This touching story of an older father, his son and a sparrow brought me to tears. Sometimes it’s difficult to remember to have patience with the ones you love, but it’s easier to remember when you see messages like this. Click on link below to see the story:
Post from Reshareworthy
A movie about what really matters
Sometimes, life can be very stressful. Lots to do, but not enough time. This 3-minute movie will put it all in perspective. It’s all about our priorities and the choices we make. I’ll guarantee…it will make you smile, make you think, and make you want to share it with everyone you know. Enjoy!
Doctors say Dom Cooks has weeks to live, so tonight his high school is holding a special graduation ceremony for him.
Grab a tissue, take two minutes to watch this story>>http://kiro.tv/1jOngJO
A loving person lives in a loving world.
A hostile person lives in a hostile world;
everyone you meet is your mirror.
-Ken Keyes, Jr., shared by Heather in Anchorage, AK
If we see only the worst,
it destroys our capacity to do something.
If we remember those times and places—
and there are so many—
where people have behaved magnificently,
this gives us the energy to act,
and at least the possibility
of sending this spinning top of a world
in a different direction.
-Howard Zinn, shared by David in San Luis Obispo, CA
There are big heaps of good stuff in the world, along with plenty of poopiness as well. It is important not to ignore the yucky stuff completely, as there are lessons to be learned and people to be cautious about. Sometimes, though, we can get too focused on the difficulties. That can harden our heart which then makes it more difficult to see any of the positive aspects of life…which then causes to lose hope and our heart further hardens.
If you need a lift this week, I dare you to practice focusing on the upbeat people and happy happenings and delightful other-things that you encounter. It may not be possible (or prudent) to ONLY see the good stuff, but keeping your eyes open for sunshine will likely make your day brighter. And that could make all the difference. .
Peace,
Paul
Is it?
Is it beautiful to struggle? Well when I am struggling I don’t usually think so. Not even close. But admittedly when a struggle is over and I have the clarity of mind to look back and reflect on what I have learned and become because of the struggle my perspective changes a bit. And when I acknowledge the confidence, strength and wisdom I most probably would not have gained without the struggle…. well then, sure (maybe) Life is a beautiful struggle.
What if we had no struggles… sounds dreamy for about half a second. But if we had no gravity to struggle against we’d have no muscles – we’d be more limp than a jelly fish and weaker than the slime trail of a snail.
My kids brought home a phrase this year that is popular in their school. It goes like this – “The Struggle is Real.” It’s a phrase the students exchange with one another as they acknowledge the tedium, boredom and mediocrity of many of their classes and teachers.
One student says, “I’m off to Mr. Davidson’s class.”… and another replies in a consoling way… “The struggle is real.”
Well the struggle is real. And the struggle is really needed. Mediocre teachers perhaps are not needed or wanted … but adversity, something to challenge us…something to strive to over come… well considering what we would wouldn’t be without it… makes the struggle a beautiful thing.
Kirk Out
This is true because I have friends just like this!!
Some people are toxic and may indeed need to go. As Danielle Koepke suggests we should remove them without guilt. But what about people who may not be toxic or uncaring, but just having a bad day? A bad day can lead to a “Bad Day Say” where something pops out of someone’s mouth that may sound and even be toxic but that is not reflective of who the person typically is.
Have you ever had a “BAD DAY SAY”?
I have. When I said something that wasn’t typical of me or reflective of the person I am truly trying to be and would like to think I am. Where I hope people will forgive me, and remind me with kindness, a smile and seemingly instant forgiveness of my better self. In a recent situation I witnessed a person having a case of Bad Day Say and heard another respond to them in this way. “Wow, Teresa that doesn’t sound like you, you must be having a really bad day, what’s going on?” The kind and genuine acknowledgement of the friend led to an almost immediate softening of hearts and words…and I witnessed a bad day become a better day.
Mother Teresa offers us this wise counsel.
No matter who says what, you should accept it with a smile and do your own work. — Mother Teresa
While I don’t agree with this as an absolute truth, because I think some things are simply unacceptable to say… I absolutely do agree in spirit. Don’t let someone intentionally or unintentionally ruin your day or your say. 🙂 You know who you are and how happy and peaceful you want your life to be, so don’t give that away or let it go because of the poor choices or behaviors of others. The rest of us need your happiness and peace and you do too!
Good days make for Good Culture…. and how we handle Bad Days can make for an even better culture.
Kirk Out
OK – This should set a tone for a very nice week.
I have 3 engagements this week. 2 in Utah and another in Houston. Staying with a friend in UT and this was written on a small whiteboard in the guest room. ”If you want to give a light to others. You have to glow yourself.” Thomas Monson
In the following amazing clip we will see a man who instead of giving a glow…gives people bogus parking tickets… which then gives them a…. (well I don’t want to spoil it). It’s the perfect kind of prank, if there is such a thing, because it leaves people in a better place.
I want to surprise people with kindness… do you? Let’t do it!
Kirk Out
Terrence J, Rocsi, and VH1′s Black Ink star Dutchess are mourning the loss of their good friend and HamptonUniversity grad Yusuf Neville. The Durham, North Carolina native committed suicide on Wednesday by jumping from a hotel parking deck in Greensboro, while leaving family and friends asking, “What could we have done?”
Rocsi Diaz, an acquaintance of Yusuf, posted:
Tell all your loved ones you love them … Bury any feuds between old friends… Life is to short… To my #weallwegot family stay strong tonight… We have an angel watching over us now… RIP Yusuf
And VH1′s Black Ink Crew’s Dutchess:
U never know what the next person is going through. A friend of mine committed suicide and I’m honestly in complete shock because he was always so positive and encouraging. Please pray for his family and fiancée in this difficult time of loss.
She also took Yusuf’s death as an opportunity to shine light on something rarely talked about in the Black community: suicide.
Please have more compassion for people. Please understand I’ve made mistakes and I’ve learned from them and I continue to learn everyday. God knows but if u come across someone troubled or going through a storm they may cry or be mean or simply smile as nothing’s wrong just have more compassion u never know the storms in our lives or how anyone chooses to deal with them. #ripyusuf
Terrence J of E! News also added:
Rest in peace Yusuf. My heart is so heavy. You mean so much to all of us. I can’t even articulate right now. #weallwegot
From the outside looking in, Yusuf appeared to have it all together. He had found the love of his life Jennifer and was set to marry her later this year. On their wedding website, she describes him as the “sweetest, most caring person” she knows, even sharing anecdotes about how he would give her flowers every Monday, even when he was out of town. He was a HamptonUniversity graduate, a service manager at a Fortune 500 company, a member of Kappa Alpha Psi frat and an avid runner with plans of running a marathon on every continent. He had already completed a marathon in Paris, France and another at the Great Wall of China in Beijing. He was an amazing man who left fond memories with all who knew him.
To his acquaintances, he seemed fine. But his last message on Instagram painted a different picture. Just before he jumped, he posted this photo of his view of the snow-covered city with the note:
In December, Yusuf posted this tweet on how he wanted to be remembered after he was gone.
Our condolences go out to Yusuf’s friends, family and fiancée. May you find strength during this time.
Today, remember to call a friend or family member. Let them know that they are loved. Hold your loved ones close. You never know who is smiling through the pain, what they may be going through or how much they may value a listening ear.
Give them roses while they can still smell them.
What is Depression?
Depression is the most prevalent mental health disorder. The lifetime risk for depression is 6 to 25%. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), 9.5% or 20.9 million American adults suffer from a depressive illness in any given year.
There are two types of depression. In major depression, the symptoms listed below interfere with one’s ability to function in all areas of life (work, family, sleep, etc.). In dysthymia, the symptoms are not as severe but still impeded one’s ability to function at normal levels.
Common symptoms of depression, reoccurring almost every day:
A family history of depression (i.e., a parent) increases the chances (by 11 times) than a child will also have depression.
The treatment of depression is effective 60-80% of the time. However, according to the World
Health Organization, less than 25% of individuals with depression receive adequate treatment.
If left untreated, depression can lead to co-morbid (occurring at the same time) mental disorders
such as alcohol and substance abuse, higher rates of recurrent episodes and higher rates of
suicide.
In 2010, suicide was the tenth leading cause of death in the U.S., claiming 38,357 lives. Suicide
rates among youth (ages 15-24) have increase more than 200% in the last fifty years. The
suicide rate is also very high for the elderly (age 85+).
Four times more men than women kill themselves; but three times more women than men
attempt suicide.
Suicide occurs across ethnic, economic, social and age boundaries.
Suicide is preventable. Most suicidal people desperately want to live; they are just unable to see
alternatives to their problems. Most suicidal people give definite warning signals of their
suicidal intentions, but other are often unaware of the significance of these warning or unsure
what to do about them.
Talking about suicide does not cause someone to become suicidal.
Surviving family members not only suffer the loss of a loved one to suicide, but are also
themselves at higher risk of suicide and emotional problems.
Major depression is the psychiatric diagnosis most commonly associated with suicide. Lifetime
risk of suicide among patients with untreated depressive disorder is nearly 20% (Gotlib &
Hammen, 2002). The suicide risk among treated patients is 141 per 100,000 (Isacsson et al.,
2000).
About 2/3 of people who complete suicide are depressed at the time of their deaths.
About 7 out of every hundred men and 1 out of every hundred women who have been diagnosed
with depression in their lifetime will go on to complete suicide.
The risk of suicide in people with major depression is about 20 times that of the general
population.
Individuals who have had multiple episodes of depression are at greater risk for suicide than
those who have had one episode.
People who have a dependence on alcohol or drugs in addition to being depressed are at greater
risk for suicide.
Individuals who are depressed and exhibit the following symptoms are at particular risk for
suicide:
There is no evidence to date that the prescription of antidepressants for the treatment of
depression increases the risk of dying by suicide in children, adolescents or adults. The FDA has
issued a Black Box warning regarding antidepressants in youth and young adults in response to
evidence of twice the risk (4% versus 2%) of suicide ideation and attempts by those being treated
with antidepressants.
A suicidal person may:
Nearly everyone at some time in his or her life thinks about suicide. Most everyone decides to
live because they come to realize that the crisis is temporary, but death in not. On the other
hand, people in the midst of a crisis often perceive their dilemma as inescapable and feel an utter
loss of control.
Frequently, they:
If you experience any of these feelings, get help!
If you know someone who exhibits these feelings, offer help!
Talk to Someone – You are not Alone. Contact:
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