The Shopping Season

Pretty much all members of my family have decided this year not to “celebrate the Shopping Season.” Consumer BS if you ask me! BUY BUY BUY. Let’s all go further into debt because everything that surrounds us in magazines, on bill boards, on television, in stores, etc. pushes us to do exactly that!

Yes, I do believe in the original reason for celebration (and that is my right - but even that is bogus! Jesus probably was born sometime in the spring! I have decided this year, with most of my family, to just let the children be the ones who get the gifts - and maybe something thoughtful for an elderly person. But not a bizillion expensive and useless bunch ofcrapola that will be on sale after the 1st of the year, and outdated a few months after (most likely).

Some fun, thoughtfully selected gifts for the children…let them be a part of the giving process and help pick for other children. Or let them donate a gift to less fortunate children. We are not doing our children justice by letting them fall into the same trip that keeps us broke all the time.

I think if I were to have another child I would start them off by celebrating “love and sharing” and the joy of families uniting - but I would let them know it’s not about making these corporations and a few individuals even wealthier! I would still celebrate the birth of Jesus “in my own way” - by trying to be an example of love!

We literally BUY into the corporations advertising and screw ourselves in the process!
STOP NOW. PROTEST ridiculous prices. (I refuse to buy new clothing except for the
occasional bra and panties.) Most of the high priced items are made from the sweat of
some poor soul in a third world country that is paid a dollar or two a day!

What do we do? We procreate that sad scenario by “buying” into it. For what you would
pay for 1 blouse new, you can buy used and usually 7 or 8 items. The items can be
washed. They are already soft, broken in so to speak, and the variety is unlimited. If you
know quality of manufacture, you can find expensive items for so much less - and a more
diverse selection in one store instead of five.

What I really hate are these HUGE ITEMS the stores are selling for children….a car that operates the size of most peoples living room, and a price tag to match.

YES, sometimes we need to buy new - electronics perhaps, and a few items that we need
to make sure of long life. But PLEASE, do not go into debt and create STRESS that is unnecessary just to add to the wealth of a few that are already wealthy. Make this
“Shopping Season” - just a warm and fuzzy time to enjoy the company of people you love!

If you don’t have a circle of friends and family, then LOVE YOURSELF by finding a good book to read, or watching the waves break at the ocean shore. Be kind to yourself and
keep what money you have in your pocket

CREATE a beautiful day!

Predjudice Sucks on Any Level!

WHY? BECAUSE IT DOES! No one person can be judged by race, group, creed, philosophy, religion, or even looks! We are soooooooo judgement.

“He’s ugly.” “She’s too fat.” “That religion sucks, so he must suck.” “I can’t stand white people. They think they are so superior.” “Old people are ugly and boring, and not too smart.” “She’s not educationally challenged - she stupid.” “All ragheads are the same…either rich from owning all the gas stations and quik markets, or terrorists .” AND on and on and on and on……..

We feed on each other. We are followers and not leaders. We listen to what someone says and then say, “That’s right!”

First of all - NO ONE SELECTS HOW THEY WILL POP OUT FROM THEIR MOTHER’S WOMB!
THEY DON’T PICK THEIR FATHER, MOTHER, OR CIRCUMSTANCE OF $$$ and residence.

I personally think it’s a crap shoot and we are born to circumstances beyond our control. I also believe that our “good” or “evil” tendencies are born with us. Yes,
that’s right.

A few years ago I thought there was good in everyone. I was wrong. Some people
are evil. Can’t do anything about that except “Marquis of Queensbury Rules” (protect
your ass at all times.)

Here is my revelation of some time ago. WE ARE ALL THE SAME. You’ve heard it.
We love, we hate, we hurt, we have joy, we bleed, we heal, we live, we die. That’s
it baby. We are all the same.

We have little choice about what big money and “those” in control do (and I think
big money controls!).

However, we have the choice to look at another human being and realize that they
are just like us inside. Have you seen the show that has been displaying dead bodies?
I can’t think of the name of it right now, but if I do, I will tell you.

My daughter treated us to seeing a movie at Imax and then viewing this display. It
was not gruesome as you might think. It was incredible. In layman terms (and I
am NOT anything but a regular woman) - it showed all the organs in the body, the
vascular system, the muscles, the brain, all the inward parts of us. It showed us
in action and using all parts of our bodies. It showed a woman who was with child and truly it was the two of them - all dead. All just body and spirit gone.

ALL that was used in this fantastic and educational showing was approved by either
the persons displayed or their family or someone with permission to make the choice to display or not.

What guts it took to put on something like this. It even had our entire skin (separated of course) - and lastly, a horse showing what it was INSIDE.

I am reviewing this too lightly, I know, as it has been some months since we saw it. What I learned (and felt I knew before, but not to the depth) was that we are ALL ALIKE!

What is DIFFERENT IS OUR CULTURE! Partial definition of Culture: a particular society at a particular time and place; “early Mayan civilization” the tastes in art and manners that are favored by a social group acculturation: all the knowledge and values shared by a society the attitudes and behavior that are characteristic of a particular social group or organization….and that’s the problem!

It’s not the individual - it’s simply that we aren’t used to his or her “ways” - therein, they MUST BE WRONG OR WEIRD! That’s a lie. That’s stupidity! If we don’t opt to “hang” with a group that is our priority. We all pick our friends and activities. That’s
okay. We all need to get a long with each other.

NO ONE wants to be PUSHED into a pile and have someone say, “There, they are now
all integrated.” We NEED to have the freedom to choose who we want for friends and neighbors. If we don’t like our neighborhood - move. If we don’t like our school - change schools. If we CAN’T change anything - THEN CHANGE OUR ATTITUDE and
take a breath and try to live in peace!

An inside look on the inside surely shows the only difference is the color of our skin.
An in inside look on the outside just detects cultural differences. We can live with that!

Have a beautiful and peaceful day. We all can LAUGH and SMILE too. Let’s start
an epidemic of smiles!

Come On Now - Be polite to our senior citizens!

I drove to the post office a couple of days ago and the line was huge. Nonetheless, I
needed to mail a package. Before me stood two women. The one next to me was
a senior citizen. She was tall, had white hair, and was dressed very nicely, obviously
still trying to take care of herself. I guessed her to be about 80.

The woman in front of her was a bit shorter, casual in dress, and probably in her forties. I asked the older woman if she could reach a priority envelope for me and she said, “No problem.” She reached to get one and BARELY touched the woman in front
of her. Just a slight touch on the back, and it was an accident.

The younger woman turned abruptly and said loudly, “I know I’m fat but you don’t have to run into me! She spat out a few more nasty words and then turned to the front.

It was TOTALLY uncalled for and I heard the elderly woman say, “I am very sorry.”
What I wanted to do was punch the woman in the face, but then she would win.

I said loudly - “I am sorry. That was my fault as I asked this lady to reach for an
envelope for me.” The younger woman turned around and before she could say
anything I put my hand out and introduced myself to the elderly lady and said, “I
am sorry for that. It was my fault she yelled at you.”

She looked surprised but said, “Oh it’s okay. Don’t worry about it. We chatted for
a few minutes rather ignoring the woman in front. My new acquaintence told me she was 87. She looked really good for her age. She was also recently widowed. She
had been married for 63 years.

I glanced at the woman a head of us and could only imagine she must not be happy.
I only then actually noticed she was heavy - I hadn’t even noticed until she mentioned it. She also had a huge hearing device in her ear. I thought that must be tough to
deal with daily.

So Evelyn and I just quietly decided we’d just bless her and hope her life was better.
She couldn’t hear us, but we decided this would be best for her - and for us.

When Evelyn was finished she smiled broadly and waved and said, “It was very nice
to meet you. I hope I see you again sometime in this life.”

I answered “I hope I see you too. It was a pleasure.” And it was……..me in charge
of my anger, a new acquaintance, and being able to throw a blessing someone’s way.

I remembered what mama had said to me one time: “When you get old everybody either looks at you like you are invisible or that you’ve done something wrong. What
they don’t realize is that they are seeing themselves in the future.” Something to think about the next time you brush by an older person. I always try to smile and acknowledge them and you know what - it never fails that I get a smile and hello back.

“That’s the way I like it, uh huh un huh.” (An old song for anyone who recognizes the quote.” )

CREATE A FANTASTIC DAY FOR YOURSELF!
Love,
Marsha

I am munching on my own words! Yummmmm

I have to live what I teach - otherwise I’d be a terrible teacher! Since my CD has been
released I have to be my own “publicist” as we are just hard working folks and can’t afford that expense. I do what I do because I love it and think EVERYONE has a right
to be healthy and happy! I honestly believe everyone has a right to “learn” how to do so without paying an HUGE fee or monthly charges to someone.

Yesterday I thought it would be a great idea to place posters in school faculty lounges - I’ve worked in schools and know for the money-it is a VERY stressful job! All parents
should work in school for a semester or two. A good teacher is worth his or her weight in gold.

Therein, my bright idea was to hope to sell my REASONABLY priced CD’s to teachers
and maybe give them some techniques to use to help their lives - and in turn help
our children. Bright idea.

NOPE. Today I am munching on my own words. It is not what happens to us, but
how we handle what happens. The superintendent said NO. It wasn’t educational.
Of course I called to speak with him (funny, he was tied up all day:). I told his
secretary (guard) that I am a personal health consultant. I have specialized in stress management techniques for 20 years, and that I teach for Shasta College Adult Education and also on a one-to-one with individuals. I wanted to know how the CD
could not be educational. It has instruction on it!

Well, my answer was, “I’m not going to debate this with you.” So I took a breath and
told her I wasn’t asking for a debate - just wanted to find out why they didn’t consider the CD’s educational.

“It may be educational, but actually it’s a vendor thing. If we let you advertise we
have to let everyone advertise.”

I responded: “Well, all right. I was told it wasn’t educational so I couldn’t put the poster up. I do understand the vendor premise (though I wonder how many people
actually want to advertise in faculty lounges:). No problem - have a wonderful day and I am sorry I can’t get some stress management help out there to some of our teachers.”

She softened and said, “I’m sure there are other ways to do it. Good luck.”

So munnch, munnch - my wonderful idea isn’t going to happen. Alas, alack….so
what! I never give up and I keep the faith that where there is a will there is a way!
Besides (hee hee) I would have spent lots of money on gas, lots of time, and the
posters aren’t cheap! It may be a blessing.

See - choosing to respond in a positive manner calms us down and really turns the day around. Try it - you’ll like it! It is way more fun to confront a situation with a good attitude. It puts you on top!

I hope you all have a great day where ever you are…..life is short and like a great
acquaintance of mine, Colonel Hockaday, told me years ago: “War is hell, but you
can die crossing the street.”

So enjoy the moments of the day and be careful crossing the street!

GOOD MORNING WORLD!

Just wanted to say Good Morning! I hope whomever is reading this will remember today, no matter what happens, “it’s not what happens to us - but how we respond that makes the difference.” We can’t control what happens, but we can ALWAYS make the
choice to respond in a way that may shock people - with a positive response. I always
look for a lesson in what happens. Besides - since we cannot change everything we
might as well just accept it and try to find some way to keep “our happiness.”

I see grumpy people on the road every day and I just feel badly for them. None of
us know how long we have to live. I vowed long ago to go out of this life “believing,
with still a soft heart, happy and loving - and by cracky - that is exactly what I will do.

It really is a matter of changing negative habits. EVEN if you don’t believe it at first,
you can TRAIN your brain cells and create new ones. It’s just a lot easier (once you
are in the habit) to be happy! It’s good for your exterior (less wrinkles) - good for your interior (less physical problems) and good for everyone else! Besides - it’s FUN!

My daughter shared something a friend of hers told with me: CREATE a beautiful day.
Now take a breath and get to it!

Warmly and sincerely,
Marsha

REALLY - a great Christmas gift: book or CD

Okay, okay, okay - I am pushing for two products that I am selling. HOWEVER, they are products that I TOTALLY BELIEVE IN, and want to share with as many people as may need or want them!

The gifts are reasonable, fresh on the market, and I swear - they will “keep on giving.” -
Mothers, daughter, girlfriends, friends,guys,peers, even stressed out enemies - buy one (or both) and your shopping will be done! (If you want just ask me to wrap and I will mail to you ready to present to whomever you decide to give the gifts to…..) Check out my website http://www.jett.net/~mo and read the endorsements - pretty cool I think! I am proud of these things and have seen so many people change their lives.

The books can be purchased by me (I have a few left) or through PublishAmerica (look up Marsha J. O’Brien, author. ) The CD’s can only be purchased by getting to my website. Come on, check
it out - please!

Check out: Marsha O’Brien - uncatgorized or the web site.

This is like playtime!

What a lovely freedom it is to express myself knowing that someone may be reading this - or not!
It doesn’t really matter. The thing that makes me smile is that I have the access to be able to do this (something we might take for granted) - and that I have my brain cells in order, and am capable of doing this. I say these are blessings. Ahh, some might say luck, or just something most everyone has, whatever!

I have vowed never to take anything for granted. Material things come and go, it’s true, but whatever happens I believe all good things come from God. God is the same for us all and different too. We each have a vision of whom God may be, and a name we choose. I know - not everyone believes in a supreme being and though I do - I also believe “EACH MAN AND WOMAN MUST CHOOSE” - and has the right to do so. I support and respect each persons right.

Mike and I went for a walk in the woods today with our german shepherd/wolf dog. The leaves were a mix of green, yellow, orange, and red and as I took each step the ones that had already left the trees crunched under my feet. Buck darted forward on the trail and then would turn to make sure we were still in sight. The sound of Crystal Creek was strong and rapid, more than I’d expected for this time of year.

It was just a two mile walk, but the great thing was that it was created in 1893 by a man in French Gulch, California. He dug (I am sure with help) a water way next to the path and it filled with water from Crystal Creek and was used to provide water for homesteads in those days. Man is clever when he chooses to use the brain cells instead of diminish them. I’ve been “there” too!

Did you ever have one of those days?

WELL I DID TODAY! But that’s okay - NOTHING is going to upset me for more than a few minutes. I just don’t have time to be bothered with all the things this world throws at us - nor will I let someone else or something (like for instance a scanner that doesn’t work) take away my fun.
I may NOT be a “girl”, but this woman has a child within and just wants to have fun and love and laugh - I want to die laughing! (not today though:).

It’s been raining and cool and I love it. I look at the leaves on the trees that have turned from green to orange and now bright red and I know soon the tress will be naked for a time until the bursting of spring brings everything to life again. I never tire of nature - it is healing and always
awesome if we can just remember to stop for a moment and enjoy it.

My children have told me at times that I am just too happy or that I can’t be that positive about everything. I wasn’t always. Believe me. When I touched my head and realized that my waist length hair had been pulled out by the roots I wasn’t thrilled. Nor was I exhuberant when I was thrown head first into a tree and hit the tree with my face.

That’s just two of my memories of “learning experiences” that have happened in my life. I may have been just born a survivor, but it took lots
of exercising my thoughts and training myself to become the happy person I am. Afterall, if we spend our lives reliving misery, or angry and sad,
what does it accomplish? NOTHING. IT JUST TRASHES ANY CHANCE OF HAPPINESS AND PEACE WE HAVE AVAILABLE! We do have wonderful brains that can keep learning no matter how we have diligently tried to kill all the cells by the “party on” philosophy. I’ve been there too - big time.
I survived to tell the tales and maybe to help someone else to make a few better decisions! I surely hope so.

My hunk of a husband is home today because of the rain so I think I will call it a blog day and see if I can corner him! I hope whomever is
reading this (if anyone) will CREATE a great day and ENJOY IT!

Warmly,
Marsha

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