VIDEO: Tony Robbins Offers Up Advice During Our Challenging Economy

Tony Robbins stopped by Good Morning America and offered up some advice on ways to handle today's challenging times. My favorite quote from this video, "When you've got extreme stress, use it, don't let it use you."

Make it a great day!

Steve Jobs 2005 Stanford Commencement Address

A friend of mine sent this to me today. It's Steve Jobs' (founder of Apple) 2005 commencement address at Stanford University. Steve talks about life, love and death. It's about 15 minutes long and well worth your time. Enjoy!



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Six Tips for Tackling a Dreaded Task

From Gimundo.com -- So, you've gotta do something you are really dreading. If you're like most of us, you'll procrastinate as long as you can before doing it. But, if you follow these six tips, you just might find that it's not that hard to tackle those tasks.

1. Do it first thing in the morning. A no-brainer. If you just do it first thing without giving it much thought. It'll be much easier, and it'll make the rest of your day that much better
2. If you find yourself putting off a task that you try to do several times a week, try doing it EVERY day, instead. This works with many tasks. If you want to exercise a few days a week, but find yourself slacking, then just start doing it every day. It'll become a daily routine, and you won't even think about it anymore.
3. Have someone keep you company. Following up tip #2, if you can't exercise alone, then find a friend to go with you. You'll keep each other on track, and it'll make the activity much more enjoyable.
4. Make preparations, assemble the proper tools. One of the biggest reasons people procrastinate is because they're not prepared. Take the time to prepare, and there won't be any reason to procrastinate.
5. Commit. This applies to long-term and short-term goals. One example: Every morning, write down on a piece of paper exactly what you MUST accomplish today, and commit to it and do it.
6. Remind yourself that finishing a dreaded task is tremendously energizing. Remember how great it feels to finally finish a dreaded task? Just remembering is motivation to do it.
   

I hope these tips help you tackle a task you've been dreading. I know they helped me. If you'd like to read more about each of these tips, please visit this page on Gimundo.com.

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Golf Tournament To Support The Lilli Grace Memorial Foundation

I received an email from a reader (Thanks Eddie!) of PositivePelham.com the other day. He's going to be participating in a golf tournament to raise funds for a very, very worthy cause. I'm going to let him tell you what it's all about. Here is his email:

Won’t you help me honor Lilli’s legacy?

Lilli Grace Register was born through the miracle of research and technology. This miracle allowed her father, who fought two previous episodes with cancer (Hodgkins Disease Lymphoma), to actually conceive a child with his wife. Lilli Grace, who truly lived up to her name, was filled with great joy and had a smile that would light up a room. After only a short 18 months, this special child was tragically killed in an accident and I am asking for your help in continuing her legacy.

On April 21st, I will be participating in a significant and meaningful golf tournament as part of The Lilli Grace Memorial Foundation fund raising efforts. The Foundation provides support to many organizations leading the way in cancer awareness and child safety in the home. It is a proud supporter of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (through Team in Training), the The Two-Day Breast Cancer Walk and www.kidsandcars.org ..

My request is simple and straightforward. Would you consider sponsoring me to help these wonderful organizations continue in their much needed work? The easiest way is to simply visit www.lilligrace.com , click on the Donate button and make a SECURE donation using a major credit card through PayPal. When people come together in Grace, great things can be accomplished….. let’s help find ways to support and help those in need.
Thank you for making a difference!



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101-Year-Old Man Plans to Run Marathon

From Gimundo.com - Wow, the next time I complain about going to the gym, I'll remember this guy.

At one hundred and one years of age, Buster Martin sports a bushy white beard, and more than a few wrinkles. But while most men of his age would content themselves with afternoon naps, Early Bird dinners, and the occasional game of Bingo at the nursing home, Martin has considerably more on his plate.

The former Army physical trainer has just entered the London Marathon, a grueling 42.195 km (26 miles and 385 yards) annual event, and one of the world's top international races. Martin's goal may sound like wishful thinking, but don't be so sure: He recently completed a half-marathon in a little over five hours – not bad at all for an athlete who could be the grandfather of most of his competitors (and he just might be - the man has 17 children!).

That's impressive to say the least. To read the entire story, please go to this page on Gimundo.com.

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The Law of the Garbage Truck

Here's an email I received the other day. It didn't have an author, but it definitely passes on a valuable lesson:

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How often do you let other people’s nonsense change your mood? Do you let a bad driver, rude waiter, curt boss, or an insensitive employee ruin your day?

However, the mark of a successful person is how quickly he/she can get back her focus on what’s important. Sixteen years ago I learned this lesson. I learned it in the back of a New York City taxi cab.

Here’s what happened. …… I hopped in a taxi, and we took off for Grand Central Station. We were driving in the right lane when, all of a sudden, a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us.

My taxi driver slammed on his breaks, skidded, and missed the other car’s back end by just inches! The driver of the other car, the guy who almost caused a big accident, whipped his head around and he started yelling bad words at us. My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean, he was friendly.

So, I said, "Why did you just do that?" This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!? And this is when my taxi driver told me what I now call, "The Law of the Garbage Truck."

Many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it. And if you let them, they’ll dump it on you. When someone wants to dump on you, don’t take it personally. You just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. You’ll be happy you did.

So this was it: The Law of the Garbage Truck. I started thinking, how often do I let Garbage Trucks run right over me? And how often do I take their garbage and spread it to other people: At work, at home, on the streets? It was that day I said, "I’m not going to do it anymore."

Well, now when I see Garbage Trucks, and I see the load they’re carrying. I see them coming to drop it off. And like my Taxi Driver, I don’t make it a personal thing; I just smile, wave, wish them well, and I move on.

Make it a great day!

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Former IBM Consultant Ditched His Suit To Serve Waffles

From the New York Post - "A former IBM consultant has shelved his suit and six-figure salary to sell Belgian waffles around the city from a yellow mobile food truck.

Thomas DeGeest, 37, of Chelsea, said a heart-to-heart talk with his wife last year made him trade in his corporate life for an apron, a set of waffle irons and some wheels."

"DeGeest began selling his flavorful fare in October - and said though he's not matching his former salary, he is making a living off the treats while bringing joy to the masses.

"A waffle makes people smile," he said. "I basically sell smiles."

Each customer has a choice between a traditional Brussels waffle, or a Liege waffle, a chewier version that's flavored with vanilla or cinnamon. The snacks range in price from $4 to $7 for the "Wafel of Massive Deliciousness," a waffle with all the dinges, or toppings." To read the complete story, please go to this page on NYPost.com.

I don't know about you, but I'd love to see his yellow waffle truck come driving up in front of my office....

Make it a great day!

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Daily Positive Briefs - Friday, November 16, 2007

GoodNewsBlog.com - Lost Medallion Returned to War Hero’s Family After 30 Year Search

Good News Network - iCar Costs Just 2 Cents Per Mile to Drive

HappyNews.com - Dell, Celebrities Help With Wish Lists

MSNBC.com - Genes Found That Prevent Cancer And Slow Aging

The Good News Magazine - Breaking Free From Addictions

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Jimmy V's Speech At The 1993 ESPY Awards

I came across this video earlier this morning, and I had to share it with you. I remember watching this live and it moved me back then. It still does. For those of you who aren't familiar with Jimmy V, his name is Jim Valvano, and he was a college basketball coach whose life was cut-short by cancer. But, he lived a great life. I emphasize - Live - He made the most of his time here, and he inspired millions of others to do the same. Enjoy and make it a great day!



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Kindness Is Coming - Melissa Peterman (Barbara Jean from Reba)

Melissa Peterman (Barbara Jean from the sitcom Reba) and Gimundo.com teamed up together and produced two inspiring videos of Melissa performing random acts of kindness to unsuspecting people. Enjoy!




Funny Video of the Day - Today's Best Country Music Videos

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Happiness, Freedom and Peace of Mind Can Be Attained By...

Here is a great quote from Peyton Conway March:

"There is a wonderful mythical law of nature that the three things we crave most in life -- happiness, freedom, and peace of mind -- are always attained by giving them to someone else."

Make it a great day!

Making Happiness a Habit

Do you remember when going to a party in high school or college was a blast. Remember when you couldn't wait to go on summer vacation, and you absolutely hated having to leave because of all the fun you were having? It seems that as we get older, it becomes harder and harder to actually have fun and be happy. An article on revolutionhealth.com seeks to understand "why" this happens and "how" to change it. Visit this page to read the complete article.

Good luck today. Make it a great one!

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Rachel Ray Cooks Up a Prom For Enterprise High School Tornado Victims

Remember back in the spring when the tornadoes ripped through the Enterprise High School in Enterprise, Alabama. Well, here is a little follow-up to that tragedy from Showbuzz.CBSnews.com -- "Celebrity chef Rachael Ray served up a prom for some Alabama teenagers who lost eight classmates and their school in a tornado, her publicist confirmed Thursday.

Ray planned the menu and helped prepare dinner at Enterprise High School's prom, according to a statement from Ray's publicist, Georgianna Dente. The star of her own syndicated talk show, "The Rachel Ray Show," paid for the dance and filmed it for an episode..." To continue reading this story, please go to this page on Showbuzz.CBSNews.com.

I always thought she was a cool chef, but I like and respect Rachel even more now.

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Lauren's 5th Letter From Honduras

For those of you who are new to Positive Pelham, a friend of mine named Lauren has joined the Peace Corps and is going to be blogging about her experience in Honduras over the coming months. To find out more about Lauren, you can read all of her posts by clicking here. She's a special person doing a very good thing. Here is her fifth post. If you'd like to send her a message, you can use this comment form. Make it a great day!

Disclaimer -- "The following article does not reflect the opinions of the Peace Corps or the US government"

--Lauren's 5th Letter from Honduras--

Hi everyone!

Well I have now been in my new home for almost a month. Things so far have been really great! I really love it here.....everything...the people, the town, my work. I have been spending the last few weeks meeting all my counterparts, learning Spanish, and getting to know my way around the community.

Another volunteer who is in the Protected Areas Management project, Molly, got a site change to my city last week. She has been here for almost a year now. She is great and we have become really good friends! We are going to live together in a month when I move out of my host family's house. She is going to work in promoting ecotourism with Celeque National Park, but she wants to go to Med School when she gets home so we are excited to do some health projects together.

Last week Kate (married, business volunteer living here) and I did our first AIDS workshop together at a colegio (highschool) with 38 students. It went really great! The thing with charlas here are they have to be super dynamic to keep the students attention and keep it interesting. Powerpoint presentations just don't fly here. So I spent a few days making poster boards and a bunch of activities for the kids to do during the workshop. We did skits, condom demonstrations (using a plantain, because I forgot my wooden penis), games to resist peer-pressure to have sex etc. It went over really well and they really learned alot!

This week I helped my counterpart from World Vision run a two-day workshop educating religious leaders from Gracias about HIV/AIDS so they can educate the members of their church....pastors, fathers, nuns, etc. Also, we are fighting to overcome the discrimination and stigmatization people living with HIV/AIDS here often face. It was such a cool workshop. We took 26 of these leaders to San Pedro Sula on Tuesday where we went to visit AIDS patients at a major hospital there. Also, we had a conference with this well-known family here who all are HIV positive (the husband, wife, and 12 year-old daughter).

The father had unprotected sex once when he was 18 and a few years later got married and infected his wife without knowing he had HIV. They later had a daughter and only found out about the disease when the daughter was 6 months old, after it had already been transmited to her. But this family started a foundation called Llaves where they travel around Honduras, the States, and Latin America providing HIV education and fighting for the rights of HIV infected people. Also, we went to a home for orphaned kids who are all HIV positive. That just broke my heart... but they were all so beautiful and sweet and it was so cool to see how happy and hopeful they are. I spent time with a 14 year-old who had just gotten back from the hospital with Tuberculosis, who I could tell was depressed and struggling, but she let me into her heart and it was great getting to see her smile. Wednesday we were able to participate in an AIDS support group and then go to a Maquila (factory) started by a group of people living with HIV. So overall it was a really great experience and I feel really lucky that I was a part of it!

So that's all for now. I am just doing a lot of work with HIV/AIDS right now. I have a meeting tomorrow with the director of the nursing school here to plan what my work will be with them so I am looking forward to that!

Hugs,

Lauren

--

P.S. If you haven't signed up for the Positive Pelham newsletter yet, please send a blank email to PositivePelham@gmail.com with the words "Subscribe to the PositivePelham newsletter" in the subject line. I send out an email once a week with a recap of the week's posts. And, I take your privacy very seriously. I only use your email to send you the newsletter. No spam. I promise.

Thanks! - J. Anthony.

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The Dash - A Simple But Thought Provoking Video

I was forwarded this link to this video today. I've heard "The Dash" story before, but it's even more inspiring and thought provoking in video.

Take a moment to watch the video. It's always nice to stop and think about where our lives are headed, and if we need to make a few adjustments to get back on track.

Good luck today. Make it a great day!

Peru's 'Miracle Baby' Walks on Her Own

From HappyNews.com -- With all the tragedy that's been going on over the last week, this is a refreshing story about a little girl who's been given a new outlook on life...

"Peru's ''miracle baby'' walked around her nursery school yard Friday, ducking in and out of a plastic playhouse seven months after undergoing an operation to fully separate her fused legs.

Milagros Cerron, whose first name means ''miracles'' in Spanish, was born with a rare congenital defect known as sirenomelia, or ''mermaid syndrome,'' which left her legs connected from her heels to her groin.

Dr. Luis Rubio, head of the medical team that separated Milagros' legs, invited reporters to see her progress on Friday. He said doctors have successfully reconstructed the child's hips, knees and ankles and that she is ''doing well physically.''

But Rubio said Milagros _ who is called ''the little mermaid'' by Peruvians _ will need another operation in about two years to reconstruct and repair her urinary and sexual organs.

''We've gotten past the first stage, but it's not the last,'' Rubio said. ''There's a long way to go.''

Milagros, who turns 3 years old next week, now takes ballet classes and runs around the playground with her classmates.

In June 2005 doctors successfully performed risky surgery to separate her legs to above her knees. The operation seven months ago was to separate the remaining four inches of fused tissue just below the groin.

Rubio has said Tiffany Yorks, a 17-year-old American, is the only other person known to have undergone successful surgery to correct the rare congenital defect, which occurs in one out of every 70,000 births and is almost always fatal within days of birth.

Milagros' family comes from a poor village in the Andes mountains but Lima's municipal government has agreed to pay for her medical care."

Good luck today. Make it a great one!

Country's Clay Walker Doesn't Let MS Slow Him

If you're a country music fan, you'll find this story interesting. I didn't even know that Clay Walker had MS, but apparently, he has been dealing with the disease for over 10 years now. Here is the story courtesy of ABCNews.com:

"More than a decade after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, Clay Walker's voice sounds stronger than ever on his first new studio album in four years.

The country singer's "Fall," filled with twangy honky-tonk songs and ballads that test his range, was released this week. The CD's disturbingly funny "'Fore She Was Mama," in which a 10-year-old discovers old photos of his mother's bikini-clad partying days, is already a hit."

"The black-hatted singer, who stays active by riding cutting horses and playing basketball, said his illness has not affected his work. He boasts never missing a show due to MS (or any other reason).

"It used to be a death sentence," Walker, 37, said. "I'm living proof you can manage the disease."

To read the complete article, please go to this page on ABCNews.com.

Make it a great day!

The Secret As Seen on Oprah

Did you see the Oprah Winfrey show about The Secret? It's a new motivational/inspirational DVD and system for empowering everyone to succeed by utilizing a "Secret" that successful people for centuries have been using. I didn't see the Oprah episode, but I was curious about what the Secret is. I found the video below on YouTube. It is the first 20 minutes of the Secret DVD. It's pretty interesting stuff.

In essense, the Secret is that "Your Thoughts and Your Feelings determine your future." It's obviously more in-depth than that, but that is the basic principle. What's interesting about this is that it's not just pumping yourself full of positive thoughts, but rather training yourself to attract whatever it is you are thinking about. This does make sense because it works both ways.

Have any of you seen the entire DVD? Anyone here using the Secret? If you have, I'd love to hear your feedback. Use this comment form to share your "secrets". If you want your comments to be private and not shared with my readers, don't worry. All comments have to be approved first before they go live. Personally, I haven't seen the full length movie, but I plan on it just to see for myself. I can't condone or condemn the program because I haven't seen it yet. I do know this, if you want to see the movie, rather than pay $30 for the DVD, just watch it online at their website for only $4.95.

Good luck and keep your thoughts positive! Now, enjoy the first 20 minutes of the Secret:



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Bert Brady - Person of the Week - Welcome Home Soldier

This video is about three minutes long and one you'll definitely want to watch. Guys like Mr. Brady are what America is all about. Please forward this to as many people as you can. It's important to spread news like this. We don't want our soldiers of today treated the way the veterans of Korea and Vietnam were.

Make it a great day and enjoy the video!

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100 Smartest Diet Tips Ever

Yahoo.com has a list of the 100 Smartest Diet Tips Ever. They divide the tips into different categories. Here are the categories and a few tips from each:

I Can Only Handle One Diet Change Right Now. What Should I Do?

• Eat at least two servings of a fruit or veggie at every meal.
• Start eating a big breakfast. It helps you eat fewer total calories throughout the day.

Are there Any Easy Tricks to Help Me Cut Calories?

• Eating out? Halve it, and bag the rest. A typical restaurant entree has 1,000 to 2,000 calories, not even counting the bread, appetizer, beverage, and dessert.
• Instead of whole milk, switch to 1 percent. If you drink one 8-oz glass a day, you'll lose 5 lb in a year.
• Use mustard instead of mayo.
• Limit alcohol to weekends.

How Can I Eat More Veggies?

• Have a V8 or tomato juice instead of a Diet Coke at 3 pm.
• Really hate veggies? Relax. If you love fruits, eat plenty of them; they are just as healthy (especially colorful ones such as oranges, mangoes, and melons).
• Mix three different cans of beans and some diet Italian dressing. Eat this three-bean salad all week.

Can You Give Me a Mantra that will Help Me Stick to My Diet?

• "I'll ride the wave. My cravings will disappear after 10 minutes if I turn my attention elsewhere."
• "It's more stressful to continue being fat than to stop overeating."

I Eat Healthy, but I'm Overweight. What Mistakes Could I Be Making without Realizing It?

• Skipping meals. Many healthy eaters "diet by day and binge by night."
• Ignoring "Serving Size" on the Nutrition Facts panel.
• Snacking on bowls of nuts. Nuts are healthy but dense with calories. Put those bowls away, and use nuts as a garnish instead of a snack.

What Can I Eat for a Healthy Low-Cal Dinner if I Don't Want to Cook?

• The smallest fast-food burger (with mustard and ketchup, not mayo) and a no-cal beverage. Then at home, have an apple or baby carrots.
• Heat up a can of good soup.
• Cereal, fruit, and fat-free milk makes a good meal anytime.

What's Your Best Advice for Avoiding those Extra Holiday Pounds?

• Remember, EAT before you meet. Have this small meal before you go to any parties: a hardboiled Egg, Apple, and a Thirst quencher (water, seltzer, diet soda, tea).
• At a buffet? Eating a little of everything guarantees high calories. Decide on three or four things, only one of which is high in calories. Save that for last so there's less chance of overeating.
• Give it away! After company leaves, give away leftover food to neighbors, doormen, or delivery people, or take it to work the next day.

How Can I Control a Raging Sweet Tooth?

• Once in a while, have a lean, mean salad for lunch or dinner, and save the meal's calories for a full dessert.
• Try these smart little sweets: sugar-free hot cocoa, frozen red grapes, fudgsicles, sugar-free gum, Nutri-Grain chocolate fudge twists, Tootsie Rolls, and hard candy.
• Try 2 weeks without sweets. It's amazing how your cravings vanish.

How Can I Conquer My Downfall: Bingeing at Night?

• Eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The large majority of people who struggle with night eating are those who skip meals or don't eat balanced meals during the day. This is a major setup for overeating at night.
• Brush your teeth right after dinner to remind you: No more food.
• Eating late at night won't itself cause weight gain. It's how many calories—not when you eat them—that counts.

How Can I Reap Added Health Benefits from My Dieting?

• Fat-free isn't always your best bet. Research has found that none of the lycopene or alpha- or beta-carotene that fight cancer and heart disease is absorbed from salads with fat-free dressing. Only slightly more is absorbed with reduced-fat dressing; the most is absorbed with full-fat dressing. But remember, use your dressing in moderate amounts.
• Next time you're feeling wiped out in late afternoon, forgo that cup of coffee and reach for a cup of yogurt instead. The combination of protein, carbohydrate, and fat in an 8-ounce serving of low-fat yogurt will give you a sense of fullness and well-being that coffee can't match, as well as some vital nutrients. If you haven't eaten in 3 to 4 hours, your blood glucose levels are probably dropping, so eating a small amount of nutrient-rich food will give your brain and your body a boost.

Eating Less Isn't Enough—What Exercising Tips Will Help Me Shed Pounds?

• Overeating is not the result of exercise. Vigorous exercise won't stimulate you to overeat. It's just the opposite. Exercise at any level helps curb your appetite immediately following the workout.
• Drinking too few can hamper your weight loss efforts. That's because dehydration can slow your metabolism by 3 percent, or about 45 fewer calories burned a day, which in a year could mean weighing 5 pounds more. The key to water isn't how much you drink, it's how frequently you drink it. Small amounts sipped often work better than 8 ounces gulped down at once.

How Can I Manage My Emotional Eating and Get the Support I Need?

• Sitting at a computer may help you slim down. When researchers at Brown University School of Medicine put 92 people on online weight loss programs for a year, those who received weekly e-mail counseling shed 5 1/2 more pounds than those who got none. Counselors provided weekly feedback on diet and exercise logs, answered questions, and cheered them on. Most major online diet programs offer many of these features.

These are just a few of the 100 tips. To read them all, please go to this page on Yahoo.com.

Good luck and make it a great day!

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