Thirteen Caring women

I'd like to share a post that I read on another site crediting the kindness of 13 caring women:

We are a group of 13 retired ladies who meet once a month to discuss needs in the community. We each donate $20 and find ways to help others with this money. We do this without letting the recipient know who we are. We have helped a young single mother with stage 4 cancer, a single woman adopting a baby from Haiti, a homeless mother by paying for hotel for her and her 9 month old until she could get into a group home. There are many others we have helped in the 2 1/2 years since this group was formed. If there is no immediate need we know about at the time we meet we give the money to the chaplain at our local free health clinic and he doles out the funds, usually in $20 to $25 amounts, to help with gas, medicines etc. for patients at the clinic. We wish to remain anonymous but would love to get the information out so others might be inclined to form such a group. $20 is a small amount to give but it gives the recipient hope that others care. 

The Power of Positive Thinking

Guest Article by Judith A. Falk, LCSW  (contact information can be found at the bottom of this article)

As human beings, we are wonderful works of creation. We speak about ourselves in parts, as body, emotions, mind, and soul. By focusing on each part separately, we can learn about the whole. In actuality, though, all these are connected, and each affects all the others. Who has not had the flu, and found it very hard to think? Or had an emotional surprise, and felt a racing heart or rapid breathing?

In psychotherapy, we focus on mind and emotions. It is true that pleasant and positive thoughts generate positive health and well-being in our lives, while negative thoughts and feelings generate negative results. Why is it true that some people "always win" when they gamble? Why do some people seem to have everything they want and need, while others struggle to achieve the minimum? It has much to do with a person's mental outlook.

If I believe in the principle of abundance, that there is enough of everything in the universe for everyone, then this mindset creates a life of abundance for me. On the other hand, if my mindset focuses on lack, then lack is created in my life.

There is a concept called the law of attraction. It has been explained with many catchy phrases, such as: "What we believe is what we receive." Or "What we think about is what we bring about." There is science that says that our thoughts and feelings generate energy, positive or negative, that goes out into the universe. This energy comes back to us multiplied, changing our own energy positively or negatively.

Thus, if our thoughts and feelings are uplifting and positive, we will experience lives that are uplifting and positive. If our thoughts and feelings are negative, we experience lives that are negative. Positive thinking is a wonderful and effective way to improve health of body, mind, emotions, and spirit.

Positive thinking can be directed toward ourselves and toward others. A positive outlook toward ourselves is called healthy self-esteem. When we think well of others, we create social connections, and enhance our own lives, and the lives of others. Positive energy affirms others, lifts them up, and improves the collective energy. We have all heard the golden rule, which says, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."

Two ways to create more positive attitudes are: affirmations and gratitude.

Affirmations are statements of the reality that is true or that we wish to be true. For example, if a person wishes to find a job, s/he states that the job is already hers/his, and visualizes the job with all the good things about it. This creates energy that can actually help the person land the job.

Gratitude can be experienced by writing simple statements from the heart, and express thankfulness for all the good things we have, or would like to have. If it is difficult to do this, just think of the basics of food, clothing, and shelter. Some people begin their day be expressing everything that they are grateful for.

Contact information for Judith A. Falk, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Counseling & Psychotherapy: Maria Regina Center, 1118 Court Street, Suite 12, Syracuse, NY 13208, Ph: 315-634-6943, Cell: 315-440-6558, jaf135@yahoo.com.