whatever happens to us, good or bad, to our like or dislike, happens for a reason
it is the way god communicates with us, to teach us
we are here to learn lessons of life, we are students of life, and he is the ultimate educator
unlike what most organized religion's dogma, which make god to be a punitive force, someone to be feared, as opposed to source of education, and love
to me, god is ultimate love, source of grace, kindness, and mercy, who is there to teach us, to ultimately become god-like, meaning better human beings, working on ourselves to perfect our souls, and rejoin our true source, god
i agree, he does discipline, but it is out of love, with the purpose of education
the ultimate punishment is not being burnt in hell's fire, it is being away from divine love and grace
to some extent, sin does exist, but it is not as crippling of a misdeed as the religions depict it
we do many misdeeds, but god helps us through them
the most valuable lessons of life are learnt when we are faced with defeat and hardship in life
the problem is, that when we succeed, we think it was us who did it, forgetting god and others who helped
and when we fail, we blame god and everyone else, except us
we need to do the exact opposite
blame ourselves for failures, looking within, delving within, and finding the reasons for the hardship and failure, and learning the lesson, so that we can have a better chance of success next time around
and when we succeed, we should thank god first, and others he used as his instruments second
and different people at different times, come into our lives for us to learn things
big deal is learning - accepting that we all have flaws and make many mistakes -
but appreciate things and don't let the many errors and misdeeds slow us down, make us sad and sorrowful, or induce too much fear us, hampering our growth and continuation
Saturday, March 31, 2007
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Flower Blessings
I mentioned a few days ago about going to my youngest daughter's class and teaching the children about plants, flowering bulbs and such. What I didn't mention was how I obtained the flower bulbs that each of the children planted that day.
While driving around our town, I noticed a few places that had muscari (grape hyacinths) blooming in large patches. They are such pretty, dainty flowers. In one location, I saw thousands of these adorable flowers and noticed that the property was for sale. I pulled over and called the number. When the fellow at the other end of the line answered, I told him I was sadly not interested in buying the property, but that I was hoping to dig some of the flowers that were growing there.
I love to scavenge, especially plants - and even more so if they might be getting bulldozed due to new developments. What a great way to add to your plant collection for only a bit of labor. Most of the time I get permission without any questions asked. Sometimes I have to do some convincing. :) Only once was I told a definite "no" and that was due to liability concerns.
All of the flower bulbs the children planted in their peat pots were dug from this one property. I had enough to plant some in my own yard, give some to a neighbor and offer a nice amount to the classroom teacher, too.
Close to thirty people blessed because one man said "yes" to a simple request.
How many blessings can you provide to others by simply saying "yes" when asked?
~Carla
While driving around our town, I noticed a few places that had muscari (grape hyacinths) blooming in large patches. They are such pretty, dainty flowers. In one location, I saw thousands of these adorable flowers and noticed that the property was for sale. I pulled over and called the number. When the fellow at the other end of the line answered, I told him I was sadly not interested in buying the property, but that I was hoping to dig some of the flowers that were growing there.
I love to scavenge, especially plants - and even more so if they might be getting bulldozed due to new developments. What a great way to add to your plant collection for only a bit of labor. Most of the time I get permission without any questions asked. Sometimes I have to do some convincing. :) Only once was I told a definite "no" and that was due to liability concerns.
All of the flower bulbs the children planted in their peat pots were dug from this one property. I had enough to plant some in my own yard, give some to a neighbor and offer a nice amount to the classroom teacher, too.
Close to thirty people blessed because one man said "yes" to a simple request.
How many blessings can you provide to others by simply saying "yes" when asked?
~Carla
Monday, March 26, 2007
Rain is such a blessing right now.
It's raining in North Texas. For many people, that isn't much to get excited about, but around here, it's HUGE. Our lakes have been down and we've been on water restrictions since we moved here about a year and a half ago. One lake was so low during last summer that the police recovered 6 stolen cars, two ATM machines and various other crazy stuff. Oddly enough, no one reported finding any guns, which I found surprising. One class ring was found with a metal detector and returned to it's owner 20 years later.
I did get my permit to take my metal detector out to Lake Lavon, but I never made it out there to actually play in the dirt near the shore. Part of the reason was when the park staff showed me where I was allowed to use my detector, the area was so small, it didn't seem worth the effort. I don't have a mad urge to find fish hooks and sinkers and that was about all I'd find in their limited locations.
This is the first rain of the spring for us. It smells so good. We have a few windows open since it's not windy. I would have never done that when we lived in Oklahoma City. It never rains straight down in OKC. The wind would have whipped up a puddle in someone's room if I'd left a window open there.
It's so refreshing to hear the sound of the rain on the roof. It's relaxing.
The only pitfall is that my husband is likely to have to mow again pretty soon. He's already had to mow twice. The grass is just turning this gorgeous green that makes you want to lay down and watch the clouds go by. Of course, there's a pitfall with that, too, as there are a lot of fire ants here, so it could be dangerous to watch the clouds from that position. I think I may have to invest in a hammock. It may not solve all of my problems, but it surely would be better than begging the little critters to bite me.
The thunder and lightning has passed for now. Even that is enjoyable when you don't get to hear or see it very often.
So, I'm off to get my feet wet and maybe take a stroll with my youngest daughter in the rain. She has a pink umbrella that she's aching to use. :)
I did get my permit to take my metal detector out to Lake Lavon, but I never made it out there to actually play in the dirt near the shore. Part of the reason was when the park staff showed me where I was allowed to use my detector, the area was so small, it didn't seem worth the effort. I don't have a mad urge to find fish hooks and sinkers and that was about all I'd find in their limited locations.
This is the first rain of the spring for us. It smells so good. We have a few windows open since it's not windy. I would have never done that when we lived in Oklahoma City. It never rains straight down in OKC. The wind would have whipped up a puddle in someone's room if I'd left a window open there.
It's so refreshing to hear the sound of the rain on the roof. It's relaxing.
The only pitfall is that my husband is likely to have to mow again pretty soon. He's already had to mow twice. The grass is just turning this gorgeous green that makes you want to lay down and watch the clouds go by. Of course, there's a pitfall with that, too, as there are a lot of fire ants here, so it could be dangerous to watch the clouds from that position. I think I may have to invest in a hammock. It may not solve all of my problems, but it surely would be better than begging the little critters to bite me.
The thunder and lightning has passed for now. Even that is enjoyable when you don't get to hear or see it very often.
So, I'm off to get my feet wet and maybe take a stroll with my youngest daughter in the rain. She has a pink umbrella that she's aching to use. :)
Friday, March 23, 2007
The Power of Saying Thanks
There are over 20 children in my youngest daughter's first grade class. They are all precious and beautiful. They each bring something special to the wonderful moments of learning. Every child is unique. Every word, every action is authentic and real. It is poetic joy to witness the wonder in their little faces as they grasp a new thought and make it their own.
When I went to my daughter's school to talk to them about the flowers the other day, I experienced their passion for learning. They asked amazing questions, some of which I couldn't answer and I'm a Master Gardener! :) They really WANT to learn.
I cannot get over my own delight at sharing what I know with these children.
Apparently, they enjoy my being in their class, too. It is the best of all worlds.
Their classroom teacher is a lovely lady. She is so good about reaching the children where they are and lifting them to new levels of learning. Anyway, she had the children write out thank you notes to me. When my daughter gave them to me after school yesterday, I was so touched. Most of the notes had flowers and/or hearts on them. Some cards said, "I love you" and others had happy faces drawn on them. Of all the cards I read, one actually brought me to tears. The outside of the card had a flower drawn on it and the inside said, "Your a grate teacher." It was perfect. It was what I needed to hear.
The classes I am taking for my Master's degree are focused on early childhood education. I still have so much to learn about being a good teacher, but to receive such a sweet card from a little boy confirming my love of teaching made a tremendous difference to me. Yes, I cried, but I did so because this little boy helped me reaffirm that I am making the right choice in choosing the field of teaching.
I also learned two things:
The power of one card, one thought
The power of saying thanks
When I went to my daughter's school to talk to them about the flowers the other day, I experienced their passion for learning. They asked amazing questions, some of which I couldn't answer and I'm a Master Gardener! :) They really WANT to learn.
I cannot get over my own delight at sharing what I know with these children.
Apparently, they enjoy my being in their class, too. It is the best of all worlds.
Their classroom teacher is a lovely lady. She is so good about reaching the children where they are and lifting them to new levels of learning. Anyway, she had the children write out thank you notes to me. When my daughter gave them to me after school yesterday, I was so touched. Most of the notes had flowers and/or hearts on them. Some cards said, "I love you" and others had happy faces drawn on them. Of all the cards I read, one actually brought me to tears. The outside of the card had a flower drawn on it and the inside said, "Your a grate teacher." It was perfect. It was what I needed to hear.
The classes I am taking for my Master's degree are focused on early childhood education. I still have so much to learn about being a good teacher, but to receive such a sweet card from a little boy confirming my love of teaching made a tremendous difference to me. Yes, I cried, but I did so because this little boy helped me reaffirm that I am making the right choice in choosing the field of teaching.
I also learned two things:
The power of one card, one thought
The power of saying thanks
Thursday, March 22, 2007
A Little Bit About Yesterday
Yesterday was an eventful day.
I went to my youngest daughter's school and worked with her classmates on planting flower bulbs in pots and teaching them about all sorts of plant-related stuff. They learned about the use of common names and botanical names, plant propogation (although at their age, we called it making babies) and what plants need to survive. I had a great time and I think the kids did, too.
Later in the afternoon, I went to a local community college to make a presentation about a class I want to teach and it looks like I'll start teaching the class in the fall of this year. I won't make a lot, but it will be a neat experience. It's kind of funny - as my husband pointed out - I'll be going to college (working on my Master's degree) and teaching at a college at the same time.
Yes, I do sleep. :)
I went to my youngest daughter's school and worked with her classmates on planting flower bulbs in pots and teaching them about all sorts of plant-related stuff. They learned about the use of common names and botanical names, plant propogation (although at their age, we called it making babies) and what plants need to survive. I had a great time and I think the kids did, too.
Later in the afternoon, I went to a local community college to make a presentation about a class I want to teach and it looks like I'll start teaching the class in the fall of this year. I won't make a lot, but it will be a neat experience. It's kind of funny - as my husband pointed out - I'll be going to college (working on my Master's degree) and teaching at a college at the same time.
Yes, I do sleep. :)
Monday, March 19, 2007
Will Melany Say 'Yes'?
I contacted a very talented lady yesterday about illustrating my children's poetry book. This is her web site: Simply Clean Digi Scraps
While my husband and my daughter are great at drawing, neither of them draws in a style that suits my needs. Not only that, but they aren't exactly jumping at the chance to provide illustrations. So, last night while I was browsing digital scrapbooking to get some ideas, I came across Melany's site.
This seems like a great solution for my needs and it could really offer an excellent opportunity for Melany. She's extremely gifted and her talent could be put to such great use as an illustrator for childrens' books. It could open a whole new world for her.
Of course, I win, too, as I get beautifully illustrated pages for my poems.
Can you see a group of children sitting on a rug listening to the poems being read, creating the scenes in their minds, then being wowed by Melany's interpretation of the poem, too? The little ones who experience this book will have such a delightful time and the exposure to poetry is so valuable.
Now, all I need is to hear a positive word back from Melany - like YES!
Say a prayer, ok?
~Carla
While my husband and my daughter are great at drawing, neither of them draws in a style that suits my needs. Not only that, but they aren't exactly jumping at the chance to provide illustrations. So, last night while I was browsing digital scrapbooking to get some ideas, I came across Melany's site.
This seems like a great solution for my needs and it could really offer an excellent opportunity for Melany. She's extremely gifted and her talent could be put to such great use as an illustrator for childrens' books. It could open a whole new world for her.
Of course, I win, too, as I get beautifully illustrated pages for my poems.
Can you see a group of children sitting on a rug listening to the poems being read, creating the scenes in their minds, then being wowed by Melany's interpretation of the poem, too? The little ones who experience this book will have such a delightful time and the exposure to poetry is so valuable.
Now, all I need is to hear a positive word back from Melany - like YES!
Say a prayer, ok?
~Carla
Friday, March 16, 2007
Self-Publishing and Print On Demand
I've been learning more and more about self-publishing and how to offer print on demand services to authors who want to see their works in print. Developing a model or business plan is not an easy task as the approach I am taking isn't commonplace, nor is it easy.
My business is called Vaughan Instant Publishing, LLC. I have identified the book binder I want to purchase and am awaiting the invoice right now. It will be able to bind a printed a book in about 30 seconds.
One of the important aspects of purchasing a book binder was, for me, the ability to create books of a variety of sizes. I want flexibility. So many book binders are only designed to bind 5" by 8" or 8 1/2" by 11" paperbacks. I want to be able to bind books up to at least a 12" by 12" size.
Why?
I'm not telling you. :) You can't expect me to reveal all my secrets, right?
Anyway, I hope to soon have everything in place to start printing books, starting with my own. It will be good practice.
As I delve deeper into the POD world, I will discover many options that other book printers/publishers offer. What I will need to do is remain focused on my particular market and not get sidetracked chasing the almighty dollar. When one loses focus, one sinks. I don't want to sink. I want to walk on water. (See posts below for more on that).
In the coming weeks, I'll be posting more about Print on Demand and Self-Publishing. It will help me to clarify my objectives and share a part of what I truly value in life and that is helping others.
~Carla
My business is called Vaughan Instant Publishing, LLC. I have identified the book binder I want to purchase and am awaiting the invoice right now. It will be able to bind a printed a book in about 30 seconds.
One of the important aspects of purchasing a book binder was, for me, the ability to create books of a variety of sizes. I want flexibility. So many book binders are only designed to bind 5" by 8" or 8 1/2" by 11" paperbacks. I want to be able to bind books up to at least a 12" by 12" size.
Why?
I'm not telling you. :) You can't expect me to reveal all my secrets, right?
Anyway, I hope to soon have everything in place to start printing books, starting with my own. It will be good practice.
As I delve deeper into the POD world, I will discover many options that other book printers/publishers offer. What I will need to do is remain focused on my particular market and not get sidetracked chasing the almighty dollar. When one loses focus, one sinks. I don't want to sink. I want to walk on water. (See posts below for more on that).
In the coming weeks, I'll be posting more about Print on Demand and Self-Publishing. It will help me to clarify my objectives and share a part of what I truly value in life and that is helping others.
~Carla
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Being "Available"
I went to the airport at DFW today to pick up my daughter. She was flying in from a school trip to Canada. She'd been gone for 5 days with some of the members of the French Club at her high school. It was an adventure-filled trip including being diverted to a different airport due to bad weather, sleeping on a chartered bus, which was not a part of the itinerary and dog sledding, of all things. That's not the story I want to tell, though.
What was special about the trip to the airport began before my daughter ever landed in Dallas.
I met a lady. She spoke only broken English. She was Arabic. I do not know her name. She was dressed in traditional Arabic clothing and approached me as I watched a myriad of people walking in all directions looking for luggage, family members and even strangers. She asked me how to get out of the airport.
On the surface, not a difficult question to answer, but the underlying thought was nearly palpable. "I don't know where I am going."
I could have pointed to the door and said, "That door will take you outside." I would have responded to her question appropriately and I could have gone about my business. Instead, I asked her if she was meeting anyone. Thus, a confusing and disjointed conversation took place between two people from two worlds, brought together by need and held together by compassion.
How many people were in that airport and yet, she approached me? Why me? I don't know. Maybe I was the most "available" or maybe I was the first person she saw. It really doesn't matter, but in my heart, I think I was put in that place at that time for that very purpose - to help her.
Many questions were asked and answered and in time I came to understand that her daughter was supposed to come to the airport to pick her up, but that she had not arrived yet. She had no phone number for her daughter and no address. I could not think of a single way to help her.
Meanwhile, my daughter's flight arrived. I told the lady that I had to greet my daughter and that I would be back to help her again as soon as I could. I touched her arm before walking away. I wanted to encourage her. I'm not even sure she understood all that I was saying. I was truly worried about her, but I had no idea what to do.
My daughter appeared and I hugged her tightly, then pointed her toward the bag claim area. I then went in search of someone else who might help me, or rather, the lost lady. I mentioned my concerns to the French Club teacher who immediately called out to one of her students. His father spoke perfect Arabic.
He and I went to talk to the older woman. I listened to their conversation, delighted to know that she had someone with whom to communicate. They went back and forth as I stood there - a part of the event, but left out of the process.
In the end, we made no progress in helping her find or contact her daughter, but we did give her some comfort in allowing her to fully discuss her plight with someone who understood her. (I think back to that situation now and wonder how many times we just really want someone to listen to us. Even if they can't help or change the situation, if they just listen, we somehow feel better.)
We ended up encouraging her by telling her that Dallas traffic can be difficult and that her daughter would very likely be there soon. It wasn't much to offer, but it was the truth... and it was really all we could say. I touched her arm again and this time, she touched mine, too. It was a silent gesture that said more than anything my words could have said - even if I had been able to speak Arabic.
In between the time we gathered up the luggage from the Canada trip and saying our goodbyes, the lady disappeared. She's probably having a delightful time at her daughter's home, glad to be among family.
I, too, am home and glad to be surrounded by my family.
I learned a little bit more about compassion today and I was reminded again of the value of meaningful touch. It was a good day.
~Carla
What was special about the trip to the airport began before my daughter ever landed in Dallas.
I met a lady. She spoke only broken English. She was Arabic. I do not know her name. She was dressed in traditional Arabic clothing and approached me as I watched a myriad of people walking in all directions looking for luggage, family members and even strangers. She asked me how to get out of the airport.
On the surface, not a difficult question to answer, but the underlying thought was nearly palpable. "I don't know where I am going."
I could have pointed to the door and said, "That door will take you outside." I would have responded to her question appropriately and I could have gone about my business. Instead, I asked her if she was meeting anyone. Thus, a confusing and disjointed conversation took place between two people from two worlds, brought together by need and held together by compassion.
How many people were in that airport and yet, she approached me? Why me? I don't know. Maybe I was the most "available" or maybe I was the first person she saw. It really doesn't matter, but in my heart, I think I was put in that place at that time for that very purpose - to help her.
Many questions were asked and answered and in time I came to understand that her daughter was supposed to come to the airport to pick her up, but that she had not arrived yet. She had no phone number for her daughter and no address. I could not think of a single way to help her.
Meanwhile, my daughter's flight arrived. I told the lady that I had to greet my daughter and that I would be back to help her again as soon as I could. I touched her arm before walking away. I wanted to encourage her. I'm not even sure she understood all that I was saying. I was truly worried about her, but I had no idea what to do.
My daughter appeared and I hugged her tightly, then pointed her toward the bag claim area. I then went in search of someone else who might help me, or rather, the lost lady. I mentioned my concerns to the French Club teacher who immediately called out to one of her students. His father spoke perfect Arabic.
He and I went to talk to the older woman. I listened to their conversation, delighted to know that she had someone with whom to communicate. They went back and forth as I stood there - a part of the event, but left out of the process.
In the end, we made no progress in helping her find or contact her daughter, but we did give her some comfort in allowing her to fully discuss her plight with someone who understood her. (I think back to that situation now and wonder how many times we just really want someone to listen to us. Even if they can't help or change the situation, if they just listen, we somehow feel better.)
We ended up encouraging her by telling her that Dallas traffic can be difficult and that her daughter would very likely be there soon. It wasn't much to offer, but it was the truth... and it was really all we could say. I touched her arm again and this time, she touched mine, too. It was a silent gesture that said more than anything my words could have said - even if I had been able to speak Arabic.
In between the time we gathered up the luggage from the Canada trip and saying our goodbyes, the lady disappeared. She's probably having a delightful time at her daughter's home, glad to be among family.
I, too, am home and glad to be surrounded by my family.
I learned a little bit more about compassion today and I was reminded again of the value of meaningful touch. It was a good day.
~Carla
Saturday, March 10, 2007
Children's Poetry
As a part of my Master's program, I am writing poetry again. I haven't written much of anything poetic for a long time. I haven't had much reason to. The poems we have been expected to write are based on very specific forms of poetry, such as the triangle triplet, haiku, quadrangle, terquain and so on. Since I love to write poetry and form does not bother me, this project has been a blessing compared to many of the others.
When time allows, I will post some of the poems I have written recently. They come from a book I titled, "6 Going on 7" which reflects my youngest daughter's joy in growing up.
If all goes well, in the not-too-distant future (2 months maybe), I should have this book available for sale. I have undertaken yet another project which now puts me in the driver's seat for publishing books. I am the owner of Vaughan Instant Publishing, LLC. My goal will be to assist aspiring authors/writers in getting their written works in print.
So, be prepared to revisit your childhood... and hopefully the best parts of it.
~Carla
Here is poem #1 from the book:
Her hand in mine in winter
Cold and soft, small and trusting
We walk to school each morning
Our breath in white puffs escapes
As we talk of teachers and friends
Sharing our lives along the way
When time allows, I will post some of the poems I have written recently. They come from a book I titled, "6 Going on 7" which reflects my youngest daughter's joy in growing up.
If all goes well, in the not-too-distant future (2 months maybe), I should have this book available for sale. I have undertaken yet another project which now puts me in the driver's seat for publishing books. I am the owner of Vaughan Instant Publishing, LLC. My goal will be to assist aspiring authors/writers in getting their written works in print.
So, be prepared to revisit your childhood... and hopefully the best parts of it.
~Carla
Here is poem #1 from the book:
Her hand in mine in winter
Cold and soft, small and trusting
We walk to school each morning
Our breath in white puffs escapes
As we talk of teachers and friends
Sharing our lives along the way
Friday, March 9, 2007
No Child Left Behind (NCLB) -
It's Working, but How Well
"The No Child Left Behind Act Is Working
Under NCLB We Are Measuring Results - And Holding Schools Accountable For Teaching Every Student To Read, Write, Add, And Subtract. Measuring results helps teachers spot problems early, so they can help students catch up, and gives parents valuable information about how well schools are doing.
We See Good Results From No Child Left Behind Across The Nation. Between 2003 and 2005, 46 States and the District of Columbia improved or held steady in all categories of fourth grade students tested in reading and math. In addition:
More reading progress was made by 9-year-olds between 1999 and 2004 than in the previous 28 years combined.
In math, 9-year olds and 13-year olds earned the highest scores in the history of the test.
African American and Hispanic students' reading and math scores were up in the five years ending in 2004, and these students are beginning to close the achievement gap.
We Must Build On This Success And Strengthen No Child Left Behind
Keeping America Competitive In The 21st Century Depends On No Child Being Left Behind. We must ensure our children have the skills to compete and succeed in the increasingly competitive global economy. Meeting this challenge will require us to raise the bar - and strengthen No Child Left Behind."
This message was taken from the White House web site: http://www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/education/
Since I am working on my Master's degree in Education, I have to say that teachers, administrators and school districts have to jump through a lot of hoops to make NCLB a functioning reality. It is not an easy task. We've had many discussions about where NCLB works and where it fails - even with the best of intentions.
The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) recognizes the pros and cons of the NCLB legislation that was passed, but the law does have flaws in their opinion. One of the most fundamental issues is the lack of funding needed to support the schools who truly want to provide excellent learning environments.
To read more about AFT's position, click here: AFT
Under NCLB We Are Measuring Results - And Holding Schools Accountable For Teaching Every Student To Read, Write, Add, And Subtract. Measuring results helps teachers spot problems early, so they can help students catch up, and gives parents valuable information about how well schools are doing.
We See Good Results From No Child Left Behind Across The Nation. Between 2003 and 2005, 46 States and the District of Columbia improved or held steady in all categories of fourth grade students tested in reading and math. In addition:
More reading progress was made by 9-year-olds between 1999 and 2004 than in the previous 28 years combined.
In math, 9-year olds and 13-year olds earned the highest scores in the history of the test.
African American and Hispanic students' reading and math scores were up in the five years ending in 2004, and these students are beginning to close the achievement gap.
We Must Build On This Success And Strengthen No Child Left Behind
Keeping America Competitive In The 21st Century Depends On No Child Being Left Behind. We must ensure our children have the skills to compete and succeed in the increasingly competitive global economy. Meeting this challenge will require us to raise the bar - and strengthen No Child Left Behind."
This message was taken from the White House web site: http://www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/education/
Since I am working on my Master's degree in Education, I have to say that teachers, administrators and school districts have to jump through a lot of hoops to make NCLB a functioning reality. It is not an easy task. We've had many discussions about where NCLB works and where it fails - even with the best of intentions.
The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) recognizes the pros and cons of the NCLB legislation that was passed, but the law does have flaws in their opinion. One of the most fundamental issues is the lack of funding needed to support the schools who truly want to provide excellent learning environments.
To read more about AFT's position, click here: AFT
Thursday, March 8, 2007
Stay Focused and Take Action
Some of you are likely to believe in God and others are not. The story below has a neat message no matter what your personal beliefs are.
In the New Testament, there is a story about Jesus walking on the water. The sea is in turmoil and the Lord's disciples are in a boat quite a ways from shore. They KNOW that they left Jesus on shore before they pushed off. Yet, in the distance, they see a man walking on the water. Jesus tells them to not be afraid. (OK, well I happen to think I'd be a bit frightened too). Peter hollers out to him (that's Texas talk, by the way – hollers) "Lord, if it is you, bid me come to you." Jesus tells him to hop out of the boat. Peter does and walks toward Jesus. But, the winds and the waves scare him as he looks around and then he starts to sink. He calls out to Jesus, who grabs him by the hand and lifts him up.
Now, many things can come from this story. I'm going to share two points with you.
The first is that if you lose your focus, you are at risk for failure. You may even drown. Peter stopped looking at Jesus and paid more attention to what was going on around him instead of staying focused on where he was going. That's point #1.
Point #2 – Don't be afraid to get out of the boat. Yes, Peter had to ask for help to get out of a tough situation, but he GOT OUT OF THE BOAT. Are you going to stay where it seems safe or are you going to take some risks in an effort to achieve what you want?
Peter had to get out of his comfort zone, didn't he?
When I contemplate my web business, I realize that I easily get distracted by the hype on the net. Let's face it, there is so much to read and do, it can keep a person occupied for the rest of their lives. My reason for being on line isn't just for entertainment, though. I am also here to make money.
If I waste my time reading a bunch of articles, daily news reports and even blogs, I lose my focus. I can virtually drown in all of the information. Stay focused on what really matters.
The other thing that I think is extremely important is to TAKE ACTION. Sometimes I think, "Well, this would be a neat idea." But I don't follow through and do anything about it. Not good. I have to be willing to take risks and take action if I am to achieve my goals.
I guess a sideline thought is also to ask others for help when you need it. :)
So, that's today's bit of wisdom. You've likely heard it before, but hopefully you will be encouraged to TAKE ACTION on something that matters.
~Carla
In the New Testament, there is a story about Jesus walking on the water. The sea is in turmoil and the Lord's disciples are in a boat quite a ways from shore. They KNOW that they left Jesus on shore before they pushed off. Yet, in the distance, they see a man walking on the water. Jesus tells them to not be afraid. (OK, well I happen to think I'd be a bit frightened too). Peter hollers out to him (that's Texas talk, by the way – hollers) "Lord, if it is you, bid me come to you." Jesus tells him to hop out of the boat. Peter does and walks toward Jesus. But, the winds and the waves scare him as he looks around and then he starts to sink. He calls out to Jesus, who grabs him by the hand and lifts him up.
Now, many things can come from this story. I'm going to share two points with you.
The first is that if you lose your focus, you are at risk for failure. You may even drown. Peter stopped looking at Jesus and paid more attention to what was going on around him instead of staying focused on where he was going. That's point #1.
Point #2 – Don't be afraid to get out of the boat. Yes, Peter had to ask for help to get out of a tough situation, but he GOT OUT OF THE BOAT. Are you going to stay where it seems safe or are you going to take some risks in an effort to achieve what you want?
Peter had to get out of his comfort zone, didn't he?
When I contemplate my web business, I realize that I easily get distracted by the hype on the net. Let's face it, there is so much to read and do, it can keep a person occupied for the rest of their lives. My reason for being on line isn't just for entertainment, though. I am also here to make money.
If I waste my time reading a bunch of articles, daily news reports and even blogs, I lose my focus. I can virtually drown in all of the information. Stay focused on what really matters.
The other thing that I think is extremely important is to TAKE ACTION. Sometimes I think, "Well, this would be a neat idea." But I don't follow through and do anything about it. Not good. I have to be willing to take risks and take action if I am to achieve my goals.
I guess a sideline thought is also to ask others for help when you need it. :)
So, that's today's bit of wisdom. You've likely heard it before, but hopefully you will be encouraged to TAKE ACTION on something that matters.
~Carla
Monday, March 5, 2007
Web Sites for Writers - Do you Need One?
You want to be a successful writer. You want to make money at it, too. How many books have you read about "self-publishing", "understanding the writer's market" or "how to make your articles sell"? It isn't so easy for unpublished authors to break into certain markets. It doesn't matter how many books you read.
There is one avenue, however, that is virtually untapped by many writers and it is open to EVERYONE who wants to see their works in print. It also allows any writer the opportunity to make money at the same time. You can finally take control over your own writing destiny.
Millions of people will have access to your authored pieces, too. Will publishers come looking for you? It's a definite possibility. Will you have more credibility in the publishing world? Oh, yes. You will also have solid proof of your ability to reach your target audience, too.
Before I tell you how successful you can be, let me tell you the caveats.
First, it is not especially easy. It takes time and effort. If you are a serious writer, you already know what that is all about, though. Second, you will be writing more than you otherwise would. In fact, you will very likely be writing every day for the next couple of months. At least that is what I found myself doing. I love writing, though, so it is not a problem at all for me.
Last, it will most likely become your favorite thing to do. Be prepared to spend a fair amount of time on this because you will enjoy it so much you won't want to do anything else. I am absolutely telling the truth. My kids can't drag me away from the computer some days. I just love what I'm doing.
So, those are the pitfalls. All in all, not too bad.
Now, I can tell you about the good news. You have a myriad of ways to earn money with your writing. For less than $1 per day, you can reach hundreds of thousands of potential readers "buyers" of your works. You can also sell your material in a variety of ways. In addition to this, there are a variety of other ways to make money that don't even have anything to do with writing.
I have an e-book that I sell and I'm in the process of publishing a paperback version which I will also be able to sell very soon.
Ok, enough of that. You can read more of the details if you're interested. For now, let's focus on how you can accomplish this.
If you're like me, you have probably been writing for awhile. I have two books, actually. Both of which have been rejected by big-name publishers. I can handle rejection pretty well, so that's not a real problem for me. What bothered me was that I knew I had good material and no way to reach my intended audience.
Why should I be limited in what I can do just because someone else doesn't see things the same way I do?
My answer? Find another way to reach my audience. That's exactly what I have done, too. I created a web site dedicated to one of my books. I intend to do the same for the other book, too, but I have a few more things I need to accomplish with this first site still.
I am living my dream of being published. Not only am I reaching my target audience, but I am also having numerous articles published on other sites. I have been contacted by two other sites to write for them as well. A third site asked (and I agreed) to provide advice to the members of its site on the very subject I wrote about. I am an instant expert.
I pay less than $1 per day and I am published, in demand and am receiving monthly checks from my site.
Just think about it. It might work for you. It might not. I just know that as writer, it is extremely hard to get your name out there for the right people to see it. This gives you one more opportunity to make a name for yourself.
Best of luck.
~Carla
A link to the book I'm selling How to Write a Professional Resume
How you can create a website about your book(s), too: My Passion
There is one avenue, however, that is virtually untapped by many writers and it is open to EVERYONE who wants to see their works in print. It also allows any writer the opportunity to make money at the same time. You can finally take control over your own writing destiny.
Millions of people will have access to your authored pieces, too. Will publishers come looking for you? It's a definite possibility. Will you have more credibility in the publishing world? Oh, yes. You will also have solid proof of your ability to reach your target audience, too.
Before I tell you how successful you can be, let me tell you the caveats.
First, it is not especially easy. It takes time and effort. If you are a serious writer, you already know what that is all about, though. Second, you will be writing more than you otherwise would. In fact, you will very likely be writing every day for the next couple of months. At least that is what I found myself doing. I love writing, though, so it is not a problem at all for me.
Last, it will most likely become your favorite thing to do. Be prepared to spend a fair amount of time on this because you will enjoy it so much you won't want to do anything else. I am absolutely telling the truth. My kids can't drag me away from the computer some days. I just love what I'm doing.
So, those are the pitfalls. All in all, not too bad.
Now, I can tell you about the good news. You have a myriad of ways to earn money with your writing. For less than $1 per day, you can reach hundreds of thousands of potential readers "buyers" of your works. You can also sell your material in a variety of ways. In addition to this, there are a variety of other ways to make money that don't even have anything to do with writing.
I have an e-book that I sell and I'm in the process of publishing a paperback version which I will also be able to sell very soon.
Ok, enough of that. You can read more of the details if you're interested. For now, let's focus on how you can accomplish this.
If you're like me, you have probably been writing for awhile. I have two books, actually. Both of which have been rejected by big-name publishers. I can handle rejection pretty well, so that's not a real problem for me. What bothered me was that I knew I had good material and no way to reach my intended audience.
Why should I be limited in what I can do just because someone else doesn't see things the same way I do?
My answer? Find another way to reach my audience. That's exactly what I have done, too. I created a web site dedicated to one of my books. I intend to do the same for the other book, too, but I have a few more things I need to accomplish with this first site still.
I am living my dream of being published. Not only am I reaching my target audience, but I am also having numerous articles published on other sites. I have been contacted by two other sites to write for them as well. A third site asked (and I agreed) to provide advice to the members of its site on the very subject I wrote about. I am an instant expert.
I pay less than $1 per day and I am published, in demand and am receiving monthly checks from my site.
Just think about it. It might work for you. It might not. I just know that as writer, it is extremely hard to get your name out there for the right people to see it. This gives you one more opportunity to make a name for yourself.
Best of luck.
~Carla
A link to the book I'm selling How to Write a Professional Resume
How you can create a website about your book(s), too: My Passion
Sunday, March 4, 2007
The Space Shuttle is Retiring
Did you know that the space shuttle is going to retire in a few years? It is mind-boggling to me just how long these space crafts have been hopping into and out of orbit around the earth.
Unfortunately, once the space shuttle retires, the US is going to be earth-bound for several years as the craft that will replace the space shuttle is being delayed due to budget cuts.
Atlantis is going to undergo some repairs as the hail damage was apparently pretty severe. The flight will have to wait until the Russian trip to the space station is completed. They're sending up a new crew.
What will Atlantis be charged with accomplishing?
According to the NASA web site, "During the 11-day mission, the six-member crew will install a new truss segment, retract a set of solar arrays and unfold a new set on the starboard side of the station. Lessons learned from two previous missions will provide the astronauts with new techniques and tools to perform their duties."
If you were to read through the various missions, you can see how they each build upon each other. It's quite fantastic to think of the progress that the space program has made in my lifetime. Ok, I was 4 years old when the first footsteps were placed on the moon's surface. Now, we zip back and forth into space with such regularity that most people don't even watch the launches or landings anymore.
I need to get my children to spend more time on the NASA web site. There is enough information on that site to keep anyone busy for days and days.
Happy Learning!
Unfortunately, once the space shuttle retires, the US is going to be earth-bound for several years as the craft that will replace the space shuttle is being delayed due to budget cuts.
Atlantis is going to undergo some repairs as the hail damage was apparently pretty severe. The flight will have to wait until the Russian trip to the space station is completed. They're sending up a new crew.
What will Atlantis be charged with accomplishing?
According to the NASA web site, "During the 11-day mission, the six-member crew will install a new truss segment, retract a set of solar arrays and unfold a new set on the starboard side of the station. Lessons learned from two previous missions will provide the astronauts with new techniques and tools to perform their duties."
If you were to read through the various missions, you can see how they each build upon each other. It's quite fantastic to think of the progress that the space program has made in my lifetime. Ok, I was 4 years old when the first footsteps were placed on the moon's surface. Now, we zip back and forth into space with such regularity that most people don't even watch the launches or landings anymore.
I need to get my children to spend more time on the NASA web site. There is enough information on that site to keep anyone busy for days and days.
Happy Learning!
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