“Try? There is no try. There is only do or not do.” – Yoda, Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back
More Motivational Quotes
Archives for July 2009
Special Book Release: Bag Green Guilt!
Show The Love Media, LLC has announced the release of founder Jen Pleasants’ book, Bag Green Guilt, 5 Easy Steps: Turn Eco-Anxiety Into Constructive Energy
Advance book reviewer Britt Hall commented, “What a great topic…anything to relieve some of the guilt and restore the balance between mother and Mother Earth!”
Another early reviewer had this to say: Bag Green Guilt: 5 Easy Steps To Turn Eco-Anxiety Into Constructive Energy is a simple & effective self-help approach to alleviating the guilt that can come from not making “green” choices and ease you into a life of eco-wonderfulness! It’s a perfect acknowledgment of the fact that “going green” can, for some, be overwhelming to such an extent that the process becomes unattractive and stunted. Well, here’s the guide to keep your “greening” streamlined and positive. – Deana Bracken, Green With Glamour
Bag Green Guilt, 5 Easy Steps: Turn Eco-Anxiety Into Constructive Energy
Show The Love Media LLC combines fun, fashion, and feeling green with multiple daily updates consisting of dash, dazzle and with doing right by the world and fulfilling the founder’s motto to “make it all better.” www.showtheLOVE.com
In a Nutshell:
- Author Jen Pleasants puts into words what we’re all thinking and feeling: ‘how can I take care of the planet when I can’t even fully take care of myself?!’ and shares her easy and quick five-step plan for turning eco-anxiety into constructive energy.
- ‘Make it all better’ that’s what ‘grown-ups’ do for their families, friends, communities and planet. When we can’t, the result is predictable: stress and guilt!
- In her book, Bag Green Guilt, Jen Pleasants both commiserates with and reassures eco-anxious grown-ups (who often need someone to help ‘make it all better’ themselves) that being environmentally conscious doesn’t have to be overwhelming.
- Any grown up will want to keep this highly useful and entertaining book nearby to read when they need a reminder that sometimes just taking a deep breath or doing something as simple as unplugging an appliance can truly ‘make it all better’ for ourselves, our families, our friends, our communities and our planet.
How could I NOT love this book? I’m all about living green and, check it out, one of my much beloved animals, the polar bear, is featured on the cover. Handsome isn’t he? As soon as I grab a copy and read the book (which I plan to do asap), I’ll post a review. But don’t wait for that, go grab your own copy right away.
Jump on the bandwagon that’s painted bright green – it knows the right way!
Bag Green Guilt, 5 Easy Steps: Turn Eco-Anxiety Into Constructive Energy
The Difference Between Standing for Something and Standing for Self
As discouraged St. Louis Cardinals’ fans (following another heart-breaking loss… thank you, bullpen), my husband and I went out for a little shopping therapy. Since I’m obsessed with cooking and coming up with new recipes, we sought therapy in a huge grocery store in store across the river and through the woods – where grandmother should live.
I noticed a crazy looking tree near the river that looked as though it were bent too far toward the river. It looked as though it were dipping its branches into the water to test the temperature. Problem is, it looked as though it had gone too far and were on the brink of falling in. Somehow, it was managing to stay erect, though. Good roots.
I’m a lot like that crazy-looking tree. I go entirely too far sometimes and I know it. On a trip to a recent county fair, I came home and fired off an angry e-mail to the sponsor, the local Lion’s Club. I was ticked off, royally,because an animal on exhibition was tied to the side of his pen in such a way that he couldn’t even move his head. I looked high and low (while at the fair) for a human to ask about it but didn’t see one. If my husband hadn’t been with me,I’m half certain I would have loosened the rope.
I’m as easy going and kicked back as they come. Never complain in restaurants, don’t yell, scream or show out (unless the bullpen keeps blowing leads – then we’ll see how crazy I can truly get). But the thought of an animal or child being harmed, humiliated, or neglected makes me see red. It often makes me bend too far – like that crazy tree.
I often say, “You may not always agree with my thoughts or my methods. You may not always want to stand next to me, but you’ll always know where I stand.” I’m a petition-signing, world-saving tree hugger and I make no apologies. I may seem like and even look like a lunatic at times, but (just like the tree) my roots run deep and strong. So, changing directions or even backing up? Not going to happen.
Another way that I sometimes bend too far is that I give everyone the benefit of the doubt and truly love people. I would do anything to help someone else out and if someone has made a mistake, I’m the first one in line to forgive and forget. I honestly don’t hate anyone, but if I were going to spit a little hatred out, it’d be toward people who have no thoughts or concerns for anyone but themselves, their possessions, and their money. When they have caught one of life’s proverbial breaks and find themselves living on Easy Street – yet do absolutely nothing for anyone or anything else… I just wonder how they look at their reflection without cringing.
I love sports, but I often get annoyed with certain athletes. If you’re a baseball, basketball, or football player – you KNOW young people are watching you. How can you live with yourself if you let them down?
In 2007, Cal Ripken Jr. and Tony Gwynn were deservedly inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. “Whether we like it or not,” Ripken said, “as big leaguers, we are role models. The only question is, will it be positive or will it be negative?”
Tony Gwynn took it a little further: “There’s more than just playing the game of baseball. . . . You’re responsible, you’ve got to make good decisions and show people how things are supposed to be done.”
These were two athletes who did it right. There are countless athletes today who also do it right. How often do you hear ANYTHING bad about Albert Pujols, Derek Jeter, Adam Dunn, or Ken Griffey, Jr? They’re just a few who seem truly thankful for their fortune and fame and seem to care about each and every young person who happens to be watching them.
I think that, sometimes, athletes are like the rest of us. We lose sight of what truly matters. I’m certain that most people, athetes included, watch anything BUT the news on television. I’m certain they drive through anything BUT the worst neighborhoods and not all have stepped foot into a children’s hospitals. They don’t watch documentaries about global warming or read about the suffering of seals, wolves, polar bears, or panda bears.
We’d be a lot better off if everyone began to take a closer look around them and opened their eyes to the needs and sufferings of others’. We can’t save every animal, child, or sick person in the world (or so they tell me), but if we can help one, wouldn’t it be worth it?
I know I’m bending toward the water again pretty strongly here, and for all appearances look like I’ll fall in – but I urge everyone to find a cause they truly believe in and feel strongly about. Then give your time, your prayers, your money, and your energy.
Give until it feels good.
Words Have the Power to Make Relationships or Break Relationships
The husband and I were driving around Smithland, Kentucky a few days ago. It’s a beautiful little river city near Paducah. I’ll forgive you if you haven’t heard of Smithland, it puts the small in small town.
I saw a cool street sign there, however, that made me start thinking about words – not that I need much motivation to think about words. I’m totally obsessed with them to begin with. Love to write them, love to read them, love to just immerse myself in their company every chance I get.
The sign was on a narrow little street lined with houses (with yards filled with bikes, swing sets, etc.). The Sign said, “DRIVE SLOW. WE LOVE OUR KIDS!”
Effective, much.
This sign put on a Communication’s Workshop all by itself. Copywriters, bloggers, speakers – anyone who owns a mouth with which they speak or hands with which they write could gather around the humble little sign and soak up the knowledge.
Everyone needs a WHY in life. Telling someone DO THIS or DON’T DO THAT without a why to support it simply isn’t as effective. The beauty of this sign lies in the fact that it conjures up something that most signs don’t – Emotion. Most of us are used to the “Slow Children Playing” signs. We seldom even register them when we see them anymore. (The only time I really notice them is when they remind me of what my dad said when they put this sign on our street, “Okay,but how about the fast ones? Are they fair game?” – I miss my dad.)
When you see one of the signs in Smithland, you’re pulled into the emotion that we all have for our children. The feeling tugs on your heart and you lay off the gas.
Words. Are. Powerful.
Words have the power to heal broken hearts and make dreams come true. They have the power to make people better about themselves. They also have the power to break hearts and keep dreams from coming true. And of course they have the power to tear someone down completely and cause them to feel completely worthless.
How forcible are right words! – Job 6:25
Maybe it’s because I have such a close, loving relationship with words – but I wish that people who use words to harm, judge, belittle, tease, or shame others would take up the habit of chewing gum…… a big wad of gum, so thick that they can’t possibly even speak.
Wouldn’t the world be a more joyous, fun place in which to live?!?!
This is just one of the reasons I always strive to keep hate out of my heart and out of my mind. When hate moves into your heart or mind, rest assured no good will ever come from it. It’ll simply grow and grow – then come flying out of your mouth or fingertips. Confucius said it best, “Words are the voice of the heart.” If your words are consistently critical, condemning, and unkind – guess what emotion dominates your heart?! It’s not just time to give your vocabulary an overhaul, it’s time to rethink your outlook on life.
I’ve often wondered if those who are hyper critical and overly judgmental are, on some level, very unhappy. It just seems to me that if you’re a happy and content person who truly appreciates your blessings, you won’t have time to spit hatred all over the place.
If that’s the case, then I feel kind of sorry for the grumble guts. Hopefully, before they push the entire world away from them, they’ll find happiness. THEN, they can spread that instead of misery.
Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless. – Josh Billings
We’d all do well to begin paying closer attention to our words – some people might just be amazed. Begin to be freer with your compliments and more stingy with your sarcasm and insults. If someone you love looks beautiful, tell them so. If they cook a killer meal, commend them right before you give them a heartfelt “Thank you!” If someone does a favor for you, let them know how much you appreciate the favor and, even more, them.
Don’t take people for granted and never assume someone knows how you feel or what you think. They’ll only know for sure when you tell them.
“Words are the voice of the heart.” – Confucius
An Explanation of Life
On the first day, God created the dog and said: ‘Sit all day by the door of your house and bark at anyone who comes in or walks past. For this, I will give you a life span of twenty years.’
The dog said: ‘That’s a long time to be barking. How about only ten years and I’ll give you back the other ten?’
So God Agreed.
On the second day, God created the monkey and said:
‘Entertain people, do tricks, and make them laugh. For this, I’ll give you a twenty-year life span.’
The monkey said: ‘Monkey tricks for twenty years? That’s a pretty long time to perform. How about I give you back ten like the Dog did?’
And God agreed.
On the third day, God created the cow and said:
‘You must go into the field with the farmer all day long and suffer under the sun, have calves and give milk to support the farmer’s family. For this, I will give you a life span of sixty years.’
The cow said: ‘That’s kind of a tough life you want me to live for sixty years.. How about twenty and I’ll give back the other forty?’
And God agreed again.
On the fourth day, God created humans and said:
‘Eat, sleep, play, marry and enjoy your life. For this, I’ll give you twenty years.’
But the human said: ‘Only twenty years? Could you possibly give me my twenty, the forty the cow gave back, the ten the monkey gave back, and the ten the dog gave back; that makes eighty, okay?’
‘Okay,’ said God, ‘You asked for it..’
So that is why for our first twenty years we eat, sleep, play and enjoy ourselves. For the next forty years we slave in the sun to support our family. For the next ten years we do monkey tricks to entertain the grandchildren. And for the last ten years we sit on the front porch and bark at everyone.
Life has now been explained to you.
Credit: I have no idea where this originated. It was e-mailed to me by an adorable, much beloved aunt.