"My Final Blog Post" - Not really - It's a tagged exercise

I’ve been tagged by * Damian - Be The Change * to answer the
challenge set by The Urban Monk and his Blog Apocalypse –
you can find Damian's answer here.

The 'Blog Apocalypse' mission

"The blogosphere is ending. No more blogs. Blog apocalypse.
The internet is still working, the world is fine.
But you can’t write anymore.
Write your last post. Make it a good one. What is the reason you blog? What is
the last gem of knowledge you want to leave?
What do you want to be remembered for?
Who are you? What is the meaning of life?
Haha…well not exactly but you get the point.
Pour your heart into it."

Albert - The Urban Monk will also donate money to charity for each article -

There will be a whole lot of linking LOVE from this and ALSO Albert's donation

and giving back.   WOW !!!!!!!!!

”She had to find it out for herself”

Nearly everyone has seen the movie,

The Wizard Of Oz.    Perhaps not just one time,

but many many times.
 

There are deep life messages

that could be gleaned from this movie.   

For me, the greatest one is the line….

”She had to find it out for herself”

   

INSIDE, Dorothy always had the ability to return to Kansas.

As you journey on in this world, you must

first know that you always hold the ability.

When you live life true to yourself, that is when you

too will return to your OWN Kansas.

Dorothy: Oh - will you help me? Can you help me?

Glinda:  You don't need to be helped any longer.

You've always had the power to go back to Kansas.

Dorothy: I have?

Scarecrow:  Then why didn't you tell her before?

Glinda:  Because she wouldn't have believed me.

She had to learn it for herself.

Tin Man:  What have you learned, Dorothy?

Dorothy:  Well, I - I think that it - that it wasn't enough

just to want to see Uncle Henry and Auntie Em. And that it's
that - if I ever go looking for my heart's desire again,

I won't look any further than my own backyard,
because if it isn't there, I never really lost it to begin with.

Is that right?

Glinda:  That's all it is !

Scarecrow:  But that's so easy!  I should have

thought of it for you.

Tin Man:  I should have felt it in my heart.

Glinda:  No. She had to find it out for herself.

Now those magic slippers will take you home in two seconds.

Dorothy:  Oh Toto, too?

Glinda:  Toto, too.

Nerotransmitter ~ZING~

It's not very often that a writer makes two posts to their blogs

in one day, but I could not let this one go even one more day.

Did you just read Springtime In Winter ?

Great - I'll tie that all together in this post.

A couple of days ago, I was listening to the audiobook

Dr Wayne Dyer - The Secrets Of The Power Of Intention.

( audio CD - March 1, 2004 )

This was about my upteenth time to be hearing the CD.

Dyer is speaking on the effects of kindness.

He goes on to tell of a study that was done on the neurotransmitter, serotonin.
He describes it as a 'feel-good' hormone.

The study showed levels of serotonin (which are measurable in blood) are elevated
when a person is the recipient of an act of kindness,

or even in the observation of an act of kindness.

So..... just right now after reading my post about Springtime In Winter

your body is ~ ZINGING ~ with an extra dose of serotonin......

Whoooo who  !!!

Hearing Dyer speak of this, also reminded me of a TV advertisement for

Liberty Mutual Insurance I had first seen last year.

The ad goes on to show one act of kindness after another.

I now realize WHY that ad affected me in such the positive way that it did.

It’s the serotonin ~ZING~.

The song, 'Half Acre' playing in the background of the ad is by the

group HEM.

I also went and hunted down the lyrics just in case anyone was interested.

Half Acre

(By Don Messe)

I am holding half an acre
Torn from the map of Michigan
And folded in this scrap of paper
Is the land I grew in

Think of every town you've lived in
Every room you lay your head
And what is it that you remember

Do you carry every sadness with you
Every hour your heart was broken
Every night the fear and darkness
Lay down with you

A man is walking on the highway
A woman stares out at the sea
And light is only now just breaking

So we carry every sadness with us
Every hour our hearts were broken
Every night the fear and darkness
Lay down with us

But I am holding half an acre
Torn from the map of Michigan
I am carrying this scrap of paper

That can crack the darkest sky wide open
Every burden taken from me
Every night my heart unfolding

Dedicating this post to my UK pal - Damian...

sending you the ~ZING~ all the way across the pond.  Wink

Springtime In The Winter

We've lived in our house coming on 7 years. 

The neighbors directly behind us are Roger and Joyce.

Roger is retired and Joyce works part time

at the local Hallmark card shop.     I've  have come

to know Joyce more through my card shop visits than

actually from backyard conversations.

Roger takes meticulous care of their yard and my

encounters with him are more of the friendly wave

from yard to yard.

They have 3 very large Maple trees and a couple of

oak trees on their property.   I admire those trees through

just about every season, but Fall.    Fall is exactly what

tons of leaves do.   It was late in Fall of last year and

the leaves lay about Roger's yard.    I commented to

my hubby that something has to be wrong with Roger.

Leaves would not go unattended IF everything were okay.

I found out through another neighbor that Roger was on

the mend from a back surgery.    He had extensive repair

to his lower disks.

A few weeks had past and we were now in the month

of December.   I stopped in the card shop and spotted

Joyce.   We talked about Roger and she said he was kind

of down being confined to the house and also that there

was so little he could do while mending.

I asked her for their last name and address and said

I would send him a note.

More time past and it was now late January.   For me,

snow up until December and through Christmas seems

nice and seasonable.    When it drags on into January it's

then that a toll can be had on one's spirits.

I thought about Roger and thought, 'What can I do for

a little uplift for him'?

I purchased a large white poster and quickly painted some

colorful spring flowers on the poster.

I then took a photo of the poster and made a card to

send to Roger.     The card said.... 'Pretty soon you will be seeing

Spring right out your back door'. 

The backsides of our homes face one another.   With

the leaves off of the trees they have a view of our back deck.

I covered the poster in clear plastic wrap and I let a couple of

days pass from when I mailed the card until I hung the poster

from the rails of our deck.

Several weeks had passed and the poster had stayed fresh

looking despite the ongoing snow fall.   

I was in the Hallmark store and Joyce said to me.....

"How lovely the flowers looked from their back window".

She told me that it took sometime before they realized I had

hung it up just for them.     Her words were, 'I said to Roger one

day, Deb must have hung that up just for us, because they

can't see the flowers from their window.'

I think the realization of it being a poster FOR THEM, stunned

them a little bit, but in a very good way.

A 99 cent poster - a little bit of time and creativity - and

the uplifted ~Spirits~ of my neighbors.....   PRICELESS.   

It ... Changes EVERYTHING !!!

Just imagine for a moment that you had a hand in the choosing

of the people that you have come to know in this life time. 

I am not speaking of picking different ones right now, I am saying

that before you incarnated you had a soul meeting with other

souls and you all decided.

The biggest choice would have been your parents.   They are

the ones who not only pass along genetic traits to you, but also

they form the environment in which you grew up. 

Parents are then instrumental in the formation of the person

you are today.

Whether or not you had a picture perfect childhood, or one

of struggle and pain, it all plays a hand in the person that

you have become.

Brother and sister choices would also be profoundly

important, as would the choice of mate and your own children.

The same could be said of having no siblings, no mate,

or no children of your own – the choice is still very important.

Friends too can have a huge impact, as can strangers that

you encounter who’s meeting seem random, yet at the same

time preordained.   

If I have not lost you in this imagination exercise,  and you are

still thinking whole heartedly about this,  how would it change

your thought processes towards the people of your past and

even your present.?

How could you hold anger and be unforgiving of a person

IF you knew full well you picked them for this life adventure ?

Okay, so you are thinking … “Why on Earth would I ever

pick that awful no good first husband”?

Hmmm I think you just answered the question within

your own question. !!!

It did not happen on EARTH.    It, the arrangements

happened in the before ‘Earth’ time.

The greatest spirit growth and advancement of your soul

happens under less than perfect conditions. 

The ingredients that make steel don’t just sit on a

sun drenched beach with the waves licking the sand and

automatically turn to steel.

The change happens when the ingredients are forged

in fire.    Those ingredients then go from a simple compound

to something much, much stronger.   

I also believe that there is a ~Divine Source~ who plays

a part in the order of the universe - perhaps She picks

the soul groups to begin with.

I hope you won’t read this and with a knee jerk, just

dismiss the idea entirely.

I really hope and pray that you will let it sit with you for awhile.

Think about it – let it seep into your * soul * and * wonder *....

If you do – I can assure you that --- IT --- changes EVERYTHING !!!

AND........ if you don't quite learn enough on this trip...

I think you'll even book a return flight.   :)

I Hope You Meet Some "Friends" Today

Kevin, my 10 year old, and I were at our local library yesterday.

On the way out, we stopped to scan the books on the freebie shelf.

Folks leave books or magazines in that area to share.

There were 2 ladies talking behind us at a distance of less than

3 feet away.    I knew they were talking but my mind was not cued in

to actually hear their words….

That is until we turned to leave and I heard the one woman say….

“People are just more WEIRD today than they ever were” !!!

That line of hers just hit my funny bone and I turned back and

laughed out loud.    The woman said………. ‘See you agree too’.

I joined in and said………  ‘I’m not so sure IF people are weirder,

or IF we just hear more about it, with the media and all.”

Between the 3 of us, the very pleasant conversation quickly skipped

to several different topics and then on to the military.   

The one lady told me of her brother having served in the military and

I explained of my military connection with Vince my Air Force son.

(ops – I think I left off that I am also an Air Force Mother in law…

Vince’s wife Dana)

I reached in my pocket to share with them a copy of my Angel
and Soldier drawing.    I always carry a several with me to ~share~.   
It’s an Angel of Protection and the card also has my
name and email address on it.

As I was handing them the cards, I extended my hand and said….

“Ohhhhhh my name is Debra and it’s nice to meet you”

The one woman grabbed her mouth and sucked air a bit…..

It stopped me for a second from shaking the first ladies hand and

I said………’okay which one of you is a Debra too ?

She proceeded to say……….  ‘She’s Debra and my name is Denise’.

I then shook Debra’s hand, and then went to shake Denise’s hand,

and she instantly moved forward for a warm hug.   

We did not even talk for longer than a couple of minutes, but

I really have not been the same since meeting Debra and Denise.   

I’ve felt like I am walking on a cloud.   

It’s absolutely amazing what the exchange

of positive energy can do. !!!!!!!!

Denise and Debra felt it too....  Denise blessed me,

and I said the same back to them.

This happens to me more times than I can tell you…

I honestly KNOW there are no strangers in the world,

only friends I have yet to meet.   

Kevin and I went on to the grocery store AND we saw Debra

in the parking lot a row over.    We waved like long lost friends.

I hope you meet some “friends” TODAY.   They are

out there, just waiting for you to join in their life.

   

Your Meaningful Money Makeover - Tag

Slade tagged me with this assignment……

Your Meaningful Money Makeover

I want to hear about YOUR Money Makeover.

Read about Morgana’s Exercise and consider the following in your story:

• Who’s the Old Money?



• Who’s the New Money?



• What’s THE one thing — the overarching Message —



• your New Money advises you to do to invite Meaningful Abundance into your life?

Writing it down will help you to manifest the change you wish to see.

If you already have a blog, consider yourself TAGGED with this writing assignment.

• Write a post about your Money Makeover



• link back to this post



• You might also leave a comment here letting us know where to find your Money Makeover article

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I had NEVER dreamed of personifying money.    This ‘assignment’

was given by Slade back on March 24.    I’ve had it on the back burner due

to a couple of reasons.    First off, I knew it was going to take some deep

personal reflection to DIG in and find my thoughts.    Secondly, ~ life ~

jumped in front of me, and my attention needed to be focused there. 

Old Money Profile

Early on in my life I had the fortune of an association of money
through my own personal employment.   (around the age of 10)
There was nothing like a morning newspaper route to develop
character and a strong work ethic.    My first venture started out
partnering with my 2 brothers.    The Cleveland Plain Dealer is
a morning newspaper that is published 7 days a week, 365 days
a year.   The daily paper was to be delivered by 5:30AM and the
weekend paper a little bit later.    I actually enjoyed getting up
early and being out in the day – AND I was getting paid for it.

I branched out from the family and a dear friend, Cindy and
I took up our own morning paper route.   

So, IF I was to make a personification of this old money….
hmmm what would that be. ???

I don’t know IF I am not creative enough to tune in and
pick out something to use as a personification to my old money,
or the bigger thing is that it’s just past and I leave the past there.

Slade SAYS:

The Personification of Money is a critical spiritual exercise, for a few reasons:

• You interact with Money as deeply and as often as any living person you know



• You believe in Money as much or more than you do your God, your Guardian Angels, your Spirit Guides (at least, you certainly behave as if you do — you think about Money everyday; do you think about your spirit everyday?)



• No abstract concept has a greater tangible effect on your life



• Many of the techniques required to personify and talk to Money come from the same head space that you must employ to communicate with your spirit guides



• Money / Abundance is one of the oldest, most enduring relationships you have



• Your relationship with Money is most likely to remain dysfunctional, because you don’t treat it as a relationship that can be improved upon

New Money Profile

I can think about and conjure up a New Money Profile.  
My New Money personification will be a new dear friend.    In
creating this friend, I shall name her Lady GreenSleeves.

As with any friendship, you can’t just expect it to flourish with out
input and attention.   Green, is also my favorite color, and the
melody of the song GreenSleeves is one of my favorites too.
Not to mention the association of green – with money. 

Lady GreenSleeves and I will begin a personal journal.   

This assignment has certainly NOT been lost on me.   Thank you
Slade for encouraging me to direct my thinker to a more personal
relationship with ~money~. 

Come along My Lady…. The adventure begins. 

~ Welcome to my ~Deb~utante ~

~ Welcome to my ~Deb~utante ~

Debutante, technically what does that mean…….

A debutante (or deb) (French word for "female beginner") is
a young lady from an aristocratic or upper class family
who has reached the age of maturity, and as a new adult,
is introduced to society at a formal presentation known
as her "debut" or "coming out."

The KEY words are debut or coming out.    Not much of
the rest applies to me, other then Deb and female.   

When I started this blog back in February of 2005, I had

to come up with a name.    I choose Deb_Inside because
I felt as IF I was sharing my insides to the world.   

I have been sharing only a part of my Insides.  There has been

a part of me that I have kept in the shadows.   

I'm happily married to Michael, the man of

my dreams.   I mean that literally,  there are times when I am

certain I dreamed him into my life.   

Thank you Michael for sharing this lifetime journey.   

I know honey, there have been times when THIS

journey seems like QUITE A TRIP.   LOL

May you always know my ~heart is with your heart~.

But what has then been in the shadows ?

Where do I start…….  I hold beliefs that are considered

a bit left of center in our society.    I embrace many things

paranormal.    I LOVE that word para--normal.

If I could easily redo my name I would choose paranormal

as my middle name.    Heck…… you get a RAISED eyebrow

look when you talk with some folks about paranormal,

so why not have it as part of your name.   LOL

God – Jesus Christ – Holy Spirit - Angels

ADC - After Death Communication

Paranormal

Clair-audience - (hearing)

Clair-sentience (feeling-touch)

Clairvoyance (seeing)

Coincidence

Elves-Faries-Trolls-Little People

Gratitude

Empathic connections

Healers

Affirmations

Meditation

Indigo Children/adults

Intuition

Law of Attraction - Manifesting

Native American - wisdom, quotes, beliefs, etc

Near-death & Out of Body Experiences

Palmistry/Astrology/Tarot/Numerology

Past Life or Reincarnation

Psychic Experiences

Releasing attachments / psychic cords

Shamanism

Soul Mate Spirit Guides Soul Group

Saints

These are some but there could be oh so many more.

There was a time within the past few weeks that I had

considered starting a second blog.    That blog would

be more open and more ME.    Then the thought came

to me, IF I were to do that, I would divide myself.

In this lifetime we need to keep it all together and that

would have been harmful or not productive for my ~spirit~.

The best thing I can do here is to ~invite~ you along
on this INSIDE and more open life journey.   

If what I write about resonates with you or to you,

please DO join in. 

If what I write about is distasteful or objectionable,

and you choose to leave  –
I wish you all the very best.  !!!

Blogging will be looked back in times to come as

an interesting phenomenon. 

When I first started reading blogs, the attraction

for me was to – BE inside another person’s brain

as they shared their world. 

How fascinating to read the thoughts of a complete stranger.   

If a blogger is being less then open, as I have been,

then there is a degree of dishonesty.   YUCK. 

The best thing is to read someone’s words and say…

“Ohhhhhhhh YEAH …. Ohhhhhh YEAH… ME TOO”

I have linked around from blog to blog and come upon

some of the most incredible people. !!!!   

Bloggers invite and encourage the input of their readers.

It is in the sharing of one another back and forth that we

come to know we are ~kindred spirits~.

To Slade.... for the inspiration to blog WIDE open.

I was sharing to my newest online friend, Damian

that I had planned on making this coming out post….

and his response to me was, the phrase…

'Hiding your Light under a Bushel comes to mind’

So here’s to no more … hiding…………. *

                                                    afmomdeb@gmail.com

Was It You ?

Was It You ?

Someone started the whole day wrong
Was it you?

Someone robbed the day of its song
Was it you?

Early this morning someone frowned
Someone sulked until others scowled
And soon harsh words were passed around
Was it you?

Someone started the day allright
Was it you?

Someone made it happy and bright
Was it you?

Early this morning, we are told
Someone smiled and all through the day
This smile encouraged young and old
Was it you?

--- Author Unknown

When I first started writing my blog,

I attempted to write often.   I was stressing in a

minor way keeping myself open to the thoughts

of .... What can I write about on my blog ?

I don't do that anymore...

When an idea comes.... it comes. 

If that means several days passing between

writings, so be it.

This morning I was reading a posting by a fellow

that I've just recently come to know through....

online linking love.   The absolutely best way to

find interesting 'authors'.   

I read Damian's post today and I felt a totally positive

~charge~.    It then reminded me of this poem I had

come across yesterday.

His words were smiles to me.   IT WAS YOU Damian

 

Writing for Positivity - Receiving from Giving - March 27, 2007

Thank You !

'Debs'  :)

 

Grow A Kindness Garden - Transplants Welcome

Showing kindness to others in this world

is a central life purpose theme for me. 

An undertaking that I do with purposeful thought.
I try to live my favorite quote ......

"You must be the change you wish to see in the world."

by Mahatma Gandhi.

Just this morning when I created the Full Plate

entry I realized it did not fit into any of my blog categories.


Kindness came to mind, and then I thought....
In just a few short words how can I explain this category.


Grow A Kindness Garden - Transplants Welcome

Almost instantly this new category was ~born.


Transplants Welcome is my way of encouraging you
to share your acts of kindness. 
IF a post I make under this category encourages
you to move to action in a certain way....  check back and share that.

Or if you have a kindness to share, email me and I'll start a whole new post.

Just think....  kindness can be contagious ~
A GOOD thing we can catch from one another.  LOL


My sharing a kindness, and your sharing a kindness
is NOT about puffing ourselves up ~ the intention is to plant
seeds of kindness and grow this world a better place.

Full Plate

A dear online friend,

(for the sake of some anonymity I will call her -BQQ)

was dealing with a "FULL PLATE" and then some.

I created this picture and sent it to BQQ.  I could not

clear up her FULL PLATE, but I could help her

frame the thought of it in a more yummy way.   :)

At times in our lives there is NO getting away from

the FULL plate STUFF, but I also feel the way

we choose to mentally process it all can have

a profound effect on our emotional wellness.

Feel free to snag this plate and send it on ......

We all know someone who is in need of a ~smile~

to overcome some of those FULL PLATE times.