If I ruled the world

I can be certain of a few things besides death and taxes...and that is if I ruled the world-I certainly wouldn't buy them a coke!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8H5263jCGg

Although inviting to live in perfect harmony, somehow I don't think that a coke would do it these days. 

If I ruled the world, there would be no world hunger.

How can you make the difference?  You can donate even 1 can of food at a food drive, every little bit helps someone else.  You can make a contribution to an organization like:  http://help.feedingamerica.org/site/PageServer?pagename=GiveAMeal&s_src=Y12X1PGAM&s_subsrc=FoodCharity-donatetofoodcharity&gclid=CKC5-c6iurACFegbQgodpHG-mw  Or give your time at times of need with your local agencies who need man power to make things happen. There is always something you can do. 

This IS in your backyards people...Be the change.

If I ruled the world, there would be no bully's on the playgrounds, neighborhoods, day cares, or any which place on our planet.

What can you do to make a difference?  You can stand up for people who you're witness to this happening.  You can have a voice in times when someone has lost theirs, or has never had the strength before, or maybe never has had someone in their lives to be the difference...You could be it!  The power of ONE is beyond measurement.  You can teach your children, your nieces, your nephews, your neighbor...You have the power to change today!

If I ruled the world, there would be no loneliness.  Time changes us all.  We grow older and there are times when we think we're wiser from life's experiences, and maybe we are...But, with what we've learned why don't we do more with it?  I know there are many elderly who're sitting alone full of knowledge of yesterday, and the yesterday's before that...Full of OUR history. 

What can you do about growing older?  When that history is gone...It's gone for good.  Why not have a seat next to one of the most beautiful people in the world (see above the beauty)  and Cherish the history that is 'his' story to tell...find someone to be an active listener to, it will be good for you and good for them...the gift of yesterday is just as worthy as today's gift.  We wouldn't have this quote if someone wasn't paying attention to Eleanor Roosevelt to begin with.

If I ruled the world, education would provide beyond what is 'expected'...I'm a strong believer in knowledge is power.  Power as in strength...thus providing more of you with a fulfillment that you can change the world....Education is so incredibly valuable, and it seems as if it is taken so lightly, with no thought-because it just is.  What if we had no education system put in place?  What would happen?  Would you do more bartering, and trading?  Would you be able to maintain a lifestyle, let alone, a life the way you 'feel' you are worth?  Would it change worth and 'status' to be defined as something other than we know it today?  Think about it...How much are you willing to invest into your future?  I can tell you that your education is worth so incredibly much...and if you're lucky enough to have certain book wisdom's come your way naturally, what a gift it would be to share with someone who is struggling.
http://degreesearch.org/blog/10-staggering-facts-about-education-in-america/

Read the Staggering! Facts...either by clicking the link, or somehow enlarging the photo...sad truth is, we are evolving...that we are sure of-But, do we like where we're headed?  Make a difference in our future dentists, doctors, highway patrol, grocery store clerks, computer technicians, arborists, exterminators, and on and on...How can you do 1 thing that will make a change in someones life who's struggling with education...a little bit goes a LONG way.

If I ruled the world, dreams would come true.  In each one of us, our dream seeds are planted, and we are either crazy enough, strong enough, supported enough, ...and the seeds are watered by those around us...to have the dreams grow into a part of you...then there are some of you where your dreams keep whirling around in your mind, and there isn't a way for you to find a solution, a pathway, or simply the gumption to jump feet first and follow our dreams...

(There's that darned Eleanor Roosevelt!  Anyone else paying attention?)

What can you do about it?  Make your dreams come true my friends~Believe in yourself.  I do.  Believe in the beauty of your dreams...and failure is not an option, but in case failure comes to the surface while chasing your dreams-email me, I'll remind you who you are and be your cheerleader to keep after them.  For yesterday, today, and tomorrow are all the stepping stones you'll need to achieve what your heart desires...and your beautiful mind is the keeper of your dreams...but, don't let it be the keeper of your dreams forever...flourish and take the step to make them happen.

Score
http://www.score.org/

Thoughts
http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/7-steps-to-making-your-dream-come-true/



So my friends...as usual wordy...me...I'm not finished...just finished for this moment...because there's so much to do when you rule the world...so many people to think of...so much change to be had...to make this world a better place...will you join me?



Love Deeply, Live Out Loud, & Live Your Dash,
T

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Red Solo Cups

T and I grew up in a small town, lets call it FB.  When I say small, I mean population maybe around 5000 people when we were kids. You learn a lot of life's lessons differently in a small town than say someone who grew up in a big city.  Now I'm not saying one is better than another, but what I can say is that I am glad to be a part of the community we call "home."  However, as a teenager, I may have begged to differ with you. 

If you didn't know what you were up to, someone else most likely did.  One of the side notes of growing up in FB, is that some residents had little to do in their personal lives and made it their mission to meddle and share what "Sam Smith was doing last night."  I think that the gossip may have had it's advantages as well as disadvantages.  Our Mom was a school bus driver and knew a lot of the school aged kids, their siblings, their parents, their grandparents...which meant she almost always knew before we did, what we were up to.

The Senior Ball was coming up, when I was 16.  Underclassmen could attend and I was looking forward to it.  My boyfriend (who is now my husband) and I were planning on going to the dance for a short time and then "head out" to a friends house afterwards for a party. Our friends lived North of town about ten miles.  If you haven't been to a high school party in FB, you may have missed out.  A party usually consisted of lots of lifted trucks, a pallet or tire fire, beer in red Solo cups, and people of all ages.  They would be at a persons house, or most often held at places called "Top of the World", "Sherwood", or "The Bark Dumps."  At these parties, commonly you had the high schoolers, the just out of high schoolers, the few siblings of high schoolers that may have been in middle school, and don't forget the dogs that hitched a ride in the back of someones truck. These parties included locals with nicknames that referenced fruit, bodily functions, and others.  It was a sight to be seen and you were bummed if you missed a Saturday party "Out Sherwood." 

Back to my story, and the party...So I asked my parents if I could stay the night at our friends house.  I purposefully left out the part about my boyfriend going to stay out there too.  Somehow, some way, my Mom knew better and allowed me to go "out" to the friends house but definitely not stay the night.  My guess is that she had heard somewhere that there were going to be more than just girls staying out there.  I will never know, but most likely it was one of her "sources".  I did go out there after the dance, and we hung out, the guys drove their trucks through a mud bog and there was a tire fire, good times!  Looking back, the enviromentalists would have keeled over if they knew how much smog the high school kids were causing with their weekend parties!

I didn't get my drivers license until I was 18.  My take on it was that I didn't have a car anyway and between my boyfriend and best friend I always had a ride so why bother?  Well to set the scene, my boyfriend always drove lifted trucks, that usually had a stereo you could hear from three blocks away at least.  One of my friends had ridden somewhere with us at one point, and said she felt like she was getting a "back massage" from the booming speakers behind the seat.  At this particular time, he was driving a bright yellow lifted 1978 Ford.  He had taught me how to drive it, and I had convinced him that I could take it to school after lunch and bring it back afterwards.  A few of my friends and I were loaded up in his truck, deemed "the yellow banana", and headed back to the high school.  As we were driving onto one of the side streets..who do we see!?  My parents!  Man, I was busted.  You couldn't miss his bright yellow truck for anything.  I just waved and continued driving to the high school as quickly as possible.  When I got home, I slinked in with my head down and waited for the reeming of a lifetime.  My Dad said, "What's your problem??"  I told him I knew that they had seen me at lunch.  His response was, "I don't care, just get your license!!"  Now tell me, if you lived in a big city, what would the chances be that you would see your unlicensed teenage daughter driving anywhere?

As an adult I recognize the numerous benefits of raising our children in a small town.  Besides knowing what your children are doing "most of the time" by networking with other locals, you also make close friends that you have for life, you learn the values of creativity, and using your imagination when growing up and playing outside.  You appreciate the simple things.  If I said I didn't love visiting the city I'd be lying.   I love the hustle and bustle, the many restaurants, music, and shopping.  But when it comes down to it, I would prefer that we raise our son and daughter in a similar environment that we grew up in.  If they experience a few tire fires in the woods, and drink out of a few red Solo cups we will have to learn how to take each situation as they come.  But I wouldn't trade the advantages over the disadvantages for anything.

Embrace Your Sparkle,

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T, The Guardian Angel

Those of you who truly know T, know that she is a lady with a huge heart.  She is always one to go above & beyond to help others and to make sure that those in her presence are taken care of.  You may not know, but she has personally taken on tasks that make others feel special or to let them know that someone is thinking of them.  She's done fundraisers, walks, meals on wheels (her own version), brought neighbors goodies, helped friends come up with business ideas and executed them, the list goes on and on... She's one of a kind!!   I can personally guarantee she has been more than just Dons guardian angel. (Reference: Lies, Broom Handles and Guardian Angels)  She isn't someone who does this to add it to her resume.  She does it because she truly cares.  For example, I didn't even know that she had seen Don again years later.  I didn't even know his name was Don.  I knew the story otherwise of her helping him while she worked at that particular job, but that's it.  That's how she is.  Helps and does not expect anything in return.  We should all take her lead.

I cannot even begin to share an experience to the capacity of  "Lies, Broom Handles and Guardian Angels".  But I too, do my best to bring a smile to another persons face whenever I can.   One example I can give of helping others is when I moved to Santa Rosa.  I worked at Home Base in customer service. It was a fun job, and it paid the bills, barely.  The Home Base was located in a shopping center with Food for Less, Taco Bell, Burger King...You get the picture.  One day when I was driving out of the parking lot from work, I realized there was what appeared to be a homeless man on the corner, holding a sign asking for help. 

A few days passed, and I saw the man was still standing on the corner again as I went into the parking lot.  I had to do some grocery shopping after work, and decided to purchase a four pack of Top Ramen for him.  I slowed down on my way by and tossed it out the window towards him.  He went and picked it up as I drove off.  You see, I didn't have the balls like my sister to actually go up and befriend the person but I knew I wanted to help.  Ironically, that day I was on my way to her house for a visit.  Proud of myself, I burst through her front door like little sisters do, and told her the story about helping the person in need.  She laughed in a big sister kind of way, and said "How are they going to cook it?".  I didn't even think of that!!  (Although I secretly knew she was proud of me.)

The next day I decided I was going to "one up" myself. When I went through Taco Bell for my lunch, I requested and paid for an extra bean burrito.  As I drove passed the man, I slowed down, and tossed the burrito bag out of the window of my car.  A little more careful than the Top Ramen though...Satisified, I continued on with my daily tasks. 

There were several different men and women who stood on that very same corner with signs asking for help during my run at Home Base.  I would buy things or give them change whenever I could.  But I actually had one person tell me they didn't want the food, they were trying to get beer money.  That crushed me, and slowed down my good deeds for a while.  But does it really matter if they are there because they truly need the help or do they need beer money?  I think what really matters is that they are putting their pride on the line asking for help because they can't work, won't work, or any other reason.  It is not our job to judge and try to determine by looking at them if they "really" need it.  That's between them and God.

Another way that I try to help others is by a simple smile or by "Paying it Forward".  I have been known to make my order at Starbucks, and when I get around to the window, I pay for the persons behind me.  All I know is that I wanted to brighten someones day, and well if it didn't, I will never know.

I believe it's all about giving what you can, because you always have more than someone else.  Share the wealth.  Whether it's an 89 cent bean burrito or $5.00.  Do what you can to make this world a better place.  Smile at a person you're passing by, a smile is free, and it makes you warm and fuzzy inside when someone smiles back. Take T's lead and run with it.  Do what you personally are capable of and don't expect anything in return.   We only have this one life, so make it a good one!

Embrace Your Sparkle,

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