A Matter of Perspective!

My wife always reminds me that everything in our lives is always "a matter of perspective". Most of us have those years or times when we are "soul searching". During this period in my life,  I was "positive" about life but "negative" about my situation and myself. I realized that I needed to work on how I felt about myself and situation. Through wonderful self-help books and Cds, I have done that. There are a lot of resources we can you use to turn on journey from "negative" to "positive". No matter where you are at on this journey of life, a lot of times you just need to change your perspective. Journey On!

Why Saint Patrick's Day Matters! March 17th

When George Washington took office in 1789, there were 30,000 Catholics in America. John Adams said they were "scarce as earthquakes." But by 1850, Catholics had become—and remain, today—the country's largest religious denomination. One factor explains this growth: immigration. Since the Irish were the first immigrants to significantly impact Catholic American life, and with St. Patrick's Day approaching, this week offers a good moment to examine their experiences and their impact.

Perhaps no immigrant group has been a greater force on American Catholicism, both in numbers and leadership. Irish immigration had been steady since colonial times, but until the 1840s it was mainly Protestant. By 1800, about 80 percent of Ireland was Catholic, but before the infamous "Penal Laws" were removed, they couldn't vote or hold office, and many professions were closed to them.

Between 1780 and 1840, Ireland's population nearly doubled. Even in the pre-Famine years, poverty was widespread. The social reformer Frederick Douglassvisited in 1845. A former slave, he commented: "of all the places to witness human misery, ignorance, degradation, filth and wretchedness, an Irish hut is preeminent." The peasant diet consisted almost entirely of potatoes, a fairly nutritious food.

Find this and more at the following link: www.patheos.com.

Enjoy! Have a Happy Saint Patrick'a Day!

Cowardly Lion!

 I recently experienced the same thing the cowardly lion did in the Wizard of Oz. I wasn't "cowardly" but was in a place where I was upset and frustrated with myself. A very special person in my life showed me the "king" I was inside to rise above this situation. On your journey, know that you can rise above the challenges and the frustrations, and become the "king" or "queen" you were meant to be. Journey On!

Happy Valentines Day!

One of my favorite television shows is Glee. A recent episode called "Fireworks" was considered the shows "Valentines" episode. What surprised me about the episode was the ending. Kurt and the "Warblers" sang at a lonely hearts club dinner. Some of the characters, for whatever reason, were alone on Valentine's day.

As you celebrate this day with that special person in your life, I hope you reach out to those who are alone and maybe lonely. Could be a widow, shut-in, or someone in the hospital. On your journey I hope you take time to read about the life of St. Valentine and celebrate this day of love!

Just Smile - Glee cover

SMILE.wmv

Smile!

On my journey, there have been times when I find myself in a rut, and haven't had much to smile about or laugh. Recently while listening to one of my favorite pod casts, I was reminded that smiling and laughing are good for a person and even healthy! No matter how busy your life gets, I hope you do things that make your smile. I enjoy playing one of my musical instruments. That will usually put a smile on my face! Could be talking to a friend, watching a funny movie, or a favorite hobby of yours! I hope on your journey you take time to smile and laugh!

Remember the secret to life is to enjoy the journey! Smile! Laugh! Journey!