Coretta Scott King

Today there are four children that have lost their final parent in death. There are many topics of discussion that could surround the passing of Coretta Scott King. It could be the politics, racial, economic or even personal lives of the Kings. We could talk about the eulogies given or what this means for the future.

But what it still comes down to is that four children lost their final parent in death. Many of us do as will our own children. This is a fact of our human existence.

In the eulogies given, two former U.S. Presidents gave a word to this. Former President Bush noted, "We give thanks for her good life, a life that mattered, a life well lived." While former President Clinton added, "we would have all forgiven her, even honored her, if she had said ... 'I have endured enough dangers, toils and snares. I'm going home to raise my kids. I wish you all well. But instead, she went to Memphis and led that march for those poor, hardworking garbage men."

Our current President, George Bush in his eulogy said, "Coretta had every right to count the cost and step back from the struggle. But she decided that her children needed more than a safe home - they needed an America that upheld their equality and wrote their rights into law."

In all of our struggles in life, Coretta was a mother of four children that endured her pain for the sake of others. Through her she worked to bring something good for others. Servitude to others while overcoming heartbreak in the loss of her husband. I can't say how she personally dealt with the death of Martin, but a strong and giving person she seemed to me.

All of us can garner a lesson in this story of life throwing curves at us. We have expectations and dreams of a marriage lasting forever, the lives of our children and living a successful life. But as death and "lifes happenings" are encountered to challenge us, what we do in the face of those challenges is what makes us successful or not.

And in the final analysis of all these great things that Coretta did with her life, with all of the topics discussed and debated, I have a certain belief that she would list one of these at the top. This would be that she was the mother of four children and that she did everything she could to make life better for them. For a moment let us look past all of the speeches and look upon four children that have lost their mother.

In ending, I have to quote the Rev. Lowery, "after almost 40 years, together at last, together at last, thank God almighty, together at last. Good night, my sister."

Attitude Momentum

My apologies folks but due to technical issues I've been unable to properly post my blog. I try to write daily and provide something new and different. It is odd when one doesn't know really who is reading the words. But I get a great satisfaction in knowing that it is being read. And if it is helping only a few, then great. So on to something less self serving shall we?
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I like to quote Dean Sweetman from time to time as he has a knack for presenting ideas to me in ways I certainly would not have envisioned. He is Australian by birth but became a U.S. citizen a couple of years back as did his wife Jill. They've embraced what is good about our country yet bring another piece to the great mixture we call the 'American melting pot'.

Dean speaks about keeping your momentum going in this new year. Certainly all of us had huge enthusiasm on January 1st. Earlier in the month of January I had written of the need to get off to a start by doing something, at least anything to make a change. Doing something that will impact your entire year and improve your life.

Dean describes it using a surfing analogy from his youth on the Pacific shores near Sydney. The waves breaking near the shore are the goals and visions you've set for yourself. And you've written them down, correct? In surfing though, points are not given simply for getting up on the wave. Many can get up on the wave or state a resolution. No, you need to ride that wave into the shore to achieve the points. Falling off or discarding your goal without trying earns you much less.

You also need the wave breaking near the shore in order to make that final ride into success. The wave or final push to achievement begins way out in the Pacific Ocean. A whale jumps and creates a splash. Or a gust of wind caresses the water forming a swell. Both begin movement towards the shores, towards your dreams.

Someone out there has created movement that will eventually make its way towards you. To intersect with your dreams and goals...creating a wave of final pursuit. You may have started it yourself by simply making a decision to change. Yet it ultimately climaxes in the opportunity to ride a wave into the shore. Are you preparing yourself to take advantage of it? Are you willing to risk the ride?

Dreams, visions or goals begin as a small swell in the ocean and culminate in the perfect wave when meeting the shore. Take the steps to successfully ride them into shore. The first one will be hard, but the next ones become easier. Don't let February become your down month...let the swells continue to carry you further along. It will become a wave of opportunity.

"Take advantage of momentum, ride it all of the way to the shore and fulfill your dreams." -Dean Sweetman

Find That Place To Regain Your Attitude

When attitude is in short supply around you, do you downwardly spiral towards the negative? Do you enter a room and instantly look for others to lift you? It can be a very difficult thing to bring yourself up before entering a room of people or event. It can be very easy to take your issues and pass them along to those you meet.

It is a battle we all have to wage in putting ourselves in order. As a person of great attitude, you lift yourself above placing your issues on others. The rocks you carry in your wagon are not for others. They are for laying a smooth path for others to follow.

But there are many that are great and positive folks when things are going good. Yet the times when things are not going so well, will come into a room of people and instinctively try to unload their problems on others. This doesn't resolve your issues, it doesn't lift others around you and it certainly doesn't reflect the success in your life you are trying to achieve.

When you find that a situation is bringing you down, you have to find something or a place to go into that will turn that around. For some it may be grabbing some ice cream, careful with this one on your weight. It could be taking a walk in the park, a long hot shower or sitting quietly in meditation.

For me it is putting on headphones and listening to classical music. It focuses my attention on what may be bothering me, what may be bringing me down. My goal is to bring my attitude back to a level that can impact others. This I do so that when I enter that room of people or event, my attitude is on a higher level.

Yourself can achieve this same thing. You will begin to find that little by little, when the downward spiral begins it can be caught earlier. At first you sink deep and it takes work to bring yourself back up. As time goes along and you find ways or that 'place' to bring you up - you will catch yourself sooner. The sinking will not be nearly as deep and be able to develop methods that can quickly right yourself. A positive attitude that flows in and through you will have a great impact on others, including yourself.

“Take control of your consistent emotions and begin to consciously and deliberately reshape your daily experience of life.” - Anthony Robbins

Goodness In Return

The articles I provide here are truly from my heart and I try not to ever simply pass along pre-written stories or internet stories. But this particular one is one that I wanted to share as it brings out a point I try to make from time to time.

Having a great attitude and serving others will normally bring goodness upon you. The story below emphasizes that point regardless if the story itself is true or not.

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He almost didn't see the old lady, stranded on the side of the road, but even in the dim light of day, he could see she needed help. So he pulled up in front of her Mercedes and got out. His Pontiac was still sputtering when he approached her. Even with the smile on his face, she was worried. No one had stopped to help for the last hour or so. Was he going to hurt her? He didn't look safe; he looked poor and hungry.

He could see that she was frightened, standing out there in the cold. He knew how she felt. It was that chill which only fear can put in you. He said, "I'm here to help you, ma'am. Why don't you wait in the car where it's warm? By the way, my name is Bryan Anderson."

Well, all she had was a flat tire, but for an old lady, that was bad enough. Bryan crawled under the car looking for a place to put the jack, skinning his knuckles a time or two. S oon he was able to change the tire. But he had to get dirty and his hands hurt. As he was tightening up the lug nuts, she rolled down the window and began to talk to him.

She told him that she was from St. Louis and was only just passing through. She couldn't thank him enough for coming to her aid. Bryan just smiled as he closed her trunk. The lady asked how much she owed him. Any amount would have been all right with her. She already imagined all the awful things that could have happened had he not stopped.

Bryan never thought twice about being paid. This was not a job to him. This was helping someone in need and God knows there were plenty who had given him a hand in the past. He had lived his whole life that way and it never occurred to him to act any other way.

He told her that if she really wanted to pay him back, the next time she saw someone who needed help, she could give that person the assistance they needed and Bryan added, "And think of me." He waited until she started her car and drove off. It had been a cold and depressing day, but he felt good a he headed for home, disappearing into the twilight.

A few miles down the road the lady saw a small cafe. She went in to grab a bite to eat and take the chill off before she made the last leg of her trip home. It was a dingy looking restaurant. Outside were two old gas pumps. The whole scene was unfamiliar to her. The waitress came over and brought a clean towel to wipe her wet hair. she had a sweet smile, one that even being on her feet for the whole day couldn't erase.

The lady noticed the waitress was nearly eight months pregnant, but she never let the strain and aches change her attitude. The old lady wondered how someone who had so little could be so giving to a stranger. Then she remembered Bryan. After the lady finished her meal, she paid with a hundred dollar bill. The waitress quickly went to get change for her hundred dollar bill, but the old lady had slipped right out the door. She was gone by the time the waitress came back.

The waitress wondered where the lady could be. Then she noticed something written on the napkin. There were tears in her eyes when she read what the lady wrote: "You don't owe me anything. I have been there too. Somebody once helped me out, the way I'm helping you. If you really want to pay me back, here is what you do: Do not let this chain of love end with you."

Under the napkin were four more $100 bills. Well, there were tables to clear, sugar bowls to fill, and people to serve, but the waitress made it through another day. That night when she got home from work and climbed into bed, she was thinking about the money and what the lady had written. How could the lady have known how much she and her husband needed it?

With the baby due next month, it was going to be hard. She knew how worried her husband was and as he lay sleeping next to her, she gave him a soft kiss and whispered soft and low, "Everything's gonna be all right. I love you, Bryan Anderson."
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There are stories through out the ages that these things can and do happen. When goodness flows from you, when you pass along kindness, the reward you receive will come back in many different ways. Call it what you wish, having a positive attitude and goodness to pass along will multiply your life. Be of a giving mind and heart.