Goals for 2008

Happy New Year's Eve! Our family plan this year is going to be spending some quality, quiet time at home reflecting on our blessings in 2007. Watching the ball drop on tv in Times Square, having some munchies & a glass or two of Martinellis is my ideal time for spending New Years Eve. Plus-- being in my own bed shortly after 2008 officially arrives!!! :)

I've already made it a mindset that 2008 is going to be GREAT, that even though they'll probably be trials & tribulations that may come our way in the New Year, But.. why waste time over whining & complaining over things that we possibly can't change? God only can change those things. However-- we can change how we perceive things.

Happiness is a personal choice. It just doesnt happen naturally. You have to make it a mindset.

So-- If life gives you lemons-- make lemonade. Every new day in your life is a gift from God-- and why waste precious time, right???

Here are some goals that a friend passed on to me to make 2008 a good one! :)

1. Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. And while you walk, smile. It is the ultimate anti-depressant.

2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. Buy a lock if you have to.

3. Try to get enough sleep.

4. When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement, "My purpose is to____ today."

5. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy.

6. Watch more movies, play more games and read more books than you did in 2007.

7. Make time to practice meditation, quietness, and prayer. They provide us with daily fuel for our busy lives.

8. Spend more time with people over the age of 70 and under the age of 6.

9. Dream more while you are awake.

10. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.

11. Drink green tea and plenty of water. Eat blueberries, wild Alaskan salmon, broccoli, almonds & walnuts.

12. Try to make at least three people smile each day.

13. Clear your clutter from your house, your car, your desk and let new and flowing energy into your life.

14. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in thepositive present moment.

15. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class, but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.

16. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a college kid with a maxed-out charge card.

17. Smile and laugh more. It will keep the negative energy away.

18. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

20. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

21. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

22. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

23. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

24. Burn the candles, use the nice bed sheets. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: "In five years, will this matter?"

27. Forgive everyone for everything.

28. What other people think of you is none of your business.

29. Time heals almost everything. Give time, time.

30. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

31. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your family and friends will. Stay in touch.

32. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

33. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

34. The best is yet to come.

35. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

36. Do the right thing!

37. Call your family often. Keep in touch with them.

38. Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements: "I am thankful for ___." Today I accomplished ____.

39. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.

40. Enjoy the ride. Remember that this is not Disney World and you certainly don't want a fast pass. You only have one ride through life so make the most of it and enjoy the ride.

HAVE A BLESSED DAY!!!!! May your troubles be less, May your blessings be more. And may nothing but happiness come through your door!

What we need to see more of on the News!

Lord knows there is enough depressing news everytime we turn on our television. They need to broadcast more note worthy stories such as this one instead :)

Brothers hand out Christmas cash at mall
Wed Dec 26, 10:44 AM ET

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20071226/od_nm/usa_money_dc;_ylt=AiHbOy.RiGWXJrKUFfyfv_guQE4F

Shoppers got a Christmas Eve surprise on Monday when a pair of brothers handed out $100 bills at a mall on Long Island, New York.
Police responded to a call from security staff at the Sunrise Mall in the town of Massapequa, concerned that the give-away might create a scene or involve counterfeit bills.

Instead, officers found a simple case of Christmas charity where calm prevailed as the businessmen, aged 45 and 41, gave out the money at the entrance to the shopping center, police said.

"These two brothers say they do this every year. They say they've been blessed and just want to give something back," Detective Sergeant Anthony Repalone said.

"They gave it to people who they thought needed it. The people were very appreciative."
Police declined to identify the brothers, respecting their wish to remain anonymous.

The Faith of a Child: Logan, The Sky Angel Cowboy

They played this at our Christmas Eve Candlelight service at church last night & I'm sure it will touch your heart as well :)

(Warning... grab a kleenex!)

Merry CHRISTmas & God bless us all! :)

Happy Birthday Jesus!

Christ's Love was God's



God said:

Christ was harmonious, and yet he was firm in what he knew. He was not swayed. He ventured forth in a straight line. His God-given mission was to bring others closer to Me. He wanted nothing for himself but to give the gift of love that was given to him and which he had accepted whole-heartedly. A heart full of love can only pour out love, and so love is multiplied. Christ poured out so much love that his love still resounds around the world. The love he gave on My behalf still stirs hearts to beat to the tune of love. Boom, boom, boom-ti-boom, the beat of love.

He gave the only gift there is to give. He did not go shopping and gift-wrap. He was not Santa Claus. Santa Claus serves a different purpose from Christ. The physical giving of gifts is also nice, yet Christ gave not physical gifts. He gave love. That is all he had to give, and he gave it well. He gave love without ribbons. He simply gave love. He radiated it. He did not think about giving love. It would have been impossible for him not to give love. That would have been deprivation.

Christ was the fruit of the vine. A grape, full of juice, is ready to be picked, and juice turns into wine. And so Christ gave as innocently as a grape. Those who knew their thirst drank deeply of My love through Christ. They could not drink enough. They wanted more. They are drinking still.

Christ did not give love from a sense of obligation. He didn't feel that the love which was his to give was owed. He did not think in terms of debt or debtor. He gave as freely as the sun shines My light. Christ was a bright sun on Earth, and he shone. How he shone. He could not do otherwise. Light was his to give, and give he did. He was helpless in that he could not help but to give. He was a singer of love who had to sing. He could not deny himself the burst of song.

He was a fish who had to swim. A fish does not think, "Oh, I must swim today." It is natural for a fish to swim. And so Christ swam in love. He did not travel all over the world, but his love did, and his love travels still. Once set in motion, love stays in motion. Just as the sun is not given instruction to shine every day, so does love continue its revolutions without further ado.

Christ gave, yet he never thought, "I am giving." He never got up in the morning and thought, "Oh, I must give today." Giving was not a thought. Giving was his Being. And yet Christ had no thought that was not about giving love. He was powerless to do anything but give love. And so he had wisdom as well as love, and yet there was no difference between the love and wisdom he gave. His love and wisdom were grapes from the same vine I had planted and given to all My sons.

Do you think you are not from the same vine as Christ? Do you think you are a pretender to the throne I seat you on? Do you think you were given a special dispensation to refuse to accept My love or, once accepted, to refrain from sharing it?

Beloveds, no one is more special to Me than you are, nor is there anyone less special than you. There is no first, and there is no last. May you make every day Christmas for all My beloved sons and daughters. Accept My gifts, and, in the same motion, give them away.



~ Heavenletters ~

If You Want to Experience God In Your Life

If You Want To Experience God In Your Life


... God is love. That is the essential teaching from all the scriptures. If we want to experience God, we should express that love in our life, just as God loves everything and everybody. God loves a rat, a cat, a dog, a donkey, a pig, a sinner, a saint, an idiot, a scholar. The most beautiful and the most ugly. A good dancer. The one who doesn't even know how to walk.

No matter what you are and how you are, you see that unconditional love from God. God never said, "I will love you if only you do this, if only you are like that." No. Loving without limitations is "universal love." And that is God. If you want to experience that God in your life, love everything and everybody as God would love. Unconditionally.

Show the same love to one and all. Let nothing get harmed, hurt, or pained, even by your thought. It is possible to develop a life like that. We want everybody to love us, and we don't want anybody to hate us. In the same way, everybody would want that. Do unto others as you yourself would want it to be done unto you.

Spiritual teaching is very simple. Whether you repeat your mantram or not, whether you practice hatha yoga or not, whether you learn all the scriptures by heart or not, who worries about that? But, do you have unconditional love in your life? If you have that, you have everything.

At least during these beautiful holy days of Hannukah, Christmas, New Year's, and Deepavali, let us reaffirm ourselves to lead a life filled with love. That will take care of everything else.

OM Shanthi, Shanthi, Shanthi



~ Sri Swami Satchidananda ~

Christmas and Materialism

I ran across this article after pondering a commercial on the radio advertising one of our local Malls. Basically, the ad's focus and the theme was playing was "You cant always get what you want" by the Rolling stones--which made me ponder even more that a trip to the local Mall is NOT what Christmas is all about.

Sure, we may not receive exactly what we want at Christmas... but, then again... its not our birthday anyway!

This type of materialism/commercialism annoys me so much that Americans have been desensitized-- that buying your sweetie the latest diamond or Lexus is what Christmas is all about..... to that I say.... "NOT"!!!!!

Instead of pondering what "We" want for Christmas, we should be thinking about what to give Jesus (who is the best gift of all, btw) instead. :)

After all-- We can't spell Christmas without CHRIST &; yes its true... we all are in need of a Savior (thus, when we honor the birth of Christ on Christmas & make him Lord over our lives--even the Rolling Stones had it right... "we get what we need"! :)

Merry CHRISTmas Everyone!

Christmas and Materialism
By Dainial MacÀdhaimh

http://www.worldspirituality.org/christmas-materialism.html

"In today's consumer society, this time of the year unfortunately suffers from a sort of commercial 'pollution' that threatens to alter its real spirit."Pope Benedict XVI, December 11th, 2005

Like most of the other pages on this website, this page has a commercial component; there are advertisements at the top of this page, and there are advertisements at the bottom of this page. The ads produce income, and the revenue from them pays for the continued presence of this website on the internet. Whether or not this demonstrates a pro-commercial attitude, such a circumstance certainly argues against any rampant anti-materialistic bias.

And yet, we cannot immediately disagree with Pope Benedict's assertion. Commercialism - at least, the raging hyper-consumerism that is so prevalent in the United States during the Christmas holiday season - does not seem to have anything to do with the spirit of Christmas, or the spirit of Christianity. In fact, such hyper-consumerism appears to be directly opposed to Christ's message.

Christmas presents have, in a sense, existed since the very first Christmas. We read in the second chapter of Matthew that the Magi, "....saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh." But these, of course, were gifts to one regarded as the Savior.

Christianity, as a religion, embraces the idea that we are all brothers and sisters, not only equal to each other, but also responsible for each other's welfare, even the "least and the poorest among us." Numerous examples of this stress on equality and compassion exist in the New Testament, along with clear warnings against vain demonstrations of opulence. We are told in Mark, chapter 10, that " . . . many that are first shall be last; and the last first." The same chapter tells us that, "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God." Both sentiments are repeated virtually word-for-word in Matthew, chapter 19. We are also told that the poor are blessed, and the meek shall inherit the earth.

How, then, can one justify celebrating the birth of the religious figure who taught such lofty ideals with stampeding (and occasionally violent) crowds at Wal-Mart? Where in the New Testament does Jesus command his followers to run up credit card debt at jewelry stores? What does giving a bottle of expensive Scotch have to do with the birth of Christ?

Puritans, who played an incredibly important role in the founding of the United States, felt that Christmas was a celebration tainted by heathenism; they regarded the day as any other workday, and in fact recommended that one should work all the harder on December 25th.

Quakers, another influential group in American history, likewise chose not to regard Christmas as a special holy day, for the simple reason that Quakers regard all days as holy. That these sentiments endured in some history-rich areas of the United States is demonstrated by the fact that Christmas was not publicly celebrated in New England until a point well into the 19th century.

Even if we choose to disagree with Puritans and Quakers - and one must admit that their ideas bear merit, especially given the sorry spectacle we are faced with today - we still ought to try to face the fact that Christmas is a holy day, a spiritual day, and has nothing at all to do with buying things. Indeed, the hyper-consumerism presently associated with Christmas flies in the face of true Christianity!

Want to do something truly "Christmas-like" this season?

Then first, make a pledge to avoid the malls, and the jewelry stores, the Wal-marts and the Targets.

Second, go to church, or to meeting, or stay home and read the Bible. Christmas is about honoring the birth of Christ, isn't it?

Third, purge your heart of all anger, all hatred, and all prejudice toward those who are different from you, be it because of their race, or their religious beliefs, or their political beliefs, or anything else, choosing instead to love your neighbor as yourself.

And finally, fourth, do those other things Jesus clearly instructed us to do; feed the hungry, clothe the naked, heal the sick.

Merry Christmas, and may God bless us all.

Spreading Goodwill that can return to you

"Blessed is he who speaks a kindness; thrice blessed is he who repeats it".- Arabian proverb

This quote can be read in a few ways, and all of them are worth thinking about.

First, complimenting and encouraging others is one of the easiest and most powerful ways to be a positive force in someone's life. As long as you're sincere, repeating that encouragement as often as possible can have effects that far outweigh the effort. Countless people have exceeded their own expectations just because others believed in them.

Second, giving positive feedback works even better if done publicly. Take those kind words and repeat them until everyone knows the great things that this person is doing.

Third, we've all had kindnesses bestowed on us in word and deed. In return for that favor, it's up to us to repeat that generosity for someone else's benefit. However you read this quote, the point is that there's a kindness out there to be performed.

And you're just the person to do it!

Ahhhhh.... sing it, Josh!

This is the best version of O Holy Night that Ive ever heard so far! :)

Self Talk is Revealing

Self Talk is Revealing



"If you wish to know the mind of a man, listen to his words."
-- Chinese Proverb

What passes over your lips each day?

Are your words typically negative, critical, gossiping, deceptive, illusory, justifying, blaming, manipulative and argumentative? Are they more uplifting, inspirational, positive, questioning, beautiful, loving, universal, truthful, accepting and supportive?

The throat is our center of expression. Who we are sneaks out in our attitudes and in what we say.

"Handle them carefully, for words have more power than atom bombs."
-- Pearl Strachan Hurd

"The wise weigh their words on a scale with gold."
-- Bible



~ The Inner Journey ~

Lifes Lessons :)

Reflecting On What One Has Learned



Rabbi Elisha ben Abuyah used to say:

‘Those who are open to life’s lessons and who do not live on a diet of prejudices are like a blank sheet of paper on which God writes his words in divine ink.

Those who view the world through cynical, prejudiced eyes are like a sheet of paper that has already been filled and on which there is no room for any new words.

Do not concern yourself with what you know or what you do not know. Do not think about the past or the future, merely allow God’s hands to write the surprises of the present on each new day.’



~ Paulo Coelho ~

Thankful

I really love this song. Its from Josh Groban's "Noel" CD. Christmas is a time of giving from our hearts. My sister -in- law & her husband sent us a card that really touched me.

It said " Let's give less stuff and share more love, Lets be the peace that we have been dreaming of."

Those words reminded me of the beautiful lyrics to this song that says "its up to us to be the change!" :)

Although we can't change people & our circumstances (only God has that ability!) However; we DO have the ability to change the way that we react to people/circumstances.:)

Besides, it is so very true... it isnt "what" we have, but "whom" we have in our lives. So much to be thankful for :)


Thankful ------Josh Groban

Some days, we forget to look around us
Some days, we can't see the joy that surrounds us
So caught up inside ourselves
We take when we should give
So for tonight we pray for
What we know can be
And on this day we hope for
What we still can't see
It's up to us, to be the change
And even though we all can still do more
There's so much to be thankful for

Look beyond ourselves
There's so much sorrow
It's way to late to say, I'll cry tomorrow
Each of us must find our truth
It's so long overdue
So for tonight we pray for
What we know can be
And everyday, we hope for
What we still can't see
It's up to us, to be the change
And even though we all can still do more
There's so much to be thankful for

And even with our differences
There is a place were all connected
Each of us can find each other's light
So for tonight, we pray for
What we know can be
And on this day, we hope for
What we still can't see
It's up to us to be the change
And even though this world can still do so much more
There's so much to be thankful for

Dealing with Difficult People :)

I thought this was a great article, as I'm sure we've all dealt with one or more of these people in our lives.The Holidays are time for get togethers & personally, I know that I have a hard time dealing when I'm not spiritually filled and/or out of balance. :)

Dealing With Difficult People
http://webuildpeople.ag.org/wbp_library/9508_difficult_people.cfm

"I try to get along with John, but we always seem to be on different pages. I try to work with him, but a conflict always arises. Then I feel guilty. I don't like the tension, but I don't seem to understand how he thinks and acts or how to get along with him."

Sound familiar? We all have people in our lives who are difficult to understand, work with, or be around. We say things like, "I'm tired of his pushiness," "She's so picky, " "I can't seem to get him involved."

As long as we live, we will experience conflicts. Some persons are more difficult to get along with than others. They seem irregular to us.

Getting along with people takes effort. It means loving them when we don't feel like it and when they are not lovable.

Understanding the Types of Difficult People

There are several types of difficult people. Each has certain characteristics and requires different responses.

Busybody
Characteristics: He is zealous to police people's lives. He attempts to force others to conform to his expectations. He's judgmental, an overbearing warden, a meddler in other people's business, and a gossiper.
Response: Personally commit to giving and receiving only good reports. Refuse to give ear to his gossip. Confront him about the facts, and press him toward personal responsibility. Reprove, then rebuke him redemptively.

Antagonist
Characteristics: He is controlling and needs to shape his world. He's domineering, aggressive, hostile, hot-tempered, and intimidating. He's a bully who makes cutting remarks.
Response: Don't argue with him or listen to his opinions. Express your opinions, and don't be intimidated. Demonstrate strength without argument, and give him room and time to respond.

Indecisive
Characteristics: He is noncommittal, postpones decisions, ignores issues, and wants all the facts.
Response: Let him voice his concerns. Use face-to-face settings, offer alternatives, press for agreement in stages, and press for decision and action.

Complainer
Characteristics: He gripes but takes no action. His gripes may be real concerns, or he may feel powerless and refuse responsibility.
Response: Let him blow. Acknowledge his concerns, but don't agree or empathize. Ask problem-solving questions. Don't allow complaints to go unsettled.

Spoiler
Characteristics: He is negative and always says, "It won't work." He's critical, cynical, a wet blanket, a negative influencer, and an impossibility thinker. He finds problems and makes excuses for his lack of responsibility, saying, "It's just the way I am."
Response: Don't give him a platform to complain or make excuses. Counter his negativism with realistic optimism. Don't try to convince him. Work to influence the larger group toward positive action. Don't allow him to sway the group. Kindly express your confidence in him, but point out that change is a choice.

Dead Beat
Characteristics: He won't take risks and is fearful and lazy. He resists change, and he appears apathetic, disinterested, or bored.
Response: Ask open-ended questions and demand more than a yes or no answer. Draw out his perspectives, and press for conclusions and responses. State presumed conclusions to solicit responses.

Know-It-All
Characteristics: He is strongly opinionated, competitive, imposing, pompous, and intimidating. He often tries to make others feel foolish or dumb.
Response: Know your facts. Be factual and concrete about the issues. Ask how his facts bear on things, and ask him to restate his views. Allow him to save face when he is inaccurate, and deal with him alone when possible.

Mr. Nice Guy
Characteristics: He has a strong need for acceptance and approval and portrays reasonable support in public. He may be a totally different person in private. He accepts responsibility but doesn't follow through.
Response: Give approval, and help him express his true feelings. Work out task descriptions, and hold him accountable for tasks to help him follow through.

Volcano
Characteristics: He's unpredictable and tends to be unapproachable. he causes tension, and others are fearful and uncertain around him. He's explosive, insensitive, loud, and cutting.
Response: Be calm and poised. Remove him from the crowd, and give him time to blow. Don't argue or interrupt him. You may need to ask him to repeat the details later. Minimize his exaggerations. Remove hearsay, and deal only with facts, not emotion. Hold him accountable for his actions and those he has hurt.

Sherman Tank
Characteristics: He has a tendency to intimidate others. His "I'm right, you're wrong" attitude is insensitive and difficult to reason with. He strongly influences others.
Response: Assess the degree of influence he has, and evaluate the importance of the issue in conflict. If the issue has a direct or negative effect on others, it may be worth fighting for. Be direct, and be sure you have enough influence to fight for the issue.

Space Cadet
Characteristics: He lives in his own world and marches to a different drummer. He doesn't respond to normal motivations. Most feel frustrated working with the space cadet which causes much confusion.
Response: Don't be concerned about this type. Don't evaluate your leadership by his responses. Don't ask his opinions; don't place him in a team ministry; don't place him in a leadership position. Seek to develop his uniqueness.

Crybaby
Characteristics: He tends to pout, to be full of self-pity, to use moodiness to manipulate others, and to use the silent treatment to get his way. He is sometimes negative, often infantile, and usually irresponsible and hypersensitive.
Response: Tell him that moodiness is a choice. Teach him he is responsible for the atmosphere he creates. Don't patronize or enable his moodiness. Never reward or give undue attention to him. Expose him to people with real problems, and praise his positive ideas and actions. Ignore him when he pouts.

Garbage Collector
Characteristics: He is the most negative type. He gives himself over to negative emotions and loves to replay and nurse his injuries and victimization. He wants to hold on to his wounded spirit and collect negative garbage.
Response: Confront him about trying to speak on behalf of others. When he complains, make him give you names of those he is supposedly speaking for. Challenge his generalizations and exaggerations. If he has created a serious situation that needs to be resolved, expose him to leaders who have the authority to make the necessary decisions.

User
Characteristics: He manipulates others for personal gain, avoids personal responsibility, and demands time and energy from others. He often uses guilt to get his way and may appear weak and needy to get others' help.
Response: Set predetermined limits. Don't allow him to use others. Require responsibility and accountability, and don't feel guilty or obligated when a firm "no" is the best answer.

Ten Principles for Getting Along With Difficult People

*Maintain your confidence by being in right relationship with God. You can't be objective or discerning if you're not in good standing with God. A strong relationship with God gives you the grace and confidence to deal properly with difficult people.

*Remember over-reacting will only accentuate the conflict and confuse the issue.
Hold realistic expectations. Make sure the difficult person can reach your expectations. You may be expecting him to do or be something that is impossible.

*Quit trying to change the difficult person. Give up your rights and expectations regarding this person. Accept the fact that you can't change him, but you can change your reactions to him.
Refuse to play his games. He may attempt to use you or make you feel guilty or obligated.

*Recognize the emotional games, and don't participate.
Don't allow yourself to become the difficult person's slave. Be honest with yourself and learn to say no.

*Keep a proper spirit and attitude. Maintaining credibility is the greatest struggle. Don't let bitterness, anger, or resentment grow.

*Allow God to lead you in dealing with the difficult person. There are no easy answers or set patterns to dealing with him. The Holy Spirit will give guidance.

*Confront immediately. Don't put off facing the conflict. It only makes matters worse.

*Demonstrate godly compassion. The basis for getting along with people is found in Jesus' words. A religious leader asked Jesus what was the greatest commandment in the Law. Jesus responded, "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments" (Matthew 22:37-40, NIV).

*It's easy to love those who love us and those who are easy to get along with. But how do you treat the stranger, the difficult person, that person you don't really understand, can't relate to and don't really care about? Jesus said that is the true test of our character and love.

Ten Commandments of Confrontation
Do it privately, not publicly.
Do it as soon as possible.
Speak to one issue at a time.
Once you've make a point don't keep repeating it.
Deal only with behaviors the person can change.
Avoid sarcasm.
Avoid words like "always" and "never".
Present criticisms as suggestions or questions if possible.
Don't apologize for the confrontation.
Don't forget the compliments.

Start with Joy

Start With Joy



There's a reason why the sunrise is so beautiful and magnificent. It sets the stage for a positive, fulfilling day.

When you start the day by choosing to be joyful, you put yourself in a creative, effective state of mind. You'll make yourself better able to handle whatever may come your way during the day.

A relationship that gets off to a positive start at the very beginning will quickly flourish and build great value. You can forge a positive relationship with each day when you begin it in a joyful way.

Even if the day is gray and gloomy you can choose to start it with a positive experience of your own making. Fulfillment comes to those who make it happen, and there's no better time than the beginning of your day to start moving forward.

There's an endless list of ways in which you can begin the day on a positive note. And the days that start well have the best chance of going well.

A new day arrives, ready to be lived. Choose to start it with joy.



-- Ralph Marston

Ron Paul leaves impression on college students

I really like the fact that every decision that Ron Paul makes is based on our Constitution. Its nice to see someone want to get America back on course. I feel that we've been so off course for a long time now!

Ron Paul leaves impression on college students at football game
Published: Sunday, December 2, 2007

By JEFF ABKOWITZ
Telegraph Staff

http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200771202001

NASHUA – A crowd of onlookers and Ron Paul supporters gathered and shivered as blustery winds whipped about. “It’s good to be here,” said presidential hopeful Paul, a Republican representative of Texas. Paul made an appearance at Greeley Park to meet with students, faculty and staff from Thomas More College of Liberal Arts in Merrimack to field questions about his campaign and personal views.The annual “Mud Bowl” football game, which is organized by students, took a back seat as the players stopped their game to come over and meet Paul.

The players were promptly introduced to Paul and were asked if they had any questions.“Who’s your favorite poet?” one player asked. Paul paused for a moment, laughed and said, “I can’t think of one at the moment.”A member of the crowd quickly quipped, “Robert Frost would be a good choice.”

He was then asked about how he felt about Thomas More College, chiefly because of its function as a liberal arts college.“I went to a small liberal arts college,” Paul said. “I think you get a better education at a smaller college.”

After answering questions that ranged from the purported lack of adherence to the Constitution by other candidates, to how successful his campaign can be, Paul thanked the crowd of roughly 75 people and left to speak in Salem.

His appearance left a big impression on Jeff Comar, who came all the way from Portsmouth to hear Paul speak. “Every decision he makes is based on the Constitution,” Comar said. “I also respect him for his view on Iraq. He’s the only one with the guts to say we shouldn’t be there and we need to get out now.”And Comar believes Paul will be speaking at many more places in the future after the results from the primaries.“He’ll do well. He’ll survive. He’ll go on to the next round,” Comar said with conviction.

A Blessing For You to Climb :)

A Blessing for You to Climb



You, as you are right now, and as your life is right now, are completely responsible for the direction your life will take. From this moment forward, from the place you now stand. There will be obstacles, of course. And there will be setbacks and unforeseen events to be dealt with. There will also be unexpected gifts and joys. All of this will happen as you walk your path.

But nonetheless, you are responsible for your life. You are responsible for how you respond to what comes your way, and you are responsible for creating a fertile garden in your mind and heart where the seeds of love and joy can take root and blossom.

But know this. As you walk your path, you will be guided and you will be showered with love. You will not walk it alone. You are not alone right now. You are surrounded by help and love showers down upon you. And all you have to do is learn to connect in order to receive the guidance; just reach up with your mind into the light, and reach down with your center into the peace. Become very quiet and reach the peaceful center where the truth resides and you will find all the answers there.

But yet, there is more. I wish for you to truly understand, feel and know the love that is there for you. It is a river flowing deep within you, running through every moment of your life. It is a warm blanket to surround you and comfort you in the darkest storm. It is a shining light of joy that not only illuminates your path so that you might find the next step, but also opens to you the gates of knowledge, wonder and glory.

This love is personal and deep. This love is caring and comforting. This love is real, tangible. Open your heart and it will flow in. Ask for its warmth and it will surround you.

And it is this love that leads you ever upwards, into the best and brightest version of yourself, into the higher energies, into the goodness and wonder that you are. For your path is really a growing awareness of your own beauty and power, your own wonder and glory. Once you allow love to lift you, once you allow yourself to be embraced completely by faith and let faith open the floodgates to the light, then you will see the truth: you are everything. You have all the power, all the wonder and glory, for you are what there is. You are (what) you seek. You are the angels and the guides. You are the love that flows. You are the garden that blooms, the sun that shines, the stars that sparkle. There is no separation between you and all else, for there is no other. There is only this and you are this, you are that, you are all.

And so this, then, is the ultimate responsibility. To be yourself as fully as you can, present deeply in each moment, fully aware of your own godliness and knowing and feeling the world as an extension of yourself. And then do the obstacles transform themselves into stepping stones, each apparent challenge becoming what it is, a pathway, a step up into the next level of awareness, a means to lift yourself higher, a blessing for you to climb.



~ Carrie Hart ~

First Snowfall of the Season :)

Our first snow fall of the year arrived right on time... on Dec 1rst! Noah was especially excited to see the white stuff come down & insisted that we walk around it it! We woke up to a light dusting of snow & then it started again around 1PM & kept falling until around 5PM :)
Our front door with the snow falling

Noah insisted wearing his sunglasses & Santa hat! I couldnt resist snapping a picture!

Our backyard being transformed into a Winter Wonderland!

Noah is just in awe of the snow & had so much fun making footprints in the snow!

Think Big!

Think Big



We need to think big. We need to escape from those little concepts that keep us small. Life is more than we can ever perceive. We need to see it in its totality. The nuclear family can be restrictive if taken as the center of our loyalty. Even our national citizenship needs to be placed in the context of the world.

Our freedom rests in our universal humanity.

Spirituality is about thinking big. It is finding God in the richness of creation. Our insistence on our shared humanity is the path to world peace and serenity. Divisions should not exist for the humanitarian who seeks acceptance for all individuals simply because they are people.



From, "Say Yes to Life",
By Father Leo Booth

One of My Favorite things too!

Here is the video of Josh Groban performing "Silent Night" on Oprah's Favorite things show. I don't know about the other items, but I sure am enjoying Josh's new CD "Noel-- my little splurge for the Holiday Season, since music is one of my all time favorite things about Christmas! :):)

The Christmas Pageant

A friend sent me this. Enjoy! :)


The Christmas Pageant


My husband and I had been happily married (most of the time) for five years but hadn't been blessed with a baby. I decided to do some serious praying and promised God that if he would give us a child, I would be a perfect mother, love it with all my heart and raise it with His word as my guide.

God answered my prayers and blessed us with a son. The next year God blessed us with another son. The following year, He blessed us with yet another son. The year after that we were blessed with a daughter. My husband thought we'd been blessed right into poverty. We now had four children,and the oldest was only four years old.

I learned never to ask God for anything unless I meant it. As a minister once told me,"If you pray for rain, make sure you carry an umbrella."I began reading a few verses of the Bible to the children each day as they lay in their cribs. I was off to a good start. God had entrusted me with four children and I didn't want to disappoint Him.

I tried to be patient the day the children smashed two dozen eggs on the kitchen floor searching for baby chicks.

I tried to be understanding...

...when they started a hotel for homeless frogs in the spare bedroom, although it took me nearly two hours to catch all twenty-three frogs.

.....When my daughter poured ketchup all over herself and rolled up in a blanket to see how it felt to be a hot dog, I tried to see the humor rather than the mess.

In spite of changing over twenty-five thousand diapers, never eating a hot meal and never sleeping for more than thirty minutes at a time,I still thank God daily for my children.

While I couldn't keep my promise to be a perfect mother -I didn't even come close...I did keep my promiseto raise them in the Word of God. I knew I was missing the mark just a little when I told my daughter we were going to church! to worship God, and she wanted to bring a bar of soap along to"wash up" Jesus, too.

Something was lostin the translation whenI explained that God gave us everlasting life, and my son thought it was generous of God to give us his "last wife."My proudest moment came during the children's Christmas pageant.

My daughter was playing Mary, two of my sons were shepherds and my youngest son was a wise man. This was their moment to shine. My five-year-old shepherd had practiced his line,"We found the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes." But he was nervous and said, "The baby was wrapped in wrinkled clothes." My four-year-old "Mary" said,"That's not 'wrinkled clothes,' silly. That's dirty, rotten clothes."

A wrestling match broke out between Mary and the shepherdand was stopped by an angel,who bent her halo and lost her left wing I slouched a little lowerin my seat when Mary dropped the doll representing Baby Jesus, and it bounced down the aisle crying, "Mama-mama."

Mary grabbed the doll, wrapped it back up and held it tightly asthe wise men arrived. My other son stepped forward wearing a bathrobe and a paper crown, knelt at the manger and announced,"We are the three wise men,and we are bringing gifts of gold, common sense and fur."

The congregationd issolved into laughter,and the pageantgot a standing ovation. "I've never enjoyed a Christmas program as much as this one,"laughed the pastor, wiping tears from his eyes.

"For the rest of my life, I'll never hear theChristmas story without thinking of gold, common sense and fur.

""My children are my pride and my joy and my greatestblessing," I said as I dug through my purse for an aspirin.

Jesus had no servants, yet they called Him Master.

Had no degree, yet they called Him Teacher .

Had no medicines, yet they called Him Healer.

Had no army, yet kings feared Him.

He won no military battles,yet He conquered the world.

He committed no crime, yet they crucified Him.

He was buried in a tomb, yet He lives today.

Feel honored to serve such a Leader who loves us .

GOD BLESS YOU ALL!!!

What Is Holy

Who is to say what is holy? The Tsalagi (Cherokee), believe that whatever the Great Spirit made is holy. A mountain, a tree, the whispering stream is holy. So much has been lost in the translation that we are inclined to pick apart what another thinks is holy and good. Our limitless connection to all that is holy can give us a great comprehension of peace and health and all that is needed. If we follow the much-trodden path, believing that to be holy we must be poverty-stricken, downcast, and victims of an angry God, we are fooled. The idea that we can earn our way overburdens us. When we put it all down and turn toward the Light, sweet grace is poured upon us.



---From A Cherokee Feast of Days by Joyce Sequichie Hifler

A New Meaning to the Twelve Days Of Christmas Song

A New Meaning to the Twelve Days of Christmas Song

Day 1 A PARTRIDGE IN A PEAR TREE -- Jesus, The Son of God

Day 2 2 TURTLE DOVES -- The Old and New Testament

Day 3 THREE FRENCH HENS-- The Virtues of Faith, Hope and Charity

Day 4 FOUR CALLING BIRDS-- The Four Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John

Day 5 FIVE GOLDEN RINGS -- The Pentateuch or first five books of the Old Testament

Day 6 SIX GEESE A LAYING-- The six days of creation

Day 7 SEVEN SWANS A SWIMMING-- The Seven Sacraments

Day 8 EIGHT MAIDS A MILKING The Eight Beatitudes

Day 9 NINE LADIES DANCING-- The nine fruits of the Holy Spirit; love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.”

Day 10 TEN LORDS A LEAPING-- The Ten Commandments

Day 11 ELEVEN LORDS A LEAPING-- The eleven faithful apostles (excludes Judas)

Day 12 TWELVE DRUMMERS DRUMMING-- The Twelve points of doctrine found in the Apostles Creed.

1 I Believe in God the Father Almighty, creator of Heaven and earth

2 I Believe in Jesus Christ the Only Son of the Father

3 He was born of the Virgin Mary

4 He became man

5 He Suffered under Pontius Pilot

6 He Was Crucified, Died and was buried

7 On the Third day he rose again.

8 He ascended into heaven

9 He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

10 I believe in the Holy Spirit

11 I believe in the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church

12 I acknowledge one Baptism for the forgiveness of sin.

Awesome Ron Paul Video on Youtube

This video gives me goosebumps! :)It really makes you stop and think where America is headed.

Life Is What You Make of It

Life is What You Make of it
Bishop E. Earl Jenkins

"Always full of the joy of the Lord, and always thankful." Colossians 1:11-12 TLB

Once there was an old and very wise man. Every day he and his granddaughter would sit outside a gas station in his rocking chair, waiting to greet tourists as they passed through his small town. One day a tall man who surely had to be a tourist, began looking around as if he were checking out the area for a place to live. "So what kind of town is this?" he asked. The old man replied, "Well, what kind of town are you from?" The tourist said, "One where everyone is very critical of each other. It's a real negative place to live." The old man said "You know, that's just how this town is."

Later, a family passing through also stopped for gas. The father stepped out and asked the old man, "Is this town a good place to live?" "Well, what about the town you're from? The father said, "In the town I'm from everyone is very close and always willing to lend a helping hand. I really hate to leave it." The old man smiled and said, "You know, that's a lot like this small town."

After the family had left the granddaughter looked up and asked, "Grandpa, how come when the first man came you told him this was a terrible place to live, yet when that family came you told them it was a wonderful place to live?" The old man looked down into his granddaughter's wondering blue eyes and said, "No matter where you go, you take your attitude with you. And that's what makes it terrible or wonderful."

Yes, life is what you make it!

Happy Birthday Jeremy!

(Jeremy and his girlfriend, Meghan dressed up for Homecoming)

My son, Jeremy just turned 18 today. I can't believe how fast time flew by. He will be graduating from high school next June. It just doesnt seem possible that he will be getting his drivers license and driving his first car in a matter of weeks. Even though we've had our typical Mother-son issues over the years, I am so proud of him. He always has a way of making me laugh, a quick wit about him & I really think he will go far in life!

He wrote the following in his recent blog that I would love to share with you all. I am delighted to know that just when I thought he wasnt paying attention to what I say-- Im finding that our personal belief system & values, although sometimes conflict, actually parallel one another at times. That really means a lot to me & Im so proud to be his Mom :)

"In 6 days, I'll be 18. One year older, 365.25 days wiser, more calloused from pain, more open minded, smarter, more experienced in life. It doesn't happen over night. Experience is what makes us who we are. You aren't your age, you aren't your friends, you aren't your family. You are the choices, deeds, thoughts, and ideas you manifest into the world. Leave your mark, leave little bits of yourself. Bodies decay, money gets spent, material objects get broken and lost. Ideas, dreams, and memories can last forever. Sometimes, that is all you have. Life is a chaotic and confusing experience. Live through it. Impact all the people around you. Leave pieces yourself in this world. Stop looking at all the minute details, and look at the bigger picture. Live everyday as if it were you last. Regret only what you didn't learn from. The meaning of life is however you interpret it." ---Jeremy Pearson.

"I Can't Keep Up"

Im so glad that I ran across this article today. I guess you can say that it pretty much sums up what Ive been feeling ever since all the After thanksgiving store advertisements started. I am puzzled by all those people who line up overnight just to get into the store when it opens for some latest gadget. Where is the focus & the true reason for this season these days??? Christmas is not getting the latest gizmo or gadget. For me, Christmas is giving from the heart to others, which means so much more than you could ever buy in a store. Just like the author of the article below; I have trouble every year when relatives ask me what I want for Christmas, cause my main focus is so concentrated on giving not receiving.

Since Christ is the reason for the season & the ultimate gift--- I get so much more joy by giving--especially to loved ones & others in need. Im pretty simple, really. I enjoy making special memories for my family, rather than receiving the latest trinket.

Heck, even both our our tv's and even our kid's Nintendo 64 is second hand!!! In fact--We even have a television upstairs that I inherited that I used to watch cartoons on while I was still in elementary school. (We most likely wont buy other one until it is mandatory to switch to HDTV or the tv finally quits on us!) Quite honestly, Memories and Giving stay fresh in my memory long after the last gift has been opened on Christmas Day anyway :)

I guess you can say (in the words from my favorite Charlie Brown cartoon) "Im not going to let all this commercialism spoil my Christmas"! LOL! While the other people are shopping 'til they drop, I think I will hang out at home, decorate the house, decorate our tree this weekend & try to stay as far away from the Mall as I can. Besides-- if I have to shop--Shopping online in my jammies sounds much more appealing anyway. :) Wink!


I Can't Keep Up!
By Elliott Ryan
Guest Writer
CBN.com –

It started a couple weeks ago. Relatives began inquiring early. "What do you want for Christmas? Give me a list." I replied to one of them that I couldn't think of anything I needed. That was the truth. I really couldn't come up with anything. I am by no means wealthy. But my needs are met. There are some DVDs and CDs that I wouldn't mind having. I suppose I could always use more clothes and shoes. Or a banana hanger. I don't have one of those. But I have been blessed so much that I can't think of anything that I really need.Yet even though my needs are met, I still often find myself falling into the trap. Maybe you know of the trap I am talking about. It is a trap that tempts many in our society. It is the consumer trap. It calls out to us saying, "You need more. You need better."

It is the trap that makes me want a flat screen plasma TV like my friend has, even though there is nothing wrong with my TV. It is what leads some people to run up huge credit card bills and live above their means to keep up with their neighbors. It is what tempts some people to buy bigger houses than they need and can afford rendering them house-poor just so they can appear to be affluent.

Of course, I am not against having nice things, but so much of our way of life seems tied up in acquiring more. In fact, this article is being published on the day after Thanksgiving. Historically, this is the biggest shopping day of the year. Malls are counting on us to be interested in acquiring more stuff -- for ourselves and for our loved ones.It is ironic that this big shopping day comes directly after Thanksgiving, a day set aside to thank God for His provision.

That day has become more about eating a big meal and watching football and parades. There seems to be a general thanklessness in our society. I think a major reason for this is a lack of contentment.See, when we always want more, it is difficult to be thankful for what we already have. The Bible says, "But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs." (1 Timothy 6:6-10)When we want the newest and best of everything, we lose our contentment with food and clothing.

Many people in the world are without food and clothing, while many of us have houses, cars, cable TV, computers, and a lot of stuff we rarely use. Still many of us are not content. The church promotes the practicing of many different spiritual disciplines such as daily devotions, prayer, and tithing. But there is one spiritual discipline that does not get mentioned much in many churches. It is a discipline called simplicity. One of the major teachings of the church used to be that we should live simply. We should not become consumers obsessed with keeping up with the Joneses.

Instead, believers are to be consumed only by our Lord and His love. When that is our focus, our lives become simpler. We become content.Contentment leads to true thanksgiving and to a simpler life. But it also leads to charity. When I am content with what I have, I am more likely to help those around me who need it most. I am reminded to give generously so that others can have their needs met also. I am reminded to tithe so my church and other ministries I feel led to support can continue their ministry. I am more open to sharing the possessions I do have with others who may need them also. Contentment. Thanksgiving. Simplicity. Charity. This holiday season, I will concentrate on these traits of Godliness. The Joneses will have one less person competing with them.

"I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want" (Philippians 4:11-12).

Beyond Counting Blessings

Beyond Counting Blessings
Being Truly Thankful



Often when we practice being thankful, we go through the process of counting our blessings, acknowledging the wonderful people, things and places that make up our reality. While it is fine to be grateful for the good fortune we have accumulated, true thankfulness stems from a powerful comprehension of the gift of simply being alive, and when we feel it, we feel it regardless of our circumstances. In this deep state of gratitude, we recognize the purity of the experience of being, in and of itself, and our thankfulness is part and parcel of our awareness that we are one with this great mystery that is life.

It is difficult for most of us to access this level of consciousness as we are very caught up in the ups and downs of our individual experiences in the world. The thing to remember about the world, though, is that it ebbs and flows, expands and contracts, gives and takes, and is by its very nature somewhat unreliable. If we only feel gratitude when it serves our desires, this is not true thankfulness. No one is exempt from the twists and turns of fate, which may, at any time, take the possessions, situations, and people we love away from us. Ironically, it is sometimes this kind of loss that awakens us to a thankfulness that goes deeper than just being grateful when things go our way. Illness and near-miss accidents can also serve as wake-up calls to the deeper realization that we are truly lucky to be alive.

We do not have to wait to be shaken to experience this state of being truly thankful for our lives. Tuning in to our breath and making an effort to be fully present for a set period of time each day can do wonders for our ability to connect with true gratitude. We can also awaken ourselves with the intention to be more aware of the unconditional generosity of the life force that flows through us regardless of our circumstances.




~ Daily OM ~

Obituary

(A friend sent me this. Click on the picture to see it in full)

Sow The Seeds

Sow the Seeds



God said:

Be attached to nothing. Be not attached to anything. Be not attached to trains running on time, your computer working... Anything that is manmade, you are not to be attached to. The sun will rise every day, but all your appliances and contrivances may not. They don't have to! What is it exactly that you think depends upon everything working as you expect it to?

Trees will grow leaves, and they will drop their leaves. Apple trees will blossom and bear fruit. Grass will grow. I am in Heaven, and everything that matters is on time, beloveds. These can be counted on.

Only, everything is not in your time.

This is really funny when you consider that time does not exist.

It exists for you, of course. It exists for you the same way trouble exists for you. You conceive it, and as you conceive, you believe.

What if the concept of trouble or on time did not exist? What then? Would you have troubles? Would you ever be late or early?

The Earth is ever rolling along, while the sun is still.

Stars are twinkling all day and all night long. It's just you don't see them during the day.

If My children did not conceive of trouble, Earth would rise to Heaven at this present moment of non-time.

What if everything that happens or does not happen is just right? What if there is nothing wrong?

Do you begin to see now how you have been attached to trouble? You have kept your eye out for it. In that sense, you have sought trouble more than you have sought happiness.

Now be on the look-out for happiness. Scout for happiness. Sow the seeds for happiness simply by nurturing it in your mind.

In the relative world, everything is relative. If you are having a picnic, and it rains, you call that bad. If you are a farmer, and the soil is dry, you call the rain good. Yet rain is just rain. Consider it your friend regardless of your plans. Let the sun shine in your heart always, which means right now.

Right now in this moment of stillness, all is well. Everything is in place, even though there is no such a thing as space for place to be, and yet all is well. Life triumphs. Even in death, life triumphs. Life is mighty. Give yourself over to life, and nothing will have to be but what it is. And what life is is your interpretation. You translate life, as it were. You mistranslate light. When you are fraught, you have misinterpreted life. You held it to certain standards that are not yours to impose.

Would you get off life's back for a while and just let it be? Not try to forcibly change it nor grouse about it even one more time? Will you begin to appreciate this life you have been given. Your purpose is to serve life, and not to fix it. Love life, and you will serve it, and life will change right before your eyes. It will change because you changed. Life and you are definitely reciprocal.

Everything in the world is relative. You desire designer shoes. If you had no shoes, then you would simply desire shoes.

You can have designer shoes, and still put life into perspective.

If you are not happy, you have not put life into perspective. Perceive differently. Appreciate more. Appreciate every inch, every ounce of life more. Life deserves to be appreciated. The more you appreciate life, the more you appreciate yourself and your role in life. You do have a part to play, beloveds. You are here for a reason, and you can be sure that the reason is not to complain.



~ Heavenletters ~

Top 10 Terrific Traits of People with Autism

I loved this list and it put a smile on my face. I love how our 6 year old son just seems to live in the moment like there is no care in the world. Sometimes I wish I could do the same. I admire that in my little boy. He is super intelligent, has a fantastic memory and quite nitche for details. Especially cars! He has almost every make and model down pat. That truly amazes me for a boy his age!

In fact, I had a conference with his teacher the other day & He is in the top half of his kindergarten class when it comes to reading; despite the day to day challenges that he faces in his body. One day, he is going to do something terrific with his life!!! He already has another trait that I wish that other people had. Our Noah loves people that are in his life unconditionally and that is such a beautiful thing! :) :)

Top 10 Terrific Traits of People with Autism

If you're sick of hearing about all the "deficits" challenging people on the autism spectrum, join the club! But for every down side to autism, there seems to be a positive -- an unusual trait that rarely appears among the "typical" community, but shines out among autistic folk. These plusses are well worth celebrating.

1) Autistic People Rarely Lie
We all claim to value the truth, but almost all of us tell little white lies. All, that is, except people on the autism spectrum. To them, truth is truth -- and a good word from a person on the spectrum is the real deal.

2) People on the Autism Spectrum Live in the Moment
How often do typical people fail to notice what's in front of their eyes because they're distracted by social cues or random chitchat? People on the autism spectrum truly attend to the sensory input that surrounds them. Many have achieved the ideal of mindfulness.

3) People with Autism Rarely Judge Others
Who's fatter? Richer? Smarter? For people on the autism spectrum, these distinctions hold much less importance than for typical folks. In fact, people on the spectrum often see through such surface appearances to discover the real person.

4) People with Autism are Passionate
Of course, not all autistic people are alike. But many are truly passionate about the things, ideas and people in their lives. How many "typical" people can say the same?

5) People with Autism Are Not Tied to Social Expectations
If you've ever bought a car, played a game or joined a club to fit in, you know how hard it is to be true to yourself. But for people with autism, social expectations can be honestly irrelevant. What matters is true liking, interest and passion -- not keeping up with the Jones's.

6) People with Autism Have Terrific Memories
How often do typical people forget directions, or fail to take note of colors, names, and other details? People on the autism spectrum are often much more tuned in to details. They may have a much better memory than their typical peers for all kind of critical details.

7) Autistic People Are Less Materialistic
Of course, this is not universally true -- but in general, people with autism are far less concerned with outward appearance than their typical peers. As a result, they worry less about brand names, hairstyles and other expensive but unimportant externals than most people do.

8) Autistic People Play Fewer Head Games
Who was that woman, and why were you looking at her? I know I TOLD you I didn't mind if you went out, but why did you believe me? Most autistic people don't play games like these -- and they assume that you won't either. It's a refreshing and wonderful change from the Peyton Place emotional roller coaster that mars too many typical relationships!

9) Autistic People Have Fewer Hidden Agendas
Most of the time, if a person on the autism spectrum tells you what he wants -- he is telling you what he wants. No need to beat around the bush, second guess, and hope you're reading between the lines!

10) People with Autism Open New Doors for Neurotypicals
For some of us neurotypicals, having an autistic person in our lives has had a profound positive impact on our perceptions, beliefs and expectations. For me, at least, being the mom of a son on the autism spectrum has released me from a lifetime of "should" -- and offered me a new world of "is."