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One of a Kind News Table of Contents
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = I love hearing from readers. If you would like to write to me, send an email to Sharon@sharondemarte.com. Do not reply to this message, as it won&Mac226;t get to me. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = 1. Welcome Notes Welcome new subscribers! I am honored that you are here. If you would like to review past issues of One of a Kind News, click on http://sharondemarte.com/newsletter.html and go to the Archives. I often wake up in the middle of the night and can't go back to sleep, so I write. That is the case with this issue. I started writing at 1:30 a.m. and am now finishing at 5:00 a.m. There's still time for a short nap before I begin my day and I've already accomplished one of my top priorities for the day, to write to you. This issue of One of a Kind News is about doing things and feeling good in spite of obstacles and challenges. Enjoy. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = 2. The Disabled Entrepreneur I met an amazing young woman this week; her name is Andrea Martell. Andrea wrote to let me know that she had published one of my articles on her website, The Disabled Entrepreneur. When I went to her website, I was once again struck by how there are no accidents or coincidences in this life, everything happens for a reason. The universe arranges for us to meet one another when the time is right. My oldest daughter, Carissa, has become disabled in the past three years. You can read about my daughter at http://sharondemarte.com/archives/issue4.html I was so touched by Andrea's website that I asked her to tell me about herself and what moved her to help disabled entrepreneurs. Andrea gave me permission to share her response. Hi Sharon, Wow, your daughter Carissa sounds like an amazing woman! You have to have a strong spirit and will to go through such tragedies and still do your best to live life to the fullest. I know because I've met people on the Internet ready to give up or who have given up, while I've met others who keep on fighting for their life no matter what happens to them. I really hope your daughter can write her book. I'm sure it would do others a great service! I'd be honored if you mentioned my website in your next newsletter. To answer your questions: I'm almost 27 years old. I was diagnosed with scoliosis at age 7 (curvature of the spine). I spent my preteen and teenage life in a back brace. After it was taken off, I wound up in doctors offices for years because of fatigue and mountains of other symptoms. I was diagnosed with thyroid disease at 21 and chronic fatigue syndrome/ME at 24. On top of that is depression and a few other embarrassing things going wrong. Despite everything going on physically, I graduated high school with academic excellence, and went on to a tough journalism program at Carleton University where I graduated in 1999. I've always wanted to be a writer, and do something to help others. I live with a lot of fatigue and weakness but I'm a driven personality. In September 2002, I began a five-month bout of weakness that left me bedridden. I decided to move back in with my parents. It was a hard decision, but it was better than someone else making the decision for me if the time ever came that my condition got worse. During my time in bed I started writing the first draft of a fiction novel from a story I'd started writing 6 years before. Meanwhile I kept up the same prayer I've had for two years which was, "Please help me find a way through this, around this, under this....". I've known since I first got sick that entrepreneurship was my only way off disability benefits (my main financial goal), so I've been doing a lot of reading on the subject. I've read lots of books on business, but rarely is there even a mention of what people ought to do after they become disabled or sick. It was as though the books were saying that if you were disabled or sick you were doomed to poverty, so why bother offering help or advice? Even Robert Kiyosaki of Rich Dad, Poor Dad fame excludes people with disabilities from his audience. There is no disability card in his cashflow game, and no market card, or place to land on for illness or disability! Yet, one thing I know is that people with disabilities want their financial independence as much as the next person, probably more, and they're out there looking for ideas on what to do. That's why I decided to make my website. It came to me on January 1st, the name..the concept everything.. I call it a revelation because some energy also returned to help me do what needed to be done. There are others out there with disabilities with ideas, dreams, and businesses that they've thought up as a positive answer to their tragedies and I want to promote those businesses, help those people come together, let them know they're not alone. One of the hardest things to get past about disability is the feeling of uselessness and worthlessness that comes with the shock of not being able to do what you once could do easily. I remember once saying in a group, "But I can't work like this." and a person answered, "So change your definition of work." That's what my website is for to help people see and learn what they can do. I'm sorry if this was too long. I'm very passionate about the mission of my website. Warmly, This is a young woman who is reaching out to help others because of and despite her own very difficult challenges. More power to you Andrea! I am impressed! If you know of someone who has a disability, I encourage you to share this very valuable resource with him or her. And, I ask that you all join me in holding Andrea's healing in our prayers. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
We are living in the most challenging of times. None of us know from one day to the next what is going to happen in our world. We are bombarded by threats of war, terrorism and violence. I am sometimes amazed at the courage we humans display in the face of all of this. I think it is a tribute to the human spirit that we continue to go about our lives, upholding our responsibilities, caring for one another, and basically doing the best we can in all ways in spite of it all. Like Andrea reaching out to help others despite her circumstances, we too can reach out to our world in spite of the challenges we face. We can all be lights to this world. The best way to do that is to choose to feel good no matter what is going on in the world. Only people who feel really good can be lights in this world. People who feel really good don't do things to harm themselves or others. People who feel really good don't engage in harmful conflicts. When we feel really good, we create better health, more energy and as a result, we are naturally more generous, kind and loving toward others and ourselves. The following are ways I have found to feel good no matter what is going on in the world: Top Ten Ways to Feel Really Really Good Every Day 1. Look for the God within every person you encounter. Look past the behaviors, personality and body to the spirit within. Find the God within others and you will know the God within your self. 2. Silently bless each person you meet and even think of. Imagine each person surrounded by love and a band of angels (yes, even those you think you don't like). 3. Pray that others receive what you want. If you want abundance, pray that others receive abundance. If you want peace, pray that others find peace. Anything that you want more of in your life, pray that others receive those things. 4. Look for the beauty in everything. Where there is no beauty, create beauty. The other day I visited my daughter, Shannon, and was struck by the environment she had created for herself. She had scented candles burning and beautiful music playing. These are simple things that can make a big difference in how we feel. I was reminded to do those things for myself. 5. Do only those things that make you feel really good about yourself. Let that be your standard for making decisions. Ask yourself which of your possible choices will make you feel best about yourself and then do that no matter how hard it is. 6. Eliminate at least one thing that robs you of feeling really good. This could be a toleration you have been putting up with, some unfinished business with another that is weighing you down or clutter (internal or external) that is draining your energy. Ask yourself, "What, if I eliminated it today, would make me feel really, really good about myself?" 7. Be mindful of what you ingest. We all know the importance of taking in healthy food and water, but what about the information you take in? If you must take in the News, sandwich it between positive information. Everyday, in my email, I receive The New York Times and inspirational messages. I read something inspirational, then the News, followed by another inspirational message. 8. Stay centered. Always have a part of your attention on your inner self. Be an observer of your thoughts and feelings instead of being controlled by them. Tune into your inner guidance and let it lead you throughout the day. Practice grounded doing. Ask God to lead you every step of the way today, listen for the guidance and then follow it step by step. 9. Bring the power of love into everything you do. Do everything from a place of love. Handle each task with reverence and respect, doing each thing fully and completely. Leave no loose ends. Everything done with love is perfect. 10. Manage your focus. Focus on only those things that make you feel good. Focus on what you have instead of don't have, what's working instead of not working, what's right in the world instead of wrong, solutions rather than problems. We energize whatever we focus on. Energize only the good. What we focus on expands. When we choose to feel really really good no matter what is going on in the world, we become part of the solution rather than part of the problem. The better we feel; the brighter our lights shine. If you are a 25-watt bulb right now, you can become a 100-watt bulb by doing some or all of the above each day. It's up to you. Imagine how bright our world would be if we each turned up our wattage every day. We can when we make the commitment and set the intention to feel good every day no matter what. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Count your garden by the flowers, Blessings to you and yours, Sharon = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
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