Daring To Be Different :-)

Transformations allow one to step back and reflect upon what has been and what is truly possible.     It is about truly being able to try and make a difference.  This is one of the reasons I have been working on a number of sites to hopefully transform them soon.   The goal is to live up to what the great Coco Chanel reminded us all:

“In order to be irreplaceable, one must always be different.”

..and To also do it the "Ralph Martson Way" by being reminded of the beautiful reality that is life itself:

Act not out of judgment, but out of love. Live not from a position of fear, but from a perspective of joy.

Let go of the need to prove how good you are. Live in such a way that real goodness, joy and generosity flow naturally from all you do.

Instead of seeking to gain more advantage, discover new ways to give more value. Instead of worrying about what might be, live the immense treasure of what already is.

Don’t waste your time looking for happiness in this thing or that. Let happiness always find you right where you are, doing whatever you are doing.

See life not as a contest where some must lose in order for others to win. See it as an opportunity to lift yourself higher by lifting many, many others through your unique gifts.

Let go of the illusion that you must struggle. And let in the beautiful reality of how very good life can be.

As the great Diane Nyad reminds us all, "onward"!! :-)

On the Eve of Thanksgiving..Not Forgetting :-)

Wishing all the very best on this day...Happy Thanksgiving to all:

Develop a passion for learning.

If you do, you will never cease to grow.

- Anthony J. D'Angelo

I remind myself every morning:

Nothing I say this day will teach me anything.

So if I'm going to learn, I must do it by listening.

- Larry King

Intellectual growth should commence at birth

and cease only at death.

- Albert Einstein

Where there is shouting, there is no true knowledge.

- Leonardo da Vinci

The difference between school and life?

In school, you're taught a lesson and then given a test.

In life, you're given a test that teaches you a lesson.

- Tom Bodett

When you pray for anyone, you tend to
modify your personal attitude toward them.
- Norman Vincent Peale

You have heard that it was said,
"Love your neighbor and hate your enemy."
But I tell you: Love your enemies
and pray for those who persecute you.
- Jesus (Matthew 5:43-44)

Am I not destroying my enemies when I make friends of them?
- Abraham Lincoln

If you want to make peace with your enemy,
you have to work with your enemy.
Then he becomes your partner.
- Nelson Mandela

Man's enemies are not demons, but human beings like himself.
- Lao Tzu

Hate is like fire; it burns those who hold it.
- Alden Loveshade 

Honoring a Teacher

ParentingOC has launched an initiative to honor a top teacher in Orange County.      It is not easy as I have been privy to the wonderful work they do every day.    I hope all who live in Orange County will consider taking the time to nominate a teacher:

Parenting OC Magazine

www.parentingoc.com

� Nominations end November 22, 2013 School Administrators, parents and students, we want to hear from you.

On Being Ready & Vigliant: A "Snapshot of Resources" & Gearing Up For 2014

The need to be ready and prepared is ever so critical.    We here @ South County Matters have been reflecting upon this as we have been gearing up for the upcoming year.   This is ever so critical in the wake of the aftermath of  Haiyan in the Philippines and as the Weather Channel reported severe thunder storms were due to hitting the Eastern Half of the United States.     Furthermore, the recent "ransomware" attack reported by the UK's National Crime Agency  underscores further the need to be aware and be ready.   As that was going on, we experienced Summer Like Heat for almost a week.   If anyone continues to deny Climate Change, they ought to get their head examined !!

As for disasters, it is not a question of if it is going to hit--but when.    In Southern California, the need to recognize to be ready for Earthquakes and other calamities is a fact of life.    There are many resources available for all to be aware--which we hope to investigate and think about going forward.   A summary of them are noted here for reference:

• http://www.ready.gov:  The FEMA guide to Preparedness
• http://www.earthquakecountry.info:  The Earthquake Country Alliance
• http://earthquake.usgs.gov:  USGS Earthquake Hazards Program
• http://ocgov.com/about/emergency/preparation:   Orange County prevention & preparation
• http://www.readyoc.org:  Ready OC--The Orange County Emergency Preparedness Resource
• http://www.healthdisasteroc.org:  On Health Disasters in Orange County
• http://www.ocfa.org:  Orange County Fire Authority
• http://www.oc-redcross.org: American Red Cross--Orange County Chapter

This is just a "sampling" of the myriad of resources deployed online to make sure all are given the tools to be ready.     What continues to be fascinating is the deployment of Technology to help facilitate this further.  We here @ South County Matters have been quite keen on the research done at MIT and led by Lalana Kagal on developing an app for people to monitor news feeds, connect with relief workers and broadcast alerts even with limited computer skills.     There are battery powered modems such as BRCK that allows all to switch seamlessly between Ethernet, Wi-Fi & mobile networks.    

On a daily basis, though, the need to be safe in a tough virtual World is ever so critical.    Britain's Sky News reported on "ransomware" that the National Crime Agency reported on.       Being proactive in how one manages one's online life is ever so critical.     There is one more very cool App which has been rolled out:  A Child ID App by the FBI.   It gives all the ability to store a Child's Information on their mobile device.  It is quite a cool device  We will be reviewing these resources over the ensuing weeks and months and assessing their viability for all to be able to 

The need to be aware, be ready and vigilant is ever so critical today as we bid farewell to 2013 and gear up for 2014.      We look forward to continuing onward with the deliberations here in South County Matters throughout the new year.

Onward :-)

Finding Happiness in Troubled Times

Speaks for itself  :-)
http://www.youtube.com/v/VIX3tdFPolg?autohide=1&version=3&attribution_tag=MUe0DBQxHAkLobM15GZqoA&showinfo=1&autoplay=1&autohide=1&feature=share