My Greatest Fear

I have a fear of flying...

Not airplane flying, but just getting out there and taking risks without a safety net.

I read a book by Douglas Adams. Several, in fact. I think it is one of the Hitchhiker trilogy. It was a fictional account, but it stated that human beings could fly. But not when they really wanted to. It would have to be when they were completely distrated from whatever they were doing, and if they looked around and said, "Wow! I'm flying!" they would immediately begin to fall. So the trick was to distract yourself again.

I read another book, this time non-fiction, about Meditation. It said that when you realize "Wow! I'm meditating!" then you have lost it.

So my greatest fear is to fall. or fail. I have Fear of Failure. Not Fear of Success. Is there really such a thing? I think it is a misnomer. Why would any fear success unless they think they will lose something or someone.

There is an old song that says: "One small taste of honey is worse than none at all!"

I'm afraid that I will manifest some wonderful things and a steady income of 2000 dollars or better per week, and then when I sit back and say, I'm a great manifestor, it will all disappear. That's my biggest fear.

I see others manifesting some great things. I view them with envy and distrust. Can it really be done? Can it really be so easy?!

I'm not much of a risk taker. Writing this was a risk. No, publishing it will be the risk. For now I will just save it as a draft.

I was given the opportunity to fly on Sunday morning. I shook my head firmly and said no! I wasn't going to go up on stage and sing in front of all thse people! But someone else did. And she did well. She's no Julie Andrews, but she wasn't Lucille Ball, either!

Here goes! We have nothing to fear, but fear itself...

Happy New Year, Tiger!

For those of us who have already forgotten our New Year's Resolutions, we get another chance to begin again: The Year of the Golden Tiger, has just begun on February 14, 2010, according to the Chinese Lunar Calendar.

The Chinese Zodiac contains 12 different symbols, but they change every year, not every month. They also do not change on the same day every year. So if you were born in January of 1998, you are not a tiger, but an ox. If you are born in January, you have to look to the previous sign. My son will be 12, so he is a Tiger, having been born in 1998. If you are born in February, good luck trying to figure it out!

Are you a Tiger?

According to SpringsGreetingCards.com, you are:
Courageous, active, and self-assured. Optimistic, passionate and independent. Rebellious, dynamic, and unpredictable. Quick tempered but considerate. Affectionate but careless. The Tiger is a natural born leader and symbolizes power, passion and daring.

People born in the Year of the Tiger are generally well liked because of their charming personalities. Often, failing at a given task or being unproductive in his personal or professional life can cause a Tiger to experience a deep depression. Criticism from loved ones can also generate this type of Tiger reaction.

Tigers are fond of competitions. They simply cannot pass up a challenge. They may appear cool and are unpredictable, and it would be unwise to underestimate their reactions. Natural leaders, they have a strong sense of their own dignity. They are intelligent, alert, and farsighted. Good strategists and tacticians, they often have a hidden agenda. As long as they do not risk their luck too often, and keep their restless nature under control, they will enjoy success and happiness.

People born in the Year of the Tiger are straightforward and uninhibited in nature. They will never give up no matter how frustrated they may become. But, they are also full of suspicion and sometimes will take hasty action.

People born in the Year of the Tiger take pride in being different than others, and generally illustrate their originality best in their homes. Their homes are usually filled with exotic treasures. They are fast learners, need challenge and often work alone. Some tend to change careers more often because they get bored easily. They are natural born leaders and perform best if working towards positions of power and influence. They like to spend money, and also to share it. They can be quite impulsive spenders because they know they can always make more.

It is interesting that their two main features are rashness and hesitation, a pair of contradictions. If they know how to relax and do things according to the situation, they can become quite successful.

Tiger Years: 02/08/1902 to 01/28/1903 (Water), 01/26/1914 to 02/13/1915 (Wood), 02/13/1926 to 02/01/1927 (Fire), 01/31/1938 to 02/18/1939 (Earth), 02/17/1950 to 02/05/1951 (Metal), 02/05/1962 to 01/24/1963 (Water), 01/23/1974 to 02/10/1975 (Wood), 02/09/1986 to 01/28/1987 (Fire), 01/28/1998 to 02/15/1999 (Earth), 02/14/2010 to 02/02/2011 (Metal)

Famous Tiger People: Agatha Christie, Crystal Gayle, Cybill Shepherd, Demi Moore, Diana Rigg, Elizabeth Kubler-Ross, Hilary Swank, Jodie Foster, Marilyn Monroe, Mary Queen of Scots, Norma Shearer, Penelope Cruz, Queen Elizabeth II, Rosie O'Donnell, and Tom Cruise.

This can be found at http://www.springsgreetingcards.com/catalogs/store.asp?pid=250913

Whether or not you are a Tiger, I would like to wish you Health and Happiness in the New Year!

What TMI has done for me

I joined ToastMasters International in July 2009.

I have completed 8 speeches so far in the first manual, The Competant Communicator.

When I joined I just wanted to learn to be a more dynamic speaker. I wanted to engage my audience, and be able to think on my feet. I have done presentations for a long time and had mixed reviews. Sometimes I'm up and it goes wonderfully, sometimes I'm mediocre. So I wanted to learn how to make sure I am always at my best in the spotlight.

I think this is the best way to increase confidence as you also improve the effectiveness of your communication skills. I am very encouraged, since after the last 3 speeches, I have been told by different members that I improve each time and this is "the best one yet!"

I love to hear it! The feedback is wonderful. I never enjoyed "evaluations' until ToastMasters. You see, no one is allowed to say anything negative UNLESS they have a suggestion for improvement. And they come up with great suggestions. My second speech was given at a center for Advanced Speakers. I was offered the opportunity to speak before my scheduled workshop at the National Guild of Hypnotists in August 2009. At first I declined in sheer fright, but then realized what a great opportunity it would be. I'm glad I went.

Dr. Pete's Warning

Today I have a guest blogger, Dr. Pete. Dr. Pete is very concerned about the current work environment of today's employees. He has seen an increase in stress, anxiety, and depression, a decrease in life satisfaction, due to incredible pressure at work and the constant fear of losing one's livelihood. Many people are working harder and longer, due to the belief that the employer can lay off as many workers as he wants and still maintain the same level of productivity without giving any compensation. This results in demoralization of the employee, contributes to depression, and has a negative impact on the overall productivity of the corporation. Somehow, employers are not getting the message that harassing the employees will not have the desired effect.

In a changing world where the rich get rich and the poor get poorer it is time for the People to actually join their strengths together, and fight for their dignity, health, sanity, and peace of mind. Thinking individually and selfishly is not going to change anything. Have you ever wondered what would happen if people actually joined together? And said, “No More!” We demand to be treated with dignity and respect.

Has anyone ever thought if we all collectively decide not to got to work tomorrow, what's going to happen? Are we ALL going to get fired? Perhaps, not! What if decide not to go to work for the whole week? We may lose some money, but our employers will lose much more.

Dr. Pete says stop fighting yourself! Stop the rat race! Those employers prey on your compulsary behaviors and they capitalize on your fear. The American Dream as you knew it is DEAD, Create a New One!

Astronomical Controversy

When I was in Elementary School, I was taught that there were 9 planets in our solar system and that the mnemonic: My very elegant mother just served us nine pickles. Every word in that sentence begins with the first letter of the planets in order:
Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto!

I would like to to discuss the controversy surrounding Pluto.

Pluto was discovered by Clyde Tombaugh in 1930 at the Lowell Observatory in Arizona. It was the first time an American had discovered a planet. Percival Lowell, who had established the observatory, had postulated that there was a ninth planet, which he referred to as "Planet X." Clyde Tombaugh, a 23 year old from Kansas was hired to look for Planet X. When he found it, he called it "Pluto" which was suggested by an 11 year old girl in England. It was named for the Roman God of the Underworld, not Mickey Mouse's dog, as you may have heard. In actuality, Mickey's pet was named after the planet!

In 2005 the American Planetary Society celebrated the 75th anniversary of the discovery of the planet Pluto.

In 2006, the International Astronomical Union decided that Pluto was not a planet. After much debate, it was decided that a planet must meet 3 criteria.
1. it must orbit the sun. (check)
2. it must be spherical in shape. (check)
3. it must have cleared the neighborhood of all debris.

Pluto was irresponsible with regard to cleaning up its neighborhood. Pluto's neighborhood is the Kuiper Belt which is populated by asteroids, called Kuiper Belt Objects (KBOs) or sometimes plutinos.

So Pluto has been demoted, demoralized and denigrated. It is no longer a planet, but a "dwarf planet."

The solar sytem now has eight planets. You can remember them by using this mnemonic device: Mooing very eagerly, Mary juggled slimy unicorns nimbly. Or making up your own sentence which creates a very unusual picture that is easy to remember.

This is a tragedy of astronomical proportions. But we can get through it together. I think if Pluto could talk, he would be grateful for his 75 years as a planet.

There are many morals to this story:

No job is safe in this economy.
Change is inevitable, nothing stays the same.
If you want to compete in Are you Smarter than a Fifth Grader, remember the mooing juggler.
and, of course,

Don't litter.

The History of Pluto

The planet Pluto was named in 1930. Supposedly by a little girl. The astronomer's daughter, perhaps? Supposedly after Mickey Mouse's dog. But I wonder if that child had knowledge of the Roman mythology, since Pluto is the Roman God of the Underworld and Jupiter, the biggest god, equivalent to Zeus. Mercury was the messenger of the gods, equivalent to Hermes. Venus to Aphrodite, Mars to Ares.

But oops, I made a mistake. I referred to Pluto as a planet. One of the 9 planets in our system. Oops, make that 8. Pluto has been demoted. They say it is just a rock, smaller even than our moon, which was considered a planet in ancient times. Planet means wanderer. They noticed that some of the lights in the sky moved together in a pattern, and a few others moved around a bit erratically, like Saturn, Venus and Mars.

Anyway, I feel sorry for Pluto. Pluto is now just Mickey Mouse's dog again. Pluto is a dog in a world where mice, rats, ducks and other animals have jobs, speak English, and wear clothes. But Pluto can't talk, and wears only a collar.... I guess it could've been worse, she could have called it Goofy.