January 30, 2010
Op-Ed Columnist
A Radical Treasure
By BOB HERBERT

I had lunch with Howard Zinn just a few weeks ago, and I’ve seldom had more fun while talking about so many matters that were unreservedly unpleasant: the sorry state of government and politics in the U.S., the tragic futility of our escalation in Afghanistan, the plight of working people in an economy rigged to benefit the rich and powerful.

Mr. Zinn could talk about all of that and more without losing his sense of humor. He was a historian with a big, engaging smile that seemed ever-present. His death this week at the age of 87 was a loss that should have drawn much more attention from a press corps that spends an inordinate amount of its time obsessing idiotically over the likes of Tiger Woods and John Edwards.

Mr. Zinn was chagrined by the present state of affairs, but undaunted. “If there is going to be change, real change,” he said, “it will have to work its way from the bottom up, from the people themselves. That’s how change happens.”

We were in a restaurant at the Warwick Hotel in Manhattan. Also there was Anthony Arnove, who had worked closely with Mr. Zinn in recent years and had collaborated on his last major project, “The People Speak.” It’s a film in which well-known performers bring to life the inspirational words of everyday citizens whose struggles led to some of the most profound changes in the nation’s history. Think of those who joined in — and in many cases became leaders of — the abolitionist movement, the labor movement, the civil rights movement, the feminist revolution, the gay rights movement, and so on.

Think of what this country would have been like if those ordinary people had never bothered to fight and sometimes die for what they believed in. Mr. Zinn refers to them as “the people who have given this country whatever liberty and democracy we have.”

Our tendency is to give these true American heroes short shrift, just as we gave Howard Zinn short shrift. In the nitwit era that we’re living through now, it’s fashionable, for example, to bad-mouth labor unions and feminists even as workers throughout the land are treated like so much trash and the culture is so riddled with sexism that most people don’t even notice it. (There’s a restaurant chain called “Hooters,” for crying out loud.)

I always wondered why Howard Zinn was considered a radical. (He called himself a radical.) He was an unbelievably decent man who felt obliged to challenge injustice and unfairness wherever he found it. What was so radical about believing that workers should get a fair shake on the job, that corporations have too much power over our lives and much too much influence with the government, that wars are so murderously destructive that alternatives to warfare should be found, that blacks and other racial and ethnic minorities should have the same rights as whites, that the interests of powerful political leaders and corporate elites are not the same as those of ordinary people who are struggling from week to week to make ends meet?

Mr. Zinn was often taken to task for peeling back the rosy veneer of much of American history to reveal sordid realities that had remained hidden for too long. When writing about Andrew Jackson in his most famous book, “A People’s History of the United States,” published in 1980, Mr. Zinn said:

“If you look through high school textbooks and elementary school textbooks in American history, you will find Jackson the frontiersman, soldier, democrat, man of the people — not Jackson the slaveholder, land speculator, executioner of dissident soldiers, exterminator of Indians.”

Radical? Hardly.

Mr. Zinn would protest peacefully for important issues he believed in — against racial segregation, for example, or against the war in Vietnam — and at times he was beaten and arrested for doing so. He was a man of exceptionally strong character who worked hard as a boy growing up in Brooklyn during the Depression. He was a bomber pilot in World War II, and his experience of the unmitigated horror of warfare served as the foundation for his lifelong quest for peaceful solutions to conflict.

He had a wonderful family, and he cherished it. He and his wife, Roslyn, known to all as Roz, were married in 1944 and were inseparable for more than six decades until her death in 2008. She was an activist, too, and Howard’s editor. “I never showed my work to anyone except her,” he said.

They had two children and five grandchildren.

Mr. Zinn was in Santa Monica this week, resting up after a grueling year of work and travel, when he suffered a heart attack and died on Wednesday. He was a treasure and an inspiration. That he was considered radical says way more about this society than it does about him.

Copyright 2010 The New York Times Company

As you may know (or you may not know, thanks to the fact Main Stream Media has totally ignored this), Howard Zinn passed away last week at the age of 87 from a heart attack. He was a great historian, author, playwright, and social activist. He was also a political activist whose books such as “A People’s History of the United States” prompted a generation to rethink the nation’s past.

In 1997, Dr. Zinn slipped into popular culture when his writing made a cameo appearance in the film “Good Will Hunting.” The title character, played by Matt Damon, lauds “A People’s History” and urges Robin Williams’s character to read it. Damon, who co-wrote the script, was a neighbor of the Zinns when growing up.

“Howard had a great mind and was one of the great voices in the American political life,” Ben Affleck, Damon’s longtime friend and his costar in “Good Will Hunting,” said in a statement. “He taught me how valuable, how necessary dissent was to democracy and to America itself. He taught that history was made by the everyman, not the elites. I was lucky enough to know him personally, and I will carry with me what I learned from him – and try to impart it to my own children – in his memory.”

Damon was later involved in a television version of the book, “The People Speak,” which ran on the History Channel in 2009.

Here is one short excerpt from “The People Speak”. This clip features Q’Orianka Kilcher who performs at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival.

Be well — be in peace,

Ron Rink
=======================================================

There’s a “Share” button on the lower right so you can add this widget to your website or blog as well. Help to spread the word. Let’s get people thinking about how this could affect the world we live in.

It’s simple really — just live your life by the Golden Rule.

Be well — be in peace,

Ron Rink
===============================================

Have you ever given any thought to just how awkward it is to being a human being? With most decisions we make — maybe with every decision we make, there is the potential for doubting ourselves. Everytime this glimmer, or perhaps more than a glimmer of self-doubt arises in our minds, we’re opening the door to feelings of insecurity.

Insecurity! Talk about a complex emotion. You have an amazing mix of inadequacy, isolation, fear, and hopelessness in just about equal parts. I just went through a session of dealing with insecurity today. I did a video-movie of my step-granddaughter’s 10th birthday party and decided to put some copies of it in different places on the Internet. This was a first attempt at making a movie from the video clips I took with a a new camcorder. One of the places I put the video was on Vimeo. (You can see it here: http://vimeo.com/5290458)

When I looked around at some of the other videos posted at Vimeo, my feelings of inadequacy grew even more.

However, as I started to examine how this emotion was playing me, I began to realize that this feeling of insecurity could prevent me from filling my potential by bringing in defensive actions such as imposing self-limitations. That didn’t make a lot of sense to me since I know the perception of being inadequate is not a valid perception. The reason why I was feeling unconfident (is that a word?) and unsure of myself, was because I was making the judgment that it was so.

When we feel insecure, we not only perceive ourselves as incapable of meeting life’s challenges but also fraudulent and unworthy of true happiness. We move through life plagued by a sense that others have judged us and found that we are lacking. As a result, we are robbed of our personal power and rendered unable to feel positive about the choices we make.

Whenever you find yourself feeling insecure, try to figure out what’s causing it. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that as a child you rarely received positive reinforcement. Perhaps in your working life you don’t receive acknowledgment of the work you do well. Oftentimes, the people closest to you have a tendency to take you and your efforts for granted. When you have pinpointed the origin of your insecurity, focus on your abilities. The more you utilize your personal power — by taking risks, boldly facing challenges, and acting decisively — the stronger it will grow.

Remember that insecurity is not objective. Rather, it is an emotional interpretation of your value unconsciously based on doubt, shame, and fear. As you overcome those underlying emotions through courageous action and copious self-love, you’ll discover that you are capable of achieving more than you ever thought possible.

Be well — be in peace,

Ron Rink
====================================================================================================================
Always remember this wonderful quote from Buddha ….

========================================================

Namaste!

You are special — and you are loved. You are the greatest gift you can be.

Shanti … (A sanscrit word meaning, “Let there be Peace. Peace, beautiful Peace. Peace within, Peace without. Peace in this world. Peace for all beings.”)

http://www.buddhistbelief.com
http://www.theleaderinside.com
http://www.wecould2.com

P.S. Remember, that if you have one of the “readers” — like My Yahoo, My MSN, or the Google Reader, or any of the others, you can get our blog sent to you automatically whenever I post to it. Just click one of the buttons over on the left side to add it to your reader.

I do have a FaceBook page — if any of you partake of this social activity. Mine is:

Ron’s FaceBook Page

Ron Rink
================================================================
Give the Gift of Entertainment that Enlightens and Inspires…

Spiritual Cinema Circle is one of America’s most unique DVD clubs, featuring movies that warm the heart and stir the soul.

Our inspirational movies have played to enthusiastic audiences at film festivals all over the world, and many have won major awards. But in most cases, The Spiritual Cinema Circle is the only place to find these amazing films.

Take a look at more details about how this wonderful way to enjoy good entertainment.

Click on the link below. If you want to see what’s in the current month’s DVD, just open the link that says, “Our Films”.

Spiritual Cinema Circle

================================================================
In my meditation I often use what I believe is a powerful aide to deep meditation. It’s the The Holosync Solution. I knew that meditation was a vital element to nurturing my soul — to opening myself to the universe — and this tool has allowed me to achieve and receive the benefits of deep, long-term meditation — and to achieve it much more quickly. If you’re having trouble “getting meditation to work for you” – then the The Holosync Solution is what you’re looking for.

Regular, daily meditation can give you …

(1) Increased intelligence and creativity.
(2) Lower stress levels — and with that — increased ability to handle whatever the world tosses your way.
(3) New levels of self-awareness and inner peace.
(4) The healing of emotional issues at the deepest levels.
(5) It is the proven path to finding the peace, love and compassion within all of us –

— it’s definitely worth taking the time for this powerful practice every day.

With a One-Year 100% Iron-Clad Guarantee, you can now do so with no risk whatsoever — just click any of the links that say … The Holosync Solution

— The Holosync Solution
====================================================================
[tags]peace, inner self, inner peace, Buddhist Belief, spiritual energy, hope, action, value, inner balance, enlightenment, destiny, manifestation, meditation, patience, gratitude, tolerance, acceptance, body balance, life cycle, beginnings, endings, positive thinking, ego, silence, consciousness, staying grounded, cycle of life, sustainability, compassion[/tags]

One of the things I learned as a youngster is the only person I can truly trust is myself. I don’t feel the same today, but it sure did work for me back in those days. I also learned to always do things myself if I wanted them done right. Let’s face it, in our society today self-reliance is highly prized. People who have to always rely on others to do what needs to be done are usually looked at in a negative way. As a result, we’re hesitant to ask for help or delegate responsibility regardless of how many duties we face or how overwhelmed we become. We fear that our need for assistance is indicative of inner weakness.

Over the past couple of years as my health has deteriorated rather rapidly, I’m learning an important lesson. I’m discovering how important it is to know when to recruit some help. I’m also learning about the value of building a network of support. There’s another thing I’m coming to realize, and that is how important it is for everyone to be aware of these facts, regardless of whether they think they need it.

Building a network of support, personally and professionally, can help you avoid shouldering a burden of obligations so large it prevents you from successfully addressing any of them. Your willingness to rely on others will free you to focus the whole of your attention on those responsibilities that truly require your personal attention or expertise.

As we look around us we can see so many possibilities for creating a team if and when you need it. There are family, friends, hired professionals, assistants. For the stuff around the house you can never seem to get done, there are housekeepers, handymen, baby-sitters, delivery services to help you stay on top and leave you time for yourself and your loved ones.

When you seek out and accept help, you give yourself the dual gifts of time and energy. Finding the courage to admit that you need assistance and to ask for it, however, can be difficult. Before you can comfortably do so, you may have to recognize that no one is capable of doing everything themselves and that delegation does not mean giving up control. As you create a support network, you’ll discover that each task you delegate to another reduces the pressure you’re under and frees you to devote more of your attention to that which is truly important to the soul of you.

I know, for me personally, this is a hard lesson to learn. It was always a matter of pride for me to be able to handle whatever came my way. My mind is still saying, “You can do it!” But, my body is saying, “You need to pay attention to me and delegate!” I’m still not completely convinced, but hopefully, I’ll sit down soon and read what I just wrote here and get the message.

Be well — be in peace,

Ron Rink
====================================================================================================================
Always remember this wonderful quote from Buddha ….

========================================================

Namaste!

You are special — and you are loved. You are the greatest gift you can be.

Shanti … (A sanscrit word meaning, “Let there be Peace. Peace, beautiful Peace. Peace within, Peace without. Peace in this world. Peace for all beings.”)

http://www.buddhistbelief.com
http://www.theleaderinside.com
http://www.wecould2.com

P.S. Remember, that if you have one of the “readers” — like My Yahoo, My MSN, or the Google Reader, or any of the others, you can get our blog sent to you automatically whenever I post to it. Just click one of the buttons over on the left side to add it to your reader.

Oh, and another thing — follow me on Twitter (see the button up on the left under Resources or click this link: Follow Me on Twitter) and I’ll let you know what’s going on with my blogs and a lot of other neat things as well.

Ron Rink
================================================================
This Father’s Day Give the Gift of Entertainment that Enlightens and Inspires…

Spiritual Cinema Circle is one of America’s most unique DVD clubs, featuring movies that warm the heart and stir the soul.

Our inspirational movies have played to enthusiastic audiences at film festivals all over the world, and many have won major awards. But in most cases, The Spiritual Cinema Circle is the only place to find these amazing films.

Take a look at more details about how to please your Dad, or your Grandfather this Father’s Day. Click the link to learn more …

Spiritual Cinema Circle

================================================================
In my meditation I often use what I believe is a powerful aide to deep meditation. It’s the The Holosync Solution. I knew that meditation was a vital element to nurturing my soul — to opening myself to the universe — and this tool has allowed me to achieve and receive the benefits of deep, long-term meditation — and to achieve it much more quickly. If you’re having trouble “getting meditation to work for you” – then the The Holosync Solution is what you’re looking for.

Regular, daily meditation can give you …

(1) Increased intelligence and creativity.
(2) Lower stress levels — and with that — increased ability to handle whatever the world tosses your way.
(3) New levels of self-awareness and inner peace.
(4) The healing of emotional issues at the deepest levels.
(5) It is the proven path to finding the peace, love and compassion within all of us –

— it’s definitely worth taking the time for this powerful practice every day.

With a One-Year 100% Iron-Clad Guarantee, you can now do so with no risk whatsoever — just click any of the links that say … The Holosync Solution

— The Holosync Solution
====================================================================
[tags]peace, inner self, inner peace, Buddhist Belief, spiritual energy, hope, action, value, inner balance, enlightenment, destiny, manifestation, meditation, patience, gratitude, tolerance, acceptance, body balance, life cycle, beginnings, endings, positive thinking, ego, silence, consciousness, staying grounded, cycle of life, sustainability, compassion[/tags]

How many challenges are you facing today? If your life is anything like mine, you’re probably facing a heck of a lot more than you’d like, right? Let’s face it — facing challenges is what life is all about.

I get fascinated when I think back to the days when we could dream the grandest of dreams only to wake up and discover that we need to cultivate copious inner strength, courage and determination to meet our goals. Sometimes we work our butts off only to get results completely different from what we desire.

Another factor in all this is when we find ourselves frustrated by the trials we face, or are unable to meet our own expectations, and then we notice those individuals who appear to accomplish great feats effortlessly. Some people’s lives seem to magically fall into place. We can see the blessings they have received, the ease with which they have attained their desires, their unwavering confidence, and their wealth. But, because we can never see the story of their lives as a whole, it’s important that we refrain from passing judgment or becoming envious.

One of the great temptations we have is to think that the success we see in others is because they’ve been super-lucky and they achieved their success easily rather than having to work for it. I suppose it’s possible in some rare cases where that’s true, but very few people “have it easy”. We all have to overcome difficulties, and all of us have been granted a distinctive set of talents so that we can get on top of these challenges.

I can remember an incident from my youth that demonstrates what I’m trying to say here. This was during the time when a movie called, “A Song to Remember” was extremely popular. This movie portrayed the life of Frederick Chopin and starred Cornel Wilde and Merle Oberon. In our “Auditorium Class” at my school, our teacher would often do the exercise where she would give each student a slip of paper on which there was something to portray. Then, one at a time, each student would go up on stage and “act out” whatever was on the paper.

My paper said, “Pretend you are Frederick Chopin in the movie, ‘A Song to Remember’.”

When my turn came, I walked up onto the stage, sat at the piano, and proceeded to play the entire Polonaise in A Major — flawlessly and completely from memory. This Polonaise was a predominant piece in the movie. I received my first standing ovation that day. What the students didn’t realize, of course, was the number of hours, days, weeks and months of practice it took to learn and memorize that piece. I had learned it for a recital — the incident in the Auditorium that day was pure coincidence — even though I was delighted at the advantages it brought me because of it. I had never received so much positive attention from the girls in my school.

You, no doubt, have natural abilities that you have nurtured and your gifts may be the very reason you strive as tirelessly as you do. Yet others see only the outcome of your efforts and not the efforts themselves

Our intellects, our hearts, and our souls are constantly being tested by the universe. Life will create new challenges for you to face each time you prove yourself capable of overcoming the challenges of the past. What you deem difficult will always differ from what others deem difficult. The tests you’ll be given will be as unique as you are. If you focus on doing the best you can and making use of the blessings you’ve been granted, the outcome of your efforts will be a joyous reflection of your dedication.

So, on those days when things don’t go the way you’d like, remember the quote at the beginning of this post by Buddha, and “let us rise up and be thankful”.

Be well — be in peace,

Ron Rink
====================================================================================================================
Always remember this wonderful quote from Buddha ….

========================================================

Namaste!

You are special — and you are loved. You are the greatest gift you can be.

Shanti … (A sanscrit word meaning, “Let there be Peace. Peace, beautiful Peace. Peace within, Peace without. Peace in this world. Peace for all beings.”)

http://www.buddhistbelief.com
http://www.theleaderinside.com
http://www.wecould2.com

P.S. Remember, that if you have one of the “readers” — like My Yahoo, My MSN, or the Google Reader, or any of the others, you can get our blog sent to you automatically whenever I post to it. Just click one of the buttons over on the left side to add it to your reader.

Oh, and another thing — follow me on Twitter (see the button up on the left under Resources or click this link: Follow Me on Twitter) and I’ll let you know what’s going on with my blogs and a lot of other neat things as well.

Ron Rink
================================================================
In my meditation I often use what I believe is a powerful aide to deep meditation. It’s the The Holosync Solution. I knew that meditation was a vital element to nurturing my soul — to opening myself to the universe — and this tool has allowed me to achieve and receive the benefits of deep, long-term meditation — and to achieve it much more quickly. If you’re having trouble “getting meditation to work for you” – then the The Holosync Solution is what you’re looking for.

Regular, daily meditation can give you …

(1) Increased intelligence and creativity.
(2) Lower stress levels — and with that — increased ability to handle whatever the world tosses your way.
(3) New levels of self-awareness and inner peace.
(4) The healing of emotional issues at the deepest levels.
(5) It is the proven path to finding the peace, love and compassion within all of us –

— it’s definitely worth taking the time for this powerful practice every day.

With a One-Year 100% Iron-Clad Guarantee, you can now do so with no risk whatsoever — just click any of the links that say … The Holosync Solution

— The Holosync Solution
====================================================================
[tags]peace, inner self, inner peace, Buddhist Belief, spiritual energy, hope, action, value, inner balance, enlightenment, destiny, manifestation, meditation, patience, gratitude, tolerance, acceptance, body balance, life cycle, beginnings, endings, positive thinking, ego, silence, consciousness, staying grounded, cycle of life, sustainability, compassion[/tags]

These are interesting times. I keep hearing the world leaders continuing their talk about how they will resort to war and violence in an effort to solve problems. All this talk of violence led me to think about a great leader that understood the power of non-violence, the power of peace — Mahatma Gandhi.

There are so many types of power, aren’t there? The type of power we hear so much about these days is the power of violence — it’s an abrupt, forceful, and definitely harmful power.

Gandhi saw it another way — he saw a kind of power that is constant, unyielding but at the same time, loving and peaceful. This marvelous leader of the nonviolence movement in India, championed the belief that nonviolence is the law for all humanity and that it takes greater strength to use peaceful resistance to achieve your ends than to resort to brute force.

According to Gandhi: “Power rightly exercised must sit light as a flower, no one should feel the weight of it.” Calling himself a “practical idealist,” he believed in facing injustice in the world by having the courage to love and show “ahimsa”, selflessness, which he wrote — brought “delight” to his life. By following the teachings of Gandhi, we can learn to recognize the subtle power of nonviolence to bring a sense of peace to our lives and the lives of others.

Born in India, on October 2,1869 as Mohandas Gandhi, he began his spiritual search for truth and eventually earned the name Mahatma, meaning “great soul.” He lived for several years in South Africa, and while there he studied the works of many different religions as well as the literary works of writers such as Tolstoy and Thoreau. This study led him to abandon the pursuit of wealth and seek a life of self-improvement. During this time he began to experience discrimination. He chose to react to it by organizing peaceful marches, community meetings and boycotts, which often led to his arrest.

When he returned to India, he created a highly successful system of nonviolent protest to win independence from the British. Using fasting, prayer and a stubborn resolve not to hate the British, his legacy has made a lasting impression on people all over the world. Gandhi believed that, “Hate is the subtlest form of violence. We cannot be really nonviolent and yet have hate in us.”

For Gandhi, the ultimate end of nonviolence was an enlightened world, in which people would naturally care for one another, without needing to be governed. But, he also realized that this Utopian vision was not yet a reality. Therefore, he believed strongly that people should have the courage to defend their visions, but when at all possible, they should do so without causing pain to anyone else. He added that by using the principles of nonviolence, the weak would grow stronger. To Gandhi, it was integral that people always speak their truth but he also believed that, “One should speak the truth in gentle language.”

Gandhi left behind a remarkable legacy. His teachings still affect huge numbers of people today. There is little doubt that his way of believing would have profound universal applications, if only the world leaders could see the truth in those ideals. Gandhi lived by his principles — as should we. The true essence of nonviolence begins with the way we conduct our own private lives and the way we feel about other human beings. As Gandhi taught, we can be powerful and loving. We can speak our personal truth in a way that spreads enlightenment.

If you are a lover of peace and non-violence, then take those beliefs with you in your life and get out and work for people who see the truth in the ideals of peace.

Be well — be in peace,

Ron Rink
====================================================================================================================
Always remember this wonderful quote from Buddha ….

========================================================

Namaste!

You are special — and you are loved. You are the greatest gift you can be.

Shanti … (A sanscrit word meaning, “Let there be Peace. Peace, beautiful Peace. Peace within, Peace without. Peace in this world. Peace for all beings.”)

http://www.buddhistbelief.com
http://www.theleaderinside.com
http://www.wecould2.com

P.S. Remember, that if you have one of the “readers” — like My Yahoo, My MSN, or the Google Reader, or any of the others, you can get our blog sent to you automatically whenever I post to it. Just click one of the buttons over on the left side to add it to your reader.

Oh, and another thing — follow me on Twitter (see the button up on the left under Resources or click this link: Follow Me on Twitter) and I’ll let you know what’s going on with my blogs and a lot of other neat things as well.

Ron Rink
================================================================
In my meditation I often use what I believe is a powerful aide to deep meditation. It’s the The Holosync Solution. I knew that meditation was a vital element to nurturing my soul — to opening myself to the universe — and this tool has allowed me to achieve and receive the benefits of deep, long-term meditation — and to achieve it much more quickly. If you’re having trouble “getting meditation to work for you” – then the The Holosync Solution is what you’re looking for.

Regular, daily meditation can give you …

(1) Increased intelligence and creativity.
(2) Lower stress levels — and with that — increased ability to handle whatever the world tosses your way.
(3) New levels of self-awareness and inner peace.
(4) The healing of emotional issues at the deepest levels.
(5) It is the proven path to finding the peace, love and compassion within all of us –

— it’s definitely worth taking the time for this powerful practice every day.

With a One-Year 100% Iron-Clad Guarantee, you can now do so with no risk whatsoever — just click any of the links that say … The Holosync Solution

— The Holosync Solution
====================================================================
[tags]peace, inner self, inner peace, Buddhist Belief, spiritual energy, hope, action, value, inner balance, enlightenment, destiny, manifestation, meditation, patience, gratitude, tolerance, acceptance, body balance, life cycle, beginnings, endings, positive thinking, ego, silence, consciousness, staying grounded, cycle of life, sustainability, compassion[/tags]

Do you ever have one of those “bad days”? You know the kind I mean — one of those days where no matter what you set out to do, you can’t seem to catch a break. It seems like there is one challenging thing after another happening as your day progresses. None of the challenges are things you had hoped to work on for the day. Oh no! These are all unexpected and usually related in some way to technology.

Sometimes it’s necessary, or worth it, to stay in the fray and work our way through. Other times, the best idea is to wrap it up and take the breath we need in order to carry on.

In those times where the best choice is to hang in there and work your way through the day, those frustrations can turn out to be great teachers. One thing you can know for sure — this too shall pass. Nothing is permanent. When it does pass you can look back on it and take pride in the stamina, courage, and ingenuity it took to work through the problem. Of course, when you do look back on it, there’s always the chance you could discover another, better way to have solved the problem. These are both excellent teachers and may prove helpful for tough days that may come up in the future.

Trust your gut as you’re deciding whether to tough it out and work through it, and know that sometimes a timely retreat is the best way to ensure a positive outcome. Getting space can remind us that external circumstances are not the whole picture. Once we catch our breath and re-center ourselves, we will be able to determine our next move. Taking the time for some quiet meditation may give us a better perspective. We may even find the inner resources to change our attitude about what’s happening. We may begin to see that what we saw as hardships are actually opportunities. As our attitude changes for the better, our actions and the circumstances will follow suit.

And then — there are those times when all we should do is to walk away from the frustration and call it a day. Sleep on it and see how you feel in the morning. We all have hard days and they’re usually either good days for some learning or to move on and be ready for the next day.

Be well — be in peace,

Ron Rink
====================================================================================================================
Always remember this wonderful quote from Buddha ….

========================================================

Namaste!

You are special — and you are loved. You are the greatest gift you can be.

Shanti … (A sanscrit word meaning, “Let there be Peace. Peace, beautiful Peace. Peace within, Peace without. Peace in this world. Peace for all beings.”)

http://www.buddhistbelief.com
http://www.theleaderinside.com
http://www.wecould2.com

P.S. Remember, that if you have one of the “readers” — like My Yahoo, My MSN, or the Google Reader, or any of the others, you can get our blog sent to you automatically whenever I post to it. Just click one of the buttons over on the left side to add it to your reader.

Oh, and another thing — follow me on Twitter (see the button up on the left under Resources or click this link: Follow Me on Twitter) and I’ll let you know what’s going on with my blogs and a lot of other neat things as well.

Ron Rink
================================================================
In my meditation I often use what I believe is a powerful aide to deep meditation. It’s the The Holosync Solution. I knew that meditation was a vital element to nurturing my soul — to opening myself to the universe — and this tool has allowed me to achieve and receive the benefits of deep, long-term meditation — and to achieve it much more quickly. If you’re having trouble “getting meditation to work for you” – then the The Holosync Solution is what you’re looking for.

Regular, daily meditation can give you …

(1) Increased intelligence and creativity.
(2) Lower stress levels — and with that — increased ability to handle whatever the world tosses your way.
(3) New levels of self-awareness and inner peace.
(4) The healing of emotional issues at the deepest levels.
(5) It is the proven path to finding the peace, love and compassion within all of us –

— it’s definitely worth taking the time for this powerful practice every day.

With a One-Year 100% Iron-Clad Guarantee, you can now do so with no risk whatsoever — just click any of the links that say … The Holosync Solution

— The Holosync Solution
====================================================================
[tags]peace, inner self, inner peace, Buddhist Belief, spiritual energy, hope, action, value, inner balance, enlightenment, destiny, manifestation, meditation, patience, gratitude, tolerance, acceptance, body balance, life cycle, beginnings, endings, positive thinking, ego, silence, consciousness, staying grounded, cycle of life, sustainability, compassion[/tags]

Are you doing the work you had intended for yourself? There are so many people who are committed to professions and personal endeavors they never consciously planned to pursue. Yet, in these days where the potential of losing a job have grown dramatically, we may feel blessed to be working, regardless of whether it’s what we planned to do for a living.

As long as the work is tolerable, we feel blessed to have some purpose to fulfill. Your life’s work is the assemblage of activities that allows you to express your intelligence and creativity, live in accordance with your values, and experience the profound joy of simply being yourself. Is there a difference between your life’s work and traditional work? For so many of us, I believe there is. Traditional work may demand more of you than you are willing to give, while your life’s work doesn’t ask anything of you, other than your intent and passion for that work.

One of the difficulties we all face is that we’re not born understanding the scope of our life’s purpose. Many of us may have been, or are, merely drifting through life. Once we begin to strive to discover our life’s purpose we can begin to realize our true potential and live a more authentic life.

One of the best ways to do this is to think seriously about your present interests. Compare these interests with what you may have been passionate about in the past. For example, whatever you really wanted to do with your life a few years ago may be completely at odds with how you feel today. I know that when I was first starting out as a young adult, I wanted nothing more than to rise to the top echelons of the banking industry. I was willing to do whatever it took to make that happen. However, many years later, when I reached my goals, I found that I was truly miserable. My profession had taken over my life. I didn’t have time for family and friends. Everything I did was work related. My health was suffering the consequences.

It took many more years before I began to look within for how I wanted to spend my life. I began to take stock of my strengths, my passions, my beliefs and my values. I also began to study Buddhism and became a person who developed a practice of meditation. I learned to ask the universe to clarify my purpose in life and begin to provide signs and clues for the actions I needed to take. Of course, I also needed to learn to pay attention. I learned that the pursuit of peace was my passion, although it still took years before I was able to devote my energy towards becoming an advocate.

All of our life’s journeys are in a constant state of evolution. You may find you need to redefine the direction of your pursuits several times in your lifetime. I know, for me, what I wanted to do when I was 22 or 23 years old, and what I want to do as a person in their mid-seventies, are light-years different from each other. In fact, I find now that I’m not able to be financially compensated for my work, and that’s okay. Despite this shortcoming, my love for my pursuit gives it meaning.

You’ll know you have discovered your life’s work when you awaken eager to face each day and you feel good about not only what you do but also who you are.

Be well — be in peace,

Ron Rink
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Always remember this wonderful quote from Buddha ….

========================================================

Namaste!

You are special — and you are loved. You are the greatest gift you can be.

Shanti … (A sanscrit word meaning, “Let there be Peace. Peace, beautiful Peace. Peace within, Peace without. Peace in this world. Peace for all beings.”)

http://www.buddhistbelief.com
http://www.theleaderinside.com
http://www.wecould2.com

P.S. Remember, that if you have one of the “readers” — like My Yahoo, My MSN, or the Google Reader, or any of the others, you can get our blog sent to you automatically whenever I post to it. Just click one of the buttons over on the left side to add it to your reader.

Oh, and another thing — follow me on Twitter (see the button up on the left under Resources or click this link: Follow Me on Twitter) and I’ll let you know what’s going on with my blogs and a lot of other neat things as well.

Ron Rink
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In my meditation I often use what I believe is a powerful aide to deep meditation. It’s the The Holosync Solution. I knew that meditation was a vital element to nurturing my soul — to opening myself to the universe — and this tool has allowed me to achieve and receive the benefits of deep, long-term meditation — and to achieve it much more quickly. If you’re having trouble “getting meditation to work for you” – then the The Holosync Solution is what you’re looking for.

Regular, daily meditation can give you …

(1) Increased intelligence and creativity.
(2) Lower stress levels — and with that — increased ability to handle whatever the world tosses your way.
(3) New levels of self-awareness and inner peace.
(4) The healing of emotional issues at the deepest levels.
(5) It is the proven path to finding the peace, love and compassion within all of us –

— it’s definitely worth taking the time for this powerful practice every day.

With a One-Year 100% Iron-Clad Guarantee, you can now do so with no risk whatsoever — just click any of the links that say … The Holosync Solution

— The Holosync Solution
====================================================================
[tags]peace, inner self, inner peace, Buddhist Belief, spiritual energy, hope, action, value, inner balance, enlightenment, destiny, manifestation, meditation, patience, gratitude, tolerance, acceptance, body balance, life cycle, beginnings, endings, positive thinking, ego, silence, consciousness, staying grounded, cycle of life, sustainability, compassion[/tags]

One of things all of us do is use words, either by speaking or writing, to let the world around us know what’s going on in our minds. This use of words is how we show what we mean, what we’re thinking, and also are evidence of a flow of energy from ourselves to another person or to a group of people.

We may be speaking to an infant, or to our boss, or to an audience of 500 or more people. We may be writing a love letter, a work-related memo, or an entry in our own diary. Whatever the case, every word we speak or write is filled with energy and has a life of its own. The energy of our words create vibrations, or waves, in much the same way as a note of music that is sung or played creates waves. Continuing with the metaphor of musical notes, our words also rarely stand alone, but rather live in communities of other words, just like notes in a piece of music.

Our words take shape and shift their meaning in relation to the other words around them. Once we become conscious of how our words put out waves of energy we can begin to realize the power of positive words in the world. If we’re not conscious of the power of words, we run the risk of creating noisy or turbulent waves of energy in the universe.

Some of us know this instinctively, while others come to this understanding slowly. Most of us, though, speak without thinking at least some of the time, blurting out our feelings and thoughts without much regard for the words we choose to express them. When we remind ourselves that our words have an impact on the world at the level of energy, we may find within ourselves the desire to be more aware of our use of language.

Here’s an interesting experiment to help increase our awareness of the power of words … make a list of your favorite words — write them down — post them on a mirror or some other place where you know you’ll see them. Speak them out loud and pay close attention to how they make you feel inside. It’s a simple way to develop your consciousness of something you may never have paid attention to before. Our use of language is such an important tool. Once you become more conscious of your choice of words you’ll begin to compose beautiful messages which will create positive energy in the world.

We all know we can sure use a lot more positive energy these days.

Be well — be in peace,

Ron Rink
====================================================================================================================
Always remember this wonderful quote from Buddha ….

========================================================

Namaste!

You are special — and you are loved. You are the greatest gift you can be.

Shanti … (A sanscrit word meaning, “Let there be Peace. Peace, beautiful Peace. Peace within, Peace without. Peace in this world. Peace for all beings.”)

http://www.buddhistbelief.com
http://www.theleaderinside.com
http://www.wecould2.com

P.S. Remember, that if you have one of the “readers” — like My Yahoo, My MSN, or the Google Reader, or any of the others, you can get our blog sent to you automatically whenever I post to it. Just click one of the buttons over on the left side to add it to your reader.

Oh, and another thing — follow me on Twitter (see the button up on the left under Resources or click this link: Follow Me on Twitter) and I’ll let you know what’s going on with my blogs and a lot of other neat things as well.

Ron Rink
================================================================

In my meditation I often use what I believe is a powerful aide to deep meditation. It’s the The Holosync Solution. I knew that meditation was a vital element to nurturing my soul — to opening myself to the universe — and this tool has allowed me to achieve and receive the benefits of deep, long-term meditation — and to achieve it much more quickly. If you’re having trouble “getting meditation to work for you” – then the The Holosync Solution is what you’re looking for.

Regular, daily meditation can give you …

(1) Increased intelligence and creativity.
(2) Lower stress levels — and with that — increased ability to handle whatever the world tosses your way.
(3) New levels of self-awareness and inner peace.
(4) The healing of emotional issues at the deepest levels.
(5) It is the proven path to finding the peace, love and compassion within all of us –

— it’s definitely worth taking the time for this powerful practice every day.

With a One-Year 100% Iron-Clad Guarantee, you can now do so with no risk whatsoever — just click any of the links that say … The Holosync Solution

— The Holosync Solution
====================================================================
[tags]peace, inner self, inner peace, Buddhist Belief, spiritual energy, hope, action, value, inner balance, enlightenment, destiny, manifestation, meditation, patience, gratitude, tolerance, acceptance, body balance, life cycle, beginnings, endings, positive thinking, ego, silence, consciousness, staying grounded, cycle of life, sustainability, compassion[/tags]