Over the years I have had a handful of people who have had a great influence on my life. I'm sure if you really look back you'll see that you have too. I lost one of my mentors last Tuesday night, when he died peacefully in his sleep.
I feel very happy that I kept in touch with this man over the years and expressed my gratitude to him often for his direction and loving support.
That is one of the things that I learned from him. He always told me how much he thought of me; how proud of me he was. His health started to break down over the last year. At times he was in tremendous pain from deteriorating discs in his back. He suffered greatly but never lost his spirit.
Avoid the horrible, helpless feelings of regret. Express your gratitude and love to those who have had a positive influence on you along the way. Pick up the phone. Sent a note. Drop by for a visit. Do it now, do it every chance you get, before it's too late.
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
"Gratitude Rocks"
This past Sunday was our town's annual festival. It's called "Cow Harbor Day". The harbor at the foot of Main Street used to be called Cow Harbor. Anyway, there is a parade, rides for the kids, crazy boat races, all kinds of food and a craft fair in the park. It always attracts a huge crowd.
I am a member of our local Rotary Club. We are always trying to come up with different ideas to raise money. We use the funds to support many charitable endeavors, both local and worldwide. One of our pet projects is the local food pantry. You'd be surprised, even in an affluent village as ours, how many families rely on the food pantry to keep their families fed. I thought it would be a good idea to have the food pantry be the beneficiary of my fund raising efforts because it was a village fair and the money would stay in the village.
I decided that I would take a page out of the movie (book) "The Secret" and set up a booth to sell "Gratitude Rocks". I thought it would be an opportunity to raise some consciousness as well as some money. My first thought was to sell the gratitude rocks for $10. apiece, but then decided to make them more affordable and lowered the price to $5.; 3 for $10. In order to fill up the booth I decided to sell my book, "Simple Happiness" and donate the proceeds to the same cause. Many of my fellow Rotary Club members were quite skeptical to say the least. There were a few, however, who supported my undertaking.
I went down to the harbor the Sunday before the event at low tide and gathered what I thought were attractive rocks, small enough to carry around in one's pocket or purse. I washed and sanatized the rocks and got them all ready. My wife contributed some colorful polished rocks that she had brought back from a trip to San Francisco - these turned out to be the best sellers by far. Finally, my assistant, who created some beautiful signage, contributed a bag of rocks that she purchased from Pottery Barn.
The big day finally arrived. My wife helped me set up the booth and stuck with me the whole day, occasionally bring me food and drink to sustain me throught the day. What a day it was! Crisp, cool, perfect blue skies and a big crowd. Hundreds and hundreds of people passed by my booth. Some snickered, thinking the gratitude rocks were some crazy notion like the old "pet rocks". They couldn't have been more wrong. I had the opportunity to explain to many folks the real meaning of a "Gratitude Rock".
You see, you put it in your pocket in the morning and as you do, you think of something that you're grateful for. In so doing, you feel good. As you sit down at your desk at work you feel it in your back pocket and it reminds you to bring to mind a thought of gratitude, and what do you know? - you feel good. Later, at lunch you reach into your pocket and feel it, once again it reminds you to bring to mind a thought of something you're grateful for, and guess what? - you feel good.
Little by little you start to understand that you have the ability to feel good throughout the day, simply by thinking a thought of gratitude. When you notice yourself feeling stressed or low, you realize that you can change your thoughts and lose that low mood. Good things start to happen as you cultivate these good feelings during your day. The law of attraction says that the more grateful thoughts you think during the day, the more things will come into your life to be grateful for. This little gratitude rock could be the catalyst to help you live with an attitude of gratitude. It could be the start of a life filled with joy and happiness.
The sale turned out to be a big success. 21 copies of "Simple Happiness" were sold, bringing $168 to the bottom line. A grand total of $262 was raised from the sale of the "Gratitude Rocks". A total of $430 was given to the food pantry. On top of that, I know that there are fewer skeptics among my fellow Rotarians, and probably most important, there are a lot of folks in my village who are practicing gratitude, and feeling good.
Little by little the world is changing. Changing for the better!
Jim Ryan
Jim Ryan Talks
Programs That Empower
I am a member of our local Rotary Club. We are always trying to come up with different ideas to raise money. We use the funds to support many charitable endeavors, both local and worldwide. One of our pet projects is the local food pantry. You'd be surprised, even in an affluent village as ours, how many families rely on the food pantry to keep their families fed. I thought it would be a good idea to have the food pantry be the beneficiary of my fund raising efforts because it was a village fair and the money would stay in the village.
I decided that I would take a page out of the movie (book) "The Secret" and set up a booth to sell "Gratitude Rocks". I thought it would be an opportunity to raise some consciousness as well as some money. My first thought was to sell the gratitude rocks for $10. apiece, but then decided to make them more affordable and lowered the price to $5.; 3 for $10. In order to fill up the booth I decided to sell my book, "Simple Happiness" and donate the proceeds to the same cause. Many of my fellow Rotary Club members were quite skeptical to say the least. There were a few, however, who supported my undertaking.
I went down to the harbor the Sunday before the event at low tide and gathered what I thought were attractive rocks, small enough to carry around in one's pocket or purse. I washed and sanatized the rocks and got them all ready. My wife contributed some colorful polished rocks that she had brought back from a trip to San Francisco - these turned out to be the best sellers by far. Finally, my assistant, who created some beautiful signage, contributed a bag of rocks that she purchased from Pottery Barn.
The big day finally arrived. My wife helped me set up the booth and stuck with me the whole day, occasionally bring me food and drink to sustain me throught the day. What a day it was! Crisp, cool, perfect blue skies and a big crowd. Hundreds and hundreds of people passed by my booth. Some snickered, thinking the gratitude rocks were some crazy notion like the old "pet rocks". They couldn't have been more wrong. I had the opportunity to explain to many folks the real meaning of a "Gratitude Rock".
You see, you put it in your pocket in the morning and as you do, you think of something that you're grateful for. In so doing, you feel good. As you sit down at your desk at work you feel it in your back pocket and it reminds you to bring to mind a thought of gratitude, and what do you know? - you feel good. Later, at lunch you reach into your pocket and feel it, once again it reminds you to bring to mind a thought of something you're grateful for, and guess what? - you feel good.
Little by little you start to understand that you have the ability to feel good throughout the day, simply by thinking a thought of gratitude. When you notice yourself feeling stressed or low, you realize that you can change your thoughts and lose that low mood. Good things start to happen as you cultivate these good feelings during your day. The law of attraction says that the more grateful thoughts you think during the day, the more things will come into your life to be grateful for. This little gratitude rock could be the catalyst to help you live with an attitude of gratitude. It could be the start of a life filled with joy and happiness.
The sale turned out to be a big success. 21 copies of "Simple Happiness" were sold, bringing $168 to the bottom line. A grand total of $262 was raised from the sale of the "Gratitude Rocks". A total of $430 was given to the food pantry. On top of that, I know that there are fewer skeptics among my fellow Rotarians, and probably most important, there are a lot of folks in my village who are practicing gratitude, and feeling good.
Little by little the world is changing. Changing for the better!
Jim Ryan
Jim Ryan Talks
Programs That Empower
Friday, September 14, 2007
THE FIRST STEP
I was watching "The Secret" dvd this morning. (By the way, you should get it - http://www.thesecret.tv/). They speak about how to use the secret to manifest what you want into your life. They tell you just focus on what you want and feel good about having it. They tell you not to worry about how you're going to get it - that's the job of the universe. Your job is to visualize the end result and feel good about it. However at times you will receive an inspiration dealing with what you desire to manifest. That's your second job. Pay attention to these inspirations and act on them. It may not be totally clear where these inspirations will lead you, but it's up to you to take the first step.
There are several concepts explained in the movie (or book) that give you the courage to take that first step. Martin Luther King talks about how climbing a staircase begins with taking the first step, even though you may not see the top of the stairs. Jack Canfield says that you can drive from California to New York at night without any big deal. All you have to see is the next 200 feet in front of you which is illuminated by your headlights. Keep trusting in what you see right in front of you. Eventually you will arrive at your destination.
The trick is YOU have to take that first step.
Jim Ryan
Jim Ryan Talks
Programs That Empower
There are several concepts explained in the movie (or book) that give you the courage to take that first step. Martin Luther King talks about how climbing a staircase begins with taking the first step, even though you may not see the top of the stairs. Jack Canfield says that you can drive from California to New York at night without any big deal. All you have to see is the next 200 feet in front of you which is illuminated by your headlights. Keep trusting in what you see right in front of you. Eventually you will arrive at your destination.
The trick is YOU have to take that first step.
Jim Ryan
Jim Ryan Talks
Programs That Empower
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