A True Story of Unselfish People

 A beautiful wedding....

and then Irene.

Ugh.

60 people in attendance for a wedding in Vermont were stranded when Irene hit.


The could've griped but instead they helped.

Amazing..

Just proves there are still wonderful and kind people in the world.

Truly,

Amber

Who's Life is it Anyway?

Who's life are you living?

What were you put here on Earth for?

What dictates what you do and what you don't do?

I was having a conversation with my teenage daughter the other day about being open minded.
I said that it takes open-mindedness to really find out how you feel about things.

At the end of our conversation on views and opinions, she told me that I was an 'awesome person'.

To me that was the best compliment I could ever receive from one of my children. I asked her why she thought this.

Her reply:
'Because, you don't let anyone boss you around, you live your life the way you want to.'

My response was, 'I only have one life; why should I live it for somebody else?' (Of course I live very much of it for my children, but other than that, I live life for myself.)

That reply should not be taken as selfish, though maybe it is...I believe that this is my own life and I take time to understand who I am and be who I am, otherwise my life is not worth living.

'One cannot fully blossom as an individual if they are stuck in the confines of someone else's beliefs and ideals.'-Amber J Chapman

Be Yourself.

Truly,

Amber

Ten Years After 9/11

It's ten years later...

And you and I are still carrying on.

Our lives might have been inconvenienced that day, and our hearts might have been broken, but since then we have healed and are living life almost as if it never happened.

I believe that unless you are touched personally from a particular tragedy, the sting can never truly be felt.

There are thousands of rememberance events out there this week for the anniversary of September 11th, and there are so many, I don't think I know which one to participate in.

Likewise, there are so many people to pray for, honor and remember, I don't quite know where to start.

Because of that, this week I've decided to to dedicate all 3 of my blogs to the awareness of 9/11's victims. Each one being different in it's focus.

On Family Matters I've chosen to share websites on the families who are coping, organazations they have created, and the ways they are helping the rest of the world deal with that horrific day ( and the future of America).

On Divorce Dazed I have shared links where readers can get education, support as well as give back. In addition, I share a story I found, which highlights an odd trend of NY firefighters who've left their wives after September 11th to marry the widows of their fallen comrades.

On Yellow I wanted to give you an inspiring story.

Because without them, it would be a pretty angry world.

America is angry, that goes without saying, but without something positive to pull out of all of this we will surely forget the way.

This week, I didn't want to focus on me, and what I was doing that day... I did not lose a spouse, a child, a job, or my life. I was affected, yes, but not to the degree that the 'true' victims were.

In honor of the victims of the WTC Terrorist Attacks, please visit this  Family Tribute Page  to learn more about who they were. (They're listed alphabetically and some of the victims have a living memorial page.)
Thank you to all who serve, all who've lost and all who love.
May we some day have Peace.

Truly,

Amber

F.Y.I.: Fun Friday will be replaced...

This week Fun Friday will be replaced by a 9/11 tribute.

I have always said we need to have a sense of humor about things in life, and I still believe that.

Though there is not, and never will be, anything funny about the events that happened on September 11, 2001.

Please join me tomorrow when I dedicate all three of my blogs to the victims, and the public awareness, of the 9/11/01 World Trade Center Attacks.

Thank you.

Truly,

Amber

What Could Make A Difference?

 What do you wish someone would do for you right now? 

Buy you a new car?

Buy you a new house?

Give you a massage?

How about give you a diamond necklace?

But, what if they were to:

Repair your flat tire...?

Fix your leaky roof...?

Stop your toilet from running...?

Send you flowers..?

What if they just:

held the door for you...

shook your hand...

touched your arm...

Or smiled at you?

It probably wouldn't matter which of these they did for you...

either way, I guarantee you'd feel better.

We cannot always help others in large ways, but don't let that deter us from being kind.

Giving, comes in small packages as well...and like the old quote goes:

 

No Act of Kindness, No Matter How Small, Is Ever Wasted.~Aesop

Acts of Kindness, In the Nick of Time

What is 15 minutes to someone?


It gave me goosebumps when I heard it on the radio...(the team tried to keep it quiet-but they should know better;)

Read this story about how the Cleveland Indians helped out teammate Jack Hannahan in August.

Truly,

Amber

Not Enough Time...

Never make the same mistake twice or you'll never get around to all of them.~ Unknown Author

Stop Putting Yourself Down

Why is it that we are so quick to condemn ourselves...

Why is it that we often forget to give ourselves credit for our accomplishments...

Why do we judge our own abilities so critically, but we are always supportive of others?

~

Today try to view everything you do through your best friend's eyes. 

I guarantee you'll get a much different (better) view.

~

'Many people go throughout life committing partial suicide - destroying their talents, energies, creative qualities. Indeed, to learn how to be good to oneself is often more difficult than to learn how to be good to others.' - Joshua Loth Liebman

Reminders For Tough Times

I 'stumbled upon' this Encouraging List recently and felt that I should share it A.S.A.P.

When the clouds keep comin', the waves keep crashin', the music stops playin', and all you see ahead of you are detours....keep your head up...it can and will get better.

This list inspired me and I hope it will inspire you too .

Have a great week!

Truly,

Amber

Click Here for A Little Fun Bedroom Inspiration.

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Shame on you...

Or not.

Happy Friday :)

Truly,

Amber

Positive Passwords

At any given time we probably have about a half dozen online ID's and passwords which we have to create and remember.Your bank account, your school related websites, your credit card accounts, are all password protected.

They all require a name to identify you and a secret code to verify you.

It can get boring and difficult to come up with new ones and sometimes they can be too easily hacked in to (the first name and a number that is used is by most is extremely generic, very simple to figure out and probably not very safe).

Have you ever tried using a motivational affirmation as a user ID or password?

Here are some examples:

BPositive
BPositive2
 URStrong
Better Days
 Stay Strong
Breathe
KISS
You R Amazing
Think Positive
Relax
Take it EZ
 Be Happy

Take into consideration that you use the account regularly. Then notice that as often as you use it, you will not be able to help but say the words as you type them in. And of course, it would help you do the thing your user ID tells you to! And....because it is recommended for safety to change online log-in's often, it's a great way to keep changing your affirmation!!!

 

Truly,

Amber

Opportunity Knocked

'You got your opportunity for a reason, so you must be doing something right. 

Don't ever forget that. ~ Gary Kubiak

Have Fun and Answer Dr. Phil's Q's

 On this Fun Friday take Dr. Phil's Quiz! 

Apparently this quiz is used in many human relations departments...(interesting)...and there's just 10 questions.

Though I have no idea what the question 'When do you feel your best?' had to do with it...but it was fun!

According to Dr Phil: My Score was 50

                 'AWWWWWW......thanks Dr. Phil'.

 Happy Friday!

Truly,

Amber

How Life's Challenges are Like a Baseball Game

I never liked baseball.

When I was about nine or ten years old I sat through the World Series with my twenty-something uncle.  

All I remember is how at the end, he swore he’d never watch another baseball game with me again. 

(Guess I asked too many questions.)

Fast forward twenty-nine years later… 

My kids are on baseball teams, my fiancée plays baseball and I’ve attended two major league games and one minor league.

What’s not to like about baseball!?

 Maybe it was the frequent exposure that changed my mind, or maybe having experienced baseball on a grander scale that made the sport more interesting. I’m not sure.

In the game every player gets an opportunity to bat eventually.

They can never tell what they’re going to get from the pitcher. 

They couuld be batting against a crappy slow ball or swinging at 

(and striking out on) a 99-mile-an-hour-top-notch pitch.

No matter how that ball comes at them, they always have two choices:

Let it go or give it their all. 

Then comes the next inning and the next one and the next...

The team could be down for 8 innings and suddenly, it all comes together in the ninth…and not only does it come together, but they end up grabbing an extra inning out of it, and use it to win the game. 

It's incredibly exciting! And actually, it reminds me a little of how we deal with life's obstacles .

Not everyone gets their chance in the beginning, but eventually, we all get to bat against our demons.

And if we lose, we get to wake up the next day and do it all over again.

Some games (and seasons) seem to go on forever (as many of life's problems do)...but maybe that’s a good thing…

As they say, ‘practice makes perfect’ and at least we get another chance. 

It could be preparation for the next time around. 

When we've learned something about how we handled the last pitch, how we reacted to it and whether we took action or not.

The next time you are faced with a curve-ball, will you strike out again because you used the same strategy as last time, or will you analyze the pitcher, anticipate his pitch accurately this time around, and send it into the stands?

Don't ever give up. The next game will be here before long, and you never know, you might just hit a home run.

Truly,

Amber

America is Accepting Gay Marriage

I have met many people in my life and most have become my friends.

Some are bi-sexual, some are homosexual and there are those that some would consider straight

(as if to insinuate that those who do not share the same ideals about relationships are 'not right' in their thinking).

I never understood fully why anyone would assume that a person of a different sexual orientation should be treated any differently.

People are all the same to me and none should not be denied love, acceptance and friendship. 

So, regardless of their lifestyles, and sexual orientation, my friends will always be straight with me.

And here’s to them:

A beautiful collection of wedding photos that shows how America can truly be accepting, loving and fair.

These couples were able to share their love for one another with the rest of the world, just like many other U.S. citizens can...and rightly they should :)

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Truly, 

Amber

Sometimes The Truth is Funny

My Favorite Blog Took a Break

One of my favorite blogs took a break and nearly broke my heart this summer.

Okay, well maybe the devastation was not quite so severe, but I was pretty disappointed...at first.

I look forward to reading Rowdy Kittens and I love what Tammy reflects on and how she shares.

Back at the end of June, when Tammy posted her 'Taking a July Digital Sabbatical: Why and How?', I think I nearly fell off my chair!

She was leaving the Internet and her blog behind for an entire month! HUH!?

How would she survive this? How would her readers not go somewhere else?

Why would she do that?

After a long and (semi) patient wait, she returned from her vacation, and I received her August 1st post!

And now I know why she did it.

An inspiration to everyone wanting to relax, reconnect (and not via the Internet), read, write and just 'be'...

Read her blog today...A Beginner's Mind: Insights from my Digital Sabbatical

Thanks Tammy!

(Going away for a month did not make me forget about your messages...it made me look forward to them more;)

Truly,

Amber

Lost (RePost w/Link)

Ever get lost? 

Sure there’s Mapquest and GPS navigators and good old fashioned maps…so you shouldn't get off track, but have you ever just taken a wrong turn? 

Or, you know, when your GPS doesn’t realize you've just passed the road you should’ve turned down?

It stinks when that happens and can get quite discouraging if it happens more than once.

Usually it’s not too much effort to get back on track, but it does occasionally take longer than expected.

Ever notice that staying calm and thinking positive is the key to getting through it?

I had to travel somewhat far away recently. It was about an hour south of me and I had never traveled the road before.

As I drove south on the highway I got to thinking…

Just because you're going South doesn’t necessarily mean you are headed down.

It made me wonder how many people actually think that every bump in the road or wrong turn is actually a negative thing, rather than a positive thing.

I like to refer to a song that I know. 

It’s from my favorite band, Coldplay.

It’s called Lost (and actually a woman made this cool video to go along with it).

Listen to Lost -- and imagine-- what if every wrong turn or missed opportunity was meant to be. 

...That you were supposed to travel this road you're on so that you can see and/or experience whatever it is that is on that particular path.

Keep Calm and Carry On...

 

Truly,

Amber

Hackers Have Evolved

This comic shows the Evolution of the The Hacker since 1997.

Hopefully you've never been hacked and hopefully you never try Hacking..

Have a Happy Friday!

Truly,

Amber

A Clutter Review and a Secret...

If you are still struggling with clutter...

don't worry, I am too.

Well...maybe not this badly...but...

I have found these tips!

Until now I'd never heard of the One Minute rule!

AND

I just found out a secret I never knew:
Clutter is the result of an unmade decision!
(CAN YOU SAY 'AHA MOMENT'?)

These  might help you out!

(Out of your piles, that is!) 

But, don't worry, I'm not laughing at you being buried....

I'm laughing with you, because I am buried too!

Have a Clutter Free week
(Or at least try to)

Truly,

Amber