New Years Eve - 2011

Stay inspired my friends...through out all of 2012.

Do You Believe

be-lieve

intransitive verb

1: to have a firm religious faith : to accept something as true, genuine, or real (ideals we believe in) (believes in ghosts)
2: to have a firm conviction as to the goodness, efficacy, or ability of something (believe in exercise)
3: to hold an opinion : think (I believe so)

transitive verb

1: to consider to be true or honest (believe the reports) (you wouldn't believe how long it took) : to accept the word or evidence of (I believe you) (couldn't believe my ears)
2: to hold as an opinion : suppose (I believe it will rain soon)

What do you believe in? It is a pretty simple question that can be tough for some to answer. When you are first asked this question, does your mind instantly run to religion?  The question could be religious, but it could also refer to the supernatural, philosophical, or scientific. Basically, in means that we all have beliefs that define how we think the world and life work along with how we should interact with it.

Beliefs bridge the gap between what we "know" and what we "assume" in order to function in the world and make decisions. We have beliefs that can be proven and those that can not. Some beliefs are just that, our own belief in how life functions when proof can not be attained.

What I would like to end out the year 2011 with is this;

"Believe in something."

I have a belief in a God that is greater than anything mere men could envision. My belief is that the Mayans have it all wrong regarding 2012. They simply didn't have a greater vision for our world and humanity. In whatever fashion you believe in a greater power or not, believe that the year 2012 is going to be great.

BELIEVE in your visions so that they inspire you to ACT throughout the coming year. You will REALIZE many of your dreams in 2012.

Have a happy celebration this New Year's Eve, be safe, be happy and stay inspired my friends.

Scream Out for Liz

"When you're drowning, you don't say 'I would be incredibly pleased if someone would have the foresight to notice me drowning and come and help me,' you just scream." -John Lennon

As the year of 2011 is nearing an end, each of us are looking forward to what will come in the new one. The year of 2012 holds great promise for each of us. And most of us have the luxury of good health, reasonable financial stability and general goodness happening in our lives.

Others are not so fortunate and have a more direct want for 2012. For them, each day that goes by gives hope and promise for greater things, most of which is life. One such person is Liz Rieckmann and when she was only 7 years old, was diagnosed with cancer. Doctors only gave her a 50/50 chance, but she beat cancer!

Then in 2009, she was a young woman interning with the Brown University theater program. She noticed that she was getting extremely winded at work. During a Christmas break, she went home and visited her doctor who had her hospitalized right away due to pneumonia. After several tests and a biopsy, Liz received a disheartening diagnosis of pulmonary fibrosis, a disease that severely scars the lungs.

Doctors have determined that a double-lung transplant is critical to her survival. So while awaiting her transplant, Liz must rely on an oxygen tank 24 hours a day to breathe. Despite these challenges, Liz loves life and is grateful for her supportive network of family and friends who have made her life so special. She is especially thankful for her mom and dad, as they do everything they can to make sure Liz has the best possible care.

Now to the "ask" of my readers.

A good friend of ours, Ruth Perry, is heading up a local fund-raising effort to get the monies needed for the transplant. The needed double-lung transplant for Liz costs nearly $800,000. And that's only the beginning. Even with health coverage, she faces significant expenses. She will need follow-up care and daily anti-rejection medications for the rest of her life. Post-transplant medications are very costly, and they are as critical to her survival as the transplant itself.

I appreciate you sticking with me on this long article, but what can you do?

You can help by donating a few dollars now and encouraging others to do the same. If you wish to read more about Liz Rieckmann and more importantly, make a tax-deductible donation, CLICK HERE.

If you wish to send a check in the mail, please send it to the

NFT Georgia Transplant Fund
5350 Poplar Avenue, Suite 430
Memphis, TN 38119

Please be sure to write "in honor of Liz Rieckmann" on the memo line.

To involve yourself in this or any such noble effort to assist others is important. Many people in need of help or assistance will politely ask others in their time of need. What we are here to do for the Rieckmanns is to be the ones to "scream out" to the rest of the world.

You can help Liz with your generous gift and then "scream out" to others. Together we can help make a huge difference in another persons 2012. We can help give them life.

Dreams for 2012

The end of 2011 is coming quickly to an end. In under four days, 2011 will ring out with a rush of parties, a dropping of the ball in New York's famed Times Square (yes, there are many others around the world), kissing, hugging and resolutions declared. People will declare the start of a new year, new beginning and renewed hope for better times.

While I talked of that new beginning in a previous article, I understand the general consensus will go based upon the calendar. But it doesn't mean that you can't start thinking about it now; starting today with a new beginning and renewed hope for better times.

As we dream of great things and see visions of prosperity, success and great love in 2012, dreaming is only part of the equation. There are those dreams that come to us at night while we sleep. There are dreams that occur during the day as we lazily ponder thoughts in our mind. But as you notice, both are sedentary activities, no movement, only thought. But what I have found is that DREAMS + ACTION = ACHIEVEMENT as you start a new beginning and renewed hope for better times.

As I have said before, you have to "Raise the BAR" (Believe, Act, Realize) in order to achieve your dreams. Do not wait until the blur of 12:01 AM on January 1 or even the hangover of the next morning. Start making movement on the 2012 year. Forget that the Mayans wrote of destruction and disaster. Believe in greatness and a new beginning and renewed hope for better times.

In an article called "10 Tips for Turning Your Dreams into Reality!" by Inez Bracy, Inez Bracy International; those things you need to start considering are;

1. Take an in depth look at your life, who you are and how you show up.
2. Decide if this is the way you want your life to be 365 days from now.
3. Give yourself permission to move in the direction of the life you say you want.
4. Chart your course; set goals toward achieving your dream life.
5. Do something daily that takes you closer to your dream
6. Keep a journal of your progress.
7. Celebrate something daily.
8. This is about you and for you.
9. Ask for help when you need to.
10. Express gratitude daily.

But you have to start now, start today; get a head start on 2012 before the crowd gets in the way. You will be on your way to something greater in your life, your best life.

Stay inspired my friends.