I love people who do courageous things. They are usually people who are controversial, yet they get things done. I admire what Madonna has done for children in Malawi and Africa. I see that as Living in Courage. The next time you want to judge another persons action – Don’t. It will only come straight back to hurt only you.
I am recommending an amazing book “I Am Because We Are” written by Madonna and photographed by award-winning photojournalist Kristen Ashburn . This beautiful and powerful book is about Madonna’s 7 year journey and work with the children and people of Malawi and Africa. I quote from the blog:
“The title is derived from the concept of “Ubuntu,” an idea in African spirituality that states that all of humanity is connected, that we cannot be ourselves without community, that an individual’s well-being is dependent upon the well-being of others. These heart-wrenching stories are a call to action. In Malawi, a country of 13 million people, over one million are orphans. Looking into the hearts and minds of children who have endured unimaginable suffering, the book provides an unflinching view of life at the center of the global AIDS crisis. This is not just a story about orphans in Malawi, but about global responsibility and human interconnectedness.”
If you are interested in the documentary film, visit I Am Because We Are blog about the film.
I have a most delightful friend in Rosemary Holmes-Gull. She has written the magical children’s book “Imagine That” - a book of true inspiration that represents courage to me. Part of the proceeds from sales of the book go to “Mothers Without Borders.” Rosemary’s son Bentley did the beautiful illustrations.The campaign day for the book May 26th 2009. If you would go to Rosemary’s website (Children’s Imaginings) that day – May 26th to order to order “Imagine That” this will help her get up the best seller charts!! I know you will love this book. Please share it with your family and friends. They will thank you for it.
Imagine That…A Picture Book of Possibilities
This delightful picture book inspires and motivates children to see and believe in their magnificence. Using examples from nature–the ant, the butterfly, and the bumble bee–children come to understand their power, their ability to overcome difficulties and challenges, even the ability to do the seemingly impossible. All of this because they have been blessed with the gift of imagination. A recurring theme throughout the book is: If you believe it, you will find a way to achieve it.
This has truly been a labor of love for Rosemary,” a work of heart” as she plans to donate part of the proceeds from sales of the book to Mothers Without Borders, an organization that works with AIDS orphans in Zambia. Rosemary is traveling to Zambia in July to work as a volunteer with the children.
She is especially proud of the wonderful illustrations that her son, Bentley provided for the book. It was joyful experience to collaborate with him in this venture.
Children are our future, so it is vital that they realize they hold joy inside through the power of Love. This lovely book teaches children how to Live in Courage.
I am featuring and recommending a powerful book “The Body Broken” written by Lynne Greenberg in my April Newsletter for Living In Courage. Millions of people live with chronic pain and all it’s repercussions daily. It takes a certain kind of courage to live this way while trying to live a productive life. Many of these people live with depression, pain, isolation. The suicide rate is 20% higher than in other patients. Lynne explains what it is like to descend into pain and then reclaim life.
I quote from Publishers Weekly “Twenty-two years after recovering from a devastating car crash when she was 19, Greenberg, a professor at New York City’s Hunter College, began experiencing unbearable neck pain. Several hospital visits and X-rays later, it turns out her miraculous recovery after the accident wasn’t quite that: one of her vertebrae was still fractured. Greenberg chronicles the two years that follow: the contradicting doctor diagnoses; the descent into drugs and depression; the unraveling of her relationship with her two young children. Harrowing stuff, and when Greenberg keeps her prose spare and direct, as when she describes with cold, gory precision watching her leg being sewn back together, the result is powerful. But Greenberg’s account often reads like an extended treatise on pain, overly reliant on metaphor as opposed to anecdote to describe her experience, comparing it, say, to Adam and Eve’s fall in Milton’s Paradise Lost (Greenberg’s field is 17th-century British literature).”
“The Body Broken” tells the story of solving the mystery of Lynn’s chronic pain. I am sharing this book with you because of the courage it represents in one person’s life. I hope those of you in pain will find some answers or possible solutions through Lynn’s journey. Even though Lynn still lives in pain daily, she draws on her family’s support, who have learned compassion and patience. This remarkable woman has many tricks up her sleeve to live her life in a most remarkable way. I see this as Living in Courage.
Diane Sawyer from ABC News says, “We are all looking for lessons in courage. And family. And faith that some of our sweetest hours will come on the darkest days. All are here in Lynne Greenberg’s razor-sharp memoir of life and pain and the miracle of a family bound together by love.”
For all who live with pain, I hope you may be blessed with strength and courage.
My Favorite Book of the Month – Movie of the Month: “The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button
As a child Pablo Picasso was trained to paint like an adult. As an adult he enjoyed painting like a child.
This makes me reflect on “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.” As Kate Blanchett describes “You live your life forward, but you can only understand it backwards.” This book and the movie are about accumulated family memories. These memories are one step from our reality, but you come away with the belief that it could happen. This is a deeply moving film. Gentle, kind, full of love and all the wonders it holds. I would not be surprised at all if it won an Academy Award. Please share your comments on the film. I would love to hear your thoughts.
I am still in Napa. Last night I walked down to the vineyards while Cody laid by the pool (overlooking the vineyards) at The Wine Country Inn. I sat under a tree. It was wonderful to hear the birds chirping, the crickets to my left and to my right was a large rabbit moving about the vineyard. The sounds of nature, the breeze and the visual beauty was so peaceful. Cody and I listen to stories of courage from people all over the country. It is always good to get away and renew perspective. I am grateful.
I am about 1/4 of the way through the book Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and loving it. I don’t think I have ever read a book about a man who has been through such a journey of courage and challenge. He is unstoppable determination. It is amazing he is alive today considering what he has been through. It really makes you think about the day to day complaining people engage in. I don’t think there is any reason to complain again after reading this book about Mortenson and the people he has come to love and support. This book is one I highly recommend to you.
As I sit here in Napa California for a weekend of serenity and relaxation, I look forward to some fine wine and food. My husband Cody is finally reading the Shack (I was not ready to give it up!) and he loves it. We sit in our room, overlooking the vineyards and hills. Gratitude is the order of the day. Cody took a long run thru Calistoga, and is preparing to find “the best coffe in town” as he is a coffee snob of the first order. I think about courage and the ability we have each day to choose. Well, today I choose to courageously move into the day and enjoy every moment. I just began reading Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson & David Oliver Relin. I have heard about this man Mortenson the abundant consistant courage he exibits in his life. I will let you know more about one man’s mission to promote peace, one school at a time. He built 55 schools for girls in the forbidding terrain that gave birth to the Taliban. I look forward to this story of adventure and the power of the humanitarian spirit.
Have a wonderful weekend. I send you love and blessings from Napa Valley,
I just finished reading “The Shack” by William P. Young. This book is so powerful, full of courage, beautiful, fun, uplifting and full of surprises. It was not what I expected, but I was pleasantly surprised at the depth of the book. I could not put it down, but did not want it to end. The story stays with you long after you read it. Your perspective will change about many things life, if you are ready and willing to hear the messages there for you. I highly recommend this book to everyone who visits me at Living in Courage. Along with having a strong message, it is very entertaining, so get out there and find a copy. This is a book you may find useful to refer back to from time to time.
I wanted to let you know my e-book is finished and up on the site for you to download. I would like to tell you how this book and website came about. I had decided to create a website around the word Courage. I built my first website in iWeb on my Mac. I realized very quickly that I knew practically nothing on the internet. I needed help and fast.
With the abundant help of our friend Lennie Appelquist, who is genius in online strategies. I suggest you go to my blogroll to find Lennie or go to Free Market Media and pick up his WordPress Guide. Lennie has gone far beyond the call of duty, and knows how grateful I am. Living in Courage was created as a website on WordPress, which is blog based, but is gaining popularity for website building. I did not know where to go from there, but knew I wanted to write.
A few months ago I was on a conference call listening to a man named David Riklin from Self Growth, the largest self improvement website on the internet. You will find me there listed under the expert section as the Courage Expert. David was talking about an e-book class he would be teaching for 8 weeks. I was intrigued, but had no intention of taking the class. My husband Cody had been in the other room and asked how the call was. I said it was good and sounded like a great way to learn more about writing e-books. I had been writing for years and stuffing it under the bed! We talked a bit and Cody said he thought I should take the course. He was very persistent, which surprised me. He walked me to the computer and signed me up. He asked if I could commit to something very foreign to me that would take a great deal of time and effort. I said a huge YES. The course was fantastic for me, and more work than I had anticipated. I disappeared for almost 3 months from regular life. I was trying to learn about blogs, social networking, branding, websites, navigating the internet, using my new Mac, SEO, studying internet gurus and their techniques, learning about writing, e-books, articles, editing, pdf and word doc files, you name it. Cody, along with my amazing friend Nicole McKinney were constant sources of encouragement. Since we all were involved in business projects at the same time, support for each other has been key. Cody is at 2media and Nicole is in Toronto Canada running very successful branding company for corporations – you can contact her at nicole.mckinney@sypatico.ca.
While taking David’s class, he strongly suggested we each join a master mind group. I love the group I joined, who will never know how much they helped me grow, as I knew nothing, zero, zip, when I joined. 10 of us from the master mind have just completed a group e-book “Guide to Home Based Business,” my chapter being the last in the book and on balance while working at home. You can download the free e-book at Guide to Home Based Business.
I have met some wonderful people. I and am now working on different projects with a few of them. In regards to my book, I started by writing articles and put some of them together for this short e-book. I used a wonderful editor Andrea Glass at WritersWay, who was very patient and fantastic to work with.
Chris Cade has been a constant source of inspiration who has helped me with my writing, along with some editing. You will find Chris Cade at Spiritual Stories and Parables, or in my blogroll.
There have been moments I wanted to pull my hair out with frustration at trying to learn so much in such a short period of time, and days of pure bliss and gratitude. I am so happy to be on this journey and it is just beginning. I will begin my next book, which will involve interviewing people around the world, writing, and learning many new skills. It took all the courage I could muster to get through leaving a 28 year career and following my inner guidance system as I took action each day. I know that I am being led perfectly each day in every action. I anticipate wonderful changes, movement and growth for this website. It has only been 3 months! Think what will happen in the next year. What an amazing time we live in. Many changes are occurring now that have been spoken of throughout history. I for one and excited to be participating in the great and many changes that are coming our way. This world will change, and as it does, I hope Living in Courage will be a place people can come for hope, courage, strength, honor, comfort, fun and information that will help heal the heart. Thank you for sharing this journey with me.
In the 12th Century, King Richard the Lion-Heart, King of England, led an army of his finest and bravest Knights to fight for the return of the One True Cross, and to clear the passage of Christians on Pilgrimage to the Holy City of Jerusalem. Among those chosen for this daring adventure was, Sir John Holcombe (the First). These Crusaders fought their way to the Holy Lands, winning decisive battles against Muslim forces. During one of the final battles, Sir John received wounds that ended his quest. He never recovered from his injuries, living long enough to complete the accompanying record, and to survive only part of the journey back to his beloved homeland and family in Dorchester, England. After being orphaned at the age of three and reared in poverty, Sir John later became one of the wealthiest and most respected men of his time. In the short period remaining from his final battle in the Crusades until his ultimate death, he wrote this account of the experiences and knowledge that brought him fame, wealth, and happiness. This is from the writings of Sir John Holcombe, Knight and Crusader for Truth and Courage.
This book description is from Amazon.
About the Author
J. Arthur Holcombe, a self-made millionaire and cancer survivor, is a direct descendant of Sir John Holcombe, Knight and Crusader who lived in the 12th Century. J. Arthur was raised and educated in rural Northwest Arkansas. Like his forefather, Mr. Holcombe rose from poverty by applying the secrets he shares with you in this book.
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Endorsements
“Debra Oakland has clearly written Living in Courage from the heart. This is a book that guides people to summon the courage to face life's biggest challenges. You will find wonderful nuggets that you can apply to your life now.”
~ David Riklan, Founder of SelfGrowth.com,
the #1 Self Improvement Website on the Internet
www.SelfGrowth.com
