SSA Blog #020     By Michelle Drew     November 30, 2005

Advice Question

Dear Michelle;

hi  i would   love to learn  how to blog,   just  don't  really know how
on aol  there is only   one  i  guess  sugar and  spice. its  boring

thanks for your help

Wild Angel

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dear Wild Angel;

I don't know if there are any rules about how to blog.
As long as you have some web space, you can do it.
There are over 25000 people who read these columns
so I think that there are lots of people who want and
need some words of kindness and inspiration.

Life is tough and I believe that those who survive
and thrive these days do seek out kind moments
and activities that relieve stress and make them
feel calm and peaceful.

If you have something to say that will help others
feel good, I say, go for it. If you're looking to make
money from it, it is a very very tricky thing. We
have only recently begun to at least break even
after the cost of the server. For 6 years, I paid
for the columns from my disability checks.

What I found was that I had to decide whether or
not I wanted to write these columns, now blogs
for free. After much thought during my 4 month
sabbatical, I decided that I do.

Don't underestimate sugar and spice. I don't believe
that there is enough of it in this world. You can never
bring enough light into the world. It just may take work
to find your voice and your audience. Good luck!!

Michelle


Reader Contribution

A few good laughs forwarded by Sue B...

People spend a lot of time thinking up their children's names. It's just a pity they don't always think as hard about their domain names. ..

(These are real websites)

Firstly there is Who Represents?, a database for agencies to the rich and famous:
http://www.whorepresents.com

Second is the Experts Exchange, a knowledge base where programmers can exchange advice and views:
http://www.expertsexchange.com

Looking for a pen? Look no further than Pen Island:
http://www.penisland.net

Need a therapist? Try:
http://www.therapistfinder.com

And there is an Italian Power company
http://www.powergenitalia.com

Finally we have the Mole Station Native Nursery, based in New South Wales:
http://www.molestationnursery.com

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Inspirational Reading

ARE YOU LIVING LIFE TO THE FULLEST?

One night, a Dodgers farm club coached by Tommy Lasorda was leading
Tucson by one run in the eighth inning, but Tucson had the bases
loaded with two outs. According to Don Martin in TEAM THINK (Penguin
books, Ltd., 1993), Lasorda decided to pep up his pitcher, a
left-hander named Bobby O'Brien. Lasorda slowly walked out to the
mound and said, "Bobby, if the heavens opened up right now and you
could hear the voice of the Big Dodger in the sky and he said to you,
'Bobby, you're going to die and come up to heaven, and this is the
last batter you're ever going to face,' how would you like the meet
the Lord, getting this man out or letting him get a hit from you?"

"I'd want to face him getting this guy out," O'Brien replied.

"That's right," said Lasorda, "you would. Now, how do you know that
after you throw the next pitch you're not going to die? This might
really be the last hitter you're ever going to face and if it is,
you'll want to face the Lord getting him out."

Lasorda figured it was just about the best pep talk ever and he
strutted confidently back to the dugout. O'Brien wound up and threw
the pitch. The batter lined a base hit to right field, knocking in two
runs.

Lasorda was beside himself. "Bobby, what happened?" he asked.

"It's like this, Skip," said O'Brien. "You had me so worried about
dying I couldn't concentrate on the batter!"

Many people are worried about dying. Their worry can keep them from
fully enjoying life in the present. But for other people, the
knowledge that they will die someday actually motivates them to live
more fully!

Dr. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, who has extensively studied death and
dying, put it like this: "It's only when we truly know and understand
that we have a limited time on earth - and that we have no way of
knowing when our time is up, we will then begin to live each day to
the fullest, as if it was the only one we had."

It's true, we have no way of knowing when our time is up. But we have
today. Will you live it as if it were the only day you had?

    By Steve Goodier © 2004