Category Archives: social and emotional

Spirited Young Children

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Children are the hands by which we take hold of heaven.” ~ Henry Ward Beecher

joyfulchildI love the spirit and innocence of young children. Few have reason to doubt the world until they reach emotional maturity, which according to Katherine Lee in this article, http://abt.cm/Hk0mge, is somewhere around  the age of nine.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful, as an adult, to have a child’s spirit and have the ability to let your joy shine through from the depths of your soul not caring about what others think of your most delightful thoughts and actions.

I love the book we shared yesterday on All Things Fulfilling, by Trevor Boehm, because I think there is wisdom in the words he shares with respect to living in the world feeling personally fulfilled. If you didn’t read yesterday’s blog, scroll down to it.

On Monday, we will be sharing some tips for people who feel they are not living up to their God given talents, and wish they could be doing something else in their lives or careers. Please join us!

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Thoughtful Thursday: Opening Up Discussion

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trevor boehm quote

Happy Thoughtful Thursday! Today, I would like to share an interview that I had with Ali Boehm earlier in the week. She owns an award-winning healing business called “Kneading Hands” Massage. She is also the driving force behind a book, authored by her brother, Trevor.  The Boehm family published “Louie’s Saxophone” to help people struggling with mental illness.

Here is our interview:

Sue: Today is the first of many Thoughtful Thursdays to come on All Things Fulfilling. I continue to be inspired by your family’s story. The loss of your brother has been turned into a positive mission.  More than a year ago, I featured your brother Trevor’s award-winning book “Louie’s Saxophone” on All Things Fulfilling and I would like to feature it once more. http://bit.ly/1auIRSD

In a few weeks you will be participating in an event at Bermis Hall at Colorado College sponsored by the National Alliance of Mental Health. You will be sharing “Louie’s Saxophone” which has the potential to help many people. Tell me  more about the event.

Ali: On November 14th (at 6:30 pm) in Colorado Springs, CO I will be a speaking out, sharing our family’s experience at the National Alliance on Mental Illness. It will be an evening of story and song called Silence No More. People will also be reading poetry and expressing themselves through the power of dance. Kathy Brandt and Max Maddox will also be sharing their book “Walks on the Margins: A Story of Bipolar Disease.”

Sue: What will you will be specifically speaking about?

Ali: This time when I speak at the NAMI event, and now that more time has passed since the loss of my brother, I will be reflecting on what I think Trevor would be doing if he was still here with us.

Sue: Tell me what purpose you feel Louie’s Saxophone plays in helping people with mental illness?

Ali: That no one is alone. The book, in a gentle way, opens a door to talk about a sensitive subject matter. I believe that my brother’s struggles began at age 8, and a children’s book becomes a family place for education at a very young age.

Sue: What has your family learned about the power of books to change lives by  publishing Louie’s Saxophone?

Ali: People believe in the written word.  A book creates a space for reflection and gives power to legitimize the healing process. Initially we thought we’d do a pamphlet, but a book has more credibility.

 Sue: How does it make you feel to know that you are helping others by sharing the story Trevor left behind?

Ali: Humbled. The book is powerful and it puts me in a position that facilitates discussion. I do not have all the answers, and sometimes that is scary. But I can provide and find resources.

Ali: Where should people who are struggling go to seek help? Can you give me a few resources?

Sue: Ali, It’s been a good day if by publishing this interview on-line if we can help even a single person to know that they are not alone and they can open up about their own depression or sadness. Best to you with the NAMI event, I am so proud that you are part of We Write Steamboat networking group for independent publishers . You are sharing an important story.

This blog brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com. See you tomorrow on All Things Fulfilling.

Thoughtful Thursdays

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“…be fair simply because you’re doing the right thing.” ~ Dr. Robin Smith

Along with our change of logo it’s a good time to switch up some other things on this site. In my opinion, we are living in a world with too much focus on disturbing news. We need more outlets for life affirming stories – tales that help us to remember all the honorable people in the world who make every attempt to “do the right thing.” After all, it’s up to each and every one of us to do our part to create the kind of world we want to live in.

happy-kids-world-10980590I am going to do my very best, to do my part, every Thursday by recognizing and bringing light to a hopeful story about someone’s kindness and thoughtfulness. I am going to ask our subscribers and readers to help me out by sending me tales that you think ought to be recognized and featured on this website. You can share it by way of a link to something you read about on the internet, in the form of a quote or the title of a book or film or beautiful music that you think will help others to have faith in humanity, and also the talents of our country’s people.

Today as a prelude to the start of  Thoughtful Thursdays on All Things Fulfilling, I’d like to share with you what Dr. Robin Smith says about happiness. Please follow the link to her article http://bit.ly/HfZbxt.  

See you right back here tomorrow! This blog brought to you by http://www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com.

 

Lifestyle Solutions

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Mindful or mind fullIn the space between your thoughts there is your truth. ~ Reuben Lowe

Every once in a while I need to put on the brakes and find some lifestyle-oriented solutions to slow down my journey through life. I usually need to have a come-uppance with myself after a busy summer. It’s good to switch gears from Mind Full to Mindful to remind myself that life is not a race, and to enjoy every task, each day, that I have been given.

 The pronunciation of the words Mind Full and Mindful are exactly the same, but take on two different stories if you put the emphasis in different places, capitalize different letters, and eliminate one of the L’s. Strange isn’t it?

For instance, if you asked someone what having a “Mind Full” morning means, the response may go something like this:

  • Take the kids to school
  • Drop the dog off at the groomer
  • Stop at the store for bread and milk
  • Run back home and throw laundry in the washer
  • Jump in the shower
  • Slap some ham and cheese between two pieces of bread for lunch
  • Remember to gas-up
  • Arrive at work only a few minutes late

If you told someone you’ve had a “Mindful morning,” you’d probably be implying you spent the early hours of your day:

  • Watching the sunrise
  • Sipping a mug of hot chai
  • Reading a passage in a daily  devotional
  • Taking a leisurely bath
  • Letting your hair air dry while you do your nails
  • Moseying on to work with plenty of time to spare

the exquisite riskThe Mindful morning sounds more appealing, doesn’t it?  Practicing mindfulness means listening to our inner whisperings in our jobs as well as in our personal lives. It reduces burnout because we work more efficiently and productively, eliminating the feelings of rushing thoughtlessly from task to task.

Just by rising a little earlier each morning it may be possible to switch from a Mind Full to a more Mindful existence. And you may get the benefit of seeing something new and fulfilling growing within yourself called contentment.

Are you ready to trade chaos for calm and face a new dawn? The Exquisite Risk: Living an Authentic Life by Mark Nepo may help convince you of the value. To check out this book and his others, please visit this website.http://www.marknepo.com/. Note that Mark Nepo will be appearing on Super Soul Sunday in November. See the details on his website.

This blog  brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com.  The space where independent thoughts, words and views are all part of the business.

Beautifully Aged Specimens

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Beautiful young people are accidents of nature, but beautiful old people are works of art. ~Eleanor Roosevelt

We all know someone who looks age in the face, and is out to prove every stereotypical trait of aging wrong. In fact, their determination to show others that being over age 50 is no reason to slow down, has become their fulltime job. Working at aging gloriously brings personal fulfillment to many men and women. After all, we take little notice of the fact that we are aging if we are busy enjoying ourselves.

There have been all kinds of studies that identify how influences to the human spirit affects the way we live. http://bit.ly/1hENNXn. Resilience and determination are just a few character traits that truly make a difference. Humor, gratitude, spirituality and creativity in our lives play important roles in the aging process, also.

We can often identify within minutes of meeting someone whether they have “esprit de la vie” or not. You can tell by the words they speak, the inflections in their voice and their outlook for the world we live in.

Juicy tomatoes_The Juicy Tomatoes Guide to Ripe Living after 50, by Susan Swartz is a look at women who take on the idea of living with spunk seriously. This book is written with cheeky attitude and humor,  which might annoy some readers but the tone matches the spirit of the book. It is fun, lively and a great gift for someone is overly concerned with growing older and the physical changes that naturally take place as we age.

Positive and negative attitudes affect not only our human experience, but also that of our children. My parents, who are well into their eighties and still maintaining their own house and gardens, are aging like heirloom tomatoes – a variety that has been passed down, through several generations of a family because of it’s valued characteristics.

How my parents have lived their lives has given me many reasons to be very grateful that I am their daughter. Mom and Dad, you are ripe with beauty – you’re wonderful specimens.

This blog brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com. Do return to All Things Fulfilling tomorrow!

 

Motivational Adages

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decide-that-you-want-it-more-than-you-are-afraid-of-itThe theme of today’s blog is this powerful adage that I use for motivation when I take on a challenge. It can apply to many different situations in life. I’ve decided to post it on my refrigerator where I can readily see it, so it will remain at the forefront of my thoughts.

If you have ever taken on a challenge, you know how important faith and hope are to success. You also probably understand that every time we allow ourselves to let go of either, those nagging thoughts of self-doubt enter into our brains and mess with us.

Hope and faith are what keeps us moving ahead in life, and without a certain degree of both, it is hard to get out of bed in the morning. Believing that good things are in store for us each day brings positive thoughts and actions.

Is there someway you can use this adage in your life to help motivate you and bring personal fulfillment to yourself? If so, you will find astounding results.

This blog brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com. See you tomorrow on All Things Fulfilling.

Thankfully, Tuesday

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“Technology is a gift of God. After the gift of life it is perhaps the greatest of God’s gifts. It is the mother of civilizations, of arts and of sciences.”
~Freeman Dyson

I’ll stand up for my opinion and say the gift of life IS the greatest of God’s gifts. And as for technology, for those who need it to succeed in their business and careers, it is pretty important. But, I think there are other values for me that would rank before it.

Today, I need to take a breather for myself and write a short blog. Things have been a bit hectic and crazy but that is a good thing. It means I am ever moving forward.

live gratitudeSome unexpected opportunities have popped up, and I have not let them pass me by without consideration and I am thankful. My words today are being kept to a minimum so I can bask in the change of seasons, so that’s about all I am saying.

Until now, I hadn’t taken the time to pause and appreciate what a wonderful summer I had and to make the transitional leap into fall.  We’ve already have a little snow on the mountains.  A little bird told me it’s just a tease, fall is not over yet.

Happy Harvest Season!

Photo Below: September 28, 2013  Snow in the Higher Elevations

sept 28 snow

This blog brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com. Do return tomorrow to All Things Fulfilling.

Support Along the Path of Life

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“No one ever stumbles into success. It is found only in the fulfillment of a certain image, as a certain goal.” ~ Rev. Robert Kirkley

Has anyone ever told you “I’ve got your back” and you wholeheartedly believe it? Doesn’t it feel good? That doesn’t mean that someone will do everything for you. You have to do your part too. But knowing that the person who made the promise will be there for you if you trip and fall, that means a lot.

IMAG0775Today on All Things Fulfilling, I am introducing you to THE publication that I’ve been promising I would reveal.  The book focuses on the idea that someone else has your best interest at heart. No matter what your challenges and struggles might be in a career, business and personal relationships or because of your character flaws, this book reinforces the idea that By God, You Can Do It, if you believe.

This publication came out of Rev. Robert “Bob” Kirkley’s desire to reach more people and share the news that “faith works miracles.” He has seen it happen. Things that people thought they couldn’t accomplish, they overcame and successfully changed their own life.

Rev. Kirkley says although the concepts in his book “may look like extravagant promises” of enjoying fulfillment, the principles “are based on a clear-sighted understanding of the basic laws of life.”  Some people may be surprised to learn it is Rev. Kirkley’s belief that “people should be spiritual and not religious.”

To read more about the author, the book and how to order it, please visit www.revrobertkirkley.com .

All Things Fulfilling is brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com. The space were independent thoughts, words and views are all part of the business. Come on back tomorrow.

Important First Steps to Publishing

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“It is not in the pursuit of happiness that we find fulfillment, it is in happiness of pursuit.” ~ Denis Waitley

The e-Book Extravaganza on Saturday sponsored by the Colorado Independent Publishers Association (CIPA) was well-worth attending. During one of the breaks, the President of CIPA, Dr. Patricia Ross came over to me and said “Sue, I’d like you to meet one of our new members.” Of course, the usual niceties followed.

I asked the new member if she was enjoying the morning, and she said “Yes, but I feel so uninformed! There is so little I know about independent publishing.” Dr. Ross told her not to be discouraged, and off the President went doing her job of hob-knobbing about the room.

CIPA 9 13 #1As the new member and I stood talking, I said to her, “You know, each and every person in this room started where you began today, knowing nothing. That is the reason you have joined this group -to get help, to learn, to network and become informed about your options.” There is a lot to learn and you have taken a very important first step. You have joined this group!”

“Yes,” the new member replied. “There seems to be plenty of knowledge to learn from in this group.”

Before the break was over and we went to sit in our respective seats, across the room from one another, I had one more thing I had to say. “In your free time, read anything you can get your hands on about the industry, and keep coming to this group. It’s the best thing you can do for yourself.”

To learn more about the Colorado Independent Publishers Association, please visit this link. http://www.cipacatalog.com/join-cipa/. Please note the organization also offers downloadable webinars if you are too far to travel to their meetings.

http://www.cipacatalog.com/categories/CIPA-College-Downloads/

As I drove home, I began to ponder how many first steps I have taken since 1998, when the independent industry was in its infancy. They’ve all been in a quest to learn all I could about the industry and it led to becoming a business.  And the wonders and development of the independent publishing universe never cease to amaze me. I find it fascinating.

This blog brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com. The space where independent thoughts, words and views are all part of the business. See you tomorrow on All Things Fulfilling.

e-Book Extravaganza

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Knowledge is power. Information is liberating. Education is the premise of progress, in every society, in every family. ~ Kofi Annan

cipa logoOn Saturday I made the very worthwhile three hour trek into Denver from Steamboat Springs, Colorado to attend Colorado Independent Publishers Association (CIPA) monthly meeting. The September agenda was an e-Book Extravaganza. Here are just a few things that were discussed throughout the day:

  • The e-book industry now represents 33% of book sales. How about that?
  • People like having a choice of formats, so offering books in print, as well as an e-book version is wise marketing.
  • There is still a viable market for books-in-print but there is a certain part of the reading population who are clamoring for e-books due to their convenience.
  • Surprisingly, people who are 55 years of age and over ARE BUYING e-books, contrary to what was expected. It is not just the young generation that are interested in the digital format.
  • We discussed pricing of e-books and how you can leverage your intellectual property.
  • E-books make it easy to offer samples, providing potential book buyers the  opportunity to see if they like an author they’ve never read before.
  • A big advantage to e-books – there is no printing involved, thus it removes the need for physical space of inventory.

If you are a writer who wants to get on The Fast Track to Independent Publishing, here is a short webinar that will introduce you to the basics. http://bit.ly/10cCp1Y. 

Do return tomorrow to All Things Fulfilling, we will be discussing the next best step if you are a person who is considering independent publishing and you are in need of knowledge. I will tell you a quick but valuable story from this weekend.

This blog brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com .