I love that feeling when all of a sudden, everything is not only ok, it's great!  It is a feeling that is as if a light really is shining down on you from heaven, happiness overwhelms every pore in the body.   This feeling makes you want to sing, yell, laugh and cry from true joy.  It is my favorite feeling in the world.

At that moment when the understanding possesses me, that I am in complete control of my life, and I look at all of my problems, own them, then show myself how to get over them; that is when this feeling often hits me.

Many people reading this have probably never experienced this feeling before, or at least not in their adult lives.  You are probably thinking that I am crazy to, out of the blue, experience absolute joy and happiness.  Well, maybe I am a little bit crazy.  Along with my bit of craziness, though, is my knowledge that I create my own reality, and therefore take full responsibility for issues both good and bad in my life.  When I own up to the fact that I am in charge of me, life becomes fun, not just something that we are trying to wade through until we die. 

Too many times I have heard people using the excuse, "I can't do this", but that's not what they really mean, what stands behind that sentence is, "I won't do this".  It's too bad.  When one realizes that they create their own reality, the word can't completely disappears from their vocabulary?that word, can't, no longer makes any sense whatsoever. 

I recommend to everyone that you get yourself this natural euphoric feeling, and take control of your destiny?It's a lot more fun than the difficult lives that most people lead?

One of the biggest mistakes that I believe we make in life is that we forget to experience it.  For some reason people think that living life means simply going to school followed by work until retirement.  I think that's a load of crap.

I'm not saying that if one follows their heart and finds a career that perfectly complements them they aren't experiencing - I'm talking about those who basically try to make it to the weekend, those who go to work for the paycheck, not the experience.  Oftentimes people get so caught up in their unbelievably stressful schedules that they forget themselves and often their families.  Before they know it, they are old and grey and life has passed them by.  That is just too bad!

Our mistake, most of the time is that we base our lives on our careers, even if we don't like them.  People put so much importance on something that is so unimportant in the span of time and space and I just don't understand why.

Often, when I travel, people tell me how much they want to go, but they just don't have the time (and the money) to do it.  I remind them that I am probably the busiest person they know, and somehow I still manage to take the time to experience the world (and I do it in a way that it costs me equal or less than what it costs me to live at home in a typical month).  The thing is, it's not really somehow, it is that I prioritize, and I put the things that I believe are truly important first, then I the do things that I believe are important.  I know that money is crucial in this day and age, so I found ways to do what I love and believe in through my work.  We can all do it, we just get lazy or stuck in a rut, or we get too comfortable or we don't believe in ourselves, there are a lot of excuses.

I think that there is nothing sadder than letting life pass you by, too many of us choose to do it, but I hope we will begin to wake up, and realize that we only have one life to live?so live it!

I suppose that one could say that I am a pretty superstitious person. It isn't necessarily that I believe that something specific is going to happen if I don't do something (like knocking on wood three times to make something spoken not come true), it is more that I don't know if something will happen or not and I don't want to take the chance of making it happen?I guess that may or not make sense, but whatever?

One of my "superstitions" is that of making a wish on the first star I see in the sky.  I know I started this habit when I was in my pre-teens, and I remember that this was also a phase in which I prayed every evening, so wishing on a star just became a part of my prayers.  I used to wish for all good things to happen in the world, and I truly believed that the power of my belief would help the world to become a better place.

Now, many years later, I still wish on the first star I see at night.  I still believe that the power of my beliefs will make the world a better place.  I don't have to know if for a fact in order to believe it.  I don't know for sure how much of a difference my wishes have made over the years.  Honestly, I don't care too much of what I'll never know, because I know that even though I have not personally seen those wishes come true, those wishes have turned me into a person who cannot just let things happen.  That belief on a star has flowed into my reality?it has made me believe that I must take action to help, not just wish it so, and every day, when I wish upon a star, I remember that wishes can always be made into a reality through right action!

Sometimes I wonder what it is about people that make them so uninterested in helping, even in the smallest way.  I remember watching the news a few months ago, where there was a story about a motorcyclist who ran into the back of a semi truck at a stop light.  I don't  know exactly what happened, but from the looks on the news, the truck stopped then immediately started moving again at a stoplight, the motorcyclist hit him and fell off his bike (if I remember correctly, he died on impact in the middle of the road).  Cars didn't even slow down for the motorcyclist, they just went around him.  Nobody stopped to see if he was alright, which he wasn't cuz he was dead.  I was horrified to watch this happen.  As one who always stops at an accident scene if the paramedics or police haven't yet arrived, I just cannot understand how so many people can simply drive by an accident where it is likely that there have been injuries.

What ever happened to compassion?  Which goes back to my question, what is it about people that make them so uninterested in helping?

Is it something scary?  Will the boogeyman get those who help in the middle of the night?  Or maybe it simply takes way too much time out of our way too busy schedules.  That would make sense seeing as it seems to me that it is so much easier to keep oneself busy that to actually live and enjoy life?but still, it never hurts to help?and it does hurt to be too busy.

By M.L.

Last month the whole world was witness to a jungle of open air concerts by some of the most famous and most popular singers, musicians and performers to be found today.

The purpose, evidently, was to bring the problem of global warming to the forefront as the world's greatest dilemma today.  But what did all these concerts actually attain? 

They offered delightful entertainment for an awful lot of people.  They were heavily attended and much appreciated by crowds and crowds of people.  But did the governments of the supposedly "enlightened" countries pay any attention?  As a result of these concerts did anyone decide not to buy a Hummer, or, perhaps to trade in a Hummer for a more economical fueled car? Did any of the governments of the industrial countries decide that they would expend more money on research and production of alternate fuels?  Did any of them pass laws and enforce them to lower greenhouse gas production?

I watched some of these concerts on television.  I thought about the huge amounts of money put out by all these performers for global entertainment.  And, despite all the hype and publicity, despite Al Gore's passionate address to the world, I came away with the feeling that it was a futile and extremely wasteful attempt to help the world. 

In my opinion, a free showing, world-wide, on huge, giant screens of Al Gore's film "An Inconvenient Truth" would have been far more effective.

The other day I did something totally crazy.  I told my secret.  The one I had been carrying around like baggage for 12 years.  It was the hardest thing I think I have ever done.

How did this come about?  Two days pervious, my husband, during a casual conversation, asked me if I had any lies that he would be surprised to find out about.  He asked it in a very joking fashion, and when I shut up and contemplated, I think he was very surprised.  Finally I told him that I have one secret, but I will take it to my grave.  He didn't prod?he trusts me.

The Pandora's box of memories of my life opened, but all I could remember were bad memories.  I couldn't stop thinking about the fact that something that I had buried so many years ago was back.  I felt that I just needed to tell him.  I needed to get it off of my chest after so many years. 

I was scared out of my mind, finally letting my secret out, and it took me two days to get up the nerve.  For the hour before he came home, I was trying every tool I had to calm myself and my heart down.   As soon as he walked in the door, so as not to lose the courage that I didn't feel I had, I told him, before hello, that I needed to tell him my secret.

We sat down, and I mustered everything I had to be able to tell him.  After a few minutes, I forced myself to blurt it out.  He wasn't angry, he wasn't even upset.  He didn't actually think it was such a big deal (except, of course, that it had been sitting on me for years), this being what I considered the worst thing I had ever, ever done.

About an hour later, I realized that my entire body (legs, bum, back, arms, neck - everything) was sore.  Twelve years of pressure had just been taken off me, and my body could finally relax.  I was starting a clean slate, no more secrets.

Sometimes we think our actions have been so terrible that they are unforgivable.  Maybe there are unforgivable actions, but maybe, just maybe, what we feel to be so bad, so repulsive, in mostly in our own minds, and maybe it will upset the person you tell.  But once you escape those shackles...you are completely free - and freedom is the best feeling in the world, just ask any person who is not free. 

I am a strong believer in signs, and the following story is one that makes the point that I continually try to make.  A small gesture can make a world of difference.

This is a story that I have taken from Paulo Coelho's book, Maktub.

'A woman friend had gone out with the exact amount of money she needed to take her son to the movies.  The boy was excited, and every minute asked his mother how long it would take to get there.  When she stopped at a traffic light, she saw a beggar seated on the sidewalk.  "Give all of the money you have to him," She heard a voice say.

The woman argued with the voice.  She had promised to take her son to the movies. "I can give him half and my son can go in alone while I wait outside," she said.  But the voice didn't want to discuss it.  "Give it all!"  She had no time explain it all to the boy.  She stopped the car and held out all the money she had to the beggar.  "God exists, and you have proved it to me," the beggar said.  "Today is my birthday.  I was sad and ashamed to be begging.  So, I decided not to beg: if God exists, he will give me a present."'

Maybe this is a true story from Paulo's own experiences, maybe not; but the fact of the matter is that this kind of thing happens every day, in every country, in every corner of the world.  One small gesture from one to another can literally "rock their world"!

You know, smiling is only good for us.  But do you know how good it really is?

Every time we smile, endorphins are released into our system, which raises our moods.  It is our body's form of giving us a natural upper.

Something that I do if I get upset or angry, is to make myself smile.  Even if it is fake.  When I do this I notice that my mood gets just a little bit better.  If I add positive thoughts or memories into the mix, there is a noticeable difference.  This certainly doesn't take away my problem, but it helps me look at it more rationally.

Not only is smiling great for ourselves, but it is also good for those around you.  Above everything else, smiling is contagious.  You can put people in good moods just by being happy and smiling.  Then, you just helped release endorphins in their systems, making their day just a little bit better!

Smiling creates a positive atmosphere around you and can influence any one who comes into your presence.  Talk about powerful, and in the most positive of ways!

Everybody appreciates a smile.

A great easy goal to have is to make 5 or 10 people smile every day (obviously adjustable to the amount of time you are not alone).  This is a wonderful way to brighten lot of people's days.

It makes the world around you just a little bit brighter, and as I have said over and over, a ripple makes a wave?

As a general rule, I believe that it is safe to say that those of us living in the Global North are in one hell of a rush.

We are always on our way to somewhere or trying to achieve something. From taking care of families to work to school to random activities - point made. We are in so much movement, that we often forget to slow down and experience.

It is unbelievable how much we miss when we speed through life. It makes me wonder how many awesome experiences I have missed because I forgot to slow down. I think that we forget that the important thing in life is to live it! What is the point of being alive if you aren't even "being", just always "doing"?

Last year I walked the Northern Camino in Spain. If there is anything in the world that would make a person slow down, it would be walking 800 kilometers across a country?and watching the rest of the world speed by. There were so many wonderful experiences that I had which the speeding world never even saw coming, before they were already gone.

After the Camino, I made it a point to slow down. That doesn't mean I am not just as active as I was before - I just do it differently. I walk places instead of driving, I actually do stop, and smell the flowers; and they smell really good.

Slowing down your pace doesn't mean slowing down your life, it just means experiencing it. That is something we all deserve!

If there is one thing that never ceases to amaze me about people, it is the ability to simply throw away a pet.

We are their protectors, their parents, their friends; and in taking up that position in the beginning of the owner-pet relationship- we are dedicating ourselves for the duration of their life.

And yet, on a very regular basis, I see people simply throw away their pets.  I say this with first hand knowledge.  Our two dogs, cat, and my mother-in-law's cat, our closest friends dog and cats, were all rescued from (no, not the SPCA) the "junk yard" that I call home.

I live in a beautiful community on the outskirts of town.  Far enough away to be able to drop off a no longer loved pet which is then not able to find its way home.  A fair amount of pets where I live are these poor animals.

Back to my point.  Animals have feelings too, and people don't seem to take that into consideration when abandoning them to fate.  Along with the fact that the animal may or may not find a home, or even survive, we cannot forget the issue of overpopulation.  There are already millions and millions of stray animals, and many more on the way.  We do not need more strays!

It is unfair to take in a pet for any reason, if one is not responsible enough and loving enough to take care of it.  Obviously, there are exceptions to every rule and sometimes a pet must change families, but no responsible person would just throw them away.

I think it is something that anybody taking in a new pet needs to be aware of:  Their responsibilities.

I have heard this story probably a million times, but each time, it makes me think?Though I know that the story is true, I do not know which version is the correct one, so I will share with you my favorite.

One day, a young man was walking home from school.  On the way, he tripped and dropped the books that he was carrying.  A boy his age came and helped him to pick his books up.  The boys ended up walking home together and in short time, became the best of friends.  Over the years, their relationship continued to blossom.

The boys went to school together up through to their graduation.  At the graduation ceremony, the boy who had tripped so many years earlier was asked to give a speech.  The young man walked up to the stage and began his speech.

He told his class how all of those years ago, on that fateful day that he dropped his books, he had been on his way home, not like every other day, but with a plan.  His plan was to commit suicide.  He felt lonely and had no friends, and felt that he had no reason to live.

When he had dropped his books, and a kind new face came to help him pick them back up and walked home with him, the boy realized that there was good in the world.  By making that new friend, by that simple gesture of kindness, the young man decided not to kill himself.  Thanks to the small action of one young man, entirely, without his knowledge, he had saved a life; the life of his future best friend.

At that graduation ceremony, the young man was finally able to thank his best friend for saving his life all those years ago...

Knowledge and understanding are necessary requirements for any fighter of the just cause.  The more we know, the better we are able to solve problems on the micro and macro levels.  The better we understand helps us to connect more strongly with the parties involved.

If there is one bolting lesson that I have learned in my life, it is that being able to understand my counterparts, strangers, friends and all those around me has diffused every situation, led to exciting adventures, led me to meet new people, and make sense of the kaleidoscope we call life - one small step at a time!

Through our knowledge comes power.  With power comes responsibility.  Once we know, it would be in bad conscious to ignore.  There is much truth to the saying, "ignorance is bliss".  Life would be great out on a beach spending my days drinking Margaritas and sunbathing, but we live in a globalized world, and we are forced to know things whether we want to or not.

We have a responsibility to take action in some form to help make a difference in the world of which we are a part.  Whether it is taking on a cause, recycling, or donating to a charity - different things work better for different people, we must not be armchair revolutionaries!

We live in a precious world, chock full of interesting people, beautiful wildlife, and anything our hearts desire.  Let us take up some of the responsibility to help keep the world special.

Some people are born knowing that they are destined to do great things; others have no clue until they stumble upon it, but each person has it within themselves to make a huge impact.

I challenge each of you to go, and find out your true potential!

I want to tell you all about one specific act, one of the few which I do believe was completely selfless, which was quickly forgotten in the midst of the larger story.  I can not give exact facts, as the news only broadcast the story for a very short period of time, and I was not able to find the story in later searches.

The event occurred during the Chechen takeover of the Russian opera house a few years ago.  In the middle of the crisis, a young Russian woman decided to take it upon herself to attempt to remedy the situation.  She was not involved with security officials, and had no family or friends being held hostage in the opera house.  The girl simply wanted to help and believed that she could work with the involved parties.

She managed to walk right into the opera house, unarmed, with her hands raised.  She attempted to tell the Chechens that she was there to help, however the hostage takers believed that she was working for the Russians, and killed her.  That's the story.

What this girl did, may not have made a difference in the crisis situation at the opera house, but what it did do, was make a difference in my life.  I truly believe that if I saw that story, and it made that strong of an impact on me, then it must have done the same thing for others.  Kinda like the butterfly effect.

What that girl did made me think about what I do in my life to make a difference.  It made me more conscious of my every day actions.

This girl's story may not have been "important" enough to be better covered by the media, but it was so important to me (and I believe others), that I have told the story over and over, in the belief that it will make an impact on more people.  The girl probably had no idea that her death caused an awaking in a girl in the other side of the world (and who knows where else), which has been passed on to others over time.

I do not believe that her death was in vain, and I do believe that her act was selfless.  She made a difference in the lives of so many others, simply by walking into an opera house.