I’ve been thinking a lot about the upcoming election. And, most importantly, the impact of Sarah Palin. Honestly, I think the thing that disturbs me the most is the idea of voting for Sarah Palin just because she’s a woman. One of the hosts of the View yesterday (who is an incredibly intelligent woman overall) was going on and on about how great it was to see a strong woman as part of the election now that Hillary is out of the mix. On one level I get it. Of course it’s wonderful to see a female finally being elevated to a position generally only open to males. And yet, it’s incredibly crucial that the conversation doesn’t stop there.

For me, Sarah Palin is the opposite of everything I’ve ever held true as a strong advocate of women's rights. And the complete opposite of everything Hillary stands for. The simple facts that Sarah Palin doesn’t believe in a woman’s right to decide what to do with her own body – that even if she’s brutally raped, she’ll be forced to keep the rapist’s child; or that she doesn’t believe in sex education; or that instead of nurturing and taking care of our environment and wildlife, she advocates drilling (even in places where McCain is against it) and eliminating animals like the polar bears from the endangered species list. All of these (and more) make her the opposite of what I want from someone who could potentially become the leader of our country – regardless of sex.

At a time where the entire world needs to come together to creatively find solutions for the planet, I see Sarah Palin supporting a very “me-first” mentality. It’s ok to tear down the earth, its animals, its countries, and its people – as long as it gives us everything we demand, right here and right now. We absolutely need visionaries to unite the planet, and yet I don’t see an ounce of forward-thinking in the viewpoints or solutions Palin is putting forward. And that makes me sad.

So, please, I beg of you — don’t vote for Sarah Palin simply because she’s a woman. Study her, understand what she believes in, move past the “I like that she’s a hockey mom” phase and truly explore what she stands for. If at the end of the day you still want to vote for a ticket where Sarah Palin could very well become the next President of the United States, please do so. That’s your right and privilege as an American citizen. But please don’t do it just because she’s a woman or because you like her personality. This election is far too critical for the good of the planet (not just our own backyards), and we must all actively participate with our hearts, minds and souls.

Hello Zaadz friends!

Know the profile of LA’s homeless?  I was shocked to find that they resemble us more than you may think …
 

• Recent estimates of American homelessness indicate that the average age is nine and the fastest growing segment is children under 12.
• Families, typically headed by single moms, represent a growing percentage of LA’s homeless - nightly estimates are up to 43%.
• Women represent approximately 24.5% of the overall homeless population
• The most frequent source of income before the onset of homelessness is a job
• 17% of homeless adults report a history of active military service.  This is nearly double the 9% rate for the rest of the county
• 42% of homeless residents report some type of disability - double the disability rate for LA County

 
Children, single-moms, veterans, families, the disabled and fellow workers.  Not exactly what you thought, huh?
 
Can you imagine not having clean diapers for your baby, socks to keep your feet warm, water to quench your thirst, or have no clue as to where your next meal is coming from?  Let us pray we never will.  However, here in LA there are tens of thousands of living examples of how real an existence this is for many people today. 

And that's why the work of an organization call The Giving Spirit is so critical.  The Giving Spirit is a grass roots, non-profit organization headed by a wonderful friend of mine, Tom Bagamane.  Each year the organization creates and hand delivers kits filled with over 70 items aimed at giving homeless families and individuals sustenance, survival and hope.  This year their goal is to reach 1600 of LA's homeless population.

As I said before, The Giving Spirit is truly remarkable because it provides tangible and often-times monumental changes in people's lives.  Honestly, it's not even so much about the food, health care items, clothing, etc. - even though they're incredibly important.   Even moreso, it's the fact that the people who are homeless, who often feel so isolated and alone, get to know for one moment that they are loved, supported, and important in someone's life.  That they are valuable.  It truly is a gift of the spirit.

Below is an e-mail from Tom providing some background for The Giving Spirit and its goals for the 2007 holiday season.  Essentially, there are two huge ways you can provide help:  a) donating financial support - tax deductible, and b) giving your time (if you're in the LA area).  You can donate or sign up to volunteer on the website, which is http://www.TheGivingSpirit.org.

Also, if you're part of an organization or business, there are many more ways to participate.  Check out the opportunities here:  http://www.thegivingspirit.org/index.php?id=14&link=corporate

Here's to changing the world - one person at a time.

Much love,
Nancy

-----------------------------------------------

MESSAGE FROM TOM BAGAMANE:

Dear friends of The Giving Spirit –
 
In five short weeks volunteers from all over the country will gather in LA to personally serve 1600 homeless children, women and men.
 
We hope…
 
As of today, The Giving Spirit (www.thegivingspirit.org) is well short of our goal to raise $105,000 to build and deliver survival kits to 1500 homeless adults and 100 homeless toddlers. We have raised only $29,600 with less than one month to go.  We need your help to raise the remaining $75,400.
 
As we look to gather together to give thanks for what we have, please be reminded that LA’s annual homeless population reaches 300,000 – with 88,000 on any given night looking for one of 16,000 beds.
 
For those of you who have already sent your donation in, thank you very, very much. Please forward this on and challenge your company, your friends and your families to join you. If you would like to gift someone a few kits as/or in lieu of a holiday gift, we will send them a card on your behalf.

Just email us at info@thegivingspirit.org and let us know the details.
 
FYI - we are mandated to return a minimum of $.95 of every donated dollar directly and personally to the homeless.  Our outreach is only limited by the funds we raise. If your donation is on the way, please let us know the amount of your pledge so we can budget accordingly. Please give generously as every extra dollar spreads your kindness. 

Donate online at www.thegivingspirit.org - or make out your check to The Giving Spirit and mail it to: The Giving Spirit, 11908 Montana Ave. #205 LA, CA 90049.
 
December 13th-15th is when it all happens. Please sign-up to volunteer at  http://www.thegivingspirit.org/index.php?id=30, and see how your generous gift impacts the lives of 1600 homeless people and the hundreds of volunteers who reach out to the forgotten.  All in 72 hours.
 
Peace, Godspeed and Happy Holidays to you and your good families. Thank you for your abundant generosity.
 
Tom
 
Tom Bagamane
Chairman
The Giving Spirit
310.442.9489

Zaadz friends,

Below is an e-mail from a dear friend of mine, Tom Bagamane, who is the founder of The Giving Spirit - an organization that creates and hand delivers kits to 1600 homeless over the holiday season in the LA area.

It is a truly remarkable, grass roots organization whose heart is aimed at creating tangible and often-times monumental changes in people's lives.  Honestly, it's not even so much about the food, health care items, clothing, etc. - even though they're incredibly important.   Even moreso, it's the fact that the homeless, who often feel so isolated and alone, get to know for one moment that they are loved, supported, and important in someone's life.  It truly is a gift of the spirit.

There are two opportunities to give:  a) donating financial support - tax deductible, and b) giving your time (if you're in the LA area).  You can donate or sign up to volunteer on the website, which is http://www.TheGivingSpirit.org.

Here's to changing the world - one person at a time.

Much love,
Nancy

-----------------------------------------------

MESSAGE FROM TOM BAGAMANE:

Dear friends of The Giving Spirit –
 
In five short weeks volunteers from all over the country will gather in LA to personally serve 1600 homeless children, women and men.
 
We hope…
 
As of today, The Giving Spirit (www.thegivingspirit.org) is well short of our goal to raise $105,000 to build and deliver survival kits to 1500 homeless adults and 100 homeless toddlers. We have raised only $29,600 with less than one month to go.  We need your help to raise the remaining $75,400.
 
As we look to gather together to give thanks for what we have, please be reminded that LA’s annual homeless population reaches 300,000 – with 88,000 on any given night looking for one of 16,000 beds.
 
For those of you who have already sent your donation in, thank you very, very much. Please forward this on and challenge your company, your friends and your families to join you. If you would like to gift someone a few kits as/or in lieu of a holiday gift, we will send them a card on your behalf.

Just email us at info@thegivingspirit.org and let us know the details.
 
FYI - we are mandated to return a minimum of $.95 of every donated dollar directly and personally to the homeless.  Our outreach is only limited by the funds we raise. If your donation is on the way, please let us know the amount of your pledge so we can budget accordingly. Please give generously as every extra dollar spreads your kindness. 

Donate online at www.thegivingspirit.org - or make out your check to The Giving Spirit and mail it to: The Giving Spirit, 11908 Montana Ave. #205 LA, CA 90049.
 
December 13th-15th is when it all happens. Please sign-up to volunteer at  http://www.thegivingspirit.org/index.php?id=30, and see how your generous gift impacts the lives of 1600 homeless people and the hundreds of volunteers who reach out to the forgotten.  All in 72 hours.
 
Peace, Godspeed and Happy Holidays to you and your good families. Thank you for your abundant generosity.
 
Tom
 
Tom Bagamane
Chairman
The Giving Spirit
310.442.9489
 

Hello all!

I wanted to give you plenty of advanced notice for a workshop that I have found to be absolutely transformative, called "Breakthrough to Success".  In fact, if you have ever heard me speak about it, then you know it has the potential to truly shift a person’s life.

Link to register / find out more:
http://www.chrishoward.com/Public/Affiliates/index.cfm?af=400314

Christopher Howard, the creator of "Breakthrough to Success", is an internationally acclaimed expert in accelerated human change. He uses advanced NLP techniques, along with a range of additional psychology techniques he has tailored to gain the greatest impact, to help you deepen your understanding of the inner workings of the subjective mind.  He does this so you can free yourself from limiting thoughts that hold you back, and propel yourself forward into positive change. 

Honestly, while I have experienced many great exercises, tools & techniques throughout the years, Christopher Howard's approach worked on the deepest levels I've ever experienced, leading to significant awarenesses and change in the areas of career, finance, relationship and health.  He is an absolute master.

As a Christopher Howard affiliate, I have the honor of OFFERING THE WORKSHOP TO YOU FOR FREE! This seminar is NORMALLY $895, and in most cities they SELL OUT in advance.  Think about it - if you and a friend register together, this represents a $1,790 value absolutely free!

In this weekend you will:

• Identify the conscious and unconscious barriers that prevent you from moving forward in creating the life you want
• Learn how unconscious drivers affect your life — from the quality of your relationships to physical weight, to your performance at work, to finances and more
• Learn how to apply the top 3 major tools to create your desired life
• Utilize the next generation of sciences to accelerate reprogramming your unconscious mind
  

I also want you to know that Chris is a social entrepreneur with a very big mission: the eradication of poverty through education. Chris' charitable efforts reach from South Africa to Cambodia, from Mongolia to Peru. As CEO of Christopher Howard Training, he has trained hundreds-of-thousands of graduates in his programs who are now making their own mark through humanitarian activities that contribute to the upliftment of the planet.

Here are the dates and locations of Chris' upcoming "Breakthrough to Success" weekends:

Los Angeles, CA - January 25-27, 2008
San Francisco / Bay Area - February 1-3, 2008
Seattle, WA - February 8-10, 2008

Act now and enroll yourself and a guest by clicking on the link below:

http://www.chrishoward.com/Public/Affiliates/index.cfm?af=400314

I look forward to hearing about what I know will be an enriching experience for you.

Here's to your success!

Nancy

Hello!

I wanted to give a heads up that I'm posting a few learning opportunities I've come across on my Zaadz blog. 

To be 100% up front, I am an affiliate for 2 out of 3 of the organizations I will be posting about.

Now, I just want to assure you that the reason I'm supporting these seminars/learning opportunities is that I have found them invaluable - not because I have the potential to make money off of them. 

In fact, 2 out of 3 of them are FREE, and the 3rd is significantly discounted ($295 vs. $1295).

As a Coach (Executive & Life), I attend TONS of seminars - some good and some not so good. 

My promise to you is this:  I will only post things here on Zaadz that I believe are absolutely amazing and that I know you significant value from.

If you have any questions, please feel free to let me know.  The only event I haven't attended personally is Mark Victor Hansen's Mega Speaking Empire seminar - although I have attended his Mega Book Marketing Seminar, which was terrific.  Given that the Mega Speaking seminar is in the same format as Mega Book, I'm confident it will provide tremendous value.

Much love & success to you,

Nancy

Events:
Mega Speaking Empire - Mark Victor Hansen
Millionaire Mind - T. Harv Eker

"You can have all the knowledge and skills in the world, but if your "blueprint" isn't set for success, you're financially doomed." --T. Harv Eker


Hello All!

I want to take this opportunity to introduce you to T. Harv Eker.  He is a bestselling author and one of the world's top trainers.  His book, Secrets of the Millionaire Mind™, is a publishing phenomenon, reaching #1 on the NY Times, Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestseller lists in its first week out!  In the book, Harv reveals 17 specific ways that RICH people think and act differently from POOR and MIDDLE-CLASS people.

The book is a brilliant yet quick read.  I recently attended an event hosted by Harv's company, Peak Potentials Training, and I now finally have the tools to be successful in ALL aspects of my life, especially in the financial arena!

Since attending the seminar, I have been given access to a recording of a TeleSeminar he hosted where he describes his foolproof methods for financial success.   I'm sending you the link because the seminar really worked for me and I'd like to see you benefit too...

http://www.millionairemind.com/a/?wid=387945&page=/preview/replay

(ONCE YOU'RE ON THE WEBSITE, BE SURE TO CHECK OUT THE FREE 3-HOUR MILLIONAIRE MIND EVENING.  BY ATTENDING, YOU'LL GAIN AMAZING INSIGHTS AND HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO  FULLY SEE HOW THE "MILLIONAIRE MIND" TEACHING CAN BENEFIT YOU.  AND, IF YOU'RE COURAGEOUS AND WILLING TO TAKE A RISK, JUMP RIGHT IN AND ATTEND THE 3-DAY MILLIONAIRE MIND INTENSIVE - I CAN GET YOU FREE PASSES - A $1295 VALUE FOR EACH TICKET.  BE SURE TO CHECK THE WEBSITE FOR DATES IN YOUR AREA, OR SEE BELOW.)

Simply put, Harv teaches people how to master the "inner game" of wealth in order to create outward success.

Harv seems to have a personal mission to help people realize their full potential by applying the principles he struggled to learn the hard way.  These principles got him from broke to millionaire in only two and-a-half years, so I figure if he can do it, so can I.  If you can grasp even a few of the principles of success he outlines, you too, can achieve financial freedom.

One of the things I learned from the seminar was that the most powerful truths are simple and indestructible; you can use them to create a foundation upon which to build your own "rich life," no matter how much or how little success you have experienced up until now.  And a "rich life" is about more than just money...

You can transform your life from the inside out...

Find out how!

http://www.millionairemind.com/a/?wid=387945&page=/preview/replay

To your happiness,

Nancy Shuford

P.S. JUST A REMINDER - ONCE YOU'RE ON THE WEBSITE, BE SURE TO CHECK OUT THE FREE 3-HOUR MILLIONAIRE MIND EVENING.  BY ATTENDING, YOU'LL LEARN GREAT THINGS AND HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO  FULLY SEE HOW THE "MILLIONAIRE MIND" TEACHING CAN BENEFIT YOU.  AND, IF YOU'RE COURAGEOUS AND WILLING TO TAKE A RISK, JUMP RIGHT IN AND ATTEND THE 3-DAY MILLIONAIRE MIND INTENSIVE - I CAN GET YOU FREE PASSES - A $1295 VALUE FOR EACH TICKET.  BE SURE TO CHECK THE WEBSITE FOR DATES IN YOUR AREA.  WHILE DATES ARE ADDED DAILY, HERE'S WHAT'S AVAILABLE AS OF TODAY:

MILLIONAIRE MIND EVENING:

Tuesday Oct 30 2007 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm Registration on Tue. Oct 30 2007, 6:00 pm - 6:30 pm	Seattle, WA	Doubletree Hotel Seattle Airport  18740 International Blvd. [Map]
Thursday Nov 1 2007 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm Registration on Thu. Nov 1 2007, 6:00 pm - 6:30 pm	Los Angeles, CA	Sheraton Los Angeles Downtown Hotel  711 South Hope Street [Map]
Tuesday Nov 20 2007 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm Registration on Tue. Nov 20 2007, 6:00 pm - 6:30 pm	Chicago, IL	Hyatt Regency MCCormick Place  2233 S Martin L King Drive

MILLIONAIRE MIND INTENSIVE:

From: Friday Nov 2, 2007 - 9:00 am To: Sunday Nov 4, 2007 - 7:00 pm Registration on Fri. Nov 2 2007, 7:00 am - 8:30 am	Denver, CO	Colorado Convention Center  700 14th Street [Map]
From: Friday Nov 2, 2007 - 9:00 am To: Sunday Nov 4, 2007 - 7:00 pm Registration on Fri. Nov 2 2007, 7:00 am - 8:30 am	Detroit, MI	Cobo Convention Center  One Washington Blvd [Map]
From: Friday Nov 9, 2007 - 9:00 am To: Sunday Nov 11, 2007 - 7:00 pm Registration on Fri. Nov 9 2007, 7:00 am - 8:30 am	Secaucus, NJ (20 min to NYC)	Meadowlands Exposition Center  355 Plaza Drive [Map]
From: Friday Nov 9, 2007 - 9:00 am To: Sunday Nov 11, 2007 - 7:00 pm Registration on Fri. Nov 9 2007, 7:00 am - 8:30 am	Calgary, AB	Calgary Telus Convention Center  Macleod Hall, 120 Ninth Ave. S.E.
From: Friday Nov 16, 2007 - 9:00 am To: Sunday Nov 18, 2007 - 7:00 pm Registration on Fri. Nov 16 2007, 7:00 am - 8:30 am	Dallas, TX (Fort Worth)	Fort Worth Convention Center  1201 Houston Street [Map]
From: Friday Nov 16, 2007 - 9:00 am To: Sunday Nov 18, 2007 - 7:00 pm Registration on Fri. Nov 16 2007, 7:00 am - 8:30 am	Ft. Lauderdale, FL	Broward County Convention Center  1950 Eisenhower Blvd [Map]
From: Friday Nov 30, 2007 - 9:00 am To: Sunday Dec 2, 2007 - 7:00 pm Registration on Fri. Nov 30 2007, 7:00 am - 8:30 am	Seattle, WA	Washington State Convention & Trade Center  800 Convention Place [Map]
From: Friday Nov 30, 2007 - 9:00 am To: Sunday Dec 2, 2007 - 7:00 pm Registration on Fri. Nov 30 2007, 7:00 am - 8:30 am	Los Angeles, CA	Los Angeles Convention & Conference Center  1201 South Figueroa Street [Map]

Hello All!

The ability to motivate an audience from the stage can make or break your business. Those who do it well and understand the business of public speaking create millions of dollars in income. That's why I am so excited to share this message – and an incredible discount – from Mark Victor Hansen with you.

Besides being the co-creator of Chicken Soup for the Soul, Mark Victor Hansen has taught millions of people around the world how to generate six-figure incomes - by teaching people like you/me how to turn their passion into profit through building their own Mega Speaking Empires.

Because of my participation with Mark Victor Hansen and others in his events/network, I am able to offer the seminar at $295 - $1,000 OFF THE REGULAR PRICE.  THIS IS AN INCREDIBLE DEAL.

The seminar is THIS WEEKEND, NOVEMBER 2-4, so if you're interested, please do not hesitate.

**********************************

http://tinyurl.com/325qrz << Sign up / find out more here!

**********************************

Read on to hear what Mark has to say about the Mega Speaking Empire and how to earn a six-figure income from the stage...


--------------------------------------------------


Dear Friends,

Contrary to what the so-called "experts" would like you to believe, launching a speaking career is NOT hard.

In fact, it is actually very, very simple, providing you know the right steps to take at the right time -- and providing you take focused, committed action when those opportunities arise.

**********************************

 http://tinyurl.com/325qrz << launch your speaking career!

**********************************

This is especially true when you have a mentor who has already been where you are right now, holding your hand and helping you every single step along the way.

**********************************

SUCCESS LEAVES FOOTPRINTS!

**********************************

The real value in having a mentor lies in finding someone who has already accomplished the same or similar goal that you are trying to accomplish.

The sad fact is, many of the so-called speaking experts haven't actually done it for themselves!  Instead, they rely on a hype-filled marketing campaign to overwhelm you into buying into their program.

Even if you get lucky and learn some tactics from these "anti-gurus" and experience some success, you will never learn the strategic thinking that goes into building a successful speaking empire.

When you follow the footprints of someone who is already successful, you stand a much higher chance of being successful yourself.

**********************************

 THE POWER OF A MENTOR x12!

**********************************

Here's where I can help you:

In addition to being part of one of the world's largest book empires and having a thriving
speaking empire of my own, I happen to know eleven people each with their own secret to making it easy to start your own wildly lucrative speaking career.

Each one of them has a slightly different way of looking at things and offers a slightly different
perspective.

Why is it important to see multiple sides of the same picture?

When you can see an opportunity from more than one angle, you'll see things you may never have thought of on your own.

So, if you’ve ever dreamed of being a wildly successful professional speaker who:

• Connects intimately with your audience, leaving them spell-bound and begging for more;
• Magnetically attracts packed audiences every time you take the stage;
• Gets flooded with speaking requests from the biggest names in the industry; and
• Delivers enormous value from the stage and sells huge amounts of product and at the back of the room...

...then THIS IS YOUR CHANCE!

**********************************

 http://tinyurl.com/325qrz << launch your speaking career!

**********************************

I've hand-selected 10 of the industry’s most respected and successful speakers to join me
on the faculty of Mega Speaking Empire this November 2-4th in Los Angeles.

The power-packed "who's who" of trainers includes:

• Alex Mandossian
• Rene Godefroy
• Brian Tracy
• Brendon Burchard
• Doug Wead
• Dr. Barbara De Angelis
• Tom Antion
• John Childers
• Scott Martineau
• Marshall Sylver

Plus... an amazing bonus session with Hunter “Patch” Adams.  Just spending time with Patch Adams alone is worth the price of admission!

I DARE YOU to leave this session unchanged.

And I will help you not only learn the secrets to my success but to put into action all the lessons this incredible faculty has to offer.

With my famous personal guarantee, you have absolutely nothing to lose and everything to gain when it comes to building your personal empire.

Visit the site below to get complete details on hotel reservations and program start times so
you can book your flights accordingly.

**********************************

http://tinyurl.com/325qrz << launch your speaking career!

**********************************

I’ll see you in November!

To your speaking success,
Mark Victor Hansen, Founder


--------------------------------------------------

If you like what you’ve read, you owe it to yourself to check it out.  AT A $295 PRICE (DOWN FROM THE REGULAR PRICE OF $1,295), IT’S AN INCREDIBLE DEAL.

November 2-4, 2007
Reserve your seat now at
http://tinyurl.com/325qrz

Sending you all my best,
Nancy

Have you ever been instantly transformed  by reading one simple quote?  That was my exact experience when I first  laid eyes on the following:
 
“Because a thing is difficult  for you, do not therefore suppose it beyond mortal power.  On the  contrary, if anything is possible and proper for a man to do, assume that  it must fall within your own capacity.” ~ Marcus Aurelius (Roman  Emperor & Stoic Philsopher, 121-180 AD)
 
Do you get it? It says, if it’s ever been done by anyone – or  if it’s even remotely possible for anyone to do – then  it’s also possible for you (and me, and the guy in front of us at  the grocery store).  Wow.  Powerful stuff.
 
Do you realize it puts us in the same league as Richard Branson, Oprah,  MLK, and Einstein – just to name a few?  Because, anything  that’s possible for them to achieve, is also well within our reach.
 
I know that’s potentially a huge contrast to the beliefs that guide many our lives today.  All too often, we walk through life mistaking false  and limiting beliefs as the truth.  Things like, “Yep – we  could be great achievers like Einstein if only x, y or z were  true.”  Or, “When x, y or z happens, then I’ll be able  to move forward and accomplish my dreams.”
 
But here’s the deal – unless something is true IN AN ABSOLUTE  SENSE, it’s simply not true.  So, unless it’s true in all  circumstances, and for all people, it can’t really be the truth. Instead,  it’s merely a temporary state or perception that has no real power  over what’s possible in our lives –  besides the power we give it.
 
So, take all of the beliefs stopping you today and ask yourself,  “Is this true in an absolute  sense?”  In other words, would it be true for Steve Jobs,  Mother Theresa, Nelson Mandela or Ben Franklin?  If not, then it’s  not your truth either.  It’s a temporary illusion that may feel like the truth, but if you  trust that whatever is possible for anyone is also possible for you,  you’ll soon begin to see the old false beliefs melting away, and  the new possibilities bursting open before you.
 
C'mon, folks!  It’s time to break free of our old shackles, get  juiced by what’s possible, and fully embrace the greatness that  lies within our reach.  And it’s time to take your place alongside  your own personal heroes, because they’re merely a reflection of  what’s already inside of you.
 
I’m not saying that all people’s paths are going to be the  same, or even that it’s going to be easy (ask Oprah if it was easy  being an abused child raised in poverty).  Certainly, we all have our  individual journeys, challenges and gifts to bring to the party.  What fun  would it be if our autobiographies were the exact same as Bono’s or Gandhi’s, after all?
 
What I am saying is that it’s time to step forward and allow  yourself – for at least one minute each and every day – to  believe that true greatness is not only within your reach, but it’s  absolutely, positively, and 100% your destiny.   

I love all of the discussions re: The Secret – both pros and cons.  I think a good debate is healthy – and that Spirit/The Universe/God/etc., would dig our desire to question, learn and grow.

Here’s an interesting observation I’ve had re: many of my friends’ responses to The Secret. 

The Law of Attraction is all about how we attract to us what’s in our consciousness.  A big part of that, of course, is simply that we’re much more likely to notice and connect with things outside of ourselves that are consistent with our conscious or unconscious minds (hugely unconscious).

So, I’m left wondering . . . what do people’s responses to The Secret – both positive and negative – reflect about their own consciousness?  Any insights?

Here's an inspiring story.  Enjoy!

Several times my daughter had telephoned to say, "Mother, you must come to see the daffodils before they are over."

I wanted to go, but it was a two-hour drive from Laguna to Lake Arrowhead   "I will come next Tuesday", I promised a little reluctantly on her third call.

Next Tuesday dawned cold and rainy. Still, I had promised, and reluctantly I drove there. When I finally walked into Carolyn's house I was welcomed by the joyful sounds of happy children. I delightedly hugged and greeted my grandchildren.

"Forget the daffodils, Carolyn!  The road is invisible in these clouds and fog, and there is nothing in the world except you and these children that I want to see badly enough to drive another inch!"

My daughter smiled calmly and said, "We drive in this all the time, Mother."

"Well, you won't get me back on the road until it clears, and then I'm heading for home!"  I assured her.

"But first we're going to see the daffodils. It's just a few blocks," Carolyn said.  "I'll drive. I'm used to this." 

"Carolyn," I said sternly, "Please turn around."

"It's all right, Mother, I promise. You will never forgive yourself if you miss this experience."

After about twenty minutes, we turned onto a small gravel road and I saw a small church. On the far side of the church, I saw a hand lettered sign with an arrow that read, " Daffodil Garden."  We got out of the car, each took a child's hand, and I followed Carolyn down the path. Then, as we turned a corner, I looked up and gasped. Before me lay the most glorious sight.

It looked as though someone had taken a great vat of gold and poured it over the mountain and its surrounding slopes. The flowers were planted in majestic, swirling patterns, great ribbons and swaths of deep orange, creamy white, lemon yellow, salmon pink, and saffron and  butter yellow. Each different colored variety was planted in large groups so that it swirled and flowed like its own river with its own unique hue. There were five acres of flowers.

"Who did this?" I asked Carolyn.  "Just one woman," Carolyn answered. "She lives on the property. That's her home." Carolyn pointed to a well-kept A-frame house, small and modestly sitting in the midst of all that glory. We walked up to the house.

On the patio, we saw a poster. "Answers to the Questions I Know You Are Asking", was the headline. The first answer was a simple one. "50,000 bulbs," it read. The second answer was, "One at a time, by one woman. Two hands, two feet, and one brain." The third answer was, "Began in 1958."

For me, that moment was a life-changing experience. I thought of this woman whom I had never met, who, more than forty years before, had begun, one bulb at a time, to bring her vision of beauty and joy to an obscure mountaintop. Planting one bulb at a time, year after year, this unknown woman had forever changed the world in which she lived. One day at a time, she had created something of extraordinary magnificence, beauty, and inspiration. The principle her daffodil garden taught is one of the greatest principles of celebration.

That is, learning to move toward our goals and desires one step at a time--often just one baby-step at time--and learning to love the doing, learning to use the accumulation of time. When we multiply tiny pieces of time with small increments of daily effort, we too will find we can accomplish magnificent things. We can change the world .

"It makes me sad in a way," I admitted to Carolyn. "What might I have accomplished if I had thought of a wonderful goal thirty-five or forty years ago and had worked away at it 'one bulb at a time' through all those years? Just think what I might have been able to achieve!"

My daughter summed up the message of the day in her usual direct way. "Start tomorrow," she said.

She was right. It's so pointless to think of the lost hours of yesterdays The way to make learning a lesson of celebration instead of a cause for regret is to only ask, "How can I put this to use today?"

Use the Daffodil Principle. Stop waiting.....

Until your car or home is paid off

Until you get a new car or home

Until your kids leave the house

Until you go back to school

Until you finish school

Until you clean the house

Until you organize the garage

Until you clean off your desk


Or, as Goethe so eloquently stated:  "Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now!"