Injustice foments and revolution is imminent. The series of protests and demonstrations collectively known as the “Arab Spring” or “Arab Awakening” was predetermined. The oppression of dictators and unyielding governments seemed inescapable, and slowly but surely the populace accepted their predicament and yielded to their social and economic erosion. However, as the years progressed three factors gave hope for renewal and prompted this enlightened revolution of today. The dawn of the new millennium saw a rapid increase in Arab literacy, a falling birthrate, and a significant decline in the widespread custom of endogamy, or marriage between first cousins. This shows that Arab societies were on a path toward mental and cultural modernization in the course that the individual became more important than an autonomous entity.  The transformation of the political system, the spreading wave of democratization and the conversion of subjects into citizens are the products of this liberal movement, and the ensuing revolution was well under way.

            As the people became more educated and informed they became less complacent and unrest soon sat heavy on the shoulders of each nation. Though progressive reformists sought a national enlightenment, the political injustices and crimes of range of tyrants continued.  As a result, a decrease of nationalism and an increase in emigration sent up a red flag to the Western world. A new class of Western Arabs was born, and in due time, their homeland economies diminished further. Governments had begun to sense this growing unrest and they attempted to placate the poor and unemployed with bread and money but it was too late; the time for change had come.

            First went Tunisia, then Algeria. These leading cases of insurrection prompted the tidal wave of change, and the revolts of December 2010 shattered the dams holding them back. With the success of the protests in Tunisia, this wave of unrest sparked by the self-immolation of a Tunisian man struck Algeria, Jordan, Egypt, and Yemen and then spread to other countries. The largest, most organized demonstrations have often occurred on “days of rage”, usually after Friday afternoon prayers. Demonstrations of epic proportions shook the Middle East, and the governments of Tunisia, Egypt, and then Libya were overthrown. These uprisings took many lives, signifying the relentless determination of the people. Even some of the better off nations, like Lebanon and Morocco sought reform and an end to corruption. The geopolitical implications of these protests have drawn global attention, prompting further protests in Europe and Asia. Even the “occupy” movements were influenced by the Egyptian revolution. This tidal wave of change had far reaching repercussions which, in hindsight, was the result of decades of injustice with little to no change.

            King was right; change is inevitable. It only took a Tunisian spark to ignite people’s suppression and it all went up in flames. The Civil Rights movement of the 50’s and 60’s shared the same principles and desires of the Arab Spring; conformation is eventually succeeded by unrest and revolution. Voters are taking part in free and fair elections, newly elected lawmakers are issuing progressive legislation, and the morale is generally high in these post dictatorial nations. Though much work is left in the name of transition, the Spring was a success and it will surely influence multitudes of revolutions to come.

Image via Wikipedia

Habits are developed from training, influences, observation, and practice. We develop many habits throughout our life, which some are good and others are bad. Good habits we can keep, but if one wants to improve their life the bad habits has to take a hike. Getting rid of bad habits however is not easy, especially if an addiction is involved. For this reason, we can take a few steps to learning how you can change your habits. 

Making excuses: 

People wander through life making excuses. Anytime a person sees something complicated, they will often make excuses why they cannot deal with the problem. “This is just the way I am.” This is a common problem in the world, which we’ve all heard billions of times. If you are out to improve your life however, you need to say, “This is something that hinders me from achievement and I have the power to change it. 

The first key to success is stop making excuses. Learn how to tell the truth. The truth is the only answer that leads you to improve your personal life. Once you learn to tell the truth, you will need to commit self to learning new behaviors and habits. 

You can commit by choosing a new habit. Today I plan to drink more water. Some of us detest water, yet water is our way of living healthier. Instead of detesting something that will save your life, start saying, today I will drink more water. Even if you start out drinking a glass for the first couple of days, you are making changes. 

Today I am going to stop judging others and myself. This is a common mistake people make in the world. They spend time judging others and themselves. This gets them nowhere but in a world of chaos. You make your bed, you must learn to sleep in it, which is why you should change your ways. Judging is only for our Master in the sky. 

Do you think negative? I can’t change this. My life is full of nonsense, I can’t swing it anymore. Why me? Who put a tag on my head, saying persecute me. If you spend your life thinking negative and saying negative connotations, try changing your ways today. For instance, say, I can change something and I am going to. Instead of saying life is full of nonsense, accept it as truth yet move ahead to make your life better. Why me is a common question, which no one knows why, yet we have to accept it, make better decisions and move ahead. If you feel persecuted, ask you what you are doing that makes you feel this way. Do you have friends or family members weighing you down? If so, then kick their butt down the road and make new friends. No one in life is worth you suffering ongoing. You have the power to make changes, yet you do not have the power to change other people. 

When you start to make changes to improve your life, start small. Instead of jumping the gun, take baby steps to success. Too many times people try to change overnight. This only leads to frustration. 

When you are working to change your life and habits make sure you seek support and feedback. You do not have to walk the road to success alone. Feedback is found at your library, the Internet, at colleges, and so on. You will find support along these channels as well. Ask someone you trust to support you and give you feedback when needed also. 

My one thought that keeps coming to mind is if these politicians are wasting all this money to be elected, how much money will they waste if they are elected. I mean lets face it once in the position to spend money they intend to do just that. Each of the politicians will say what they think the public wants to hear, they do not disclose what they intend to spend in order to give those things each area of the country wants.

Just once I would like to see a politician say he will limit his campaign spending to XX amount of dollars and then stay with in that amount. Then tell those who would donate to his or her campaign to donate or give to those agencies that are helping the less fortunate. Those millions of dollars spent on advertising could go to United Way, Red Cross, relief agencies in disaster areas and help to feed the poor.

If you want my vote don’t tell me how you will reduce taxes for the rich, or how you are going to eliminate costly programs that help the old and the needy. I would like to hear you say I am going to use my campaign funds to get the economy back on its feet.

Here are some of my solutions:

1. Limit out sourcing; If companies want to out source to other countries they need to pay a penalty for costing jobs in the US.

2. Stop the paperwork; with the new age of computers there is less need for multiple copies of documents. If someone needs a copy they can read it on the computer or download it as needed. Each time there is a change to a law or a tax code the entire code is reprinted. Millions of dollars are wasted not to say anything about the trees we lose.

3. Reduce the money spent for military equipment; Yes we need modern weapons, but do we need convenient items at absorbent prices. The GEO is still wasting millions because of over sites on cost of items. Why do the weapons and ammunition we buy have to cost so much. if someone wants to do business with the US Government then the cost of the items should be equal to or less than what you would pay locally.  

4. Make congress have to use the same rules as everyone else; elected official have made themselves a nice little comfort zone for themselves while at the same time enacting laws that they don’t have to abide by. If we put limits to times served like we do with the presidency I feel there would a lot less me me me and more us .

if you have read this far perhaps you as well as me should encourage others to make their issues known and tell these politicians , no matter what party they be in, that it is time for change and it should start with them.

On my way home from a Caribbean cruise vacation earlier this month, I was drawn to pick up and read Forbes Magazine  www.forbes.com/sites/helencoster/2011/11/30/novogratz/, due to the cover photo and story.   It featured Jacqueline Novogratz, CEO of the Acumen Fund www.acumenfund.org/ten/ who is contributing to positive change in the world by investing donated dollars into loans for third world small businesses.  She is planting economic seeds that can grow and multiply, creating opportunities for prosperity in unexpected places.  She knows that if only some of their investments succeed, they have contributed to increase the number of people who can flourish in our global garden.  This triumphant article combined with all the reflection time I had on our 10-day break from the grind, were enough to snap me out of my work-induced trance and wake up.   They helped me re-focus on my goals gone astray, and returned me to seriously working towards producing positive change in the world.   So as I set out to find a way to responsibly change direction in my life for the long term, I thought about what steps I can take today and now to feed my revived eagerness. I started with 2 places I already knew, Good Is www.good.is and Global Girlfriend  www.globalgirlfriend.com.   At Global Girlfriend, all of your purchases benefit woman entrepreneurs in depressed areas.  Their goods are fashionable, and can give you a glow inside and out.  I clicked and clicked from web pages of social consciousness to charity to innovative pay-it-forward ideas. I discovered you can click and help the rainforest www.rainforestsite.com (I bought a stunning jacket from their site).  Then I was delighted to find you can just click to have money donated to rescue pets, without donating any of your own.  Along this web journey, I discovered several astonishing things.   Firstly, I really need to work on my attention span, but most important is that along side of the celebrity gossip and the highlighted tales of tragedy on the web, is an impressive network of people who are truly changing the world every day for the global good.   Today, not only did I discover that the brighter side of the world is growing, but I jumped in it.   Now, I cant wait until tomorrow. 

Recommended Sites for you to start off and see where you go on your journey:

www.greatergood.org

www.good.is/post/the-good-30-day-challenge-creative-microphilanthropy/

www.crowdrise.com/celebrity-fundraisers/special/firefoxchallengeevent

www.therainforestsite.com

www.bethecause.org

www.globalgiving.org

The value of a friendship, a situation or even just a moment is the value of impact and of the love shared for the growth in your evolution. As things may not last forever, one thing does… the impact essence of you on another. It may be in the silence of your soul or a memory that brings a smile to your face or as they say, “that one that got away.” The truth is that person, situation or moment changed you. In some connections bring out the best, making you a better person or perhaps the worst of you, like the ego and the mind take control; the mirror that needed to be expressed or surfaced and acknowledged. The depth of the connection may vary as does the meaning you place on that person, situation or moment. It is up to YOU to give it the meaning it has for you, if any meaning at all.  

The meaning of this all is to evolve and grow in compassion to self and embrace the mirror within you reflected in others. The “how” and “ways” does not matter. Distance, nor the age of the person or situation makes little difference in the impact of the meeting of the hearts and the mirror when it comes to the lesson. Like fingertips passing through the waters deep…on ships of gold and silver, the exchange has brought you to this point of awareness and changed you… the lasting meaning to your evolution is how you react to the interaction… with kindness or harshness… Harshness creates a trigger that reflects in relearning that learn until kindness and compassion fills you entirely. Kindness learned is compassion and love as I expressed in another blog, Open Letter to a Soul Mate in understanding the creation.

While I was talking with a friend, I came to understand the depth of how I created some situations and I am seeing the changes as I change my attitude about it. The kinder thoughts produce a better outcome. This friend stated something that made him rethought about a current situation. “You deserve cashmere and you are in K-mart”… how is that reflected with the people around you? 

Interesting reflection and perhaps a judgment of sorts isn’t it. You can get cashmere in K-mart. It is the reflection of efficiency and openness that places the value on that cashmere. The label or meaning you put on it is all that matters, not what society does. It is like saying… having friends from the “wrong” side of the track. Again, a judgment is being placed by association of the location, neither the heart connection nor spiritual growth potential.

Like minded individuals and situations are located every where you are attracted to…and the more you resist that attraction, the strong the attraction will persist. This is Universe law… so even if your intention is to walk away, avoid, ignore that situation or person, it will still be with you. There is still a value with you and in you about this.

This reminds me of the story of the king that traveled as a beggar to see who his true people were. He went to one house of wealth and was turned away… then another. Then he went to the poorest man, who had little to offer this beggar yet still shared his meal with him. The next day, the king returned gold to this man for his kindness.

So your thoughts produce the life you’re in and your actions tell where your heart is with the truth. Kindness will give you riches as the negative will continue to take it away as you wonder why.
We all deserve and are worthy of the riches and the form of  the riches does come in all ways. The people, situation and moments in your life are making the impact of the kinds of riches you have in your life, Gold or Coal.

A whispering of kindness and a smile may change a person live in many ways. Live through your heart and the world around will change for the better. Namaste.

(c)jenniferhillman 2012

The technology in the future was more developed than ever. House maids were robots, cars traveled at the speed of light in mid-air, phones and handhelds were all upgraded into our brain system. I, John Walkman, was the most successful scientist/inventor. My mother always told me “You could never succeed John”.  My conduct toward my mother wasn’t tolerable but the invention that I have been working on has made me change. I ignored her and went to accomplish my dream that was a few adjustments away. Communication with other planets was my dream. Even with over 10 years of research and experimenting many inventors tried but failed.

         I woke up startled “Today is the day”. “Anna fix me some breakfast”, Anna was the home computer. It does anything I instruct it to do, assignments, chores, and even food.”Yes, sir” it replied. I sat down and thought twice about what my mother told me when I was younger. “This is wrong John, you cannot do this.” I’ve always loved my mother and respected her. But she has never supported me of doing the machine that would communicate to other planets. “God won’t less this happen” she repeated over and over. But today was the day and she couldn’t stop me from finishing the goal of my life. I went to my lab and sat down. Fame and wealth was just a button away, my hand moves toward the power switch even though I had reluctance about turning it on I still did. Boom! It’s on. “It worked!” “It worked”. In a couple of minutes almost half of the world’s news channels were here. This was it, my dream has been completed. I connected to the internet and began to search for any host out of earth. Millions of aliens, people, and unknown creatures were found. I sent packets of information to a server, but there was no response. “We come in peace, from planet earth” I said. But still there was no response.

        In matter of seconds an earthquake occurred. Darkness crawled through the blue sky and millions of UFOs came swarming across the sky. Aliens jump from their plane and began to radiate the whole earth. I was shocked and stood still. I saw a couple of them coming my way. My car was in the parking lot which is 20 meters away. “Stop, Please, don’t kill me!” I screamed while running to my car. I turned the car on and zoomed into the sky. “Why, why me?” I cried. I knew that today was the day I am going to die. My love to my mother was great so I decided to go home and sit with my mother for a couple of minutes before my death.”I am sorry mom, I didn’t mean it” “It’s not your fault son”. My whole life flashed before my eyes. I hugged my mother tight and began to cry. Minutes passed but we were still in the same place. I opened the door, they were gone. The sun was out, the birds were singing and the sky enlightened us safety. All the buildings, cars, satellites, etc were destroyed. Nothing or none was left. It was just me and my mother. “I don’t deserve to live mother” “Don’t say that honey it’s not your fault” “Yes it is.”

         So here I am, writing this story for all whole lost their loved ones and relatives. I am very sorry for your loss. As I said I don’t deserve to live. (Reloads gun) Boom! “John John!!”   

I know personally I rarely manage to stick with my resolutions. Either I make them too difficult for myself, or I simply forget about them after a month or so. A lot of people I know are the same, either forgetting or giving up on their resolutions only a few days or weeks into the new year. In a lot of cases, however, it’s not their fault (or, not entirely their fault at any rate). People underestimate just how difficult it is to change your habits, or mould new hobbies into your current time schedule.

The trick to keeping to your new year’s resolutions is making sure they’re simple. Or, if they’re lofty and complicated, make sure they can be broken down into smaller chunks which you can easily achieve piece by piece. Don’t try and get more done than you genuinely think is possible.

Example

I intend on getting more exercise into my life. More specifically, I’ve made a resolution to get into shape. I’m not overweight (in fact, people regularly comment on how thin I am and think I’ve an eating disorder….it’s annoying. ), but I am hideously out of shape. I can’t sprint for more than about ten metres without getting a stitch and it can take me a very, very long time to catch my breath after doing so. 

I can’t just start going to hour long sessions at the gym, or join my friend on his regular runs around our university campus. I would quite literally die if I started with those things. So I start small.

Up until now, I usually get a bus to the nearest bus stop to my house when getting home from college. It’s about a fifteen minute walk. The next bus stop down adds another fifteen minutes onto that, as well as a hill. So I’ve started getting off at that stop instead to add some distance and a slope into my daily walk. As an addition, it wouldn’t make much difference if I walked just as slowly. I’d just take longer, I wouldn’t be doing too much more work. So I make sure I get home in as close to fifteen minutes as possible, meaning I have to walk almost twice as fast.

It doesn’t sound like much, but a half hour walk a day is described as being very good for a person’s health. Starting small, and working up is how you complete your Resolution. I’ll start jogging or cycling next, then maybe start going to a gym.

By breaking your New Year Resolution into nice, easily managed parts it is much simpler to complete them. Want to learn a new language? Start small by using a book, or get a tutor. Want to learn how to paint? Don’t start painting mountains, start by painting something small like an apple and work your way up.

So, good luck with any New Year resolutions you’ve made for yourself! Try sharing with people here, give each other ideas! What New Year Resolutions have you made, and how do you plan on sticking to them?

Dear Spy Agency Employee,

It’s a beautiful sunny day in Sydney, Australia. My name is James and I am an artist from Sydney who grew up in a family affected by “Secret Government,” as Western Spy Agencies are commonly known. I was personally affected by our Government’s obsession with keeping secrets and I write this to anyone working for secret government agencies - as an open invitation - to consider deeply your actions. You may be harming more of you family than you are aware of.

This is a sincere, open letter. It is addressed to people working in the various government spy agencies of the developed world such as MI5 (UK), the National Security Agency (NSA) in the USA and the Australian Secret Intellegence Organisation (ASIO). I ask you to take a moment, stop what your are doing and think how your work is impacting of your nearest and dearest, not to mention anyone with whom you come into contact with.

Please, ask yourself: “Is gathering information on people in secret beneficial to me as a human being?” “Am I hurting someone in ways I am unaware, either consciously or unconsciously?” and lastly, “Is my family adversely hurt by my unproductive toil?”

If you answered, “Yes,” to any of these then isn’t it time you considered the sad and horrific damage you are inflicting on yourself and other people because of you work?

This open note to you is from my the bottom of my heart. I was affected by the machinations of secret western government and it hurt not only me but also my family in many sorroful ways. This is what you are doing and this letter is asking you to stop. Walk away.

Life can be so full of positve aspects. Do you imagine that listening into phone traffic, making notes about innocent people you deem at threat in some way and finally, not producing anything for your country in any meaningful and value adding manner is making you happy? I would posit to say that it’s not.

Please consider others. Gathering secret information about others is only hurting you; your health, your wealth and your family. Don’t you think it’s time for you to join society and tell everyone what you are doing? You will be lauded a hero if you do – finally loved by all instead of silently dispised. Please think about it with love.

Yours Faithfully

James DeVere

• Resolution #1: Spend more time at the barn riding my horse to get him in better shape to sell
  • Manage time more wisely outside of school; plan week out with certain days/times allotted for barn time
• Resolution #2: Do a better job saving money and using it wisely
  • Use the envelope system with paychecks; spend a lot less time shopping and online
• Resolution #3: Make life less about myself and more about others
  • Spend less time worrying about myself and show more compassion towards others; do more to support the community and reach out to those who aren’t as fortunate as I am
• Resolution #4: Be bolder and braver and not so bashful!
  • Be the first to talk to people I am meeting, don’t make them come to me; ask a friend to prom; stop worrying about my image or embarrassing myself and just get over it; meet as many new people as I can!

Detoxify your thinking this New Year.  No regrets.  You can’t change the past, but it is good to think about where you do want to go with your future.  Make the goals realistic and manageable though.  I don’t believe in New Year’s resolutions personally, but many do.  I’m one of those who sail through New Year like is was just another day and who prefers to continually assesses the need for change and does something about it when I have to and can do. 

Psychologists Miller and Marlett, in 1988, did a survey on what resolutions were common.  They discovered that 37% of people would resolve to start an exercise regime, 13% would resolve to eat healthier, and 7% would resolve to cut down on or quit something such as smoking, alcohol or drugs.  They claim that 75% fail.  I would say it all depended on factors such as commitment, the ability to exercise self-control and to develop coping strategies when you hit problems.  Failure can also occur when people don’t think out their resolutions until the last minute, making them on the spur of the moment.  They will also fail if people are reacting on an impulse or whim on New Year and acting on whatever is bothering them at that moment regardless of how fleeting the problem may be.  People also fail when they say they will NEVER do something again, rather than resolving to do it less. 

To those who do make resolutions – good luck with it, but if you fail, don’t be too hard on yourself.