United Breaks Guitars

Just heard this song, saw this video and read the story that inspired it all. Aside from a good laugh, it is a great reminder to make the best of the tough times we go through...

In the spring of 2008, Dave Carroll and his band Sons of Maxwell were traveling to Nebraska for a one-week tour and Dave's Taylor guitar was witnessed being thrown by United Airlines baggage handlers in Chicago. He discovered later that the $3500 guitar was severely damaged. They didn't deny the experience occurred but for nine months the various people Dave communicated with put the responsibility for dealing with the damage on everyone other than themselves and finally said they would do nothing to compensate him for his loss. So Dave promised the last person to finally say no to compensation (Ms. Irlweg) that he would write and produce three songs about his experience with United Airlines and make videos for each to be viewed online by anyone in the world. "United: Song 1" is the first of those songs.

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Quote for Today

"The world breaks everyone, and afterwards, many are strong in the broken places." - Ernest Hemingway

source: Jaime's Blog


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Question for Today

Every day is a chance for a 'do over'. Forget yesterday, what are you going to do differently today?

~ Dove Self Esteem Fund



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Help for Haiti

You can make a donation to the Red Cross for Haiti Relief HERE .

If you wish to donate to other organizations providing emergency relief
and aid to Haiti, visit CNN.COM / IMPACT YOUR WORLD
for a comprehensive list.

peace, hope and love,

Lily

Friday Night Reflections

"All I ask is one thing, and this is....and I am asking this particularly of young people that watch: Please don't be cynical. I hate cynicism. For the record it is my least favorite quality. It doesn't lead anywhere. Nobody in life gets exactly what they thought they were going to get. But if you work really hard, and you're kind, amazing things will happen. I'm telling you, amazing things will happen. I'm telling you. It's just true!" ~ Conan O'brien



I just finished watching the last episode of the Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien as host.

"Nobody in life gets exactly what they thought they were going to get." That's for sure! I have definitely used the bad choices I've made and the tough times I've been through as opportunities to grow and learn. It's the only way to move forward.

I've learned that I have to take care of myself and that it is ok to make mistakes. However, I have become somewhat cynical and don't trust others (and sometimes myself) as much as I used to. As Jennie Ketcham said the other day, it's like I used to trust people too soon, too fast. I would give 100% of my trust away almost immediately. That of course, lead to not so healthy relationships and not to healthy choices.

The problem is not in trusting people and the answer is not in putting walls up to protect myself. It's not all or nothing. If I trust too much, I put myself at risk, but if I don't trust at all, and protect myself from everyone and everything, I might not get hurt but at too high of a price. I'm safe inside the walls I put up but don't let anyone truly in. True, there are some people that don't deserve to be let into my world, but I can spot red flags pretty accurately these days...

I have to learn to trust in all the work I've done. I am a different person now, I am a healthier person now. I know what healthy boundaries are (God, do I practice them daily!!!). I am comfortable asserting myself. I say yes when I want to say yes, and no when I want to say no.

As I write this, I am curious as to what closer relationships would be like with me being the new stronger, healthier me...definitely worth a shot...!

GO TEAM COCO!!!! Thanks for the thoughtful words Conan!!

peace, hope and love,

Lily

Being Honest with Ourselves

I have one request: may I never use my reason against truth.
--Elie Wiesel

"Honesty with ourselves is a great asset in every situation we confront. The skill to look reality square in the face and call it what it is takes us a good distance toward coping with it. However, many of us also have the skill to spin or rationalize our actions so that we don't have to face something unpleasant. That skill provides us with excuses and evasions but it is the greatest betrayal of our selves. When we use our brain to cleverly cover the truth of our actions, we often believe our own lies, and then we're incapable of rectifying them.

Just as dishonesty builds and grows on itself, so does honesty. We cannot one day decide to be honest and change in a flash because we don't see all of our self-deceit yet. But we can make the decision to be as honest as we know how. Then we will soon be surprised by how much is revealed to us as the fog of our self-deceit lifts and our honesty builds upon itself."

Today I will strive to see reality as it is and not shape it to suit my ego's desires.

source: Wisdom to Know by Anonymous

Quote for Today

"When someone treats you in a way you don't appreciate, you have a right to respond appropriately. Then, take a moment to consider if they acted as a mirror for you... and decide to respond appropriately at the inner level. Whatever others "do" to us, we tend to do in even greater measure to ourselves."

~ Joyce Shafer from the article: Do We Teach Others How to Treat Us