A Day in the Sun...

Okay folks, I know that the economy sucks, most of us are having financial hardships, tragedies, and other things happening in your life that makes you miserable. We all have this problem, but you know what? I'm not as miserable as most of you are even though I have the same problems (or worse). Why? I'm not depressed because I have a positive outlook on life.

Your attitude is what is going to make or break you in this world. I know you've heard the old adage "Money doesn't buy happiness" No, it doesn't. It does buy a lot of things that help you to relieve stress and have a good time, or even pay your bills, but it cannot buy happiness. So many people are equating their level of happiness to the amount of money they have. This is a huge mistake, people!

Think about the things that you love to do the most in this world. How much does it cost? Most-likely it is free or very low-cost. The people that you love the most, your spouse, your children, your grandchildren... do you NEED money to spend time with them? In case you were wondering, the answer is NO! You do not need money to spend time with your loved ones. Yes, it can be more fun to take them to a movie, or the amusement park, but there is a lot of fun to be had at your local park. Pack a lunch, grab a ball, or frisbee and take the spouse and kids to the park for the day.

Spending the day in the sun with the people you love will do more for your mood than you realize. The sun has healing properties. People who have been denied sunlight for too long can actually start having some serious mental illnesses.

Taking time to do things that are fun, but within your budget will do so much for your attitude. The more your attitude improves, the better life will become. You might even find that having a smile on your face every day will provide you with some unexpected rewards.

Stephen Hawking VS Aliens

As some of you may know already, Stephen Hawking's latest project includes a television series about nomadic aliens who may try to come to Earth and take over. The sad part about this is that this man is very intelligent and there are some major things that he just didn't consider.

Number 1: If there are alien life forms: There is a very great possibility that long distance space travel is just as hard for them as it is for us. Therefore, visits from any existing "aliens" is unlikely.

Number 2: Mr. Hawking talks about these aliens depleating the resources on their planet and then setting out to conquer other nearby planets to take their resources. - Here's what's wrong with this scenario... Remember point Number 1! Also, if the aliens had mastered the technology to travel great distances through space, they probably already have renewable energy sources, planetary peace, advanced medicine, ect. There is no need for them to come to Earth to take over.

Number 3: Mr. Hawking seems to imply that ANY contact with an alien species would be bad for human-kind because it would turn out "like it did for the Native Americans when Columbus discovered the New World" - Why is he assumming that the aliens are going to be bad? Why does he think that they would want our poisoned little planet? If they are technologically advanced enough to travel through space from their planet and find us, there is a high probability that they would be disgusted by the way we have treated our planet and leave. However, if they did take pity on us, I imagine they would share with us ways to correct the damage we have caused and teach us new ways to generate the energy that we need.

All this talk of aliens by a man that I USED to respect... boo to you Mr. Hawking!

Charity Begins at Home!

I am watching the the Miss America 2010 pageant. It was the usual bather until we got to Miss Louisiana's question... "The United States leads all other counties in sending aid to Haiti, what do you think about this considering we have so many problems at home?" She responded some major dribble, completely missing the point of the question.

Charity Begins at Home! This woman has apparently led such a priviledged life that she has no idea hwo many people right here in America are suffering, homeless, jobless, hungry and without health care!

Did you ever wonder why the instructions on the oxygen masks on airplanes tell you to put your own mask on before helping others with theirs? The reason for this is because if you are not strong, then you cannot be expected to gainfully assist others.

The same goes for sending charity to other countries. America needs to strengthen itself from within first! Our richest citizens are so worried about "appearing" to be caring individuals that they feel they need to make a big spectacular donation to another country. In reality, if they would make smaller donations of time and money to the people right here in America who need it, America as a whole would be stronger!

What's more, is some of the most generous people that I know are not rich at all. The most generous people are poor. They are enlightened to know that they do not NEED all of these material things that so many others waste their money on. Poor people know how to be grateful for what they have, and are willing to give anything they have that goes above and beyond their basic needs to others.

The mentality of America needs to change! Stop wasting your money on coffee at Starbucks, designer clothes, subscriptions to magazines that you only leaf through once and throw away. Instead, invest that wasted money into someone in your own community who needs it!

Don't know anyone? If you look hard enough, you can find someone. Go to your local homeless shelter, and sponsor someone. Take them under your wing, get them a place to live, a couple pairs of new clothes and help them find a job.

Do you know how hard it is to find a job when you don't have a home address, or clothes suitable for interview? Even fast food restaurants won't hire you if you come in for an interview in dirty, torn clothes!

If you help others in your own community, they in turn, will help others, and so on. It's the "Pay it forward concept." You help one person, that person helps another, that person helps another, and it grows and grows!

Take this opportunity to help someone in YOUR community who needs it. If you cannot afford to sponsor someone, then volunteer your time! Your time is very valuable to Food Panties, Animal Shelters, Homeless Shelters, Boys and Girls Clubs, schools and hospitals.

It doesn't take a rich person to make a difference, just a KIND person!

When Children use Violence against Parents

Over the past few years, we have heard about more and more cases of children acting out violently against their parents. Once of the most famous cases were the Menendez brothers. Erik and Lyle Menendez not only killed their parents, but did so in such a bloody violent way, that it seemed something right out of a horror movie. They are not the only ones. Most recently a 14 year old boy from Colorado - John Caudle killed his mother and step-father because he didn't want to do his household chores. It is reported that the boy had no remorse, and was actually very happy the day that he drove himself to school in his step-father's truck. The night before, when he killed them, he left them where they lay, played video games, and ate snacks.

What on earth could lead to more and more young people acting out so violently against their parents?

I believe it starts with discipline at an early age. A child needs to know their boundaries. The rules need to be set in stone, and the parents need to remain consistant with punishments. The punishment should fit the crime. So many parents are now afraid to spank their children for fear of retaliation from the government.

It is NOT against the law to spank your child! As long as it was done for the right reason, was not out of anger, and was appropriate, it is perfectly acceptable. Not only is it acceptable, it is really necessary on some occasions.

I'm a lover, not a fighter. I was beaten as a child and I know the difference between a beating and a spanking. As a rule, I think that a parent should try other things first before resorting to a spanking except in a few key situations.

If a child does something that is a danger to themselves or others (playing with a gun or a knife, taking drugs, ect.) then a spanking is in order right away. The child should be told why they are getting the spanking, get the spanking, and then have it explained again. This should then be quickly followed up with hugs and kisses to let them know that you gave them this tough form of discipline because you love them.

Every day when I go out in public, I can easily spot several children in the crowd treating their parents with disrespect. I know that when I was a child, if I said some of the things that I hear from these kids I would have gotten a mouth full of soap or worse. Children do not respect their parents these days, and it's the parent's fault!

Any parent who has a child that treats them with disrepect, makes demands, calls them names or cusses them out needs to take a step back and realize that the child only does it because the parent is ALLOWING them to get away with it.

I am making a plea to all of you parents out there. MAKE YOUR CHILDREN RESPECT YOU! If you don't, you might end up like the parents of John Caudle...dead!