Tuesday, December 30, 2008

And Then Some News

Thursday’s essay, “Secure your foundation: Forget resolutions,” is a New Year’s Day essay, and it doesn’t stop with trashing resolutions as a method for change. It offers ten specific methods for securing your foundation..

Share your link. Have you written anything on Christmas? How about material on Santa Claus, families at Christmastime, gift-giving, or the holidays? Share your link with us. We’ll post it and move traffic in your direction. And, a big “thank you,” in advance, from AndThenSomeWorks.com, for sharing your link.


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Thursday's And Then Some Essay preview
Secure your foundation: Forget resolutions
by Richard L. Weaver II

Excerpt:

Resolutions don’t work! There are many reasons. They’re made to stop or lose something; they reflect a lack of planning; they describe a result without referencing behavior; there is no date for completion; there is no consequence for failure; they are made at the last minute; they are vague and too big; they have little support to carry them out; they are not written down; there is no commitment behind them; they offer no flexibility; they push toward perfection; and they often require miracles. Because resolutions don’t work, all they are are empty promises to yourself. So, what’s the answer: no resolutions, then what?


And Then Some Works - see you THURSDAY!!

Thursday, December 25, 2008

Christmas is about people

And Then Some Essay by Richard L Weaver II, PhDby Richard L. Weaver II

Arranging schedules regarding when Christmas will be celebrated with the families of our grown children is difficult when each family has at least three celebrations. Our celebration never falls on Christmas morning anymore, but when we open presents at least 18 people are here and often a few more than that. With nine grandchildren, all counting how many presents they receive when compared with their cousins, we have made certain the count is exact, and considering how long the whole process takes, we have tried to limit the number of presents under the tree.


No matter how Christmas is celebrated or when, there are a number of things families can do to reduce the emphasis on gifts. It is difficult, of course, for young children can see little else, and their vision is blurred not just by the sheer number of gifts under the tree but, too, when they celebrate it three times and in each case the number increases. The problem is exacerbated when you have grandparents competing to give the greatest number, the biggest, or the most expensive.


One thing is for certain, the example adults set for children is important. This is one suggestion made by
Dr. David Lowenstein, in his essay, “Teaching your kids about the real meaning of the holidays.” Lowenstein suggests setting an example by instilling the importance of the holidays in your own family. When you place emphasis on the religious significance of the holiday, he says, spend time together, or give to charity, your children will take clues from you. After setting an example, Lowenstein suggests promoting family togetherness, spending time together, performing acts of charity, encouraging giving, and managing gift expectations.

With respect to Santa Claus, Lowenstein suggests emphasizing that “Santa Claus is an icon of goodness.” Lowenstein says that if you emphasize this, “the gift-giving aspect of Santa [won’t] completely overshadow what’s really magical” — that Christmas is about people.


The real key, according to Lowenstein, is “to consider what the holidays mean to you and what you want them to mean to your children.” You do this so that you can “emphasize these things during the season and for the entire year. You’ll be happy to find,” he concludes, “that your family agrees that religion, charity, good will, family togetherness and love for each other creates more lasting memories than elaborate feasts, expensive decorations, and breakable toys.”


At “
Great gift ideas," Patricia Sheehy, in her essay “Secrets to Meaningful Gift Giving,” suggests that you can take the anxiety out of gift giving (“Did I choose appropriately?” “Will it convey my feelings and intentions?”) if you keep a list of things your friends and family members talk about throughout the year (e.g., colors, hobbies, etc.), buy a gift connected to something bigger such as a piece of folklore, or a family story and, finally, she suggests adding a personal note to your gift to explain why you purchased it and to make the gift meaningful and personal. It focuses attention on the person giving the gift and the reason for it, not just on the gift alone.

Debra Lynn Dadd, in an essay entitled, “Holiday Gift-Giving,” tells us that, “Our modern bringer of gifts, Santa Claus, evolved from St. Nicholas, an actual person who distributed his wealth to the needy through the giving of secret gifts,” and, she adds, that, “Throughout most of history, gifts exchanged were small tokens of affection.” That offers a contrast to what takes place in many living rooms each year.

“The essence of gift giving,” says Dadd, “is generosity — the readiness and willingness to give of one’s self and one’s resources to benefit others, and to give liberally, freely, abundantly, plentifully, and joyfully.”


Given any gift-giving history and the traditions that take place during the holidays, it is unlikely there will be any major changes that take place. Even if that remains true, however, it is possible to reconsider your core values for the holidays. In her essay, Dadd lists five, important, core values:

* Being generous with people who can truly benefit from our gifts

* Expressing love in ways other than material goods

* Celebrating the spiritual and social meanings of the holiday

* Promoting peace

* Spending time with loved ones


Gift giving can take place within the context of these values and, also, other activities and events can be added to the gift-giving experience to reinforce the values, take the emphasis off the gift-giving portion, and add deeper meaning to the holidays.


Dadd offers a wide array of suggestions, and I recommend her website for a discussion and examples of each. She lists giving of yourself like gifts of time, gifts of help, gifts of skill, gifts of experience, gifts of family, gifts of community, and gifts with a personal touch. Also she suggests giving gifts with the environment in mind (that use fewer resources and are eco-friendly) such as a donation to an environmental group, organically grown plants, or gifts that are recycled or reusable.

Despite the gifts, the values you support, and the reasons you do or do not celebrate Christmas, if you do things during the holidays with the intention of expressing your love then gift giving can be just one of the ways. But when you focus on the people, not the gifts, then it is relationships that count. People, and your relationship with them, become more important than anything material.



When Christmas is about people, significant memories are established — memories that people will remember and that become important to the way they lead and conduct their lives. Memories are made from such simple things as turning off the television and the video games and playing games together, creating a new recipe together, playing some music and dancing together, cooking together, cleaning up the kitchen together, reading a book together, singing carols together, or just cuddling together and enjoying — celebrating — people at Christmastime.



At
adoption.com, Donna Sanchez has written an essay entitled, “A meaningful Christmas,” in which she discusses a number of great ideas and examples of giving and sharing.

Patty Getz, at the website
peopleoffaith.com, offers a list of “81 ideas to spend time with your family at Christmas,” to prove that Christmas can be so much more than presents and parties. The ideas are fun and interesting and will, undoubtedly, spark your imagination.


© Copyright 2008 - And Then Some Publishing, LLC

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

And Then Some News

And Then Some NewsWe have a question for you: And Then Some Publishing, LLC is writing the scripts for the next set of videos. Our websites discuss the themes: 1) public speaking, 2) self-improvement, 3) And Then Some, and 4) relationships. Related to one of these themes, what topic would you like to see covered in one our new videos? Leave us a comment and tell us what you think.



Thursday’s essay, “Christmas is about people,” discusses gift-giving, holiday values, and what families can do to reduce the emphasis on gifts.

Share your link. Have you written anything on Christmas? How about material on Santa Claus, families at Christmastime, gift-giving, or the holidays? Share your link with us. We’ll post it and move traffic in your direction. And, a big “thank you,” in advance, from AndThenSomeWorks.com, for sharing your link.


Click here to LINK your And Then Some story


Thursday's And Then Some Essay preview
Christmas is about people
by Richard L. Weaver II

Excerpt:

The real key, according to Lowenstein, is “to consider what the holidays mean to you and what you want them to mean to your children.” You do this so that you can “emphasize these things during the season and for the entire year. You’ll be happy to find,” he concludes, “that your family agrees that religion, charity, good will, family togetherness and love for each other creates more lasting memories than elaborate feasts, expensive decorations, and breakable toys.”


And Then Some Works - see you THURSDAY!!

Thursday, December 18, 2008

When "camping" becomes exceptional

And Then Some Essay by Richard L Weaver II, PhDby Richard L. Weaver II

Someone could say that no camping (at all) is exceptional camping or that any camping at all is great camping — both extremes of the same subject. Today (09-08-08), however, reveals how truly exceptional “camping” can be.

My wife and I come from camping families, so it comes as no surprise that we both enjoy and pursue it with considerable interest and vigor.

We are “camping” in “Brennan Beach RV Resort” in Pulaski, New York, and this place is the largest park we have ever camped in with over 1400 sites, a combination of seasonal and overnight/destination types. It is hard to imagine (even for us), the size of this place, and if it were full, I would probably not be writing an essay on this topic, with this slant, at this park.

We are in this park for 3 nights, and we are likely to extend our stay for another night. When we checked in (this being the week following Labor Day), most campers had already departed. Having selected the more wooded area, we were already choosing the less popular area of the park; however, we are in a site surrounded by other sites, but nobody (with the exception of two other trailers quite a distance from us), is here. We are by ourselves.

Each of the 1400 camping sites here has full service: electric, water, sewer, and cable (wireless Internet access is available at the pavilion). The 62 sites surrounding us (we are approximately in the center of this wooded area), all have level concrete pads, and when we step out of our 5th wheel, we step onto this pad. There is a picnic table on the pad just to the left of our 5th-wheel door under our awning, and although this entire setup is an awesome arrangement, it justifies precisely why I place “camping” in quotation marks. This is camping?

It is currently 72 degrees, there is a blue sky with no clouds, and a slight breeze. Last night (our first night here) it was very dark and completely silent. Within 200 feet of our campsite (within visual distance through the trees), there are showers, a very clean restroom, and a dispenser for a daily newspaper.

We decided to stay in our campsite today since we have been on the road for 13 days. We wanted to relax and not get into the truck to travel or sightsee. Our biggest adventure today was to visit the camp store and swimming pool and walk down to and along the beach. The point of this essay is to extol the virtues of this form of camping — “camping” this way is truly exceptional.

Today I fixed a grilled cheese and ham sandwich on our electric, two-burner stove on the picnic table, had French-vanilla yogurt poured over bananas, grapes, cherries, black raspberries, and pineapple. A cup of coffee and a chocolate-chip cookie completed my lunch. It is an exceptional lunch.

We are carrying with us a small (two-person) crock pot, and Andrea has a ham and cabbage slow-cooker dinner simmering (for 8-10 hours) for dinner tonight. The delightful aroma in the 5th wheel is mouth watering.

Of the 13 days we have been on the road, we have had two camping experiences like this: under the shade of enormous trees, in a full-service, level, campsite, private, and quiet at night. The good weather we have had is an added benefit and comes at no additional charge.

What a great way to relax! We fully realize that larger trailers and larger 5th wheels come with even more amenities, but as far as we’re concerned, we have all we need. The bed, for example, is extremely comfortable, and the cool nights encourage a wonderful sleep. Cable has allowed us to watch the national conventions as well as the U.S. Open (the men’s final between Murray and Federer is tonight). We have a DVD player, and we’ve watched two of the 10 movies we brought with us.

Our 5th wheel comes with a terrific shower, and when we have a sewer we do not need to be careful about how much water we use. With Andrea and me taking showers right after each other, we have yet to run out of hot water. When we don’t have a sewer connection, we take short. showers using as little water as possible.

Although we have air conditioning and use it when necessary, the a-c unit has a fan on it which can be used on low or high. One night we used it all night on low just to block out the noise of a nearby active campsite. A small, portable fan (which I have on now) circulates the air sufficiently for comfort. When mornings are cold (it will get into the mid forties the next couple of nights) our cube heater provides a quick warm-up in the morning.

With two refrigerators, plenty of fresh drinking water, a microwave, full stove, a regular oven (which we’ve never used), we have all the conveniences necessary to prepare complete meals. We carry 3 small, blue-ice packets and a small plastic thermos-like container so that we prepare our lunches in the morning before breaking camp, and carry sandwiches, fruit, yogurt, fresh vegetables, drinks, and cookies wherever we travel or tour.

We heard recently of a prominent physician from our hometown who is retiring and whose wife wants to travel. He has no interest in traveling, but he says he can be persuaded. Considering what there is to see and do in the world, it is hard for us to imagine such a position. Day-before-yesterday, for example, we took a two-nation cruise to explore the 1,000 islands at the mouth of the St. Lawrence Seaway between Canada and the U.S. In another example, just a 1-hour stop at the Discovery Center in Sacket Harbor, NY, yesterday alone, supplied sufficient information to overwhelm the senses. Information on the farming and agriculture of this region, architecture, tourism, fishing, recreation, and history was impressive. Information on Frederick Douglass and Susan B. Anthony, Frank Lloyd Wright (his famous home, Graycliff, is in Derby, NY), and because geography dictated that the war of 1812 operations take place around Lake Erie, near the Niagara River between Lake Erie and Lake Ontario, and near the Saint Lawrence River area, there was much information on those events as well.

There is much excitement in 5th-wheelin’ it, and camping in this manner is exceptional not because of any one element but as a result of adding everything together. Sure, it’s the vehicles, the ease, the supplies, the amenities, the weather, and all that you can learn. Our travels have always been educational adventures. The experience of using our 5th wheel is the delightful and wonderful combination that cannot be entirely predicted nor anticipated. It proves, however, that “camping” can be truly exceptional.



At the “Love Outdoors," the brief article on “Camping” offers over 30 useful tips and suggestions that may help you make camping easier.

In a brief article on this Camp’n Style website, there are three areas discussed: (1) family camping, (2) camping essentials, and (3) camping trailer tips. The ideas are brief and to the point, useful and interesting, readable and valuable.


© Copyright 2008 - And Then Some Publishing, LLC

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

And Then Some News

And Then Some NewsAndThenSomeWorks.com has been updated with a new section asking the question: Is life truly about male versus female, or is there something to be discovered when you dive in and inspect more closely? Are male/female differences more than just because their brains are wired differently? Check out the new section on Gender and find out!

YouRules.com has also been updated with two new sections.
Continuing the self-improvement theme. These new sections compliment the book You Rules - Caution: Contents leads to a better life! These essays can't be found on our blog and are only available on the website. Click the links and check them out: Control Your World - For Skeptics

We have a question for you: And Then Some Publishing, LLC is writing the scripts for the next set of videos. Our websites discuss the themes: 1) public speaking, 2) self-improvement, 3) And Then Some. Related to one of these themes, what topic would you like to see covered in one our new videos? Leave us a comment and tell us what you think.



Thursday’s essay, “When ‘camping’ becomes exceptional,” is the third of three essays on our vacation to upstate New York..

Share your link. Have you written anything on traveling or camping? How about material on upstate New York? Share your link with us. We’ll post it and move traffic in your direction. And, a big “thank you,” in advance, from
AndThenSomeWorks.com, for sharing your link.

Click here to LINK your And Then Some story


Thursday's And Then Some Essay preview
When ‘camping’ becomes exceptional
by Richard L. Weaver II

Excerpt:

There is much excitement in 5th-wheelin’ it, and camping in this manner is exceptional not because of any one element but as a result of adding everything together. Sure, it’s the vehicles, the ease, the supplies, the amenities, the weather, and all that you can learn. Our travels have always been educational adventures. The experience of using our 5th wheel is the delightful and wonderful combination that cannot be entirely predicted nor anticipated. It proves, however, that “camping” can be truly exceptional.


And Then Some Works - see you THURSDAY!!

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Traveling by guess and by gosh II

And Then Some Essay by Richard L Weaver II, PhDby Richard L. Weaver II

We were driving through the small village of
Sodus Point, New York, after visiting the old lighthouse and museum and Chimney Bluff State Park, when I saw a small sign set out near the main road through town. It simply read “Pizza,” and after a quick discussion of dinner plans, we turned around and ordered a large for $11.99. After a wait of about 30 minutes, while we strolled the harbor, we took the pizza back to our Brennan Beach campsite. Talk about traveling “by guess and by gosh,” it was the best pizza we have ever had.

What was interesting about this “best pizza” experience was that when we were at the old lighthouse in Sodus Point, two ladies we asked about getting pizza said, very clearly and assertively, that there was no place in Sodus Point to get good pizza. Maybe they thought Sodus Point only had excellent pizza!


From a campsite overlooking Lake Ontario at Sodus Point we drove just 30 miles to
Cheerful Valley Campground. Our “by guess and by gosh” opportunity occurred when we visited the National Women’s Right Park and Museum, in Seneca Falls, NY. It was a wonderful and inspiring collection of photographs, stories, and papers (books, letters, and pamphlets) about the life and times of Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Jane Hunt, Frederick Douglass, Mary Ann McClintock and the McClintock family and all the others who hosted the First Women's Rights Convention at Seneca Falls in 1848. Here were representative objects from the Women's Rights Movement of the 19th and 20th centuries particularly as they relate to the Declaration of Sentiments and the first Women’s Rights Convention.

An even more impressive “by guess and by gosh” moment took place as a result of talking with the owner of Cheerful Valley Campground. He pointed out that “
Canal Days," was taking place in Palmyra, NY, and because we had expressed an interest in seeing the Erie Canal, he suggested we go. The main part of downtown Palmyra was closed off because of the parade route and all the tents, so we parked at the Palmyra fairgrounds and were shuttled to main street by school bus.

Just as we got off the bus in downtown Palmyra, there was a loudspeaker announcement that an historic walking tour of the Erie Canal would be taking place, and all those interested should gather at the main information booth. Just our luck! We met our tour guide and then the five other people taking the tour with us. Our guide showed us the old stores that serviced the canal, the hotels and storage sheds, and some of the old homes. He pointed out, too, how the bed of the canal had changed three times as it had been widened and deepened. He told us that in the time of the canal, traffic was constant day and night, but now most all canal traffic is recreational boats and tourist excursions. All the locks remain in working condition.


As we were getting on the bus to return to the fairgrounds, we asked a couple we saw how to get to the
Joseph Smith Farm. We had not noticed that both people were wearing name tags indicating they were Mormon. They gave us specific directions out of the parking area, and we drove directly to the farm. In entering the parking lot, we noticed that the person in the welcome center of the farm waved to us, and later we discovered the couple from whom we asked directions had phoned ahead to let them know we were coming.

After a short talk by two missionary women from Australia, who were clearly proselytizing on behalf of their faith, we decided not to take the tour of the farm and Sacred Grove but, instead, drive directly to
Hill Cumorah. In the small town (population 8,000) of Palmyra, NY, is where the Mormon faith was born. It was the home of Joseph Smith, the founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, known as the Mormon Church. At Hill Cumorah we climbed to the golden statue of the angel Moroni just as Joseph Smith had visited the Hill Cumorah at Moroni’s prompting and dug up the golden plates on which the Book of Mormon was written. We did not look for any forgotten golden plates, nor did we receive any prodding from Moroni, but our trip was instructive and interesting just the same.

Our next excursion from the Cheerful Valley Campground was to the
Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge. Driving through the entire Refuge, there was little wildlife to be seen since the fall migration had not begun, but in the souvenir shop of the welcome center, we found some beautiful ballpoint pens in the shape of animals that we purchased (nine of them) for stocking presents for our grandchildren.

Because we were in the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York, we drove along Cayuga Lake, stopped at an Amish Market, visited Geneva (at the tip of Seneca Lake), and drove through several state parks.


The Finger Lakes, according to
Wikipedia, “mainly are linear in shape, each lake oriented on a north-south axis. The two longest, Cayuga Lake and Seneca Lake, are among the deepest in America. Both are close to 40 miles from end to end, but never more than 3.5 miles wide.” Again, quoting Wikipedia, “The Finger Lakes area is New York's largest wine producing region. Over 100 wineries and vineyards are centered around Seneca, Cayuga, Canandaigua, and Keuka Lakes. Because of the lakes' great depth, they provide a lake effect to the lush vineyards that flank their shores.”

From Cheerful Valley in Phelps, NY, we drove 202 miles to Chautauqua Campground on Chautauqua Lake. This was our final campsite, and because we stayed four days, it gave us time to relax, drive around the lake, and visit two outstanding gift shops in
Bemus Point, NY. We had outstanding trips to Long Point State Park, Jamestown, and the Chautauqua Institute. as well.

We started this “by guess and by gosh” vacation with no reservations and no travel plans. It was simply a 3 ½ week visit to upstate New York. What we discovered at many points was startling. There were so many outstanding, unplanned for, and extraordinary experiences that this is an adventure we would recommend to anyone seeking a new and exciting get-away.




Although we dropped directly south from the
Seaway Trail before it reached Rochester, NY, at this site there is a map of the entire trail. We traveled it from Massena, but you can follow it farther west from Rochester directly along Lake Erie.

The “
I Love New York," website has a number of picture icons that will guide you to most of the areas we visited. It is worthwhile place to start planning an upstate New York trip.


© Copyright 2008 - And Then Some Publishing, LLC

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

And Then Some News

And Then Some NewsAndThenSomeWorks.com announces Very Personal, a new essay subject on the website.

The three new essays in this section have never been on the blog nor published previously, and they reveal a personal side of me, Richard L. Weaver II, that I have not yet talked about. The first essay answers the question, Why do I read?, and if you're a reader, you'll quickly identify with the insights shared. The second essay, Trying to understand everything, answers a question a student asked me: "Do you know everything?" How I answered that question is in the essay, and, believe me, it was a difficult situation. The third essay is about the joy and usefulness there is in being handy --- how I learned it and how I have applied it. There's lots of new information in these three essays that you'll find both interesting and insightful. Also, And Then Some wants to wish you all the best for the holiday season.



Thursday’s essay, “Traveling by guess and by gosh II,” is the second of three essays on our vacation to upstate New York..

Share your link. Have you written anything on traveling or camping? How about material on upstate New York? Share your link with us. We’ll post it and move traffic in your direction. And, a big “thank you,” in advance, from
AndThenSomeWorks.com, for sharing your link.

Click here to LINK your And Then Some story


Thursday's And Then Some Essay preview
Traveling by guess and by gosh II
by Richard L. Weaver II

Excerpt:

Just as we got off the bus in downtown Palmyra, there was a loudspeaker announcement that an historic walking tour of the Erie Canal would be taking place, and all those interested should gather at the main information booth. Just our luck! We met our tour guide and then the five other people taking the tour with us. Our guide showed us the old stores that serviced the canal, the hotels and storage sheds, and some of the old homes. He pointed out, too, how the bed of the canal had changed three times as it had been widened and deepened. He told us that in the time of the canal, traffic was constant day and night, but now most all canal traffic is recreational boats and tourist excursions. All the locks remain in working condition.


And Then Some Works - see you THURSDAY!!

Thursday, December 4, 2008

Traveling by guess and by gosh

And Then Some Essay by Richard L Weaver II, PhDby Richard L. Weaver II

In Lolo, Montana, on September 9, 2005, we stopped in a field 12 miles southwest of Missoula where we discovered that Lewis & Clark had camped there exactly (to the very day) 200 years before in 1805. At this spot, called Traveler’s Rest, were tents, well-marked pathways, people in costumes, large areas roped off for visitor parking, and we had no idea what was going on when we stopped. Being very early in the day — before they had begun charging for admission to the grounds — we parked and walked throughout the whole area. I even had my picture taken sitting on a tree stump exactly where their latrine was located.

How do they know where the latrine was located? At the LewisandClarkTrail.com website, it says, “The Traveler's Rest Preservation & Heritage Association reported that archaeologists uncovered what appears to be the latrine used by the Corps of Discovery while camping at Traveler's Rest. Significant amounts of mercury were found in the soil where a Corps' latrine was located. The expedition regularly used mercury as a medical treatment.”

This accidental stop at Traveler’s Rest wasn’t the first “by guess and by gosh” occurrence, and it certainly won’t be the last. As-a-matter-of-fact, our entire trip to upstate New York in September, 2008, was all by guess and by gosh, and many of the experiences we had are truly memorable.

We left home on Wednesday, August 27th with no specific agenda and traveling straight east, we drove 262 miles (as far as we could) in one day. We stayed at the Hidden Valley Campground and RV Park in Jamestown, New York. For the second night we stayed in Meadow Vale Campsites at Mt. Vision, NY. Without a reservation, it was our third night that caused a slight problem. Our first choice of campsites in the Lake George area was full, but the owner called to Lake George Campsites and secured a site for us. Most of the 100 or more campsites were occupied or reserved because it was Labor Day; thus, we felt lucky to get a site in an open field (with full services) along with close to ten other RVs and fifth wheels.

With the Great Escape amusement park (roller coasters) close by, an elaborate putt-putt golf course at the entrance to our campsite area, an outlet mall within 1-2 miles, and many fast-food and sit-down restaurants in the area, Lake George catered to families, not to those who had an appreciation for natural things. We traveled around Lake George, up Prospect Mountain (for $7.00 per car), and were happy to leave for the Adirondack Mountains after three nights.

“By guess and by gosh” is much easier after Labor Day when children have to be back in school, and most people have ended their summer vacations.

It was only a three-hour drive from Lake George to the North Pole Campsites, just outside of Lake Placid. Site 65 in their 100-acre wooded area was private, close to their very clean restrooms, and had full service. Our first excursion took us to the AuSable River Gorge which cost us $10.50 each to walk it because it was privately owned. We then drove to Platsburg and drove around the SUNY campus there — a place I had considered teaching early in my career.

Our second excursion took us to the High Falls Gorge (also on the AuSable River), where our tickets were $9.00 each (because it was privately owned) to walk the Gorge. The Gorge is absolutely gorge-ous! Then we took Veteran’s Memorial Highway (NY 403) to the top of Whiteface Mountain, near Wilmington, NY, where I took a 286-foot elevator (carved out of the stone at the center of the mountain) to the top of the 4,867 foot-high mountain. It cost $12.60 (with an AAA discount) to drive up the mountain (because it was privately owned).

You obviously see a trend here in my citation of costs. We were amazed that the natural wonders of the Adirondack Mountains which should be state or national parks, were all privately owned with — what we considered to be — exorbitant costs attached.

From the North Pole Campsites we drove just over two hours north to Massena, NY, along the St. Lawrence Seaway. There, we found a site in the Massena International Kampground, all by ourselves, overlooking the Grasse River. After setting up camp, we drove to the Dwight D. Eisenhower Lock and watched a large ship traverse the lock. At the Robert Moses State Park, we saw an enormous electric-generating plant, but we chose not to take a tour.

We stayed just one night in Massena then drove along the St. Lawrence River (following the Great Lakes’ Seaway Trail, to Clayton and Alexandria Bay, NY, which is the location of the 1,000-island area. Just to the west of Clayton we found Riverside Island RV Park. After setting up camp, we returned to Clayton and Alexandria Bay to walk around. The following day we went back to Clayton to take a 2 ½- hour, two-nation cruise of the islands. The tour ended at the Boldt Castle, where we had delicious chili dogs and toured the castle before taking a boat-shuttle back to Clayton. The cost for the cruise and the additional cost for the Castle tour were reasonable and well worth it.

Our next camping site, just 2 1/2-hours west from Clayton at Pulaski, NY, was at Brennan Beach RV Park & Campsite, one of the largest parks we have ever stayed in. With over 1400 sites, we chose the wooded area which had full-service hook-ups for just 62 campers. We were one of only three in the entire wooded area, and all three campers were spread out from each other so that each of us felt totally alone. The park had a long sandy beach on the shore of Lake Ontario, and it was located next to a Deer Lake State Wildlife Refuge where we located and photographed swans along a trail where we walked.

All that I have mentioned in this essay thus far was “by guess and by gosh.” We had no reservations; we made no plans; we just went along at our own pace and on our own schedule. But the real payoff for our “by guess and by gosh” travels on this trip was yet to come. Next week's essay is full of more surprises.



Although we used a 5th-wheel camper for our travels, it is similar to having an RV (recreational vehicle). At this website, “RV Ideas for Family Traveling,” there are numerous tips and suggestions that may help guide you in the right direction.

Admittedly the tips and suggestions at this website, “Connell Family Camping Page: Camping Tips,” has an enormous number of ideas that begin with finding the right camper and towing vehicle, to winterizing tips, games and activities, preparation miscellaneous suggestions, as well as meal and family time suggestions. There is so much information on this site, you cannot fail to be amazed — or learn something new.


© Copyright 2008 - And Then Some Publishing, LLC

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

And Then Some News

And Then Some NewsThursday’s essay, “Traveling by guess and by gosh,” is the first of three essays on our vacation to upstate New York..

Share your link. Have you written anything on traveling or camping? How about material on upstate New York? Share your link with us. We’ll post it and move traffic in your direction. And, a big “thank you,” in advance, from
AndThenSomeWorks.com, for sharing your link.

Click here to LINK your And Then Some story


Thursday's And Then Some Essay preview
Traveling by guess and by gosh
by Richard L. Weaver II

Excerpt:

In Lolo, Montana, on September 9, 2005, we stopped in a field 12 miles southwest of Missoula where we discovered that Lewis & Clark had camped there exactly (to the very day) 200 years before in 1805. At this spot, called Traveler’s Rest (http://www.travelersrest.org/), were tents, well-marked pathways, people in costumes, large areas roped off for visitor parking, and we had no idea what was going on when we stopped. Being very early in the day — before they had begun charging for admission to the grounds — we parked and walked throughout the whole area. I even had my picture taken sitting on a tree stump exactly where their latrine was located.


And Then Some Works - see you THURSDAY!!

Monday, December 1, 2008

Cyber Monday Sale!

It's our first annual Cyber-Monday Sale! We have great items for your baby like plush reversible baby carrier cover and an all-in-one baby changing station. Want a great deal on a fleece blanket? How about Frosty the Snowman and Santa fleece blankets, and one item so cheap we can't tell you what it is! See for yourself at ProductsThatPamper.com - A handmade paradise of products that pamper

Interested in public speaking, self-improvement... and then some? We have you covered. This week Dr. Weaver will be adding posts to our "Words of Wisdom" section. Every two weeks a new post from great thinkers of many generations. Get ready for inspiration and motivation. Check out three books by Richard L. Weaver II, Ph.D.

You Rules - Caution contents leads to a better life
YouRules.com

Get the rules of self-improvement! "Look Inside" at Amazon.com

You Rules!
answers the questions:

1. How do you establish the characteristics for success?
2. What are the essentials for a healthy lifestyle?
3. What methods can you use to get where you want to go?
4. How can you best exercise your creativity?
5. What can you do to maintain your program of self-improvement?
6. How do you look to a positive future?

With the answers to these questions, the guidelines offered throughout this book, your commitment and self discipline... you can obtain anything you desire in life.

Full chapters now available: (click link below)
Table of contents
Chapter 21: Pull yourself up by your own bootstraps
Chapter 25: Open the mystery doors of your life
Chapter 47: Rage, rage against the dying of the light


Public Speaking Rules! - All you need for a GREAT speech
PublicSpeakingRules.com

You don't want to speak just "good," and you don't want to be just "better." What you want is to be GREAT! This guide isn't just an introduction to public speaking, it's your handbook to improve your public speaking, whatever skills you possess. It doesn't matter if you're an advanced public speaker, just beginning, or in need one great speech. Public Speaking Rules! is your nut-and-bolts handbook whether you're starting from scratch or simply brushing up.

Whether you need tips on fears and phobias, a special occasion speech, impromptu public speaking, and/or writing the perfect speech... we have it all. Check out all the public speaking topics and learn how it's not just public speaking... it's Public Speaking Rules!

Click the link below:
> Speeches
> Public Speaking Rules book
> Impromptu Public Speaking
> Fears and Phobias
> Special Occasion Speeches
> Writing and Delivery


And Then Some - Essay to entertain, motivate, & inspire!
AndThenSomeWorks.com

Daily And Then Some moments have never ceased, and will never cease. With respect to influential, life-altering, high density, transforming events, nothing compares with the colossal And Then Some phenomena. And Then Some is your benchmark. Establish a new pattern and approach for reshaping your life.

Be positive, get motivate... And Then Some!
> And Then Some Approach
> Family
> Humor
> Messages
> Relationships
> Thought Provoking
> Travel

Have a great Cyber Monday!

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Dear Mom and Dad: Lives and then some

And Then Some Essay by Richard L Weaver II, PhDby Richard L. Weaver II

Reflection and insight could not help but take place. Resting in a
Camp Chautauqua campsite on Chautauqua Lake, New York, there is blue sky and sunshine, a slight breeze, and it feels like an early fall day. Vladimir Horowitz plays gentle, soothing piano on a CD in the background, and my wife and I have just completed a three-and-a-half week vacation traveling in our fifth-wheel through upstate New York.

I know the two of you would have delighted in many aspects of our lives. You have loved the same things with which we are fascinated as well. There are numerous parallels between the interests we have pursued and those you did whether it be camping, travel, nature, gardening, yard work, or family.


Although the two of you never “graduated” to camping in a fifth wheel (few, if any, existed when you camped), ours has made a significant contribution to our camping ease and comfort. We are tent campers at heart, as you were, but we love taking hot showers in our own bathroom as well as having all our modern conveniences with us. I hate to say it, but we want for nothing, and we are spoiled now after years of tent camping then using a pop-up tent camper.


I think of you often when we visit new places because you were world travelers as well. I often collected flyers and brochures that explained our various destinations, maps that detailed our routes, and advertisements that promoted the things that drew our interest, and sent them to you. Whether it was our cruise of the
great rivers of Europe, our Mediterranean cruise, our trip to Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, or our many cruises of the Caribbean, I thought about your impressions, and dad’s interest in churches and cathedrals.

When we followed the Lewis and Clark trail across country to the Pacific Ocean, I thought about your interest in history and how each of our stops at museums, visitor’s centers, and historical markers would have captured your attention.


On the
Lewis and Clark trip, as well as on the Seaway Trail (along the St. Lawrence Seaway and Lakes Ontario and Erie), many times our route would take us along rivers and lakes, and I remember how often we would stop at such times, not just to get a closer look, but to actually wade in or jump from rock to rock. At other times, we made stops to observe the wildlife or flowers, and we do the same. And just as you, dad, would grab your camera, Andrea goes prepared with her telephoto lens as an added necessity.

You two have made my appreciation of camping, nature, and the outdoors (and environment), stronger and more pronounced, and I want to thank you. The fact that my wife has these same interests has reinforced everything I learned and drew from you two.


Another area of interest I closely associate with you is gardening and an appreciation for plants and trees. We have had an extensive garden, thanks to Andrea, for much of our married life, and her interest has led to experiments with different crops as well as planting a variety of herbs. I know you two always had gardens wherever we lived and delighted, too, in a wide variety of plants and trees.


I have had many opportunities to visit our former houses in Ann Arbor, and the planting decisions you made are evident still today. Both houses are entirely shaded by the trees you two planted and Kirtland Drive, the road you two named after the famous, but rare,
Kirtland Warbler remains to this day as well.

Much like the two of you, Andrea and I have been planting our current yard ever since we moved in over 30 years ago. At first it took me 3-4 hours to mow the lawn; now, because of shade and increased plants and trees, it takes a mere 30 minutes or less.


On one side of our backyard we installed a Lionhead Fountain, and the plantings surrounding it we have called our “Memorial Garden.” A park bench faces the garden, and I like to sit there in the shade of a large evergreen and think how you two would have enjoyed our yard, garden, pond, gazebo, barn, and the wide variety of plants, shrubs, and trees.


In addition to camping, travel, nature, gardening, and yard, we value our family just as you two did. We all get together for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and birthdays, but there are some additional opportunities we take that I know you would enjoy as well. Each summer, for example, we make three separate camping trips during which we take seven of our nine grandchildren (two are too young at this writing) camping in our fifth wheel — in groups of two or three. The thrill we have in being with them is not as great, of course, as the thrill they have in being with each other for 2 or 3 days. Not only do we take time to hike, swim, play games, build a fire, and roast marshmallows, one of the highlights is that we make s’mores.. I picture you two watching our activities from comfortable chairs and remarking, I’m sure, “It’s great seeing how much fun you all have being together.”


Camping with the grandchildren is important for keeping all of us close and involved in each other’s lives, but even more important is our annual retreat when everyone (there are 18 of us) joins together in a large cabin in central rural Ohio (
Loudonville) for a three-day, two-night outing. The weekend includes games that involve everyone, performances by the kids that are spontaneous and improvised, dancing to the tunes provided by our professional DJ son, food contributed by all those attending, hikes in the woods, walks by the river, and a special craft project that engages everyone. It ends with Sunday dinner at a local restaurant. I know you two would love being involved. I can just imagine you telling stories from your childhood, sharing your insights, and enjoying all the attention from your nine great-grandchildren.

Yes, I miss you and the many contributions you would have made to my life but, more important by far, the contributions you would have made to all our lives. Both of you were devoted, involved, loving teachers who cared about your students and committed your lives to teaching, education, and learning.


You may wonder why this thank you was so late in coming, but it sometimes takes awhile to see another’s influence play out in a successor’s life. Thank you for my upbringing, the values you instilled, the interests you implanted, the beliefs you imprinted, and the dreams you inspired. Even though you, mom, have been dead for ten years and dad for forty-five, it’s never too late to remember and reflect, and this camping experience afforded a wonderful, tranquil, and satisfying opportunity to do some. Just as your lives were, ours have been lives and then some.




At the web site called “
The Knowledge Hound," there is a terrific essay on giving thanks, “Learning Gratitude, Teaching Gratitude - How To Improve Your Life With Thankfulness.” This essay is well written and very important.

At the “
Everyday giving blog," there is a great essay entitled, “Giving Thanks, Love and Appreciation Is Powerful,” in which Roger Carr discusses the power of saying, “Thank you,” “I love you,” and “I appreciate you.” These are just three examples he uses to reveal the power of sharing our feelings. It’s worth a read.


© Copyright 2008 - And Then Some Publishing, LLC

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

And Then Some News

And Then Some NewsDuring Thanksgiving week, we at andthensomeworks.com are thankful for having a number of new videos on public speaking to be released. When you've finished your turkey, had your fill of football, and enjoyed your friends and family members, break out your computer, watch our latest offerings, and let us know what you think. I know you'll like what you find, you'll learn something new, and you'll end the holiday on a high note. And Then Some Publishing L.L.C. wishes all of you a warm, wonderful, peaceful, and happy Thanksgiving.

Watch for the new videos at YouTube Works...
Click here We will have all of our new videos uploaded by Thanksgiving.



Thursday’s essay, “Dear Mom and Dad: Lives and then some,” is a Thanksgiving essay.

Share your And Then Some Link about your mother and/or father. What are your thoughts about them? How have they helped you in your life? Can you tell us in what capacity they have done it? With respect to your experiences with your mother and/or father, what messages can you tell our readers? Can you share any tips, stories, or suggestions regarding dealing with parents? We would love to hear your story. Do you have a friend, a family member, a neighbor, or someone you just know from a distance who has definite and well defined experiences with their parents?
Link us to your story...

Click here to LINK your And Then Some story


Thursday's And Then Some Essay preview
Dear Mom and Dad: Lives and then some
by Richard L. Weaver II

Excerpt:

I know the two of you would have delighted in many aspects of our lives. You have loved the same things with which we are fascinated as well. There are numerous parallels between the interests we have pursued and those you did whether it be camping, travel, nature, gardening, yard work, or family.


And Then Some Works - see you THURSDAY!!

Thursday, November 20, 2008

"Rage, rage against the dying of the light"

And Then Some Essay by Richard L Weaver II, PhDby Richard L. Weaver II

That, of course, is the last line of Dylan Thomas’s most famous poem “Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night” [1952], and, to be certain, one of the greatest lines ever written. The poem is addressed to Thomas’s father as he approached blindness and death and, too, reflects Thomas’s profound respect for his father’s uncompromising independence of mind, now tamed by illness.

Thomas’s father had been a robust, militant man for most of his life. When in his eighties, he became blind and weak, and Dylan was disturbed seeing his father become “soft” or “gentle.” In the poem, Thomas is rousing his father to continue being the fierce man he had previously been:

Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Those are the first three lines, and the final four (of 19 total) read like this:

And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

For me, the “rage, rage” line has been a mantra from the first time I heard it.

I have never been one to contemplate my own death even when faced directly with the death of my father (having to identify his body) and the death of close friends, but the unspeakable spectacle of planes flying into skyscrapers, opening envelopes full of deadly anthrax spores, and the unnerving threat that we could fall victim to the designs of fanatics, for many people, have bullied their way to the front of the line, even though death by murder and accident account for less than 5 percent of mortalities in the United States.

The majority of us will succumb to natural causes late in life.

When the Reaper comes calling, how will you greet him? With defiance or serenity? With sorrow or laughter? With planning and preparation? Or, will you trust your inspiration of the moment?

For guidance, Benjamin Franklin’s comment in 1789, offers little solace: “In this world, nothing can be said to be certain except death and taxes.” Of course, there is some comfort in certainty. Because of such certainty, too, one may find great consolation in not thinking about it at all—in any way. Death becomes a natural part of life to be accepted.

Fear of the unknown. Think about how much of our lives is oriented around resolving, or at least assuaging, our fears of the unknown.

Fear of death may involve worry over being just corpses in graves when we die, the fear of decaying, leaving loved ones, bringing sadness to the family, being judged, or facing it by ourselves; it could be the lack of assurance of one’s salvation, or unknown answers to worrisome questions such as will it be painful, will it involve suffering, could I have prepared better, or could I have lived a better life? Fear of death could involve missing being alive, not seeing friends anymore, or not being able to move. Or, when looking back over one’s life, asking the question, is that all there is? There could be any number of concerns.

Considering the number of potential fears reminds me of Act II, Scene II of Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, when Caesar remarks to Calpurnia, “Cowards die many times before their deaths. The valiant never taste of death but once.” This is not to suggest that the various fears of the unknown are specious or unwarranted, it is simply a reminder of how compelling fear of the unknown can be as one’s psyche is wracked time and again by the impending doom.

Better to lock these fears away in the basement of our subconscious. When fears of death intrude into the course of daily life decades before old age arrives, it detracts from quality of life by fostering debilitating anxieties, neuroses, and depression.

My life is focused on avoiding dying before my time by minimizing risks. Perhaps I don’t possess the angry defiance of reality that Thomas’s poem represents, but when you contrast the rage with the phrase “Do Not Go Gentle,” then it better represents my view that death is a disvalue to be avoided up to the last breath. It is, indeed, an end I struggle against—without giving it an actual voice or existence—all my life.

“Rage, rage against the dying of the light,” however, provides a wonderful motivator that we must savor life while it lasts. It, too, has power as a memorable phrase.

If we consider our lives as narrative, then, when we were young, there wasn’t much of a story. Now, however, the story is further along. We are not only into the action and development of the narration, the strands of the plot now are weaving together in interesting ways. Ways, I might add, that are unpredictable, unexpected, and unanticipated. Life has become far more interesting, creative, and exceptional.

I hold similar beliefs to those expressed by Nathaniel Branden in his book Honoring the Self (1983). We needn’t dwell on the past, even though our memory of a meaningful past contributes more and more to the developing narrative, but the past affects our sense of current goals and actions. These goals and actions have significant value for our present and future, but they contribute, too, to a life of which we are the author. It is a story that we began years and years ago, but as we are beginning to see, has more coherence and significance than we could have imagined. Of course it will come to a close at some point.

It is important to understand that the ticking of the clock is not a tragedy. It is essential to the meaning and excitement of life and to the intensity of love and joy. “The glory of life,” writes Branden, “ is inseparable from the fact that it is finite.”

Our most important concern, regarding our impending death, is simply to live well and without regret. Focus on life. We have only the here and now. We need to make the most of the time we have left. Since death is inevitable, we must face it with rationality and dignity. That could be one of the most important impressions we leave for others.



Steve Pavlina has written an essay, “Dealing with Tragedy and Loss.” Pavlina defines tragedy, socially conditioned attachment, moving beyond attachment, joyful transformation, a spiritually-minded context, and the joyful expansion of consciousness. Pavlina says, “But even while we regard ourselves as victims, we are still powerful creators. We’re so powerful in fact that we can even choose to create ourselves as victims.” This is both interesting and important information.


At HealthyPlace.com , Jack Redden has written a useful, practical, and informative essay, “Helping Yourself and Others Deal With Death.” Redden discusses children, adults, and loved ones, but the part that I found most valuable was the five assumptions that may complicate the issue.


© Copyright 2008 - And Then Some Publishing, LLC

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

And Then Some News

And Then Some NewsThere is some great news this week from PublicSpeakingRules.com
We have another speech in our series, and this one offers advice on how to write a great speech. "Before starting to write a speech, you must understand what you want to say, who you want to say it to, and why anyone might want to hear it. One of the best ways to do this, is to ask yourself the six questions: Who? What? How? When? Where? and Why?" This is a quotation taken directly from the introduction to the new video. Click the link and watch the video: Writing a Great Speech

Also, this week we have constructed a new website. Just in case you've missed a video, or you would like to see one again, we have compiled all of them in one place. It's your one-stop video extravaganza! Now, you can see all our videos... Click here for YouTube Works




Thursday’s essay, “Rage, rage against the dying of the light,” is the third of three essays taken from the new book: You rules - Caution: Contents leads to a better life.

Share your And Then Some Link about raging against the dying of the light. What are your thoughts about it? Have you (or are you raging) raged against the dying of the light in your life? Can you tell us in what capacity you have done it? With respect to raging against the dying of the light, what messages can you tell our readers? Can you share any tips, stories, or suggestions regarding raging against the dying of the light? We would love to hear your story. Do you have a friend, a family member, a neighbor, or someone you just know from a distance who has raged against the dying of the light?
Link us to your story...

Click here to LINK your And Then Some story


Thursday's And Then Some Essay preview
Rage, rage against the dying of the light
by Richard L. Weaver II

Excerpt:

My life is focused on avoiding dying before my time by minimizing risks. Perhaps I don’t possess the angry defiance of reality that Thomas’s poem represents, but when you contrast the rage with the phrase “Do Not Go Gentle,” then it better represents my view that death is a disvalue to be avoided up to the last breath. It is, indeed, an end I struggle against — without giving it an actual voice or existence — all my life.


And Then Some Works - see you THURSDAY!!

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Open the mystery doors of your life

And Then Some Essay by Richard L Weaver II, PhDby Richard L. Weaver II

One of the most fascinating things I learned in a basic speech course I took as an undergraduate at the University of Michigan was information on the Johari (pronounced Joe-Harry) Window. It was named after its inventors, Joseph Luft and Harry Ingham, and the reason I liked it is because it was such a useful, practical model for describing the process of human interaction.

The Johari Window is simply a four-pane “window” which divides personal awareness into four different types, and these types are represented by the four quadrants of the window. The upper left pane is called the open window, and it represents all the information that is obvious and available to both individuals as they communicate with one another—information, that is, that both share such as dress, nonverbal cues (e.g., facial expression, eye contact, posture, gestures, and body movement), as well as the words and ideas actually exchanged.

The upper-right pane of the “window” is labeled the blind pane and represents an accidental disclosure area—things you do not know about yourself that others know. For example, what if others detect a reluctance to communicate, habits you are unaware of, or a pattern of communication (always avoiding looking others in the eye, for example) of which you are unaware.

In the lower left-hand corner the pane is labeled “hidden” because it represents self-knowledge that we deliberately hide from the other person. There are certain things all of us know that we do not want to share with others. For example, we may not want the other person to know how we really feel about them, really feel about the topic being discussed, or that we really don’t have the time to talk right now. Anything we want to keep hidden from the other person would fit in this window.

For me, however, it is the lower-right pane labeled “unknown” that has always captured my interest and attention for it truly represents the unopened doors of our lives—information that is unknown to yourself and unknown to others. This pane represents all the parts of you that are not yet revealed. That is—in other words— for us to grow, change, and develop in new ways, we need to move beyond our comfort zone and stretch. When I was introduced to this pane, one accompanying comment was: “A person’s mind stretched in a new direction, will never return to its original dimensions.”

What I have discovered through my teaching, speaking, and writing career—and it came as a shock—is that everyone doesn’t have the same motivation to grow, develop, and change. More likely, people fall along a continuum:

Blockers ___ Content ___ Apathetic ___ Appreciaters ___ Seekers


Just a brief word of explanation about this continuum may help. Moving from right to left, there are those I label “Seekers” who want desperately to find out all they can about themselves. You might even say they are on a mission of continual self-discovery. Then, there are “Appreciaters” who are not actually looking for information about themselves; however, if they discover it, that’s fine, and they appreciate and can deal with it. In the center of the continuum are the apathetic who just don’t care, or it doesn’t interest them in the least. Moving to the left of center are those I label “Content” because they are satisfied with who they are and with what they know.

Finally, at the far left on the continuum are “Blockers” who will take strides to prevent obtaining new information about themselves. They may be represented by comments such as, “I know what I know, and don’t you try to change that,” and they will purposefully avoid people and situations where growth, change, and development has the potential of taking place: “I’m done with school,” they might be heard saying.

The point of the continuum is to demonstrate that people have different views regarding the unopened, mystery doors of their lives. It is a little like teachers who enter a class of students to find them open, accepting, and responsive to new ideas versus teachers who enter a class of students who have no interest whatever in learning and only want to play video games or talk with each other.

For adults who appear at the center or to the left on the continuum there is likely to be little hope. As a teacher, it is something I really hate to say. But when you are trying to reach/teach those who are truly apathetic, truly pleased with who they are and what they know, or, actually blocking the effect of any new information, there are few resources anyone has. Admittedly, teachers may have some luck with the apathetic; however, in our media-saturated world, the things that would result in growth, development, and change, probably wouldn’t compete well.

When you think about opportunities that will enhance us—open those mystery doors of our lives—if they don’t offer greater adventure, excitement, interest, or challenge than what can be found in media-related activities and pursuits, what is likely to be the outcome? It may not be a fair comparison, but I’m afraid it’s the kind of comparison that suits the lives of many people today no matter where they lie on the continuum.

One essential key to opening mystery doors has to do with connecting with others. The most productive path is one that fosters a deep level of caring about other people, encourages supportive relationships, improved communication, creative ideas, positive emotions, and pleasant physical sensations. It is the path, too, of resolving conflicts, collaborating with others, and solving problems mutually. The only way to discover such a path is by adopting or demonstrating empathy, acceptance, honesty, and mutual respect. The more connectivity we promote, the more likely increased awareness, compassion, integrity, and heartfelt communications will result.

The way to transformation, transcendence, wisdom, spirit, and heart is by making a commitment to stretching the boundaries of our mental, spiritual, and physical worlds. With such dedication, we can then break out from our present comfort zones and develop meaningful, openhearted relationships, deep learning situations, intimate communication, profound ideas, poignant emotions, and physical renewal. Only with this kind of growth, change, and development can we open the mystery doors of our lives.



John Rowlinson, at LifeCoachExpert.com, has written an excellent essay entitled, Discovering Your Purpose in Life. There are three parts to this essay: 1) The Power of the Subconscious Mind, 2) How to Prepare Yourself for Uncovering Your Purpose in Life, and 3) Ways to Tap Into Your Inner Self. There is a great deal of practical advice here that is worth considering.


At Authenic-Breathing.com there is an essay entitled, Awakening to the Miracle of Ordinary by Dennis Lewis. The essence of this essay lies in Lewis’ comment, “We move through our lives in a state of waking sleep, a state of psychological, cultural, and spiritual hypnosis. Instead of experiencing ourselves consciously from moment to moment as living, breathing beings, we lose ourselves unconsciously in the various impulses and fragments of our self-images—our likes and dislikes, our pleasures and pains, our theories, our expectations, our dreams, our fears, and our beliefs. Instead of asking and reflecting on the hard, deep questions about the meaning of our lives, about who we are and where we are going, we look for easy answers to questions that don’t matter.” To change, we must open ourselves to the ordinary, everyday events of our lives. This essay is an enjoyable read.


© Copyright 2008 - And Then Some Publishing, LLC

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

And Then Some News

And Then Some NewsFears and Phobias of Public Speaking
Exciting new video by Richard L. Weaver II, PhD

One of the primary reasons people avoid public-speaking situations has to do with the fears and phobias dredged up when the words "public speaking" are mentioned or when the thought of giving a public speech crosses their mind. There are six time-tested ways for dealing with these fears and phobias, and if you want change your attitude and take charge of your behavior, this new video on the "Fears and Phobias of Public Speaking" is an excellent place to start. Click here to watch the video




Thursday’s essay, “Open the mystery doors of your life,” is the second of three essays taken from the new book: You rules - Caution: Contents leads to a better life.

Share your And Then Some Link about opening the mystery doors of your life. What are your thoughts about it? Have you opened any mystery doors in your life? Can you tell us in what capacity you have opened mystery doors? With respect to opening mystery doors, what messages can you tell our readers? Can you share any tips, stories, or suggestions regarding opening mystery doors? We would love to hear your story. Do you have a friend, a family member, a neighbor, or someone you just know from a distance who has opened mystery doors?
Link us to your story...

Click here to LINK your And Then Some story


Thursday's And Then Some Essay preview
Open the mystery doors of your life
by Richard L. Weaver II

Excerpt:

The way to transformation, transcendence, wisdom, spirit, and heart is by making a commitment to stretching the boundaries of our mental, spiritual, and physical worlds. With such dedication, we can then break out from our present comfort zones and develop meaningful, openhearted relationships, deep learning situations, intimate communication, profound ideas, poignant emotions, and physical renewal. Only with this kind of growth, change, and development can we open the mystery doors of our lives.


And Then Some Works - see you THURSDAY!!

Thursday, November 6, 2008

Pull yourself up by your own bootstraps

And Then Some Essay by Richard L Weaver II, PhDby Richard L. Weaver II

When I first heard this phrase I doubted that one could actually help themselves with little or no outside assistance or influence. That is, I doubted that people could improve their situation by their own efforts. Oh, I knew that the idea of “pulling yourself up by your own bootstraps” had early American origins when people who had fallen down would literally grab a hold of their bootstraps—when the laces were made of leather—and use them to sit upright. I was aware that you could get out of difficult situations by your own efforts, but my doubts extended to any feats much greater than that. I was truly a skeptic.


Exactly when the realization occurred to me that indeed each of us has far greater control—power—over our lives than what we believe or imagine is unclear, but it happened while I was in college.


Until I went to college I followed the programming dictated by my genes and by my environment. I was truly unaware of the control—power—I had. I was like an animal that was locked in a cycle of instinct. When animals are hungry, they eat. When they hear a loud noise, they run. When they are attacked, they fight. When they come into season, they mate. Animals live the way their genes and their environment have programmed them to live. They lack the control—power—that humans have.


But to recognize the control—power—we have requires both awareness and experience. For me, it happened when I realized that I had control—power—over my destiny. If I took the right courses, made the right choices, and performed at my best, I could take advantage of the control—power—I had over my life. What an incredible realization!


It was as if I had to transcend my programming. It wasn’t that my parents or my teachers were giving me bad advice or the wrong advice, it was as if—suddenly—I was in charge of my own programming. I realized that what I did and did not do had very significant results which would directly affect my life. I now—suddenly—had the control. It wasn’t that the power was given to me; it was there all the time. It was simply that I not only became aware of it, but I realized I could use it to make decisions, solve problems, and choose how I wanted to respond to the things in my world. Suddenly, I was programming myself.


This realization changed my life. This realization determined my fate. This realization directed the courses I was to take and the profession I was to choose. How did this happen?


Until college, I had allowed my life to serve the ends that had been handed down to me. From kindergarten through two years of college, I was trying to make my parents happy. I knew that becoming a medical doctor would do it, and I had rationalized this lifetime outcome and accepted it as my own. But when I realized the control—power—I had (could wield), I realized at the same time that I could break the chain of events that had shaped who I was, and I could learn to shape myself. It was just the power I needed to participate in my own fate!


I wish I had written it down—when that moment occurred—because as I look back on it now, it was as if a lightning bolt had woken me up from a deep sleep. I needed that lightning bolt to wake me up to my own strength. I needed that lightning bolt to wake me up to the role I wanted to play in my own destiny. I needed that lightning bolt to shock me into the discovery that I had the control—the power—to choose what I thought, what I did, and what I said.


The difference between being asleep and being awake is the same difference between having a dream and making that dream come true.


The reason I wish I knew exactly when that moment occurred is because that was the very moment I understood that my life was going to be whatever I chose to make it. It was an astonishing new world for me. What is it that happens to you when you suddenly realize that you are in charge? What changes occur in your psyche when you realize that you are the master, leader, ruler, manager, supervisor, or commander, and the people in your charge must do exactly as you dictate? It’s a real “head-trip” isn’t it? It’s like a power surge with all the corresponding electrical sparks sending out shock waves in all directions.


Suddenly I became aware of the limitless possibilities that surrounded me. All at once I felt both a sense of humility and power. I felt humility because I realized that life is a gift—in humble, meek, and submissive honesty, I realized that I didn’t ask for life. It was simply given to me. But, too, I can’t deny it; thus, I accept the gift of human life with acknowledgment, appreciation, gratitude, and thanks. Animals weren’t so lucky; I was. And animals weren’t given the most potent gift of all—the power to choose. They don’t have the same control or power that I have.


That lightning bolt did not just wake me up, it thrust me out of bed and onto a life course of growth, development, and change like nothing I had previously experienced. As a child, I was, by nature, dependent. Often, for many people, that dependency continues into adulthood, and it could have for me as well—relying on others, or on circumstances, to give me what I wanted, instead of taking that responsibility upon myself.


When I woke up to the power of choice, I not only became aware of my own strength, I became forever independent. I realized that I could give myself what I wanted, and I was no longer content to rely on others to get it for me. I realized what I could give myself, and I was no longer willing to accept only what the world felt like giving me. In this way, I could now refuse to settle for less. What control—power—I had!


How important was this realization for me? It was like I had suddenly come to my senses. I now saw things more clearly than ever before. My limitations were no longer limitations. I saw them for what they really were—bad dreams. When viewed in this way, bad dreams quickly lost their power over me in the same way nightmares lose their edge the moment I wake up.


When the realization of my control, power, and choice over my life occurred, I felt a great sense of freedom and possibility. It was as if there was a freeing of the spirit, a release of my creative juices, a liberation of my inner being. I found myself free to imagine more useful thoughts, to dream more pleasant dreams, and to turn those dreams into reality—to pull myself up by my own bootstraps!



At Zen-Moments: Self-Help for Sensitive Souls, there is a terrific essay entitled, “Empowerment: The Courage to be Yourself,” that can be summed up in the author’s own words, “One small action on another, properly directed, will dramatically change your life if you just keep doing it. Action speaks loudest in this world. You will become whatever you do, and you can do it a bit at a time.”

At
Tomorrow’s Edge, Skye Thomas has written a number of essays about personal development and self-empowerment. How we get along with others as well as ourselves and how we find passion are common themes. “Personal growth and self-help doesn’t have to mean that you’re messed up or that there’s anything wrong that needs ‘fixed,’” Thomas writes, “It just means that you are taking control of your approach to life, your habits, your choices, and the overall direction of your personal development and self-empowerment.”


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