January 27, 2003

From the Inside Out
ASK ... AND THE DOOR WILL OPEN

Stephanie Slater was in graduate school when her mother passed away. "Mom had always pushed her children toward higher education," Stephanie says. Stephanie's mom was an assertive person too, who hated to stand by and do nothing, when a response was indicated. At least people could try, she felt. "Would it kill you to ASK?" she had told Stephanie more than once — most recently when Stephanie hesitated to apply for college financial aid in the belief that she would be turned down. She had taken her mother's advice — and received a student loan. Now, despite being devastated over the loss, Stephanie decided to continue her courses. It was what her mom would have wanted her to do.

One evening a few weeks after the funeral, Stephanie was driving home from a study group meeting in Tampa. It hadn't gone well. An important participant hadn't attended, and Stephanie was upset about it. In fact, she was uncharacteristically irritated over a lot of things lately. Her father had just had a stroke, she was carrying a heavy load of work and school, "even the fact that it was late and dark bothered me," she says. "I continued to stew as I sat at a red light at a busy intersection." Then suddenly — a little boy walked in front of her headlights.

Stephanie was startled. "He was so out of place, and too young to be alone-probably only seven or eight years old," she says. "It was dark, and there were no sidewalks on the side of this road." The child looked dirty and bedraggled too, as he continued past her. What was he doing here? She should get involved, but ... what if her intention was misjudged? Or what if she called to him, and he responded rudely? After the day's hassle, she was just not in the mood. Then Stephanie heard a strong inner voice: "Well, would it KILL you to ASK?" It was her mother! Stephanie recognized not only the phrase but the attitude — why stand by if something could be done? Immediately, Stephanie rolled down her window and called to the child. "Honey, are you lost?" Another few feet and he would have been gone. But now he stopped, and looked towards her car. "Yes," he said, his lower lip trembling.

The light changed. "Stay where you are!" Stephanie pulled around the corner up to the boy, reached out of the window and handed him her cell phone. He was obviously scared, but he punched in some numbers. As Stephanie watched him, she had a sense of unexpected peace and power. This was how the situation was supposed to work out, wasn't it? Her daily cares somehow floated away. Now Stephanie heard the joyful shriek of a woman on the other end of the phone. The boy handed it to her. "I'm so glad you found Michael!" the woman was crying and laughing at the same time. "The police have been looking for him for four hours!"

Stephanie and the mom agreed to meet at a nearby video store, and Michael took the phone again to receive permission to get in the car. He had wandered five miles from home, Stephanie discovered as they drove and talked. And he was twelve, far older than she had thought. "What happened?" she asked. "Did you just walk too far? Michael paused. "I have Tourette's Syndrome," he told her. "Sometimes I stutter. My friends were playing and they started making fun of me, so I got mad, and started walking. All of a sudden, I didn't know where I was." Stephanie thought her heart would break. Who would make fun of such a precious little boy?

Just a few moments after they reached the store, Michael's mother arrived. She wept and hugged him, and hugged Stephanie too. How terrified she must have been, Stephanie thought, as she tried to put herself in the woman's place. And now, how joyous! It added to the inexplicable serenity she had been experiencing ever since she met Michael. Then he turned to her. "Are you an angel?" he asked. "No, Michael," Stephanie answered, her own eyes filling with tears. "But I think an angel put you in my path tonight."

Stephanie is more open to situations now. She often finds herself asking, "Was I put here to help in some way?" She has also learned that in the midst of grief, there can be joy. "I think this event was my mother's way of relieving my stress, and letting me know that she's still watching over me," says Stephanie. "That's my message to others who have lost a loved one: the truth is, they never really leave you."

~Joan Wester Anderson

 

WHERE ANGELS WALK: True Stories of Heavenly Visitors Click for Book Details & Reviews (A portion of your purchases here helps support Inspiration Line programs.)

Yes You Can!
TRICK YOUR MIND

“The reason man may become the master of his own destiny is because
he has the power to influence his own subconscious mind.”

This statement by Napoleon Hill is probably one of the most important inspirations you will ever read. It says that each one of us has the power to create our own reality because we can control our thoughts and beliefs. By influencing our subconscious minds, we can achieve our goals.

The difficulty most people have is in HOW TO control their thoughts and beliefs to influence their subconscious minds. There are many techniques available, and through reading motivational material, you can find what works for you. One technique you can try is something I call ‘trick your brain’ or ‘trick your mind’.

You know that your subconscious mind will believe anything — right or wrong — that your conscious mind convinces it to believe. So, you can make an effort to achieve a goal by using phrases in the present tense (in other words, talk as if you already achieved the goal).

For example, if you weigh 150 lbs and you want to weigh 120 lbs, you could say to yourself, over and over again, “I weigh 120 lbs.” The problem with this technique, however, is that your subconscious mind is not stupid. It knows you don’t weigh 120 lbs, so when you make that statement, your brain says, “yeah, right” and rejects it as a deception.

If your subconscious mind cannot easily accept what you consciously tell it, the creation of a belief will be more difficult. So, you have to find a way to “trick” your brain into achieving the goal, and the trick is in the wording.

First, establish the reason for the desire (why do you want to weigh 120 lbs?). If the reason is not important enough to YOU, it will be difficult to create a compelling belief that will help you achieve the goal. Once you’ve established the reason (I feel great when I weigh 120 lbs), you can develop phrases that are more believable to your subconscious mind.

Here’s what you could say to yourself, over and over again, “I feel great at my ideal weight of 120 lbs.” Well your brain can’t argue with that! “I only eat the kinds of food that will maintain my ideal weight.” Hmmm, now your brain is busy thinking about what kinds of foods to pick out at the supermarket!

Before you know it, your brain is convinced that your ideal weight is 120 lbs and you will automatically only buy and eat foods that maintain your ideal weight. A belief has been created because your subconscious mind could easily accept what your conscious mind told it.

You can use this technique in all areas of your life to trick your brain into believing that something is true. When the brain buys into it, belief gets created.

~Anita Foley of Wealth-Happens.com
From RelaxRefreshRecharge.com

 

Kashmiri vegetable sellers gather at a floating market on Dal Lake in Srinagar, summer capital of Kashmir state, India. Srinagar is a unique city because of its lakes which are filled with house boats, villages, narrow water canals, lotus and vegetable gardens and houses and shops. A ride on the graceful Shikara long boats is one of the most soothing aspects of a holiday in Kashmir. It can be an hour-long ride to see the sights of the Dal. Then embark upon an exotic shopping expedition by Shikara to visit handicraft shops within the periphery of the lake or take a whole day trip to visit important landmarks throughout the city.

LINKS
THAT SHINE

"THE CONFIDENCE CENTER"

Harriet Meyerson. How confident are you?
Take the Confidence Quiz. Discover the secrets of employee morale and personal confidence. Free Resources for HR Managers, Supervisors, and Employees — Articles, Newsletter, Morale Boosters, Useful Links, and more.
www.ConfidenceCenter.com

Fascinating Facts
STAY AHEAD OF 8-BALL IN PETCARE

Happy Doggy Dining
Make chow time more pleasant. Feed adult dogs twice a day to prevent gorging at
a single meal and to lessen the chance that deep-chested dogs will develop bloat or stomach torsion. Set a relaxed feeding schedule so that your dog knows a meal is coming but does not become a pest as the clock strikes the usual time. Teach your dog to sit before you place the food bowl on the floor. If he's sitting, he won't be jumping at the bowl, spilling food all over the floor.

Nine Lives? Not For Smokers!
Here's another good reason not to smoke. And this time it's probably a reason that you have never thought of — smoking may shorten the lives of your pets! According to a study published in the August, 2002 issue of the American Journal of Epidemiology, cats that have lived with a smoker are 2.4 times more likely to develop malignant lymphoma cancer than cats who have never lived with a smoker. The researchers determined this statistic after comparing tobacco use in the homes of 80 cats that developed lymphoma as compared to tobacco use in the homes of 114 cats that did not develop the disease. They found that the more smoke the cats were exposed to, the higher their risk of developing malignant lymphoma. There is no better time than the present to quit smoking. Talk to your doctor about ways to help you quit.

Glucosamine And Canine Arthritis
Glucosamine is regularly used by humans to address damaged joint cartilage and improve joint flexibility. Older dogs may also benefit from glucosamine supplements, especially if they suffer from arthritis. Pet stores carry glucosamine supplements specially formulated for dogs. If you choose to try these supplements, consult your veterinarian first for proper supplement type and dosage. The supplements are well tolerated and it may take four to six weeks before you notice any effect. Find out how to deal with this common ailment at www.Dogs-With-Arthritis.com.

Catnip, Anyone?
Did you know that catnip is an effective insect repellent? According to Iowa State University scientists, two entomologists are seeking a patent for nepetalactone, an oil in catnip, to use it as an insect repellent against such pests as mosquitoes and cockroaches. The oil, which gives catnip its odor, was found to be 10 times more effective than DEET.

How Old Is Your Dog?
Ask a dog owner how old his or her dog is and the answer may be "four years, that's equal to 28 human years." The usual calculation is seven human years for each dog year. If he's over two years, here's a more accurate formula: For a small dog, two is the equivalent of 24 years in a person. Add four for every year your dog is older than two. So if your little dog is five-years old, he's 24+4+4+4 or 36 in human years. For a large dog, start with 19 and add seven for every year after. A large five-year-old big dog is 19+7+7+7 or 40 human years old.

~EMazing.com

Laughing It Off
"LISTEN UP, GUYS ...
I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS"

When you snap your fingers, does the sound occur when your middle
finger releases from your thumb, or when your middle finger
hits the palm of your hand?

Why is it called a "drive through" if you have to stop?

Can't anybody who has a job go in the "employees only" doors at restaurants? Shouldn’t they be more specific and say
"employees of this place only"?

Why are things typed up but written down?

Why is stealing from one book is plagiarism,
but stealing from many is research?

If somebody vanished without a trace,
how do people know they are missing?

How come we choose from just two people for President
and fifty for Miss America?

Is it possible to scream at the bottom of your lungs?

When you put 'THE' and 'IRS' together, it forms 'THEIRS'.
Coincidence? I think not?

Is there anything easier done than said?

Isn't it ominous to put your tax returns in the mail box
and put up the little red flag?

Do sheep get static cling when they rub against one another?

Why would superman want to leap over
tall buildings in a single bound if he can fly?

Do dumped farmers get John Deere letters?

If one man says, "it was an uphill battle," and another says,
"it went downhill from there," how could they both be having troubles?

Did Noah keep his bees in archives?

If a water spins clockwise when it drains in the northern hemisphere,
and water spins counterclockwise when it drains in the southern hemisphere...which way does it spin at the equator?

If it's zero degrees outside today and it's supposed to be twice
as cold tomorrow, how cold is it going to be?

~Crazy Thoughts.com

Untangling the Web

WHAT A SITE!

Coffee Review's goal is to entertain & educate coffee drinkers and food service professionals. Read the Interpreting Reviews section which explains how to read their ratings and reviews and why one should not simply shop by the numbers.
www.CoffeeReview.net

COMPUTER-EASE

Background Problems:
If you have tried without success to create a Desktop Background with your favorite photo, then your Scanner software may be defaulting the file type to an incompatible format. Scan in the picture, then, instead of just saving the file, perform a "Save As" and change the format to BMP. Now, you can use this file type as your background. Check your Scanner's manual on specifics
of changing the file type.

Look at THAT!
PLAY DAY

 
Photo: Tom Stoddart

Phoenix, a baby elephant orphaned by
poachers, plays with her keeper at the Munda
Wanga Wildlife Sanctuary near Lusaka, Zambia. Phoenix has two wildlife attendants who keep her company around the clock. Phoenix survived because the David Shepherd Conservation Foundation (www.DavidShepherd.org) stepped forward and generously adopted her. She is part of Munda Wanga’s ‘Stepping Stone Project’, and is a vital educational tool. Her presence at the sanctuary has helped teach people about the many benefits of environmental conservation. ~MSNBC

Joyful Lifestyles: Weekly Insights
THE SACRED SPIRAL

No doubt you've noticed the spiral in our logo, at the top of each week's e-zine. It occurred to me that you might like to know why we chose this particular symbol.

The spiral is often used as a metaphor for "Spirit incarnating into the physical, and attempting to perfect itself to the Ideal." It is also known to signify "birth" ... as well
as "life's journey." In the case of Inspiration Line, the sacred spiral represents — PERSONAL GROWTH.

The ancients say that without full memory of the whole picture of the Universe, we start off our young lives in an erratic pattern, identifying ourselves as purely physical beings that are finite and mortal. As we gain experience and wisdom, we begin to discover our spirit, and evolve into the process of identifying more closely with our "greater selves."

As we grow into a closer relationship with the Ideal, we begin to sense an increase in energy and revitalization. This manifests more easily by clearing the mind, emotions and desires to enable our mind/body to become the best possible "receiver". It is then that the limited beliefs of the physical being can be released, and realization of the unlimited potential available within us can be embraced fully.

Information continually moves through time and space in the same form. It always has the form of a spiral. The genetic code, for example, is stored in the double-helix spiral in the same way that information in the two scrolls of The Torah, the sacred book of Judaism, is stored. We record data on a computer disc in a spiral form, an we do the same on a video tape. The entire Universe is
an information-seeking and information-giving system (also known as "consciousness").

Throughout history — ancient Egypt to Einstein — humanity has sought the peace of Nature. This is the spiral of constant expansion and growth. It emanates Nature's own frequency, from galaxies to ram's horns, from seashells to sunflowers.

The spiral is a template for growth; the mathematical formula for evolution. It resonates growth and evolution — motion and change — while at the same time reflecting an ordered calm. The sacred spiral indicates the unfolding of new life. It represents renewal and hope for the future.

The spiral conveys the intent of Inspiration Line.

~ Chelle Thompson ~

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"The intent of Inspiration Line is to show What Is Possible . By choosing new perspectives,
we can change ourselves from the inside out and improve our relationships, our community and our planet."
Editor . Chelle Thompson ~~~ Associate Editor . Geri Merrill
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E-mail your motivational, informative or humorous stories for us to share:
  Editor@InspirationLine.com

COPYRIGHT NOTICE: We make every attempt to credit articles to original authors
and websites, and do not intentionally infringe on anyone's copyrighted material.
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