When to do and when to wait

I've been struggling recently. I go through these phases now and then...

There are some things in my life that aren't working. So when you've invested in something, whether its a relationship or a business, personal or public, when you reach the realization that a change has to be made, how bad does it have to get to make you take action?!? What makes you so uncomfortable in your comfort zone you force yourself to try something new?

The past year has been one of the most creative and risk-taking years I've had in a long time. I've done things I never envisioned myself doing, and it worked out just fine. The people in my life are amazed that things have worked out this way, without me really knowing what will come next, or where it will lead. Now I'm ready to take it to the next level!

Planning is key to any real results and my plan has come together, finally. Over the next month, you'll see lots of me, all over the place, doing a variety of things online and offline that I'm truly passionate about. I've identified my strengths, found networks which provide services and products that support my plan, and now you can watch as I jump, again, into the darkness of the unknown. When was the last time you've taken that jump?

In challenging times, it is those who can see the path, who are willing to cut through the tall grass and dense forest of life to get to the field of dreams who we want to follow. I've never been a follower. So I've sharpened my sword, put on my safety goggles and I'm headed into the dark. The difference this time is I'm headed towards a sparkling future I see clearly!

Time repeats itself

I'm the daughter and grand-daughter of the Great Depression era folks. Our family recently sold a home that had been in our family since 1930. There were all kinds of treasures found during the move but the most pertinent to our time is this.


In the October 15, 1944 Philadelphia Inquirer, it's weekly Sunday magazine cover was Republican presidential candidate Thomas E. Dewey. Inside the magazine, a "valuable election chart" detailed the history of several years of election trends.



Now if you can't quite see this, it displays the 1920 election as box 1 which shows the rise in Republican control. On to 1924 and 1928 where Republicans are at the height of control. Then in box 4 is the election of 1932, which shows almost every state voting Democratic, with the headline below reading "Switch To Democrats Due To World Depression."


Scary how history repeats itself. If I hadn't found this magazine, I would have imagined, theorized, guessed this was the case, but now I have proof. I'm a RABID independent, meaning I don't vote for any party. I think through the issues and vote for who will best serve the good of all Americans. I don't have to agree with every stand a candidate takes on issues, I just have to believe that person will act with the best intentions to protect and serve the greater good.

Here's another piece of information I recently came across. It's a graph of deficits detailing the past few decades of administrations.


OK, so we have some facts to work with now. We know that history has shown that when Republicans are in charge there's a potential for "World Depression" and that at least since the Reagan administration deficits have been created in the US budget by Republican administrations. Crazy but that's where the facts are leading here...

So what do we do with this information? That's really up to you. We're already in the "World Depression" era, again. Are you prepared to continue down this same road for another 4 or 8 or 12 years, spiraling our US deficit to untold depths, leaving the bill for generations to come?

Is your fear of something different, someone different, going to stop you from choosing change over repeating history? Are you going to be someone who can tell their children they voted to bring an end to fiscal suicide by our government elites by voting their conscience not their party? Will you be courageous and share your convictions with others and challenge them to think past today and tomorrow and onto the path we are setting for our children?

How you vote matters. It matters more in this election than it has for many years. If you believe things are going well and we should continue on this path, you already know what to do. But if you believe as I do, that the US needs to rethink some things, that American citizens should be the first priority for the US government dollars, and that a White House filled with people of all colors will represent us all, then you know what to do.

There's only a few weeks left, thank GOD! Let's get this over with and move on to more important things, like well, just get the commercials back to pills, pizza and the regular stuff. Make sure you're registered to vote. Make sure you go out and vote. Take your friends and neighbors if they need a ride. Don't let this chance to make history pass you by!

Just as I'm getting comfortable knowing I can do this, I can create a business that actually pays me, I'm reminded I'm not alone. The struggles, the successes I create are only a blip on the screen in a sea of like-minded individuals and groups facing the same challenges.

Here's a sample of some wisdom found through Liz Strauss's The Successful Blog.

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We really are in this together!

This has been another interesting week. On Thursday, Barack Obama decided to announce that he would not be taking the federal dollars for use in his campaign. He made the announcement on YouTube. Is this decision giving him the freedom to really represent "the people" or is this going to force him to look to fundraisers to play a bigger part on his team? Only time will tell.

My wish would be that more people get involved. My wish would be that apathy within the US citizenry be called out, be shaken, have some dust fly and move some feet for something that could really change lives. Is that possible? Who knows...

Are You a registered voter? Did you vote in the last election? In the next few months up to the Democratic and Republican Conventions, there's a lot of posturing going on. Sometimes it can be entertaining. Mostly it's just a bunch of hot air, but once the next phase starts, once we're into the heat of the race to the US Presidency, there'll be all kinds of stuff flying.

So will you sit on the sidelines or will you take a stand? Will you get out and register new voters, provide transportation to the polls, and will you take your vote seriously and use it? You do matter, and your choices have an impact. Doing nothing has an impact too. Which choice will you make?

Yes, today is a beautiful day where I am. Last night there were storms, even tornado warnings just miles away.

While all that was going on last night, I was having an out of body experience, the likes of which I really didn't see coming or expect to happen in my lifetime. Barack Obama it seems, has been chosen to represent the Democrats in the 2008 Presidential Election. His speech last night was nothing short of brilliant. You don't have to agree with me, this is just how I see it.

I do want Hillary to be on the ticket. I just don't want to continue with 4 more years of hate mongering from one side to the other. Barack Obama has captured the essence of what so many people are feeling, and he shares his thoughts, his ideas and his energy with such elegance.

I do want to hear that voice telling me what is about to change, telling me how the US will again be a world leader in education, economics and compassion. I want to be comforted by that voice when we face a collective challenge. I want to be inspired by that voice when action needs to be taken.

So, where do we go now? Waiting for the strategy to be set by the powers that be is a given. I know I won't watch tv for a while because all the heads are just talking away and don't really know any more than I do, some even less.

This is the magic of social media. Even when we are totally disconnected from radio or tv, I listen for that lovely little tweet that tells me someone has something to say, and I can say something back. A magical time to be sure ;~)))

follow me on twitter @bgreen

Hello 2008!

Welcome to the new year! Imus has returned, on WABC77 from NY. It's a US Presidential Election year, meaning $MILLIONS$ of dollars thrown away on regurgitation of "messages" to sway our votes. The current situation in American politics is an environment of lies and the lying liars, well, you've heard that song and dance. How any of us regular citizens are supposed to figure out who these people really are and why we should care, it's a real mystery!

When do you start to pay attention to all this nonsense? Are you one of the responsible voters who participate in the caucuses and primaries? Do you hang back and watch as candidates implode? Do you wait patiently for the summer conventions and go with the party candidate? I've always found this interesting.

Many people I've talked to about this have a two path theory. Both paths are directly related to your family. First path is follow the family pattern, vote the pary line. Second path is do ANYTHING other than what the rest of your family does! I come from a strong Republican family and I'm a strict INDEPENDENT. I guess that means I follow the second path.

I take my voting priviledges very seriously, and I choose my candidate with great care, considering everything from personal history, to legal problems to vision for the future, or lack thereof. I don't like when candidate talk down to the public. I do like when a campaign gives voters a chance to get close, be a part of the process and acknowledges the value of our democracy. In recent American politics this concept is becoming rare.

So, if you feel so moved, I'd love to hear your comments on our political process. If you're in NH this week, collect a few buttons for me. This year should be a wild ride!

World turned upside down & back

I've changed in the past few weeks. I can't remember a time in my life where in a few short weeks, my core beliefs, my habits, my actions, my circle of comfort has been changed in such a huge way.

First, Don Imus is gone. I can still hear his voice, Charles reading the news, Bernard asking "Lord, hear our prayer." Am I the only woman who could find humor in the off-color, sometimes degrading & self-depreciating commentary provided by Imus in the Morning? I know I'm not alone in saying morning info-entertainment is sorely lacking after his departure.

Then, our national discussion on Oprah's Town Meeting, which was pre-empted here in Virginia by the coverage of the Virginia Tech shootings. I heard it was wonderful, thoughtful & profound. What I was experiencing during those two days, Monday & Tuesday, April 16 & 17, was horrible. I live just over the mountain from the VA Tech campus, less than 30 miles on the road but about 10 miles straight line. I forgot my indignation over the media idiocy & had to face real agony.

Blacksburg as a small town & VA Tech as a state university are close knit communities, interwoven by people & place. When any part feels pain, we all feel pain. The trauma of this horrible event has been unexplainable. We've shared our grief, our loss, our heartfelt efforts to remember, & most important our strength to move forward. We will prevail.

Then I had some personal health challenges, overcame them, & have to get through recovering in the next few weeks. Watching the news on Tuesday, killing time, I see my hometown in NJ, on fire with family members forced to evacuate. In a drought situation, who is giving the OK for Air Force National Guard units to practice with fireballs in the forest? With the rain of last night dampening the blaze, it's all up for investigation now. We're back to the disgustingly ridiculous coverage of the death of Jerry Falwell, which means I've turned the tv off.

Now I know to some this may be whining, but it's just how it is. What I'm struggling with is what is really important, what is going on in our world? Any thoughts!?!