Great Soup Recipe

Here’s a great soup recipe that my friend Ned recently sent me. Try it out!

For great soup made with spicy Italian sausage, clams, mushrooms, herbs and spices all in a tomato base see below:

Ingredients: Read more

Happy New Year everyone!

This is a reminder that on Wednesday, January 14, 2009, we will be holding our monthly Conscious Creators meeting at the Dewitt Library (Shopping Town Mall) from 7-9pm.  This month, we are delving into the “Physical” pillar of Harmonic Wealth.  This  pillar encompasses anything and everything tangible - the physical world as well as the physical body.  Discussions and activities, designed to inspire you to take care of yourself and your environment, will be led by our very own Randall Skates.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Jenny Skates
E-mail me

Your pets in the New Year, getting more grins

There’s no doubt about it, the New Year promises potential added stress for all. There is already plenty of swirling doubts and worries in the outside world, so why not make an effort this year to make your home a sanctuary for you and your pets. How do you do that? Easy, pets are fun!

1. Leave your Worries at the Door.
Remember that happy pets live their lives stress free and mirror them. Your dog isn’t worried about the economy. He’s happy if you are happy. His great day just got better because you came home. Isn’t your day better because he is happy to see you? Read more

Fingerlakes Artists’ work on display in the White House

-I came across the article below in an e-newsletter from Life in the Finger Lakes Magazine. Our very own Holly Knott created the ornament above on the right. Read about where it ended up this past Christmas. Congratulations Holly!!!

Several area artists were selected to decorate ornaments for the White House Christmas Tree by Central New York Representatives to the U.S. House. As Bob Price reported in the December 14 Steuben Courier-Advocate, John R. “Randy” Kuhl Jr. asked Hammondsport artist Bob MaGee to create an ornament for the 29th Congressional District. Congressman James T. Walsh similarly honored Marcellus artist Holly Knott, asking her to represent the State’s 25th District.

A few weeks after accepting the requests, each artist received a spherical plastic ornament in the mail, about six inches in diameter, with instructions from the White House, including deadlines for returning the completed work, the stipulation that the ornament be visible from above and below Read more

The happiness ripple

HAPPINESS is infectious and can “ripple” through social groups such as family and friends – but work colleagues are apparently immune to each other’s moods, according to a study published this week.

The effect creates “clusters” of happy and unhappy people, both socially and in geographical terms, said the study, stressing that contentment “is not merely the province of isolated individuals”. But while the mood of neighbours and friends can have more impact on people than that of live-in partners, work colleagues are not affected by a happy person in their midst, said the study in the British Medical Journal.

“Changes in individual happiness can ripple through social networks and generate large- scale structure in the network, giving rise to clusters of happy and unhappy individuals,” said the study’s authors. Read more

Birt of an angel: chapter 4

This is chapter 4 of a book that Manuel de leon wrote about his son Carlo and gives away for free to those he comes across in the Philippines, he has given us permission to reprint his story on MindBodySmile.com and we will publish weekly installments here.

Chapter 4: Faith and Charity

Even before he was diagnosed with cancer, my son and I began searching
for opportunities to help other people in need. We both believed
that faith and acts of charity are good combination’s to catch the attention
of the divine up there to show us the road to his healing by either conventional or alternative herbal solutions. Read more

Some thoughts on Sunday, December 28, 2008

A few years ago I was very unhappy and depressed. I found myself searching and searching outside of myself for  the happiness I so much wanted. This journey sent me into a slight tail spin of many relationships and lots of spiritual experiences. I was not a  believer in GOD. I was reading a tremendous amount, (which due to my reading  difficulties I previously had not done)  journaling, attending retreats and seeing a shrink. I thought I was nuts.

Through all of this I found that we are all one and seeking the same things out of life. Also, we carry it  with us each and every moment of life but most of us do not know how to tap  into the spiritual being we truly are. I found myself seeking others to guide me and make me whole. It wasn’t until I realized that this thing we  all call GOD is all around us and all of the ups and downs in life are part of the journey of life. Read more

Denise Kelly’s classroom intention - week #9

Below is Week 9 of my 2nd grade classroom’s Weekly Intention. We sometimes base it on one of Dr. Kiltz’s Intentions and other times create our own. Visit my Bio to read about how we began the Classroom Intention.

Kindness and Empathy Read more

Dr. Rob’s Christmas Message

Good day to all and a blessing is the gift that has come our way
For this is the day we celebrate a birth, today
The birth of Jesus, the celebration of this day
The birth of new thought, an awesome bright day
To imagine the birth of all life changing, in this one simple day
For thought is the thing that we can focus and change on a fling
The idea that we are one and all part of the blessed son Read more

Legacy of Secret Santa

If you give money, spend yourself with it. –Henry David Thoreau

The Legacy of Secret Santa:
At a suburban Goodwill store on Friday, Theresa Settles selected a large, black comforter to warm her family until she can raise the money to turn the gas heat back on. A petite woman approached, her face obscured by dark sunglasses and a wrapped winter scarf, and handed Settles two $100 bills stamped with the words “secret Santa.” “The only condition,” she said, “is that you do something nice for someone. Pass it on.” “I will,” Settles said, the only words she could get out of her mouth. The secret Santa was a protege of Kansas City’s undercover gift giver, Larry Stewart, who died of cancer nearly two years ago. Read more

We are all mirrors for each other

When we look at other people, we see many of their qualities in innumerable and seemingly random combination’s. However, the qualities that we see in the people around us are directly related to the traits that exist in us. “Like attracts like” is one of the spiritual laws of the universe. We attract individuals into our lives that mirror who we are. Those you feel drawn to reflect your inner self back at you, and you act as a mirror for them. Simply put, when you look at others, you will likely see what exists in you. When you see beauty, divinity, sweetness, or light in the soul of another, you are seeing the goodness that resides in your soul. When you see traits in others that evoke feelings of anger, annoyance, or hatred, you may be seeing reflected back at you those parts of yourself that you have disowned or do not like. Read more

Modifying your conditioned responses

Our experiences color everything. The events of the past can have a profound effect on how we see our lives now and what we choose to believe about our world. Our past experiences can also influence our emotional reactions and responses to present events. Each of us reacts to stimulus based on what we have learned in life. There is no right or wrong to it; it is simply the result of past experience. Later, when our strong feelings have passed, we may be surprised at our reactions. Yet when we face a similar situation, again our reactions may be the same. When we understand those experiences, we can come that much closer to understanding our reactions and consciously changing them. Read more

The gift of presence

Pausing … Connecting … Remembering … Cherishing …
Moments when our hearts smiled, our spirits renewed and we believed in the unbelievable … dreams expanding ~ Pausing … Long Enough to Notice!

Finding happiness in the moments, laughter in our conversations-
Noticing the sparkle in one’s eyes as they share their passion, their beliefs, listening with acceptance, caring with genuine interest, opening our hearts~

Believing in a tomorrow where people will connect with heartfelt conversation and trust in the visions they hold dear-conversations where all are heard, where all share openly about their dreams, their desires, and their possibilities. Read more

Do unto others: the Golden Rule

All over the world, there exists a simple precept that, when followed, has the power to end conflict and banish strife. It is the Golden Rule, a key concept in many philosophies and spiritualities that admonishes us to “do unto others as we would have them do unto us.” Its meaning is clear: treat others only in ways that you would want to be treated. However, the golden rule is not always easy to follow. It can be a challenge to honor others as we wish to be honored. Yet, when we do so, we bestow a gift of loving kindness on our fellow human beings. And, in honoring others, we honor ourselves. Read more

Special needs children can be great teachers of acceptance

“I seldom think about my limitations, and they never make me sad. Perhaps there is just a touch of yearning at times; but it is vague, like a breeze among flowers.” -Helen Keller

A slower walk, an attention span that has a lower tolerance to diverse situations or a facial structure that is a little more square than round, can label a child “different” due to attributes that go against the mainstream of the population. However, if you look beyond qualities that make an individual appear dissimilar, you will see that all children share commonality; a human heart with an inbred capacity to give and receive love. A young girl named Melissa, who has Down Syndrome, helped teach me the lesson of “don’t judge a book by its cover”. Read more

Holiday giving ideas for animal lovers

It seems everyone has at least one person on their holiday shopping list that is difficult to buy for - the man who has everything, the woman who has very specific tastes, or even the child who doesn’t need yet another ordinary toy. The Rosamond Gifford Zoo offers several solutions for unique holiday gifts. And, gifts from the zoo are like giving two gifts in one - proceeds from these presents go right back to the animals.

For the gift that keeps giving … a zoo membership
A membership to the Rosamond Gifford Zoo is the perfect gift for families, individuals who frequently visit the zoo or any animal fan! Among the many exclusive benefits are free admission to the zoo, a discount in Read more

Happiness, freedom and peace of mind

There is a wonderful mythical law of nature that the three things we crave most in life - happiness, freedom, and peace of mind - are always attained by giving them to someone else. -Peyton Conway March

Designing For Generosity:
Internet guru Clay Shirky has a unique ability to present the chaos of the Web in stunningly clear terms, as he does in this video from Pop!Tech, documenting what a “spontaneously, self-assembling, online philanthropic venture” tells us about the nature of human motivation. Listen as he explains the concept of “designing for generosity,” and what we can learn about it from the Josh Groban Foundation, Napster and a top online mobile phone forum. [Read more] Read more

Some spiritual thoughts of the day

I tossed and I turned, and didn’t sleep a wink all night

At least fifty thousand thoughts, all worries of not

Now change it all again, and think a new begin

No panic, no worry, no fear in this life

Let go of all fear and worries in your life

For all is a gift, a gift of this wonderful life

The Universe gives us these things to be challenged and free

What we call problems and worries are normal gifts of this life Read more

The Army of Hope

I received an invitation via email this weekend from Steve Donigan and I wanted to share it with everyone on MindBodySmile:
“The Salvation Army in Syracuse touches the lives of 30,000 people in Onondaga County every year, through 40 programs.  I have seen their mission in action and it is amazing.

This coming Monday, December 15th, News Channel 9 is going to broadcast a special 30 minute program about our very own Salvation Army in Syracuse. It will be shown from 7:30 to 8:00 p.m. I have seen this program and I know that you will be inspired by watching it.  It really is amazing the way that they help people change their lives.

I hope that you will tune in to Channel 9 on Monday evening and watch local families getting the kind of help that they need.  After you watch, I invite you to call in to make a donation that will help change and Read more

The stories of life

I love the stories of life and it is the connection to the Universe that is real, and constantly unfolding for each of us.

Have you read the Power of Now? I listen to it or read it over and over. Eckert Tolle is a fantastic writer and has a great voice to share the journey of miracles that life truly is. We are but temporary physical beings and it is the eternal spirit of God that matters. For me, God is the Energy of the Universe, eternal in all things.

Loving and forgiving all, is the key to this life and seeing the power of God in each and every day and event. The trick of the ego is to see all, for us and about us, but in fact it is all for and about God. Our every day journey is a gift of the Universe and guides us and teaches us in this life. Read more

From a flood to a hug with kindness

The late evening train from Glasgow was battling the worst of the winter weather and the driver was proceeding more on hope than anything. Weeks of rain had meant the line might or might not be flooded - and he wouldn’t know until he got there!

Well, it was flooded. So he backed up to the nearest station where we sat and waited for about half an hour with no one knowing what was going on. I didn’t mind. I wasn’t going home to anyone, I had music to listen to and it wouldn’t be the first night I had slept on a train. But not everyone would be in that position.

Then the lights went out. Read more

Thank You, Mama!

I dedicate this story to my friends who are overcoming huge challenges and tremendous grief and fear. -E.H.

THANK YOU, MAMA!
A Story About A Little Girl’s Grief and Her Victory Over Fear
By Elisabeth Hurley

Georgia had been spending almost all of her free time at her mother’s grave. She talked to her constantly, sometimes angrily. “Mama, why did you leave me? Why couldn’t we stay together here in our little village? Why do I have to go away and live with people I don’t know. Mama, tell me! Why, oh why?”
There had been no answer from her mother who had died six weeks ago, just two days after Georgia’s eleventh birthday. Anna Schreck, an immigrant from Germany and her mother’s best friend, would invite her for dinner every night. If only “Mrs. Anna” knew how she hated to eat, or, for that matter, do anything at all. Read more

Let it flow, tears

How wonderful it feels to give in and let tears flow when we are overwhelmed with emotions, whether we are happy or sad. Tears come from the soul, from our well of feelings rising from deep down. When we give in to the prickling behind our eyes and the lump in our throat to let teardrops fall from our eyes, we allow our feelings to surface so they can be set free.

Proud parents shed tears of pride in a child’s accomplishments, a baby’s first step, birthdays, and graduations. Long lost friends fall into each other’s arms, tears rolling down their cheeks when they Read more

My thoughts and your thoughts

Thursday, December 4, 2008 - Quote #11, My Thoughts and YOUR thoughts:

I love quotes. I love them because they make me think. What does the quoter mean? Why did he/she write this? Is there a message to get through to the reader/the world? What did YOU initially think when you read it?

Here goes blog quote #11:

“Instead of thinking about where you are, think about where you want to be. It takes twenty years of hard work to become an overnight success.” -Diana Rankin

Wait a minute! That doesn’t make any sense. 20 years and overnight success don’t actually mix together like peanut butter and jelly. I believe Rankin is stating that you need to plan ahead and have some vision of what Read more

Birth of an Angel: chapter 1

This is chapter 1 of a book that Manuel de leon wrote about his son Carlo and gives away for free to those he comes across in the Philippines, he has given us permission to reprint his story on MindBodySmile.com and we will publish weekly installments here.

Death

Monday, June 04, 2007. My beloved son Carlo passed away. He
was fourteen years old. His battle against Hodgkin’s disease was
finally over. The sufferings, pains and agonies he endured for thirty three
months had ended. Bravely he faced his death in grace at 12:40 in the
afternoon in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit of St. Luke’s Medical
Center in Quezon City, where he was confined and treated.
An hour before my son breathed his last, the doctors in the ICU
called to tell me and his mother Nancy about their prognosis. They
wanted us to come immediately in case anything happened. Read more