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GIVING in good times and in bad We don't have to look very hard at the world around us to know that times seem pretty bad right no. Everyone is feeling the hurt from the financial collapse of the markets that for a good bit of us were a fun ride until lately. Unfortunately, there are many lower income people who were already suffering before the crisis happened, and their needs grow even larger today. And sadly, this is when most of us have to tighten our belts and cut back on helping others until the good times return. I recently became a board member for the Children's Theatre in Coatesville after school program and volunteered to be in charge of fundraising. This was a few weeks before the markets crashed. After the steady and painful crash began, I started dreading my action, thinking about how difficult my job had just become. But then I remembered that the children I am trying to help need me more than ever. These children were already facing major challenges in their lives that most children I know never have to consider. They are from poorer families and some come from broken homes. There is drug violence on their streets and many other hurdles to jump over in their everyday life. The after school program is a safe place for them to go, where they not only stay safe, but are fed and inspired to dare to dream bigger about themselves. They are encouraged to become leaders of their community and hopefully someday make a difference there. The SIMPLE TRUTH is that when times get tough, we are challenged in more ways than the obvious. It becomes important for all of us to reprioritize our spending, but, also, to reprioritize our giving. I hope that all of us have the strength to continue to support those around us who have the most needs.
posted by Jodi at 8:32 AM
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New SpringWidget
posted by Jodi at 11:09 AM
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THIS AUTUMN fall in love with yourself! Crisp leaves, cool temperatures, deep blue skies-what isn't to love about autumn! I am grateful to live in a four-season state and experience the magnificent ebb and flow of earth's life. Whether the temperature changes are striking or subtle where you live, the changing seasons represent important cycles in our environment and in our bodies, minds, and spirits. Fall, to me, represents a time of shedding what's not working for us. It's a time of cleaning out closets, changing wardrobes, and rejuvenating the body and spirit. It is a time of preparation for the great slowdown of winter, when our bodies call for warm soul foods, less activities, and more rest. Just as the trees change color and shed their summer attire, we humans are invited to change our attitudes or our perceptions and shed the weighty burden of judgment and over-activity. As we are drawn indoors to escape the chilling winds, we are also drawn inward to reflect on the state of our health, our relationships, and our ideas about ourselves. Why not take the time this fall to go a little deeper, peel off the layers of self-doubt, insecurities, frustration, or anger, and discover the real you that is beautiful, loving, and forgiving. Why not take some time to fall in love with yourself! Sure, for many of us, we can be over-reaching, a little needy, a little too judgmental, a little too insecure, but hey we're human. But under that ball of complexity lies a diamond-in-the-rough. We are unique gems and true gifts to the world, even with all of our flaws, but ... what separates us from all other living things on this green and wondrous earth is that we are capable of change. We are capable of achieving our wildest dreams. We are capable of exceeding our greatest expectations. We are capable of boldly going where no human has gone before... You gotta love humans! The SIMPLE TRUTH is that you are worth falling in love with a dozen times over. Take a few minutes each day and point out to yourself one new reason that you love you. After a week, you'll be crazy about yourself and the beauty of that is that once you start seeing how wonderful you are the world will start noticing too.
posted by Jodi at 3:04 PM
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Time ... is on our side My mother always used to say that time flies when you get older. Time is not only flying, it's breaking the sound barrier these days. There are some folks who say that time is actually getting faster because the universe is condensing, but lately some scientists believe that the universe is still expanding, so what is the reality of time? I think the reality is that there is no reality when it comes to time, because time is a perspective that each of us experiences. This explains why attending a Scottish bagpipe ceremony for me can make an hour feel like a day, (my apologies to all bagpipe loving people of the world-maybe you feel the same way about rap!) and why my husband wishes it could be another hour longer. I do not believe we are in a race against time or are running out of time. I believe that we have allowed ourselves to get caught up in the frenzy of a modern world, where success means a four-bedroom, two-car garage home and children end up with three page resumes by the time they apply to college. All of this is nice, but not necessarily needed to have an enriched life. Many of us do not know how to be still anymore. This is the only way we find our true selves that leads to true happiness. Time management is about setting priorities in life. The challenge is to put those things that tend to hang out on the bottom of our list back up top, like writing poetry, reading, bubble baths, date night out with our partner, quality time with our children, an increasingly important yearly physical or mammogram or colonoscopy, or a telephone call (not email) to someone we've lost touch with. The SIMPLE TRUTH is that time is on our side, if we want to live a rich life that means more than keeping up with everyone else. If you have a minute, let us know how you are making the most of your time.
posted by Jodi at 11:55 AM
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