living in courage
living in courage
   

Archive for February, 2009

The Courage Of The Urban Zen Foundation

Friday, February 27th, 2009 by Debra Oakland

I wanted to talk about Courage in the form of The Urban Zen Foundation. Most people think of Donna Karan as a clothing designer, but did you know she created The Urban Zen Foundation? This foundation connects, creates and collaborates to raise awareness and inspire change in areas of well being, empowering children and preserving cultures.  They partner with other experts and organizations to create solutions and implement action.  The video explains more about the foundation and Donna Karan’s vision for mind, body and spirit balance.
Donna talks about the journey of Cancer and what is needed.  Urban Zen has created a group of integrative therapists to work with the patients.  She goes on to ask “How can we make a difference for the children of tomorrow? ” and says, ” We have to give them the tools that will really help them.”  As far a cultures, she says let’s celebrate them – help preserve them.  Lastly, as Donna so wisely says, “Love Cures All.”

Please go to this link and watch the many videos that represent what Urban Zen is up to.  They are truly making a difference in the world.  Link – The Urban Zen Foundation.

Debra Oakland @ Living In Courage Online



 

Tags: , , , , , ,


Character Is Doing The Right Thing When No One Is Looking

Thursday, February 26th, 2009 by Debra Oakland

An Old Farmer’s Advice:

* Your fences need to be horse-high, pig-tight, and bull-strong.
* Keep skunks and bankers and lawyers at a distance.
* Life is simpler when you plow around the stump.
* A bumble bee is considerably faster than a John Deere tractor.
* Words that soak into your ears are whispered…not yelled.
* Meanness don’t jes’ happen overnight.
* Forgive your enemies. It messes up their heads.
* Do not corner something that you know is meaner than you.
* It don’t take a very big person to carry a grudge.
* You cannot unsay a cruel word.
* Every path has a few puddles.
* When you wallow with pigs, expect to get dirty.
* The best sermons are lived, not preached.
* Most of the stuff people worry about
ain’t never gonna happen, anyway.
* Don’t judge folks by their relatives.
* Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.
* Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and
think back, you’ll enjoy it a second time.
* Don’t interfere with somethin’ that ain’t botherin’ you none.
* Timing has a lot to do with the outcome of a rain dance.
* If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop diggin’.
* Sometimes you get, and sometimes you get got.
* The biggest troublemaker you’ll ever have to deal with,
watches you from the mirror every mornin’.’
* Always drink upstream from the herd.
* Good judgment comes from experience, and
a lotta that comes from bad judgment.
* Lettin’ the cat outta the bag is a whole lot
easier than puttin’ it back in.
* If you get to thinkin’ you’re a person of some influence,
try orderin’ somebody else’s dog around.
* Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly.

“Character is doing the right thing when no one is looking.” ~~ J.C. Watts


 

Tags: , , ,


Courage Is The Face of Gary Vaynerchuk Talking Passion

Thursday, February 19th, 2009 by Debra Oakland

I don’t know about you, but I really enjoy unique people, courageous people who think outside the box. Gary Vaynerchuk is that person. I met Gary on Twitter through my friend Jonathon Gunson – feel free to visit his trafficcafe. This video of Gary V. at the Web 2.0 Expo in New York is 15 minutes long and worth your time if you want to achieve what Gary calls PP (Patience & Passion.) Do you want to position yourself for success in any area of your life? This video is full of clues – even for the clueless!

Gary took over his family business that was doing 2 million dollars a year and over a 7 year period built it into a 50 million dollar business. Gary turned 30 at that point and changed directions in life. He has a long list of accomplishments (Wine Library TV) and others you will hear about on the video. Gary is raw, edgy, loves people, gets things done and swears a great deal. I love all of that about him.  Gary is a courageous mover and shaker.

Debra Oakland @ Living In Courage Online

Click On Read More For Video



 

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,


Have The Courage To Follow Your Heart & Intuition – Steve Job

Monday, February 16th, 2009 by Debra Oakland

“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice.
And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.”

~~Steve Job



 

Tags: , ,


The Power of Love & Courage

Sunday, February 15th, 2009 by Debra Oakland

I love to hear Louis Armstrong singing “It’s a Wonderful World.”  This video is beautiful.  A deer and and a cat in the forest.  Have the courage to recognize love is everywhere and embrace it’s power.  Animals teach us to be better humans. Unconditional love is not reserved for animals.  Embracing everyone and everything in love is the courageous key to freedom.  I hope you enjoy this video.  Click on Read More to view it.



 

Tags: , , , ,


If I Had My Child To Raise Again

Friday, February 13th, 2009 by Debra Oakland

If I Had My Child To Raise Again

❤ I would finger paint more and point the finger less.

❤ I would do less correcting and more connecting.

❤ I would take my eyes off my watch and watch with my eyes.

❤ I would care to know less and and know to care more.

❤ I would take more hikes and fly more kites.

❤ I would stop playing serious and seriously play.

❤ I would run through more fields and gaze at more stars.

❤ I would do more hugging and less tugging.

❤ I would be firm less often and affirm more often.

❤ I would build self-esteem first and the house later.

❤ I would teach less about the love of power and more about the power of love.

* Diane Loomans, Full Esteem Ahead

Blessings to all ❤



 

Tags: , ,


Oscar Wilde Has Shown Me Courage

Wednesday, February 11th, 2009 by Debra Oakland

I can’t get enough of Oscar Wilde’s wisdom, brilliant wit and charm.  It takes a person living in courage to accomplish the things Oscar Wilde did. I feel influenced by him to live each day more courageously, more authentically.
Do you know Oscar Wilde wrote Fairy Tales?  They are magical, filled with princes, giants, mermaids, kings and nightingales.  How beautiful to write them partly for children, as well as for those adults who have kept their childlike faculties of wonder and joy.  It takes great courage to live outside the box of expected behavior, and yes, Oscar had his share of drama.  He also held value that has lasted the test of time.  I  for one, am grateful for the brilliance he left behind.

Debra Oakland @ Living in Courage Online

We Are Made One with What We Touch and See

~Oscar Wilde~

We are resolved into the supreme air,

We are made one with what we touch and see,

With our heart’s blood each crimson sun is fair,

With our young lives each springimpassioned tree

Flames into green, the wildest beasts that range

The moor our kinsmen are, all life is one, and all is change.

With beat of systole and of diastole

One grand great life throbs through earth’s giant heart,

And mighty waves of single Being roll

From nerveless germ to man, for we are part

Of every rock and bird and beast and hill,

One with the things that prey on us, and one with what we kill

One sacrament are consecrate, the earth

Not we alone hath passions hymeneal,

The yellow buttercups that shake for mirth

At daybreak know a pleasure not less real

Than we do, when in some freshblossoming wood

We draw the spring into our hearts, and feel that life is good

Is the light vanished from our golden sun,

Or is this daedalfashioned earth less fair,

That we are nature’s heritors, and one

With every pulse of life that beats the air?

Rather new suns across the sky shall pass,

New splendor come unto the flower, new glory to the grass.

And we two lovers shall not sit afar,

Critics of nature, but the joyous sea

Shall be our raiment, and the bearded star

Shoot arrows at our pleasure! We shall be

Part of the mighty universal whole,

And through all Aeons mix and mingle with the Kosmic Soul!.

We shall be notes in that great Symphony

Whose cadence circles through the rhythmic spheres,

And all the live World’s throbbing heart shall be

One with our heart, the stealthy creeping years

Have lost their terrors now, we shall not die,

The Universe itself shall be our Immortality!.



 

Tags: , , , , , , , ,


Using Courage Through Art for Inmates

Wednesday, February 4th, 2009 by Debra Oakland

This video is fantastic and speaks of living in courage and making the choice for change. Convicts create a mural with the encouragement they never got on the outside. These inmates are inspired to never come back. For the full story follow this link – This Week Live
Watch the video interviews with the inmate artists and the Dakota County Jail Commander Blair Anderson, who is taking a different approach to inmate treatment. Video by Jeff Achen.



 

Tags: , , , , , , , ,


Wealth, Success & Love

Wednesday, February 4th, 2009 by Debra Oakland

I love this story, it is about courage and choice.  At this time many people are making new choices in many areas of their lives.  Some of these choices have been forced because of the present state of the economy and some just look at the world differently now.  Whatever the reason, it takes courage to change, and change we must. I hope you enjoy this simple story with a powerful message.

Debra Oakland @ Living In Courage Online
Wealth, Success, and Love

A woman came out of her house and saw 3 old men with long
white beards sitting in her front yard. She did not recognize
them.

She said “I don’t think I know you, but you must be hungry.
Please come in and have something to eat.” Is the man of the
house home?”, they asked.

“No”, she said. “He’s out.” “Then we cannot come in,” they
replied.

In the evening when her husband came home, she told him what
had happened. “Go tell them I am home and invite them in!” The
woman went out and invited the men in.

“We do not go into a house together,” they replied.

“Why is that?” she wanted to know.

One of the old men explained: “His name is Wealth,” he said
pointing to one of his friends, and said pointing to another
one, “He is Success, and I am Love.” Then he added, “Now go
in and discuss with your husband which one of us you want in
your home.”

The woman went in and told her husband what was said. Her
husband was overjoyed. “How nice!!,” he said. “Since that is
the case, let us invite Wealth. Let him come and fill our home
with wealth!”

His wife disagreed. “My dear, why don’t we invite Success?”
Their daughter-in-law was listening from the other corner of
the house. She jumped in with her own suggestion: “Would it
not be better to invite Love? Our home will then be filled
with love!”

“Let us heed our daughter-in-law’s advice,” said the husband
to his wife. “Go out and invite Love to be our guest.”

The woman went out and asked the 3 old men, “Which one of you
is Love? Please come in and be our guest.”

Love got up and started walking toward the house. The other 2
also got up and followed him. Surprised, the lady asked Wealth
and Success:

“I only invited Love, Why are you coming in?” The old men
replied together: “If you had invited Wealth or Success, the
other two of us would’ve stayed out, but since you invited
Love, wherever He goes, we go with him. Wherever there is Love,
there is also Wealth and Success!”

Author ~~ Unknown



 

Tags: , , , , ,


 
Living in Courage