Changing Direction

Talk about making something out of nothing!  At the age of 14 a young man from Malawi, Africa found scraps and built a windmill to generate power for his family home.  The windmill he built was able to power four lights and two radios. Then he wrote an award winning book called "The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind: Creating Currents of Electricity and Hope " on how he was able to do this.  It's an inspiring story about the will of a young man who used his brains and what little resources around him to improve his family's living conditions. I think about how I hear so many people complain about what they don't have instead of appreciating what they DO have and utilizing the resources around them.  Take a look at William Kamkwamba's speech in the video below. Kamkwamba's success story got a lot of press resulting in many organizations offering to assist him with future projects including malaria prevention, a deep water well for clean water, solar...

Sometimes in the midst of a hectic hustle and bustle of the day it's nice to take a little break and smile.  Taking a few minutes away from work can help protect our body from exhaustion and fatigue. It also helps to boost motivation and productivity.   Here are a couple of feel-good videos of folks getting down to some music that made me smile.  Enjoy! "I Gotta Feelin" - by Black Eyed Peas Also, Kim MacGregor launched a grassroots movement to unite and inspire 1,000,000 women around the world to recognize the amazing women in their lives. Love the lyrics... "I Believe" by Yolanda Adams They said you wouldn't make it so far ah ah And ever since they've said it its been hard But never mind that night'cha had to cry Cause you had never let it go inside You worked real hard and you know exactly what you want and need so believe And you can never give up You can reach your goals Just talk to your soul and say... I believe i can I believe i...

I have been following the news out of Haiti closely and have been amazed at the people that they are still finding alive in the rubble many days later after the earthquake. This one photo really stuck with me of a child who was found after being buried and trapped for 7 days. As Kiki was released his face is of pure joy! I can only imagine how his parents felt seeing him and his sister come out alive. Even though all of their children didn't make it out alive the parents were still grateful. I started wondering about other things in life that bring joy. According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary the definition of joy is 'the emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune, or by the prospect of possessing what one desires; delight; a state of happiness.' Joy to me is a natural high. It's the sense of almost floating. There doesn't have to be a really big event to bring on this emotion. Joy can come from something as simple as seeing a smile on a loved one...

This is a beautiful poem that inspired Mandela during his imprisonment. Out of the night that covers me, Black as the Pit from pole to pole, I thank whatever gods may be For my unconquerable soul. In the fell clutch of circumstance I have not winced nor cried aloud. Under the bludgeonings of chance My head is bloody, but unbowed. Beyond this place of wrath and tears Looms but the Horror of the shade, And yet the menace of the years Finds, and shall find, me unafraid. It matters not how strait the gate, How charged with punishments the scroll, I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul. This poem inspires me because it is about freedom of the soul. No matter what challenges are put before us, we can overcome them if we have the will to do so. It is a poem of courage and conjures up strength to keep going. It's about never giving up! Image courtesy Squidoo.com

Twitter is a social networking and microblogging service whereby people connect and share information in 140 characters or less. Basically you start to follow people, places, or organizations of interest to learn more about them and their interests. In turn, many of them start to follow you to receive similar information. I started using twitter shortly after returning from our Italy vacation this past February. I have to admit, I didn't get it at first. But now I can't go a day without at least logging in to read what folks all over the world are talking about. There are many reasons that people are utilizing twitter. Some use it just for news sharing and gathering, some use it for gossip, some for stalking their favorite celebrities, and some for promoting their business or interest. I use it for broadening my views on various topics...from news, to education, to politics, to entertainment. You're probably thinking, "Isn't that exactly like plugging a word into a...