I SEE YOU!

I SEE YOU! 

While I know that those words have been spoken before, they have taken on a new meaning and perhaps even more importance ever since they were uttered on the big screen in Avatar and I was reminded how powerful those words are when I watched the movie again here recently.

I SEE YOU!

It is those things that we see as different that separates us and thus can cause conflict. I know one way we can resolve our issues and that is to approach each other from the basic level that we all share together and that is as human beings. If we simply start and end there, then nothing else will really matter.

I SEE YOU! 

For me, when I look at another person, I see no race, creed, nationality, religion or sex, rather simply another human being.

I SEE YOU!

By taking that approach to life, we can heal this world and it's conflicts. We will no longer tolerate any human being starving to death, being tortured or denied the basic necessities of life.

I SEE YOU!

By truly seeing each other we will naturally progress to live in peace and harmony with each other and the world around us. Which means it will no longer be acceptable to treat our home, Mother Earth, with the disdain and disrespect that we do.

I SEE YOU!

What do these words mean to you? Do you see me? To me, it means the end of separation, fear, war, hunger and pain and the dawning of a new world of love, peace, joy, harmony and prosperity for all!

I SEE YOU!

May you be blessed always and in all ways!

Love and light,

Harry

Are You Living Like You Were Dying?

I awoke this morning to Tim McGraw's song, "Live Like You Were Dying."

Here is the YouTube video of it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XiOcW_YR1G8

It is such a wonderful song with a powerful message and it got me thinking about what topic I wanted to write on today and so I decided to ask these questions:

ARE YOU LIVING LIKE YOU WERE DYING?

Or are you simply going through the motions?

What would it take for you to live that way?

Would it actually take a "death" sentence diagnosis from a doctor? Let's hope not!

The funny thing is from the time we are born, in a way, we are essentially dying. Life naturally leads to the death of at least our physical bodies, so why do we not live this way naturally. I mean, if you think about it, given the right circumstances, we do as a child. If we are not one of the unfortunate ones who came into this life in less than ideal circumstances, then our days are filled with play, joy, and wonder.

Then we grow up and alot of that vanishes under the weight of responsibility and societal pressures. We tend to suppress play and curiosity and replace it with worry and busyness. We are no longer simply being, we are into doing and having and have left being behind but like the proverbial three legged stool, we need the being to be in balance.

You see, no matter the circumstances we find ourselves in, we are technically dying anyway. Every second many, many cells in our bodies die and are replaced. As we age, some of those cells are no longer replaced and eventually we leave our body and venture off into the realm of spirit.

So, what can we do to hold onto those childlike qualities and balance them with the "grown up" circumstances of life. What can we do to live like we were dying, for in fact we are. Just because we do not have that "death sentence" diagnosis, we are still heading to that transitional state called death.

Here are some ideas to live like you were dying:

1. Take time everyday for play, something that makes your heart smile and your soul sing.

2. Learn something new everyday, challenge your mind.

3. Move your body, your body craves and needs movement, we were not meant to sendentary beings, so get up and move.

4. Expand & nurture your circles, make new friends and connect with old ones.

5. Make time to visit and experience someplace new.

6. Take time for just you, get a massage, meditate, listen to your favorite music, whatever.

I am sure you can come up with a whole list of things, kinda like a Bucket List. You know a list of all the things you want to do before you, well, "kick the bucket". However, instead of calling it a Bucket List, why not call it a Living List?

Why wait another second? Go and live like you were dying, simply because that is how we were meant to live.

Thank you for taking the time to read my words. I am blessed that you would do so. Please comment, for this is how we all learn from one another.

May you be blessed always and in all ways!

Harry

Author - Rare Sense; One Day It Will Be Common: A Practical Guide to a Fulfilled and Balanced Life.

harry@raresenseunlimited.com

http://www.raresenseunlimited.com/

What are you going to do?

There has been a story circulating recently about a "good samaritan" who was cited by the Colorado State Police for jaywalking, even though, he was doing a good deed for an elderly woman. And to top it off, the "good samaritan" was severly injured during the incident.

Fortunately, common sense has finally prevailed and the citation was voided.

However, it begs the question. Would you have helped in this situation? Or would you have had to think about it because you might get cited for jaywalking?

I have to say that I believe that most people, when seeing the opportunity to help another, would do it without thinking about it. In fact, the "good samaritan" despite his injuries and receiving the citation has said that he would do it all over again.

It is that spirit of human compassion and kindness that we all need to be tapping into right now. It is things like that, which will see us through this down cycle in our economy. It is our hope, our belief, our knowing that everything will be fine in the future that will help us create a brighter future for ourselves.

We need all the "good samaritans" of the world to continue to step forward and show us that love, kindness, joy and peace are not just wonderful thoughts but the way we should be living. If one person can prosper during this time than we all can because what any of us can do, we all can do.

So, what would you do? Or better yet, what are you doing? Are you like the good samaritan that would risk it all for the sake of another? Or are you content to listen to the fear mongers and naysayers and allow them to have the power, that you have given them, to control your life?

It is up to each and every one of us to use the power that the universe has bestowed upon us to make this world a better place for us and future generations to come. Starting this very moment, we can choose peace over war, love over hate, courage over fear, prosperity over poverty, abundance over lack, joy over sorrow and health over disease.

This is our time to step up and create a world that we want, need and deserve to live in. It is time to set aside what divides us and focus on what brings us together.

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog to day. You bless me with your presence. As always, feel free to share you thoughts, comments and ideas.

May you have all the love, peace, joy, good health and prosperity, in abundance, forevermore.

Harry Shade - Author

"Rare Sense, One Day It Will Be common: A Practical Guide to a Fulfilled and Balanced Life"

http://www.raresenseunlimited.com/

Yes, we can all get along!

I have been saying for years that we have the capacity to look past our differences and those things that we use to separate us and just love one another. Here is a wonderful example of just that from the animal world. Check out this video and you will see what I mean. Then come back here and leave a comment.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBtFTF2ii7U

It does not get much simpler than that. I hope this has stirred some deep seated emotions inside of you and that you would help by sharing this with everyone you know, so you too can be a part of the shift in human consciousness happening around the world at this very moment!

Thank you for taking the time to read and watch the information on my blog today. I would appreciate your help with any comments, feedback and ideas for future blog posts.

May you be blessed always and in all ways!

Harry
Author - Rare Sense, One Day It Will Be Common: A Practical Guide to a Fulfilled and Balanced Life
http://www.raresenseunlimited.com

How to evaluate a situation or decision.

I had a friend of mine contact me the other day, asking me what to do when you have made a bad decision. I decided to put my response in my blog in the hopes that it will help others.

First of all, get out of the mind set that it was a "bad" decision. It simply was a decision that you made at the time that seemed to be the way to go. No decision is bad if you learned something from it. The beautiful thing is we have the power to choose something different if something is not working.

Do not give away that power by retreating into negative thought. You made a decision, simple as that and now you have the opportunity to either choose something different or make something positive out of your current situation.

Now, here is my 5 Step System to evaluate anything:

Step 1: Sit and make a list of all the pros and cons of the various options. As well as your thoughts and feelings about each. Write down anything that comes to mind and notice if any of these feelings are coming from fear and/or doubt. While doing this ask yourself, "Why am I feeling this way?" Write down your responses.

Step 2: Review the list. Make any additions/corrections as needed.

Step 3: Set the list aside and take some time to ponder it, you know meditate, go into silence, etc; ask the universe and see what guidance you get. This helps to get the emotions out of it. Sometimes when we are too emotional about something, we either block or ignore our inner knowing because of the "noise" or "chatter" caused by the emotional reaction to the situation.

Step 4: Put the list away and do not think on it for at least a day.

Step 5: Go back to the list and repeat Steps 2 and 3 and then see what guidance you get. Then go with your natural "gut" or intuitive feeling. Fear and doubt have a way of keeping us stagnant. They also release the feelings of "I made a bad decision" or "I am not good enough". Simply do not go there but rather seek guidance from that inner knowing. It will never let you down.

Thank you for reading my blog today. I hope I was able to impart some useful information. Please feel free to comment or share things that work for you. I look forward to your input.

May you be blessed always and in all ways!

Harry
www.raresenseunlimited.com

If you are happy now, why complicate things?

Today, I got to thinking about how we can complicate things in life that are working when we think we need more to be happy. And you know how the universe works, when you need something it will be provided.

Well the story I am about to share has been around for a long time. I know I have received it in an e-mail on more than one occasion. So, as I was searching for inspiration to complete my blog today, I was reading a blog by my friend Dina Sabnani and lo and behold was the exact story I needed to make my point, which she posted about three weeks ago.

Here is the link to her blog: http://divinedeebaby.blogspot.com/

The Fisherman and the MBA!

A boat was docked in a tiny Mexican fishing village.

A tourist complimented the fisherman on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took him to catch them. 'Not very long,' answered the Fisherman.

'But then, why didn't you stay out longer and catch more?' asked the tourist. The fisherman explained that his small catch was sufficient to meet his needs and those of his family.

The tourist asked, 'But what do you do with the rest of your time?'

'I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, and take an afternoon nap with my wife. In the evenings, I go into the village to see my friends, have a few drinks, play the guitar, and sing a few songs... I have a full life.'

The tourist interrupted, 'I have an MBA and I can help you! You should start by fishing longer every day. You can then sell the extra fish you catch. With the extra revenue, you can buy a bigger boat.'

'And after that?' asked the Fisherman. 'With the extra money the larger boat will bring, you can buy a second one and a third one and so on until you have an entire fleet of trawlers. Instead of selling your fish to a middle man, you can then negotiate directly with the processing plants and maybe even open your own plant. You can then leave this little village and move to a BIG city! From there you can direct your huge new enterprise.'

'How long would that take?' asked the fisherman.

'Twenty, perhaps twenty-five years,' replied the tourist.

'And after that?'

'Afterwards? Well my Friend, That's when it gets really interesting,' answered the tourist, laughing.. 'When your business gets really big, you can start selling stocks and make millions!'

'Millions? Really? And after that?' said the fisherman.

'After that you'll be able to retire, live in a tiny village near the coast, sleep late, play with your children, catch a few fish, take an afternoon nap with your wife and spend your evenings drinking and enjoying your friends.'

And the moral is: Know where you're going in life....... you may already be there!

I love this story. It gets right to the point that if we are already happy with our life and where it is going, do not over analyze it. If happiness is the goal and you are truly happy then just be.

There is no need for anything else, no matter what anyone else has to say. This is your life and you get to decide if it is serving you. You get to decide if you are happy or not, successful or not, living or not. Others may give you their two cents worth but in the end it is all up to you.

So, if you are happy then just be happy, if not, then make the changes necessary to be happy and remember being comes from within, so nothing outside of you can truly make you happy, if you are not happy inside.

I love you guys for taking the time to read my blog. I hope I was able to provide some useful information today. Please feel free to comment, share your stories or suggest topics.

May you be blessed always and in all ways!

Harry

Author - Rare Sense, One Day It Will Be Common: A Practical Guide to a Fulfilled and Balanced Life

http://www.raresenseunlimited.com/

Are you doing good?

I love the wisdom contained in quotes and so today I wanted to share some of them around a common theme. Are you doing good?

"In the time we have it is surely our duty to do all the good we can to all the people we can in all the ways we can." - William Barclay

Can you imagine how the world would be if we all followed this and made it our mantra?

"The most important ingredient we put into any relationship is not what we say or what we do, but what we are." - Stephen R. Covey

What good are you doing today?

"It's simply a matter of doing what you do best and not worrying about what the other fellow is going to do" .- John R. Amos

Are you being as kind as possible?

"Ask yourself constantly, ‘What is the right thing to do?’" - Confucius

Are you sharing your love with the world?

"Think in terms of what's good for the other person and success will seek you out." - Mary Kay Ash

Are you sharing your unique talents with the world?

"We are here to add what we can to life, not to get what we can from it". - William Osler

Take time today to ponder both the questions and the quotes and see what you come up with. It is always a good idea to reflect on your life and see how you are living. Are you contributing to society in a positive way? Are you doing good for yourself and others?

Thanks for taking the time to read this today, I am honored that you would do so. Please share any comments you have about today's post. And to make this blog even better, I am always looking for suggestions for topics.

May you be blessed always and in all ways.

Harry
www.raresenseunlimited.com

A Revealing Set of Quizzes

Who or what is most important to you in your life? Here is a couple quizzes to remind you, in case you have forgotten. We all need little reminders now and then!

On a piece of paper write down the answers to the following, if you can. And no cheating, see if you can do it from memory.

Quiz #1:

1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.

2. Name the last five Heisman Trophy winners.

3. Name five people who have won a Pulitzer Prize.

4. Name the last five people that have won an Oscar for Best Actor or Actress.

5. Name the last five winners of the Miss America pageant.

6. Name the last five World Series Champions.

7. Name the last five winners of the Grammy for best new artist.

8. Name the last five Super Bowl champions.

9. Name the last five Indy 500 winners.

10. Name the last five winners of the Masters.

Here’s Quiz #2. See how you do on this one.

1. List a few teachers that have aided your journey through school.

2. Name three friends that have helped you through a difficult period in your life.

3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.

4. Name a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special.

5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.

6. Name a half dozen heroes whose stories have inspired you.

So, which quiz was easier to complete? Most people say it was the second one because those people have had a direct impact on their lives! So, the next time you despair about one of your celebrity “heroes” letting you down, just remember who is really important in your life.

Oh, and for those who are listed in the second quiz, why not take time out ASAP and thank them for contributing, in such a positive manner, to your life. They have helped to make you who you are today!

Thanks for taking the time to read my blog, I am humbled that you would do so. Please share your thoughts and comments on today's post and offer any suggestions you might have for topics for my upcoming posts.

May you be blessed always and in all ways!

Harry
Author: Rare Sense, One Day It Will Be Common: A Practical Guide to a Fulfilled & Balanced Life

http://www.raresenseunlimited.com

People You Should Know

From time to time, I like to feature people that I know you would benefit from knowing. Today I am presenting, Chalen Ewing and Kendra E. Thornbury:

Chalen Ewing, also known by her Cree Indian name Morningstar Woman, is a healer, author, counselor and musician. She has produced an award winning documentary and is a Life Coach Skills trainer. Chalen follows and teaches the old medicine ways and wrote the book "Childhood Lost: The Residential School Experience" concerning the trials and tribulations of Native American children forced to attend residential schools and the impact it had and continues to have on their lives and the Native American communities from which they came.

http://www.morningstarmedicine.com/

Kendra E Thornbury, MA is an international coach, spiritual guide, Manifest Mastermind Coach, speaker, facilitator, writer, entrepreneur & humanitarian. Her purpose is to inspire & guide people to be fully alive. She helps people awaken to the bounty of life and live in joy and prosperity.Kendra is on the cutting edge of spiritual thought and practice. People say she is 'wise beyond her years' and is sought out for her insight and guidance. Kendra is known for her clarity and passion. She is masterful at helping people to get out of their comfort zones, into their true potential and to create the true success they desire. Her practice is grounded in over 17 years of applied study in health, healing, yoga, meditation, ceremony, and music.

http://www.spiritalive.net/

http://www.lessonsinlawofattraction.com/

I had the honor and privilege to interview both women on my Blog Talk Radio Show and you can listen to the archives of the show by going to http://www.blogtalkradio.com/harryshade. After listening, if you would help me out and both comment on and rate the shows, I would be very appreciative, as the comments and ratings help me to continue to improve the show.

Thanks once again for reading my blog, I am blessed that you would take the time to do so. Please feel free to comment, share some people you think we would be blessed to get to know and suggest topics for my blog and radio shows.

May you be blessed always and in all ways!

Harry

http://www.raresenseunlimited.com/

A Time to Give Thanks!

Today, I want to offer my sincere and heartfelt thanks to everyone who takes the time to read this blog. This will be a short post, no fluff, no puff, just sincere love and appreciation.

Whether or not you celebrate Thanksgiving, which is more or less an American holiday, the tradition of giving thanks for what we have is borne out in many different traditions around the world. From ancient times to today, people have taken the time to give thanks. From celebrating the harvest to new moon festivals to sacrificing to the gods, the idea of showing gratitude knows no boundaries. It transcends time, race, creed, religion, gender and nationality.

So, it is the same today, that we should take the time, not just on special days, but everyday to show our gratitude for all the good things we have in our lives. For the more we acknowledge the good in our lives, the more we attract good things to us.

It is my wish for everyone to have all the peace, love, joy and prosperity, in abundance, forevermore. Take time today to give thanks and show appreciation to those people who have brought happiness and blessings to you.

As always please feel free to share your thoughts and comments!

May you be blessed always and in all ways!

Harry

http://www.raresenseunlimited.com/

The Wisdom of Zig Ziglar

Today, I wanted to share with you one of my mentors and one of the greatest motivational speakers ever to grace a stage. He is known to millions as a sales motivational speaker but he is much, much more than that. Zig Ziglar teaches and speaks about how important it is to be a person of integrity, faith, love and kindness. He teaches the golden rule and personal responsibility. He is the embodiment of someone who walks the walk, while talking the talk. For those of you who may not know Zig Ziglar, I have presented here a few of his numerous books and 25 of my all time favorite quotes. I know they will give you an insight into a man who has lived a passionate and purposeful life. They are not in any particular order of importance.

For more information about this wonderful, remarkable man, go to his company's website: http://www.zigziglar.com/index.php

1. "The most important opinion is the one you have of yourself, and the most significant things you say all day are those things you say to yourself."

2. “Every choice you make has an end result.”

3. "It's not where you start - it's where you finish that counts."

4. “Success means doing the best we can with what we have. Success is the doing, not the getting; in the trying, not the triumph. Success is a personal standard, reaching for the highest that is in us, becoming all that we can be.”

5. “You are the only person on earth who can use your ability.”

6. “Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude”

7. “You cannot climb the ladder of success dressed in the costume of failure.”

8. “The foundation stones for a balanced success are honesty, character, integrity, faith, love and loyalty.”

9. “People often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing - that's why we recommend it daily.”

10. “You were born to win, but to be a winner, you must plan to win, prepare to win, and expect to win.”

11. “If you don't see yourself as a winner, then you cannot perform as a winner.”

12. “It's not what you've got, it's what you use that makes a difference.”

13. "Remember that failure is an event, not a person”

14. “People who have good relationships at home are more effective in the marketplace.”

15. “This I do know beyond any reasonable doubt. Regardless of what you are doing, if you pump long enough, hard enough and enthusiastically enough, sooner or later the effort will bring forth the reward.”

16. “Success is the maximum utilization of the ability that you have.”

17. “Confidence is going after Moby Dick in a rowboat and taking the tartar sauce with you.”

18. “Expect the best. Prepare for the worst. Capitalize on what comes.”

19. “If you learn from defeat, you haven't really lost.”

20. “Little men with little minds and little imaginations go through life in little ruts, smugly resisting all changes which would jar their little worlds”

21. "A goal properly set is halfway reached.”

22. “You can have everything in life you want, if you will just help other people get what they want”

23. “If you go looking for a friend, you're going to find they're very scarce. If you go out to be a friend, you'll find them everywhere.”

24. “Building a better you is the first step to building a better America”

25. “You cannot perform in a manner inconsistent with the way you see yourself.”

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog, I really am honored that you would do so. If you have any comments, stories about Zig Ziglar and how he has influenced your life or a favorite quote, please share it with us.

Also, if you have any suggestions for a topic you would like me to write about, suggestions on how I can improve my blog or questions, please contact me at harry@raresenseunlimited.com. I value your insight and opinions.

May you be blessed always and in all ways!

Harry

http://www.raresenseunlimited.com/

When You Thought I Wasn't Looking!

A message every adult should read because children are watching you and doing as you do, not as you say. I have said before that we are both teacher and student and while this is geared towards children, it is a universal truth for us at all times.

It reminds me of the Liberty Mutual commercials which show people seeing other people commit acts of kindness and so they pass it forward, because at that moment they became the student and then in turn the teacher.

WHEN YOU THOUGHT I WASN'T LOOKING

When you thought I wasn't looking

I saw you hang my first painting on the refrigerator,

and I immediately wanted to paint another one.

When you thought I wasn't looking

I saw you feed a stray cat,

and I learned that it was good to be kind to animals.

When you thought I wasn't looking

I saw you make my favorite cake for me,

and I learned that the little things

can be the special things in life.

When you thought I wasn't looking

I heard you say a prayer,

and I knew that there is a Higher Power

I could always talk to,

and I learned to trust in it.

When you thought I wasn't looking

I saw you make a meal

and take it to a friend who was sick,

and I learned that we all have to

help take care of each other.

When you thought I wasn't looking,

I saw you give of your time and money

to help people who had nothing,

and I learned that those who have something

should give to those who don't.

When you thought I wasn't looking

I saw you take care of our house and everyone in it,

and I learned we have to take care of what we are given.

When you thought I wasn't looking

I saw how you handled your responsibilities,

even when you didn't feel good, and I learned

that I would have to be responsible when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn't looking

I saw tears come from your eyes, and I learned that

sometimes things hurt, but it's all right to cry.

When you thought I wasn't looking

I saw that you cared,

and I wanted to be everything that I could be.

When you thought I wasn't looking

I learned most of life's lessons that I need to know

to be a good and productive person when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn't looking

I looked at you and wanted to say,

'Thanks for all the things I saw when you thought I wasn't looking.'

THIS GOES OUT TO ALL OF THE PEOPLE

WHO DO SO MUCH FOR OTHERS,

BUT THINK THAT NO ONE EVER SEES.

LITTLE EYES SEE A LOT .

Each of us influences the lives of those around us, especially the children.

How will you touch the life of someone today?

Just by sharing this with someone else,

you will probably make them at least think

about their influence on others.

Live simply.
Love generously.
Care deeply.
Speak kindly.

Thank you for reading this today, I am honored that you would take the time. Please feel free to share your thoughts and stories And by all means please share this with everyone you know!

May you be blessed always and in all ways!

Harry

http://www.raresenseunlimited.com/

The Power of Love

From time to time, I come across wonderful stories full of wisdom and life lessons. This is one of those stories.

A Wonderful Chinese Story About Love & It's Powerful Effect On Others:

A long time ago in China , a girl named Li-Li got married & went to live with her husband and mother-in-law. In a very short time, Li-Li found that she couldn't get along with her mother-in-law at all. Their personalities were very different, and Li-Li was angered by many of her mother-in-law's habits. In addition, she criticized Li-Li constantly.

Days passed, and weeks passed. Li-Li and her mother-in-law never stopped arguing and fighting. But what made the situation even worse was that, according to ancient Chinese tradition, Li-Li had to bow to her mother-in-law and obey her every wish. All the anger and unhappiness in the house was causing Li-Li's poor husband great distress.

Finally, Li-Li could not stand her mother-in-law's bad temper and dictatorship any longer, and she decided to do something about it! Li-Li went to see her father's good friend, Mr. Huang, who sold herbs.She told him the situation and asked if he would give her some poison so that she could solve the problem once and for all.

Mr. Huang thought for awhile, and finally said, "Li-Li, I will help you solve your problem, but you must listen to me and obey what I tell you." Li-Li said, "Yes, Mr. Huang, I will do whatever you tell me to do." Mr. Huang went into the back room, and returned in a few minutes with a package of herbs. He told Li-Li, "You can't use a quick-acting poison to get rid of your mother-in-law, because that would cause people to become suspicious. Therefore, I have given you a number of herbs that will slowly build up poison in her body. Every other day prepare some delicious meal and put a little of these herbs in her serving. Now, in order to make sure that nobody suspects you, when she dies, you must be very careful to act very friendly towards her. "Don't argue with her, obey her every wish, and treat her like a queen."

Li-Li was so happy. She thanked Mr. Huang and hurried home to start her plot of murdering her mother-in-law. Weeks went by, and months went by, and every other day, Li-Li served the specially treated food to her mother-in-law. She remembered what Mr. Huang had said about avoiding suspicion, so she controlled her temper, obeyed her mother-in-law, and treated her like her own mother.

After six months had passed, the whole household had changed. Li-Li had practiced controlling her temper so much that she found that she almost never got mad or upset. She hadn't had an argument with her mother-in-law in six months because she now seemed much kinder and easier to get along with. The mother-in-law's attitude toward Li-Li changed, and she began to love Li-Li like her own daughter. She kept telling friends and relatives that Li-Li was the best daughter-in-law one could ever find. Li-Li and her mother-in-law were now treating each other like a real mother and daughter. Li-Li's husband was very happy to see what was happening.

One day, Li-Li came to see Mr. Huang and asked for his help again. She said, "Dear Mr. Huang, please help me to keep the poison from killing my mother-in-law. She's changed into such a nice woman, and I love her like my own mother. I do not want her to die because of the poison I gave her."

Mr. Huang smiled and nodded his head. "Li-Li, there's nothing to worry about. I never gave you any poison. The herbs I gave you were vitamins to improve her health. The only poison was in your mind and your attitude toward her, but that has been all washed away by the love which you gave to her."

HAVE YOU REALIZED that how you treat others is exactly how they will treat you? There is a wise Chinese saying: "The person who loves others will also be loved in return."

The Universe might be trying to work in another person's life through you.

Thank you for taking time to read this today, I am honored that you would do so. Please feel free to comment or share an inspiring story of your own.

May you be blessed always and in all ways!

Harry

www.raresenseunlimited.com

Right Now

Today I wanted to share a poem I wrote:

RIGHT NOW
Right now, tell someone you love them.

Right now, be at peace.

Right now, refuse to worry.

Right now, commune with nature.

Right now, help someone in need.

Right now, shelter the homeless.

Right now, feed the hungry.

Right now, care for the sick.

Right now, tell someone your sorry.

Right now, practice forgiveness.

Right now, let your light shine.

Right now, be spontaneous.

Right now, learn something new.

Right now, show compassion.

Right now, exercise your body.

Right now, be one with all.

Right now, because it is all we are ever guaranteed.

Copyright 2008 by Harry E. Shade, All Rights Reserved

I would appreciate your comments and thoughts. Also, if you have something you have written and you would like me to feature it, and you, in one of my blogs, just let me know by submitting them with your information to harry@raresenseunlimited.com. Please put Rare Sense Blog Submission in the subject line. If I use your submission, I will notify you.

That's all for today.

Blessings!

Harry

http://www.raresenseunlimited.com/

PEACE!

When thinking about what to write about today, one thing kept popping up, PEACE! So, as I usually do, I go with my intuition.

"There is no need to go to India or anywhere else to find PEACE. You will find that deep place of silence right in your room, your garden or even your bathtub." - Elizabeth Kubler-Ross

But why is PEACE so important? Because PEACE is a necessary and vital ingredient to our ability to live our life to the fullest. PEACE brings clarity to our minds, vitality to our bodies and calmness to our spirit. PEACE ushers in balance and harmony and removes doubt, fear, anxiety and stress.

"Let tears flow of their own accord; their flowing is not inconsistent with inward PEACE and harmony" - Seneca

In the interest of spreading PEACE, the first thing I want to offer is this poem/mantra by my friend Isabella:

I am peace
surrounded by peace
secure in peace.
peace protects me
peace supports me
peace is mine

All is well.
peace to all beings
peace among all beings
I am steeped in peace
Absorbed in peace
In the streets, at our work,
having peaceful thoughts,
peaceful words, peaceful acts.
sending light and love to end your day!

When I first read this I could feel my body relax, my heartbeat slow down and my mind become silent and clear. In essence peace had found it's way into every cell of my being. What a joyous feeling. Try it, I guarantee you will love it.

"First keep the PEACE within yourself and then you can also bring PEACE to others." - Thomas A. Kempis

Then I came across this breathing exercise:

Slowly, deeply inhale, quietly chanting the word: Peace,
Then, slowly,deeply exhale, quietly chanting the word: Love.

And of course I had to try it and once again I was filled with the overwhelming feeling of peace and love. So, if you are having a rough day and you want to bring peace into your life, you know have two wonderful ways to do it.

"Nothing can bring you PEACE but yourself." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

I welcome any comments you may have about this post and any techniques you would like to share for finding peace in your life.

That's all for today.

PEACE!

Harry

Fun!

I was talking to my brother and asked him what he thought I should blog about today. I had several ideas in mind but just thought I would get his thoughts. And so he comes up with one word, FUN! On the surface not all that helpful really, but let's have FUN with it.

"It's kind of FUN to do the impossible." - Walt Disney

Before we can really get into this topic, I believe we need to define FUN. I could get the Webster's definition but what would be the FUN in that? No, I will present my own definition of FUN. It is, my humble opinion, that FUN is a state of mind. FUN can be had anywhere at anytime. There is no need for anything for anyone to have FUN. FUN just is. Of course what I consider to be FUN, will not be FUN for all. FUN after all is a personal thing.

"There is no such thing as "fun for the whole family"." - Jerry Seinfeld

Even though I must admit, it can be easier to have FUN with FUN things in FUN places but once again not necessary to having FUN. No....one can have FUN sitting all alone in an empty room, if you think FUN! And remember that a FUNdamental (I just could not resist) truth is that when you are having FUN you are joyful, which is important for your mental, physical and spiritual well being. Are you having FUN yet?

"To love what you do and feel that it matters - how could anything be more FUN?" - Katherine Graham

Now, I will readily admit that FUN is a good topic but then I thought in what context should I write about FUN? Having FUN? Doing FUN things? How about living a "FUN" life? Then it hit me. Make it an acronym. That'll be FUN!

FUN - Finding Uniqueness Naturally

or

FUN - Feeling Unusually Naughty

or

FUN - Flowing Undisturbed Normally

"If you obey all the rules, you miss all the FUN." - Katherine Hepburn

Now, I am sure that those of you reading this can come up with some fun acronyms of your own and share them with me in a comment. Wouldn't that be FUN? I think it would be great FUN!

"Getting there isn't half the FUN, it's all the FUN." - Robert Townsend

So, please, let's have some FUN with FUN and let me know your FUN comments. Now wasn't that FUN?

That's all the FUN for today.

May you blessed always and in all ways!

Harry

Let Me Love

Today, I want to share another poem from my friend John McIntosh, "Let Me Love". It is a powerful message as to the responsibility we all share for the common welfare of everyone.

Are you going through your day as a testament to the ever flowing, ever expanding love of the universe?

Are you spreading love or fear? Peace or disharmony? Joy or sadness?
Do you live your life in the cosmic flow of love or do you fight against the current?

Do you understand the simple power of sharing your love with the world?

Do you know the influence you have on those around you?

Do you understand that at all times you are example for someone, even just yourself?

Please take the time to read this wonderful, uplifting poem and hopefully you will understand the role you play in this world.



LET ME LOVE!

Let me not withhold
the overflowing cup
from any who are in need.

Let me,
with every beat of my heart,
extend an ocean
of healing love
to an ever widening circle.

Let me express in every tiny deed,
the grace and peace
that now fills my heart,
that all I touch will be inspired
to do the same.

Let me be an example of faith,
standing tall against the backdrop
of a world lost in fear and attack.

Let me love.

Blessings

John~Teach Only Love~ McIntosh
http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fgroups.to%2Fspirittracks%2F&h=7ac866252c5ba4ce8f9df2ae0a0df048

BTW, the illustration is from my book, Rare Sense; One Day It Will Be Common: A Practical Guide to a Fulfilled and Balanced Life. .

If you have thoughts or comments, please feel free to share them here. I want to hear from you!

May you be blessed always and in all ways

Harry
http://www.raresenseunlimited.com/

10 Things to Help You Relax

In this day and age of too much work, too much stress and not enough time for you, I offer these 10 things you can start today that will help you relax!

The picture to the right is our cat, Mickey. He obviously has no problem relaxing!

“The time to relax is when you don't have time for it.” - Sydney Harris

1. Cut out the caffeine: You have probably already heard this before but it bears repeating. Caffeine is in a fact a drug, a stimulant, and it is really not good for you. And like some other drugs, it is addicting. Yes, I know like other addictive drugs you will have to wean yourself off it and usually that is not a lot of fun. So, I suggest that you do it slowly by cutting out one coffee or caffeinated drink each day or slowly switching to decaf products. Americans are addicted to caffeine, that is a well known fact, which is one of the major reasons why we cannot relax.

2. Schedule a regular massage: Oh, yeah, if you have ever gotten a relaxing massage, you know how good it feels. I would not suggest a deep tissue, shiatsu style massage, those can hurt a little. And how are you going to pay for that regular massage. Start with the money you are saving by cutting caffeine out of your life. If you still do not have enough money, check to see if there is a massage school near you. Their prices are low and the students are going for a grade, the best of both worlds.

3. Expand your musical tastes: There is a lot of music out there that is designed to help you relax. Try some Native American Flute music or other "new age" instrumental music. It is good for the body and the soul.

4. Take a bubble bath: Oh, yeah, you guys too. The combination of the nice hot water and the soaps designed specifically for relaxing are a great combination. Throw in some nice smelly candles and you will be in heaven. There are even some cool fizzy balls also designed to relax those tense muscles.

5. Take up a hobby: There are a myriad of hobbies that can be truly relaxing. Hiking, bird watching, cooking, gardening, painting, sculpting, nature photography and napping come to mind. I am am told that napping can be a hobby.

"No matter how much pressure you feel at work, if you could find ways to relax for at least five minutes every hour, you'd be more productive." - Dr. Joyce Brothers

6. Take naps: There are numerous studies that say that, especially as we get older, napping has rejuvenating effects. I say don't wait until you get older, when you may actually need them, start now. Of course, it should be 30 minutes or less, so as not to get into that whole REM thing and ruin your normal sleep pattern. I will say that for me naps work too well. If I take a nap anytime during the day, it really effects my normal sleep and I am a night owl as it is. But it may work for you, so give it a try.

7. Get a cat or dog: If you living situation allows it, get a furry ball of love. Once again, study after study have shown that having a pet reduces your stress level and your blood pressure, while releasing those fun hormones that make you feel good. The purr of a cat can just lift your mood and taking the dog for walk has the dual benefit of getting exercise. Plus, when you return home at the end of the day, you always have those furry fuzzies there to greet you. It's is therapy in a natural fur coat.

8. Try hypnotism: There are literally thousands of trained hypnotists available to help you relax using this ancient method. Hypnotists have been known to be able to treat and perhaps even cure all kind of conditions and the ability to relax is one of them. In fact, you can even have the hypnotist at your beck and call thru the use of audio cds. That way you can have a session when and where it is convenient for you and costs a lot less than going to their office. Your eyes are getting heavy.....

9. Try a nice herbal tea: You may be surprised at all the herbal teas on the market today that are designed to help people relax. Ok, maybe not, given the fact that is such a huge market for people who really need to relax. The only caveat I have here is stick with decaf teas, you know so you can do what I talked about in #1. If you do not recall, then refer back to #1.

10. Tap into your spirit: So many of us are trying to find out who we are and why we are here. There are numerous ways to go within and find peace. Books, drum circles, retreats, classes, seminars, TV shows, Internet social networking sites, and the list goes on. Not to mention the traditional religious study groups. If you can find what works for you to be at peace spiritually, you will find it much easier to relax.

"There is no need to go to India or anywhere else to find peace. You will find that deep place of silence right in your room, your garden or even your bathtub." - Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

I could go on and on but I wanted to keep this short. I am sure you can come up with other things that can help you relax. I just wanted to give you a start.

That's all for now!

May you be blessed always and in all ways!

Harry

Keeping the faith in the midst of a crisis.

How does one keep the faith during times like these? Who do we turn to? Where can we find answers?

Especially when all you hear is:

The economy is failing, terrorists want to kill us, people are starving, Mother Nature is exacting her revenge with hurricanes, mudslides and wildfires, gas prices are skyrocketing and on and on.

Well, if you have faith, then you know exactly where you can find answers and who you can turn to. Of course that is determined by what you believe in. If you are a Christian then of course you turn to God or Jesus. If you are Muslim, it is Allah. Native Americans pray to the Great Spirit and so on and so forth.

"Every tomorrow has two handles. We can take hold of it with the handle of anxiety or the handle of faith." - Henry Ward Beecher

As a Spiritualist, I do what I do everyday. I talk to the Creator, Universe, God, whatever you would like to call him/her. I also look inside myself for the answers, for God resides there too. I know who I am, what I am capable of and what to do to fulfill my needs.

Here are some tips on how to get through this time with your faith intact:

1. Know that it will be alright. As I say in my book, Rare Sense, One Day It Will Be Common, we go through three stages on the path to having rare sense and they are Hope, Belief and Knowing. I know that things will get better because I do have Faith that the Universe provides everything I need and in abundance. I also know that if I am lacking anything that it is of my own creation and only I can change the situation. So, if I ever fall back I just have to think of all the times in my life when things were not going so well and remember what I did to change it and then I change it.

2. Don't worry or be fearful. Where has worry ever gotten anyone in their life? Nowhere, except to raise your stress and block you creative thought process. And how many times have you worried over something and it never came to pass. Usually all of the time. So, clear you mind of worry so you can create a solution to your challenges. I know, you are going to say easier said then done, well not really, once again it is a mind set. It is how you think about things and if you know that worry has never gotten anyone anywhere that is productive and positive, then why do it? Only you can change how you see and think about things, so it is up to you to use your power.

3. Show gratitude. There is always something we can be grateful for, always. When you give thanks for what you have now, you are living in the present moment and creating the opportunities for the future. If you really look at things, especially here in the US, we are way better off than hundreds of millions of people around the world, many of whom have little to nothing to eat, no safe drinking water, no medical care or are living in a war zone. Yes, I know there are people in the US who are in similar predicaments but they at least have the opportunity to seek help and get themselves out of it. They have choices that those other people around the world do not have. So be thankful for the good things you do have and you will find solutions through the Universe for the things you need.

4. Take action. If you lost your job, then look for another one. If you need food, seek help. If you need money, find a way, hopefully legally, to earn some. But whatever you do, take action. Sitting around and complaining will get you nowhere. It will however keep you right where you are at. The more action you take the more doors that will be opened to you and the more opportunities will present themselves. One thing that I find hard to tolerate is people who will not do anything to help themselves and then wonder why they are "stuck". They blame everyone but themselves and wonder why the world is against them. The world is not against them, they are doing it to themselves and do not see it or choose not to see it.

5. Improve yourself. If you lack the skills or education level to to make it in today's work place then get more education and/or training. Seek out schools and training programs and apply. If you do not have the money then pursue scholarships, grants, etc to pay for it. Everyday, people find the way to pay for more education so if they can do it, so can you. It takes dedication, determination, hard work and sacrifice. But if you want it bad enough you will find a way to get it.

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy." - Martin Luther King Jr.

My question is, is everything as bad as the media wants us to believe? Or are they just reporting on all the negative things like always and keeping us in fear? Are there no companies making money? Is everyone out of a job? Wouldn't it be better to put our energies into finding solutions to the challenges we have instead of just talking about how bad everything is?

We have been through rough times throughout our history and we have the ingenuity and ability to get through these times too. Every challenge presents opportunities for innovation. Every obstacle presents a chance for us to grow and learn. What is needed for us right now is to remain calm, ignore the naysayers, roll up our sleeves, open our minds and get to work.

“View a negative experience in your life like you'd look at a photo negative. A single negative can create an unlimited number of positive prints.” - Gerhard Gschwandtner

What we also need is courageous, passionate, visionary people to step up and lead us into a new age of collaboration, cooperation and compassion. An age where we care for our fellow man, where we acknowledge that everyone has something to contribute, where we recognize that it is every one's responsibility to ensure that everybody has the basic necessities of life.

If you want a better world then change how you look at yourself and your responsibility to all mankind. True change begins and ends with you. You have the power, you simply have to tap into it. Keeping the faith in the middle of a crisis lies within you. If you know who you are, then faith will come automatically, for you will know how powerful you are and that you can create a solution.

"What worries you, masters you." - Haddon W. Robinson

I know we will find solutions to the challenges ahead. I know what we are capable of and so I have faith that all will be as it should be. In the meantime, I will be doing my part to help and seek answers to the challenges we face. I will be an active contributor in ushering in a new world. So, come join me in creating a world we all deserve to live in, using our faith, love gratitude, wisdom, intelligence, intuition and passion.

May you be blessed always and in all ways!

Harry

Pets and Love

Today, you will find pictures scattered throughout this post of our pets. The Chocolate Lab is Toby. The white cat is Holly. And the silly white and black cat is Mickey.

"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated." ~ Mahatma Gandhi

If you have a pet you will know what I mean when I say that they give us unconditional love. Now, some of you might say that dogs definitely do but cats?

Well, even though cats do tend to march to their own drum, you cannot deny that they too have the ability to provide us with unlimited joy with their antics and the purring when they get what we call "scratchy lovies" from their owners. They will come around when you do not feel good and are all soft and fluffy when they decide they want to snuggle with you. (Except for the hairless breeds of course, but I digress)



"When I play with my cat, who knows whether she is not amusing herself with me more than I with her." ~ Montaigne

Now, dogs, they just are bundles of love. They really appreciate when you play with them, feed them, let them outside, quite frankly for anything you do for them. They are always ready to greet you at the door at the end of the day with their tails wagging and that goofy smile on their face. Ok, maybe that is just our dog with the goofy face but you know what I mean. Sometimes Toby is so happy to see us I think his butt is going to fall off from all that wagging.



"Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole." ~ Roger Caras

It has been shown in study after study that those that have at least one pet have less stress and lower blood pressure. Even having an aquarium helps us feel better and fish are not soft and cuddely at all. Why do you think there are so many aquariums in doctor's offices or hospitals? Because the work! Pets help us through loss and grief. They are companions when we do not have much human contact and they just bring a smile to our faces. Now tell me that Mickey's picture below does not make you chuckle.



"Who can believe that there is no soul behind those luminous eyes!" ~ Theophile Gautier

I have been focusing on cats and dogs here but all pets can bring joy in some way. When we care for them they make us feel needed. When they do something silly they make us smile. They are the subject of many a reel of video tape and have even helped people win money on America's Funniest Home Videos.

"If having a soul means being able to feel love and loyalty and gratitude, then animals are better off than a lot of humans" ~ James Herriot

Pets are a gift from the Universe. They provide so many good things to us humans that we owe them a hug debt of gratitude. So, remember when you are thinking about what to be grateful for, if you have a pet, do not forget them. If you don't have a pet, after reading this, you may want to consider getting one. Finally, if you do have a pet and you do not treat it with love and respect, then you either need to change your ways or give them to someone who will love and care for them.

"We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals." ~ Immanual Kant

If you have a pet enjoy it. If not, get one, you'll be glad you did! We have been truly blessed with our pets and all the positive things they have brought to our lives. That's all for today!

May you be blessed always and in all ways!

Harry