Today's Read - D-R-E-A-M!

Today's Read lets you share tips, stories, essays, and articles of interest with our readers and provide a link back to your own website and/or blog(s). Email us your story or article, along with your mailing address. If we use it for Today's Read we'll send you a full-size package of Divine Dill Dip Mix from the Three Angels Gourmet Co. as a way to say "thank you."

Here's Today's Read...





D-R-E-A-M

by Cheryl Wright

"It's one thing to have an idea, but it's quite another to trust your idea and follow where it leads. Following your fascinations means taking risks and venturing out from the safe harbor to the open seas."
~ Gail McMeekin, Writer ~


Do you want more out of life? Is there a hankering within you to travel a different path? Are you painfully aware of your creative genie dying to be set free? If you answer yes to any of these questions, you have an obligation to yourself to explore these calls.

Maybe there is an old childhood dream or a new passion you have been longing to pursue. They go no further than an occasional thought. You hesitate because you are concerned about what people will say since no one else is doing anything like that.

Do not let fear or doubt paralyze you, use the word DREAM to spur you on to take action today.

D-Dare to dream a different dream. Vow not to follow the crowd. Listen to your heart and follow its leading. If you hear the sound of a different drum, go ahead and dance to its unique beat. Whatever you do, be true to yourself.

R-Repudiate your fears. Fear is a killer of dreams. Before you destroy those fears you must first determine what is you are truly afraid of and why. The reason may be deep-seated and stem from a past traumatic experience or conditioning by someone else. When you realize that being afraid only hampers your progress you must act quickly.

Grab your fear by its proverbial throat and choke the living daylights out of it. Bury it deep enough to ensure that it never rises again to haunt you. You can accomplish this by engaging in positive and self-affirming self-talk on a daily basis. Listen to motivational tapes and read books with a similar message. Before long, you will be saying, "Fear, what fear?"

E-Encourage others. Nothing pushes you further, gives you more satisfaction and makes success sweeter than sharing your knowledge and experience with others.

The wealthy and famous people of the world are known to be ardent philanthropists. They have found one of the secrets to living a more fulfilled life. That secret is sharing with the intent to encourage others to pursue their dreams, to work hard and to give back to society.

A-Ask for help. Whatever you dream, you will need help sometime and there will always be people who can and will help you. Read and network extensively and you will find them.

Remarkably, you may not even have to ask. As you meet people and share you dreams with them, you will come across those who will offer to help without your having to ask.

M-Maintain a positive attitude. The road to achieving your dream can be rocky. Discouragements, failures, and diversions crop up often. The key to staying the course is an attitude for gratitude and positive thought.

Everyday take a moment to count your blessings of opportunities, things, and people. In the midst of adversity keep a positive outlook on life for whatever afflicts you or hampers your progress, could be working for the better in the end.


BIO: From the twin island state of Trinidad and Tobago in the West Indies, Cheryl Wright has been writing and publishing in print and online since 1998. Her specialties are decorating/design, inspiration, motivational and slice-of-life articles. Read her interview here.

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Today's Read - Count Your Chickens NOW!

Today's Read lets you share tips, stories, essays, and articles of interest with our readers and provide a link back to your own website and/or blog(s). Email us your story or article, along with your mailing address. If we use it for Today's Read we'll send you a full-size package of Divine Dill Dip Mix from the Three Angels Gourmet Co. as a way to say "thank you."

Here's Today's Read...




Count Your Chickens Before They've Hatched

by Deon Du Plessis

At some stage in your life, you've probably been told not to count your chickens before they have hatched. You were probably told to not get your hopes up and to not expect too much - just in case you might be disappointed. For most of us this, or some variation of it, was told to us over and over again by well meaning, but ill informed people. From an early age the idea of staying in an emotional "safe zone" was instilled in most of us until it eventually became belief systems that now control our behaviours.

We live in a culture were the predominant psychology is based in fear. The fear of loss drives and motivates most people's decisions and behaviours. From this mindset the culture invented mechanisms to protect itself and saying like "don't count your chickens before they've hatched" is but only and illustration of how the culture prepares and "grooms" us from an early age to settle for the lowest denominator. "Go for the lowest and easiest to make sure that you at least get something." "Don't expect too much, just in case you don't get anything at all." From this mindset we loose all our power; the power that is born in the belief that we are indeed worthy of all the success and all the abundance that we can possibly dream of.

Expectation is indeed one of the most powerful resources that you possess. An intense anticipation can transform possibility into reality. One of the biggest reasons why most people never get to live their dreams is because they lack the motivation to follow their dreams. The real purpose of a goal is to act like a directional mechanism that guides your life in a specific direction. A strong and exciting goal has the power to motivate and inspire you. When you fuel this goal with expectation you set in motion an unstoppable force that will give you that internal drive that will enable you to create virtually anything you desire. When you count your chickens before they've hatched you create a sense of excitement and enthusiasm that has immense power to motivate you. Success and achievement are rarely the result of your ability but rather the product of your motivation; of your ability to consistently take action on your dreams and goals.

Expectation is not the same as hope. Most people hope that one day they will get what they really want or that one day they will get lucky and all their dreams will come true. Hoping is nothing but a weak prayer. Hoping always includes success and failure while expectation is solely fixed on one single outcome. When you count your chickens before they've hatched you nurture your expectation; you make it stronger and most importantly, you make it real. It is a fixity of purpose where no one or no-thing can throw you off course. When you create that intense feeling of expectation you not only imagine having what you want but you start to create the feeling of already having it.

Whatever you expect with certainty will become your own self fulfilling prophecy. We all long for certainty on some level. For most people certainty comes from seeing and experiencing things before they "believe" it. This is why they keep re-creating and experiencing the same old things over and over again. When you use your mind, your emotions and your imagination to create the certainty within you, then anything is possible. Expectation goes beyond hoping. You want to be like the little kid on Christmas who knows that he's getting a new bike, but he has to wait until Christmas morning before he can actually feel and touch it.

Have you ever ordered something really exciting and then had to wait for it in the post? You knew you were going to get it and you anxiously await the moment of delivery. You anticipate the moment where the image in your mind's eye becomes real and where you can touch it, even though the imaginary experience felt just as real. This is what expectation really is. It is getting excited in advance. It is feeling the feelings in advance. It is the most powerful motivator there is. Expectation, fuelled by emotion, acts like a vacuum within you. It is like a thirst that forms a burning desire that you will do anything to fulfil. This is when your "should's" become "musts" and when it is a must you will get it.

With expectation you can start to transform your perception of life, especially your life. Because you no longer hope for what you want, you expect it to come along any second. There are no more doubts and no more hoping. There is only a knowing and a feeling of certainty. When you know something you can stop doubting and questioning. Now, every situation becomes an opportunity to receive your goal. Every person becomes a player in the process and every problem becomes a stepping stone towards the realization of your dreams. You have that certainty that the outcome is resolved and that you are merely in the process; waiting for "Christmas morning" to come.

You have to let go of the mentality that is based on the fear of loss; the mentality that is grounded in the belief that you are not worthy of having it all. Let go of the beliefs that you might be disappointed when you give it your all and it doesn't work out. All they do is to lock you up in a world where you never even "try" just because you might not make it. If anything you want to overestimate your abilities. Over estimate your capability. When you feel like you are running up a hill that is too steep, don't turn back and run down hill. Instead, up the prize for getting to the top. Make the reward more compelling and you will find within yourself a strength that was previously unavailable. This is how you access your real resources, those resources that lie asleep within you waiting to be called upon. Nothing of significant value has ever been created without enthusiasm.

Do whatever it takes to "count" your chickens; whatever it takes to create the feeling of already having it. If you have goals you need to start living them and the way you do that is to build your expectation. Do whatever it takes to create the feeling of already having it. Make it real. The legendary musician, Jackson Browne once said that whenever he gets nominated for an award he always expects to win, even when he is the underdog. He always prepares a victory speech. What is your victory speech? How can you prepare for what you desire most from life? What can you do to make it real? Most people plan to fail by never expecting to succeed. Remember that your results will rarely exceed your expectations.


This article is published with the permission of the author, Deon Du Plessis. He is the founder of The Self Improvement Gym, and author (in)action, a groundbreaking new action guide on eliminating procrastination. For more of his in-depth insights into personal development and access to his free self improvement library visit The Self Improvement Gym.

Article Source: ezinearticles.com


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Today's Read - Do You Need a Little Nudge?

Today's Read lets you share tips, stories, essays, and articles of interest with our readers and provide a link back to your own website and/or blog(s). Email us your story or article, along with your mailing address. If we use it for Today's Read we'll send you a full-size package of Divine Dill Dip Mix from the Three Angels Gourmet Co. as a way to say "thank you."

Here is Today's Read...



When Your Pen Won't Budge... Read The Morning Nudge

Daily Words of Encouragement Now Offered to Writers Who Need a Little Help Getting Started Every Morning

Kansas City, MO (PRWEB) July 28, 2006 -- Writer Suzanne Lieurance bills herself as "The Working Writer's Coach" and says she helps turn part-time writers into "working" freelance writers. As such, she knows how hard it is for some writers to get started each day. Either their muse refuses to show up, or a full-blown case of writer's block develops. To deal with both of those problems, Lieurance recently created The Morning Nudge, a few inspiring words to motivate writers to get a little writing done each day.

Every weekday morning, writers on Lieurance's mailing list receive an e-mailed copy of The Morning Nudge. One day Lieurance might coax new freelancers to begin "living the writer's life," simply by sitting down and writing something. Another issue of the Nudge might encourage writers to celebrate the writing they did manage to accomplish that day rather than the writing they didn't get around to doing.

"Writers face so much rejection," explains Lieurance. "It's easy to get discouraged, particularly when just starting out. I like to think The Morning Nudge gives writers a positive little message every morning that lets them know they are not alone, and that they can't really fail at freelancing as long as they don't give up."

Writers seem to enjoy The Morning Nudge. Lieurance has been receiving appreciative e-mails almost every day. "Hey, thank you for your Morning Nudge," said writer Amy Kelly. "It is a great way to start the day!"

Lieurance coined a cute little catch phrase for her daily words of inspiration and motivation. She advises, "When your pen won't budge�read The Morning Nudge."

Suzanne Lieurance is a freelance writer, children's author, and The Working Writer's Coach. She is the creator of The Working Writer's Coaching Program and the author of 12 published books for children. Lieurance also offers Freelance Writing: How to Jumpstart Your Career, a teleclass, through the University of Masters. Visit her website and join her mailing list here to receive your own copy of The Morning Nudge every weekday.

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Today's Read - Bad News

Today's Read lets you share tips, stories, essays, and articles of interest with our readers and provide a link back to your own website and/or blog(s). Email us your story or article, along with your mailing address. If we use it for Today's Read we'll send you a full-size package of Divine Dill Dip Mix from the Three Angels Gourmet Co. as a way to say "thank you."

Here's a cute essay from writer Renee Kirchner. This piece was originally published in the Dallas Morning News.

Enjoy...



BAD NEWS

by Renee Kirchner


Dear New SUV,

I am writing to tell you how sorry I am for what my former family is about to do to you. I am their former SUV, a Dodge Durango, and I have some bad news for you. Your family may look nice, but you don't want to live with them. Trust me.

I'm sure you look all shiny and new right now. You probably have one of those pine-scented air fresheners hanging from your rear-view mirror. Well, wipe that smug look off your face. You won't look good for much longer.

First of all, you have probably noticed that your primary driver is the "soccer mom." That's too bad. Let's just say that her car is not her top priority in life. Your day won't be too bad until 3:30, but then things really get crazy. She drives everyone to school in the morning and then goes to work. You will get to rest in an uncovered parking space until 3:30, but then look out. When the school bell rings at the elementary school, you begin your hectic afternoon. The "soccer mom" must shuttle children home from the elementary school first. They will open your doors and throw backpacks, jackets, balls, lunchboxes, recorders, and messy art projects on your seats. Their hands are not very clean at the end of the day. You will get sticky fingerprints all over your windows and doors.

I hope you have a lot of endurance because you have many more trips to make before your day is over. Next you will drive to the middle school and pick up the bigger child. The good news is that he is usually alone. The bad news is that he is in band and athletics. Fridays are the worst. Have you ever smelled football pads and athletic clothes that have spent a week in a boy's locker? The stench is overwhelming.

Once you get everyone home, don't get too comfortable. You won't be still for very long. Your family will gulp down their dinner and then they're off again. Some nights it's a PTA meeting, other nights it's basketball practice or a band concert. Some nights it's a double header.

The weekends won't be much better. The family will take you everywhere. Since you're so roomy, they will load you up with groceries, home improvement supplies, garden tools, flowers, dirt, Christmas trees, etc. You won't believe the way I looked when they were ready to sell me. Let me describe my condition: my upholstery had muddy dog prints all over it, trash was stuffed into every crack and crevice of my interior, sticky gum and candy wrappers were in my ashtray, a stray sandwich from a lunchbox was rotting under my seat, dog food, kitty litter and water bottles rolled around the back. That's just the interior. My exterior needed a good washing and there were various dents and scratches all over me. The son once opened the passenger door and hit a pole, the dad accidentally lowered the garage door on my roof, the dog scratched my doors with her nails and various community members door dinged me while I was parked at malls and grocery stores. You get the idea.

It's not all bad news. They're a fun family. You will hear a lot of laughter, some loud music, and a few rude noises as you haul them around. However, if you value your appearance, my advice to you is to get out while there is still time. Release your emergency brake and roll away in the night.

Sincerely,

Former Family SUV


Renee Kirchner is a parent, educator, and freelance writer who specializes in writing for children and parents. Visit her fun and informational blog for parents and their kids at her blog and find out more about Renee's writing services offered at her website or email her to discuss possible writing projects.

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Today's Read - Believe It...or Not

Today's Read lets you share tips, stories, essays, and articles of interest with our readers and provide a link back to your own website and/or blog(s). Email us your story or article, along with your mailing address. If we use it for Today's Read we'll send you a full-size package of Divine Dill Dip Mix from the Three Angels Gourmet Co. as a way to say "thank you."

Today's Read is an interesting (if not disturbing) press release I came across yesterday.



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: New York, NY, July 26, 2006

A presidential bust of Hillary Clinton is set to be unveiled at the Museum of Sex on August 9, 2006 at 10 am. Accentuating her sexual power and bolstered by the presidential seal, The Presidential Bust of Hillary Rodham Clinton: The First Woman President of the United States of America will be officially open for public viewing on August 9 for a limited six week run.

Artist Daniel Edwards describes this new sculpture as capturing Clinton "with her head held high, a youthful spirit and a face matured by wisdom. Presented in a low cut gown, her cleavage is on display prominently portraying sexual power which some people still consider too threatening."

Edwards' inspiration for the piece was derived from actress Sharon Stone's controversial quote earlier in the year about challenges that would most likely be encountered should the Junior Senator from New York run on the '08 ticket. "I think Hillary Clinton is fantastic," Stone said. "But I think it is too soon for her to run. This may sound odd but a woman should be past her sexuality when she runs. Hillary still has sexual power and I don't think people will accept that. It's too threatening."

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Today's Read - Measuring Success

Today's Read lets you share tips, stories, essays, and articles of interest with our readers and provide a link back to your own website and/or blog(s). Email us your story or article, along with your mailing address. If we use it for Today's Read we'll send you a full-size package of Divine Dill Dip Mix from the Three Angels Gourmet Co. as a way to say "thank you."

Here's Today's Read. Enjoy...

How do You Measure Success

by Robert Moment

How successful are you? It all depends on the way you look at your life, and what you consider to be truly successful. It also depends on what you use to measure these different valued achievements. Certainly we all have our own priorities, lifestyles, and goals, but there are ways to measure success in your life that are healthier than others.

For example, would you consider a person who is extremely wealthy, with a mortgage paid off, three luxury cars, a pool, a tennis court, and a high-status job to be successful? What if that same person had a terrible disease or suffered from chronic pain? What if the anxiety from the job that gave the person so much money felt like slow torture? What if that person spent so much time earning money and making luxury purchases that s/he never had enough time to enjoy those items, or even meet a potential spouse?

Conversely, would you consider a person successful if he or she was living under the poverty line, and never knows where tonight’s dinner will come from, let alone how rent will be made at the end of the month? What if that person was married to the love of their lives, was working their dream job, had lots of friends, was as healthy as anyone could be, and didn’t mind a bit of financial risk?

It’s funny how the results change when you look at the different details, or from a different light.

The primary misconception that many people have is that money or monetary gain is synonymous with success. But when we look at things from another angle, it’s easier to see the successes in one’s life for what they truly are. Instead of thinking about dollar amounts, try looking at the following three powerful measures for your success:

Living your life’s purpose

Planting seeds of hope, inspiration, and encouragement in others

Making the most of every day to achieve your true potential

When you consider a successful life on these terms, it’s much easier to find the motivation that you need in your life both at home, and in your business. Then again, changing your entire life view of success isn’t something that is entirely easy – unless you know exactly how to do it.


Robert Moment is an innovative business strategist and author of ,"It Only Takes a Moment to Score" and upcoming book "Invisible Profits: The Power of Exceptional Customer Service". Robert show entrepreneurs how to successfully build and grow profitable service-based small businesses. Visit www.howtostartyoursmallbusiness.com and download the FREE Special Report " 17 Profitable Ways to Turn Your Ideas into Wealth."

Article Source: ezinearticles.com

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Today's Read - Learn to Think Bigger!

Today's Read lets you share tips, stories, essays, and articles of interest with our readers and provide a link back to your own website and/or blog(s). Email us your story or article, along with your mailing address. If we use it for Today's Read we'll send you a full-size package of Divine Dill Dip Mix from the Three Angels Gourmet Co. as a way to say "thank you."

Today's Read is an inspiring article by Sheri McConnell that will help you learn to think bigger-faster, so you'll be more successful.



3 Ways To Learn How To Think Bigger-Faster

by Sheri McConnell


"The biggest person with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest person with the smallest mind. Think big anyway." --Mother Teresa

Recently I was able to attend one of the National Association of Women Writers (NAWW) regional events. It was a lot of fun to see girlfriends I hadn't seen in a while and it was very exciting to hear how far their lives and/or writing careers had progressed.

As we discussed their changes and future goals, I brainstormed with the members how they could get more visitors to their websites, repackage information into new products, and so on.

I decided after this meeting that thinking bigger is one of the most important components to reaching your goals. It doesn't happen overnight, believe me I know. It is a growth process. So here is a little help and some gentle direction to get you thinking bigger--faster:

1) One of the fastest ways to get where you want to be is to surround yourself with the people that are already there! You must invest in networking organizations that have members you can learn from and then you need to "network." And if you are like me, time management is a huge factor in your life. Networking online is a wonderful way to save time and get in touch with a global market. Build a mastermind team and meet regularly. Again it takes time to find the right people, but you won't find them if you don't start looking for them right now.

2) Get a coach. Having someone who is experienced in your industry is invaluable. Good coaches will hold you accountable and they will push you past your small thinking. Not to mention how much money they will save you as they prevent you from making costly mistakes as you progress through your career.

3) Attend seminars, workshops, and teleseminars every week. I know--where will you find the time? If I can do it, so can you. I have three school-aged kids and a new baby, and I run two organizations. I not only host teleseminars, I attend them every week too. I love learning via the Internet because it is so flexible. I have a headset and I just put it on mute so I can listen while I tend to other tasks. (Sometimes I even do the laundry or the dishes while I am learning.) The point is: I find the time to learn how to think bigger every week.


Sheri McConnell is the President of the National Association of Women Writers. She helps women writers and entrepreneurs discover, create, and profit from their intellectual knowledge! Free reports for writers available with subscription to NAWW Weekly. Sheri lives in San Antonio, Texas with her husband Seth and their four children. Email her or call her toll free number at 866-821-5829.

Article Source: www.ezinearticles.com

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Send Us Your Stories for Today's Read

We're trying something new here at Heavenly Java. We want this site to be an inviting spot for coffee and tea lovers but also for those who love to read and write. Every morning we'll post Today's Read - a short story, essay, or other article of interest. We're hoping readers will start submitting their own stories, essays, and articles for consideration for use in Today's Read.

If you'd care to submit a story, article, or essay for our review, email it to us. In the email include your name and mailing address. If we use your material, we'll send you a free package of our Divine Dill Dip Mix as a way of saying thank you. At the end of your article or story, include a short author bio, along with links to your own website(s) and blog(s).

Here's the kind of thing we're looking for:


Originally published in VISIONS Magazine for women (1995).

JUST WHEN I THOUGHT IT WAS SAFE
by Suzanne Lieurance

Just when I was finally beginning to believe my children were old enough to take care of themselves without me around most of the time, my younger son (he's 14) planted new seeds of doubt in my mind when he volunteered to heat a frozen pizza for dinner.

"Do you smell something, Mom?" he asked, quite innocently enough.

"Yeah," I answered. "Something burning...smells like cardboard."

"Uh-oh," he said, with a sheepish look on his face as he raced to the stove and flung open the oven door.

"Tyler, you didn't," I said.

But it was quite apparent - he did!

He pulled the pizza out of the oven and placed it on top of the stove as I got a plate and handed it to him. He slid the pizza onto the plate, revealing a blackened circle of cardboard.

"You could have burned the house down!" I scolded, overreacting as I often do to any of his careless mishaps.

"How was I supposed to know the cardboard couldn't go in the oven?" he offered in his own defense.

How was he supposed to know, indeed. We've probably only heated a thousand or so frozen pizzas from the time he was little. I just looked at him. Then I said, "Well, here's a hint to always remember...never put cardboard in an oven...any kind of cardboard...any kind of oven."

What could he say to that but, "Okay, okay. Geez, you always make such a big deal out of every little mistake."

That made me start to wonder if he was right. Do I always make such a big deal out of every little screw up? Was cardboard in the oven just a little screw up? Sure it was, because we took it out. But if I hadn't been there to recognize the smell, what would he have thought it was? Would he have looked in the oven? Or, would the cardboard have ignited and ruined the stove, or, worse yet, actually burned the house down?

I was deep in thought when my older son, who's sixteen, came into the kitchen.

"What's that smell?" he asked. "Smells like burning cardboard. Hey, I'll bet Tyler left the pizza on the cardboard, didn’t he?"

"How'd you know?" I asked suspiciously.

"I did it once, too," he said. "Almost burned the house down."

I cut myself a slice of pizza and put it on a plate. "Just when I thought it was safe..." I mumbled.

© 2003 Suzanne Lieurance. All Rights Reserved.