from her amazed dinner guest. She stared at him intently.  “Jack, do you remember me?”

Old Jack searched her face with his old, rheumy eyes… “I think so — I mean you do look familiar.”

“I’m a little older perhaps,” she said.. “Maybe I’ve even filled out more than in my younger days when you worked here, and I came through that very door, cold and hungry.”

“Ma’am?” the officer said questioningly.  He couldn’t believe that such a magnificently turned out woman could ever have been hungry.

“I was just out of college,” the woman began. “I had come to the city looking for a job, but I couldn’t find anything.  Finally I was down to my last few cents and had been kicked out of my apartment… I walked the streets for days.  It was February and I was cold and nearly starving. I saw this place and walked in on the off chance that I could get something to eat.”

Jack lit up with a smile. “Now I remember,” he said. “I was behind the serving counter. You came up and asked me if you could work for something to eat… I said that it was against company policy.”

“I know,” the woman continued. “Then you made me the biggest roast beef sandwich that I had ever seen, gave me a cup of coffee, and told me to go over to a corner table and enjoy it.  I was afraid that you would get into trouble. Then, when I looked over and saw you put the price of my food in the cash register, I knew then that everything would be all right.”

“So you started your own business?” Old Jack said.

“I got a job that very afternoon. I worked my way up. Eventually I started my own business that, with the help of God, prospered.”  She opened her purse and pulled out a business card.  “When you are finished here, I want you to pay a visit to a Mr. Lyons.  He’s the personnel director of my company.  I’ll go talk to him now and I’m certain he’ll find something for you to do around the office.”

She smiled. “I think he might even find the funds to give you a little advance so that you can buy some clothes and get a place to live until you get on your feet. If you ever need anything, my door is always open to you.”

There were tears in the old man’s eyes. “How can I ever thank you?” he asked.

“Don’t thank me,” the woman answered. To God goes the glory.. He led me to you.”

Outside the cafeteria, the officer and the woman paused at the entrance before going their separate ways… “Thank you for all your help, officer,” she said.

“On the contrary, Ms. Eddy,” he answered. “Thank you. I saw a miracle today, something that I will never forget. And..And thank you for the coffee.”

The International Day of Peace (”Peace Day”) provides an opportunity for individuals, organizations and nations to create practical acts of peace on a shared date. It was established by a United Nations resolution in 1981 to coincide with the opening of the General Assembly. The first Peace Day was celebrated in September 1982.

In 2002 the General Assembly officially declared September 21 as the permanent date for the International Day of Peace.

Today I encourage you to light a candle, meditate or sit in silence in honour of Peace Day. If you would like to know more about The International Day of Peace, please visit their website, www.internationaldayofpeace.org.

May peace be with you.

As we get on with our busy lives, saying “Thank You” can easily slip our mind.  You might say thank you throughout the day to the people who serve you, open the door for you or help you over the phone.  What about the people that matter the most – family, friends, clients – do you take the time to say thank you?

Our family and friends enrich our lives in many ways… looking after the children, being an additional contact for the house/baby sitter or supporting you through a difficult time.  Then there’s the little things that we can sometimes take for granted.

Sending a bunch of flowers or a card via snail mail is a great start to saying thank you.  Taking someone to lunch, buying them a small gift is another way of saying thank you.

Saying the words “thank you” at a time when a person is not expecting it, is powerful.

If you are in business, how do you say thank you to your clients?

Besides verbally saying “Thank You”, I might take a client out for a coffee after we’ve finished working together, alternatively I might send a card, drop by their office with a bright coloured flower or offer them something as a bonus.  Each client is different and therefore my thank you’s are customised to suit my client.

Whether it is family, friends or clients, what do you do to say “Thank You”?