Kindness Compassion and Education

I just finished watching the Newtown service and my heart hurts.  It hasn't stopped hurting since seeing the news on Friday via Twitter that there had been a shooting at an elementary school in CT.  I cried out when reading the first tweet.  A co-worker asked what was wrong and I shared the news.  My co-worker’s response was “this will be another way for people to take away my 2^nd Amendment rights”.  I was stunned because all I was thinking about was I pray no children were killed. 

Sadly that wasn't the case.  20 children died.  6 educators died protecting their students.   Family’s lives have been torn apart including the person’s family who performed this violent act.  A town has been changed.  I hope a nation has been changed.

I agree with President Obama that this is a complex issue.  The last few days the few times I have opened the stream of tweets and Facebook posts I have been dismayed.  I have seen posts that say that these shootings would stop if we put God back in our schools.  My understanding is that if you believe in a God that one’s faith was a 24/7 365 deal.  Believing in God doesn't stop when you walk into a school anymore than when you walk into a bank, prayer or no prayer.   

I have seen tweets that were very unkind to agnostics and atheists.  I didn't realize people that choose not to believe in a God were automatically evil.  I don’t believe in a specific religion or God.  I do believe in the spirit of humanity.  I very much believe in kindness.  Kindness to our families and friends.  Kindness to our neighbors & citizens.  Kindness to the person who just cut you off to exit off the freeway.  Kindness to those that may speak less than respectfully to you.  Kindness to all parents because truly that is the most challenging job any person can have.  Kindness to those that fight a disease called mental illness.  Education and understanding goes a long way in support of kindness.

I have seen tweeters arguing about where the security is in our schools and why isn't more being done.  In every school that I have participated in the building of…electronics were used at every exterior door to control people entering the schools.  From the news reports that was the case at Sandy Hook also. 

And finally the tweets going round on Gun Control has been especially emotional.  I don’t like guns, never have.  When I was married to a man that hunted and had guns in the house I learned how to use them because that was the responsible thing to do.  I don’t believe all guns should be outlawed but I really can’t fathom why we need rapid fire guns in our homes.   Referring back to my co-worker’s comment about the 2^nd Amendment, it was written at a time when most men belonged to a militia and lawlessness was the norm.  Is that where we are today?

I don’t know what the answers are but unless we are willing to have respectful dialog there will be no answers just more heart break.  

Dogs

As I mentioned in the last post (here) this past Friday & Saturday were spent holding a retreat at my house with my BFF.  We were talking goals, both professional and business, for 2013 and well beyond. 

It was serious stuff with some fun mixed in.  However I have two dogs and while I love my dogs they are a big distraction. I decided to ask a friend to take them for 36 hours.  She is a kind soul and agreed.  She also has a dog, Trixie, who I watch on occasion.  The 3 dogs get along great and have a good time together. 

Friday morning I dropped the dogs off at her house and returned to mine.  It was a odd thing.  Typically I am leaving to go out of town not returning to an empty house. 

I feel a little guilty admitting that I rather liked the quiet.  I liked that the house stayed clean.  I liked that I was able to sleep the whole night without interruption.   I liked that I was able to leave the house for lengths of time without thinking about dinner time.

My BFF and I worked hard over those two day and I really didn't miss the puppers.

Within 5 minutes of waving goodbye as she drove off toward home I got into my car and picked up my dogs.  There are pros and cons to having 4 legged friends but for right now I am good with the pros.  
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This post was written as one of the exercises I set up during the retreat.  We were not allowed to get out of our respective beds Saturday morning until a blog post was written.  Notice I kept mine pretty darn short ;)

Retreat Restock Regroup Renew

Tomorrow my BFF is coming to my house for 30 hours of what we are calling a retreat.  The past few years we have had blast sessions while driving a long distance to discuss our goals and ideas for the following year.

This year we are mixing it up and getting serious about it.  My BFF just celebrated her 2nd year of owning her own manufacturing representative firm and I am embarking on a part time social solutions business venture while still working my full time job.  We both want and see better futures and need to set the wheels in motion to get there.  On top of the fact my BFF attended the Tony Robbins Unleash the Power Within seminar which I am looking forward to hearing more about.  We are ready!

I am hosting and have been researching what makes a good business retreat.  I think I have a good mixture of serious work, fun, music, games & more serious work.  Saturday the rewards  are massages by a dear friend who is also a massage therapist.   I have a loose schedule & a kick@ss playlist but ideas are always welcome.

If you have any favorite motivational quotes, ideas for brainstorming or experiences at a retreat please feel free to share in the comment section below.

Thanks!

Small Business Saturday Tampa Bay

I wanted to share a few local businesses that I really like and always manage to find that perfect something when I shop.  Besides unique items these folks offer incredible customer service. 

Starting off in Seminole Heights:

Brooksie's Market  Michelle is the owner of this unique store where you can find everything from local handmade scarfs, coasters, jewelry to fresh herbs straight out of her garden.  She has also started stocking fresh flowers.  You will always be able to find that perfect something!

Cleanse Apothecary's  Besides being in awe of Greg's shop I am in awe of his marketing skills.  He is fantastic with blending social media and marketing.  The wonderful smells in his shop will make you want to not only buy for your friends but you too! Shop today and get an additional 10% off.

Branching out into Tampa,  I can't say enough about

Groovy Cats & Dogs  Yvonne has been a great help in trying to get one of my dogs to stop scratching.  The poor thing has allergies and she really believes in a holistic approach versus the prednizone route.  Besides her expertise you can find all sorts of tasty concoctions for your 4 legged best friends.  

Crossing over the bridge into St. Petersburg we have

Adorn & Company   It is a jewelry store with more.  Like incredible smelling candles & Tokyo Milk products.  No matter if you are visiting St. Petersburg or live close by everyone likes to take part of the sea home with them and sea glass jewelry just arrived in the store!

100 Artist Show Need some color in your life?  This is the show to hit.  It is all about beauty.  Beautiful art in a beautiful location.

The Gift Box   This store is on Beach Drive.  Need I say more?  Well I do because I want you to check out Robert Neff's photography when you are browsing.  He takes wonderful photos of our area.

Feel free to post any other local businesses you feel people should know about in the comment sections.  

Happy shopping!

Ginny

Thankful

Thank you for your support and kindness.  Wishing everyone a day filled with what you are thankful for!

Ginny

Giving Thanks - Relay for Life April 5 & 6, 2013

I attended my first ever Relay for Life volunteer meeting a few weeks ago.  For those that may not have heard of Relay for Life (I hadn't) read this: Relay

My mom Lee, mother-in-law Merrilyn and dear friend Veronica all died of lung cancer.  My best friend's mom Toni, died of cancer.  It is sad to realize probably every single person in the world has known someone who has had this disease.  The good news is some people are survivors and there continue to be medical advancements to wipe out the many forms this disease takes.

Relay for Life is a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society.  It is 18 hours of fun, joy, laughter, tears, strength, hope, & love.  I already know I am going to need a case of Kleenex.

Here is how it works: there are teams, lots of them.  A team can have any number of members but each team needs to raise at least $100.00 to enter and each member of the team also needs to raise $100.00.  My boss doesn't know it yet but he is sooo donating!  Personally I think a team needs a lot of members because during every second of the 18 hours someone from the team needs to be walking/running the track.  This is to represent the fighters that can't quit fighting (more tears) because Cancer never sleeps.
 
My volunteer efforts are with the Relay for Life Seminole Heights team. I may try and get my own team together (consider yourself warned) not only because it is for a good cause but because I know my friends and I can come up with some unique ways to fundraise.  Even during the event each team will have a booth and offer bake goods or ?? to raise money.  One of my ideas is to offer a 5 or 10 minute foot massage for $5.00.  

 

I am also thinking of ways that my social media friends can join in if you so choose.  There is an amazing event just after dark called the Luminary Ceremony.  People  make a donation & and have their loved one's name & any wording or decoration, if requested, written on a luminary bag.  All the bags are lit and from what I have seen of the photos on Google it is very powerful (hello again Kleenex!). 
  
Another way will be to donate to my specific team and I will have that information on my next RFLSH post.  I am big on a lot of smalls make a large. Typically I am applying that to whatever I am eating but that is a different blog post. 

In case you are wondering where the money goes that is raised here is some good information.

During this season of Thanks my wish is that every daughter gets to stand beside her mom and celebrate the next big or small event in their lives.

Wishing you a day filled with what you give thanks for.

Ginny 








 

What is it?

I thought it might be fun to post a partial photo I took from something we have hanging in our office.  In fact we have one in every office here at a-fabco.  It isn't something most offices have and it always brings comments from visitors. 

Can you guess what it is?

What out of the ordinary item do you have in your office?