ONWARD and UPWARD: The Will to Hold Your Pot of Gold!
If I hear, “These are trying times!” one more time, I think I’ll have to shake that person’s hand! Yes, actually take the time to thank the person for acknowledging life is not something handed to us in a beautifully decorated basket filled with every want and whim specific to each of our proverbial “Pot Of Gold.” A fulfilling, introspective, tuned-in, hands-on, wide awake way of life takes work…hard work coupled with faith. Living a life of entitlement and hand-outs, I believe, is the equivalent to living a numb life—superficial, self-absorbed, and image-driven with lots of “things”—lacking the virtue of gratitude. I prefer the deeper, more reflective, thankful route.
As St. Patrick’s Day approaches and we speak of “trying times”, it reminds me not only of the deep-rooted heritage and love my family and I share in this day as all four of my grandparents came to America from their homeland, Ireland, in the early 1900’s, I’m also reminded of their strong desire, dedication, and resolve to make America their (new) extraordinary home for our family. All four lived a long life, one into his late 70’s and the other three into their 90’s, thankful for having made the move.
Gratitude is one of my most favorite character traits; so, existing in such a state this morning I posted a status on Facebook quoting Melody Beattie. Having no idea who she was until I drew from a list of inspirational quotes, I decided to Google her. Ms. Beattie is the author of Codependent No More which sold over eight million copies in the 80’s and introduced the word “codependent” to the general public. In addition she has authored many other books including, The Language of Letting Go, and Make Miracles in Forty Days, Turning What You Have Into What You Want.
The quote I posted from Melody Beattie this morning reads as follows: “Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.”
Now that is my version of a Pot Of Gold! Each of us has it within us. All we have to do is reach inside and attain it. Embrace it. Experience it. Live it! Gratitude is priceless and provides abundance in all areas of life.
The Foundation raises money for childhood cancer research primarily through head-shaving events. Volunteers sponsored by family, friends and employers, shave their heads in solidarity with kids who typically lose their hair during cancer treatment. Events have taken place in all 50 US states and 28 countries.
The concept of St. Baldrick’s was devised in 1999 by three Irish-American reinsurance executives from New York City, and grew from a single event to a nationwide effort in a relatively short period of time, now known as the world’s first and largest volunteer fundraiser for childhood cancer research. The founders decided to turn their St. Patrick’s Day party into a benefit for pediatric oncology research by shaving their heads, thereby showing solidarity with children undergoing chemotherapy treatment. Therefore, the name of the Foundation is a play on the words Bald and Patrick – going bald on St. Patrick’s Day, led to St. Baldrick’s.
Click Here For More St. Baldrick’s Pictures
Here’s to wishing all of you a very Happy St. Patrick’s Day filled with love, health, happiness, gratitude, and your own Pot O’ Gold!
Onward Productions – Announcements:
I’m thrilled to announce my guest for this month’s Onward And Upward radio program, author of the phenomenal children’s book Molly Kite’s Big Dream, and inspirational speaker, Tam Veilleux will be joining us Wednesday, March 28, 2012, from 1:00pm-2:00pm ET at www.BlogTalkRadio.com/ErinLey. Please take a moment and check out Tam’s website, www.Tam-I-Am.com, to see the amazing work she does illustrating how each of us manifests our own *Law of Attraction* (LOA).- In addition, I’m looking forward to visiting the students, faculty and families, along with my wonderful colleagues from the Long Island Children’s Writer’s and Illustrator’s group, for the Author/Illustrator Nights at: 1) Jericho Elementary School in Centereach, NY on March 20th; and 2) Andrew Muller Primary School in Miller Place, NY on April 4th. Many thanks to Stacey Cooper and Cristin Mansfield-Soldano for organizing the events and the invitation.
As we move ONWARD throughout the rest of this school year and plan for 2012-2013:
For any Long Island (NY) based elementary school, public and/or private library, Boy and/or Girl Scout Troop, events of any kind can contact me any time at www.ErinLey.com or www.MaggieTheMagnificent.com when looking to provide a character-building presentation. I’ve incorporated food allergy awareness into my presentations not only because two of my three young children have life threatening peanut and pitted fruit allergies, but because the number of food allergies in both adults and children have grown exponentially. Funding for these visits are provided by a number of sources including, but not limited to, the PTA/PTO, and both Nassau & Suffolk BOCES—I am registered with both.
For schools, hospitals, non-profits, businesses—large or small—looking for a motivational/keynote speaker who survived cancer, and so much more, and recognizes *where there’s a WILL there’s a way* to help improve the quality of your environment, or to instruct you on how to help others improve the quality of their environment—school, work, hospital, or home—feel free to contact me anytime. I provide individual cancer coaching sessions over the phone for cancer patients across the country as well.
A Wish For A Friend
Wishing you a rainbow
For sunlight after showers—
Miles and miles of Irish smiles
For golden happy hours—
Shamrocks at your doorway
For luck and laughter too,
And a host of friends that never ends
Each day your whole life through!
Live ONWARD with great character and a smile!
