Ripples v9.17: Positive Focus!

Ripples v9.17: Positive Focus!
4/23/07: a free weekly splash from Paul & The Ripples Project

=o=o=o=o=o=o=o= PEBBLE =o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o

Human beings, by changing the inner attitudes of their minds,
can change the outer aspects of their lives.
-William James, submitted by Samantha T., Milwaukee WI

=o=o=o=o=o=o=o= BOULDER =o=o=o=o=o=o=o

When you're in your nineties and looking back,
it's not going to be how much money you made or
how many awards you've won.
It's really, what did you stand for?
Did you make a positive difference for people?
-Elizabeth Dole, submitted by Linda H., Manhattan KS

=o=o=o=o=o=o=o= PONDER =o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o

Many of us spent time this week thinking about the shootings at Virginia Tech and I was so glad to hear that the Hokies who are members of The Ripples Project are safe. One of them, Cara M., responded to my query about what members of The Ripples Project could do to support the Virginia Tech community. She wrote: "I ask at this time for all of us to focus on the positive: We must focus on the kindness, the good, the loving and the Hokie spirit. All of us in the world are one community hurting, let us love one another and support one another during this difficult time."

It may seem like a difficult challenge to focus on the positive in light of such awful events. And even as we paused to focus on the tragic events in Blacksburg, hundreds of people died in Iraq, Darfur, and other places that human beings call home. And as someone who weekly puts together this weekly "splash of inspiration" I am the first to admit it is not always easy to be positive. I don't think it needs to be EASY, I just think it needs to be WORTH it.

So, can you join the Ripples community by identifying something POSITIVE that has come out of a recent troubling event? You may want to consider the Imus Firing, the Virginia Tech Shootings, Iraq, Darfur, or any other public or private situation. I invite you to post your comments at one of our two new communities (they are FREE to join!):

Ripples on Facebook: http://www.FACEBOOK.com/group.php?gid=2204886661
Ripples on MySpace: http://Groups.MYSPACE.com/TheRipplesProject

And this week, just like very week, I am positive that we all need a little more....

...Peace,

Paul