Wish for the New Year - Commit to You!

Blessed day all ~
Hoping this day finds you positively reminiscing about 2010 and strategically planning goals for 2011, finding fun ways to commit to YOU in 2011.

Lets face it, every year we approach the new year with a little dread and excitement. For some of us, that dread may be found in the lack of planning for the coming year. If this is you, take charge! Don't allow yourself to be a passive participant in your life any longer. It is easy to just sit back and ride the "current" of life, rather than built a boat and be your own captain. You are the only person getting in the way of your goals. You can be the captain of your own boat. It is time to stop allowing yourself to be passive in your goal setting.

There is so much change occurring in this world that is beyond our control. So, what do you have control or influence over?

1. Your health (regular wellness checkups at Dr., adherence to medication, regular physical fitness - reduces depression, anxiety, risk of diabetes/heart disease/cancer/obesity)
2. Your nutrition (reduce or eliminate fast food, increase consumption of fresh vegetables & fruit, watch portion sizes, take vitamins)
3. Your personal relationships (spouse, family, friends)
4. Your professional relationships (boss, co-workers)
5. Your personal development (education, self-improvement - online programs, self-help books & DVD's, find a mentor to help you!)
6. Your financial situation (how/where you spend money, how/where you save money, employment [most instances])
7. Your happiness (identify what makes you unhappy and take steps to change it - new job, get out of a relationship, take a vacation)

Empower yourself to be a better you in 2011. There is always room for improvement. Pick your top 3 and make it happen. Include your spouse/family/friends in your goal setting as they can serve as your accountability partners.

"I attract to my life whatever I give my attention, energy and focus, positive or negative."
-Law of Attraction

So, grab your tools and lets get to building! I have faith in you!
Blessings and Namaste,
Dawn
--
Dawn Lang, MA
Fitness Instructor, Personal Trainer, Wellness Coach
Perception Access, Inc.

Follow me! http://www.twitter.com/Dawn_Lang

Acceptance

Hoping this day finds you excited for the holidays, eager to relax, and accepting of where you are in your life right now.

Acceptance -
At the end of each year we usually look back and reflect on 1) what we have accomplished, 2) what we haven't accomplished yet, and 3) what we feel we cannot accomplish/change. Many emotions surround each of these scenarios, yet it is easy to focus on the negative instead of the positive - what hasn't been accomplished or what we cannot change.

I encourage you to focus on the positive and accept who you are at this very moment, as everything that has happened in your life thus far has brought you to this point today. Your experiences mold you and shape you into the person/parent/leader/spirit you have become. Your experiences shape your thoughts, attitudes and behaviors (both good and bad) - yet, you have ownership in the words you speak and the actions you take. Choose to make those words and actions positive, thoughtful, influential and honorable.

"I attract to my life whatever I give my attention, energy and focus, whether positive or negative."
~ The Law of Attraction

Plan for the future - absolutely! Yet, be flexible enough for the unknown as change is always constant. Find something positive in all that you do, and in every human encounter. God always finds creative ways for us to learn from one another, and accept one another - including acceptance of ourselves.

Blessings and Namaste,
Dawn

Positive Thoughts for 2011 and Beyond

Blessed day all ~

Hoping this day finds.....
-your wallet full of pictures of loved ones (as people are more precious than money)
-your body in good health and skilled to take on the days tasks (for without your health you have nothing)
-your heart full compassion for those who have less than you (no matter how little you think you have, no doubt there are others less fortunate)
-your spirit warmed by loving family and friends (as clothes are simple commodities that can easily be replaced)

As we wrap up 2010 it is appropriate to reflex on the past year with sorrow, excitement, thankfulness, graciousness and more. We lost friends, jobs and family along the way - yet we gained renewed spirit and resilience for life and its many circles. Where one door closes another one opens. There is a purpose behind hardship and sorrow, whether it be a call to action for the greater good or simply to help us see opportunity where we didn't previously. Our growth and development through this process may vary, however, know that you will come out stronger in the end - as long as you don't give up! Maintain a positive attitude, or seek out others who can help guide you in a positive direction. It is ok to ask for help.

So, with renewed spirit, what are your hopes and dreams for 2011 and beyond? Write them down. Take action steps to get there, one way or another. You can always modify along the way. Don't allow the work "can't" to be part of your vocabulary. Switch to "I can" and "I will" and guess what? Things will begin to change for the better.

I have faith in you!

Blessings and Namaste,
Dawn
--
langdc@gmail.com
http://www.healthyperceptions.blogspot.com
http://www.twitter.com/dawn_lang

Yoga for Holiday Sanity

Blessed day all ~

Holidays are a wonderful time of year spent with family and friends, however they can also cause stress and anxiety. Bring your yoga practice into your holiday by incorporating these simple tips:

1. breathe deeply - when we get anxious about food, family, traveling we often have shallow breathing. Breathing deeply can help center our focus, reduce stress and help us be present in the moment.

2. be mindful of what you eat and drink - the holidays bless us with an array of food and beverages that are delicious, but packed full of added calories, sugar and fat that can make us feel sluggish and lethargic. Gravitate to the vegetables first and fill yourself up on energy food - food that comes from the earth (vegetables, oats, range free turkey/chicken). Your body will thank you.

3. yoga for circulation and stress management - don't have time to get to a class, try these sequences to help you get through the moment, day or weekend:
http://www.yogajournal.com/poses/sequence_builder/print_sequence/?action=custom&yj=sequence_print&id=20646
If you cannot open the attachment, focus on a simple sun salutation or simple Vinyasa flow.

Simple Vinyasa Flow:
child's pose
cat pose
cow pose
downward facing dog
plank
downward facing dog
child's pose
cobra
downward facing dog
child's pose
(repeat 5-6 times)


Many many blessings to you and your family. Safe travels :)
~Dawn

Common Misconceptions About Yoga

By Timothy McCall, M.D.

If you are suffering from a chronic condition or looking for an overall preventive health plan, you may want to consider yoga. But before you embark, there are a number of misconceptions that I’d like to clear up:

1. Yoga is only for stress relief. Yoga is indeed a powerful stress buster. Even a single session can make you feel calmer. Since stress is a factor in a host of medical conditions--from high blood pressure to infertility--yoga can indeed help. But yoga is much more. A regular yoga program can strengthen muscles, deepen breathing, improve balance and enhance flexibility. Yoga has been shown in studies to help people with asthma, arthritis, depression, heart disease and many other problems. And even if a condition like cancer isn’t caused by stress, getting diagnosed and undergoing treatment can be stressful and yoga can, at the very least, help with that.

2. Yoga is a religion. Although yoga came out of ancient India it is not a form of Hinduism or a covert way to propagate any religion. In fact, yoga is happily practiced by Christians, Buddhists, Jews, Moslems, atheists and agnostics alike. There is certainly a spiritual side to yoga but you don’t have to subscribe to any particular beliefs to benefit from it. If chanting Om or some other aspect isn’t for you, I’ve never seen a teacher object to a student skipping it.

3. Only the young and supple need apply. In India, I saw yoga therapy centers treat people with all kinds of physical, mental and emotional disabilities. It has been used successfully on schizophrenics, the mentally retarded and people who are bound to bed or wheelchairs. All that’s required is some mental awareness and the will to give it a try.

4. Yoga therapy is the same as taking a yoga class. Most yoga therapy is done one-on-one or in small groups with experienced teachers. The average yoga teacher in a health club, however, isn’t likely to know enough to be able to do therapeutic yoga safely and well. While general classes may be great preventive medicine, many are too demanding for someone with a serious medical condition. If you have any doubts, be sure to speak with the teacher and ask about her yoga experience, what techniques she employs and her experience in working with people like you.

5. Yoga is a quick fix. Every single yoga expert I met in India stressed the need for the student to practice, even if only for a few minutes a day. The effect is cumulative over a long period of time as you slowly gain more control over your body and mind.

Yoga may be strong medicine but it is slow medicine. And you get back in proportion to what you put in.

New Research Says Yoga Changes Brain Chemistry

Yogis have known for centuries that a yoga practice makes us feel calm and centered. But science is finally catching up with what we've all experienced on the mat and the cushion: yoga changes our brain chemistry, which in turn helps improve mood and decrease anxiety.

A new study in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary medicine reports that yoga triggers the release of the brain chemical gamma-aminobutyric acid, or GABA, a chemical in the brain that helps to regulate nerve activity. The findings establish a new link between yoga, higher levels of GABA, and improved mood.

The study, led by researchers at the Boston University School of Medicine (the lead researcher is a yogi!), brings us one step closer toward harnessing yoga's power of prevention and relaxation. Who knows: maybe this can lead to a wider acceptance of yoga in the medical community as a tool to help people struggling with anxiety and depression. Prescription for yoga, anyone?

http://blogs.yogajournal.com/yogabuzz/2010/11/new-research-says-yoga-changes-brain-chemistry.html

Gratitude

Blessed day all ~

Hoping this day finds you full of grace, peace and gratitude for all that you have in your life - possessions, people, health, faith and love. I want to share some information that a dear friend, Roz Usheroff, passed along as it is poignant this time of year as we celebrate and give thanks.

“If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, ‘thank you,’ that would suffice.” – 13th century German philosopher Meister Eckhart.

Gratitude is not a new concept for any of us. To this day, leadership books echo Eckhart’s advice. I invite you to consider gratitude from three perspectives: a way to increase joy in good times; a way to lessen pain in bad times; and a way to build your brand by giving voice to the gratitude you naturally feel in your heart. Because as novelist GB Stern said, “Silent gratitude isn't much use to anyone.”

Be grateful in good times.

Thankfulness is a great equalizer. In good times, it leads us to acknowledge that our success does not belong to us alone. See your success and good fortune in the context of the support, love and encouragement you have received over the years. Gratitude does not take away anything from you. Instead, I believe, it increases the joy you can gain from your success.

It is easy to see who understands the role of others in their success when listening to acceptance speeches at an awards dinner or watching the Academy Awards.

Compare James Cameron’s declaration he was, “king of the world,” when he received the Oscar for the movie ”Titanic,” with Jamie Foxx’seloquent and moving speech of gratitude when he won an Oscar for his performance as Ray Charles in “Ray”, which ended with a tearful tribute to his grandmother. Both speeches are on YouTube and are worth the study in contrast.

Those who are genuine in their gratitude toward family, friends and mentors move us when they speak. And in that moment, a connection is created.

Be grateful in difficult times.

Gratitude helps us maintain perspective when we are faced with adversity. In the face of losing a job, a promotion or a contract, we can still be grateful for the family, friends and loved ones who are part of our lives. In the face of personal loss due to illness, death or another tragedy, we can be grateful for those around us or a job that gives us structure and meaning during a difficult time.

Just as you have a professional network, you must also be part of a resiliency circle of close family and friends who are there for each other when things are good or not so good. Once on the other side of personal or professional tragedy, be sure to go back and thank those who stood by you on your darkest days.

Giving voice to gratitude.

There are many ways to give voice to your gratitude. Before doing so, think about the person you are thanking. Is he a private person? Would she appreciate public praise? Would a nice lunch together be appreciated or awkward for them? Observe how they thank others, as that is likely how they would prefer to be thanked.

Think about some of the nicest, most meaningful “thank you's” you have received in your life. What made them memorable?

Without prescribing any one way to say thank you, here are some ideas to consider:

• Make it personal. Hand-written notes - No matter how virtual the world becomes, there is something deeply personal about a note penned in one’s own handwriting on personal stationary.
• Choose your words. Don't just dash off the first thing that comes to your head. Take some time to craft your words – whether spoken or written – in a way that will hold meaning for the recipient.
• Pick up the phone. Ah, the telephone -- that semi-useless instrument on your desk beside your computer. It can be easier to impart sincerity and emotion with your voice than with a keyboard.
• Get creative. There are many online tools that can help you create personalized mementos from photos of a shared event or create some other symbolic way to memorialize a victory or milestone.
• Give a small gift. It is important that any thank-you gifts be appropriate and larger in meaning than in actual dollar value. You don't want your recipient to mistake a token of your thanks with payment for services rendered. For example, a Starbucks card for a devoted coffee drinker along with a personal note might be a winning combination.
• Give the gift of time. Two friends of mine stopped exchanging gifts a few years ago and started spending a day together on their birthdays. It has evolved into a tradition they both cherish.

There are as many ways to say thank you as there are reasons to say it. This holiday season, let family, friends and colleagues know how much you care. Live your life with gratitude; not with regrets because today is what truly counts.

With blessings and gratitude,
Dawn

Integrity - the Glue that Binds

Today I listened to a woman business leader in the insurance industry who spoke at the Healthcare Businesswomen's Association (HBA) Indiana Chapter event regarding the importance of balancing family and career. Lori Beer is the executive vice president of Enterprise Business Services for WellPoint, Inc., a mother of 3 and and spouse to a loving husband. Great talk with some key takeaways I wanted to share:

- Your integrity is key in all aspects of life. Lead with integrity and hard work, and your intentions become clearer.
- Lead with integrity during the hard times when everything and everyone seems to be against you. It keeps you centered and on track.
- Prioritize the important things at work and home. Let go of the little things that don't really matter when it comes to the big picture.
- Put the oxygen mask on yourself first, then tend to others. We often hear this directive given on airplanes when traveling with children, however, the deeper meaning behind it is poignant - give yourself a break so you have the energy to be a better mother, spouse and leader to others.
- Be present; be here and now whether at home or work. It is all about your full attention more than time. Put down the Blackberry. Listen and engage with others, at home and work.
- Embrace change. You will be defined as a leader by how much you embrace change.
- Attitude is key in how you embrace change. Check it - often.
- Only you can define what works for you.
- Community Service and giving back - define what it means to you to give back, and involve your children in the experience.
- Follow your shadow as a leader - walk the talk.

"......Leadership is about taking people where they need to go." - Roselyn Carter

Blessings ~

Life is a journey, not a destination.

Hoping this day gives you patience for the gifts that will come and develop over time. While answers and direction are often provided, they may not reveal themselves when we want them to.

Great thoughts from a loving, supportive, charismatic, and dynamic mentor - Roz Usheroff. I had the privilege of meeting her this past week at a leadership conference in Philadelphia for the Healthcare Businesswomen's Association. It is a must share:

• Be true to your true talents. If your natural gifts are not a focal point of your career, then you must reassess your strategies and focus.

• Surround yourself with people who will champion you. This includes coaches, mentors, role models, and good friends.

• Adopt an attitude of gratitude and true humility. No one gets ahead without the help of others and without helping others.

• Look at failure as an opportunity to get a free education. Learn how to rise above the obstacles.

• Take time to celebrate all the small things. Your character isnot defined during the happy times but rather during those times when the roadblocks seem permanent.

• Leave a legacy that honors you as a person, a colleague, a friend, a loved one, a parent, a humanitarian, and a person of substance.

• If you only measure yourself by the money you make and your job title, you will always shortchange your fulfillment.

The Usheroff Institute is committed to making a difference in your industry. If you are interested in learning more about tapping into being remarkable or our other programs, please contact Jan at jan@usheroff.com or visit their website at www.usheroff.com for an extensive overview of program offerings.

Blessings and Namaste,
Dawn

Believing In You

Blessed day all ~

Hoping this day finds you inspired with what God has placed in front of you - enamored with the possibilities - and humbled at the potential outcome.

At a time when the world seems to be in such a disarray, it is easy to turn a blind eye and believe that someone else will pick up the slack . . . that someone else will take responsibility and move things forward. Why wait for someone else to mold your future? Why wait for something else to carve a path for you to walk on? Now is the time for you. Now is the time for you to create your own path - choosing the path less traveled - to uncover the possibilities that await you. It is time to quit waiting on others to create your destiny. Believe in yourself - believe that you can move mountains and you will! Now is the time. I believe in you.

Watch your thoughts for they become words.
Choose your words for they become actions.
Understand your actions for they become habits.
Study your habits for they become your behavior.
Develop your character for it becomes your destiny.

Blessings,
Dawn

Brendan Hogan

Today we lost one of God's brave earthly soldiers, as he returned "home" to be with his Father in Heaven. Although he was only 9-year-old, Brendan taught many of us strength, compassion, courage, love, and faith. Diagnosed with brain cancer at the tender age of 7, he proved to be a great fighter for almost 2 years, until the cancer won out - but did it really? Brendan lives on in our hearts and souls as he dances with Jesus in Heaven.

God bless you, Brendan, and the Hogan family!

Life Purpose is to fill others with love!

Hoping this day finds you thankful for the many, many friends and family that love and adore you each and every day.

This past week was one of the hardest I have had to endure in a very, very long time. While in Seattle on a business trip last week, many in our company witnessed a horrific event - a stranger falling from a building to his death (suicide). Although none of us knew this person, we came to know about him posthumously. One never knows how they will react or respond at such an incident, but I have come to know that life is full of experiences that teach us many things. Witnessing this incident taught me that:

1) I must tell the people I love that I, in fact, love them with all my heart, and not take for granted or assume they know this. I question if John, the 24-year-old who fell to his death, truly knew this.

2) Know that my purpose on this life, at the very least, is to be an honorable servant of God, supportive and loving wife to my husband, and protector of my children. I must show this with my actions.

3) My life will be driven by God's purpose(s) for me - I must be open to receiving this, not resistant.

I encourage each of you to consider for a moment the many blessings you have and not take them for granted. The image of this person will always be with me as a reminder to fill others with love. I encourage you to fill others with love, also. Seeing the comments and postings on Johns Facebook Memorial page is eye opening. Many cared and loved him, and are deeply saddened at his death. Did he know how much love people had for him? If he knew, would he have fallen to his death?

Many people care and love you. Know this. Make sure you share your love openly with others.

Blessings,
Dawn

Are you really open to God's blessings?

The answers to our prayers are always right in front of us, yet we miss them many times because we are not focused on the day we are in with openess to what God offers us this very day. Let us all pray today that our hearts will be open, with the peace of the Holy Spirit, to see all of the things that God has already provided for us. This is a wonderful daily habit to develop.

Declaration of Independence - Text

“Those who desire to give up freedom in order to gain security will not have, nor do they deserve, either one.” – Benjamin Franklin


When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and of nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any form of government becomes destructive to these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security. –Such has been the patient sufferance of these colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former systems of government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute tyranny over these states. To prove this, let facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his assent to laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.

He has forbidden his governors to pass laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.

He has refused to pass other laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of representation in the legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.

He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.

He has dissolved representative houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.

He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the legislative powers, incapable of annihilation, have returned to the people at large for their exercise; the state remaining in the meantime exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.

He has endeavored to prevent the population of these states; for that purpose obstructing the laws for naturalization of foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migration hither, and raising the conditions of new appropriations of lands.

He has obstructed the administration of justice, by refusing his assent to laws for establishing judiciary powers.

He has made judges dependent on his will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.

He has erected a multitude of new offices, and sent hither swarms of officers to harass our people, and eat out their substance.

He has kept among us, in times of peace, standing armies without the consent of our legislature.

He has affected to render the military independent of and superior to civil power.

He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his assent to their acts of pretended legislation:

For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:

For protecting them, by mock trial, from punishment for any murders which they should commit on the inhabitants of these states:

For cutting off our trade with all parts of the world:

For imposing taxes on us without our consent:

For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of trial by jury:

For transporting us beyond seas to be tried for pretended offenses:

For abolishing the free system of English laws in a neighboring province, establishing therein an arbitrary government, and enlarging its boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule in these colonies:

For taking away our charters, abolishing our most valuable laws, and altering fundamentally the forms of our governments:

For suspending our own legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.

He has abdicated government here, by declaring us out of his protection and waging war against us.

He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burned our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.

He is at this time transporting large armies of foreign mercenaries to complete the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of cruelty and perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the head of a civilized nation.

He has constrained our fellow citizens taken captive on the high seas to bear arms against their country, to become the executioners of their friends and brethren, or to fall themselves by their hands.

He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavored to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian savages, whose known rule of warfare, is undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

In every stage of these oppressions we have petitioned for redress in the most humble terms: our repeated petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

Nor have we been wanting in attention to our British brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, enemies in war, in peace friends.

We, therefore, the representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the name, and by the authority of the good people of these colonies, solemnly publish and declare, that these united colonies are, and of right ought to be free and independent states; that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the state of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as free and independent states, they have full power to levy war, conclude peace, contract alliances, establish commerce, and to do all other acts and things which independent states may of right do. And for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor.

New Hampshire: Josiah Bartlett, William Whipple, Matthew Thornton

Massachusetts: John Hancock, Samual Adams, John Adams, Robert Treat Paine, Elbridge Gerry

Rhode Island: Stephen Hopkins, William Ellery

Connecticut: Roger Sherman, Samuel Huntington, William Williams, Oliver Wolcott

New York: William Floyd, Philip Livingston, Francis Lewis, Lewis Morris

New Jersey: Richard Stockton, John Witherspoon, Francis Hopkinson, John Hart, Abraham Clark

Pennsylvania: Robert Morris, Benjamin Rush, Benjamin Franklin, John Morton, George Clymer, James Smith, George Taylor, James Wilson, George Ross

Delaware: Caesar Rodney, George Read, Thomas McKean

Maryland: Samuel Chase, William Paca, Thomas Stone, Charles Carroll of Carrollton

Virginia: George Wythe, Richard Henry Lee, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Harrison, Thomas Nelson, Jr., Francis Lightfoot Lee, Carter Braxton

North Carolina: William Hooper, Joseph Hewes, John Penn

South Carolina: Edward Rutledge, Thomas Heyward, Jr., Thomas Lynch, Jr., Arthur Middleton

Georgia: Button Gwinnett, Lyman Hall, George Walton



Read more: Declaration of Independence Text | 4th of July Quotes | Independence Day Quotes | The Daily Inquirer http://www.thedailyinquirer.net/declaration-of-independence-text-4th-of-july-quotes-independence-day-quotes/0717119#ixzz0sj6dq1fq
Via: The Daily Inquirer

Love is patient, Love is kind

Standing beside you I took an oath to make your life simpler by complicating mine, and what I always thought would happen did. I was lifted up in joy!

Summer Solstice Celebration: Yoga in Times Square - Happening LIVE today!

http://www.earthcam.com/usa/newyork/timessquare/?cam=lennon_hd

The Summer Solstice is the longest day of the year, and occurs on June 21st in the Northern Hemisphere. After the Summer Solstice the days begin to get imperceptibly shorter each day, until the Fall Equinox, when day and night are of equal length. The Winter Solstice is the shortest day of the year, and the Spring Equinox finds the days and nights equal once again. Then the days begin to get longer until another Summer Solstice occurs. These changes in the orientation of the earth and its orbit are what create seasons.

The Summer Solstice occurs on June 20-21 each year. It is considered the official first day of summer in the Northern Hemisphere and of Winter in the Southern Hemisphere. As the earth spins on its axis, it tilts either toward or away from the sun. When it tilts towards the sun, between June and September, it creates summer in the northern hemisphere; from December to March, it tilts away from the sun, creating winter in the Northern Hemisphere.

Many cultures celebrate the solstices and the equinoxes, and many holidays have emerged to commemorate them. Christmas's pagan origins arose out of the Winter Solstice celebration. Other holidays such as Yalda, Saturnalia, Karachun, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and Yule are also celebrated around this time.

Recognition

Without a doubt, providing recognition is one of the best ways (if not the best way) to build and maintain superior performance. The reason for that is quite simple: reinforced behavior gets repeated.

~ Eric Harvey

Say Grace

On the surface, gratitude appears to arise from a sense that you're indebted to another person for taking care of you in some way, but looking deeper, you'll see that the feeling is actually a heightened awareness of your connection to everything else.

Gratitude flows when you break out of the small, self-centered point of view with its ferocious expectations and demands and appreciate that through the labors and intentions and even the simple existence of an inconceivably large number of people, weather patterns, chemical reactions, and the like, you have been given the miracle of your life, with all the goodness in it today.

When you awaken to the truth of this incredible interconnectedness, you are spontaneously filled with joy and appreciation. It is for this reason that one of the most transformative practices you can engage in is the cultivation of gratitude. Contentment, or appreciation for what you have, leads to unexcelled joy, while other yogic texts say that this sense of appreciation is the "supreme joy" that naturally leads to the realization of the Absolute. Thankfully, gratitude can be cultivated. It simply takes practice.

~From YogaJournal.com
http://www.yogajournal.com/practice/2424?utm_source=Wisdom&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=Wisdom

Loving Life

The minute you begin to do what you really want to do, it's really a different kind of life.

-R. Buckminster Fuller

Insulin Maker Cuts Off Supply to Greece

Insulin Maker Cuts Off Supply to Greece

UPI Business News - May. 29, 2010
Danish drug maker Novo Nordisk says it has cut off the supply of insulin to Greece over a government order that all medicine prices be slashed 25 percent.

Novo Nordisk, the world’s leading supplier of the diabetes drug insulin, is pulling the drug from the Greek market because the mandated price cut would force the company’s Greek division to operate at a loss, a spokesman for the company told the BBC. The company said it also worried other countries could look to Greece’s example when setting drug prices.

More than 50,000 Greek diabetics rely on Novo Nordisk’s insulin, which is injected with a device that resembles a pen.

Novo Nordisk’s move drew condemnation in Greece, the where the Greek Diabetes Association called it brutal blackmail" and "a violation of corporate social responsibility."

Greece said it imposed the price cut as part of an effort to cut medical costs as the country struggles to reduce its debt.

Pavlos Panayotacos, whose 10-year-old daughter, Nephele, has diabetes, criticized Novo Nordisk in a letter to its chairman.

"As an economist I realize the importance of making a profit, but healthcare is more than just the bottom line," he wrote.

"As you well may know, Greece is presently in dire economic and social straits, and you could not have acted in a more insensitive manner at a more inopportune time."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Why should you be concerned about this? Because pharmaceutical drug prices and production are impacted on a global scale. Should the US government begin to impose these kind of price cuts here in the US that Greece is imposing, we will begin to see a reduction in the drugs offered here in the states. For example, instead of having 5 different kinds of Type 2 diabetes medications to choose from, we may only have one which may or may not work for you. We live in a world where we have freedom of CHOICE. We are slowly seeing this choice taken away by government. Watch carefully what is happeing internationally. Our government behavior is behaving similarly to that of Europe, Greece, Mexico, and Venezuela in many ways. Be informed. Read. Watch. Listen. Do not be a passive participant and take what you hear at face value. Trust but validate.

Robot Doctors?

Gienna Shaw, for HealthLeaders Media, May 18, 2010

Telehealth and remote medicine are hot topics these days, widely regarded as fields that are about to explode—from remote radiology readings to ICU monitoring by off-site intensivists, to e-visits during which the patient and physician consult via video. But perhaps the most futuristic use of these technologies is the doctor robot: a device that allows the doctor to "walk" (or, perhaps more accurately, roll) into a room and examine his or her patient.

One such device is the five-foot tall RP-7® Robot, manufactured by InTouch Health® in Santa Barbara, CA. A physician, using a control station and a joystick, can maneuver through the hospital halls, interacting with patients, family members, other clinicians, and staff via a live video feed. The doctor's face is visible on a monitor that serves as the robot's "head." A camera, speaker, and microphone allow real-time, two-way audio and video communication.

Clinicians use the remote presence devices in a variety of different applications, from time-sensitive stroke treatment, emergency room call, critical care coverage, hospital capacity management, and specialty training and collaboration.

Early adopters include California's UCLA Medical Center, St. Joseph Mercy Oakland in Pontiac, MI, and the North Shore LIJ Health System in New York.

In addition to improved efficiency for doctors, who can conduct night and weekend rounds from their home, clinic, or office, the robots can also improve patient and family satisfaction. In a study led by Louis Kavoussi, MD, chairman of urology at North Shore-LIJ, and the nation's first user of the remote rounding robot, half the patients preferred a "tele-rounding" visit by their own doctor to a "real" visit by another physician. More than 80% of the patients felt that the robot increased physician accessibility.

"Patients have been extraordinarily receptive and enthusiastic about the robot," Kavoussi, who is using one of the three robots at LIJ to check on his patients after hours and on weekends, said in a release. LIJ is also using two robots in its ICU. The hospital's intensivists use the robots from their homes and offices to provide additional patient monitoring.

Although there are benefits—especially in rural and other areas where access to specialists is limited and as a Band-Aid for the physician shortage in general—there are some critics who say some robotic-controlled procedures are gimmicks, that the price of the technology is to steep for many hospitals, and it could limit the human contact that's important to the patient-physician relationship, notes an article in the Ventura County Star in Camarillo, CA ("Robots' place in diagnostics, surgeries debated").

An anecdote I heard recently suggests the latter argument is not always true, however. An elderly woman had been seeing her physician via robot over the course of several visits. At the time of one scheduled visit the physician was in the area and decided to meet with her in person. "What are you doing here?" she asked when he walked in the exam room. "And where is my robot?"

http://www.healthleadersmedia.com/print/TEC-251199/Domo-Arigato-Doctor-Roboto

Drink This to Help Undo a Heavy Meal

By Real Age

When you overdo it and down a day's calories in one sitting, your body's inflammatory processes go into overdrive. But here's a way you might counter it: Drink orange juice.

In a recent study, people who had eaten a supersized fast-food breakfast experienced a much milder inflammatory response in their bodies when they drank OJ with the meal.

High-Calorie Catastrophe
Whatever you do, don't pair that overindulgence with a soda. When researchers compared the effects that three different beverages had on the way bodies process big, fatty, inflammation-triggering foods, sugar water was the worst of the bunch. It seemed to exacerbate the inflammatory response. Plain water faired somewhere in between orange juice and sugar water. But it has the added benefit of being calorie-free.

The Flavonoid Fix ~
What makes orange juice so good at helping clamp down on the inflammation and oxidation that big, fatty meals cause? The heroes are likely two important flavonoids found in oranges -- naringenin and hesperidin. These powerful antioxidants help tamp down body processes that can damage blood vessels and lay the groundwork for big health problems, like atherosclerosis and heart disease.

Reference Published on 05/03/2010:
Orange juice neutralizes the proinflammatory effect of a high-fat, high-carbohydrate meal and prevents endotoxin increase and Toll-like receptor expression. Ghanim, H. et al., American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2010 Apr;91(4):940-949.

Excerpt from 'Getting Good at Getting Along'

Many people say that the best relationships are those that are 50-50. It’s a nice idea, but it often falls short in real life. People hold onto resentments – waiting for the other person to “see the light.” People insist that others take their share of responsibility when an issue comes up: “I’ve done my part; now it’s their turn.” The problem is, you might be waiting a very long time if you always insist that relationships (and their problems) be 50-50 propositions.

If you’re really serious about getting good at getting along with others, here’s an idea that can transform your life: Instead of expecting people to meet you 50-50, try making it 100-0. You take on the entire responsibility for making the relationship work, and don’t worry about whether the other person is doing their part!

Yes, it’s a somewhat radical idea. But if you’re up to really having amazing relationships at work – and in your personal life – this will do it. You’ll never again feel that you’re at the mercy of someone else. You’ll never feel like a victim of another’s actions or inactions.

Here’s how it works …
• Assume that the other person is a given. “He is who he is.” “This is her personality – she isn’t going to change.” Just accept the person exactly as they are – and exactly as they aren’t. This is who you’ve got to work with.
• Ask yourself, How can I change my words or actions when I deal with this person? You don’t have to change your whole personality – you’re just going to use different language and behaviors when dealing with this person.
• Try out new behaviors and new ways of conversing with your “problem person.” See what works and do more of it. If something doesn’t work, stop doing it.
• Learn from others. Watch others who have excellent interpersonal relationships and learn from them. If you want good relationships like those, mimic them.
• When there’s a problem, take ownership of it. As long as someone else is the problem, you’re powerless. But if YOU own the problem, then YOU can own and control the solution.

A Mother's Love

A mother’s love is as big as a house, deep as an ocean, constant as the stars. A mother’s love is all encompassing, all knowing, and all forgiving. It is home. And yet, as big as it is, a mother’s love remembers all the details and knows the littlest things can be the most important—like how much chocolate in the milk, when to offer advice and when to be still, and just the right squeezing that makes the perfect hug. From the biggest moments down to the sweetest nothings, a mother’s heart stands at the ready to comfort, encourage, inspire, protect and, most of all, love.

Mother’s LOVE shows us the way.
Mother’s COURAGE can move mountains.
Mother’s WISDOM holds you close.

“It is not until you become a mother that your judgment slowly turns to compassion and understanding.”
~Erma Bombeck

You Belong to God

Consider this. You have a master that you serve. You belong to this master. You are made to follow and worship such a master. This is your design, your nature; this is what you do. Call it other things—choosing your own destiny, doing things your way—but you serve. You can believe that you are independent, that you are in control, that you are on top and in charge, but you follow and you worship. In great wonder and beauty and glory, this is how you are made. You are made to belong to someone. You are made to belong.

Now, if you belong to someone, all of who you are belongs to that master. If you belong to God, your past and your present and your future belong to Him. He bought them. Did you hear that? He owns your past, you don’t. He has purchased you, and your past is His to redeem. So you can let go of it and give it to Him. He also possesses your future, so you don’t need to worry about tomorrow. And He owns your present moment, your “right now” so that you can release it to Him as well. He can handle all of this quite well; far, far better than any other master you can choose.
Life in Him is meant to be this simple and good.

PRAY
Lord, thank you that You have saved me and purchased me with your death. I belong to You. May I find all my deepest desires for belonging, peace-filled surrender, freedom to follow someone I can fully trust, serving well and doing things of great lasting value, worshiping in celebration and wonder and free-flowing praise. May I find all of these things of my heart met in You. May I accept no substitutes or alternatives. Please deliver me from all deception and grant to me a heart filled with You and focused on You alone. Amen.

READ
1 PETER 2:9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

Am I Worthy?

REFLECT
We can make the mistake of thinking that prayer requires heroic efforts, a certain lifestyle or a mindset that is clear and unconfused. We can think ourselves out of praying. There are, of course, times when we pray out of some terror that has surrounded us. We know we are desperate for God’s immediate aid, if we are to continue breathing the breath of life. At times like those, our prayer is often little more than one word, Help. Yet, apart from those times of desperation, we can shy away from developing a regular and steady prayer practice because we think God has certain criteria that will either be difficult or impossible to meet. Instead, we continue chugging out our days and nights, struggling alone with our trials and temptations, our hurts and questions, our stress and anxiety, with only a casual communication with the loving Creator.

This is the surprise; there are no criteria. There are no expectations. We do not have to become perfect before we pray. We do not have to achieve holiness before heaven will stoop to hear our poor and paltry voice. It takes only a glance, an intention, a sliver of desire, a moment of acknowledgement, and suddenly, the gap that seemed as wide as a valley becomes as close as a whisper, out of a recognition that God has come near.

PRAY
Lord, help me to no longer be overly concerned as to the whens or whys or hows when it comes to prayer and just simply remember that it is the Who that I am praying to that matter. You receive all of our prayers in the same way you love us—unconditionally. Thank You. Amen.

READ
James 4:8 Come near to God and he will come near to you…

Recognizing a Stroke

Remember the '3' steps, STR (first 3 letters of the word STROKE)

Sometimes symptoms of a stroke are difficult to identify. Unfortunately, the lack of awareness spells disaster. The stroke victim may suffer severe brain damage when people nearby fail to recognize the symptoms of a stroke.

The first 3 hours are critical to reverse the effects of a stroke. Now doctors say a bystander can recognize a stroke by asking three simple questions:

1. S - Ask the individual to SMILE.
2. T - Ask the person to TALK and speak a simple sentence coherently. (i.e. It is sunny out today.)
3. R - Ask them to RAISE both arms.

New Sign of a Stroke -------- Stick out Your Tongue
NOTE: Another 'sign' of a stroke is this: Ask the person to 'stick' out his tongue. If the tongue is 'crooked', if it goes to one side or the other, that is also an indication of a stroke.

If he or she has trouble with ANY ONE of these tasks, call emergency number immediately and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher.

Body of Christ

REFLECT
As part of Christ’s body, we each have been given a special role to play. Each member of the body is important and belongs to every other member of the body. We need one another, and we each have a work to do. When every member of the body does its work, the body is healthy and grows to be all God wants it to be. Your part is needed. The Word says if you are not doing your part, you are actually missed.

Did you know that each and every member of the body has received gifts and talents to be used? Yes that’s right…you! God has gifted you. You know what? He has done so not for your benefit but for the benefit of others! Our gifts are to be used build up others and to build up His church! We were created to be in community with one another. To do life together, not as individuals, but as fellow journeyers seeking to grow closer to God and to one another, one relational opportunity at a time.

Reflect upon how you are using the gifts that God has given you. How are they being shared with others around you? Are you seeing the opportunities, the intersections along the way, where God has placed someone or something that needs what God has given you to share?

PRAY
Lord, please reveal to me the gifts You have given me. Show me the special function You have for me within the Body of Christ. Please enable all believers to use their gifts for Your glory. Allow us to help build your church one relationship at a time. Amen.

READ
Romans 12:6-8 We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.

PURPOSE

REFLECT
Ever thought that you were strategically placed? Where you live, work, or go to school—all of it is for a purpose. God chose the exact time and place where you would be living right now! You are part of a bigger plan, His plan. You were placed here for a purpose.

Sometimes it is hard to see God’s plan when you are in the middle of the practical duties of everyday life. It can all become so routine and sometimes burdensome. Trust Him; He has a purpose for you right here. Pray and ask Him to show you. Some of us just may need a little reminder.

PRAYER
Lord, show me what my part is. How am I strategically placed? Use me for Your Kingdom work. Empower me to do things I never thought I could do. Amen.

READ ON YOUR OWN
Acts 17:26-28 From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’

Take Responsibility for Your Health - Now!

Today is an historic day. With all of the debate and voting taking place in Washington tonight, I step back and wonder how we ever got to this point - the point at which we must rely on the government to provide mandated health coverage for everyone. At what point do we, as individuals, accept responsibility for our individual choices?

My mother was a smoker - 2 packs of cigarettes a day, since the age of 16. She ate reasonably well, but was not obsessive about it. Kept her weight within reasonable range - however, she ended up having a massive stroke at the age of 41 and died from it.

We all must do a better job of eating well, exercising regularly (3x/week or more), avoid excessive alcohol consumption, don't smoke and make healthy decisions that will help you and your family live a better quality of life. It is that simple. But, it is a lifelong commitment. There are times when it will be hard. Know that now. Anyone who tells you otherwise is not being realistic and truthful. You will have chocolate cravings, ice cream cravings, sugar cravings, potato chip cravings - it is ok. Have a small portion to satisfy the craving then walk away. In fact, go for a walk to take your mind off of the food.

We have lived in a society where we allowed people to eat excessive amounts of fried or fast food, smoke cigarettes and sit around the house omitting exercise from any part of daily living. Now that we, as a country, are paying for each of our lifestyle habits and behaviors through a government run health care program, don't expect your neighbors around you to be silent observers. Get ready for the comments, suggestions and (yes) offers of help and encouragement. We all are now in this together. Especially financially. We will be paying for this coverage for generations to come.

My hope is that there will be programs in place to help with behavior change - encouraging those with chronic conditions (or close to getting a chronic condition) to learn how to eat well, select healthy food options in the grocery story, learn how to prepare foods that are low fat. This is CHANGE we all can count on. It must be learned. There must be support and encouragement from those who have the knowledge, time and resources to teach others. This behavior change is what will positively impact our generation and those that follow. Having a program to pay for our health is simply too simple. There must be more of an incentive - we must change our lifestyle to that of a healthier one. Our future,and our grand children's future, depends on it!

21 Suggestions for Success

-By H. Jackson Brown, Jr.
1. Marry the right person. This one decision will determine 90% of your happiness or misery.
2. Work at something you enjoy and that’s worthy of your time and talent.
3. Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.
4. Become the most positive and enthusiastic person you know.
5. Be forgiving of yourself and others.
6. Be generous.
7. Have a grateful heart.
8. Persistence, persistence, persistence.
9. Discipline yourself to save money on even the most modest salary.
10. Treat everyone you meet like you want to be treated.
11. Commit yourself to constant improvement.
12. Commit yourself to quality.
13. Understand that happiness is not based on possessions, power or prestige, but on relationships with people you love and respect.
14. Be loyal.
15. Be honest.
16. Be a self-starter.
17. Be decisive even if it means you’ll sometimes be wrong.
18. Stop blaming others. Take responsibility for every area of your life.
19. Be bold and courageous. When you look back on your life, you’ll regret the things you didn’t do more than the ones you did.
20. Take good care of those you love.
21. Don’t do anything that wouldn’t make your Mom proud.

You Say. . . God Says

“It's impossible.” ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE. (Luke 18:27)
“I'm too tired”. I WILL GIVE YOU REST. (Matthew 11:28-30)
“Nobody really loves me.” I LOVE YOU. (John 3:16, John 3:34)
“I can't go on.” MY GRACE IS SUFFICIENT. (II Corinthians 12:9 & Psalm 91:15)
“I can't figure things out.” I WILL DIRECT YOUR STEPS. (Proverbs 3:5- 6)
“I can't do it.” YOU CAN DO ALL THINGS. (Philippians 4:13)
“I'm not able.” I AM ABLE. (II Corinthians 9:8)
“It's not worth it.” IT WILL BE WORTH IT. (Roman 8:28)
“I can't forgive myself.” I FORGIVE YOU. (I John 1:9 & Romans 8:1)
“I can't manage.” I WILL SUPPLY ALL YOUR NEEDS. (Philippians 4:19)
“I'm afraid.” I HAVE NOT GIVEN YOU A SPIRIT OF FEAR. (II Timothy 1:7)
“I'm always worried & frustrated.” CAST ALL YOUR CARES ON ME. (I Peter 5:7)
“I'm not smart enough.” I GIVE YOU WISDOM. (I Corinthians 1:30)
“I feel all alone.” I WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU OR FORSAKE YOU. (Hebrews 13:5)

Caring for Others Begins with Believing in Ourselves

People don't care what you know until they know that you care. If we all lead with this premise in mind we would be more receptive to change, more willing to accept what we don't have, and take necessary action steps to live within our means. The first steps begin within us. How can we expect others to do what we are not willing to do ourselves?

I believe that our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but we are responsible for who we become.

I believe that no matter how good a friend is, they are going to hurt you every once in a while and you must forgive them for that.

I believe that just because someone doesn't love you the way you want them to do not mean they don't love you with all they have.

I believe that it is taking me a long time to become the person I want to be.

I believe that you should always leave loved ones with loving words. It may be the last time you see them.

I believe that either you control your attitude or it controls you.

I believe that money is a lousy way of keeping score.

I believe that sometimes when I am angry I have the right to be angry, but that doesn't give me the right to be cruel.

I believe that it isn't always enough to be forgiven by others. Sometimes you have to learn to forgive yourself.

I believe that not matter how bad your heart is broken, the world doesn't stop for grief.

I believe that the people you care about most in life are taken from you much too soon.

I believe that life is more precious than money will ever be able to be.

Blessings,
Dawn

Discover Your Reason for Being

Discover Your Reason for Being (excerpted from The Nature of Success):
What are your greatest gifts? How can you best serve mankind? How can you best serve God? These are some questions you must answer to find your true purpose in life.

Who am I?
What am I meant to do here?
What am I trying to do with my life?

These are powerful questions that can be difficult to answer. They sometimes surface during major life transitions such as family strife, job loss, spiritual awakenings, or the death of a loved one. Every person is a unique being. There is only one of you in the universe. You have many obvious gifts and other gifts still waiting to be discovered.

I truly believe, however, that one of the most important questions you can ask yourself in your journey to find your purpose is, "How can I serve others?" Albert Schweitzer said it well: "I don't know what your destiny will be, but one thing I do know: the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who have sought and found how to serve."

- For more information about this excerpt go to www.walkthetalk.com

Congratulation on your new blog!

Really good idea.

Thanks,

Jeff

Thoughts, Words and Actions

Watch your thoughts, for they become words.
Choose your words, for they become actions.
Watch your actions, for they become your behavior.
Study your behavior, for it becomes your character.
Examine your character, for it becomes your destiny.