Category Archives: partnering business with non-profits

A Heart Stuffed with Love

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“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

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“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

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“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.

In Search of Soul and Self

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“To have another language is to possess a second soul.” ~ Charlemagne

Note: Today’s blog is devoted to all beautiful soul building individuals in the family of man. The message below, in red and black, is a reminder that the fabric of the world’s population is so interesting due our diversity as individuals, woven together, living on one planet.

I am a very proud aunt! I have five nieces, and two nephews, not even including two more lovely nieces on my husband’s side of the family. There’s notto my neice a bad apple in the bunch of them; each has a unique personality and career choice so different than each of their cousins. All are in their twenties, except the youngest who will be off to college, in September, with ambitions of becoming a veterinarian specializing in horses.

0814329616In a few short days, one of my nieces will be going to Japan to teach English as a second language. Wisely, she has chosen to travel abroad for an extended period, now, while she is young, with few encumbrances. She will be working at a very reputable school, has an apartment arranged, and is up for the challenge. Her personality traits, I believe, are well suited to the task. She is very resourceful and a beautiful soul building individual.

According to an article published by Cornell University, there are many benefits of elevating the spirits and minds of children by teaching them a second language. To read the full article, please go to  http://bit.ly/VMI4WT

Not to put  pressure on her or anything, but, I hope she will  start a blog; she is a fantastic writer. I would love to see photos and learn, from this side of the world, about her experiences in the classroom, as well as more about Japanese art, history and other interesting cultural information that she encounters. 

I love and will miss  my dear niece, and I hope it will not be too long before I see her again. But,  I know it will be a fulfilling experience. She’ll grow, as a person, as a result of sharing her talents with children abroad.

 “Ki wo tsuketekudasai”! 

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Searching for Creative Outlets?

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“Anyone can dabble, but once you’ve made that commitment, your blood has a particular thing in it, and it’s very hard for people to stop you.” ~ Bill Cosby 

Ever thought you’d like to explore painting but never had the gumption or confidence to try it? Or have you hesitated because you don’t want to invest in all the “gear” that comes with it, in case it ends up not really being your thing? No way to know if you will like it, unless you give it a whirl. 

What is becoming a new concept in entertainment, creativity and socializing in other places has now arrived in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Splatz Canvas and Wine is an imaginative business that provides opportunity for people to stop in and dabble. People may not have aspirations of becoming the next Picasso or Monet, but it gives them the chance to have fun with a group of friends exploring a new hobby together. 

paint partySplatz Canvas and Wine provides the instructor, the canvas, paint, easels and all the other art supplies needed to create a painting that is uniquely yours. Organize a girls night out party, birthday parties for children or adults, corporate parties or enjoy a different kind of date night at Splatz. The older set (over 21 years of age) can order up a glass of wine and along with munchies. 

There are millions of people worldwide, who find personal fulfillment in painting and other art either as a hobby or as a career. Splatz Canvas and Wine provides a space to discover what people find so satisfying in creating images to hang on the wall. 

Now you can create, socialize and paint at Splatz Canvas and Wine in the ‘Boat!

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.

Film Friday: The Great Courses

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Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself. ~
John Dewey

great-courses

 Are you a person who has an insatiable thirst for knowledge? A type of brain food is currently on sale until February 15, 2013. The Great Courses ww.ordergreatcourses.com  offers educational DVDs and CDs from top college professors. Available on a full range of subjects, from the arts and humanities to history, religion, math, health and science. At very reasonable costs, you can learn and be inspired in the comfort of your home, office or while you are stuck in traffic. Some of the topics contain as many as 24 half hour lectures, most ranging in price from $19.99 to $69.99, far less than enrolling in classes at a top university or college.

Here is a small sampling of The Great Courses Offered:

  • A History of European Art
  • How to Listen to and Understand Great Music
  • Nutrition Made Clear
  • The New and Old Testaments
  • Building Great Sentences: Exploring the Writers Craft
  • The Everyday Guide to Wine
  • Our Night Sky
  • Optimizing Brain Fitness
  • Practicing Mindfulness
  • The Science of Natural Healing
  • What are the Chances: Probability Made Clear
  • Secrets of Mental Math

This is just a small list of courses offered by professors from colleges such as:  University of Iowa, Johns Hopkins University, University of Virginia, GeorgetownUniversity, Northwestern, Colgate, Scripps Center for Integrative Healing, Vanderbilt UniversityDivinitySchool, Yale School of Medicine, The Peabody Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania.

It is important, at every age, to continue to grow for a fulfilling life. Seek new knowledge; become a life-long learner.  Baby boomers will enjoy keeping their minds active through the topics offered.  Search for brain food that suits your individual taste. Click for DVDs of The Great Courses

Visit us on Monday, 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.

Scholars Singing a Cappella

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“Everyday we should hear at least one little song, read one good poem, see one exquisite picture and if possible, speak a few sensible words.” ~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe  

On Friday night, my husband and I attended a delightful performance at Colorado Mountain College http://bit.ly/WwAT4i that had me grinning from ear to ear.  One of the top ten male collegiate a capella groups in the country, the Buffoons from the University of Colorado, Boulder, traveled to Steamboat and entertained a nearly-packed house. 

CU BuffoonsAlthough the young men in the group have very diverse educational interests, their melodic voices could not have been more harmonious. The camaraderie they share through their love of music and entertaining was very apparent. They really clicked as a group, and each one of their finely-tuned voices, was important to the overall effect. 

Each year, the choral group is, in part, replaced with new talent, as some of the singers graduate from college. The repertoire of songs is assorted, some tunes have been sung for years, while others are more contemporary, which adds appeal to audiences from different generations and musical interests. The Buffoons perform at approximately 60 venues annually. 

The a cappella group was founded fifty years ago, by Dr. Oakleigh “Oak” Thorne, the musical director of YaleUniversity’s choral group the Yale Wiffenpoofs. Thorne moved to the Denver area to pursue his PhD in Biology at CU. 

 To read more about the Buffoons and the current roster of singers, visit this link http://bit.ly/UZPofR . Information about  their independently published DVD’s is also available on their website. 

To listen to a two minute You Tube video of the vocal group performing, please go to this link http://bit.ly/XSgLeb.

Thank you to the sponsors: Emerald City Opera http://bit.ly/W9i49D, Ski Haus http://bit.ly/13THStA, Steamboat Resort http://bit.ly/WjLiAB, and Colorado Mountain College http://bit.ly/UckN1r  for bringing the talented Buffoons from the University of Colorado to town! It was a lively, fun night.

Look forward to visiting with you, our readers, tomorrow on All Things Fulfilling – where sharing independent thoughts, words and views is all part of the business; I hope you’ll join us. This blog brought to you from www.cornerstonefulfillmentservice.com

 

 

 

Crossing Mountains to Get There

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“Nobody trips over mountains. It is the small pebble that causes you to stumble. Pass all the pebbles in your path and you will find you have crossed the mountain. “ ~Author Unknown

event-sundance-filmThe Sundance Film Festival is on my mind this week. If you have been to Park City, Utah, the venue of this independent film festival, you know  the area is surrounded by the beauty of the Wasatch Mountains and the historic downtown is steep with artistic flair. The screening venues for the event, such as the Egyptian Theatre, entertained locals from the “rough and tumble days of exploration and active mining.”

The festival, founded by actor Robert Redford in 1981 brings together, every winter, scores of people who love independent films, as well as people who work in the industry. What began with 10 emerging filmmakers decades ago has grown and evolved into one of the most respected film-award contests in the country. To read more about the history of the Sundance Film Festival, please visit this link. http://bit.ly/VVfrFe.

A few of the many films that will be screened throughout the week are:

To read about other official slections, films that were juried into this festival, please visit http://www.sundance.org/

This morning, my husband and I would like to send a shout out  to our favorite filmmaker, who will be working very hard at the festival, behind the film camera. Hopefully, he will remember to take a few minutes to enjoy and take it all in! He deserves it, he’s successfully climbed mountains in his career field, since before high school, to get there! http://bit.ly/UJrK73.

Look forward to visiting with you, our readers, tomorrow on All Things Fulfilling – where sharing independent thoughts, words and views is all part of the business; I hope you’ll join us. This blog brought to you from Sue Batton Leonard, author of Gift of a Lifetime: Finding Fulfilling Things in the Unexpected and www.cornerstonefulfillmentservice.com.

The Color of Life

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To send light into the darkness of men’s hearts – such is the duty of the artist. ~Schumann

Have you ever noticed how some people like to look at things through rose colored glasses and others through dark shades?

Our perspectives on life are often a reflection of our experiences, or a response to our day to day existence. As we open ourselves up to new ways of being, we add color to our journeys and our attitudes.

I received some interesting feedback from the annual blog report of All Things Fulfilling the other day.  Glassworks Inspired by Nature was the second most popular blog I have ever written in 1,013 posts. If you missed it, here is a link. http://bit.ly/12WopI6.

Why was this blog so significant? I think there could be a number of reasons why people found that blog post fulfilling:

    • They liked reading about Louis Comfort Tiffany’s art
    • The book, Clara and Mr. Tiffany, was interesting to learn about Click here for info & ordering
  • People wanted to know something more about stained glass and it’s history. http://bit.ly/Wj0YlQ
  • The life of an artist who saw life through a full spectrum of colors and through the love of his craft , is inspiring.

You can look through a kaleidoscope of colors in your own life by exposing yourself to an interesting mix of people, food, culture, faith and art. Or you can also enter into places of worship to look at stained glass windows, which will show you a full spectrum of colors in a different, equally fulfilling way.

tiffany-windows_05These are my reflections for today. We all have our own independent thoughts, words and views on life. Thanks for visiting this site; I’m grateful for an audience.

Note: The image is a Tiffany Studios creation of beauty.

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Spreading the Joy in Indie Publishing

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“Joy isn’t in things, money or positions. It is IN us. And we need to bring it with us and SHARE it!” ~ Unknown 

Day Two of 2013!  My resolution this year is to do something a little different each month, to promote our growing population of independent publishers here in Routt County, Colorado. 

snowboarding tricksWhy? Because I believe greatly in each one of our We Write Steamboat, independent publishers. They are a creative and well-educated group of people, male and female. Many of them are award-winning authors with award-winning books! Each of them is a healer of mind, body and spirit! They have career knowledge in all sorts of fields. Our members include teachers, physicians, life consultants,a chef, holistic health consultants, experts on our natural environment,  just to name a few. All with valuable experience in life to write about. Our group also includes young people and retirees who like to spin yarns just for the fun of it! (Of course, they don’t object to selling their books, also!) 

In my opinion, all writers are helpers and healers of mind, body and spirit! After all, we publish books to educate, inspire others, entertain,and inform readers. Could there be better reasons? I don’t think so. In fact, writing is as therapeutic for the author as well as the reader. It gives us a way to share our thoughts, emotions, experiences and our imaginations. http://bit.ly/ZSk0Yc.

A networking group of independent publishers, She Writes Steamboat, that I began almost two years ago, has grown, and as of January 1, 2013 we have changed our name to We Write Steamboat. From the very first meeting, we have had male writers attend, and we don’t want them to feel slighted! We’ve welcomed them and have been delighted to have them part of the group from our inception.

We, independent publishers here in Ski Town, USA and Routt County, Colorado, come together and meet monthly. In a nutshell, because producing independent books, films and music is a win-win for the artist creating the work as well as for the audience who so enjoys it! Our mission is to provide networking opportunity and to promote success of independent publishing. Our affiliation with the Colorado Independent Publishers Association www.cipabooks.com , also fosters our growth as award-winning writers and publishers.  

If you wish to learn more about starting up an independent publishing networking group in your area, contact me through this blog.

This blog brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com, a company specializing in e-commerce and e-marketing for independent publishers!