Category Archives: women and spirituality

Stirring the Mind

Leave a comment

“All things are possible until they are proved impossible. Even the impossible may only be so, as of now.” – Pearl S. Buck

creative-brainLast week, The Bud Werner Memorial Library in Steamboat Springs, Colorado brought in a live stream of the TED Conference from Long Beach, California. I had hoped to individually highlight some of the presenters this week on this site. However, a better approach would be to share some of the fulfilling thoughts that I came away with after viewing a good deal of the four day broadcast. 

“We”, meaning as a country and a world, are indeed blessed with:

  •  forward thinking, creative people
  • a population of individuals who like to dream and imagine and ask “What if?”
  • people, who when they believe in their passions, are not afraid to take risks
  • technological advances that will increasingly free people to labor with their brains, rather than brawn.
  • living during a time when turning the hypothetical to reality, is happening more often.
  • learning more about our sixth sense and the amagydala – the emotive part of the brain.
  • “At the precipice of a new era where ideas can be used for global fulfillment in the world, rather than for just personal gain.” As stated by a TED presenter.
  • an era when professions will be more cognitively demanding and specialized. 

The TED conference was designed to stir thought, and for me, it fulfilled its mission. When I asked myself “Who Are We?” after viewing the broadcast, I can’t help but defer to the tag line of TED. We are a population of “The Young, the Wise and the Undiscovered.” Thank God for that! It opens up all kinds of possibilities for future generations. 

A special shout out to Jenny Lay, events coordinator and the library board members who do an outstanding job of bringing thoughtful programs to our community.

Visit us again tomorrow on All Things Fulfilling, where sharing independent thoughts, words and views is all part of the business. This blog is brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com.

Soups on, In Steamboat!

Leave a comment

“Only the pure of heart can make good soup.” ~Ludwig van Beethoven

I guess that throws me out of the pure of heart category. Making good soup is not my forte. I am posting this blog today, as a little self-help tip and  for others who need remedies for weak soup making skills.

In sickness and in health, hot soups nourish the soul and the spirit. In places that have long winters, like where I live, we rely on soups to warm our inners and get us through the cold season. Soup has long been associated with healing and bolstering immune systems. Here is an article about the properties of soup that make them so nutritious. http://exm.nr/11VJAN0.

Ski town Soups_Author Jennie Iverson has complied a cookbook,Ski Town Soups , a collection of recipes from sixty East to West Coast ski areas in the United States. The recipes are not run of the mill, nor are they light broths made for first course appetizers. The publication contains more than 100 ideas of creative, unique blends of hearty flavors that have won high accolades from customers in premium restaurants in mountain resort areas, including Steamboat.

Visit us again tomorrow on All Things Fulfilling, where sharing independent thoughts, words and views is all part of the business. This blog is brought to you by Sue Batton Leonard, author of Gift of a Lifetime – Finding Fulfilling Things in the Unexpected and  www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com.

Fueling the Spirit

Leave a comment

The happiest people don’t necessarily have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything. ~ Author Unknown

Monday and Tuesday’s blogs have led me toward wanting to write more about energy and filling our selves up with the right kind of fuel.

Many people have been without jobs for a long time, leading to feelings of unworthiness, sadness, depression. For some, feelings of lack of prosperity have never been experienced before; a stable, well-paying job has always been in the picture. It’s a particularly difficult transition for anyone who has always been financially secure and then they find themselves floundering.

The same kinds of feelings are experienced by those who are experiencing divorce or ending associations with things that can no longer be afforded. After all, those things (jobs, marriages and material goods) become part of people’s identity, and a great void and sense of loss is felt when they are gone or no longer within reach.

shortcuts to inner peaceShortcuts to Inner Peace: 70 Simple Paths to Everyday Serenity by Ashley Davis Bush, has gotten good reviews.  Learning to look inside, and be at peace by establishing a fulfilling and a meaningful relationship with ourselves, our spirit and perhaps a higher being is at the root of this book. Bush’s book provides tips to create a happier lifestyle, so that when the rug gets pulled out from underneath us, we are not so personally deflated; we have the tools to maintain our sense of self.

The author, Ashley Davis Bush, is has a degree in social work and a certificate in Contemplative Studies from SmithCollege.http://bit.ly/ZrlkAB She lives in New Hampshire.  Click here for more info and ordering the book Short Cuts to Inner Peace.

Visit us again tomorrow on All Things Fulfilling. This blog is brought to you by  Sue Batton Leonard, author of Gift of a Lifetime:Finding Fulfilling Things in the Unexpectedand www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com.

Bundled Energy

Leave a comment

“Problems are not the problem, coping is the problem.” ~ Virginia Satir

energy in the worldTime to change the channel, there is no reason to stay stuck on it. http://bit.ly/Xkquu0. I’ve had more than my fill of news about the Carnival cruise ship that let down its vacationers. The travelers talk as if it was if they were intentionally “wronged.”  Fact of the matter – it was  an unfortunate incident that no one could have predicted and everyone was in a difficult situation. And, there are no guarantees that life will always be smooth sailing.

I did hear a few of the “victims” say that they had joined in with others to create prayer groups while awaiting rescue. There you go! Bundling positive energy together and using good coping skills. Would it be any surprise if those folks came away from the incident with much healthier perspectives? When  communities of people bring positive energy together and create networking groups, good things happen. Negative energy does nothing to attract positive energy, we all know that.

Let’s face it. The steam that moves us human beings forward in positive directions ultimately comes from our own reserves; as we draw from our wellspring of strengths, inner exertion and convictions and pluck!

Time to go and plan our monthly meeting for We Write Steamboat – a  meet-up group for independent publishers!  It is happening this afternoon. And, soon it will be lunchtime, when I’ll fill up my tank  and nourish my soul by going on my daily walk. I know I’ll find something fulfilling to write about for tomorrow.

This blog is brought to you by Sue Batton Leonard, author of Gift of a Lifetime:Finding Fulfilling Things in the Unexpected and www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com.  All Things Fulfilling, is a space where sharing independent thoughts, words and views is all part of the business.

TED: Ideas Worth Spreading

Leave a comment

“Opportunities don’t happen, you create them.” ~ Chris Grosser 

ted2Have you ever attended an event just because your intuition tells you that you will enjoy it? I am rather excited. Next week, I have decided to attend a TED Conference at the Bud Werner Memorial Library. It will be broadcast from Long Beach, California. 

It’s interesting – the power of words. The titles of the sessions, alone,  have more than piqued my curiosity – vocabulary like progress enigma, the spark, dream, create, sustain, coded meaning, secret voices and the ripple effect. I’m on board – sounds enticing! 

Attending the gathering will be progressive thinkers and doers from the fields of technology, entertainment and design. Speakers will be challenged to stimulate and inspire others to engage in the ideas they will be presenting. 

To learn more about TED and the non-profit organization’s mission, visit their website. http://www.ted.com/. 

Here is the schedule for the four day event at our local library as listed on their website. The event is free, open to the public and you can attend various sessions throughout each day or stay and listen in on the entire conference. 

If  the TEDS conference is as informative and educational as I anticipate, I will be sharing some of the ideas on All Things Fulfilling two weeks from now. Join in and participate in the discussion.

Visit us again tomorrow on All Things Fulfilling, where sharing independent thoughts, words and views is all part of the business. This blog is brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com.

Look for the Lessons

Leave a comment

I woke up this morning and turned on the news. The first image I saw were two girls kissing the ground they walked on. The women were among the 4200 passengers who had just gotten off the cruise liner that caught fire. There are many things to be thankful for  – the vacationers were rescued, there was no loss of life and the vessel was brought safely to shore after days of  people living in horrible, unsanitary conditions. 

Storms-Of-Life-Come___-Adijust-Your-Sails_1As I listened to stories of passengers recounting the incident, time and time again, I heard that the employees of Carnival Cruise Line did all they possibly could to keep calm and fulfill the needs of the passengers within their abilities. 

Sadly, there are people in this world who live in squalor everyday, and their lives are shipwrecks. They are unable to escape, however, they still manage to find a sense of inspiration and gratefulness in their lives. Attached is an article on how to find the positive when life challenges us with difficult situations.http://mayocl.in/12RaDIt.

Although I am sure it was very difficult to find the good  at the time, the 4200 passengers have returned home. Perhaps many have a renewed sense of gratitude for their lives. From here on out, their perspectives on life and their response to the vacation gone horribly wrong will all be about their attitudes.

Visit us again tomorrow on All Things Fulfilling, where sharing independent thoughts, words and views is all part of the business. This blog is brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com.

A Heart Stuffed with Love

Leave a comment

“A good friend is a connection to life – a tie to the past, a road to the future, the key …~ Lois Whyte

Have you ever known someone whose heart is so stuffed with love that it bursts with joy?

On Tuesday, on All Things Fulfilling, I featured You Are Never Alone Foundation,http://bit.ly/Yr3eZj and it’s founder Salley Gibney. She is a nurse by profession and she understands about compassion and the need for reaching out to others with kindness. Her non-profit organization has challenged communities everywhere to find One Million Acts of Caring by March 28. Take a few minutes to scroll down and read Seeking the Good in the World, or follow this link http://bit.ly/158WVjC.

You are never aloneToday, the purpose of this blog  is to simply say Thank You to You Are Never Alone Foundation, , for the good work they do in the world. They have sent out over 90,000 Caring Coins, around the world as symbols of caring, connection and hope. How is that for inspiring others to reach out and touch others in communities?

Visit us tomorrow, on Valentines Day. We will be sharing information about a newly released “ep” extended play CD from an independent recording artist. You will love his lyrics and the tone of his heartfelt voice.

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

Seek the Good in the World

Leave a comment

“To love what you do and feel that it matters, how could anything be more fun?” ~Katharine Graham 

You’ve heard it time and time again, look for the positive not for the negative. Well, that is exactly what You Are Never Alone Foundation, a Vermont 5013(c) in Dorset, Vermont is focusing on between now and March 28th. The foundation is hoping to have help, around the world, in capturing and writing down ONE MILLION Acts of Caring and every community can participate! 

The idea is so simple. In your home, school, place of work, in your place of worship, or other public spaces in your community, place a “caring box” with pencil and paper in plain view. Every time you witness and catch someone in an act of kindness, write it down and put it in the box. If you see someone sharing a welcoming smile, extending a hand by volunteering to help or any other kind gesture or words that demonstrates caring, acknowledge it. Between now and March 28th focus on finding all the truly good and compassionate people around the world. 

You are never-AloneYou can go to the website for You Are Never Alone Foundation and get the resources you need to start a movement where you live. There are posters/flyers to print out, and a design to wrap around a box, so people will know to drop their testimonies of witnessing kind deeds and acts. http://bit.ly/TPEAEY . 

March 28 is the annual worldwide I Matter…You Matter Day and Salley Gibney, founder of You Are Never Alone Foundation has challenged people everywhere to tally up 1,000,000 caring acts by that date.

One Million Acts of Caring need not end on March 28th. You can engage in caring year round.As Salley says, “Caring is Contagious. We all need to share messages of caring, connection and hope.”  

One great act of caring would be to pass this message along and participate in the challenge!

Visit us tomorrow on All Things Fulfilling, where sharing independent thoughts, words and views is all part of the business. This blog is brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com.

Books and Films with Inspirational Messages

1 Comment

“No heart has ever suffered when it has gone in search of its dream.” ~ Paul Coelho

heart pillows stuffedFebruary is Happy Heart Month! Over the course of the past month, messages from inspirational books and films have been at the core of our minister’s sermons at the UnitedMethodistChurch in Steamboat. Many people without religious backgrounds have read and appreciated these books also. They have been New York Times bestsellers. Here are the titles:

  • The Alchemist by Paul Coelho  (the movie is coming in 2014)

Click for info & ordering

  • Tuesdays with Morrie  by Mitch Ablom   (film adaptation also available)

Click for info & ordering

  • The River Runs Through It by Norman Maclean  (film by Robert Redford)

Click for info & ordering The authors of each of these books have created stories that take the reader on a journey into their own hearts, in search of the meaning of life and the Universe. Thought provoking, illuminating and inspiring, they raise awareness of some of the best parts of human nature, as well as stir up more difficult issues we are faced with as people who were created with faults, weaknesses and a full range of emotions that run from admirable to undesirable. The truth of the matter is that good books and films give us reason  to stop and ponder.

If you are searching for good reads with heart and soul content, you may want to consider Gift of a Lifetime: Finding Fulfilling Things in the Unexpected.

Visit us tomorrow on All Things Fulfilling, where sharing independent thoughts, words and views is all part of the business. This blog is brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com.

New Generation Libraries

Leave a comment

“What should young people do with their lives today? Many things….create stable communities in which the terrible disease of loneliness can be cured.” ~ Kurt Vonnegut  

When I moved to Steamboat Springs, Colorado back in 2008, I felt like I had hit the jackpot when I saw Bud Werner Memorial Library. It had just undergone renovation and had opened only three months prior to my arrival. The improvement in physical structure (addition of approximately 26,000 sq feet) is not all that  impressed me, however. Since then, the library has become a real hub of community activity. Library services have been expanded and updated to accommodate for the digital age. The library’s computer technology is relied on, heavily, for people in the surrounding rural communities where internet access is a problem. 

quote on librariesI enjoy learning about other communities, throughout the country, who have recently built or expanded libraries with an eye on the next generation of readers. There is a library, in Tiverton, Rhode Island, which I am very excited about. It has been in the planning and developmental stages for many years.; construction begins this coming May.

Union Studio Architects: Architecture and Community Design of Providence, Rhode Island was instrumental in bringing the vision for the project together. http://bit.ly/WMDsiX . A young, hip firm, founded in 2001, draws plans for what they see as being fulfilling living in community development for the next generation. I am proud to say one of my nieces, Kara, is a contemporary in the company and helped design the Tiverton Library.

To learn more about the Union Studio Architects and their philosophy on new urbanism, here is a short video. http://bit.ly/YC4yyf .  Check out the movie star, Stanley, in this video – he is as charming as Barney, President Bush’s, dog who  sadly went to doggie heaven this week.

I look forward to seeing this facility when it is completed.

Return tomorrow to All Things Fulfilling, where sharing independent thoughts, words and views is all part of the business. This blog is brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com.