http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3O1_3zBUKM8

Resentment

A psychologist walked around a room while teaching stress management to an audience. As she raised a glass of water, everyone expected they'd be asked the "half empty or half full" question. Instead, with a smile on her face, she inquired: "How heavy is this glass of water?"

Answers called out ranged from 8 oz. to 20 oz.

She replied, "The absolute weight doesn't matter. It depends on how long I hold it. If I hold it for a minute, it's not a problem. If I hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my arm. If I hold it for a day, my arm will feel numb and paralyzed. In each case, the weight of the glass doesn't change, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes." She continued, "The stresses and worries in life are like that glass of water. Think about them for a while and nothing happens. Think about them a bit longer and they begin to hurt. And if you think about them all day long, you will feel paralyzed – incapable of doing anything."

It’s important to remember to let go of your stresses. As early in the evening as you can, put all your burdens down. Don't carry them through the evening and into the night. Remember to put the glass down!

Girls Are Better than Boys

http://ideas.time.com/2013/05/23/the-girl-scouts-are-better-than-the-boy-scouts/

This has been looming over at Girl Scouts because we are now asked to answer questions about our policies or direct them to our PR person.  Essentially we do NOT discriminate against anything, which is another reason I am grateful to be working where I am during my JV year.

Funding

As I have now worked in a non-profit for over nine months now, (SUPER LONG TIME) I have come to realize all that goes in to running one.  A lot of that is money, obviously, but hear me out.  It comes from grants, donors, and funding from different community partners.  Recently in South Alabama Girl Scouts recently was cut from United Way by $83,000 which is a 99%. You can watch it hit our local news.  This greatly devastates the office that I work in and how hard it works for others.

http://www.wkrg.com/video?clipId=8901286&autostart=true

Old Friends

    This passed Friday I had the wonderful pleasure of getting to see my friend Meaghan.  Not only did I just get to see her but I saw her in one of our favorite places, Bayou La Batre.  Meg was my leader for my Winter Immersion trip there three years ago, and it was one of those turning points in my life.  I look up to Meg, as I do to most of the class of 2010. As I was sitting with her in a Mexican restaurant with a group of students she is facilitating on a similar trip, I had the joy of seeing her impact their lives just like she did mine. We tried to catch up as much as possible through the karaoke songs, our dinner, and the many of line dances. One of the greatest beauties of this evening was realizing I did not need to explain nor did she with so many things, they could just be spoken with our eyes or a humble smile.  Peace filled my heart as I did not need to explain myself, there is a beauty in having friends you have known you for a long time.  It is like an aged wine, it only gets better with time.  Her group of students was truly special and filled with heart.  It was most certainly one of the better nights and fulfilling I have had in a while. Thank you Rosemont for a great night.
    

“The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen.” ~Elizabeth Kubler Ross

Health Insurance

 Today I went to the pharmacy to pick up some medication.  I did not have my Pharmacy insurance card, the pharmacist assistant asked me if I wanted to see the prices without. I responded sure. Three separate medications total were $435.00, after I gave them my card $21.00, I kid you not.  I understand the importance of health care, and insurance now more than ever.  My girls tell me they do not always go to the doctors or cant afford the medications, and NO KIDDING.  I recognize the difficulties of living on the welfare price of food a day, and not having money for the things all necessary. I am not trying to start a topic, or get into any political debate.  But I just wanted to put that out there, give all of you some food for thought.