What Makes A Dad

God took the strength of a mountain,
The majesty of a tree,
The warmth of a summer sun,
The calm of a quiet sea,
The generous soul of nature,
The comforting arm of night,
The wisdom of the ages,
The power of the eagle's flight,
The joy of a morning in spring,
The faith of a mustard seed,
The patience of eternity,
The depth of a family need,
Then God combined these qualities,
When there was nothing more to add,
He knew His masterpiece was complete,
And so, He called it ... "DAD!"

...Author Unverified

Happy Fathers Day

Learning Success - your personal style

Are you aware that we all have a different learning style. Some children and adults learn certain things faster and different. Some of us like visuals, like text and images; and others respond to hearing it over and again. some of us learn better when learning feels like play and others like to hunker down and stay focused for long periods of time. You could be someone who learns best when you're left alone to your owns schedule alone and others respond better when they are in organized teams.

Attempting to force everyone to learn the exact same way can actually be harmful to our learning process and maybe our self esteem.

Most of us have childhood memories of school. Some can recall great teachers who inspired them to learn and grow. Other adults can remember times as a child in school, when they just "couldn't get it", or worse, when they were punished for learning too easy.

I was one of the "learning too easily" kids who looked forward to school. For a few years anyway. I was constantly reading and wanting to know the answers. And then I would be excited when I knew I had learned it and I wanted to share my knowledge and assistance with anyone who would listen. Unfortunately I do have memories of elementary school where I felt like Hermoine in Harry Potter. I would get excited and raise my hand, but then be told to put it down and wait for the other kids to learn. It seemed they were getting the attention for not learning and I was being punished. My excitement for learning waned. Fortunately in middle school, someone noticed my quick learning and place me in advanced learning classes where I could again be challenged and stimulated to learn.

Today, we are more aware of the differences in our personalities, motivations and learning styles. How we are taught as children can effect us into adulthood.

For years I have advocated for self investment rather than self-improvement. When we focus on improving ourselves, we are condemning ourselves for where we are, instead of seeing that our behaviors are separate from who we are. We are doing the best we can with what we know, and what we have to work with - at that time. With different tools, training, experiences and mentors we may learn now ways of thinking and behaving. We may then make different choices that will then provide us with different results. Our thinking is changing, our actions are changing, and therefore our results must change.

I like sharing introductions to people who assist us in investing in ourselves.

This week, I met wonderful woman who saw the need to assist our children and us as adults in our learning so we can create the results we desire, whether learning the answers in school or achieving our goals. I'd like to introduce you to Mariaemma Pelullo-Willis. She developed a powerful solution to our learning profiles and started Learning Success Institute. She offers tools for students that help them learn through their personal learning style, plus tools for teachers and parents. And for those of us who are now adults and need the re-learning she offers workshops and consultations.

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AUTHOR:
As a Solutions Consultant, Sumner Davenport works in harmony with her clients to assist them in discovering solutions, not just answers to achieve their goals.

She reminds people that Your "Self " is not what has happened to you and not who other people judge your "Self " to be, and your "Self " worth is not based on other persons' acceptance.

As a best selling author, Sumner is sought after as a speaker and is quoted often. One of her quotes was voted to be included in the Top 10 Healthy Thoughts of 2007. Her greatest passion is seeing people live the life of their dreams while assisting others to do the same.

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The world is demanding an apology for the NON-Rapture?

Today I heard that the world is demanding an apology from Rev.Camping who erroneously predicted the Rapture for May21st.


I currently live in this world and I'm not interested in any apology. And I'm curious why the "world" wants one?


His followers may need an explanation and/or an apology. And he may have some 'splainin to do, for the man who spent his life savings on publicity. However, the news stations seem to enjoy filling the airwaves with stories as they reported them several times a day, which drew an audience for their advertisers. Comedians had new content, and several companies made money from billboards to promotional items, including the After-the-Rapture t-shirts.

For some people I talked with, this was a wake up call of sorts. If they knew for sure the day they were going to leave the planet, would it change how they are living today? Are they living each day to its fullest and with integrity? Does that reminder need an apology?


Namaste'

Rapture is in each day.

Here we are today after the declaration, by one very dedicated man, that yesterday was going to be the"Rapture", the last day on earth. I awoke to birds singing, a cool overcast day with a peek of sun rays through the clouds and fresh air.


This event is both sad and admirable.

It is admirable that a person can have such commitment to their faith, that even in the face of ridicule and taunting, that they will stay. This small group of people made headlines not only for the prediction, but also for their commitment to their beliefs.  Many people poked fun and others claimed he was embarrassing a larger group of people.

Whether it's religion, politics, opinions, choices or ways of living, countless people recant their alleged commitments in the first whiff of nonacceptance. Others deflect, become defensive and argumentative when faced with opposition of any kind.

The sad part is not that the predication didn't come true, it's about how people quit living. It was reported that some people ran up huge credit card debt with expensive gifts and vacations for themselves. Others gave up on their dreams. Some quit college and families quit their jobs to sit home and read scripture or pass out fliers. They survived off of their credit and meager savings, perfectly planned, so they wouldn't have anything left on earth when the day arrived.

Although dictionary.com defines Rapture as: " the carrying of a person to another place or sphere of existence" and this is a term used by many Christians regarding the second-coming of their Savior; it is also defined as: "ecstatic joy or delight; joyful ecstasy".

Many people have ceased living their lives everyday. Some of those who were waiting for yesterday, stopped their dreams or contributions to society. Each day, others are going through the motions of living, waiting for some future unforetold date. And countless people who have no belief in this thought at all, also fail to live in the moments of each day. The potential for rapture within each day is lost in the worry, guilt, judgment and plans only for the "sometime in the future", whether that's the spiritual rapture, marriage, weight loss, the perfect job...etc.... For some, the afterlife is where Heaven is, and that is all they can think about and live for, and they cease to live out the heavenly moments and rapturous potential in every day.

Some people were ready for the end of this life because they wanted out; and others were ready because they had lived each day to the fullest and believe they had completed their purpose.

Which one are you? Are you committed to your beliefs in yourself and your worthiness to have all the goodness that each day has to offer.  And if that daily rapture potential isn't readily apparent, you can make find it or make it?


Namaste'

Born Worthy

All persons were born winners and born worthy.

Years ago and every day there is a race and, in most cases, only one winner.
Each person is the winner of the race.

It is a sperm race. A race to determine which sperm would be the ONE to impregnate the precious egg. The others were not born as losers. Only winners had the opportunity to be born. You were the winner from your own very beginning. So is every other person, a winner in their own race from their own beginning. Each may have taken a different route and embraced different behaviors and personality, however the fact does not change that everyone is born a winner and still is.

And as a winner, everyone is worthy of everything wonderful that is bestowed upon a winner.

It’s never too late to recapture the truth about yourself. 

In my experience, I see that when people begin to see their genuine self worth, the healing begins.

Excerpt from book: "Self Investment not Self Improvement"

AUTHOR:
As a Solutions Consultant, Sumner Davenport works in harmony with her clients to assist them in discovering solutions, not just answers to achieve their goals. As a best selling author, Sumner is sought after as a speaker and is quoted often. One of her quotes was voted to be included in the Top 10 Healthy Thoughts of 2007.Her greatest passion is seeing people live the life of their dreams while assisting others to do the same. Click here to contact her by email

Fitting in or having the life you desire?

In a conversation with a friend one day, when asked how I was as I moving through a problem that came into my life.  I replied that I was focusing on solutions. She responded that she would do the same but since everyone else was complaining about everything, she felt she wouldn’t fit in unless she did the same.

I asked her, and I ask you “Which is more important – fitting in or having the life you desire?”

“The definition of Insanity is doing the same things

and expecting different results.”~ Albert Einstein ~

When you start focusing on your Desires, and you start to have them and accomplish them, you will not longer “fit in” with the people who choose to focus on the problems and the excuses. Only you can decide if you want to fit in with the people who criticize and complain, or fit in with the group of people who are having and accomplishing their deepest Desires.

As you write your List of Desires, answering two questions with each one may enlighten you and clarify your commitment:

(1) How will I change?
(2) How will this change my life?

“It's not so much that we're afraid of change or so in love with the old ways,

but it's that place in between that we fear . . . .

It's like being between trapezes. It's Linus when his blanket is in the dryer. There's nothing to hold on to.” ~ Marilyn Ferguson~

Be deeply honest with yourself. Will you feel more freedom? Will you feel happier? Will you be more generous? Will you be afraid of what others will think and say? Will you be nice or mean?

Some people stop themselves because they are afraid of actually having what they really Desire.

“The most important thing to remember is this: To be ready at any moment to give up what you are for what you might become. “ ~ W.E.B. Du Bois~

Others are afraid people may not like them.

”When you rise above the masses you will always become a target.

Just as a flower grows taller than the surrounding grass,and becomes a target for the nourishing sunshine,it also becomes a target to be cut down.”

~ Sumner M. Davenport ~

Others are afraid of becoming “like those mean or dishonest people”.

“Success does not change a person, it only allows them to express

who they really are on a larger scale” ~ Victor Frankl ~

By reviewing your reactions to the questions and your honest answers, you will find your fears. However, accompanying those fears will be your solutions. When you make an agreement with yourself how you will grow in a positive way, you will be able to see the obstacles that have been in your way. Some of these obstacles may have been deep in your subconscious and now in the light of your awareness, you can make conscious choices. Only though being deeply honest with yourself will you see what has been stopping you in the past, up until today. In the unconscious these obstacles may be seen as large and overwhelming as a mountain. In the light of your loving acceptance, they can be reduced to the size of a pebble, and you will be able to remove them from your path and continue moving forward.

“The creative is the place where no one else has ever been. You have to leave the city of your comfort and go into the wilderness of your intuition. What you'll discover will be wonderful. What you'll discover is yourself” ~ Alan Alda ~

When you write how you will change next to your Desires, you will be reinforcing your positive change every time you read your List.

“First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do.”

~ Epictetus ~

Nutrition Choices

The FDA plans to order vending machine operators, chain restaurants, bakeries, coffee shops and other food retailers across the country (except movie theaters, bowling alleys or airlines) to prominently display calorie and other nutrition information on menus and menu boards.

Do you believe this will make a difference with people and their nutrition choices, or their weight?  Are we letting the laws make our decisions for us on our eating habits?

Please share your thoughts.


More on the announcement can be read in the LA Times

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