June 27, 2005

TODAY'S TUNE[ON/OFF]

"The Rose "


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From the Inside Out...
Realizing Your Dream

Yes You Can!...
Know the Buzz
on Caffeine

Far Horizons...
Nairobi Adventures

Untangling the Web...
What a Site!
&
Computer Ease

Just for YOU...
Special New Treats

Laughing It Off...
The Greatest

Fascinating Facts...
Good Mews!

Joyful Lifestyles...
The Giving & Receiving
Teeter-Totter

BE the World
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My dream for many years has been to empower people around the world ... to have everyone, everywhere recognize their innate worth. No matter what our environment has taught us, the Truth (with a capital "T") is that we are spiritual beings having a human experience, rather than the other way around.

~ Chelle ~

From the Inside Out
REALIZING YOUR DREAM

The first day of school our professor introduced himself and challenged us to get to know someone we didn't already know. I stood up to look around when a gentle hand touched my shoulder. I turned around to find a wrinkled, little old lady beaming up at me with a smile that lit up her entire being.

She said, "Hi handsome. My name is Abigail. I'm eighty seven years old. Can I give you a hug?" I laughed and enthusiastically responded, "Of course, you may!" and she gave me a giant squeeze.

"Why are you in college at such a young, innocent age?" I asked. She jokingly replied, "I'm here to meet a rich husband, get married, have a couple of children, and then retire and travel."

"No seriously," I asked. I was curious what may have motivated her to be taking on this challenge at her age. "I always dreamed of having a college education and now I'm getting one!" she told me.

After class we walked to the student union building and shared a coke. For three months we would leave class together and talk nonstop. I was always mesmerized listening to this "time machine" as she shared her wisdom and experience with me.

Over the course of the year, Abigail became a campus icon and easily made friends wherever she went. She loved to dress up and she reveled in the attention bestowed upon her from the other students. She was living it up.

At the end of the semester we invited Abigail to speak at our football banquet and I'll never forget what she taught us. She was introduced and stepped up to the podium. As she began to deliver her prepared speech, she dropped her three by five cards on the floor.

Frustrated and a little embarrassed she leaned into the microphone and simply said "I'm sorry I'm so jittery. I gave up beer for Lent and this whiskey is killing me! I'll never get my speech back in order so let me just tell you what I know." As we laughed she cleared her throat and began:

"We do not stop playing because we are old; we grow old because we stop playing. There are only four secrets to staying young, being happy, and achieving success.

"You have to laugh and find humor every day. You've got to have a dream. When you lose your dreams, you die. We have so many people walking around who are dead and don't even know it!"

"There is a huge difference between growing older and growing up. If you are nineteen years old and lie in bed for one full year and don't do one productive thing, you will turn twenty years old. If I am eighty-seven years old and stay in bed for a year and never do anything I will turn eighty-eight. Anybody can grow older. That doesn't take any talent or ability.

The idea is to grow up by always finding the opportunity in change." "Have no regrets. The elderly usually don't have regrets for what we did, but rather for things we did not do. The only people who fear death are those with regrets." She concluded her speech by courageously singing The Rose. She challenged each of us to study the lyrics and live them out in our daily lives:

"The Rose"

Some say love, it is a river that drowns the tender reed.
Some say love, it is a razor that leaves your soul to bleed.
Some say love, it is a hunger, an endless aching need.
I say love, it is a flower, and you its only seed.

It's the heart afraid of breaking that never learns to dance.
It's the dream afraid of waking that never takes the chance.
It's the one who won't be taken, who cannot seem to give,
And the soul afraid of dyin' that never learns to live.

When the night has been too lonely and the road has been too long,
And you think that love is only for the lucky and the strong,
Just remember in the winter far beneath the bitter snows
Lies the seed that with the sun's love in the spring becomes the rose.

At the year's end Abigail finished the college degree she had begun all those years ago. One week after graduation Rose died peacefully in her sleep. Over two thousand college students attended her funeral in tribute to the wonderful woman who taught by example that it's never too late to be all you can possibly be. These words have been passed along in loving memory of Abigail. REMEMBER, GROWING OLDER IS MANDATORY. GROWING UP IS OPTIONAL. We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give.

~Author Unknown

To Read Many More Heartwarming Stories & Poetry

Yes You Can!
KNOW THE BUZZ ON CAFFEINE

Let's face it-people love their morning cup of coffee and people around the world love their caffeine. It's the most popular psychoactive drug in the world and if you have any doubt just visit a Starbucks at 8am, 3pm or even 6pm. Are they ever not packed? Or go to any dance club and you'll see twenty some-things pounding Red Bull and vodka.

Visit a Buddhist temple and you'll see monks drinking their morning tea, energizing their morning prayer. Spend some time with teenagers and watch them gulp Mountain Dews and Diet Cokes. Or go to any office at 3pm and well, you know what you'll see... People love their caffeine but many want to know if it's good for them.

It's no wonder why one of the most frequent and common question I receive has to do with caffeine. So here's the buzz on caffeine. What you learn may surprise you.

· Caffeine is an alkaloid that occurs naturally in the leaves, seeds, and fruit of tea, coffee, cacao, kola tress and more than 60 other plants. (National Geographic). It is a natural drug. Consider that before caffeine, way back when, cocaine was used in soda.

· The latest research shows that drinking 2 to 3, 8oz cups of coffee a day enhances your mood, thinking, alertness and performance. And if you drink small doses before exercising it increases muscle coordination and strength.

· Caffeine in moderation does not cause dehydration.

· You'll find various caffeine contents in different drinks.

Espresso, 1oz shot....................40mg
Brewed Tea, 8oz cup.................40-50mg
Coca-Cola 20 oz bottle...............57mg
Red Bull 8.3oz can.....................80mg
Brewed Coffee 8oz cup...............140mg
Brewed Coffee 12oz cup.............200mg
Mountain Dew 32oz....................147mg

· Caffeine is addictive. If you are a regular caffeine drinker, you will crave your caffeine and you will likely experience withdrawal symptoms if you go without. Withdrawal symptoms including headache, fatigue, irritability, and depression can last from 2 days to a week and can cause a major disruption in your work and life.

· France and Denmark have banned energy drinks like Red Bull, citing health concerns about the elevated level of caffeine. (National Geographic)

· James Lane, associate research professor of psychiatry at Duke University said, "Moderate caffeine consumption makes a person react like he or she is having a very stressful day." Caffeine raises your blood pressure and can add to the normal stress you may already feel. Excessive coffee can make you anxious and jittery and for people who are sensitive, caffeine even small amounts, can make them more anxious and nervous.

· Caffeine is a stimulant and drinking it later in the day can keep you up at night and cause restless sleep.

· There are many studies that demonstrate the negative health consequences of caffeine while many other studies support various benefits. It can become very confusing to us.

So with all this conflicting information describing the good and bad of caffeine when I am asked for my suggestion, here's what I say... If you love your morning cup of coffee then drink it. My rule of thumb: Morning cup of coffee-GOOD. Morning pot of coffee-BAD.

But remember that caffeine is a drug and like anything, if you are going to consume it, do so in moderation-no more than 300mg per day. Eliminate sodas and energy drinks. They serve no health enhancing purpose whatsoever.

Instead, during the day and in the afternoon get your caffeine from Green Tea which contains antioxidants that help you fight cancer and prevent against heart disease.

Tea will also give you a smaller dosage of caffeine than the jolt you receive from coffee. If you find that caffeine keeps you awake at night don't drink it in the afternoon.

If you are sensitive to caffeine then don't drink it. Drink decaffeinated Green Tea that is naturally decaffeinated with water instead of chemicals. Try a brand such as Long Leaf or other organic brands found at the health food store.

If you love your daily visit to Starbucks but want to reduce your coffee consumption, have no fear. Starbucks also serves Green Tea. Ask them to make it for you and then serve it hot or over ice with raw cane sugar or honey for a sweetened green iced tea. Encourage your company to offer Green Tea in addition to coffee in the break room.

~ By Jon Gordon, America 's #1 Energy Coach, who is the author of
Energy Addict : 101 Physical, Mental and Spiritual Ways to Energize Your Life
Visit Jon Gordon's website, www.EnergyAddict.com

Inspiration Line


International Forum

Just for YOU
SPECIAL NEW TREATS

Little boy in a baseball hat, stands in the field with his ball and bat.

Says: "I am the greatest player of them all." Puts his bat on his shoulder, and he tosses up his ball.

And the ball goes up and the ball comes down;
swings his bat all the way around.

The world so still, you can hear the sound:
The baseball falls to the ground.

Now the little boy doesn't say a word, picks up his ball: he is undeterred.

Says: "I am the greatest there has ever been," and he grits his teeth and he tries it again.

And the ball goes up and the ball comes down;
swings his bat all the way around.

The world so still, you can hear the sound:
The baseball falls to the ground.

He makes no excuses, he shows no fear. He just closes his eyes and listens to the cheers.

Little boy, he adjusts his hat. Picks up his ball; stares at his bat.

Says: "I am the greatest; the game is on the line." And he gives his all one last time.

And the ball goes up like the moon so bright.
Swings his bat with all his might.

The world's as still as still can be.
The baseball falls and that's strike three.

Now it's supper time and his momma calls. Little boy starts home with his bat and ball.

Says: "I am the greatest, that is a fact, but even I didn't know I could PITCH like that!"

Says: "I am the greatest, that is understood, but even I didn't know I could PITCH that good!"

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Fascinating Facts
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