A time to reflect, prepare, and act

Hello, folks. Times are rough, and there's no hiding it, no covering it up, no denying it. Money is tight and will undoubtedly get tighter, and America is in a time of great confusion and disarray. But, in the midst of all this turmoil, one can take solace in knowing they are doing what is right in their life. Times like these are not times to have fear or to turn a blind eye, nor is it a time to criticize and get angry. It is a time to choose not to be miserable but to be happy in the things that you have in your life--your family, your loved ones, your pets even, and the list goes on. For me it is my faith in God and the testimony I have of the things I believe and know to be true. I do not have much money, but it is good to be alive and to have people who love me and friends with whom I can surround myself and take joy in.
If you take a look around you and see past the negative things happening, you can see the sunlight through the clouds. Just take a look around you and find the simple things that perhaps you never knew you really appreciate.
Prepare your household and get out of debt. That truly makes a person happy. Serve others and help them with their troubles. Happiness and joy are contagious.
Act. If you find problems with the political system, write to your senators and representatives and do your part. Become active in public policy and in your community and be a source of optimism, motivation, and progress, not criticism and cynicism. Speak your mind. Do not have fear to do what you know you should do.
People who learn to be happy even in the hardest of times can much more appreciate the good times, and good times will come. Sunshine comes after the storm.

Serving others: a good medicine

Angry at someone or about something?
Solution?
Go do something for someone. Go make some cookies, help clean someone's room, tell somebody something you appreciate about them, even if you may not like them. Are we not all human beings, created in the image of God our Father? Are we not all brothers and sisters? Even if you do not believe this, it is common human goodness to treat others with kindness. We make the world a better place by serving each other.
So, are you angry about something or are you angry at someone? Go do something for them. Do not harbor anger or hurt in your heart. It will become a poison that slowly eats at your human decency and your very soul. You must get it out in positive ways. It will work, I can promise you. When I was put out with missionary companions while I was serving as a full-time missionary in Alabama, I did something for them. Even if they were still mad at me or were meant to me, it did not matter. I was doing something for them and helping them have a better day. The circle of good deeds is real and true, but it cannot go forward unless you pay it forward and do something for someone else and DO NOT EXPECT SOMETHING IN RETURN. Do it out of your own heart. Give a good gift in humility and peace. Go try it some time. You may find perhaps that he who was once your enemy may become your friend. And it's always good to have more friends.

Some enlightening news and words

I just got word that US troops are being pulled out of Baghdad. Depending on who you are, this may be a good or a bad thing. However, I think we can all agree that it is good to hear that many families will have their beloved soldiers back in their arms and back on US soil. Viper Company in Afghanistan is surviving and is helping to take out men of danger and threats to our country. In fact, they are coming back as well. No more firefights, no more death, no more Americans being killed. It's time to let Iraq run itself. We can only hope and pray with faith and understanding that they will make the right choice.
Michael Jackson is dead, but his legacy is not. His music has helped people overcome depression, dance their blue away, break racial boundaries, and take a good look at the man in the mirror and the lady in their life. His music changed the world and revolutionized the entertainment world. His death has made me think back to my younger days and how much his music helped me enjoy life, love, and the freedoms I enjoy. I hope I can still do the moonwalk, haha.
a little girl was saved from the ocean as officers located her amidst the dead and debris floating on the water's surface. How happy her family will be to know that she is safe and alive and will now be back in their arms.
A wicked man was put away for life this week. Madoff is now paying the price for his wickedness: 150 years. Though many lives have been damaged and will remain so until they can get back on their feet, it is good to know that their offender has come to justice and has gotten the reward for his deeds.
Just some more little rays of sunshine for ya.

Our new President

Barack Obama. The name strikes a spectrum of emotions in all people, each of them in a different way. For some it's rage, for some it's disappointment, some fear, and some hope for the future. I voted for President Obama and must admit that I am quite disappointed with some of the things he has done in this short time since his inauguration. I have listened to Rush Limbaugh on the radio with my coworkers on our way back home from the field, and all I hear is Obama this Obama that, Liberals this Liberals that. So much fault-finding. I had a thought in my mind that this was way too much negativity to bear, and that there has got to be something President Obama has done that is good. AND THERE IS.
Let's take a look at the new "global warming tax". It may make companies and factories think twice about how much energy they use and it may even help them to improve the cleanness of their emissions. You just never know. Even though it may hurt us Americans, it will also hurt the industries and companies. Tax also goes into the economy to help us all.
Health Care. Yes, government-controlled health care is not exactly a good idea, but in a time where there are so many phony doctors and greedy health care companies and way too many sick and dying people on the streets, at least Obama is trying to help people who are not able to be healthy or cannot afford the same health luxuries as we do. Some may think that people who have gotten themselves into terrible situations and cannot afford health care may deserve their situation, but what would you do if your one and only child was in this situation? It's always good to think in the other person's shoes.
Environment. You may not be aware of it, but the Senate just gave more support for an amended Clean Water Restoration Act, which will help protect more wetlands and clean water for Americans and for American wildlife and lands. The Obama administration, early in the year, has made a proposal to increase funding to the North American Wetlands Conservation Act, which will further help to increase waterfowl and shorebird production in North America and also help people have cleaner water as well as the host of benefits that wetlands provide.
If gun control is an issue for you like it is for me, then it will be important to listen to this part. Perhaps you may not see it like I do, but if there is increased gun control and tax on ammunition, at least it will be somewhat harder for would-be criminals to get their hands on guns.
People are not all evil. They just have their own views on how to improve society. Why battle it all the time? It seems to me that Rush, Hannity, and Hardball need to stop bashing liberals and the liberals need to stop blaming President Bush and the republicans for all of the problems we have. Compromise is the language of success, and it is important to look at how we can agree. Obama has done many things that I may see as irresponsible and impractical, but he has done some good. You just have to look for it. Do what you can to stop the bad things and deal with the results with a smile and with positivity.

Let's take a look on the bright side

Hello there, fellow friends. It is interesting how one can look at a picture of a sunrise and interpret it as either a sunrise or a sunset. Times are tough, things are looking dark, and it looks like there are many, in fact, myriads of sources for sadness, dissolution, anger, and depression in the world we live in. But must we always look at things this way? I think not. In a day when we have Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, The View, Hardball, CNN, and a host of other sources of negativity that always seek to thrash our government, rant and rave about unfairness in politics, and bring scenes of death, war, and immorality and evil to our homes and lives, it is essential that we try our best to find the positive things in our government and in our world. It's time to stop scowling and time to smile. This blog attempts to find the positive things in our world, especially in America. Stay tuned and see what kind of help you can find. Let's be positive. Let's look on the bright side. Let's help ourselves to see the sunrise and not the sunset.